Operation Market Garden: 2nd Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment Defend Arnhem Bridge

The decision to evacuate the Oosterbeek perimeter was made on Sunday the 24th and put into motion the next evening. The perimeter began thinning out after dark, and the crossings started at 2200. The withdrawal was covered by the medium and heavy guns of the British XXX Corps south of the Rhine River. The glider pilots acted as guides for the troops, who traveled down in the dark to the evacuation points on two routes laid out by sappers. All of the medical staff and chaplains remained behind to tend the wounded. The last troops from the 1st Airborne Division evacuated from the north side of the Rhine before daylight were elements of the Border Regiment and South Staffords.

The savage battle in western Arnhem on September 19 proved decisive to the British defeat. The failure to break through and relieve the paratroopers holding the bridge led to the virtual annihilation of the British 1st Airborne Division and the ultimate failure to capture a critical objective of Operation Market-Garden. The South Staffs had gone into battle with 47 officers and 820 soldiers of other ranks. Only six officers and 133 enlisted men returned.

This article was written by William Brooks and originally appeared in the September 2004 issue of World War II. For more great articles subscribe to World War II magazine today!

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6 Comments to “Operation Market Garden: 2nd Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment Defend Arnhem Bridge”
My husband was one of the 133 enlisted men that returned with Maj Cain’s B Co. He was one the paras that were on the Arnhem Bridge. He is 84 yrs old. Outside of a hearing loss and a hip replacement he is doing very well.

We attended Anzac Day this year at the local military facility and marched to the memorial square.

By Jackie Bassett on Jul 21, 2008 at 5:47 am
I am researching the death of Leonard V MIles - killed in active service in 1944 whilst serving in the S. Staffs Reg - can you provide any information?

By Alan Cogdell on Aug 27, 2008 at 3:45 am
I am trying to piece together my Grandfather’s career in the South Staffs.I certainly know he was in the 2nd Bn. and had been a member of the regiment since 1922 so would be considered something of a veteran by the outbreak of W.W.II .His name was Harry Ford and I am given to understand that he was an R.S.M. by the end of his career sometime in the 1950s’.Anyone who can provide even the smallest of insight would be gratefully received and muchly appreciated.

By David Ford on Oct 20, 2008 at 6:08 pm
My Uncle, Russell Ambrose Thorpe joined 2nd Btn Sth Staffs
during the late 1930s and saw action at Sicily and Arnhem,
where he was captured and sent to PoW camp.After the war he
emigrated to Australia and remained there until his death 2 yrs
ago. If any members of the regt can remember him I would love
to get in touch.Thankyou.

By Peter Elkington on Nov 4, 2008 at 11:46 am
HI MY NAME IS JAYNE BREESE IAM RESEARCHING MY DADS
GREAT UNCLE ALFRED FROM STOURBRIDGE. HIS REG NO WAS
9026 HE WAS IN 1ST BN SOUTH STAFFORSHIRE IF ANYONE
HAS ANY DETAIALS OF HI IN THE SOUTH STAFFS I WOULD BE
GRATEFULL. ALL I KNOW IS WHER HE IS COMMEMEATED.
KIND REGARDS JAYNE

By jayne on Nov 6, 2008 at 12:07 pm
My grandfather, Thomas Clarke served in the South Staffs
Regiment. He retired as a RSM and died in 1954, aged 74 in
Walsall, Staffs. He was in India in 1907. He also served in the
Boer war, and spent some time in Palestine. I am trying to trace
his branch of my family history. I don’t know his reg: no: nor
which batallion he served in.

By Maggie on nov 7, 2008 at 20:28

By Maggie Ferguson on Nov 7, 2008 at 4:28 pm

Operation Market Garden: 2nd Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment Defend Arnhem Bridge

6 Comments to “Operation Market Garden: 2nd Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment Defend Arnhem Bridge”

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