Arnhem
Page 116
22. See Burgett, p.p.30-31; and Zaloga, p.46
23. See Burgett, p.32
24. See Gavin, On to Berlin, p.152
25. See Fairley, Remember Arnhem, pp.30-31
26. See Middlebrook, p.78
27. See Miller, p.86
28. See Fairley, pp.32-33
29. See Middlebrook, p.77
30. See Sims, p.31
31. Quoted from Chatterton, The Wings of Pegasus, pp.174-175; barathea is a soft woven fabric, in this instance probably worsted, and was smoother and of better quality than the serge issue item
32. See Urquhart, Arnhem, p.27
33. See ibid., pp.25-27; also cited in Ryan, A Bridge Too Far, pp.174-175; and Middlebrook, p.93
34. See Baynes, Urquhart of Arnhem, p.102. According to Ryan, Urquhart took Mackenzie aside as he prepared to depart and laid out the command succession; See Ryan, p.175. Interestingly, the exchange does not figure in Urquhart’s account of the battle or in most others, although it is sometimes mentioned in connection with the quarrel it later prompted between Brigadiers Hackett and Hicks at 1st Airborne HQ in the late evening of Monday 18 September
35. See Urquhart, p.29
36. Interestingly Miller refers to taking off at 07:30, even though Ryan’s research in air control and unit logs shows that take-offs did not commence until 09:45; see Miller, p.87; and Ryan, footnote p.170
37. Quoted from Miller, p.88
38. See Middlebrook, pp.78, 80
39. Testimony from Sergeant Wally Simpson, RAF No. 299 Squadron; cited in Middlebrook, pp.81-82
40. See Fairley, p.34
41. Testimony from Lance-Corporal Stan Livesey, 7th KOSB; cited in Middlebrook, p.85
42. See ibid., pp.79-80
43. See Green, pp.2-4
44. See Sims, pp.16-19
45. See WO 171/1248, 21st Independent Parachute Company War Diary, entry for 17/09/1944; and Ron Kent, First In! Parachute Pathfinder Company, p.95; US take-off time cited in Ryan, p.172
46. See Ryan, p.173
47. See Fairley, p.34; Gavin, On to Berlin, p.153; Sims, p.32; and Ryan, p.173
48. Figures cited in Ryan, p.173
49. See ibid., p.173; and Fairley, p.35
50. See Ryan, p.179
51. See Middlebrook, p.85
52. See Ryan, p.180
53. See Middlebrook, p.85
54. See Ryan, pp.178-179
55. See Middlebrook, p.86
56. See Ryan, pp.185-187; and Middlebrook, pp.92-94
57. See Middlebrook, pp.86-87
58. See William L. Brinson, Airborne Troop Carrier, p.140
59. See Ryan, pp.180-181
60. See Middlebrook, pp.87-89
61. See Ryan, p.190; and Middlebrook, p.97
62. See WO 171/1248 21st Independent Parachute Company War Diary, entry for 17/09/1944; Kent, pp.95-98; and Middlebrook, pp.96-97
63. Quoted from Miller, pp.92-94
64. See Middlebrook, p.100
65. See Green, pp.4-5
66. See Middlebrook, pp.103-104
67. See ibid., p.106
68. Quoted from ibid., p.106
69. See Fairley, p.36
70. See Middlebrook, p.102
71. Quote and figures from ibid., pp.104-105
72. See Sims, p.34
73. See ibid., pp.35-36
74. Testimony from Private Bob Elliott, 1st Battalion The Border Regiment; cited in Middlebrook, p.110
75. Testimony from Sapper Tam Hepburn, 1st Parachute Squadron RE; cited in ibid., p.109
76. Comment from Sapper Arthur Hendy, 1st Parachute Squadron RE; cited in ibid., p.111
77. Quoted from Sims, p.36
78. See WO 171/1248 21st Independent Company War Diary, entry for 17/09/1944; and Middlebrook, p.111
79. See Ryan, pp.190-191
