Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
A hero of Arnhem
One of last Chindits is dead at 102 Second World War parachutist who lost left eye in battle dies aged 95
ONE of the last remaining Chindits who fought the Japanese in the jungles of Burma has died at the age of 102.
George Claxton was part of one of the most gruelling operations of the war, led by Majorgeneral Orde Wingate.
In the Reconnaissance Corps, George was involved in the second of the Chindit campaigns.
Niece Veronica, who lived with him in Bournemouth, said: “He was a gentleman, just a lovely man. He lived a good, long life, everybody loved him.”
There are five Chindits still alive, all over 100.
ONE of the last surviving parachutists who fought in the Battle of Arnhem during the Second World War has died aged 95.
Private Freddie “Dixie” Deane lost his left eye during the Allied defeat in 1944.
The offensive, codenamed Operation Market Garden, was immortalised in 1977 film A Bridge Too Far.
The paratroopers were heavily outnumbered as they tried to take bridges in the Netherlands.
Machine gunner Freddie, aged
20 at the time, said his comrades showed “extraordinary bravery”. He was shot through the eye.
Freddie said he felt a “God awful bang” which he likened to being “hit in the face with a cricket bat”.
The wounded soldier, a member of the 10th Parachute Battalion, 1st Airborne Division, was taken as a prisoner of war to Stalag 7A in Bavaria.
He was freed by US forces in 1945. Freddie, described by friends as “quite the character”, became an artist.
He was awarded the Arnhem Veteran Medal six months ago at his care home in Llan Ffestiniog, north Wales. He missed the initial ceremony because of illness. The Arnhem 1944 Fellowship charity said: “We were saddened to hear of the loss of one of the last two known Arnhem veterans from the 10th Parachute Battalion. “Freddie will be sadly missed. Rest in peace, Freddie.”
In the fierce battle, the Allies lost almost 1,500 men with more than 6,500 captured.