after battles in Normandy.
On 17 September 1944, the rst elements of the 1st Airborne Division
landed west of Arnhem. Approximately 750 men under Lt-Col John
Frost successfully reached and held the northern end of Arnhem
Bridge. However, the rest of the division was delayed by stiff German
resistance, poor radio communications, and scattered landings.
The South Staffords’ Advance
The 2nd Battalion South Staffords, part of the 1st Airlanding Brigade,
arrived by gliders rather than parachute. These gliders (Horsa and
Hamilcar) allowed them to bring anti-tank guns, mortars, jeeps, and
other heavy support weapons.
Commanded by Lt-Col Derek McCardie, the battalion landed on Landing
Zones (LZ) ‘S’ and ‘Z’ near Wolfheze, west of Arnhem. Their mission
was to advance along the southern route, following the Utrechtseweg
(below), to reinforce Lt-Col Frost and his men at the Arnhem Bridge.
Their progress was severely hampered by
ambushes, snipers, and German blocking
positions. The Germans, reinforced by SS
training units and armour, fought ercely to slow
the British advance. The South Staffords suffered
heavy casualties from relentless mortar re and
machine guns. By the end of 18 September, they
had only reached the outskirts of Arnhem, well
short of the bridge. Unable to break through,
they were ordered back to Oosterbeek, where
the division was forming a defensive perimeter.
Baskeyeld’s Last Stand
Now positioned in Oosterbeek, the South Staffords defended key
approaches to the village. Here, the battle became a desperate,
house-to-house holding action against overwhelming German forces,
including tanks, self-propelled guns, and infantry. It was here, on 20
September 1944, that Lance Sergeant Jack Baskeyeld made his
famous last stand.