80. Drop timing cited in A Graphic History of the 82nd Airborne Division, entry for ‘D-Day, 17 September’. For numbers of men, guns and ammunition see Ryan, pp.220-221; and Blair, Ridgway’s Paratroopers, p.330
81. See Gavin, On to Berlin, pp.153-155
82. Timing cited in A Graphic History of the 82nd Airborne Division, entry for ‘D Day, 17 September’
83. Figures cited in Brinson, p.139
84. See T. Moffatt Burriss, Strike and Hold, p.106
85. See Brinson, p.140
86. See MacDonald, The Siegfried Line Campaign, p.160; and Ryan, p.218. The former claims Thompson’s stick landed within 700 yards of the bridge, the latter 500-600
87. Timing cited in A Graphic History of the 82nd Airborne Division, entry for ‘D Day, 17 September’
88. See Major Benjamin. F. Delamater, The Actions of the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry, p.8
89. See MacDonald, The Siegfried Line Campaign, p.159
90. Cited in Delamater, p.8
91. Figures cited in MacDonald, The Siegfried Line Campaign, p.159
92. See Blair, pp.330-331; and MacDonald The Siegfried Line Campaign, p.159
93. See Ryan, p.222
94. See ibid., p.191
95. See Rapport and Northwood, Rendezvous with Destiny, p.279
96. See MacDonald, The Siegfried Line Campaign, p.145; and Rapport and Northwood, pp.268-279
97. See Rapport and Northwood, pp.269-271; and MacDonald, The Siegfried Line Campaign, p.147
Chapter 6
1. See WO 171/605 5 Guards Armoured Brigade War Diary, entries for 13-16/09/1944
2. See Wilson, The Ever Open Eye, p.104
3. OST: Ordinary Summer Time; sunrise and sunset timings quoted from Field Order No. 11, 82nd Airborne Division, Annex 1.a(1) to F.O. 11, Weather; Sun and Moon Tables, Para .2 “Sun and Moon Data”, dated 11/09/1944
4. See Kershaw, It Never Snows in September, p.45
5. See for example Powell, The Devil’s Birthday, p.82
6. Quoted from WO 171/376 HQ Guards Armoured Division War Diary, ‘Guards Armoured Division Operations Order No. 12, Operation Garden’, Appendix JA, Paragraph 8 ‘Timings’, dated 15/09/1944
7. See WO 171/341, 30 Corps September 1944, 30 Corps Battle Logs, September 1944, entry for 10:15, 17/09/1944; for MARKET take-off time see for example Otway, Airborne Forces, p.268
8. See WO 171/1256 2nd (Armoured) Battalion Irish Guards War Diary, entry for 12:00, 17/09/1944
9. See Wilson, p.103
10. See WO 171/605 5th Guards Armoured Brigade War Diary, Appendix D, dated 15/09/ 1944; and Appendix F, dated 16/09/1944
11. See WO 171/1256 2nd (Armoured) Battalion Irish Guards War Diary, entry for 13:15, 17/09/1944; and Wilson. p.104
12. 20,000 vehicle figure cited in Powell, p.85; 3,124 figure calculated from WO 171/376 HQ Guards Armoured Division War Diary, January - September 1944, Appendix JA, ‘Guards Armoured Division Operations Order No. 12, Operation Garden’, Annexure to Appendix A, ‘Order of March & Groupings’, dated 15/09/1944
13. See WO 171/376 HQ Guards Armoured Division War Diary, January - September 1944, Appendix JA, ‘Guards Armoured Division Operations Order No. 12, Operation Garden’, Appendix A - Grouping & Order of March, Para. 3, dated 15/09/1944
14. See John Sliz, The Storm Boat Kings, pp.30, 46
15. See CAB 44/254 Part II: Operation MARKET GARDEN, Book III, Chapter VI, Appendix C, RE Aspect of ‘GARDEN’; and Harclerode, Arnhem: A Tragedy of Errors, pp.59-62
16. See Verney, The Guards Armoured Division, pp.100-101
