On June 29, 1916 5954421 Sergeant Daniel Joseph Behan was born.

On the 29th March 1940 Daniel enlisted into the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment. He subsequently volunteered for Airborne Forces and successfully completed his parachute course.

In 1944 he was a Section Commander in 8 Platoon of C Company, 11th Parachute Battalion based at Welby Lane Camp in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire.

Daniel took off from Saltby aerodrome, aboard Dakota aircraft of the American Troop Carrier Command, on Monday, 18th September 1944. He jumped onto drop zone ‘Y’ at Ginkel Heath in Holland as part of the Second Lift of Operation Market-Garden. Soon after landing and re-organising, the battalion’s task was changed and they made their way into Arnhem. They had to try to break through to the 2nd Parachute Battalion holding the Northern end of Arnhem Bridge. Worse still, the other aircraft carrying half of Daniel's platoon, and their Platoon Commander, Lieutenant Keith Bell, had been shot down and they now only had about 17 men, led by the Platoon Sergeant, Charles Thompson.

During the heavy fighting that took place in Arnhem on Tuesday, 19th September, both ‘A’ and ‘B’ Companies suffered very heavy casualties, but ‘C’ Company manged to withdraw back towards Oosterbeek with only a few casualties.

Furthermore, in the following two days they suffered the full weight of the German attacks and suffered many casualties. It is most likely this is where Sergeant Daniel Behan was badly wounded, and was taken prisoner.

On the 13th November 1944 Daniel died of his wounds at the Julianna Hospital at Apeldoorn, and was initially buried in the local Heidehof General Cemetery.

He now lies at rest in the Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery, grave 18.C.20.

Although his gravestone states that he was 32 years old at the time of his death, this is incorrect. He was just 28 years, 4 months, and 15 days old.