A PIAT Gunner at Arnhem Bridge: The Heroic Actions of Private Robert Lygo | September 1944

On the 17th of September, 1944, the troops of the British 1st Airborne Division dropped behind enemy lines in the Netherlands as part of Operation Market Garden. The division’s primary objective was to capture the road bridge spanning the River Nederrijn at the city of Arnhem and hold it until relieved by British ground troops advancing north from Belgium.

 Taken off from airfields in England that morning, the lead elements of the 1st Airborne began to land to the west of Arnhem at around 1300 on the 17th when the pathfinders of the 21st Independent Parachute Company dropped in and successfully established Eureka beacons on the drop and landing zones.

 This then cleared the way for the remainder of the division to land over the next couple of hours. With an after action report from the 2nd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment detailing that, the battalion was dropped at 1445 hours on D-Day, 17th of September, with perfect accuracy on the drop zone, 7 miles west of Arnhem. There was no opposition on the drop zone and except for a motor patrol captured by A Company at the rendezvous, no opposition was met until we had moved 2 miles towards the town.

 Here, A Company bumped what proved to be the southern flank of a strong enemy position and after a spirited assault by one platoon, we’re able to continue the advance. They met no more opposition until the railway west of the town. From then on, armored cars and hastily organized defenses caused only minor delays in the falling light until A Company reached and seized the north end of the main road bridge at 8:00 p.m.

On capturing the northern end of the Arnhem road bridge, A Company launched an attack to secure the southern side on the night of the 17th. This effort, however, was met with ferocious German fire and after sustaining eight men wounded, the company abandoned its attack and returned to the northern end around which it established a defensive perimeter that night.

 Among the paratroopers holding this perimeter was 19-year-old Private Robert Ligo, who was the PIAT gunner in a three-man team serving with number three platoon of A Company. Commanding this three-man team was Lance Corporal Charles Wady Love, whilst Private Sydney Blackmore was the assistant PIAT gunner. Together with the rest of their platoon, this team took up a defensive position to the northeast of the bridge in a building known as the office of the municipal tram, from where they were able to control two of the three roads

leading to the bridge from the east and were thus well sited to meet any German counter-attack. As morning dawned on the 18th of September, the German army launched the first of many attempts to retake the northern end of the Arnhem road bridge. These attacks continued into the 19th, on which day they mounted a determined effort to drive number three platoon out of the office of the municipal tram.

Spearheading this attack were three armored cars, which moved into a position just outside of the building and began firing at point-blank range into the bridge defenses. In the ensuing engagements, Private Robert Ligo became separated from the rest of his platoon, but nevertheless, he kept a hold of his PIAT and moved into a position from which he could engage the three armored cars.

 For his actions on the 19th of September, Private Ligo would be awarded the Military Medal, the citation for which reads, “Three armored cars approached close to the platoon and started firing into the building. Private Ligo fired four bombs, obtaining three direct hits and thus forcing them to withdraw. During this time, the fire of the armored cars was directed almost entirely against him.

” Just moments after the armored cars had withdrawn, the Germans followed up their attack by sending in two Mark III tanks. Undaunted, and although still cut off from the rest of his unit, Private Robert Ligo immediately repositioned himself to a different part of the building, from where he single-handedly took on both tanks.

 His medal citation continues, “Two Mark III tanks approached and shelled the platoon at very close range. Once again, though under heavy and direct fire, Private Ligo engaged the tanks and succeeded in burning out one and forcing the other to withdraw. Private Ligo’s PIAT was the only anti-tank weapon in the vicinity, and it was mainly due to his coolness and courage in the face of devastating fire that the platoon was able to hold this house for so long.

 Throughout these engagements, he was isolated from the remainder of the platoon and was acting entirely on his own initiative. On the second occasion, he deliberately exposed himself to heavy fire in order to work his weapon forward to a position where he could get a more accurate shot. Through the efforts of Private Robert Ligo, Number 3 Platoon successfully drove off the German counterattack and was able to hold his position inside the office of the municipal tram.

 However, the platoon did sustain a number of casualties as a result of the attack, including Private Ligo’s commander, Lance Corporal Charles Waddy Love, who was posted as missing in action, presumed killed. Sadly, his body was never identified, and he is today commemorated on the Groesbeek Memorial and has no known grave.

” >> until liberated by British troops in April of 1945. Interestingly, Major Allison Tatham Water, the commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment, recognized Private Lago’s heroic actions on the 19th of September and recommended him to be awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, an award second only to the Victoria Cross.

 However, this recommendation was dismissed and he was instead awarded the Military Medal on the 20th of September, 1945. Private Sydney Blackmore, who was Private Lago’s assistant Pierre gunner, would also survive the war, although he was wounded by enemy fire and taken as a prisoner during the final hours of the British defense of the Arnhem bridge.

After the battle, Private Blackmore was likewise transferred to the Falling Bostel prisoner of war camp, where he too was incarcerated until liberation.