JU 2 1

C"c!,;) . ,. ' tt- 2 1.

1/ O/ I' r"4'" ~;~ I; !lvllt"" "

IIrr rIfA /I­
s fEB 1945
 :

Coor Ho. Cory Ho.

H. q . 1 Brit Airborne COlPS 1 - 10 ! nt 26

C.G. , F.A .A.A. I I - 12 AQ

,6
D. Air , "/o.r Office

AirborOl O Div
13 :.. 14
15
ST 28

29

Para Bdo 16 Ord JO

Air Ld[; Baa 17 lillIE )1

Poliah Para Bdo 18 32

l ' Airborne Reece Sqn 19

33

21 ln dcp Para Coy 20 Aoe 3D o}- RI\F 34

RA 21 _'oc 46 Gp RAP 35

Engrs 22 C.G. ,IX T. e . C. j6

5igs A. . ~ .C ., I. T. C. 37

Comd 24 \!nr Di.J.ry 38

GS 25 Pile 39

,
UN~lA S~nED
•
j .

-
 -
_./­

-
•./..1. 'Or'T Oil ..... -J~ ' .

1. ;:,;i tU'l t L)n :,ri. r t 1.h" ~ )1JI',!tL~n •.•••

Otjr..;ct _-;1'" thl,; Op0r!lti n. '• . ... . . .... . •
... ...... .... ...... 1

? • • • • • • • •• J.
). i'l'\.nr:in...:; ~ll:l . . r"':l'e.r".ti n • • •. ...•.•••.•••. • . • .••••.•••••• 1
4. Outlinu .L'lan •. . ..••.... • • . • • ......••.•.• • • .• • •••• •• •••.• 2
5. Initi:ll fli ~ht ru1.l lr.:..l'l.'...in · ... . ..... . .. . . . . . . . .. . " ...... 3

(. (}~)(.ra.ti ns f lst lift· u~ t, 1500 hr:; , h 31; 4

· ..... ...
7. O!?L;r.::.z:td ns 1'1' rr. 1500 hr:3, l l ' ~'-'l' tr: 23,9 1 ',I , 10 81;;1 •••• 10
,.
')~'"l"a.ti r.:J 1'1' m 0001 t~r$, 19 ~ ... \ t, 2.159 !. 'I; , 2~ S,,~ .. .. 12
9. U 'l,;l"~"'i 11S f r.;.il, ()()(jl 1.1'3 21 SI..i.' t'. 2000 ·s, 2;) 3( ... " ••. 19
10 . "h·. ".1. th ..rawel t '.-. J!n~ ... . . ... . .. . • ••••••.•• • .?~
11. ;:tho :ro' tw:n fr~.' N!J:fli....ll ... "l. ol\. '"
• • • • • · ...• • .. • . • .• •2j

12 . G· n\"r·~l. . • . . ...... .. .... . • , ••••••••• • • '2 7

13·
11..
:Uaunc1 in_ r ;r'.:.ti n .•.. ... , .... ••• • ..•. ':7

!cint 'nJICI..: 1:::.1. ••.• · , ......... 27

15·
16 .
Or ~I.' f t ttl!"; ••• .. . , ..... . ... ....... .~. ---
3u:. ': .1,~ Ly eir • . ... . • 0 •• • • • •••••••• 0 • ,_

17. ~ - 1 ... .::..11.. !ia; i.....c '.'.T •••• ..•.• 29

1e' . !)",'lh ,rJ.l.. t"'.i1 • . ... .... '. '
.. . . •29
..... . ,..,

19. , . ..•. 50

20 . ...... ·.......... .. .
Int!· )llu.r::ti 'm • . • • • . . ,.
• ••• • • • • • •• , 0

21. .i.'lc:.nnin. . • .. . , ~ ... 3

....... . ... ·...

, ,

·
0 • • • , •• • , 0 ••• •• • •

22 . J,ir SU. .L l't •.

·.... ... .... . ...... .

0 0 • 0 •••••• ' • • 0

23 . ms . ' • .
I\,;r3-:.nn~1 1;.nJ. "';(""_.'
21... !lr... a.isci~'li
1-' rr:J. ... •.. ·, .. ..
· .... ... ·....
0 0 • ••• • •• • • • •

25 . 7I"uni n, • • •. • .•..
·ir.ts • . . ... .
• •••• • • f.:J

........... .. ... .... ·... ... ....·... ... 7

26 . ~.r;;n....rll J.... . ,~(i

27. 1.: :t.. • •••••• • •••• • •• • ••• • • •••• , I.

. t!'U't :v - " j

1. . Qr.jer,·f in.J.ttl'; J 1 .nirb r...... )i v , .••. • •.. • • 0 ••••• • , • •••••

.. ~.
'r, L;'iti
,..
D!.:';r.J.i 'n ..n:;trurti ..n'l )1 v • . · , .....
• <; •• , •••

j) .
" " ·.. .. .... ..
" " ~"..r': J.J{h• • • •• • •• •
P. " " 1 Air :,IUlJi,ll :tI<
G.
n. " ,." 1 ;..' li~J. Tno.!_...... ' :,to"" f1(;.t.J G~ ..•
" ,,~ . t•. , 1 Ail'Lorll"" Jlv •..• •• . . 0 "
J. ,.
"
..:; . J 1 &~iJ'L l'ra....: , ..iv ••• • •••••••
K. "
" i v .:i·· n.".13 •• • • •••••

.,.
.
.c. "
1 airu .nl -::iv
".r..;,_
l. 1lJ ' •• .
...
· ....
• . ' •• J
. .. ...
:;. l,irr !.'nc !)iv •••••••

· .. . .
,
I: . _Ii ''.loy f 1 i'r\.:" .
Ol.
Di!lrj!
O?
_.i".J."y o. 1f • ...'r.r,\
;.).:!"' L~
' . . . ..
'"
.... , ....... ... ,
·. .... '

., h.. • • • • • • • •• • • •
• • J. ie_ i rtl. .. tt.. rn "lY. r.!1 .:(.; • .• ....... .

Part V - DETAILED REPORTS BY A.;u.rs O'rHER 'frIAI I INF (i n scpare.t c fo l der )

Q. Report by G (Int), 1 Airborne Div

R. " II eRA, 1 Airborne I iv
S. " n CRE , 1 AirboI'nc Di v.
T. " II OC, 1 Ai rborne Div Si gnals
U. " II ADl.1S, 1 Ail'bor nc ill v .

 • -

PAR ~ r p 3 .t .t.
~Gl1~' '-'I'~""'" ,,*¥!"'II'1r~ , .., »

O
fEF
iR' M"

~',"l1~1F~~~~~~~f~~I"~"~"-~'
rr~ c-ar~c~~a.
SITU~·I.TION PRIOr< TO TiL': OP':":;:2~10Jr .

1. ~y miu, -~cpt,-mlA..::r ,
l~44J S3JO::'U ~Wl! Army had.
::'~ol'eani sQd after their r~y,id n.UVWlC'_ to thl.... .I:.U!:I.C
fronti e r an: 1 '-/("'1.'-:, ready f or further adVallC{';S .

nhe; .• r.cnti oll of r..i.J<r;C1D ~irmy ',,(115 to advUl'lcc: north

ucros:-! tht. ....S '·Ul,'u.., una t ..c:DER RIJ1{ f OllJ!:. ntrone; Lridt:c ­
hcrui north of _~;JJilll HTh. conti nut.: ~.:,o.:;rations north into
'·OLiu>.!ir 'l.nd cad ar;<rin:.;t th(; H.!:'JI(JI.. The main axis of the
Ildvw)(.;(. ,fU;; to b<.:: -'.r.~1..LlIV~r - G-R" L. - ~,;r.nm·Eil - ~U<NFJ!lJ. .
This a u . \',',':J..; '.llottt..l to jO COI"!IS .

2. It ':'~l~; thought tho..t th~ CI.-Ir..'/ t:I.udt still 1..'(; ili.s­

or cc.tu:1lJd -.d'te r his 10!l.(l: ruod h'l~ty r· trt.:nt froItI sout :l of'
t:"l(; R. S!I1'; :i.1~1 ':L~ t, thoUCh t :-.I...l'- "'c.ht bt; m.un'~rous
:11,;.... 1 1 bcui..... ~ of ru,.;:lY i n th..., ':U'o.,;u , ':,::JUld n, t v:; r.c..p:J.blc
of o:t·ga.r~i ~juu. rl.>it:1t:u-.c;.; to :\1\Y rn. " ~xt-:...nt .

}.
7205 '0'11).:: not in uze , thcrf.) ',/~S a V I::.: J h~c.'. , ; r.;·'Jri,"'clttr,"> :ior~
cf t1.clc in i ....; ...i .cinity mel in ;;..~:!l. it ~elf .

, Tao airborn\.. force :tv 'rilc.clt '~..:n3iztcd ()t

,"

HQ i3riti~Jl Ilirbcl'l:.L. ")..':"p;;

1 ,-,ri ti !:h ~'.irborn(.: li':~sion
.32 U~ ••irbm:"n<.. !jlvi .:......... .
101 J3 :d rlt~)rnc L.ivL.;ion
1 P'\lish P'1'''l x'. GrC'ul,.· ,

5. T~l(; t'=-k cl' ":.\~ torn( WUs to r-;..tl ,t·..lI'i,.; and hold th.. .
Gro~:sin':,s 0\' • tJ:1l {.!tlr,alf! ,.:nd "i'ro:;ro , wt.icl: lay on 30
Gr.r. ::I ! ·:p:i!' :;;dV"•.I1C' fl:ern incl'l.U:liv,- illUlIOVli. to
inclusi VI.;' ,\, q

G. 'El:c. tlJ.;~, of 1 .·,L'b me Divi, )1 (,,'r.! th 1 P olish

P'.'!.r:;' &k. G.:) 'Ll.'1(kr· cnml~:.UnCl) '/':". to c~_~ '-:'U!''-i th(; hrillee:;
t:.t i ... ·:.!!Hl!.". en t £.:;t.<:..b.Li8h .... bri1;... " l rnU11u. thwn, sO
tL o.t for•.l·lti. nt; 01' .~cor-1-'~
. ,1'1(: SE·": im',\'.' coul,l 1'13.5S
through vri +.i'1.0i.lt
.
_" th,-1.l" ~UVQ.(,i' um:thv/::rD.s •

) . ·"b.) i'u'f' r -'~il'.j.c· i on ,:.r' tJ': ('~r"l_tlon W' 5

1'\..-, iv,,"t:. Hi.:O 1 I,'., -lh.. i. I~ 1.l'I.-vi..I o~l..:ra-:-:i..m
cnvisa.­
:!.n:~ .,'" ~ "'l t'jJ' c L- 1rid., _... ut " 1f.v",:, LrJ1®L:. Mu
d'r.;,,- ;,;y 1 :,U"; ,r ." ~ ....J.vi:3ic:n \'}i-h 1.1.' li::ll: 1"'.1'':::' &1(; Gp

• . .• ~/\1ndt.l'
 -
- --- ... ­

"
•
.
1

uruw' cQf'llllml(l \.;~:. ~'lnC, lIeu . 'Ph", information obtruflcd

fel ' tho..: c:lrlc'..:ll, c1 o.'Lr~tion ,',r,s (,f "vnsidLrllulo vc.luc
wi'lc.n pl:;mninu; Op",r~tion :.i\ ij1l' .

12 . "'h.; Jri..Vi:.H.' _~ '":.,:ml.'ll1'+ ,;r if, ".1 d hb-) verbal ol'<:i<.::rs

1:(', t.h... 1 h 10! (~rOUl ":!.t _!G'...l~~ P".:.~F t; 1700 hr;.\..U'5 on 12
,k:, ';.4 . 'b.. ~~Jk- Lv\,;nin,: inforr"l..';tti:',n .7':..'1 !", (" ive':': that
D !:'l.,y wouh b.. 17 .:; .....' 44. .

13 . in tr:.l!',,,i t c~:litf'!: , cClns\,;qu..:;nt

~'_l·tt_lr'i 1'(; ,f_,justrn..:.nt~
on :J. rl'~sh " .1otu~!It ·,r e:liJJ~r3 r.r..:1 trov_'s to. !'i.irril;ld.~ ,
"ft.r,.; ~'~.1"ri... jut "n 12 SL!' . Gli i ...!'u \"',.:1."u loo.tl(;c., ana
bri<;i'inr:, 1"0ops uo;,.;, "l.tt I on 15 .:30I1 .

14. Orl III ;l.'p chc l.livisivno.l Unn..i'\J'l.-l(.;r, !!CC0rlpo.ni....U

by th(.; eM , vi~itt..ol the ttl"''''!~ .Br.lL"'~ . ~c,:.r:v;.r.(.cr!;l ~_Jl.d
SQr.!Jl'.DJt;k;r ..I..!:.t PC.'li.s!l P-'X'!l. _A.-0 G~ 0.' . ~o - ordin!\t·:d '-n.!­
outstr:.1"/.il'lL !.,vints in -th~ ,ld.'m .

15 . ...lthou~h tb ,)lrul b ;iv.... n i; li.t:t'.il in the

:.!.r:m:':X1.ll't..;!i in p':!J·t lV, it is arr.:.l.'OJ.,l''::rltu to outlinu it h .... re: .
7hl.; o;,)cl'c.tion 'i:n5 t 1,0 c'.lITied ou+. in thr.... f., lifts or.
thr~c ~on;;(;;:rl,tiv(.; :l:~s , \'fL;,'lth(;r :-'':1' ittine.

1(. '1.'11(.; [!.v:;ilo.bi lity of c.ircre.f":; 'Yi", i~lil.;.ars by litts ,

il.nd th,_ tr·'(' ~ to be,; ;".rric.:!. in ear';'1 lift, 'vI\;.rt.: as
i' . 110\'1: :­

(e.) _l'ir.t l.Iift .

12 l'a.thfir.i!....r .':lirer .:.'t of 38 Group

1.. . i~ . ~' . (Stir1in,.-"),

11,3 '-' , !. 7 P:.r:l{)hutl.l '...ircr~t rf U:3 9th

-:'r,.:.(Yr' CC'r~i "~r Cor. '. ..r. •

35: ""Ul! '1ircr-d't of 3 G.... 46 Groulls "..... .3' .

U~tir..Lin~s, ;. lbc!,J.L:.X'lo~ , Rllifux~s a.n:..:.
C. !t-7s) •

545 Hor":!'i Eli OJ'S .

13 E~ilc'.U' ,,;lillers •

. i'l.WJ~ c ~rrio<

RA •

. . ' . . /1 . ~irl~i ng
,,

J. ;, lrlfl:n~.in.. ~ .....J.t. (1~, .:, c...rtd.n

./ su1:..-units) .
16 l',U'"n. lrJ. ~'11 !Lull).1lc~ .
;.•. ~ ,tirl"m.i of Fl ;>l'lt.ul-::noc .

( )

l::!( C. l,7 P'u ..C:l'.1tu nircr<U't of '!S

"th Tl.-Q"P ~·.rri 1.' :::;x..',\rm· .
301 "w..; ell'.. :r t of 3.... and li-6 GrO\.;.,g
1: " \ ' F .
2;-,1, !ior::;;n .;1i ~... r::~ .

17 I.~u.ulc· lL... LT."

" pr:.r~~ Bc!t. .

2 :. tl~ Bty,
OTlL lity 1 t: d "U1'linr !.ti ~ht ReL-:t , It:'• •
I.. p ....r.~ Sqn
!;} Per:,::' '.. 'ul':l.l\c'.. •
.J'l.ol.!lnC< f vLi r'l "'r,xJg ,_'1Q 1
,\iJ'l..n-iI![, L .

( •j ':"l,irJ Lift,•

.lll~ (' . 47 l''1r, ...;hu~ .... :ircr'!ft of US

91.1. Tr·,.)u:.. ;rxl:i....l' ·:ourJal'...... .
35 Tu't o.ircr"...f t (If 3 n GcoU!> R. h . P .
)) h ,(';:':1 eli !o.;rr.: .

Thcst:. c".rric

1 l li.~'l. J.~'.:rrl •. 1L, Gp (le::;s its

Lit:ht ilty) .

(. In th{. first lift 1 r:ll·&... . . hoo . ..1.:" th'Jir first

r sponsit,ilitJo t{. c~~/_.lI' cf tb. :::.ir. r oc.:c! critl . . ,e in
,t\i(i!I-D:Y, s;;cc'nd .:.'ril'ri ty ~.i:.c;·.~t\,...1 c1' t.h£ !:"ontooll
.;riO..~1... at 73r:J771. . 1 t.il'l!::.n .i...., .U '.'1....1"(; t r..: :PTOtuct
1;' ~ <:[ ~ :..z el'..:us vI,til th.... ::'T V'l._ 0'1' ':h c' s~cor.u.
lift t r: lJ + 1 , th.... n to r:,n...r ":l'at· .Jl(., f:.ll'i:: F ~}t..ri:::.t. t~r
·...(;fcno::·- lln·, nth.... ':n, ~~tl rr'. ;ut:' l.rt· of .;.ru:CJ.E:I .

1. . 1.. i-'-<l-~ ,.... , in tht. :; .co, U "'1.: , i'.'Cr·,,; tc rroOV ~

v:.stw'\.;1ls :U:u e,mtinut:; tht.; p r i n. J r line ~1or.: th.:
hiZh o ·r;ur.. ~ ju:;t I".orth )f ,',!·:':.:If:' 'irS:il~ tlP '.-ti f-b 1
.l.'..-..r" - -;. C~1 ti't:' .in rr,J,l(. .'..·JJlli - .o.PI:;:.....;.:x;:, ,', .

l ~'
" 1 P 'li::;1'l P:..u· :-... ~. Gop , i1". I' 'th...r<.l lift-. ·({<.ro to
1t:.nd Routh ai' tll.(, l'ivl.-l' imml,;u.iut,-,~.~.- c •. rHlltt.. .iR:'JIE.~,
cro~:' tho... r.i. yo!' hy the 11::.i1" bx-iJ: 'lIlel OC(lU:1Y Po posi tion
n tht.: ... ·':l~tt.:L·). ('Iutski.rt~ ,-:"f /;'PJ .. ,

20 . It •. IUS _ .ntorulo::d t
l/i~~~ i\ r ' a firm b ri'1etlll3::"J.
rOlJl\(l .I.Jl!;hE:~
wi tIl a f'llz'-! fr',~nt l" ;;i ti ·'n :Uld stOJ"'.t-:ing
f,~:trl..·15 rush.... 1..i. \1-.;.11 ()t,t il, f'rcnt .1 th..~ ("'.oj n rmsi tion .
Tho.:;. rri!iif'.I.;.l T,l:m is MCion-t !!,T'll'hlr :J.Jy in t.he +:r'lCI.. ~t ­
t-~.d--.",,-, t, ;.nn(;x·ll·... ' 1"' , :rort r~· .

II;!T!/.!.. :o'LlGi-I'l' Ju .
"

'2 , .,"- _ther 'n Dune••.,)' ,,' rd" , 17 Sc" ',,-no s uitable
'-..lthc'Ubh tlu...!' \'I",~ b,''r" '1 \;Ul' ult:,J fr m .500 t'l 1500 or
2(.{.)() ft . r:~\::l .. '~!I1't'-l'".l.lly cl~ 'lr ,'.ftt.:r po.ssine (vcr thl.;;
I, ~ . "'h
'.

Enzli;ih COc..Jt ",1 tlll.l'l,.;-:.:ftl:.r it \'fa fin.... ~XC(;~t f' ,1' :ilii:ht
h,~,;. .... .

2..3 . 'I'l;,t; r ,utI.; to.k· 11 by 3v G-r 'uT "..rl.' 46 Grou.;1 f'ir~l'!d't

fro!.' their airfi.:lcl in Oxi'or'1~hir'...: ·1I .... G-louc(;st(';l'shil'<o: ,

','f":'l f~r$ t ~·lc3tw!!.1'13 (v..;r the: 3ri stol ('hs.nnE:l th(;n , dt\;r

(.l. IBO tUl:ll Lo.c:k OV(;J.~ the cirfi~ld Il.l'(.;('. , tc :k\T2:r:til.D;

thence n l·th ca.st t, '\b. l.lt OflM'OI\.L i~:; , ·,'ihl..r;:.; the C'JIJJlll1

oros"ud the cc~st .

2~, . Parr.tchute Ili.!'cr r..!'",:" fr th<,: 9t. 1'rol'!.J Carri(Jr

GQJ<1I::L'.J1d 'lirficlds in th'.; Cw..'mki1i ar_" rh.-.f south o.;;:ast ,

~n'.l ~:::ts:;v ;v...r -h... COf;st 0.:1.. thL SaJ7lI ,b.ct: l:t:;hin,d tht;

elil1.r f . 1'0(' .

25 . '''11"" ' i l " ~'1; _J"; er )s.'ecl tr.(; .JUt~;n ";J~:·t '!!.; ~ poi nt
ou thl.. is!_C1l\l ')f O\fl:F,: FL.M'lli:':, the:} fl "/ C(l.st·,;ru~':', snuth
of' th~ rivo..;!" 1.., I , t _ l~ciI"'.t f' uth r :'::~~''::O.';:::-j('I::;CH ,
"Aler., th 'clUJ,·n f.r ,'L- Jill,; "':m-IIL' lIc~':h t.:l!st '..1",(1 cros.·ud
till; l'iv(·,r:· 1....,;':) 'm; ir.....:Jl RIoT! , V'"-x:y lit. '.1e fl<.:.k. \'I(lS
c.nccun1 o::rr~ 1, thnt<..jli riaing c:~lumn. · of .~:::l:'~ in ('n~ or
two lll~cl:~a l.!o.V·,;: (.vi.J.~'ncL: ::,f ",ff'Jctiv,; ·.cti;)n t..y th~
VIC Jrtu-:s b ...nb(r,:; rmd fi,:hti.;ra .

