Life Story
Bombardier William Scott Dove was born on 14 August 1910 in
Blairgowrie, Scotland, the son of George Hudson Dove and Janet
Fairgrieve Skinner. He grew up with his brother Tom and sister Margaret.
Dove joined the Royal Regiment of Artillery and served with distinction
during the Second World War. His military career took him across
several key theatres of the conict. He fought in North Africa, In Italy
as part of the Sicilian campaign, and in Normandy, experiencing some
of the hardest ghting of the war. He was wounded in Italy, but returned
to active service after his recovery, a testament to his resilience and
commitment.
By 1944, Bombardier Dove was serving with the 1st Airborne Division,
Royal Artillery, having successfully completed glider training and took
part in Operation Market Garden—the ambitious Allied plan to secure
key bridges across the Netherlands and advance into Germany.
Dove was among those who landed near Arnhem in September 1944.
During the ghting he sustained a serious chest wound and was taken
to a regimental aid post at the St Elisabeth Hopsital. Tragically, the aid
post was later struck by a mortar bomb. Between 24 and 25 September
1944, at the age of just 34, William Dove succumbed to his wounds.
He has no known grave, but his name is inscribed on the
Groesbeek Memorial to the Missing in the Netherlands, alongside
many of his comrades who also gave their lives during the battle.
Although his life was cut short, William’s courage and sacrice remain a
proud part of both his family’s story and the wider history of the airborne
forces at Arnhem. He is remembered not only as a dedicated soldier
but also as a son, brother, and friend—loved by Tom and Margaret,
who carried his memory with them.
His brother and sister kept his memory alive, and in 2006 presented a