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The following story appears courtesy of and with thanks to Gord and Leslie Davison.

To the uninitiated this maneuver may seem a little hazardous, in fact we had learned in training that it was easier than jumping without any impediments. The reason for this was that when the kit bag hit the ground the 'chute was relieved of extra weight and the landing was much softer. In addition to the kit bag on my left leg I also had a medical collapsible stretcher attached to my right leg and when the time came to stand up, ready for jumping, I could barely move.
I suggested to the medical sergeant that, because I could not move very fast, it might be better for everyone that I jumped last. He agreed, so I was last out of the aircraft when we jumped at 1:56 PM on the 17th of September.
Our stick landed without incident and we were soon grouped with the rest of Battalion H.Q. on a heath known as Wolfheze. Apparently we were not expected as there was no firing of weapons and the whole thing seamed like another of the many training operations which we had been involved in in England. Even the terrain was similar, which only added to the illusion.
It took some time for the whole battalion to drop and as we were one of the early arrivals we had the unforgettable experience of watching waves and waves of planes disgorging the passengers and the whole sky seemed to filled with parachutes.
Finally the whole battalion was lined up ready for the march to the Arnhem bridge and still there was no opposition.
We had about eight miles to go and it was now 3 P.M. (4 P.M. Dutch time) and the plan was to be at the top of the bridge before dark.

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