•
2':; . ~A)th qli_'~l'S
r. :.rd l)::u'l'.c l.ut<. IF.:.n'"'.ln,Js w..;:rt: ',-cc0r.t;lli shEid
l1x'actictily ',,1. thout ~,~'(l:~i ti.·n , ~,-n" aL~\n~t lOO,b "'r;. th~
corroO.ct L7. tmu 1.,:6 (1; r·rv:nGine r.t 130~ IU'.;! . Glir",L:s;" Ln&J.ll12s
t.~)<"Jc i lac.... be;f('l,i'(;; th'-" ll"'.r~.chuti~t~ 'If'" ,'t'(; ' Cu;.uc.lt i cs
:>n .I.hl,;; '...1L. '1..111- w~r·~ .'il :ht , c0nG.... ntl'''lti_1. ir. l'CnG... zvoul:!
wan qcick '~L its !!l('V(;~ LJi'!' i'r:JIII 00/" to lOO-~ ~trmg .
"'hI..: time ttJe·... cJ cono.,ntL",tc Wl\~ be:lnr, an: th-~ high
lKrcvnt'!......l.: IlI'rivirol .t rt.:l\l:'.;:::"" us far r'...c.t',;r than , eny ­
thir..c 3 fur achicve.:.. on any t;x-:.rci:3l:: ,r' -';:L,~r{!tLm .

O.Plli:.i.TIClrS 0!-1 'E-L.. ;; .:.3"':' LTIt·r :..rp ro 1500 hrs : 10 Si:!." ,

27 . ':-1<. ,ivl$it'n~l 0t.::r'ltir..lS Ul' t 1500. hrs D + 1

,'I",r .i: lit. int, t:-..t O S'-1J'U'~tto (l~ts :­

(c,) Tho cr'.:,t\;r, 'J1\.... h.:::l in;: 01'~ht; r,'ol,th onl
of tho;.. w.:.in ~~1.i::m:::! ron;! 1)r'l ...;e by ·.It;mcnts

(b) Th,~ v-,,",,c:lti..lr.s ',f tl'll.t ~),"",~·t ,;,f th IJivisi,:-n,

l(..s' 1 .F'are. n""~, whil"h 1".11t:· in th.:. first
lift .

2 . Thi · Sl)li t :/' ,S incvi t'\ble r:·win'· to th, nec·..:::>~dty

(I' (lis )(.r"!i.!1G th,.! ~irl!:JY in.': bn,':1 te· gu·1.l'. tht. 1.0 "",1

~ ft ~' the 5(.. .J "n·~ lift '.IT: D ~ l .

29 . ?he 1,1t:!l1 r·f '= I, 1'wlI1E.r, 1 Pcr~ r' ·,'ie.S fer 2 j'nr~
Br. to r.~'l t.ur!:: the bri _r.:c, "nvin·· vi'" l~ .....:;LSill- o.lcng tht::
r('lDJl r unrine close t·: th,,:; north b'U1.k .. f thf; H. F.!f.INE .
'l'hitl En t· 1:, ,1.:.. the s(1'i..lth em: d ' the: britlee 1:1.;.·1 the; ncrth
I;;nd, fr.cif'.,r; "/(..st ~..n ..~ ::". 'rth "'!Vit . 3 l'ace. en 'N'.s tc L1O Vc.:
vi:) the r 'iC l:.s'·J..;3i.T,1 - ;':-1::---.r: t z:.ssist 2 PVfl .on hy
:"!:z rQuchip~: tl-..... bri,~~~ i'r'l1 thf: north, thljr. tc ., s .."ist in
hol.1inJ1 th..; tK,)·.... 1 en, ~ cf tnt.! briJr~. by facing n.:>rth c.;~st
f'.n" e~\st . 1 I En \'('_'3 tc. l~ll' ~{; ')n c.rders of lJu(;; HQ ,
wh~n it w"! ell th<~t 2 'm 3 P~13::1 Bn!: \:cr... S.<l.ti3fo.c­
tnrily lo.w,w'll(;U '/.!'l t, or(;upy the hi':b ground j .... ~t
n .'rth of' i,j';lJ{£{.

• . • ••/Th..
I *
'~============~~~~~~~~~~------~--- '- ~

• • ,
p.. .5.
'?~ . '-"
o.:mtur<.; 'JJ"':J. h,:'Jin;' .f tltu north (.;nd of t he
ARNF_-:: brio':;':;"~:t l~ ! .I..nt:) of 1 Parn Bdt: •
•

ILcti ,;.n r f 2 Pnr'l ~" • y 153( h~ .J:'!3 17 :::er , ~ Pru-a .u~ h'\(~ moved
lin 'n lJ D'1j . ff fr "'1 thcl~' r (;Jil ZV(,US .t i.i_7.Wti,~ G477, . . . i th
,.'. ~~"Y l.·~J.i:l;~J :'ll. n.: tht; re·" <Jo.:LJ;,r.' - OG3TE3..nESK
7C76 - ; , ~m . ~,.vf'.nCI,;.l ·'.bout tv.'O rr.il(.3
"h<..y
bernr,_ "1Ct.:tin.. 03itic:":n in +'h(; f-.m r;f l~ '!ll.c.
~'.
Vr rt~ fir!;) . Thi~ rl'~:": cir oU! N nt :U by ':'.. mov\,;
ttu.. ~cl.lth ~J>':_ /, ';cy rl. "'.chc ~ the. rcilw:"!.y "I.bc ut
712774 vr.itt,l'\;.t further tr· u"Llo.:: . Et..:rt... :m annOllrud
.;'U" m: .·nir :r8 C3.U~t 51 me _ 1.'!.Y ,n.. Cl'ls:.laltit:s ,
•
but the _i .1'l.:ctin_- of 1 ')oy t.:ll tc L.l{ HRDlK 72-n
f'.rt:r: its c'·t;.~,tur(; , vt.rc~1.F.Ii;I th(.. J en,'l uy 2030 hrs
1. '1cy Wl.:r\:.. oc(!upyinr~ 'Lluil, in..::J r:-l()sc,; tt the north
E1,ld 'f the I,''\in briUCt.. !'l.t 7h77 .

31. ~kTtly ·;.ftC,L"HF,lJ.'d.S Lt . i~..J L J ._ . FROST;

O.~ 2 Pera.. 'or,., 'lrl·i v·~t1 with £:In :1:'.;. am':" Ii. r.oy Il!'ld.,
It tt.::r th'4 :3~ .<.. n1E~ht , 1 rf:.rn "Ie HQ also ~riveC ,
.... 5:::; : .... vc..1' ·,ri :·~,. . i '1' G. '," . ~.tnbu1.'Y, the .crigo.cle
C.:I!'.!!.. ',.1' , :ll. h'..... nJ;llJ.ir.(. ':Iith -' 1'·.:ro. fin.

32 . , C"'} , 2 1-,.u·· !.lY1, h~ t.. .<..n dctncheu. to

<:,.apt1U"(,; thl.. 1''1i1w",:" brlttc:.. 'tt '1076, out this was
blown in th·.. il' 1'''.0 "' . '!'hl)Y ti ...:m tric(l to fellow
th.. . r est f th·, .ir b!l'tt".li ·n, uut ~", .r(.. flurrounJ.&rl i n
~111 hct·....l v,rt-...ich th·. cr..:.y bb.:>U.l with tnnks ('.ne"!
;-,j' cuns . r:'J.1t:;y., rc f ere,.. .. ) br.::l'.k. out nnn n..:v(;;r
rl.. -i'orm~.j.;. .

.~\cti om of 5 :!!L 33 . '.fcanwnil(; , j p~", Ln '.n- 1 l'::u-Cl. Bn hnd

1 Port Un!! 1"1 Jj1!\v'.,Itl roff frr their rcnUczy "'3 by the f'ollDWing
. Q.l!:IY.. r'-·utes : ­

l!' .in r :},.IT~ ';:~ - /Jl1>ll-Q... f

(F",j.'iti ""'''1:'sc:n 1v:EI;j

(U) 1 p"'!"I), 1:11. - l.iain rr jJ!3?K.;D:u,~ - IJU:r[El~

(1l. ~~'l ?.D,\!:;:'?tb . -:m)

}4. ) P"'.].". L·n I~; t~$ W~~ tt ~s9igt 2 P"',X:l TIn

ir" tht, "'-~i'tW' ~f tr.L! ;:r-in bri .;€' and then c:et~b1 i sh
~ "1, fcnsi\-L; positi n r.. . ci.n,. . n rth Cc:\St and l:nst or
.I':~ .;tlr.H. ~ ])£!rl'l L,n 'N, ·r~ t\l uccu: ,y the. h i ~h ground
in squurl..S 7,00 '_nd 7'1.79 90 :l~' to :it.:IJ3 tb:.: en..;;t.Jy
dir(;ct olr5t..rv".ti,'n r. t:-: •.rt!!:'1. ... , .

35 . ..10th bns hC"·i... vcr, wert;; HeM up by enemy

OP.i?"~; ion !l1.J by dl\r;~ h:.I.U. n, 1; . ~t beyond. .'lbout
x ro: (90-(')4 ~.I\t~ l't 25 . 2 (6079) rt:specti vtlly .

'36 . ,r-th th~ r::cr.rlF'_ri'ler 1 P 'tl"',. Edt.: CU"lll lJivi s i onc.l

Comrnandtlr 1'1(;1'0 \'rl tI"• .3 P~f"I. On 'tt this t i me as
t:nemy acti, m ~I!' l:v{.ntl.."u their r hu"Tl to their ovm
nQs .

.d.cti"'n '"of 2 P'lr':l. 37 . '1\"'0 Itt tt:tll}?t:i W'TC: m'ldl" ~urine the night

an on D + 1 . 1 7/1.3 8(..1' to r:'l~"+urc thE! south ;m1 of the bridr,c ,

th~ first b~r :l I,l·~toon of ; \ ' '') 1 2 Par a' Dn,

attf"tckiTl(;' J::cr; ~;- th(.. brhi.f;l: , , .• the s econ.J. by

·tryi ne t:) seed 1 P:trll :: _k EQ i'c.:nce Pl...t oon

acr 'lS, tht. riv'r ly bo'lt to ut:1.,:1.ck the l..ri2 ';0

fr' the ,out!, . _ t h, ho\{t.. v " f :'lilt..:J. •

• . . • •/-,llltOv:lS
•

i l·~tocn: )1''' "c'Y CT' ~ Pcx" n fitJ "l t r'crtch

th... l;ri ~e'l • I"t. ·::.b llt OSC 11 ,W'S In It......,;j
Ccy, :2 P"J"~ i,n , 11..'S~ one rl"t ,(I nel 10 casu'l..l­
t i cs , ~3 1.l"riv(.;d ~t the 'b:·i. ~.'... kt'.r in th·~
.morr.itlf.' .:t ·l~t)... cf "bout 25 ;"·.[ll'l...r'J und(.:r Cnptw.n
j

" ' C·'lll"'~_hnn 'l.!$') 'u-rivc, . .\.. ·,c.r~ the' llJ..St

f 1 j,'lU'"'l ...... il,; to t· . t.:.r.h t 1-", u'", 1. "11' th'J br ir1e€: .
Lt . -:01- .r. ,[<CST h'tU by n'-,.: e.!l: ur C(,l,-U::"..J'tt~ rf
th, \-.n,ll;; l>rcc (C('f'l,ri:.;.il~ 2 P'll"!l ~1". l,~s::l r;oy
with ... ~ :.~ , :)01:1\.0 S'4r.'~rs l..Y'J,:' (.lr;r.... nt~ of· the Iiv
.rirtilhry ·lSS t;!.,l,h:d at the: bl·iJ~· -J '

39 . fJUrinr t.he T'JOrnin:...; tru...my 1l1'T'lour·.;d Vl:..hiclcs

tri c to cross th\:; lJri.-l[:l. fr III s(,)\lth t.., OO1'l..h, a
t0b:!.l \1' rtllcu.t 10 "X.!:c'!ur!;;U t!. ~':i '.!r.~ h·J.lf trf\cks
bLinr. "\CCOl.l.'1t0d for - six by 6-:>r rentl tank .:;un3

r 'l1l( four by 11s • .1..1•. ',' . In 1-h~ 11'.to -..ftcrn,)on a.

:::trnn:. ' .... t"l.ck "':t::vt:l.,;:o~fl olc)
+ht
thr. 1 iv·r t:",;I"I.k fron
::3t , SU_)!"rt.....: ly ~C'lVj l.lOr. -X fir.... '\n-1 t,v,
tc.J'I.k . 'J'ht. 'J.tl.l.Ck ':1':.5 r.....1.4 .!l';;c.r _l"!InI;.; h·)U!:( . tC'
, houe, fi~htir1? anti ''l.t tn.. t..X" ,o.s~ of 9 r.l.;,. "'.n. ~.J.lti(;;!' .
oth t~nk!'! W' l"~ knoc1:cd mt. 1;~ t:. _ '::!ond or:;;
by P . I.;" . T.

'..c. JUf·t bo'( rt: tl'!rk s~v, 1 ("l~' th h~ .l~!,;S

cf"'ut,ie:d Ly 1 P'U"'l Btl~ \'1'1...1". L'H'n~ 11~ ". ;.ft~l"
<!~f. un '!t ....~k fr'1:1l tht;; SQui I en-) · .&: ht t'ri" _ ..
rE:.'cl: C:~4 '

l~l. .t.rins: 10.3<.:; :mJ t. ~ " ..:'C

,~c'~icr~ by 1 P'l.!'':!. J."'(;. ···::":'S ~ tor ... ~. . ; t ",l'S h .....ry
,.rt3!' 'lr.l 'll·tillcry fir" , { .' i"'j ~1'" ~:lc;t~i·:u'
"los\J 1'··n':.. . 'l.tt-:.clt~ by tar~· n1 1.lS .,...: th .
viC'l\' tl' sE. .. tin:,; r:n firf).... t ~;~·l ,v.i t ... , .. he hCUBL.~

ht.lti. l.Jy the r rcc.

, J·.cti""n ·f 1 . ".:l,"'!. J~ . 'ctUlwhil , .Ul'in· th. r.i ..·•

iJn n D - 1.-- 3 !!nd 1 p,~-, Hns h~..d .isLn:.., '" r
/1:11; , 'l-:.oth
.,t.. r. .r.'.,y
'I'/hr· h ...."'- hL.u: tl .1 l;:;. tlldr d_~!.J 1 l......l <­
3 Pc.r<· ..-'n '~'.,t.., 1 'I: tc 2 l'>.t:>-l"). ~ ro '01'"'- '~-l 1 rr.:r'!
In ~ rrxil:l:J.t~lY'Jn "t" 3 l)tr_ _ '" ',.

43 . lIt 0100 hra, 18 S!:.. , 1 r'l.r'r~ "n ~l, ss R Goy,

• ·:lhir.h rl')d slU'f",rt..,."\. 5O-~ ca~u"!.J I' i1.:~ 1 '.r". l~;(.
\·.1'"crcl.l.wt:.+,t! waa nol k.-ru,. . . IT',) !l~' _~ ~('t't,r..,~'j. tl-) ~h(;;
cbJ(;ct )f linkin;,. ur wit;1 2 .l·rr. Jr: ': ... (> ,~:U7:'
trnm . They h1lf'l. 'no (lQ!rn:lurU'" t.·I,:1'! \orl till il.)J'li. i:.dc
HQ .
44 . .-.{\U I~at t.r:>,li.Jn '·'.").S 1 1" u in 'U'( .I.'o!'..d
junction 7097i:.3 , ·'-,~l<.rc L··i'er !' .?Crt! i.: to cis·
lorn:.; tho .'1'(' 'iti:m .
45 . l.t 053\ hr:J.'l. nes: ~, 'r '!: ~ .. :;:~ ~;t
r, csiv\J'::' yin '~11C; P ' L' C, . flI" u!"'i·!~r."'l.} i r
r, ir.rol'C;,.t_I:r~t<l . ,'.0. 11','1'" ':" t I'"t C!~ to
by- p'-1..'1s til' .. Io(;i ion t,> t!: ( ..' .. C''''V,
to tl.... 1;-..1'i -I.p' •
'..6. ,\t 070r~ hr~ , .;}: 1" It " b ' . , ..>"
'!.t't'lli· ·jl ir:k£x' U!. r.--2 Cc.y ',i c'­
l''l.r-:.
,
h n.d Dr_ ~OI'!,. ",
nit!". -t L.' ....•...h .
r~te. frof!'. i -: _
J' .j't .. 1"'\'" !'
,,
~.'ir.:
.l+ 11
••.,!0ur. ~!'<.:.."::'
the en!.:!";:! -.n !!f.rr-(J,;"rth ~Ullg tj • y.:'\. .lv. ;.,.. It
IIp>.'c:' thn.t tht. •• neny r.":I1 ..t h. ck;.; i ··ntr.l t
•

p, 7

'~7 . .:t J9C{) h· .ors ~ "'" •.. t...l.. ..l.h... '1 ~tt,..pk '(,"a<:. put
in t; ci(. "-l' o:il::;; losi tic!! '. D':""'! Ef-.u;/'.'" . It
.... '1S- s'..:;- nl..! 1y .J..r;;ht "'.rt i.&......,.ry ;- nc.,;. thE;. mortars
~;,.n :,~d.iu·!l :lriciun. ·Wl!.i cof . , ';0)', 3 ,"~'U'(l Lr.•
'his w'..:,.,; :-f'..rti,uly :~:.lc<!(!sd\ll .

l..tl . ·_".rll',-:-.ih:,." ~y 'f;, l>'lJ.·'~ Ln ('llso pc.rtoo

frcm its h~tto.~i'n uriru' thu night) joir.od 1
Pc.. 'i"I, ~n . ;. f-;,rthr'l" r'\tta~i \'.'~t\ :'I.;.t in ·....i t.h 1.
r~oy , ') Psr~~ nr~, nS!"i",ti:W . "'his ntta'.:k ~,'ls
sur.e . li'ul Mol, thl: 1..ntt''\li.m 1',,1.,-h·... d. jU3t v:.;;~t of
.\fur,;::;...; "!'1 Jio(~,it·.ll 7'2977'J 7,11< rc i t \'r,~ hl..le ur .

3 i''ll"'' :n 01". thl.. ni:.·j~~ cf 17 S~'T """·".3 h€ . ll'

'rJ in 'J..re:n cf ~r.' !k rc"lds 69C"l84, irA tUl 3.1.1 :-':IUl1ll

5C . _ ;rin;~ tho ni.:ht tho r,_ hr.:.d, he!,;:'! no ...., -ir· le'3s
.. ":··'.ni~·.ti":m . It \'.''''1'' ~cci, ~ ! by <10 m.. ..ri£:~..:l~
:n:nml.r (W'h'~1 with th, (!. . {". '0, ""1..3 :·till with
3 i~'l:!'ll ~":1; ''..;.''1'1 th/? 'i . C. , tl" ....~S! r.! eg'~ th.D l'ntt~~lion
b.;.;f r·"! ....ir'lt li,..:ht U".!l t'\Qvc .. tr~ throurjl 003T":ilLEE!:
~, 7 '!; ",h·: t.ri1J ..... .

51. l:y 0qO h·.. ,..trs l( S';l', th.t! ..Jl h'ld succ·_s,s ­
i·\..Uly li.:Cr._·:~l ~ i'.r"l t:.O'?!:I .t \"l~r~s tn, brif-i"" .
" r("c3i~t."lHC·_ ·.·.''\5 ",Mounter '..ultil '!i'tcr eros, in;­
tht: l'::il""~!y w!u:..r!..: there: '':~'! "l,"O:C snipinc fr.:..~ thl:..
s uti: . rir.o.lly tht Ie,}, !ilv ";!r.;.J:lJ1Y 1"(, '!.clv.:d :.l
.)cint )-JC yro-~s wt-,;st (',r f.LE .. !.!.Tl~ HCSI,i t"-l at
"(,30 houru . :kr~ t.hf~y c'Ufll. .wkr h('~vy fir...: .
I~ ·".~S th~n ~isc("'Vf_rt:.d th".t •• ~('Y / Hq Co.y :'l.n.tl all
t.!'. tr~.n'-~:·l't (incluG.ine thr.... t: out l' foU!' !lnti
t ':! ;~ ;ur.s Ut~ the G" 0. rio !lJl!.' ori '::I.d.e;.: "-::crr.marukr I s
, wirr;h.:ss J,,;,q.s.) 1:':l;J. iA.oor..... :"i.rt! ,;.. Th..::y later
joi:lt:1 1 P:ll,''l tn, us h~... ~u]'· -dy ~~n r"L.tvl .

52 . >:"'hc~'(" was no touch ."it!L U".e m::-l:"inJ' c":mpo.niea

.u-.J. it W'.lS .t:cit-t;d to puzL m. ~. further 100 Y'Jrds
••~!] Ie: ~~ Jillst 0:, ~i 4:icn .
,
53 . l.t 090C "'.T3 l Ct;:rrntln .. ·unter 'lttt."'l!, dt,;vt11oped
frcm ••. L1~. 'U\.o..., fr::rl" ....ht:.n talt.i1 :600 hr3 J 3 ,j,'aro.
! n waf". lltt'::.'."'k-:-u at ·... r·.. '-:l.ut.nt intc:rval~ .

1)4 . ;,t 1230 h.r3 wir<;.!lo::~s t \..Ooh wr'~s rc.. - r;:lll'J.;;u

wi th tJ:~ mi"i!'in.;.,; I 4', I Coy- , ".'m.' '/Crc th(;n about to
JGin in 1 P".r'\ .En' '" 'lttlld: ir. the llI'L.J\ .....ElI !JUNK.
"'hey ·,,~.rc ur .eu ,:) r;·,t tlu' to.I!l:th(;r ;·l i.th the
, r'stlt"'V 'l(;:',lwuthn, br.cUy ro:.. .ired :at the: brLlec .

