Second from the left on the back row is John R Hempstead, he finished his war service as a Staff Sgt in the Glider Pilot Regiment, his service number was 1454458. He flew a Horsa into Normandy (on the evening of 6 June 1944) and was one of the first to land at Arnhem on Sunday 17 September 1944. He was one of the lucky ones to escape across the Rhine, and was subsequently posted to India until November 1945, attached to 673 Squadron, teaching RAF pilots to fly Waco gliders. He was posted to 21 EFTS (where the photo was taken) from 21 August 1942. His rank at that time was lance-corporal.

This information was supplied by Neil Hempstead (son).