17. For the full details see foe example WO 205/192 Operation ‘Market-Garden’: outline plans and instructions; WO 205/872 Operation ‘Market’ and ‘Garden: Outline Plan and Organisation; and WO 219/2887 Operation ‘Market’: Seizure of Maas, Rhine and Neder Rijn Bridge in Arnhem
18. See CAB 44/254 Part II: Operation MARKET GARDEN, Book III, Chapter VII, Section I
19. For development and employment details see Ian Gooderson, Air Power at the Battlefront, pp.22-29
20. See WO 171/376 HQ Guards Armoured Division War Diary, January - September 1944, Appendix JA,
‘Guards Armoured Division Operations Order No. 12, Operation Garden’, Para. 9 ‘Air Support’, dated 15/09/1944
21. See Verney, p.102
22. See CAB 44/254 Part II: Operation MARKET GARDEN, Book III, Chapter VII, Appendix A, Section 1 ‘Movement Order for Phase I’ & Section 3 ‘Gds Armd Div and forward units of 50 (N) Div - Narrative 17 Sep.’; and Wilson, p.104
23. See WO 171/376 HQ Guards Armoured Division War Diary Jan-Sept 1944, Appendix JA ‘Guards Armoured Division Operations Order No. 12 Operation Garden’, Para 14 ‘Divisional Tasks’; Appendix A, ‘Grouping and Order of March’, Para 2; and Annexure I to Appendix A ‘Order of March and Groupings’, dated 15/09/1944
24. 19:30 nightfall timing cited in CAB 44/254 Part II: Operation MARKET GARDEN, Book III, Chapter VII, Appendix A, Section 1 ‘Movement Order for Phase I’ & Section 3 ‘Gds Armd Div and forward units of 50 (N) Div - Narrative 17 Sep.’
25. Kershaw, p.43
26. See ibid., p.30
27. See ibid., pp.30, 45-46, 79
28. Gun numbers cited in Kershaw, p.27; the latter also refers to the weapons being of 76mm calibre; see ibid., p.46
29. See ibid., p.46
30. See CAB 44/254 Part II: Operation MARKET GARDEN, Book III, Chapter VII, Appendix A, Section 3 ‘Gds Armd Div and forward units of 50 (N) Div - Narrative 17 Sep.’; and Kershaw, p.79
31. See Verney, p.102
32. See Kershaw, p.79
33. For tank and crew losses see WO 171/1256 2 Irish Guards (Armoured Battalion) War Diary, entry for 14:35, 17/09/1944; for knocked-out armoured cars and tank crew PoWs, see Kershaw, p.81
34. See Wilson, pp.104-105
35. Eleven squadron figure cited in WO 171/379 HQ Guards Armoured Division War Diary Jan-Sept 1944, Appendix JA ‘Guards Armoured Division Operations Order No. 12 Operation Garden’, Para. 12. ‘Phases’; section (c,) ‘Air’; the 15:12 start time, 116 sortie figure and target location distances cited in CAB 44/254 Part II: Operation MARKET GARDEN, Book III, Chapter VII, Appendix A, Section 3 ‘Gds Armd Div and forward units of 50 (N) Div - Narrative 17 Sep.’
36. See Wilson, pp.105-106, 108; there is no reference to friendly fire casualties in the War Diaries of the units involved
37. See Kershaw, p.80
38. Quotes from Wilson, p.106
39. For German POW figure and 2nd Devons wood clearing see WO 171/1257 3rd Battalion Irish Guards War Diary, entry for 17/09/1944; and CAB 44/254 Part II: Operation MARKET GARDEN, Book III, Chapter VII, Appendix A, Section 3 ‘Gds Armd Div and forward units of 50 (N) Div - Narrative 17 Sep.’
40. See Kershaw. p.87
41. See WO 171/1256 2 Irish Guards (Armoured) Battalion War Diary, entry for 14:35, 17/09/1944
42. See CAB 44/254 Part II: Operation MARKET GARDEN, Book III, Chapter VII, Appendix A, Section 3 ‘Gds Armd Div and forward units of 50 (N) Div - Narrative 17 Sep.’