55 . lot 1l.j0 hrs tht. !·cn'Il'!'".ro.:;; of r /. ' Coy ani.&.

th(' LT". Lefer!r.f..; PlutC'on (30 - (I !'r.c-n) , und<:::r the
3cll;; ~urvi 'lin" ol'fif'j.T, nrri v' ~ vine loluffc·r(;,.1.
SL.:V'SL C-'l.SU· ~tics in l·'r,.''l.ldn~- tlu·ou,:-h . No
,,:C'h~rl t ilJ.·C'r-.. "ttior. c"luld 1. 'bto.inuc '1.5 ttl ,'!hat
no" ::'.:.lll€ n ..!.t 1. ll'tr"'- Ul .

It 1
1::18 (l: r t nov. __ h'lt. £:xi. t ...d 1,,'1' 3
_'n thl :LtrdGnr
thrc)ll:~;l 1 h~.us(';-, in th£.
in~,hc ,;,!·"ctir.m rf th... \ri' :~,: • J. t 1400 hrs
tile 'l.'..;,V'U'tC "r' "!..'''I . 1'h. co ", ott the ';:'.. 5 about
1 :[' - 1J,J .11 r!U ks .

. ...•/57 .
 57 . 'PhI.: I~ . v . ; . , I·ri f/f'.c.e C' .llrlll1l'kr ar"..u Drieadc
• 1.0. , '.'lh<J hE.:t mov,"-{ i,,\'o tht.; wn with this bn,
they ;':<..rl.;. :.till l.ll't;"l.bh to .:\ch th....ir 11 . Qs .,
w... nt "ty '- .1.... r l"::l.',~ ll..;a;1ir.,,! to ~;.c' ,e.:':':; ,\L:::."":'H HC":Jpitcl.
On tht;:. VlCy t:lc; Lr... ~r).·:...i(:r W'lS ';I..'\U1,!C. a.r'.J ho..cl to
bt.: :'d'+ in 'l ~.:..ll:lr . The' " ' . '..n:! 1.0 ., hrul
tc rOr.lain hi. t;n in ~ house UI:t.il 0700 hrs thl.;
n""xt r.1o:;rriin:', v.hen they r.lo.r,~· to :,{;t ba.ck t o
riv H. Q. in :1. j(.t:;~ .

51 • J:c ~ urwhi.l.,; , 3 P'll'';" Ln rc W1'l.Ult: to n.o.kc

eny ~lrog.!·t.:~:3 <mel befor... c".rl· 1hc:y tCI.",k up other
pr~iti'-ms in the house"' , Ilt~.lt. more tlHU'l. 300
yur·z nC'rtl", of wh(:1"(; the fi 0tinr ll.fl.rl tllkcn place
:ill dtty •

• - The Cpt..;r'l.tior.. ( f tL.:..+ p~·t f the Divi !.1 i on ( other

than 1 PU:':"l! Mo ) ~!hi r" lW".llcJ. irl the First Lif t .

59 . As ...tit h 1 ?:lr~l .1t:. , :';0 th1.. r",lTl!d.nU£:r of

tho.; l' ~!',;t lift V"'l~· quickly c<'"lnl"'(.ntl'~tE!d 'li'ter
lcnuL.· CU1!l r:'1!WC.,i .o:\lm~st with\..' "t Of'Pr;sition to
occu... Y ~ ts ~r( - ".rr !LTlf,f;;. po::i i 'm: .

l!.ction of Liv 60 . i:.y 1430 h.r-s , 17 5("p , i.v !! . ~ . h'.w ,,:>c1lf;;d

HQ on D dr..y. :.:.t Gs7n~ . :rh ~ C. . S. O. 2(Int), ~ . J:. J LA ., IlIUl
tht: Chi... f ~l(.rk h~ forcl InJhJ.·1 in thL. L: . K. aud
c~.e in t, In:;"cr lift . Sh(,.-.tlJ ,'tft'.r'llarus the
t;vo rl".'~ort r.>.;ntrr~3 , who h:ltl ';J'(..chuteu after tile::
eli dcr 1 andines , joinl~ ... up . U''iffit..r.ic':l.ti on wa.s
f,;:s'ta11 i shcd :"ctwccn the ":crrantq ~<.:r ' s rover set ~..na
1 Para Ikle:: :md 21 In,1_t.p PUX!l C J' , but was shortly
l o.st. {Ii. th 1 i'~;.ra hl(. ,

61. • '.;13 intt;rn.ittL.nt "'irin'" in the woods

There
nrounr1 Div H . ~ " nnJ.. oe';'\sir'r...':2 5:l1v(.:cs of rocket ­
p r oject ed mort..:zs, wl:'!.ich hw Uu <.:fft:C7 of 3pc(:din,E;
up the li"i:";inc of ali t ~TI..n('hl..: .

G2 . 'i'hc " . C. · . vi sit,d f!. , . 1 ,.i d'll1'lir..:; Ildc

durin,r th·~ '4~tcrnr.(')n .rm'\ If.l.t, .0; Ii . ,,! . 1 PlU':l OOe
~ 3 P ..... .ra 'n with whor.1, ' '.lr_.:ll1y related , he
s;:>cnt thL: rUt;, lt , ,

(;3 . 1 j,irl'Ul,:in.:., c(.~c Sqn, lC~5 ene: t r c.'0l' J

was t::: h-:.v(. lltt.. ::'I:lt<.. 9. ' co"..", ..... m9.in' on th;;:
ntir:. bri.....:' d ..\'-:":,:ill., bt:.t f ,ur, ' :;:if'i"ic'..tlty in
as"embl in;..:; 'U1l thi" ~,'l~. W:lS lL-o'ln,l n_..". . One
tr(l() :" '1 ~(;flt t~ ~J3i d 1 ,L'm','. £<:..:: t:,nJ the. I"t!Il':e.i n ­
J~r!1l- in Div r_::!.,;;rvL: 'lllJ. cccl.~i(.;u t:. !'·'sition i n
the VI scuth "-'1 F~I_r;;;~~m:T JE (781 , -:Ii th patrol s
O!1st 8.l 7l"CS~; r" ~cr.E th·_ rou'-\ i.r. l[E" - :!'E ,

GL.. Shox'tly after dark Di \' j' . "J . moved int :.:. 4
e1i ,....cr3 en tile n(;ichh .uri . , .. 'l'Out ~5579n .
l.ction cf 1 Air 6j . :e:;.pmile . by lCC0 h:r:; , 7 3t:'r , 1 l.ir
Lru~ i"!\OOe on Landin.:: idt:. . ~ . ~, c.·ene::t t '·(q80('. lTnits were
D day . JiS,>OS€ ; L f·'r th'. ~rnt(;l::i':n of lr.~ L.Z. end D.Z.
for the' s' ~('Jnd lift .!t~ roll'v·
,

...../7 R. O. S. L.

 Pa ; c 9
7 Y. • D. S. B.

PLAllKDl WAlfllUIS 6683

1 ~rder

'!'hese positions Vlere held until the next mornil"'.g .

66 . After dark I"ne plat oon nf 7 K. O. S . B. a t

633839.vlCre attacked r epeatedly . Patrol s of
this Bn penf,tr ated i nto EDl~ d1..lring t he night .
othvrvlisl: tht; ni ght passed almost wit hout
inci....0nt .

67. CooununicatipnE so far hud not Vlor ked we ll,

particul arly f ran Div ii . Q'. to 1 Pera Bd.c \vi t h v/bom,
except for one brief period, no wi re l ess . J ntact
hail been mad'.;.. .

Action of Div (8 . On the morning of 1/j 3'::i.J the..: 5i tuetion W'lS

n;! nnd 1 Air unch:~~ ..;(.l
i n the Di v t't . ~ . and nir Landing Bac area .
Landing .l££ or. At about 0700 hrs Div H. Q. mov~d to ~ross roads
D ~ l. G65784, "r.i. th a view to conti nuing <.::D.stwcrds later
along i ts e.zi s of odvanec .

69 . :. t about 0820 hrs rel>o~~t S ',:ort: recei vcd at

tiv H . ~ . of enemy in llEELSUH ruul that on(; coy, 1
Bcr:ior, had bc.cn surrounded, but as yet ',l orc not
in SEri ous diffi cultil:s . Suc!. li ttl(; ini'ormation
as came in indicat,-,u that 1 M( 3 Para Ens v,'..;.r .;,;
mt:.:c..:.tiTl[; v ery sti ff oPpo5ition , us has bf.;t!n descri bed,
W1C. that t htoy wor e nC("'Iline lLT i 3tanct.: .

70 . As the: C . O. C. had not l,(.;turncd from 3 P ara

bn and no ncws of him hOO been roed v(ld since 1800
h:!:'s the pn:vious CYL;ning, ' Bricwur Hicks , Commander ,
1 Air Landine £dc , took aY(;r t he duties of Actin[,(
:-i.v Cornr.'iandcr about 0915 hrs .

71. At 0930 hrs it WllS ueai, (..-d. that 2 S . Staffords

( ...ho sti l l haa. two coys and. otnvr ol ementa t o
arrive: i n th(. so ~and lift) should rei nfor ce 1 and
3 PU::l.. Ens arul e.ss i ~t them to", ').T~:;; tho;: bri Jge by
advancinG along the r.uUn road illiEL3ID I - WiHn1.

72 . 11urinc the tlLornine the engagem,-,nt by 1

Bo!'d;:;'r at HEELSl1i\~ continued and the coy , less i ts
211~portinL \'I'E:Clpons (athtr than ji . !~ . Gs . ) , manag..o:d
to ',Ii t .raw 0.101'l,5 thl;,; north b1".l11k of thu r i v<.:r t h rough
tho 0';..... r coy positions .

73 . ':0 th(; north 7 X. C.S.L. wl..'rc i nvolv 8u i n

some stiff .....ightin[. , to protect. the lJ . Z. of 4 Pora

oce (who \/.;,:r..;. arrivin~ i n t he shconrl lif t) parti ­

"'ull'lrly in th(.; woods ,bout 6}'32 , '.vher~ bitter h.md

to hend fighting took plt~cl..' .

,
74. J;,t I).OOut 1115 hl's fli?pr('xun.o.tcly 20 M. E. I09

aircra.f t str~...:c1 the D. Z . ell!. ~ . Z. art:;IlS ru1d

S(.;v(..rll glic:.....:cs burst into fl-'11':Us .

75 . By l4DO hl's 2 S . StAff·'z'.3 (less two coys)

hc-.lJ. U'O o.bout 708782 , all' it Wf'.S thc,n J.cci tled

\'T<,;!'(.;

t.hat the r~~.inz two coys (uw.. in thl_ s,,,cond lift)

. ... .jshould
• ,
?:..

.!'!!lOu!.I. join thl,; bn as 600n 11 theyarriv,,_ •

..1.1 PM: .n of !.. Pr-..r" s, _0 ,'/Ou.:.,l al.!Jo b,~ ;..(;fli...":"tcd.
fran i t3 pl"JlrHJI.i t"lsk ',",i i;h 4 l':.r~ xl\"> lJJld. r..:v·Jcl
nouth t,.. £::-.110\'1 ur ':..ne. t.\.;3:;,i~f; 2 S . 3ta.ffoI\.l..3 i.n
tht..:l.r (.;ffQrt 'to h",l,;/ 1 ana. 3 LJ·..r~ l:in3 to gut to
·,fit; bri :.u"", "','j";f; n..rt,,'u.n:lcr ·r 41-'ar'.! Dr11.: \10
.t>~'l:. .on OJ 15& P';.l"~ .1.111) Sui .h, cIJntl.n....... ','lith the.
~riFi!'1::·u. plM t:f g, :!ur..!.r..:;: ::1. hir:.", 19'nun. north cf
.l< ~~r . ':'hi J.~-:'!i3i m W'l.S ~OMI:luni ·~t ...\.1 tc ririe,
11 .:k""tt, C'...:r.~:1.'!.I1. t::r, h .r3J'a. .j(}t.: , en hi, ~.rrive.l
.'."itll thL J!w;C0!'!!l lift ,..brut lS15 hrs ,

76 . ",i'he aelJcn(.( Lift :l'l.n ..u(,; t'LJout 1000 hI's on

l~ l·ut , 'vriru:..' to ""\,,;...:.th'~r "on.:.iHons in th(;
' ~: ' J .i·.. not b.~in to arriv... 'mtil 1500 ill"s .
".,,'n ~ , -t.lu~ .:.r~"i' ~ 1 itl( r{I'rQ v... ry success­
ful . .L'h"r' W' ·lil.~htly L)1' fl"'..k , both I,.urin,g
";0.... fli ., ·ht '111<..- iil. th, L. Z. .n ,L.r . Z. r.:.r,~~s . 'P1:.crb
',',',"11 LL.- minor bo-our. --OP<'C!i Lon in the D. Z . ".r::'!~ .
4

77 . ~·~ t ~'
tir.,L 3 .... r !l":.tt tir'-'l~,~d I)
thl". sc
"1,lllll rL-str:qJly . "hia '::0.: l' '~'ltt _. rt! ~ crop , 1,,'.1t
fo.i.r !.1I'('Ip'"'rti"n ',",- B rl)llcct by th,. Liv n ••• . ~ .
,'Ul.. tU<;n t, tht: liv 'un ct iv d . d.

Ac-ti _.n "'1' Div 7" . ;..! t~! S~~ JJ'\I.. lift \'." "!ulnirs in, r"l,'rs
1~ . '1 . 'IV'~'!"\.. i3~,1_1(';'': to mcvt. Div H. ; . .loro:- ~ i I!'..Un axis
t ":00 ru:'t;C'. , ..".R'rm'.:';-::m (.97P. . ~'1';, .nrtcat...;u.
Hott..:l L·9;7;~3 \';'1.:; chcz·yn. ~ hili.;. previc ....sly
'L'.;(,.cr.. CL ~<,;n.1I"'.•n Oi'ric· r ' " OC3 . :~ll th..., of'fic'.s
"'I;ro instc.lL:d 'n th~ (,l'ouni floor, Sl.lrvi~9 w.:;re
. .',lC. J in the ;rounU:1 'lJ1.1 thl tcnnLt uourts w~!'c
\.l3t;.r.l ll.!I ~~ P . . . gu gt. .
.
7' . Ir:u. li""!t, ly 1'1 . ~ . ,/,1:1 .: t 11: . . 11 r~m.~s c?.uz
il I!]l i2£:1.:12 wr.~ l.I(')1"'J cr :l. .. c, ·'pl",tc'l "uy
niehtf'l11 .

:.0. rhl rc . . .as -till n.,,1 nl:::"I1'" ",f th..., ('~ . O , C . The
_ . •R . ... . J .nu.:';' . S . o. 2( int) "lrl.'i vt.:d Vii th t.he
j

fcC .n·"' lift . l',t th..Lu !t~''"' aO c~su".1tic.s h:u:l been

~1.J'r, r!.J_ l.y !.tl.V H. ... .

Actl.;.:n of '... 1'~/~ jJi.. "'he: C. 3 . :: : 1(Ors) t:lct rib IIo.okl..• tt, f:.:"rTl'm5i.r ,
Bl(.: ,-," D + 1. 4- p.'U'" :l":<'! , on the D. Z . ut .:.;-':'5 hr~ , 10 S.:.;:" en;!
"infor.-1t....l :-tiro uf ,::r. cho.n!~] ir. ~)l'U'l, ,.ul,,! to strono
CT.: o::oi tL,n to 1 Pera .:Ai. .

d2 . ':'!-u..: JriL;:l ...e COl!r.'~·~ '~'r " SUt;..... or~t;rs as

1: :.11t.'we
,
(a) 11 Pf..rl'l. lin to rwViJ off at once ID\!... CCJ:IC
ur:...:!':,r conu'1and 1 rllT'-'" tHo Ii I\rrivrU at
H.\RTEST;:IN .

(b) 1j6 Pe.ra. .un to bo pr ''"!.l.,...~ t.-:. lea;,.. th"

ndvancc 'f thu b:lo t:'~0l'"C tnt.: lint.. r:>f the
railway .
(c) 10 r::u:""), .:in tl .I' -:",'ll.n finl in c.rt:a. 624.842 .

(d) ..x..~ ~/. . l . t.lov· n,J SOot. ·s po~slbl(; to

area 63l..J23 .

(e) 13.": i?ara ru 'l.-. .l oul.:'U1l.!( to fo110W !'.x.is of

ro.i.van.c£r es ~oon u~ ~r~su.""l ty si tuntion pt;n;ri. ttf:~ .

. ... ./33 .
 ,
P?t:.- 11 .
B3 . i.bout 1700 hr• • • J . I:. ·ved to H. ':2 .
7 K.Q.S. B. ~t 654822 onn rl.'l..:o.s(.;U. thCl!l f r OCl.
their task of prot(.;cting thv D. Z. 7 X. O. S . B.
th(.;n rcv(..;rte<.. to oc.'I:J'.l.ell.d oi' 1 "~ir Lancli ng Me .

64. 10 ~'>ara lID Wl.l'e th.... n ruerx:rl tr:: move

behind 133 ~.::u..a Fl., .\mbulenc,-
lOS soon as they
'Here o.b1t; to mov.:; Iln] to ~ct!lch one coy to
t~~ over trcn 7 K . O . S . ~. in area. traok
junction 634.322 . Tho im wr.!3 then b€.ing
n.ttackc·l fror.\' time to time in a desultory
l:l8.1Uler end incurrou S'"l!!1C ct:.::Jualtios .

85 . 156 :eara Dn cot on th.... m')v~ , ski rti ng

thb D. Z. to the S.V". , '::'ir octt..:d on arllfJ. 663806 .
Their e-.xis w~·s thv track iJrlJ IOdiatcly north of ,
arul pl!Xn.lle1 to , tho railw~ .

136. .'.~ it was getting d~.rkJ 156 Para Bn

7/... ro orc.:.Cl'CU by H . ·,) . 4- i 'e.ra. Jdc , to hc.1t o.ru!
ro('r~r.!'.i!:tQ , .:m" to push on c.. wn the axis vf
the railway nt first licht .

7. llt the s!!:.",e tim(.; J 10 1n was order ed

r'D.r!l
t( h:llt ir. th~ arc::. of road :m~:
track juhction
634023 M!_ rl.:orgCJ'lise , pro..-l'f.'.re.tory to moving
alO! tl.c Ddo mcis ~t 0300 hrs tht:.; next mcrniJlb.

88 . At ~bout lIJ45 hr. (just dark) llde H.~.

mov<- to area of hotel 647813 .

89 . .About 2300 hrs Ca;mllllilcr , 4. ol'ara Me ,

','fI'Jnt tC' lJiv H. '} . ru'lu. r(;cciv., fr~sh instruc­
tions fOr the n.:!xt uay, 19 3cp . The intt;;onti on
VIas to edv:mcx. b... tw0(;n incluui VI.; roa:! ARrIl:iEt{ ­
lli;E .md inclusive railw~' t!' s(.:curc the high
g,roWld KOEP......"L 712793 , with finll left flank
':m the rOt,... .

90 . 11 Pare. Bn, which 1w.J becn sent to assist

2 S . Staf'fl.rrls to rve~h th( bri dge , hE'.d r.lovee.
south 1'r:.::o "IOLFHEZEN 6680 J:J by th\: early hours
c·t 19 Sep r"ad contll.ct.;.;d 2 ~). staff'- T.1S about
726778 .
Aotion of 1 91. We left 1 l'XIruer extricating thoir coy
~£r on D + 1 . which had been surrowlLl~d at !-i.EEL3UI~ . By
1700 hrs the.: coy hoi!. ::fought its vl'ly out nnd.
rt:joiJk, r1 tIlL; Dn.

9? About 1500 hrs th~Al noved and spent

tht! nicht' clin..,"'ing in with Q. coy eaeh at CR.:IFTCQ1.rr..E
6870 , WEe 6877 , ~strido main roc4 679784 and
ZILVERENm..'lG 6778 .

l\cti .Jn ... f 7 93 . Aftt;T the sl..'cond lift arrived, 7 K. O. S. B.

l(QSll on D + '1 . Wl;r· r.;.;luu!lcd frCllll th0ir uuty of protecti ng the
:!:- . Z. 1>.bout 1900 hl'~ thL: on bf;;gan a night ·advoncc
tm'r.x 's its objectiv"" the: hi Bb. ground between
54. 2(704802) ""'- 56 . 5(097797) vi a JOl!iJmA HOEVE
6979 .
94. Thcs..:: positil,'n~ \\"t:;1'\.. v..:ry !:5trol1.£ly held.
by the cn...::lr.y and it was n;)t ossi blc to loc9.te
Wld deal with tht.' opposi tion in the dark . The
En, -:d·tt!r sufft..;ring casunlti(;s, took up 11 positi on

.. .. ./just
 •

just b< rCr~ &.',',71 'n 19 !:it!. ¥ u°oSe·] on .rOP..J\jijl;"

,!oEVl~ \

OPERATIONS F!to;.! 0001 Ill's 19 Sl:::'~ ~(; 23;;9 hr~ 20 3Et· .

95 . ?:-orr 19 Se. i; 20 ll;t i::n<.: 'pureti n r,,11 6

lnto thr·.;c J~ri!l.itl,,; i)hf-:.ses . Thl,;;'\,. t·)ok pl.1.c(;

c' 'ncu.rrl,;n~ly but, fer th.. . SI:'.k: ::.f clarity, will
bt:; describe... sCi>!l.rat(.;l.y . 'lhcy 'NOn.: :­

(0.) . '.!'h~ llC~ion of ll'c.r: lJdt: , with 2 S .

St,-.frc'rJ.s .md 11 ..1.':),,1':1 ,r, in tht.: b r i(;.ge

.'lI'ElIl. •

(b) . Th,t;.: cft'.. rts ·-:f 4 r,.u"l, lilt:. (l(;;ss 11

l''!rll ...,n) ','lith 7 K. O. S . l... , t :3(':curc.: the high
crour...~ n:rth f .u{Willt: .

