The old St Elisabeth Hospital, Arnhem, Holland

In the planning for Operation Market Garden, 16th Field Ambulance were tasked to arrive on the first day and to establish themselves in the hospital. This they did by 2200 hours on 17 September 1944, and in commemoration of that and of all the medical support that was provided to casualties of both sides, one of the Aiborne Commemorative Posts was placed outside. It is just visible in the picture. Lieutenant-Colonel Townsend, the CO, and Captain Lippmann Kessel, the surgeon to the 16th (who had already seen service in North Africa and Sicily), liaised with the Dutch doctors. The following day the German 9th SS occupied the hospital and it came under the command of SS Captain Skalka. All around the building the fighting went on but, despite this, the medical staff contined their work. Skalka then ordered all the medical staff to leave but Townsend perusaded him to allow two surgical teams to stay under Major Longland and Captain Lipmann Kessel

2200 Allow Ambulance Arnhem Casualties Commemoration Commemorative Despite Establish Failed Kessel Lieutenant-colonel Lipmann Lippmann Ordered Placed Posts Provided Stay Surgeon Surgical Tasked Teams Themselves Townsend Visible

Features In These Collections

> Contributors > HOL