43. Sometimes rendered Zon in US accounts
44. See Rapport & Northwood, Rendezvous with Destiny, p.274
45. See ibid., p.274
46. See MacDonald, The Siegfried Line Campaign, p.148
47. See Ambrose, Band of Brothers, p.125
48. See Rapport & Northwood, p.272; and Ambrose, p.125
49. For a vivid participant account of the 506th Regiment’s assault on the flak guns at Son see Burgett, The Road to Arnhem, pp.35-43; see also Ambrose, p.126; and Rapport & Northwood, p.274
50. See Rapport & Northwood, pp.279-281; and MacDonald, The Siegfried Line Campaign, p.146
51. Sometimes rendered as Vechel in US accounts
52. See Rapport & Northwood, pp.275-277; and MacDonald, The Siegfried Line Campaign, p.145
53. See Kershaw, p.116
54. See Rapport & Northwood, pp.284-287; and MacDonald, The Siegfried Line Campaign, p.146
55. See Captain Carl W. Kappel, The Operations of Company ‘H’, 504th Parachute Infantry, pp.18-19
56. See Gavin, On to Berlin, p.156
57. See Ryan, A Bridge Too Far, p.220; and MacDonald, The Siegfried Line Campaign, p.160
58. Quote from T. Moffatt Burriss, Strike and Hold, p.106
59. See A Graphic History of the 82nd Airborne Division, entry for ‘D Day, 17 September’; and Ryan, p.220
60. See A Graphic History of the 82nd Airborne Division, entry for ‘D Day, 17 September’
61. See Burriss, p.107
62. Quoted from Charles B. MacDonald, The Siegfried Line Campaign, footnote 35, p.158
63. See Gavin, On to Berlin, pp.157-158; MacDonald, The Siegfried Line Campaign, p.161; timings cited in A Graphic History of the 82nd Airborne Division, entry for ‘D Day, 17 September’
64. See MacDonald, The Siegfried Line Campaign, p.161
65. See Gavin, On to Berlin, p.147; and MacDonald, The Siegfried Line Campaign, p.162
66. See A Graphic History of the 82nd Airborne Division, entry for ‘D Day, 17 September’; and MacDonald, The Siegfried Line Campaign, p.162
67. See A Graphic History of the 82nd Airborne Division, entry for ‘D Day, 17 September’; Gavin, On to Berlin, p.160; and Ryan, p.221
68. See A Graphic History of the 82nd Airborne Division, entry for ‘D Day, 17 September’
69. Quote from Gavin, On to Berlin, p.161
70. See MacDonald, The Siegfried Line Campaign, p.162
71. See Major Benjamin. F. Delamater, The Actions of the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry, p.9; and ibid., ‘Insertion to Monograph, Extracts of Letter from Major J. E. Adams, dated 07/04/1947, p.2