(c) • 'lh!.; ~cti ns cf ~h\" I'I.:~:-ain:1{;r of the

.
Di v in the l)~r~t:t·.r ".r- ut OO'"i'P1!atlLEK .
~
?':'·... ;r·. tim::; r 1 PI)r-l &1(; with -11 p,.IX~ Bn 'l."'ld
~
' . • _. "t :J "for_
..... ",&:'.

/,cti.m .'f 2 9£. Our narrati VI.: lElft 2 l"!.I'l'. jn 'J.t the
Para In . ncint '\1h..:.r, th(;y dill kId th\. n;.rth cn: of •
the brL.:.gt: tmd WE::ro;;, ~~tffcrin,., ~(l.vy mortering
md ~helliI""'''; . l'he; Lt'...rnine ,-.f l~ Scp !In....: th~
~rr:l' :'lttc.r;,: frctl the e;c.rt l' u 'ruI':'i..;.;(l vrith incr"';M ­
in[:l;;. .l.... avy r.1.'·rtcr5.!1 ~nd shellin.... IlnU. e.ttcnpted
infiltr::.ticn.

97. 4',t Tid :d~ 3 t..nvJ':\Y t!U'lk~l t'Jok U.l l'csiti.;..n

n,l.::3l' the riv•.;r ~·l sht:lluc. !"I!lt; .... the h)uSl;:s ,r
rnl'lkil\;;! ~h'..;m '.:.ntl:;nabl~ . 'T'jut.;IJ hi ts v~re obtained
on th..;; tanks with Ps . LA . T . o/.,nrl, dc.:o:tit.;; the
• arri v ~l :·r two me,r!;: t:mkz , +hr.y tht,,:n vtithdrE::w.

9'~ . '::'m-o)li)1.0Ut thE: ret1.'lin...:"r .;f the d'ly attacks

:;u~!JLrto.:."i b,)' t'lr.Y.:s and '\reour 1 cc.rs continued"
~ L,i (;v-:..nin.: ot l(;a.~t fiv·., ·f the h':)u~e3 had
00\,;11 burrwu ~I!'" includin,. II b:.:y nnt:; just «est
cf the: l:u·il~(; .

'j,;) . The cl:.e;r..y h:w occu:-iu_ :!.ll houSes north

en... \.Ot,;s"'; If' the !,!ositi 'n OJ'I/.., "~th~h nrt
'l.tt';IlJ1;,ting inf"iltr:l.tLn frum tlis .'lTt.;<J, WLre able
tv ke(>l' our I-003iti~''l.8 cov,~r(;u. by !lut;.;:rnntie firt.;,
t; which 2 1'9.ra. ::11 e·.mld n;'t o:t'£orU to rc?ly,
due:; t<.: 'hortll&C: cf rut.r-.uni ticn, which w:l.S n~v
acute.. .

lOC o Tnc flI.llliI:M.:r3 of \'IOun..led had nss1.lmC'... serioU5

pr~ort;iong anJ. were all ovacu'J.tel! to the o~llar.s
of H:le II • ...! .

101 . On thL mornilU~ of 20 Sup (D + 3) , the

littacks fr,:r:. the t1-'l.3t wer\; again re3~Qd . .;}ter­
ru:.tiv .lo31tions to th~ houe6s Md. ruins hed been
dug il. the ~ar-l.l.ns . "These '1ILrf; now l>h~ l led at
:?oint l/lenk re.r..,;.... by "n~my t:mk:- . Our 6- pr . anti­
tank gw-.s could n(·t be r;·'Ulltc. 'lS th~y Wti:rc under
.irect small .U"'U~ fire .

102 . ;. party of '.;..Ta.. :lY nttL.,.:,tl.;_ t s.... t chDrt(.:s

tmdcr the bri:lc:!~ . 'r.'hi9 oarty, ~illl1 attempts
at infiltr'1.tion, w'.'rc.. c·:~untl.r !ttackc.l . Lieut •

.... ./r ,1.

 Col. J . L . ?r )~t Vl'\~ "",w1:.>\.:.l 'Uli!' ~!c.jcr
C. ? . H.
Go1JGh t, ok .......r.nanJ. t;f th<; ruf(;rring
c.r\,.;~ ,
me.ttc.rs 'f~inl' Manc\,.; t·, Lil;ut . '.11. Fr'st.

103 . .r-he we wiIrJl,,=ss 5t.:t on thl;. Div Co."l'Ir.lc.n­

ut.:r' .-.V~ ~s
in OC'!ilJ"flunioc.ticn an.. th..:; J,.Jri gc:1~
lIr.,jOl ·_'nk\,.; t, the G. O. C . (wh hr. .;. r~turneJ. f!""C.ln
) P:xe. _,n) e.n.:... stlll'f of' Div .1 .
~ ., givil\? the
situation -tt..rOi.l(jtQut t~ d~:.y .

104. Durina th.:.: nftLrnoon i.. or 5 enL:J!lY t anks

crossed the :l;li Vl..r frl1m nJrth to south. Nt;vt;.r ­
t.hc1Lss the position ho1u riI~ end t he bridge
was covered by firo tlu'ou:-:h Zr.)S hetwcon the
bur-nine hous~ s .

105 . Cy evoning tht.;: ~i tuc.ti·'n wns very serious .

:;v!rly 0.11 the hous.... s hlld k\.!H fired . Just
e1'tcr dc.rk Wv H. J. house W"..:.~ 3t:t ~n fire . The
i'f'...>unded , n("!w v(:ry nUMerous , w\.Ore novcd tt.' an~ther
house , 'out this \'IllS set c'n fir;.; before the ~ve
c 'ulol 1.;e e~l\.!t~>L . Tl1f::ru;rll.!J no-,", n:lwheru t -..l
-.ut the ·,voW\l.cu.. LiE;ut . Cel. :;lrost or ....ered the
lc H. , . pcrty to !ll"VO "ut ~"!l:h.!. then gC.V(;; the
o.rt"~t!r for the: 'Rounded to be ~urrcnJ.()reu .

106 . '!'Cb... strength .. f tht; br iclBe _.arty by the

(: v~nil'\.; "nos re, ·uc~·.l t, a ut 140 . A furth.t.;r
SO/60 Vlf...rl.. lott ~uring the ni~lt .

107 . lhr::n€ S 3..rul t.:nu.\y infiltration !""C'' 'D,,"e

. 4th)C /'"

positi . . n worSt; . At 0500 hrs .n 21 SeD /"

On att<:!r:lpt to rl;tokc s,)me hI)U3(';S foiled mu:1 it

Wl!S c':' .. 1J.l' th!tt tht;; l:nu h~.il C'.JI!lrJ . Me H. Q. !lnd

the vmts of 2 .!?c.ra Dn split into s."'lnll part i es

l:" .
aru.:..
at, t;"l"J1':tc. lo brenk out . The maj, r i ty beoame

C('-3ualtiES or ·.V(;"rU takon i,"lri!l'" ners 'uri ng the tiny .

108. 4'111 OPTJosit; ..:"m At tht.: lJri....1ge now cec.sed .

The task ~f this 2o:lc W:lu t,J ::!t..lze Mel h,.;.lG the
..iffi::_:!L 1:.ri~C! . 'l'his tht..,Y nc.r.. oarri et. out and
hLld :ror .3 J.:.,ys :.nd W1til tru..J w... r c l,)hysicf>.lly
ill~a.p!;.blt: of' furthc.r re5ist~:,J'lCl; .

" etien of I . 109 . Our D.t'ccunt left 11 !l~..ra En hav:i.ne co.ug.1-J.t

3, 11 r'e.ra Dns u:.. 2 S . staff·_ r-ds r.t 72(778 (;n ~ht; eveniru..: cf 18
enU 2 S . staf"­ Sep . ':'ht:. int...nti cn wlls th~t tnl..osc tyro bns
r '?r ds . to;::etht.:r w.ith the rE::;.'1l11onts Ii _,llJl.l,.. 3 t'ern ms ,
sh' ule a.tt..:r.;'''' t ..... rCMh th... tri}gt,.; t,.., reinfoJrc..:
2 l~arc. .In .

110. T' u.n this , 2 S . St.:lf'f 1'5 started tc

8.(lv anc'o. IJ,-t 0.445 brs , 19 SE;i? thr;')u;jl tht.; rl"Jlin
st-reet cf' ,\Rl iHl.:: 1. They wl;;r..: ;'I)ll(),vcd by 11
Pr.:ra un . iwr.uvmts of 1 :m.d 3 l'nrn ilils , under
Lit:ut . Cvl. L..;bi e , a.c., 1 .i.~tu·n 00, nt tht. s:we
tir~c stcrtcrl -UOl'G the; rivt;;r hruUc: . About 0730
hI'S , Col. ':'>erloVl, :f).J::·uty Comr.!l'.nU.cr , 4'lir LanCing
Bri eae....: was st;nt fr::::rm fJi v H. Q. tf) co- ordinate this
L' 'vel!\ent, but hr.; :lit! n t ruTiV'. .

IlL Iy 0630 hr.: , 2 S . Stai·!' 'rds h.a(;, rr.;.?.ched

th...: 1l.nc.stcry ct 7547130 , but r. ,u1,1 Let no further ,
eJ1I! r~· 5uffcI'E:! hl.fltry c'"!.8ualti ... s . ~fol't::; by
11 ...'~_-' :n t~ mOUflt E'Jl ntt·...ck I:'..a,ai.nst th(;; high
Cr .1ttr..... rth of th-.; rllilwRJ' f'"'.iled , owi ng to ~eny
cour.tcr t:n.cks , tl.na.1 ',I 1100 lu'3 2 S . Sti'.fforCts he£1

..•. .j exhauste1
 •

~xhaustcu. thoir .e . I./L. T. vJlaunit1.)l: F:'..ri:. h.Rd

been over-run by to nts ':Ihich hnr inf'lic'\cd
heavy c:~.$uo..l til,,;,s . It \'/", th~rl,;for .... e,;,ecitlo..:d
to,) withdr~V1 t .... ct,-,ut 725777, whl;r(.; there \'One
~1 nnti - tQnk 5cru~n . HI.;l'<l thtJ ;:'n VI:l S rt,; ­
·orgMizocl. into n f .)rc.o;; .of fiv',,; rlF.ltooos ant...
Ol".e J' , ,', r; , . :'lat-:::on .

1l2. "'1'1'::'s f\lrcl.. L"i'lI:lo..:w.l'.tcly c.tto.cked DE!I LRn!K

no ~,:.l
to "'..:curt.. iv ,t fel' 11 }>nro. bn to attack
L

on th- linu of L!.t; r(\~ running north and 50u'\h

throuCh. J;m"'E:lD.uw 7278 Old HEIJOJ.fOORD 7278 .
Th(; >:'_tto.ck 3UCCCC,a::·..d t.ut , boforu t r oops o-ould
c1"it: in, the ~YJ8ition wo.:> v~1'y ht;a.vi1y mortared
w1d shnrtly afterwards c~ltcr attacked by
t l' .:3 DIl_ vorrun .

11.) , AlJout "b!1.c Sll:}t; timu __ 5 II Par'l :n were

f orti.ng lr~ -r'T th.t;ir n th ' k , tht.;y ww-e e.lsc
e.tto.ckt-J.:1 by tunks . As Il. l'l.;sult thEir attack
ncV(;;r r.::.t crializc:-d.

114. T:1C. r usul t r- f c.l1 th<.:s(; "";J~ rllti oos 'N~S

th.'lt the I'C.:l!'!I'lW'!ts of 11 ~Jll..ru 1~ end 2 S . Staff ords
fe;!li b:l. k to about r d ;1unc ,'05774. and OOSTER:.lEEK
Churoh 69G773, '1,'ht.;rl.; 'tt.~:y " :r· orell.J'\izl;;'';' i nto
I€ . cc·m;>osi tc force wi. th wh ,"" was 1E;)ft CJf 1 end 3
?ar':L :";ns .

115 · H'ljcr R. J .i! . L.,;n3rJ.~. -" 2 i /c 11 L~cra ...0,

&s:;.urr.cc:. C.:J'.n:ln... of this f"l';' _, V.~~C:1 VIas kmwm
~S· LC!iSDALE' t"ORCE .

ll6 . So cnJ.ccl u ertib.nt IJ.t~"'ll(~t t o bring

succour to 2 l )o.rr. Dn 'It tLI 1.ric.l[e .
~..!:-tiC!1C ·of 4 p .... r r\ !)de (1 11 11 P!l~·!..:, En ) and
7 OOSD o ~ '" J,

il7 . ~lo left 4 j?o.rn. l.ItJ.o (ll..:!'s 11 i.)ura nn) on

tnt,.. (';vl.onirr- of 18 St.;') (D + 1) 'wi th 156 i'arll ::om
rulC! 10 Por'.! 'n h'llt(.:C ::u'ld. rt.: - or gi:.l.l1ising ,

116, Tl...........k Cor:J".I!mCu-..r IS pla.n fr.r 19 :ep

(D + ?) WI)..'j for 156 ?ara. m to S"'~W"Xr KO&'EL

whilt; 10 l 'c.rn Dn fcnlCd a. fin! bll30 about
69: ll . 4 :i~ar£l Sqn, :t . :::; . were to remai n in
ar· 63a804, with one B.nti - t£ll'lk troop , eos a.
b<lc'- stop .

119 . 7 K. O. S . J.;. l.t JCHiJ::,•• HOEVE yt.:re put

und(;r cOCDnc.l'l(l 1.. l)o.ra Dele; . ::>nc coy was ei ven
~he tack of' p rC'tectine tht: L.Z . f or the third
lift , Containil\,:! the l'olish ~liJ.c r e ll:ll"iu,.:nt ,
"':'uc that afternoon, in I,..' '..:e. G080 . ~\n :;.thcr
coy was t.} to.k\,; ovor thu L!(';a'Elr:'EZK foature
7079 uteI' capture "uy 15G ... ''''''''l 11n !!lld IlGt. as
~ firm b~'.!"c: for l.l l'w·th",l' o..~vance J ""nilo the
rCIile.inder -1' the 1m r cr..ain..., l "'irm in thuir present
?osition .
19 Swp l...4 . 120 . EarJ...y en th... mCn1i~ 19 31..4-'J 156 .eara ..A1
rut iu two unsuccessful l:.~ tacks on th... LlCiiT£i ..JEEK
fc:'\t\Jr(.. , but 'Nt-r.... f'il'i:l on 5(·;(6979) . 10 rnra 1m
had cisr xt str'''llC OJ:-:' 5i r.':'" ~n hu-c , fly o.bout c:i':::­
day, Wo...:rt,; cons.cli\.:.a:tir....,{ ir.. +•.(; m'!.:3 6%d1.0 . :;'y
th~t tir-.c 4 J. f'..I'a. )'~.c : . . .... ',., k",n rlJ. awn u.:.' to
1"000 .,::".d track juncti -1\ 6B~/ "I Con..! 4 i 'a!'a Sqn, R.E •

. • . . . /to
 P'lEO 15

t 672[;Gl,. .

121 . A":. f.!.b>.Jut l400 hr~1 thl.. !.o. v COl"lJllandtll"

vi,itc. 'th~ Corrll.!l.aJ'lIler , 1, i' lU~n W(J . It Wf.!.S
obvious tho.t. 4 l~o.ra. lide; w... r(J unlikely t o make
f w.'ther pru, ress on th,~l.l· ~)ros\,ont axis llJl... the
lJiv Ccrnrne.nJ.er :1iscus~(."1 br.> 0.1 cl"rUl.tive ? lans
wi";h the: .1..: '"!'et;r.:m::.l.r . Ont..; of these 71~ f (lr
4 rara 1~~ tc ~ isc~ntinu,- th~ir ~r~s~nt task ,
dis~I'\;;Ill!C ~ :;0.5S thr.:.u.::,h the n lrthcrn half
of: .\i ['l:)J'),.lin.; .Jde ' s 'sitiQn with a vi t.w to
fonninp thE; eA.!;t~rn flan].: t'Je th<.: Di v .7-'dticn
on tne.: line r ot!.c.! 'Ul.] r:ri.lwtv cr()ssin,gs 712784,
715-80 o.nJ 712774. It '''Ao> .ti l l hoped that
,Pe:.re. 1.iCe 'l;oul:!. by this 'leti,:n joi n l..-p with
~ :"'tra l..'dt:: in the town . 'rhus tho Div posi ticn
," u:.l Leeom£' a rt;ct:msu1~r l.H~X with i ts wcst
OJ~ /'.:llst fl e.n!ts held rl..':J.u... ctiv·.' ly by 1 AirlanC!­
i!1£ l."(lc e.nr.:. 1 P~a lXi.c , ·ith 4- Para ..de in the
ccn-;rc , -:.~ ... south .fl",nk tl..;;.til'l(l on the ~~ I. ~\D'Id
Ju~-; T'.Drt h of t!:e river .

122 . .\S!l result of this C:i Scu3s i c n , are~ on

r ....cciving infcrtn.:lti<'n c."t,"ut 1500 hr 3 of ~ncmy
mCW".;'r,lont eo.stvn..r d fl.~cra '. ,.J.:!LSlfl.t arul RENKUH,
'Colr~:!end,-,r , 4 i..~arll. l~ , 1r.-:~rcd 10 Para 1>n tc
disO::~"ee of'orthwi ~h nnl!.,'fit:lClrnw to th\;.: tlO~EN
cro::a:i n;r J which was to s(;,'l.Zcd tlJlU ht::ld (l.S a.
p~limino.ry in co,s...: h~ '.r:1 r<.quired to t:lcv,;: h i "!.
Me ~n /'lCCer _Moe ,·..i th ~ii.~ noovc plan. Shortly
eft(.;rw3r(!s "..ol".fi rmntior•. ns s<;;nt t.o 4 .&?ara Me
from .iiv L • • . that thi. l-m was to be ~Iut into
OPCTIl';i on .

123 . COMi.Ienclcr, 4 ~:1e.,,::.:. .r10 , then Eave or uers

f or at, :i.r:lrUtodilltc with.:lr' ../'.ll . 156 .L'ure. 13n wc.rE:
to i f.. V. south of th rniJ-::o.y aoout 6797;6 .
7 v. . O.S . __ ;','t:rc tJ ~ove ",0 uroo. 20. 5(672794),
J'cvcrt:'n~ t.:l cornr..arul 1 .i rh,n.:i nc. JUe on errivll1. .
DC'.I..: H. 1. wcre to O:"v ", t" .L't 23 . 2(G72797) .

124. 10 ,a:'ar'l l.':l r ,uru:.. c-on::;ii...€rublo difficulty

in Fli~cnellt!inc ) and bot}. other Lns were under
-consi,:.;,erl.lble sltlall Uli:J.S , mortar and S. i>. BWl
.:.'irt; f:-C4n north :)f tht:: er~1i .

\..e= -,,5. Into this situ!lti''''n th~rc EUTivccl. about

1(00 h:-s the Pc1i sh t:;Jj .....""r clc.:muut , lanili.nr; in
'..lI'C"l. G~fKh 'l'hc (;n(;J!lJ l'va.cti on was viole nt ;
: __ rI$3stJ nOLi. volU!:'iC of fL.~' i rnmcGi a t ely increasin,.,: .
':"his C.i rf n',jt I:1cltc thi~.l casit.r j"or 156 'era i>'n
and - ": . 1,. . 3 . 3 ., ':..t." h . toy then just r(o;c€ived
thei!"> orlcr8 for en i.r.t"k,.of.i.il.:te m.:lv,-" and SOfut:
cOl1(;cstion, spli ttin~~. ~f sub- W'li ts ~ tt:ttlpOrary
loss of direction t. C'k l1,L.lr~ wtl'.:n they s t e.rt... J t o
wi -;h~l!w .

1~6 . ~y 1800 hrs 10 :l',~ '.I, 1m had errivl;!t... at tht:

'tDL?iUZl.li crossing, whic;. t ht.:y found ? artinlly
coeu:)iI. "' but f:1!!n.'le\.>ti nL.·.,.. rthf,lt.:s!> to OCC'.l.:'Y Co
?(,~it i '.;l jl:s'" south of ':'t. id. 'the SW;lu tLTtC
+ lJarr. S::].n, .:.. ..:... . , ;;'LTO ~~/.: itt pa.s!'i1\.':' the
.:.cl.c -er'lm;p<..: rt t hrot.:.::h tt ·~ulvd't 'J.t 668004 ;
~ Jiffi cl..o.lt tusk O",'.1.nz tt .!CfJ•. , 10< 'Sc SQJlu.. .

127. Til,. . n'"nlY quicklJ. !"·11om..:J 11) tht::sC; with­

C4r1..Wl1]"l, but '110-3 not , :U.I.< "'U(J. to 13" t ucy ond the

..•../line
 •
\
P~.-f!' 1,

lin\,; of thf. r'lilvr:.y . 3y ni :htfall, 19 Sc::-. ,

10 r'o.r'\ _·n :m-':" 4 i'cru Sqn, . .... , he4 r(.Oc.ciu;d the
..)oints ju;-t Li v",n. 156 ~..I,':'..l':;' .m (Ui.,t'fJy.unttol,y
270 str(lnf";) "'~1'1,; h l'lr-..l.n,;' II •,03i tion frOt:l 67(7)9
t o 6.74797, with Jidu H . ~J . u\.l.i: i n nbout .. 't 23 . 2
, (6879) . 301,1..... of 156 : J.r~ 1\ ill. ,. not cr oss
the rD.il~'/r. .~/ but rn' 'v~'<l t n a i" 13iii on a'Luut
673804, fr eer. which only the l .n. IllY 6 men
(tvt..:r r . . . - I\:';~\,;t\l"I;!<.l .

