Frank Paine died in his sleep on 22nd January 2001. He was 80 years old.
He was born in Wales: but lived most of his life in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Frank joined the Army in 1939 and after training joined the BEF in France. He fought in the Battle of France and eventually was evacuated from Dunkirk back to England. Early in 1942 he joined 9 Field Company (Airborne) and was posted to 2 Platoon. He served in North Africa and Italy during 1943 and when not required to fight the Germans liked nothing better than to swan off sightseeing with his friend Spr Cottle. He landed by glider at Oosterbeek on 17th September 1944 and immediately found himself and the remainder of the Platoon racing for the Arnhem road and rail bridges. After seeing the railway bridge blown up as they were about to cross it they made a dash for the main road bridge over the lower Rhine and joined up with Colonel Frosts force. On the second night he was severely wounded in the lower leg, which later resulted in a number of operations without anaesthetics. Taken to Stalag XI B in Germany he saw out the war from behind barbed wire.
After the war he married Mabel who was to be his wife for the next 34 years. They were blessed with a son and two daughters. His daughter Dianne accompanied Frank on many of his return visits to Arnhem and even though registered disabled from his war wounds still managed to attend many other Airborne Forces events. He was also the Chairman of his local British Legion Branch.