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5954520 Private Richard Carpenter

We are keen to hear from anyone who is a relative or knows anything about Private Richard Carpenter.

Please don't hesitate to contact us so we can share the story of this brave man.


Born: 01 Dec 1915
Died: 01 Dec 1990
Age at death: 75 years, 0 months, and 0 days

Company: SP
Platoon: MMG

5954520 Private Richard Carpenter was born on 1st December 1915 in Watford. He was the son of Eli Richard Carpenter and Amy Rose Carpenter (née Swallow).

The 1939 Register of England and Wales records Richard as living with his mother and 3 younger sisters at 34 Riverside Road, Watford, Hertfordshire. His mother is listed as being a widow. Richard's occupation was Gas Works Pipe Fitter.

Richard served with SP Company of the 11th Parachute Battalion. Shortly before being deployed to fight at the Battle of Arnhem during Operation Market Garden in September 1944 Richard married Dorothy M. Clarke in Watford. However, Richard was unable to return home to his bride after the battle. He was captured taken to Stalag XIIA Limburg and allocated POW number 89267 and finally freed on 5th June 1945.

Richard died in the winter of 1990



We are still researching the life of Private Carpenter. If you are a relative or have any information about him, please contact us.


Thanks to R.P. “Bob” Hilton; Diana Andrews; Allan Brown; Andrew Blacklock; Jon Baker; John Howes; Graham Francis; Bob Gerritsen; Darren Wielink; Maarten Lenssen; Judith Minkman; Philip Reinders; Hans den Brok; many 11th Battalion veterans; family, next of kin and friends; staff of the Airborne Museum Hartenstein Oosterbeek; Airborne Assault Museum Duxford; and Gerrit Pijpers OBE without whom this website would not have been possible.