128 . J:';';OJ'!'vhi!<:: 7 K. C. S •. . ,lru:. 'bccm nblE: e.ftt:r

evnsii!orablc di fficulty t · C" .nc.;;J1trc.tc e.t it s
a:-'poin";(;\ n . V. nt 672794, 'copt fer 1. Coy -..me
wcr .:.. bt:iJi.E strol'l.t;ly ettackvl in thdr ul;te.choo.
position fllx'ut 68(j313 . (4 . . 'm-a 1.kh. ru:,ort t..:d
tRut l~,tQr -:.bout 40 r:x;;n of 7 K.0 . S . _ . joineC
thUllI : tilt.:!}...: ~ have 'b..~n ...·me of 4\ Coy) .

l29 . en ...... ~.chinc th.. . i!· R. ': . I n,_ rc.:;:Jrt;sc.ntativ~

,.I. 1 ..il'lOlll.lir.'r ~.:() coul,1 lx; foW\U., so 7 K. C. S. D.
c;,"ot.inllo..' thuir r."v,,:: lU1+il l.i"'tlt'\(}til"~ ... 11 Coy
of 1 .. 1'T.... t. l' ubout cross r V<J.ds 679734. Tl-k;
&corul-in- C -", .wr..,l 7 A.a.s . . 110.:.... , h,"'w~v,..r , !!onc
on !:U ;I1ru1,;lld outaineC. in ~t.r1Lc: ti ons from Div li: . <-i .
to occJtpy 11 .. )"si tion t o tht. l'i bilt and north of
21 ... .au::. ,LJnra Coy , 'Yho Vf\,;rL .'l1Jr.)ut (,9.3793 . They
.::le. linely oC'--cllt'il.:u th!l 1. night the; L Shllpt;ii
W <.)l .... 1Jld f.J. sl:l'lll vroctl to th! cu. t c,r it about
I 6567.1l.

20 S<!" 44. 130 . l.t (('15 hrs . 20 S(.;..' (.J + 3), 4. j ?era tit;
!,~!)(lrtr.;(" t Div 1-: . • that l~u .i.'art.. .In a.nd ....It;;:
II . 'J . WI.;."'C t:.ovr locate·. 'l.t ('J ;9~ , 10 . . 'ara. .J...n
6707.'9 .
131. Thi:'l mnrl:ed the em.. c ~ efforts to capturt;
the hitji Gr';u"'Ui north "r ...- ~jil-] °

132 : It noV! rcrmin3 to !'. ~tc the Qv~nts insie.l.

the Di\T i?('riJr~ter in OOSTT: ° ~ frOll: 19 Sc.:l' .
T!lC Q.Ct~.or. of the rer.udndcr nf t.,;." Div in th,-'
._- ---..---- - - - --- --­
b-.ri;:-.... t"l· "'.bout Qf"3~:':C~ i"'L!'. C.:')Lll1.....Z':-J ~9_Sep
,to. 235..2.. houl'g .if) Str. •
( .ncf orf.:nc ~ shau1.1 be tnD.:iu t the; ma:.' G!ll&rgblllcnt
at thl. .;..nd ('If l'ort III) .

'" 1l.~.!L.

,\cti ..'O at .0i v 1.;) . ~t 0725 h ~s thL G. O.C. r~~urnud frOF. 1.

n.·, . .L~CU' 1l
_.co.. , Dncl. Lri ..;acit;r H1~b:~ l't.lturnf:d t(.'l OOOIf.lllnc.
1 .\irll)f':...in::; ~..uu . I. t thi:J s t ~u <X>i-.lwUcr:.tions
i..xi~t(.:.;.'.
,.,-It.!1 4 l':!.T!J. dt.i~ , 1 ;,ir1.,:\lldin,c ;.. .101,; ~
21 'InJ.lT' r:tra Coy . 'l'h~rc YUl.S fit i l1. no comr:ru.ni ­
catlon \'ritlt CI)l~, 'S or .!..Ie$.; .

134 ,(:010n".;1 ..Je,r1a,ol, Dcl,uty Gorllilal".l~l· , 1 Air-

1.ru. te JJU..:: '.'las sent t o ,"';o- ... rdin'lt (.: th.-:: I..ff-orte
of .1 , 3 , 11 :e:ll'a. :·ns and 2 S Stuff,lrils ..-h o wt.:.ro
attcq.tiT'l(! t,· .:;et throlll;h tv 2 r ur .:l >n on th...
liriilcc. :i .;r.l.S n t i~t:m.·u f' ncnin.

135 . l.t Oil45 lu-s , 0ii ,'• ..:.01' GS01(O:,s) visitt:u

:J. • • 4 J.)aru id~ ana coo£i-,.'1' t .c tni1.s of obj<.:ct ivl..s
0

f or 4 .&.Jar.'"). :dc I s attt;;J~'t t ;(;i zo th~ hi.)l. e.rOu."lJ.

no ,:,th r)f iirlJlIH:li! ' .

.. . ../136 .
 •

Pc.,C 17
136 . .iAri.!'-t: the T~nin, there was int~rrni tt(.lnt
str.:U'inl.... by 1.!:. :Bs . , but little damage W·'lS Ilene: .

137. An air supply drc:> took ~ lllCe nt 1600 hours

on '1 ttl.\': - 'l.IT3.n5.e( f.lZ on tho op!;;n ground auout 7179 .
~'o.ilur~ in oommunic'tticns 1l<J.d precludtx':. warn:i..ng
r.orps ,::>r U. K. that t.h(: D. u . \" . ..5 in em.my hands .
• 'I'hE;;l'( W'..l.S o0n siuIJrllblc fInk t') mt,; ... t the eir ...r'l.ft
and ,.ul su;.~plics f ... 11 int' enefTC' hc.n::ls . {!Nery
... ffor W0.5 nmdl; with l.'ur\..~e. J yJllow smokl:l , vcrey
lights, r,rounu stri~s ~U yellow celan~se tri ~les
to) n.ttreot the attox;:.;i on ~f the pilots OJtC. eet
t.h(;m to dro, th<::ir sll~)~)li(;s. on the area. of Div :r .Q.
G~70 . This had only ~ v~ry limit~r su.... ~ss .
13B . ~h... :.'I..r,,1"' ':1f thl:i perachute: I,.;lcmc.nt of 1
J:'cli!!h Inde-~ rnra .de G:" ''linch f cmncd thE; Itc.jor
,:'f'rt of tho.; third lift , did not teko:;: plO-o(; on
:;. ~(;.... , It wa s nO','I cl~ill' that tht.;y CQuld not
c' '" Clut their original. task of l~in,.; south
OJ '"L1C Lmn bride... . Cl'I- ·ssin....... i t an:: ·occupy ­
~'.lU'JllL
ir~ ~hcir positions t;ast ~J' tIHNlIEl,{. It was
t:ltd'(;fore ucciucd 'to a2Tan.:e a nl.:w D. Z. f or tile;
r,;.lish p,xachutc element , .Ivrth cast of Drtn:L
C875 Ilr~l to £;i .... 1<:; t hem the tn..!!k of holdill,i a firm
br.."!';'..i.oJad on tht:: south barJ~ of the: rive r in the
crc~ cf their DZ .

Action cf 1 139 . :\ t. 01300 hI'S 19 Sep, 7 KOSJ 1'llsz<.;n to

Air1nndiM tide. rOIrunand of 4 l.'c..ra 1'.<1<.. and their effcrts to
.:l:,"sis t i n :·;rlmng t he hi ~ grr.und north of
ruU'i}-I.z;. ha\'~ been rt:lr'!te& .

l4O . .~ ~ we h:':lVe seen, 2 '=': SL.f~0r-J.~ wert.: unCol.:;T

CU1:~ anrl of 1 ~':u· a l'de '!Ill ',{cJ r <:J attL;;.-~·ting to
rC!ich ~ :'ua :'n at the bri.· :l(,; .
_41. The diSpositions of the r emainder of 1
..irlr..T'J':'ulf:, !'ide early on l~ 3t.1} "'~re a., follows :­

). borJ.or

f;lidcr rilots - .\roa' Ga.L"TC018E 6878

':. D.S .

l' 1 lJoril(;l' had a f"lirly quiet d83 until

,
l' hrs , when &.11 t he ir coy locc.Iit-ies wc rf:
at ckeCl. . They revulst.:ti 1111 thC:$(. attacks .

11+3 . 7 yosr. Te.v<.:rted to ccmmanc! 1 Ail' Landing

::xi.: on r<..nc~:ing 696791 ~uout midnight .

Acti on of 141... ··:[c have sh(.;"ffi ;'10"', L;;r 2400 MS , rUlinants

:::ONSDALE }\)re<.. . )f 1, '3 , 11 .2~a .:Jng o.:N.. 2 3 . St afford s were
o~anisad into·a cOID9oR it ~ force about r oed
~unction 705774 unu OOS'rER,l£r' church 696773 .
Tht: atron:th of these rtLmC'.ll t s WIlS as f ollows

1 Per·,\ lIn. 1.1 (

3 J.~ora. .J1 J;O
11 Para J1 150
2 S. Statfvr13 - lOG
Glider ?ilot:3 - 30
P .O. Os . 2

lr . . ./20 SeD 41..

 •

• ,
P%'C 18
20 Se,? 44.
!;,vt i on of 145. ',70 h e-va 000. t~t, at 901!.i hog3 ,
4 ...'OXIl l.!de . the l ocations of 4- Para ..,icv were as f alla ....s : ­

682798
10 i'are. Un 670799
l46 . .~ t about 0600 hrs heavy sholling anu
mortaring of the wholu Div area started . At
tho serne time 4 l'crn Me !J tnrtec1 t hei r move
eastwards , t o ent~r the Div ~) erimet(.;r, along
the r ryute rt 23. 2( 6879) - t rack junction
677794 - ffiEEDE L.\.lN - r c"l juncti0n 683785.
i n thl:; or llcr of 156 Para .Lm, Ude HQ and 10
P ara nn e

147 . .".lthoU6h 156 j,,>c.re. J n 'c ame UI'lUer fi re

almost at oncu nt 678795. they h od by 0715 hr.
ovcrcr.n.. thi s . Later th\:;y a gain lOOt heavy
0:-:108::' tion ' .\ r i ght f1ankinb movement by C
Coy e.lm'.~s t reached t he: roe.d junction at 679784­
but was hel d up about 200 yrls short of i t .
Howeve r , by 1000 hrs the lin had closed U? and
was c ':)vcring: the Mad and track jU11Ction ilt
682786 . At thi s time the; .In str ength was auout
90 all ronks .
1.4,; • The c:nomy vrer e nr w obviou s ly in s eme
s tr..:ngth fbe twCE:: n 4- j,laro. Sde an:l 1 l.irla.nding Dele .
10 :"o.re. Un were the r o:for c ordcret.l t o moV E.: r oWld
t h<- cr> st o:f 156 Para :iJn :froln tra ck juncti o n
682787 t o r oad junction 607703 . Thi s advance
e ntailed cloarins c.way op~H:'siti on all thE; way
but , by a bout 1200 brs , ~lCy r ~~~ rtc d t o 4 rara
...lclc HQ tho.t tht::y hC'.u r c achc; d the VALKErfJ..;ERG LA...\N
6878 and wor e m:w i 11,J s o uth .

149 . Eru.:miY fire h ad bc(:n growing i n inte nsi t y

all the time , with attack s which were:: i?resstld

home strongly and , by 1215 hrs , E'.t l e ast two

em:my tn.nk:s had app(;ared Iii tht: sce ne: .

150. 10 ?DXQ. Ln wor e t h<-ref'or c ,,"r dored t o

break throU(;h to the main Div ?osition at all
cos t s ll ncl c.t 1310 hra Lt . C:-,l. Smythe and Eaj or
Warre , CO end 2 i/o of th... n, with a.bout 60
all r anks , the · t otnl e rf~ ct ive str enbth of' t h~ ir
:In, errivc<l c.t Div H. Q. Thoy we re t " lcl t o
r cor g nnis... end occU?y a po~ iti on covering X r oads
705783 r rom tho ca.t .
1:;1 . The r~ ma.i nder of 4. ...lorn Ld(; canti nuec. t o
be subj ected to tleterminee. attacks by i nfantry
s UPJorted by t anks, which "vere only p reve nt ed

f r om getti ng r i~ht home by imm0di o.t e counter

attacks and grent\C.o throwi rlt,; .

152 . Ca3ualti e s h I'\C. been heavy, perti cularly

in ficer s , end tho anemy seome~ detcrminee t o

1iquide.t c thu positi/'\n Lt-.:f·~ro dark . The Lde

CoIJl'llallder thcre!'Qr o J.ec i (.l!~ t _ try t ) bt eak

out anti ~~e n dash f or th~ r~ n Div position.

,Thi s wc.s succe s s ful und Pot 1850 hrs .:.Xi g . lIACKEl'T
r EJ:'lortcd t , Di v HQ thc.t 15( " 'ru:-D. 00, !loout 70

••. • •/ strc.: ; ng
 '.

P-"l!"O 19
:;trong ~ w..:n.; r eorl;.:misi ng c.bout 6897B4- j ...de
II J vrwl.....: c')ncentrnt~d ~bout G91785 . 4 r ara
Sqn RJt~ h '!l1 1.!.1s0 arri VI..:.., in the S.'"lt!l0 area -"'b out
5ofo strm10 .
. .
153 . 4- l 'prc. d'_c t s stn... n::;thJ anc! c vents c f
20 Scp on th~ E a st~rn f lank , yet ~ ? be desori bed,
hLL'1ilC it i m:..)l"lssi blt..: f or t h... .·rn. t o occupy the line
c.riJ ina.l1y intcndcL. Thur0for c: , v.'i th 10 ...··are:
l'n alrl..:,'.llly n.c-lw.~ a p'~ si tL 'n r ound cross r oC'. ds
705783 , 156 :rarl'. :"'n werl; ,!i vcn a simi lf'~' area
with i t ~ cc:ntrc: a t 6~770 . This they occupi ed
::-.t 1:;}0 lir5 .

154. The eastern front ·..:f the IJi v nut5i\.'..e

I'.rIJ-P.U: \':":'1 ver' C-0CS()~ i~ c r the t..nuny WIl.S by thi s
t i l.lt: ':!.str i tl~; the railwe.:· nn:l r Qad a~lJr va ohes
betwo.;en .iRI!JiEr.; end 003tn!J'Lh!;.!!t~ 'U1d ilr eventee. all
d'f?rts t o su:?ply ?r gd. ~>hysical t ouch ."Ii th 1
j,'ar'J. .:;1c i n .illNKEH. 'l'h;~rl: was little or l'l:>thing
o.t tilis st::.Jc t f.' st(l~' tht..: enC:my if he llttackud
i n tht.; (lir e cticn ,2 OOST}:H.J..a~K , fr7n the east ,
where Di v il'J and Di v tr' ''()s were situat ed .

Action o f' 1 155 . In the r~r.u:..i n l_cr If the Di v !\l'en J 20

Air Landing .:..de St;;.), w':..s chitd'ly ro.u:xknL:.le '.lS 'Ueing tho dey
anti lDNSD~\LE wlle;n intens..: Ill' rtc.ri ~ wId she11i nt;; r eally storteu J
i'..;rce . f ollowc.:.l. by dc t(;.:rmi ne:d i nfo.ntry a tta oks su.'ported
y tank, or SJ:..I bunS . The r esult s of these wert..;
• ,at, on the Ec.st .;;rn -;;x,:rimct;;::r , the line c0uld
lJ.y 1,..0 t:stabli shed fj: r.t c r oss r C'c.ds 702':;84 ­
Oc'STEP"':.ll;;EK StatL.n 703674 e.nd ev e;n then the
farce !l.vuilabll;;! vms insw"fi ci cnt t o pr('vlo:.:nt
infi ltr:tti In. The lX>S ~t cross r oads 6,;; 77B4
VIas in encmy h .;mde .

156 . 'PhE; Light Rt:gt ';f,-:rlo; v{.;ry a ctive ly oneaged

a ll day in sU~)PQrt r.1' 1 a.'1.Cl 4 ...... ~n ;Xl.es. Tbl::
spocd 2.ncl e.ccurncy with 'mich SU;f?:::ll't was ~ iv\:m ,
Lutl: n-~.'Yf c.nU I nte!· J =,r l"!vt,,,nt'ed many i n ait>i ent
(;n",,1'I\Y a tt o.Qks fr om tlt:vt.l,.,i ng .

157, 'rhc.: aUP:lly drop t ..'k. lllace about 1700 hrs.

~positi.'n 'flUS n,eai n i nt\msu , 'Lut the drcJ W3.S
rl'.'r e su~ccss ful this tit,;\". one! units i')ick~e. u...')
such r..: r"-nt"!.iners PJ1d panni\...rs as ft;:)ll in tht::i r
vi oinity. 20 St:.. ~lI&d -,.r.ith a mcssac;:e fro1.> Hl
1. iro~ rne IJcrps S'lyi ne t ho t tho:: NIJ1!EGl.:N bri dJ£e
h ....J.1 1;(;0n o'\~tw~cl inta ct .

01 'Eit"lrION~j ~RO; i 0001 hrs 21 SE2 TO 2000 l:.rs 25 S~J'> .

21 Sop.
156 . ;,t 0),00 • .rs , tht; Div Commander held a
ccnfdrt:nCL ~~t ill v l!,.l nnU. u ividcd th..-:: rDlllE\l.mng
troop~ into,) two forces . Thet under ,jricadit!r
.IIe!·£? o€:in,,:; r . . . sr'onsilJle C,r tht;; Wt;st si de of
~....c. pf.:l'imetcr , ."n....:. thl:.t unl.!.er lJri eadier !-U.CKl!i.l'T
.'. t!l<-~ east si:;'o :­

hl'iaa..:.i.c r Hicks .

rl'~ce..:.: Sqn G9l,.785

7 7. .0 . 3 . • . 694791
21 Inciep i'o..r~
Coy G90789
•••. . / G-llti...:r
•

Pll,l" 20
ts 6d'7&7
l

oJ.li..:'<.T -Pil'

1 llnrll Sqn 1lli

4 :.c'erc. Sqn .n..I!: ;"J'ut wo'Jli 6.:..8785
9 Fe C'''y !ill

1 _A r,h.:r - .k:tw<.;on KOUDE Jil!EJERG

CV 7'-' o.ncl !lEVE.lOOHi'

:..:ri -;aidcr lI4'.",ko t t .

G97707
10 Para n ) Cr _-58 roads
(aiGur ...>ilots ) 6967<4
r:ll;f,"}{;;nta of I , j ~\lId 11 . - Church 69677;
l'.:u-c. .Jus ·(Len,.;!J:.;;. .)l'C~ )

1 .ui~ht Rctt .R:,

2 S . Sb1'1'orUs . - 6':1477~

(~hcm~on l" ... rcu)

Actinn 'f 159 . Hribt\f,;icr Habk(;tt (.;:_t'~uli3hed his .. 0 . '

..!rige.!il..r at r;96704 . -'hl:..n.: wr.~ heavy v,rt'lI"inJ an\... shelling
Hackett ' s "::uri~ t:lle tl0r.ri.nc:, rorticul"'rljr in u)J)sc.al~ Force
forol: . arca .

160 . 156 j?o.r'-:. n Vllls lltt~,·'·~c. c.urin:;. the a f t..:r­

noe n IlS w~s 10 l'crc ...:n, uut Loth ho l t! firlll and

r.":,,cllcd the :ltt'l,,:ks . Lllt,.;r 0. h,.;:lvy attack,

SU:'LlCl-tC4 by S . :L) . Gtul3 , {lvv..:lo.Jcd a...£e.irult 10

Para n . l'hLY "ft.r- ov er run and rnf)!'t of' tht,;ir

houses wen,; ~L;t on fil'f; . Th<;rc wojr.... no\" no

of'fic(.;r3 in' lO J'~~:1 .,n ('U1a VI..::r:y few men . They

ma~;t:;d t. c·.~mt;; t· the surface; r,J,c.in aml r{, ­

eat, ,!li shcd thoL'lsE:lves i n S'l.IU of their '~ld

hol,;.!. J , Wht;r8 they vrurt.: su1jcC'te·l t,-, constant

~tt.,--,·l· for the nt::xt t\vo {..eY3. DurinG the rl'l,)'

30 CI'~':1S artilL_ry ZllV':: vn.lu 'blt. support , ~,...rti ­

Qularly in. IO ~'e..l'E.:. jJn ' 5 nr.... ·J.

161. Durirlt! thi5 dllY ::'.riL r~ckt;tt W~5 wC'mUcd

end hanrk:d .... Ver CO!!lLdlnu to Li.... ut . C·.,!. !orray:

Gli<1er i.>i.1ot Regt .

Action of 162. 7 K. C. S . •3. VIer£;; trou1..1~::. by snipers who

.<.ll'iAll-licr hlld infiltr.".t<.(! :w'inc the. r .. viL\us nizbt, and tht)

Hiok ' 5 P _,rec . 1l1011.U1'l6 ',ns spent i n C!l.!"l'yi"t- out l!1in.)r at tacks

t char tht:t. out . .~b<-;.ut IdO lu's tht::: en~

rut i n .'1 detl.!nnin.::(. attack t.-n 7 K. O,S • .J, The Ln

r op:..iod. wi th !l vi.gC'rcus cou."ltcr attnck culminating

in a b~on(.:t ch~_r.'~e; , whi ch ~ .~lctc1:t' clt:.:lrod th(;

enemy fror.t thE. C!'1.!a. 11..n.vil1(, l.trl,;t:. nurnoors of hi s

ucaU ~n th0 fi elu .

163 . n'his ~.'n lost ht,;o.vily in the ~ct!.Qn . (4'

Offi cers kiU\,.;(! ".n' U ""OWl! tOt) • It was th\.;ref ore
dccitic~ tv aide 3tul and fi 1 th~ ilqll bctvrecn
them mtl 21 lnilc~) l-'~':l Coy . This movE. wns carri ed
out vii thout p.1.jor inci·:ent . The.m subsequent ly
moved to' ar'.=6 6:J37ou .

