Paratroopers at Arnhem

[Jim]

The paratroopers’ equipment

A sergeant of the Parachute Regiment fully equipped for the drop on Arnhem. As well as his parachute, reserve parachute, his weapon, either a 9mm Sten sub machinegun or a .303-in Lee Enfield No 4 rifle-ammunition and kit, each paratrooper was expected to carry additional battlefield equipment or supplies. This NCO has a large valise containing a light machine-gun. It could be released by pulling the handle, using his right hand, after he jumped from the aircraft, so that the container dangled 6m/20ft beneath him and hit the ground first. Many British paratroopers carried bulky loads in excess of 45kg/100lb and complained of hardly being able to climb aboard their aircraft.

A British paratrooper preparing to break open a supply container on an Arnhem drop zone. Hundreds of these strong metal containers, usually about 5ft long by 2ft in diameter, were dropped from aircraft at the same time that the men of the Parachute Regiment jumped. They contained weapons, equipment or stores.

The heaviest field guns used by the 1St Airborne Division at Arnhem were 75mm howitzers of the 1st Light Regiment, Royal Artillery. Here one is seen in action shortly after it and its operators had landed.