Sgt. Kalikoff had fled Ukraine as a child in the 1920's with his parents and sister and was very popular with the men despite being a strict disciplinarian and trainer. His mortar platoon had, together with elements of the Recce Squadron, reached and secured the northern end of the main Arnhem bridge, together with houses and buildings commanding the immediate area. With the other members of 2 Para Mortar Platoon, Sgt. Kalikoff dug individual slit trenches, surrounding two pits that were dug for the mortars, in an island of trees, shrubs and grass. in the centre of the road west of the road bridge. According to an account of James Simms (author of 'Arnhem Speearhead'): 'Just before Arnhem, Maurice had a bee in his bonnet about us achieving a quick exit and a tight stick, so he had us hobbling through a nissen hut with a kit bag on our leg and with full equipment. As this was early September, it was very hot and uncomfortable and we moaned a bit, but Maurice was determined we would get it right. Came the 17th Sept. 1944 and I had just landed by parachute and was gathering myself together to make for 2 Para yellow flare rallying point, when I met Maurice obviously searching for something. It turned out that his kit bag had broken free and he could not find it. I found this very amusing but he didn't. On the 20-09-1944 one of the houses Sgt. Kalikoff was in (close to the road bridge) recieved a direct hit, seriously wounding Kalikoff and killing. He died of his wounds probably on the way to a POW camp in Germany.