164. 1 :'crUcr v.'cre c.lso heavily .a.tt.~ckeJ. dori r..;

the d:;y, Ell".u. '\i~ain in the cv... nitIJ..; . One coy wer e
driven fron their :?csi ti"n l'.\o(lut 6(')5770 llm\ , J.espi t ...
. call- nt efforts to I'\.;tr.kc i t , \'f~rt.: ove!1tun.lly for cec!

. .. . ./bock
 "tra ok to t he are a 6';J2774..

Actl.'m "r 165 . As h'l. b<..;cn 1'olatt:J, the Div Cc::rnrrumdt:r

}.;iv !. " . held !In li On group ut 0000 hr~ :md. reorganised
tht:;: 'J.vtilublo forc~s .

1(t: . At lC()O hrl th..-:: htJl.VY ::hlllling and

• ortlU"'ing s~t thE; Div w:';.lunition dump on fir e
'·1, 'lfte:;r ;)"t.1'(.nUC'u:.; l:ffol't.:; by Div HQ por son­
. . _, t hE: fire ',vas brought under cont r:'ll.

167 . An ~rl.r r - su- o·ly tl,e}... l~lacc: 3t about

midd:..t.y . 1'hl: !Jur~ly ail'CI"l:'t caml; i n " osccrtcdrl
by I.~ . E . IOS-s onJ it WI.1R nc!t nucces:;ful. A
i"urtht>r s UJ:Ply dro.p in tll' ai't<:;rnoon was m{'r e
:'Iqccc"3sful.

l(;G . :'h~r''; wo,f: Vi..r::

lit l Ie fpod throuchout
the Di vi!lil'm and SCbl'C_ly :.JiY . .·(I.lter . Amril1..lni ­
t i cn ·VD." ~SO running V t.l'Y low .

:69 . urine the aftern, \. ~v .mtilL'C Wo.~!

tcl:e:. of th,"" guns of' 64 ,.diu.'"7\ rtt:.!::imt.:nt , cf
30 Corps , ....no "'"lrriLd out J".any:h~,"ts , br-:;aking
ur many ~.J.ttacks 1x;,fvrL th.... y bctlWl or "'ould
beOQr',<'; uangerou:h 'l'hrou.. ~I.OL.t this and succeed-
i ng dayo:: the; fire cf thi; l'c:sw€.nt ;';'l;~ of thE;;
ere.'lt:..:st r·.ssi3t::.noc .

170 . 'fhi.. mUl"l wir!~lvJs t Wll::! sti ll working ,

UJece)t r.n ~:or'!'~ ' . Th~ .:....l.l· SUPP01't rear link
;'!llS knookt;u out by mtJrtnr fir~ j but had at nor
t ime k'.;.n in touch with i t.s control. Evwy
effort ',:.:13 :;'l.(i.(;: tc.. contr·ot Airtroops (Rear)
i n iJ . v.. 'lnU. l'(.. - Jir....ct th<.: supply d!'O't-lPihg clr­
or :U't .

~ ction of 1 171. ;/' hew\,: s...:(;n th:tt the: Poli311 ')1"lti to!'.k
Indc;1 P'-'lish "I ~+t(.;ry lc.nuc<1 in gli ...('I'S on thtJ luth md 19th
Pa1'll til~ . ..... . "I1hoy W(.;l'" r..llottt,;j tasks vr.i.thin the Di v
pt:rimett.r ,

172 . After two pC3tpcont,;/, nts of 24 hours

(;...lCh, th :' :rachut(.; ",h.r.rt.r.t of tht; Poli sh
Indl...) ..:A,.. ('Ti' took off fre. th(.; U. K. on 21 Sldp .
At 1715 hrs tht:y ix:g:m to w-op on the new DZ
south of the !·ivc..r . ?he '1;"::llth· r wea not good
end II ntll"lkr of air~l~"'ft l'\;;tw'ncd to U. K •
...· Ii t.hout lra: ,·ir...... thdr 10'.. . .

17.3 . At 2100 'hrs lkl", 1 ·trols .:lscertained that

t ho::; 1!"T:.,\'F:AOOJ<.P fen'Y 6v7( 1 I. bt)cn sunk nnd the
north L'lll1' of th.:.: r i v€.J.· ..t th'lt -point wC..s held
by th·:,. (;. ,,,my.

174. At 22.30 h1'3 thE; :&: _ L. 0 , ' fr.,,·' Di v li.~

arriv,,'l with instructions ..'or the: Me to 0 ..... 0 3 S
th(; rivcr . whilt. th,,; Di 'l '.1 uld c.naecvour to
at tlick tht. north'~rn end ,f th~ fL:rry swnd
OVclr boats Q.Tl.t. rc.ft~l .

175 . Wh.m th....: luu.dine .1",lflcnts of' thl.; Me

th...: rivl;..l' i t ','f'lS fr.!un:...,. that ndthe:r
r~e.cht...d.
boat.::: nor r:li't:; h~·.1 UTiv, . . . Th~.i3dc '-·cr!lmenc.1.0r
th..::r_for d0Ci,[(.::.1 to nC'v T~C DRIEr. 60..;75 and.
';stQ.clish ucf... nsivl.; positl.tns tht<l' (.;. •

. ' " .(22 S,,'

•
,

PU('Q 22

22 Sep - 2l~ St..:D .

Act ion in the,

176. Saru; l."<.; - ;:WjustIM,;nt •..tal'! neccS8nry bcfor(.;
Di v PCrimctd- .
first liEht ·n 22 S(..T ' The pc;rim(:tcr was
contrnct~~ en th~ northern r a e~ and the Rt.,;ccc I
SOl j ... rune un'.],::r cCltllliVU1d brigadier Hc.ckct t • s
(n Lieut . no!. !urr~Y ' !l) f or ce arul, toge t her
wi J 21 InJ.L.ll P<J.ro. Coy :md 4 Para Sqn R. r;
VI.... l' nov\,' ov.... r to th(.; c~skrn flo.nk . The
fo.Z'II..;~· occu~)iit.l positions from cross r~s
6~67U4 to IG~5700 , nnu a u.(.;tachmcnt of Di v
iL.I . S . I'; . vxtcndcu. th\,,: lim;: fran 6957UO to eS577G .
4 P ar.. Sqn rA::r'.~ hcl,l in !3rll,; rt:St;r v(,,' ncar 4­
Pm'a Bee H. I ' tlbout G~57"';h .

177. The :rcl..lJl.:l ir;t.Cluduu in the Div pt."r imctcr

was un ~ conbin:J.ti on of !.hic kly woo<.lcd countr y
nnt1 bui ... t up @"cas . 'l",10 \,'Lst u,mr! e«ntl.'l,; wt.lr£
well '!fcoded, 'l!1Cl the north rm.J. enstern flanks
rt;st(.-o. in the 3tr(.;~ts DnU .louses . The southt;rn
flU'.k was the R. LEi' .

17L . Durine 22 S"? the ~ . " , O . l(O;>.) !ll'.u ·~ . ,· . E .

ll;ft to cross th..: rivJr to conte.,t the, Paliah
Ed..: ar.":: 30 :0z:'5 . T~y r ...tl.1!"n.. . .d ti.LU·in~ thl,;
right 23/24 ~(.: I . Tho .,z"itiah r.. . S. O.l{L) froo
th(; l'r,liah J ·it: .:Usa tllTiv lilt Div } . 4 '

17,;, . Ol~ the ni&ht of 22/1) Suo "!'f,rax.50

r:-1Cllof 1 Polish Pm.. ~ Btit: "'...:1'0;.. fcrl'il;Q. ecl'OSS
1S r •• in!"ol'co..:i.;c.nts ~J on thu nvxt night :lbout
150. ~·h~sc Wl;.r(; plactJa Ull;... ... .L· a'ie~dh,;r .: i cks .
Thl\t grouter nUJ,lb<.;;rs WI,..l"t! not got tlcrOS:;3 Wf.!S
cl.ut; br2;L:ly to luck of fo.c i liti(:J<; .

100 ," l.JUrin;.:: th(; ~Vc.niTli! of 2} Sc...) a au~:~)ly

Ur took 4'l~cl.. , but only D. vl,,;ry slil:l1l quantity
CVt'-J.. 'Je !>ick(;J U[ . This chie;fly du~ to thu
Wl.tL. lisJ.'I.rdon ru.u :Usc owin.,.; to tho.: activity
of' 1;;; • ..'I:1y :mir(.rs . 1"h:ct collcctc. ... ctJ., howcv... r ,
'-lli;:;htly rdic..vc tho fooU. 1".ortl!£j~.; for the ':'K)unded.

101. On th.... rie,ht 24/2,) 3, , 1. -Dorset of 130

ilde (43 lti.v) att...:nrr.tl.;Q. a
cr' lvinC, but tht;: lanC­
ing:> : _e..do ',"~re;: very sca.tb.. rc. \ a l:u-ec prO?Orti on
beul{! in tlll.. ru:·cD. of tho;; }-fr.yi:t.. ()j~ ferry , '..mich
1'1:'.!5 f'irr,ly in c.nwny ho.z .~3 . ';;lc:un n..;vcr conccn­
trutcCl. I3.S ~ filJ1tin- unit w"":.<;r crosEing .

1,)2 . Th<J. prison(.;rs i n tho tennis ('-curts

ncar l.1iv Ji . j . 'NCrl:;: beBirurl.r.~ . , feal the: effects
(If' short rf'! tions :;,.nl of thci, ovm shdling end
l':lort:,;.-ine; , 'l11d 'f."c..rc ocgi nnin to quot<: G..,mt:::vc>
C('>nv(.:nti one .

103 . ~ 22 Sep Wltil the: QornirlG of 25 Sup

it wns ror thost; in tht! ' pc:rim{:tcr a qUt..sti on of
wi thst~ndi.ne conti nuOu3 o.ttiwks, mort!lring e.ru:;.
I
shelli ng . Thv force.:. wo.s.~win .ling ate . ' l y
i n nu::::"r.x:rs and str~Jl,c;th ol'fin"j to casull t i l:s i n
off~Cers., nvn :'U'lL'" wc'll.,ons . ~nU. vms OeCC'l:ti.ng
incrt.;ssil1Lly ahort of aununi. tion . !Juch 1'lltchiIl£
by small. rarti.;:s 'lJ'H frequ(.nt r.rl.nor rt.. - aUJust­
acnts Jf the .tIurim.... tcr wt.:re n(;ccss=.x-y , but, exc(.1:t
for tho c1clib(;;rnt(; closir~ in of tht.; nor th 'faoo
of the porir:k:ter, little or no ground .m.s lost

. ... .1lll'lr1
I

Wd.l th<- r;•.:nt:.r-u 10)"- out rl;S,lcinl t h",; same

thro'lLhout the.. .ft;n('A,; . Fr oc this tinc
onW:1-':s l'.'ltions '\n ..·... tcr VllIru vt:.ry ::hor t ".J1:.
tho .... vn.cu tion ~,nd c::u-, of tht,.; woun .eel WQ.::;
o.l~ ~y~ :!. worry, cs lilO5! of th, time the 1 , 1.. . 5 .
\'{f"'. t 'n I;.;l\I.;MY h!ll1' ': . ~~Ov ..r.l",nt Pt.:C:ll;~t. Vl,ry
r~. ';1';. -t",;" owin.! to infiltr.... ti'·n 01' .;ner.!l·
sni~ TS a.'-l.l, l'ltt crly, I' , : . ~l' . illockin.~ uf
rof.l.is J\..J tracks uy fnlh-u tr\.;t,;.~ , 'Lrnneh...,s ta!d.
by rl:'.!J: ,/7,(.;'.i vt,;hich:s :Julc til... us.:: cf the f.:.w
survi vin;' j(;a.;~)S nlI.o... t ir ,... fsiblo .

1·,4 . At <bout OGeS hrs on 25 5",. , the lJi. v

0am-.lc.nl(;;r r~cl..!i v" :

'1 1d. tc..r fro'l1 ':bmmn.nd.t:.r,

4-3 illv, whir;h cX;11f'.int::< th' ~ ;j:Er:m:n .u-rr.y ' s

intcnti ll.:. w~.s not n~w t\ 1', r.l a bri~1Gt.;hl.:l)..

Ovt;r tht.: .llF.?, ~ •.::J11 nem" .~ '~:1.E:' . It 'llso ~~ v e

thl.! ~,l'm f·:t· the ':rith,.rn'/,'"l: 'f tho l'iv i!:;ivn ,

!J0uth of th!.. ri vur on ·lIh,.'~1 V-,X c>tu shoulti 00,

Iltr.... e:,.. Th(.; ili..... ;:cnnc.n':cr then.. ful'e ini'o!'il'L(;.

43 j)iv by ,lj" th'\t th\..! vri.tj.~r':.w':l 11U,t t>k(.

-,l:~c"," nn the ni.'~ht 25/26 s·~ .Jr._ this "If!',!?> sh.'1rtly

D.ft(.;r ~---rt:t,;(..: . it W'13 t·. ilL kw'wr. ':'5 O:,Cl't't.+ ion

I LE:fI.LD1 ' •

ld5 . ht 10jO hrs on 25 ~'., th~ L~V ~~~er

i!P-vt.:- ,ut his ol'~trS , '"';ro:! .il1,(!: Wll:i k st:u-t
a.t 2200 }-';'S , :'.l'l..:i uni t~ ./(.:1'(. "l'j with.r R on a
ti.-.(;u l'r"L:r~ I~;C , by two r·:,.ut....s . In ,:.;;nc.r-u
thos~ i'urth.:!st fro!:. th.... riv... l' w... ~ to start
f i rst . It ·.v~~l not e>; '.ct.· lh-t t.ith",r of
these r()utl)s YI~ul,.1ft free 1'1"01.1 ~n...T',y intt.r­
r"rencl.: , uut thl..;Y '.I;ru tht; lot.st ~losdblt: ; onl,:
lr.::ir13 on t: ..;l west ~: onl:,i on tJiw !.'~st ~Ll(; of
the !ivurl.:.~ . 1 .Urlruv.ing &lu 'md 4 P'U"c,
lYlc:: .h re..: to post,: r11":'9 on t.1l{r:le..:st 'l!}...:. t,o'\st
rot':'':" r(.:s:'cctiv-..:ly nnd lJiv H • •• '.'/",;),"; to r.'I".rk
the':: :; to. thu river fran thL roin.i. $ ·,m..:rc
thus!,; routes ':1(. t tilu ~<;n ().,\)t.m,l .orth ;jf th<.­
,
river .

1 ,f . l:nitti W!;.:l'C t.) JJwv t: ~c tht;; 1'i\'<.;r i~

parties of' f,-;:urtt:cn , ','lnicil l'.uibt.r W'lS !!t.',:,r.:>ri ­
J: .tt;ly a. bn"t l...... . lXXlta '( ,l'u. to k murr1c(~
3U as to ;.;.,,:.:.<1(;n the nris... 1:.1. , if fire; •• on,
_ ('.rtil:A \'.'f,'n.. t· t""\kl.; cvr,3iv~ ,ct i ~n , ~ only
fiz;ht if CI 'r.~)ell"..l to , 50 . .:1 to (lVuii' th{; d-:nger
of inJ.i:~Grim"no:-.t,_ firir-t.'o 0:r erri v .1 ~. t. th~
river, y'.rti _$ Wl.:l'(; to lie "11"1 I.UlJer CI,)V...l'
of thl... bt\.Tli: '.rr1 'Y(1U t th<.ir ";urn r ;r '. l.o~t .

le,7 . :'hv g~I·"U'J. -n thu Liv 1' • .:. CUJL. ( n

vollmtucrs) W:.::O tn ~'~:n:.1in i.. !,o.~iU~n till 0130
hours, 26 S(;,r> , when it V/1.S t(, with~aw us I.ln­
stcmtetiously as .;'Q5;;ibloJ . 'l'ht,.;t'L. w... rv :::.bout

200 prisC'nr.;rs in thu COoL'" ('\.t this t i mt;.

l{~ . H.~ 11V e.... I'lrr~t;..-d ·'.. th r . r' . j, . .ti . , 30

":or.,g, for a cm.r,'1't.nt.;nsiv<.,; !:.rtill..:ry :'rogrC.fj'\;ne
to cover th... ',',-holt "tith,.r·.wr·l . Th... "f'ficl.t:.oncy
, f thi::s whe;n th;:.. wi th.:r1.·.... · 1 bu(!OJ'l undc'ubt(:,-ly
contrl'Lute.;. very 1ar>J..:t to tht:. sO.CCi,.:SS ~f tho..!
opcr'l.tioo.

11.;> . ?5 Stl L , in:,; qlUl:tcr th'Ul the -lL.y bd' re ,

but t tho end c,r th(;,' !lay <.nu.\'y infiltration \'/').5
conSJ. 'able . Th<. eltcmy wt:,;rt; fil~ rly <.sto.hlishtld

.••. •/ i n
 •
i n woroJ. 795777 and a shoot by 64 Medium
RCl,':iment W:1S car r i ed ou t on t hi s ore£!. 'which,
i t ~hould be noted, W~G in the cent r e of the
Div position. .;t t'lt'.ny <Jther pIeces a nipcr 3
antl sane H .lr ,Ga . were in position i nsi de our
linc~, 'In.j pOst ll.,its were to somE: txt ent
encircled end out off' 1'rom th€;1r neighbcllT.s .
Such W'<..\.s thQ pos1tion wht.:n the ...I i t hdrawnl
'tJdglln.

l~l 0 Hr,ht f"o,.,,, tho time of l""_o"n~ , tho

Dut.ch po:\ul ,:,tion ;U-f'vcd 'l!lcr'::!.>t::lVt;S mOst help­
ful ill ~'Il'l)vi'1illt; inf<"'lm.:l.ti,'n mK~ LI'1.Ulic.9 , e.nd
e.ssistine ,"nth the:; w(~~U'UlcL. . Thi~ they conti nued
tC:I (10 on nll IJoscdlJl<: oecu.":i .>ns thrcnlehout tht­
O'"~J(:;l'f.!.tit'l , though dLU"ine il~v closo vncil'cler.:ent
of' th•. Jliv p~riMt:tt;r from J + 3 t i ll the evacua­
tion , a.~.~bt'!n.('e WI.\5 int,;vit(\bly limited .

l~l. At 2145 hr$, 25 SI:P the fir3t uni t:s t o

withJx"lW cross(.'!:. the stertin.g l i no , whi ch was
tht: rol.'.u b.;.tw(!(;!n rc~d junction 792774 and CHURCH
79C174 . Tnc cncm:y was rnort'lI'irl£ -.l.llU $he1ling
VI..' h,;eviJ.y at this tiLle , 'IIhi.ch m~(; things
tii cult for the fil":t unite to move .

192 . Hcvlf.;ver , about 22OC, lu's th~ (;ncmy f i re

sl:lcltt.:neu -::md, though thul\.. 'vas a consi ,1crllbl J
lllllOunt nf 3"!.)a.~ooic 5ho1lil1" ' I m":t't~ , l<t.G
fin; 'l...'1J.. snipil13 , it diU. nvt. s£.rLJUsly intt)rfere
with r..ovf!J!knt . TllO cn£mY U'lIJC no move h i mself
to (,IrENcnt th~ vrithdrc.w: 1 , f'or which .30 COr;:J5
urti llery coneentr':ti ons "'t,ro no doubt l arg~'ly
rl.sponsiblc: •

193 . 'l'he rutht m\s cierk w.. th :.ill ovcrc~.st sky ,

heevy rain and e strong wiL ... ; most suitflbl t:
condi tions for the. occe.si",'n .

191.,. ?r.rry.Lr-E; across th~ 1."i vet' OCeLm at 2200

hr s as plamt~d , nnrl c,."-ntinuuu t~lroughout tht;
night . The behavi our of t.h.:.: t r oops um'i ng
thQ wi thUrawal 3Tlt"1 the Ion'· wait tha.t mOst of
them h'\d in the col d red.n u'~ ~ir.1e the rivor was
t:xeJ:l[lbry i pc.rti culo.r1y f·J· I1¥:.:n ..mo hc._ OOfm
fi:[htinr c'''ntinucusly for nine days , and for
~r"le 'Who hUll b..'!.d rr"l.ctic p..1ly nei ther slcep nor
ft:XXi .an<.L onl.." very little ,,'ater.

1~5 . lly d'3.v.-n on 26 &'!PJ ,·,tlen operations haa

to cC~at; J l'~rl'ro:r. 1700 all rn-cles of tht:.: Di vision
enc! 420 GliJ.~r Pilots h'!.r] b(;~n ferrie:d ~crOS9 .
l.uo t 300 r.'h:n eti ll rem£dm:u, 011 700 could swim
havl .. al1:t;;B.I~ C:"nc SO .

196 . .After crossi~, all r:lnks marcht::d to e.

R. V. south of .l.>.RIl!lL, ~rc;; r U!!l, tea, hot f ood
enG. c. 'Ul ank(.:t 7.'i:ro prov idt:.--cl l>y 43 Di v I an cxc£llhmt
and much ap~r5c~ated r~c~?t1.n .

197 . Too I'luch ~reise C.!lfll1'. t be given to tht.

~xccllencc of th(;. 'U'r:m.....:;~hll,;;;its lue.de by 43 D1 v f or
thc crossi.JlL of th... ri Vl.r ·~l aubscqw...nt tranB~'ort
was provide.l frcrn .DRIEL to .\ ...J1.!IDEN" whert; t ht;:

• .• , ./remuins
 •

PMC 25
remain" of tht;; Division \'I~ro concentrated by
1200 hrs, 26 Se~ .

THE ;.u.~URH F~lor S1J;·;:m}~a TO 11 . K.

19:). J.t 1430 hrs, 26 S....:'J the G.O. C. held !l

c:-;nfcrt,.;ncl.. at In~XBJ , thL chier poi nts ooinu
the c,)llt!ction I.lnd roorgani .ti( n of units ,
clothil\t$ of 1>('1'30nnc1 .'UlI!·C :r.?ositi.:n of
nOl.linal r,'113 by units of all thoa,__ .,resent .
~·I CCOJ.1'! ~od.eticn 'W"~ 1l11ott~ \:·n tho basin of
one builUinc fOl' uoth P'll'e. . :05 , one f ...r 1
l\irlardine 1Y t. :uvl "~ third t . . !' D1v Troop ~ ilrd
eli .er Pilot~ .

