Paras pay homage to Kirklees soldier killed in WW2

William was called up for National Service and received his training as a gunner. He was initially posted to 17 Field Regiment Royal Artillery. He volunteered to join the Army Air Corps on 2 November 1942, where he was enlisted in C-Coy, 2nd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment. William saw action in North Africa and Italy before being promoted to Lance Corporal in June 1944.

As part of Operation Market Garden, C-Coy, 2nd Battalion was dropped on September 17, 1944. In the evening while entering Arnhem via the Utrechtsestraat as one of the lead scouts for his platoon, L/Cpl Loney was killed together with his comrades, Private Norman Shipley and Private Thomas Pratt. All three were subsequently reported missing.

William’s burial place had remained unknown, until the grave of an unknown soldier buried in Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery was brought to the attention of the JCCC by the Royal Netherlands Army’s Recovery and Identification Unit. After extensive historical research into this unknown grave and the circumstances surrounding William’s death, it has been confirmed by the JCCC that this grave is that of Lance Corporal William Loney. A German propaganda photograph taken in Arnhem which reportedly shows the bodies of William Loney and Norman Shipley lying on the street where they were killed

It is incredibly important for the regiment to remember brave men like William and the sacrifices they made for us.”

Paratrooper William “Ginger” Loney, who was killed during the Battle for Arnhem in September 1944 – his grave headstone, below, will soon be replaced with one bearing his name. The cutting is a local newspaper feature about him