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Patrick Anchitel Richmond Anson was the only son of Captain Henry Percy Richmond Anson and of

Lilian Mary Anson of Alderney, Channel Islands. He was born in Middlesex in 1914. His father served

with the Middlesex Regiment and was Killed in Action in Belgium the following year on 25 May, 1915.

Pat as he was better known, decided on a military career too, and was educated at Royal Military

College, Sandhurst. He commissioned into the Middlesex Regiment in February 1934, and during the

Second World War, he joined the Parachute Regiment (January 1942) and undertook his parachute

training course at RAF Ringway from 10 to 24 February 1942 with the newly formed 4th Parachute

Battalion. He joined The 10th Parachute Battalion (10th Para Bn) in Kabrit January 1943, one of the

first non 2nd Battalion The Royal Sussex Regiment officers to join the new battalion.

Major Anson was the Commanding Officer of A Company, 10th Para Bn on Operation Market Garden.

His Dakota was shot down near Dodwaard on 18 September. He successfully jumped from the stricken

aircraft and made his way to the Rhine and crossed to Arnhem during the night of 24/25 September. He

was wounded on the crossing and was taken Prisoner of War. Pat died from his wounds, aged 30 years

old, at Stalag XIB at Fallingbostel and was initially buried in the POW cemetery near the camp. He is

now buried at Becklingen War Cemetery north of Hanover, Germany.

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