72. Quoted from letter from Gavin, n.d.; cited in MacDonald, The Siegfried Line Campaign, p.162
73. Quoted from letter from Lindquist dated 09/09/1955; cited in MacDonald, The Siegfried Line Campaign, p.163
74. See Gavin, On to Berlin, p.151; and MacDonald, The Siegfried Line Campaign, p.162.
75. This was not strictly accurate, for the bridges were protected a weak scratch force cobbled together from local units by an Oberst Henke from a nearby Fallschirmjäger training HQ until reinforced briefly at 19:00 by Hauptsturmführer Viktor Gräbner and elements of SS Panzer Aufklärungs Abteilung 9; see Kershaw, pp.99-100
76. Patrol details and departure time cited in Delamater, pp.9-10
77. Quoted from letter from Gavin, nd; cited in MacDonald, The Siegfried Line Campaign, p.163
78. See Delamater, p.9; and Adams, p.2
79. See Delamater, p.10
80. See Ryan, pp.223-224; interestingly Gavin makes no mention of this in his memoir
81. See Middlebrook, Arnhem 1944, p.165. Lieutenant Fuller Heath Gee in interred in Mook War Cemetery, Limburg, Holland, Plot I, Row E, Grave 17
82. Quote from AIR 37/1214 Allied Expeditionary Air Force: Report on Operation ‘Market’ and ‘Garden’: Allied Airborne Operations in Holland, Para. 119; cited in Powell, p.118
83. See ‘Army Air Forces Historical Study No.1: Development and Procurement of Gliders in the Army Air Forces 1941-1944’, p.20; cited in Devlin, Silent Wings, p.73
84. See for example Rapport and Northwood, pp.19-20; and Devlin, Paratrooper, pp.118-120
85. Conversation between Browning and Chatterton cited in Harclerode, Tragedy of Errors, pp.51-52. Interestingly, Chatterton makes no mention of this in his combined memoir and history of the Glider Pilot Regiment
86. See WO 171/1248 21st Independent Parachute Company War Diary, entry for 17/09/1944; and Ron Kent, First In!, pp.98-99
87. See WO 166/14933 1st Airlanding Light Regiment RA War Diary, various entries 17/09/1944
88. See WO 171/1513 9th (Airborne) Field Company RE War Diary, entry for 19/09/1944
89. Lieutenant Roy Edward John Willetts Timmins, Corporal William Thomas Noel Takle and Sapper Peter Greig are interred in Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery, Gelderland, Holland, in Plot 26, Row A, Grave 7, Plot 16, Row A, Grave 15 and Plot 16, Row A, Grave 16 respectively
90. See WO 171/1513 9th (Airborne) Field Company RE War Diary, various entries 17/09/1944
91. See Kershaw, p.7
2
92. Although the 2nd South Staffords War Diary does not mention it, the 1st Airlanding Brigade HQ War Diary explicitly refers to the South Staffords clearing Wolfheze before returning to the vicinity of Reijers-Camp Farm to dig in; see WO 171/589 1st Airlanding Brigade War Diary, entry for 17/09/1944; see also Middlebrook, pp.116-117
93. See WO 171/1375 2nd Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment War Diary, various entries 17/09/1944; and ibid., Appendix ‘2nd South Staffords at Arnhem 17-25 Sept. 44’. Duitsekampweg translates roughly to ‘German War Way’ in Dutch, and commemorated an internment camp for German detainees that stood nearby during the First World War; see Middlebrook, p.117
94. See WO 166/15077, 1st Battalion The Border Regiment War Diary, entry for Sunday 17/09/1944; and Green, 1st Battalion The Border Regiment, pp.11-13, 16
95. CanLoan: codename for scheme by which Canadian officers could volunteer to serve with British Army units. By the latter half of 1943 the British Army was suffering from a shortage of junior officers while the Canadian Army had a surplus due in part to the disbanding of some Home Defence formations. A total of 673 Canadian officers served with British units under the CanLoan Scheme, the vast majority of them subalterns.
96. See WO 171/1323, 7th Battalion King’s Own Scottish Borderers War Diary, entry for 19:00, 17/09/1944; and Middlebrook, p.163
97. See WO 171/1323, 7th Battalion King’s Own Scottish Borderers War Diary, various entries 17/09/1944
98. See Middlebrook, pp.163-164
99. Depending on the source Helle’s rank is given Hauptsturmführer, Sturmbannführer or Obersturmbannführer
100. See Kershaw, p.110
101. See WO 171/592, 1st Parachute Brigade War Diary, Appendix A ‘Operation MARKET: Diary of Events, 1 Parachute Brigade HQ’, entry for 14:10, 17/09/1944; and comment from Sapper Arthur Hendy, 1st Parachute Squadron RE; cited in Middlebrook, p.111
102. quote and timings from WO 171/592, 1st Parachute Brigade War Diary, Appendix A ‘Operation MARKET: Diary of Events, 1 Parachute Brigade HQ’, entries for 14:10, 14:20 & 14:25, 17/09/1944
103. See WO 171/1236, 1st Parachute Battalion War Diary, entry for 14:45, 17/09/1944; and WO 171/592, 1st Parachute Brigade War Diary, Appendix A ‘Operation MARKET: Diary of Events, 1 Parachute Brigade HQ’, entry for 14:45, 17/09/1944
104. See Middlebrook, p.150
105. See WO 171/592, 1st Parachute Brigade War Diary, Appendix A ‘Operation MARKET: Diary of Events, 1 Parachute Brigade HQ’, entry for 15:30, 17/09/1944