Sapper John Stobie

Sapper John Stobie, 591st ( Antrim ) Parachute Squadron, Royal Engineers. He was killed in action in Germany on 24th March 1945, aged 21. He was the son of William and Elizabeth Stobie of Berwick and is buried in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Kleve, Germany. His Unit was part of the 5th Parachute Brigade of the 6th Airborne Division and on that date took part in “Operation Varsity”. This was a massive paratroop and glider borne operation to land troops over the Rhine to capture bridgeheads for the advancing ground troops. The Operation was successful but with significant casualties as the drop took place in broad daylight in order to facilitate dropping the troops in the right areas. His Headstone is inscribed “Thy Will Be Done”.