199 . Thl.; ' SC:.:aborno t'lil' ~f th(j 1rl.vision hail

~'ldy .rrivc<1 in :11J!$!.'li, :md hv.d b~~n able
t:.:. 'Prl:'I.)!ll'C this .:-.ccQfT.lOd!"ti.)O . Thi~ us:::>
• rr.l,..lnt tr.>:!..t th~ erl.;'lt I!I.I'J.Jority of the SurviVOI'5
r-~c€i v" _ their lo.r,",;c l'rtcks ci.?n"uinir.e; a. c~ lo te
cho.n:t;;: 'f clothitl["

200 . z'hlvru-.c(; p"lrties v.'Crc r tltreu to cove

carly r..;n 27 S';1' to G1U\VE airfit.:l,j in ordcr to
fly ..... U. K. , r,rior to the.. r' turn ',f "\hc Division
by to its nOrLuU locntionth On 27 Sep,
hovlt..i\·.r , it w:::.s foun':: th":t G!J,.Vl:. nirfi{.:l.U c ;uld
Tl(;t 1 ... us~t1 rul!J. so ~ stJC"..ll 'J.\..V:::'~ party under
the A. II. . t: J . j~ . G . v/e:nt by rc·'\:.~ to !:io{USSELS end
thenc~ to U. K. by air .

201. Th(;; J:1Ornir..,!J of 27 S'-'l. '"M spont in reor8 ­

enis·:ltion ond c1corin.:. u. :rier to the Divi sion
ooi ng paroot.:d "for e. visit by Lt . Gen . l . A. .1r. .
l.Ir'..lWlline, Comr,"ID.ru.l.t;;r ni rlJornl.. ~t;lrps , at 1700 MS .
H.:. visi t~d til thrv!3 bu1l'iill[.~ , Ilt each explained
the "Li e pi cture of Op~rati c n I ,1.U<KET I 1 and cOp'!?l i­
mcnteu the Division on i ts" ;Jrl.evc;mont s .

202 . On 26 and 27 S~~ the . C. C. visited 30 COrps,

4.3 Div and G4 • ',t.d Rcet , R ••• • -tn.d. the.nk:ed them for
tht.:i r assietcnce tQ the Iav1~ion both Quring the
b.3.ttla and th", withdrc.w'll. On 2d S(;I1\ G. O. C.
vi sited H. Q., SECO!,D Arr.Iy ~t' had lunch with the
h-.'"r'4Y COC\ri1Rll!:~£;r . He then "'v.;nt to Tee 11 . ': ., 21
Ann,y Grn\Q ·....hera he sp~nt th(; ni~ht as the gu..:st
If ]'iel,: j":'lrshal w:mtt:CI!lI..:l'J '

203 . Oil the ".eni"" nf 27 S<'P. instructions

v:ere issuet i'crr the T;l..",:ve of the whole Divisi on,
inclueinr, Glider Pilots, by r~~~ to DIEST t~
next cloy , prier to rct urnil\1 to U. K. by air froo
nRUSSE!.S . Tris move 'N!l3 ca~)leted vri thout
inci<.1."nt by ap,rox 2000 hra, 2[l 5.::p, but to LOUV;.m
inst·, 1 of DUST . ,The fottlLCr was muo,h nearer
BRUS~.~ airfi eld end had better accommodat i on.
The ..'lviei c..n spt;;nt a most comr"rtnble night in
WUVhL, llS a rosult of the t..lxcell(;nt arr 3J'l6enents
nadc b:, Rear Ii . /) . , SImND ArMy . The route taken
from from NIJ!n:;.E2! to LOUV,\U: was Yin EINlliOm'4
and DDiST .

204. On 29 Sup, althou,g}. th, wcath(-r Y.'!lS W1prCXD.l.S~lldJ

420 Glider Pi lots ",-ere cvacu'ted to the O.K. During
the mor!'i ne, Hajor o....nt.To.l ~i·iJ.liamsJ Ccr.tlu.a.nili.~·
General, 9th Troo:, C::l.l"r1l.r Cd lat'.d, f l ew over in hi s

..... /~'n
 ,

o',m nil·......~ll.ft to (,ick up the G. O. C. Th"" l et ter

mn, Ji\et.'t C!ti';[fI'ELL by Lieut . Crl..nL:ral Brereton,
C:"'!:lDll.II1din'" C-.'norc.J. , ?ir3t nI lled Ail'borne Anny.
unJ. Ly !.1!!j.:ll' (~.:Ilt:ral Crawfo:rO., Director of Air .
Thv ·"'(;a.th..:;.r Vila Hilt Vf..,X·Y eooU until about 1400
h1'5 , . . then it c:lc:trec.. suffici ....ntly J and betwven
th..,n "..nU 1L50 hrs thu wh010 of the survivors of
thl; tiv, l",;st! 1 Wi4 I.. P'J.l'U _ ~cs :md R. A. S . C.
h'lL tru~t;.r. off . l....ir Luni'.itlt.. L.iCI.<:::: wc.:nt t~')
WCO:.t.ALL 3?d, 'l'li thin walking cist:\11C(: ('If th, ir
oillt;::ts en'.! thl,,; rt.:Jna.irrlor lan<J.od a.t BAaKSTON
im.~ni. un..! ALl' '·Y .

205 . On 50 g.}!' tho rCllvunin r' ;)w-vi vor:l wt;rc

olcc.rc:u durin· the m,lrnine F..nU YI'.:rc llll back
in their noruo.l loc~ti<'1l8 by n\.;out l400 hrn .

20(" ThuB endc<! OflCr'.lti"1I ~...".- ...'T , the ~ixteenth

0.. rlltion I,bnn¢d oy th+': .;;.ivi~i,.n since 6 Jun 44.

..

 Pa,;~c 2.7
PART II .

AI&!INISTlUTIVl! ASPNJ: OF '!'HE OPERATI ON.

G.ENERJ.L .

207. As tho·rolc l'.llotted tc too Division IXfter 6 J \Ul 44 Wo.s 1n

effect that of standing by to cerry out at shOl·t notice , with or
without nsaistnnce of U.S . Airborne Divs, Operati ons of w1de ~
varying nnturcs onywhere in FRANCE or , lnter , 1n the IJJH COUNTRIES,
rm:y administrative DlM had to 00: ­

(n) Floxibl. - to cope with the vnryil1B typos of opera­

tiona, varyil1ll Orders of Battle and the varied m.unbers of
oirore.f't allotted to the ndm:i.ni strative echel on.

(b) S~) le - so as t o be oasily asslmil~t~~ by units in

the short t1r..c o.vailnbl e f or bri efing.

208. The continual planninG end subsequent oanoell~tion of op6r ati ons
e nabla'lthe administro.tive drill t ::t b e worked out and the a.Uministre.tivo
plan to be thor oughly understood by all. All Administrative Orders
were based on two comprehensive Administrative Instruotions i ssued
prior t o 6 Jun and, f (" r O!.)crll.tl l)ns plrumed subsequently, the only
detcils to be scnt out ~rc 1­
(0.) Allot~nt to Tr~sit C~s .

(b) Allotment of troop oarrying t rnnsp..Jrt to airfi elds.

(c) Allotment of aircre£t to o.dministrativu echelon .

(d ) Details of re-sup~ly .

(e) Loo. tions of Div FMC ruld PI! Coge .

(f) Money oxohlUlge .",rrll.ngerrents .

:-"'!l'lCHTh'G OF OPElUITION .

209.. Trensit CeJnps occupied varied e.ccorcling to the c.llotment of

uni.ts to airfields , which wo.s necessori ~ differ ont for each oper ati on .
$'lr :por at i on},tARi<F!' both Parachute Bdes, who were taking of f fran
cirfiolus in tho GR..afl1L\M orea, uti lised their own billets, whilst
the remainder of tho DivisLm "' coupied camps on airfields in the South,
extending fran l1.'l.RG.\ TE t 'J T..umA1'T RU3:lTON', i n Dorset . Allo co.ti om of
tr' ~ s t o camps is shewn at A:?rlcndix II. I .

210 . The movement of tro.Jps t .J tro.nsit cOlilpS and thereafter t o

IlirfieL15 r equired more transport than c ould be provided frem Di visi :me.l.
resourcos . Three oxtra War Office c ontrolled RASe Coys were , there­
for e, att ached t o the Div durine the pr~c.ratory periVtl but, working
on an allotment of ~ne vehicle per stick of parachutists, even these
mi-Ytt not have been suf'fici c nt h£>.d the wh.lle Divisi on had t o tnke of f
in one lift .

Jr.\J;NTEN.lNCE PLAII.

211. Based on the assurance thllt the Div was t o be Unked up wi th

f;rctlIld f oross after f ~ ur do.ys , the maintenance p lan was f ol10ws l­

(11) . Su;n U •• • 1.11 troops t o land with two 24-hr rations per
man, ~nc emerg~ncy r nti n p~r man . lULl Eliders
to can~J one box of Cont;l ~.

.. .. ./(b) .
 •
-
(b) . P e trol.
•
(0) . Ar.JUUnition. l.s:t Line Soo.les pl us a. consider ab l e emount
<>f ocrto.1.n~ ODCUnition c arri ed J,n,.
(i) SpAre containers by Uni t a.

(ii ) Airbol"OO vehicles of RASe.

(iii) Bulk lorulDd H~a <.... POJ".
216 below).

It W.:lS ~1.lpl'coi~~ted that the f ollowine tYDUS of OJ!'.muni t ion

:lOuld be ~o.rt i cularl,y n:quirod nnd these tYrcs f onncJ. the bulk of
....·1,0 load of the RA..'3C vehicles nnd Harnilo".rs :­

75 l:lllI . 6- pr . l7-pr . 3 11 Mol.' HE. PIAT

( d) Ol"dnMce . It wee not considered that I1l.argEl ... ~e

Jetachmcnt WQS ne c~saary but only suff ici ent
personnel to rec~ivc , l i st and issue st or es
rece ival by air . A certttin amount of spnc&
wa~ J however, allotted to ortl.rw.nce stores in
the bulk loe.d.&-J. Hamilcttrs . See l'Pilerdix ' B' .

(e ) ~. It Yl.... s thoueht that the ti&n task of RHdE

woulil probc.bly be the maintenance of 'Ri..reJ.ess
sots end wcl:l:~xms ani t hat there would be no .~
tine or opportunity durine the operation for
major repairs to vehicles . 1. 11 Jeeps were ,
however, sU~i.) lied with spnr\.!s in order that
repairs could be carried out by t h<:ir drivers .

(r) . JW)C. One Para platoon dropped or lo.nrlcd with each ~.

Bde . Five e Iid.ers W0re o.llotted t o e ach Pare..
platoon f or the cllITingo of their Jeeps and
trailers which vroul d be u SLd to carry spore
ammuniti on f or the Bdes i n the initial s tages ,
but would Inter revert to cont rol of the CRASC
f or the use in cleer1ng Div supply drops .
The bn1an~ of 18 Horsa Gliu~rs wer o used to
, transpor t half one light transport platoon,
) RdSC ,..../ho were t o (lorry Div Si.,o.re rumnunit i on
and to cm-ry out norma.l .R.\sC d uties within
the Div.

(e). Provo st . One Sec of PrOV 1St dro;lped ur l r:.nded with

each Me E'.nd two 8ces wi th Di v HQ . Their
duties Vlel'S nnnnt'.l.

... 'En OF BlITTLE .

" .2 . F-or dotniled Order of Battle of A/f.'J Staff pm Service s see

,:)c ndix 'e '.

:".!.3. Bef ore (:.eparture, lists of ammunition 'and stc.,res r equired f or

~. :,ly by air , based on the: figures of aircrni't aV!'. ilo.ble, had been
,1 :... '1 to HQ dirb<,rM Troops . Certain Sll?e had ....t..;cn pre - seleoted.

Harkinc of SDPs was t o bo carried. out by 21 Indep Pora Coy

:.::n~ Eurekll.s on predetenninc<l frequenci es . After drop all atlJI'cs

• ••• •/Wf.;rc
 Pat(o 29

wor", to be cl(;ru'u(;. t c Div J4nint Arcp, by RMiC tmcl issued to uni ts IJn
dcn!.\nd a Any s ur-.I.)lus... s built U; Tl\!rU to 1x.: h'll'\dcu , v '..r t r.. H ~ llirbornc
c.orps on its el'Tivl\l .

214. Thn.t the re - 3uu ly of the Di v was unauoC(.; nsful c 'm be a ttri­
buteO. to v~i ~~ 1'I',ctnrs, the 1'l!d.Yl o f which w~rt;.: -

(a) In the lJarly sta,ee:l l:lck of ccv::rauni(',!lti 'ns preve ntcd

cha.ng~s in SDPo lx.in.3_ n,-,tificd t 11n30,; .

(b) The: s trl.n ·th of tht.; t:ncnLY Flfll< uofcnoes c~u!~t.il ,o r nsidcrable
loss t o ~rJ'r'li't , f0rc~J. them to tekQ uvasive !lctien ,J.OO
prevetlted ll.ccurate drO!>l ing _

(0) Th... cvtr~m'ativcly small size 01' thu Liv pc.rirneto..;r , ocn;,'il:"na ~
1t!.th (b J \b"lve , meent that the majol' p,:\rti Qn Jf th... r e ­
!JL:~ ly fcll int .;; e nemy hC1ruls .

(d) Lack o f oommuniclltirms Letw... e n 1.!I"',W\tl ono1 air i-,revcnt!;d

the exact loc:lti..:m vf SDl's beln!: n '-7tifi-::u to the aircr'lft
when overheru . S~ fonn cf VCP in futuro is essenti-al.

ThIJ canstnot holli.'ile ~ m.::'rtarirlJ'~ .nd ocnsequfont l C:is

,f vehicles It\lW.u c,llcctinn and c1 istrilJuti.,n on a Div e.nd
\J v<.;n Ddc level in thu 1e.tt.X stngus im~!oss i'Lle . Units
m!.;rely rt:covcred ?<hilt they c'~ulil fran c·,ntc.iners d.ro'f· ,ing
in their rwn f.U"cc-.

215. D<.tails of stores drO'!",ped , aircraft l ossos '!.TId CP4 r ximote

fig w'cs of thl; r~ - all!Jp J,y o.ctually reouvcr '~J. r..ro sh lwn in l.p:.:,endices
ID' , lE I MU 'P '.

216 . A j eep an.:'!. trailer cnrried in e Horsn GliJ.,.:;r CIJ.1\ never really
carry ecvncmic lll 1000s of I'JlIIlunition !ll1d sl.li.l:Jllea IW it h llll al-.vays
been e.Pllrccintcd that a 3Ui'rly ,lrl"I' WClS :\t b(;f.)t n :::l"In~whf!.t ohr.ncy
busi ness . It Yes , thE:reflJrL: , dcoiu.:..:d to cxpcrim..; n-t in l oa.:d11l. three
Hf'.milcnra ccanrletl.ly ','lith storc~ and usil\! RASe tr~'"\sp"rt t o olear
them t: the Div )(ll.intQnIWco Area on arrival. Fr l.)nds carrie.l Sf.;~
Appendix I B' •

217. 1..11 th<.;se Hwnilcnrs l anded sni'ely aT¥! tw..; ·';I..r c compl ete ly
wUoadcd, the thire falli ng int~~· eru:.my hl'.l.l'lds . ThlJ l.:eds o f thesE
tWI') Hemilcru"a pr,')Vt;;J. inv:l.luablC: !llld f ,nned the b:!sis of the Di v PMOs
which Wert set up e arly in the operllti 0n . Wi th r t:. - supp!y being the
scmewhat u'l')ubtful f uc'tar th:lt it i s , the bulk looolJd HomilcDrs or
Hors'ls vmu).d e..::'ll'ccr to be the soluti'n t:l the nuulItE;np.noe of Idrb:>rnc
Divis1rns proV"ided th'\t d1stancus al't: no t tin grent t, prevent st ores
b£ ine f(;rriod from the LZ... tho tr()(j,l)s .

SEABORNE TAIL .
218 . The Divisi :nnl Se aborno Tcil of 1, 000 v~hiolca had b een d espatched
t o FR.\NCE SOffiO six WE: f.; k~ r rovir-usly. It was l .,adeJ with 2nd line MIJ!l.U­
nit1 "n, t;lxpl osivcs, 2 days COlllpo rllti~ ns £01' thc. wlr"lc Div, 50 miles (If
petrol r ~ r I3vtjry vuhic-l e , l!lCn ' s p..'\cks , c'Y'ki ng equi;,'ment N'li,.;. tlfficc
c:;quipr"ont . In ndditi n as it wns !qljfl"Uci ctl.-G. tlut supplies cf 75 mat
How mitht be difficult t obtain OVCrS~:!l.B each vohiclt.t O'UTicd 12 r' 'unUs
r-f 75 J:lIJ1. Hew e iv1n.~ n t~tcl. ~f 4., 500 r .W1US nVer ':n-': !lbovc 2nJ. line
nllotment . Numbers C'f v...hic1... s I'\n!.~ ,:etC'.i13 ,t lc"'.1~s cllrI"i ed by}USC
vtlhic l cs are shO'Ml ut Al'~ru:!i.x IG I . The; Offioer i/ c Scab ·.rne transp:-;rt

••• •/w.. . s
yms instructl,.:u to rroc~cd t1.9 clo~ 0.; nftCl' tnl,; l~ ~arut eroun..;.
forct:s '18 possibl... nnd :m orJer of priol'ity for UlL mova for
thu Sc/'lbornc vt.hicll.; 8 wa.s lniL. t:.own .

219 . 7hc Sonbornc ?a11 e.rl'ivci' with thu forwru';L troops of the
Gunru8 .irmow'c,l Div eorly in the: ~rntion J h i h'rl tht;y n.ru.11,.:
conto.ot \'IOul' h~vt. bt.t;fI inv:U.uc.blt; in l'c:,1... ni~hilll3 tho .N v . J\s
it w'1.~ , th(;y rr··vc. t.;;.;trcl.lCly uSLful tc HQ .airborru.. '~orp8 who
hc.n ,11 thl,.: 75 I!rl 'lJ:nuni tion av<,,;r to tho l.xr.ric!'lJl td. va 'Ull u:;cll.
the lfIoJiC~ stort.Js , ntr., r-::.tions ..::to . t for Uni~, of thL ••lrborn..;.
~orps 'V1d fOl' cn.intnini.n." the L'iv af·tor i ts '\'dth·'rr>,w:U. n.cr~;15
thb R. I.J::K.

DLJlY OF l:.'VElcrs .
220. Dny to d.ny account !')f f.': vcnts 1'.3 they t'.ffi.ct~d the w:!mini­
strativ~ 81· ..c i s g i vc:n a.t '';FPundix ~ H '.
 •

Paro .31
A'l' undix 'A' to Pnrt II

J.(Y' ATIOI~

1 PQJ'::l hi.;; (Glider ~l(:nlC'nt,)

4 Pn.:·11 I3ck: tGlltlcr F.l'.M(,.nt)

7 KC3h

Lt ntY J ~-..A

li'.1U , ItA
9 r'r;~ Coy , i\.1:
I
3ee 181 .\ir Lg..! Ftl Ar,lb

Lt bty , .h.A
~ Po.r~ Bela

H, 1 Air Ldc; PiLe .

2 ;1 :JT.U'FOFID 1eM two ooy"
.IDS Illld ::;I;C 1 h..i..z. lu.c ~cl JU'lb

bURFOHIJ 1 BOrtJ..;ER ) In BILLt.,-S

Gee 161 .Ur Lclg 7d L'Il'ilJ ) not Tl'~si t Camp .

H"" 1 Pura Bd~

2 ... ir ~! A tk Bty , ~{n

9 Fd ('."y J Ill::

21 IndGP Po.r,~ Coy

Div nQ
l!;] Lt llcgt, B;\
6ty Lt tc.<.:gt, RA

T~"< .JtT HU3HTOI! 1 Paro Bdc (Cli J~r El€:r.lCnt)

4 p~o ille (Glider 1:a'~r.\unt )

1 f.b- ~ ~xk

~ Airborne Reece :::''1n

17 pr Gp, 1 and 2 I. tJ: Btys, RA

:lvic.tion ~s ( U:3••)

1'''') cays 2 ~ !:J'T•.Fro. .N

...t bt) , H1\

1 l..ir Lclg A tk Bty, ~'.

::lee 1;:',1 ,;,ir Ldg Fd .,; ,b

Div ~ (Ai r rip" Se o-=. h ','{';lCos)

P'lP:C ;2

~\PPE:IDIX IB ' to P~'.F'i' II.

P...'I1.rUl";•.1 LO.JJS .

Glid,r No . I. 75 "', HE ?u:..c J, 51. ?O P'UUdl;r"l

6 - 1'1' ti. tk Al'COO 15 "

.3 11 1IDrt'lr ill. 5 "
17 11' ,ll' 60 Rc..l..Il'lI1s

Gliucr liC'l.2 . RJ> <~ P'\.h.ni Jr~

75 HE li\lze )1 54. 10 "

6 Pr m.,-.:J 1< "
:3 II Mort ".r HE "
17 Pr AI' 30 ROWlLls

D:u.'oc,_ v,rir~ 4 J,r:,ll:i

Min<...S' J\' tk Y.k 5 t.r

'i'f>o{Ie Mine I, tolls

3h'l.!'-i; s,n 1t t.
Hc/lds ,Pick 2
Signs J ' ''}::1ne I;

Pickets, Screw 16
Glider NC' 3 . l< 10 9 Po.nnicrs
6Pr .lPCBC 5 "
3 II llorter liE 4 "
ON 3t(ll't,;S 3' "

•
 ;.=':1-; ~C I t(; P.~t IT

ORIER OF .::a:l''iI:E - iJQ S'_~ s

~ e~·ial ""J.el· 1, ells . i!r.;tz Stengt!,. of' Unit iTehs .
~
",Jo e 'tc, .
---­ t. ;Lt .

