Private Andrew Chalmers

Private Andrew Chalmers was the son of Andrew and Catherine McBlaine Chalmers, and husband of Gwendoline Winnifred Chalmers, of Selly Oak, Birmingham. He served in 13 Platoon, B Company of the 2nd (Airborne) Battalion the South Staffordshire Regiment.

Private Chalmers took part in Operation Market Garden and landed as part of the 1st lift on LZ-S, near Wolfheze on Sunday 17 September 1944. Initially his company occupied defensive positions to protect the LZ for the 2nd lift due the following day. At 09.00 hours on Monday 18th a change of orders was received and they were instructed to proceed to Arnhem and reinforce the men holding the bridge. Later that day they encountered Major John Timothy and remnants of R Company ,1st Battalion Parachute Regiment at the Utrechteseweg- Stationsweg crossroad in Oosterbeek.

Timothy joined forces with them for the rest of the approach into Arnhem. The South Staffs & R Coy linked up with the rest of the 1st Battalion and remnants of  the 11th Battalion the Parachute Regiment on the Monday evening in the Western outskirts of Arnhem close to St. Elizabeth Hospital. In the early hours of Tuesday 19 September this composite group launched an assault to try and reach the bridge. The 1st Battalion the Parachute Regiment proceeded down the Onderlangs next to the river while the 2nd Battalion proceeded in support of them on the Utrechtesweg to their left. The 2nd Battalion South Staffs became bogged down against heavy resistance at the Arnhem Municipal Museum (sometimes referred to by the South Staffs as the Monastery) and the adjacent dell. Private Chalmers was killed in this area during the fighting.

Private Chalmer died on 19 September 1944, aged 30 years old. He was initially buried at Arnhem General Cemetery, before being reinterred later at Oosterbeek War Cemetery, Arnhem.