William ‘Bill’ Chandler was born on the 14 June 1922 and he came from West Norwood, London. He was a carpenter before he enlisted.

‘Bill’ enlisted on the 12 July 1939, but was deferred as being under age until the 20 June 1940, when he joined The Queen’s Royal (West Surrey) Regiment. He transferred to the Reconnaissance Corps on the 15 February 1943 (along with ‘Mike’ Gassett, ‘Darkie’ Bolton and Robert Morris) , and later he volunteered for Airborne Forces and was posted to the 1st Air Landing Reconnaissance Squadron. He was assigned to 9 Section, ‘C’ Troop, with whom he would remain until captured at Arnhem.

He did his Parachute Course in North Africa in August 1943 and was on ‘Operation Slapstick’ in Italy in September 1943.

On Sunday, 17 September 1944 he took off from Barkston Heath aerodrome in a Dakota C47 aircraft bound for DZ ‘X’ in Holland as part of ‘Operation Market-Garden’. A few hours later his Troop was ambushed near Wolfheze Railway Station.

In this initial contact with the enemy from 9 Section Tpr. WM Edmond was mortally wounded and Tpr. RF Miles and ‘Bill’ Chandler were badly wounded in the back.

Bill was taken prisoner on Wednesday, 20 September 1944, after being wounded for the second time and sent to the temporary airborne hospital at Apeldoorn. He left on an ambulance train, 6 Oct 1944. POW No: 118711.

Stalag XIB, Falingbostel near Hanover, 10 October to 11 November 1944. He was then sent to Oflag 79 at Brunswick, 12 November 1944 to 12 April 1945, when he was liberated.

Bill is mentioned in ‘Remember Arnhem’ by John Fairley on pages 42, 48-50, 71, 201 & 214.

On his return to England he transferred to the Royal Engineers on the 12 July 1945.

After being discharged from the Regular Army ‘Bill’ re-enlisted in the territorial Army and served with the 10th Bn, The Parachute Regiment (TA) through the 1950’s. On the annual Camp in 1953 he won the LMG Champion Shot.

LAST POST. 1st Airborne Recce Squadron Newsletter, No 8 & 9, January and May 1983.

"It is with deep regret I have to inform members of the sad news that Bill Chandler, [C-Troop] Reconnaissance Squadron, passed away in hospital on May 4th, 1983.

Bill, an Arnhem veteran, was wounded during the early part of the battle and subsequently spent the rest of the war as a POW. In his later years he often attended the annual Pilgrimage held at Arnhem and Oosterbeek. Being a keen cyclist, Bill, perhaps more than once, cycled all the way to Holland. He also took the trouble to learn the Dutch language.

Bill had expressed a wish that his ashes be buried or scattered in the Oosterbeek War Cemetery. This is in the process of being arranged.

He was a good friend and comrade and will be sadly missed.”

Written and researched by Robert Hilton. Bill Chandler kept a diary during his time as a POW. It is available to view via the links in his profile.