1 /'T j , ." .-,-' ,

1 j o;;cp & trailer
1. _¥ i t..at. 1•.••.1
\. ., .' ,t "-rt ;' / 0
_ '. 1 • --.J , . ./

n ..
""T • •_
2 1'ol(1~ ng bi c ,;cle.J
v.._ Cler:: :JQ

2 cJ..,;::1~3 • ./r:

3 crderlic..J

2. .:edicd N'
.'>.U 'J..) 'j .iUC}.' -!': t r5.ilcr 1,- 1 ?d ~'.I:!b
133 Fd .11: '11'
11
10
170
119
1 0 jeeps f, tr:..i.!. crs
5 je~Ii.:J
4 t-r...Li2.ers 2
5
I;
%c ::; ,.
es 1 Lt wt 1o/'c
16 ?d ~....t 10 11 0 ;, joel.J~ I... tr.:!.i1erz 2 I e;;; 'I 1.t wt /e

~. ::t..3r:: 2 j cc}>sz... t~ ailcr;, 250 L t C CJ' Ri..:iC 6 223 29 ..i~cps &. tral.Lw' s
2 i, c'.'; 0 0" .?_..B C 10

~
I
.djt 3....8v
.J
'y
,:/3.it C:,.;rJ: ?.LZC
.3 1 :!!.' !~3 -~C
.~
~ .. r'

:..V;: 5 _
.. Ci. Rs .

4.. ol 'd,:£..."'"l.J 0 1 ai'I'.;..' . O:~d Fd ? k 2 15 4- ,jucps 5 t::.~_ ilers

2 C. Els . 2 ::lcs.

:J .
,~
?J ._. ­ 1 off'1' .
3 O. :2z . 1 jel:::p and tT.:U.lt;r iE.3 in·: • oj 2 .)5 2 jco}" , 1 -, iCldin~ trailer,
1 wiJ.· w.~S.3 t rnilLr , ~ =1. : . ,
18 foldi~G bicycloB.
C'. } !'ovo~'!; "" 0.:.'5::3 . jeep , 6 I'/C3 . Pro Co:t 5 .+ 4. joe},>!'"; , 9 i / us .
12 O . ~.::; .

7. CJ:r'la-yl;::il1 'j(1P 1 Lt ~;'t ; :;c .

~ = 2 je!;ps a.ld 2 trailers on lo(1tJ f'rc::. 250 L t Coy RASIJ

 .
.
• . . .
v . P,\!!r.: 3L -.
APPENDIX 'D' to PART II .
AIRCRAFl'
, LOOSES .
.

Total e(c Type of H'.ll1lber Percentago Net nprrox Gross tOnnAgl.

Day on Aircraft Mis :inc 10DS by tofUlllite of weigbt(incl
Mi ssion Types Sups dropped container s ,
pannie~) c.;
chutes .

D+ 1 33 Stirling 33 2 6~ 87 lJ.4
(18 &''P)

D+ 2 163 Stirling 100 11 lJIio ) 388 594

(19 Sop) C. 47 63 8 12 . ?'~ )
I
D+ 3
(20 Sep)
162 Sti rling
0. 47
99 ).1
63 3
u.,
4. 76%
l 386 591

22 . 2~
D+ 4
(21 Sep)
116 stirling 63 14
0. 47 53 19 36% l 271 408

D .. 5 no MIS ION
( 22 Sep)

Stirling 73 n
D+ 6
(23 Sep)
123
0 . 47 50 4
15%
8% l 291 1.44

D+ 7 NO MIg ION
(24 Sop)

D+ 8
. 0. 47 4 1
.
25'.:1 8 20
4
(25 Gop) (46 Gp
from
Brussels' -
TOTALS 601 601 84 14% 1431 2201

NOTES :­ In all drops loads w~rc as follows :-

Stirling = 24 contuint.l'I'1 , 4 parmiers.

0. 47 = 16 panniers .
--------------------------------------------------­
PANNIER3 expended = 5572
CONTADrLR:J " = 8760
PARACHUTES " = 11,332

.
 p,. - 55

APPEt IDIX ' B '.

TOIINAGE OF RESUPPLY C01LJ,DTED DAILY.

(i) General.

Net approx tonnage It. ccllt!ct ed out

Date Source
of supplies coll~ct~d of total drOPlJ¢d

D + 1 14 66 3 Bulk loaded HwnilOQX':i

( 18 S\!]?) 12 14 33 stirlings
D + 2 21 Stirlings & C. 47
5.4
3 10 . 6 1st drop from a f~w C. 47
38 Mostly rations from
:JtirliIll3s & C. 47
D + 4
(21 Sep) 11 4 Stirlings « 0 . 47
D + 5 JIIL No drOp
(22 Sop)
D ... 6 7 2 . 1.. 3tirlings 0: C. 47
( 23 Sop)
D + 7 NIL .To drop
(24 Sep )
D+ 8 NIL II- Dakot as only
(25 Sep)
TarAL SUPPLillS COLLECTED - 106 tons . TarAL ~ .rcent:i!Jc - 7.4

NOT E S

1. It is estimat od that anoth..:.:l.- 100 tons !lp~,rox fEll in unit lin~s and was
collected and used by them, especial~ in tho cas~ of units in th~
neighbourhood of th~ river. But there arc no figur<;ts to support this
estim9.tion .
2 . The rate of collecti on towards the ~nd fell off ~tc~ply ~s the nuob~r
of Jeeps and Trailers availa.ble f or C'.ollccti on decr eased . By D + 4
the e ffecti V B llvDila.bility hod boen reduced by half , a.nd .on D + 8 only
two Jeeps and T'rllilcrs remain.::d st.:I'Viccable .
I • The shrinking of the perimot t..;r towards the end al,o cantributed to a

docr~ased r o.te of r ecovery.

3. Nt;arly c vt;rythi ng r i,.;COv(;l';...l was e vontually issued , '.nth the ti;xcept i on

of some 300 gall s Pet , 17-1'r and 2" Mar Smok.-: • Ther a '-wan also 0.
quantity of'RE mincfi oald. p:uuu er:J l eft in the dump •

. .. .•/( ii ). Gun Amn

 l\l ·.·.lfDIX ' B' t('!~nt) .

(11) J.u."l !\lnn .

L!lt(;
75 "" 6- pr l7-\O1' .

18 SL 1,) dO }C

19 3CJl 250 50
2'~
20 :3"'"[1 330 l40
21 5..::1" 400 170
22 Se:­ !l0 J'.ruUl'PLY
23 Se,!, l60 80
21.,. :::''''1) NO RE3UPFLY

25 ~\'l' ;ro rl.:~j~RLl'

TOTriL l220 500 2J

XlPOOU'IOII 1.1. 411 .960 At> ell: 250 APC:OC . 24

t{ ·51Io · 50 D. S. l 80
.3m.ok\,; 120 h . L. 70
A1." , 90
 1-'u e ;7
•
APPENDL. I ,'I to Part I I.
LIST OF DTOIlli3 Ill·OPPED O!J 1 AIRBORNE liIV LllhlllG

~TION 'l.AR.K:Er '.

''fEAPONJ .

Sten CnrlJi nc )tk V C'/VI bayonut

2" MortDr, Air l dg
18

11 162
3 Mortox (with r.lOdifir..d bD.suplntt.:)
Tripod roldinz Bn.n .....;U 52
Rifle No .4 Uk I (T) 170
PLAT 12
. 303 II RirIe 87
Vi ckt:rs LMC • .303 11 52
ro GO, No. 1 30
6
,'J~UTIOU AN!) CREIfADES .

G-renru.h) Hand 110. 82

n II No . 79 10240
Si grul 2- star (Ror'~-Gr\.:~n) ':k I 6/340
75 - llJ:I PD.Ck Bow 14616
19170
20- 00 Pol!Jtt:n
Sten Co.rbino J.'Ik V 6552
. 303 " &:nuolier 96512
12 ~2~
· 303 " Mk Vlrrz
..303 n Tr£lCcr 161,.1.630
PII.T 8 156
2" Hor tar 16902
3" Morter ~t352
.45 " Automatic 3C~76
. 38 11 R, volvcr 24Cx(J
17- pr 12528
1114
SIGNhl. ],J'UIP!~iT .
Wire10" Stl> No . 76l/109/A(P".a)
" . " 22 ipara)
IB AirlMui ngl
29
6
II
"
"
""
"
6ar Airlandi1"l8:
55
17

" "" 38 Uk II
;'7
E: JGINEE; STORES. 6"
l'1'll"sor, Dri lls

l';'t'KDIG SI:.--rS .

Cushions !.l"lcking 3 " }.101'br llanbs :

Set A
61,8
" " " " " " Il 648
"
l~nokine
"
for WiT " " " " C 648
St.:t No. 76 6
" " " " " 18
22
" " " " " ,. 68
29
72
" " " " " 38 57

VOTE 8 S'mRES .

Strutclwrs f Olding a.irborru::

Vnli:J(.cs Rifle 1272
!i.'l.gs!·lt,,;t.;;?int: nirbornt.. 32
E<luipf.ll.;nt Cllrryine .3 ' I Hortar !Uld.
}6G
' Seta 1 52
1la:1bs ) 3tlts 2 ~2
" 3 57
" 4
;)hcltcr Portaule lio . 12 (Wor kzhOp sh{;;ltur)
5~

Cr~2S~S distin~uishing ho5pit~1 airborn~

31
L~d,-,rs rope. 22 ft
J{opee ~limbi ng 125 ft
3J,
G
 PU ,:e 3,'3

SB...bORNE TlLJ~ \)RT _\J.:2E!IDIX 'G I to J:AH.T II .

- - --r - - -'f ' - - - --

H
g ~,
~,j
. §
H
(\)
0
If)
til
.~
r-J
..c:0
+3
.Q
ro
~ 1=1
() i-4
IT.)
til
'j)
en
l-;
~0
+> ~
l-; H '?i I=:
';9
.r!
<l>
l-;
+>I 1:-1 ~
...." rl
III
(!)
~~ Ii)

. I I ~ +> J:l :d t-=! !:Q \l) :>.

...
en G (. H rQ '@
~
1'1',
.­ ... ... ...
~t1
Q ~ 0 ;)
z '1l ... 0 en"' ... ... til til en :>
... ... en

~~
~
H
~ H
l-; H til H til ("I II)
"­
m ~~
r-I +> til U!
.....:;> 0
t')
'-' :J
"
..4 +> I~
I .
~,
D
,.-f '1l
-t1;:! -.-1
3 M
,...
. J

8H
.'>;
"
,~ +> +>
0
r-l
~ 1:-1~
a....
~
H 0
~
t)
.~
l-;
'a J. H r:3 0
;
CJ ;j c:{ 0.1 '@
+>
t"

II>
t:r) ::>
H
1:-1 ~
H
t-i
0
H ..
"l ~
.... t1 1:-1
H
1:-1 H H ~
Sol
8 8
H
...':l
0
8
",
....
- -
~
-
a x '" '+- strs Gl, ~V~J
1 & 2 I Div IrQ & Dt,.f
..."'1
/10 10 6x 5 20 2 1
I
30
}lDl.1B, CRbj'\{E t r be
resar':::'cc. as J,' ~l.
E.9 F . S . Sec 1 1 6 1
3
ReeCe Sqn [3 5 4- 1 12
~-

£) I HQ , RA !,; FOU 12 U .'" 1 1 1+ 16

6 Tk bty(e::!.ch) 2 3 8 1 12
'l

17-~rs 2 -~ 2

7 Lt Re.",t 16 16 1 14 12 "" 3 3 43

'"
<> Iii;! , RE 2 1 4 3

9 RE 31 3C 3 9 1U 30 1 1 1 1 2 66

10 Div SiGs 24 25 2 "

() 20 44 62

11 HC1 , :i'.::ra Bde 5 5 5 5 2 3 34

( tJI":'ch)

12 I ? -'ll" ,\ .BilS (c~ch) 1 6 5 4 5 13 3 1 1 174

 , t.,. ,~

Pw~~;; :29 /
. :( ,.
Sj~')E.NE "'k.lNSi'OR~
~
~crmt l . .
-- -
.
, -----~
a;
. E: .'-'" - ;
h.
~
~
U)
Ct 0
~
; "
-u
. H
ttl
:n 'r.I
C
;:: +> -a s:: ::l
IIlh
mil>
I
g, s::
0
+> .
0
1;1
."-
H
tl>
0
H
~
7j
(j g ~
' '';
~
H
il> +>I
\.D
(,,, H
E-t
!>,
0"'"
'::;..'@
H .
"" .. 1

. .. .
.:::j
.
. ~
• I
III
;...- +>
r 0 £t ''';
~ H
~" ~
. ..
t"'\
...
0
......
~
,
III III .. 0
0 til
~
...
0
;c "' til
.
III 'I)
.j)

::­ s:~ til

. ~ l
H ' j} H h
rj
.
tr.
H'
.oJ
.~
i-i
+>
til
lTJ"
~
~
0
3
§
. ~
r-l
III
{5
(2
~ ..:1 i>
' ''; +'
n
+> rf
.rj
1>
p:<
\)
J
S~
8 ¥
~
O
M +' ,~~ I 0
'E !I)
'8 ~
0
~
~ H
H
0
cj ~ ".'
~..
,;) -:t ::I 0 \l)
H
J '8 ,)
~
H
'& ~ H
0 ~ tl· 8 E-t :::I H
0 H
E-t ~
H
E-t ::;J 9':::::...
t;:""',~ p:;
en t::;. [-I ..=.
- - - --
- - ­ l8 = Fr,~'n
Di v HQ .
l3 HQ J.,.i rlJe ]3i'..e 4- . 4 5 6 2 - 7 .3x 1 - - - - X
(L"lc1 BLt: lA.f' 1'1)
~4- .A ir1dE Bn~ 8 d 3 6 ~o - 20 1 - - ,
- - - - - ..: 51 .
( euch) .
•
15 21 InC!.c:- i?nrD.
- - 1 1 3 - .
3 ­ 1 - - - - - - ­ 6 .r.

C.;y

.
16 ?.ASC 65 108 12 19 110 - 5b - 7 2 2 - - - - ­ 217
Ij

17 Mea 20 22 :> 13 24 30
....
~:>
~

.3x - - , - - - - - ­ 90 x =2 .fran Div iIQ Pocl

n

IB Or<l )

) 63 §4- .3 .3 2~
::> , - 25 3 1 - 4- - - - l:x:
­ 100 X=C0un~ua ~s veh
19 REME ) i n totcJ.
"0 .,.

20 L1~L ( t. ach) .3 3 - - 2 - 4- - - - 1 - - - - 2
I
56 1

• ~"'
I

21 l'rovost 3 3-
,
- 4- 1 - 103 - - - - - - - - ­ 13 ",

22 l':;lstel - - - 3 1 - - - - - - - - - - ­ . 4

23
. 1.'1ob ?h·, te· 1 2 .- - - ,
- - - - - - - - - -- ­ 1
,
24 iJ.>IS 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ­ 2x x= 1 4-ton
. . . TOTAL 1042
 •

• I .

17 &,-'TJ ' ,c, .Jl::) lrmJ....d 'nth l" ..c Div HQ ".nc1 8t::t
r'.r.'l.Chutc ill 1 ~'-l'':. rtlt.; lo.n.l!..-u nnd
C"'Ci.lr';cflCe<.... to =e(:o-/~r lUI rt.:s .'lr.'.1'l .!TO) t''"'u in spr-.rc con­
tainors frUT!l .cZ . Onl': lo"_J. of thia ['1!Ul W'). tnk(.:n into
tovm in ::l'.pturcu G....11.•M v(;h "Uld suc~\.:ca.cd i n roe-ching br
l,uty . VLh hrnh.v·_.r s.hct 1.li: 0,.. its r turn .

Portio of 1 ./L Me ~"'.r'" i?l lu.hJ.t::u. vri th Bde und

into t.
J:lOV~..1 wi th 1 .i.)~·I( b."'.1 to C"2rI"Y .Jut '\sst,;sSlncnt
of d~"':J of L • r'JlU"., stort;S, ",te . iT' tovm . Thi::J J.'l
rL:f.:.chcd tb.e lli.. :rctl ':rl th 1 Pf!.r"~ 13th., .l.'oU!,ht vrith tht..m ,
r.nd tho ~{';!ltc:I' p':.rt VI...r" .et....r trJ{"(.;lJ ·risuncr.

18 Scp o ~\ S further qurmtltic'3 ... f r .5 ! J caul" not b(;;

not thro~h to 1 :t't:r'l Edl: this . ~.:.., oth·;r ro.m collt..cteu.
rroo DZs ~.LZs Vl"~3 trJ,(n t(l l.Jiv HQ :.t x- rds 665784
where 5Ol"~1 ur.i(' w·· fon.lCfl.

L •.lIG, l.bQiL en·': :Jtt:'.ff , tOl'(;th·" -.vi th rcr.tIU.J:..l.n~ n\.,;l!;,..S

of &rvicLs (CF.J..5C, •...xs 0J'1J.l PEtE rv ~ bulk uf OOE
cchclvn ~rivva duri n~ the nftcrnoar. Di v U~ VIta, tht::u
i ll th~ Y'OCV5S . r noviT'. g tc L·....TES.. , 7970 .
T...,.o c~r turuc. Gt:m'l1l vehicle,­ 1"0.; rui, i'lto running
or It;J' :m(l Wt;l~ U3l for fLrrying CJ:lIl ~.") !..!!JI ~ l~,:t(; r l or
L.uliv(.ry of fun t'!.t"'.m t;:;- Lt Rc;t . '1'1.. ''''- .!:IUi' ,r 35 !dr­
C".r::i't ":"3 C".: ric,~ out in conjunction ·'ith the ".rrival
cf the 2r.llift but Ural) t.;U l-.!:~c.;ly 11 Pl'... - t1... tl,.;:!.',...,. int;:,J.
3G ';j '"nicn w, re: -th,.;.;n in tl'l.(.; hf'..nd:;l of tht: .nL.my; littl!.!
could theref ore.; 1_ cl~ll\..;ctt:( . !n i' Co\" nim at 2030
hrs thl.' D!t.4 o:-x:n.,' nn llCin 1'·1 6937bJ. Th,~ c~nt(;nt3 of
th,_ n,.·. C~.:J ~ fran thu h!'l.l"lnctJ of tht;; r08 'V':'n froIl tht:
1 P".T" odt; , frvn th,· Bur drOj: nr.n 1'.bo "F , ':!n.! from th...
bulk. lCo~od rtiJITLC •..P.S whirh l\' J. Cal~\... in '..:1th the 21111
lif't llIIJ t,',o of vAn oh h·.lI1 lk..I..Jl c .."l'iIJ1i;tt;;ly unio!lrlcd . The
third W1l3 c".IJtur.... a b.y th", Gtl'!~~ b\,;£ l'... unlo&ling c oul.....
tokt< pl"'(' . Uc ,VLt 11'"'...5 f'_y t dl·.bl · i l thl;. Iil..·••

Q-,'·-l.nt thQ 'Lnurul 3it~~ti~n ~~So.eL 'II". sl,;nt

to .30 enCl •. i ~ 10C', t i ',n cf 3:::i' for i\.,U",',ir loy.
~ Conv :.y L·l~ 6 jt.;(,:_ls ru;"" 12 t1'....ih.r~ 10r.....(:<.1 with CI:m
.;rgflJll&.u olll stoou by r' c...!y to Co t\ 1 ? arn. kYle: . This
c'JnY.\y n(.:v _r l~f't l.wn.nc to t~,e 3i tti,f\"t" iun, an.-. p!'.rt of thu
lulJ.t..l w<-..s sub:3cqu·_ntly tJ:·e.rlsf;)rr uJ. t( r': '.xriers "/hich
l'lte:r K·... t throueh te, 2 S 3t".i·forUa oJl 1 .L~m·· B.!1 but Nor
to br .

19 3, All Units irt!'cmud th'lt HUl) .J.'l ~ wc,uh. ta.k... place

on f lJlloVli ng d':!.y ,,_t 1030 hra . sr..n? rtt:'.p r(;f 605783 .

l '<.:t i.:lUmps CtlvturuJ. CI,t nmp rut' (96782 . Units

noti fi t.:a to) Cr':", UI' .... 0 8 gU b'l:lul' v' h in own jcrricfU1s .

SU!, lrOll f l' 19th ~CJ. 'I c.u (l l.'(: - 'U-r'~c 5D:"
O'-Hin: to nl.m- "r8cci: t -:1'" l!l(.:9S'.l0'" m.r,t -n lCth . Only
i solo.t J C: ,ntf'.in...;r s l";COV'T J . DUl'i 1& this rt.:c\.'·;(.;ry
~)!,rflxi!'._t(; ly h·.lf tL... R;.sC J3 1 was 1, I. in 'll1 '1.T.ILu sh .
J,{(;s::H~.;:;e .lont tc £a~(; r cq\wst.illC" ure\. T.t rc - ~t1i-' :'n n:l.'
r(;f 6 q 1785 (;arli.... d:: possi bl.: 20 Sl;.i • i'ossibl<.. neTT IJ~~
was rccc·~ 1 :urinu ::, rnir.~ but f 'IIDU _ 'tl..-nable . ..8 it

• ••••/':fO.S
FSC)' wss al'TI'ecia.tc;J the sUi' ill-Oj.. Vr.l.2 net likely t o be suc­
cant , cessful) attempts w..:ru J'!'ItlClc thruugh the Dutch Liaison

Orfra to obtain loc~ sura . Only v~ry s~l quantities

ooul:.! be pro:1uo(;:u., the rr.ain i t\!T.1S bc:iT1g a sack of flour

anc. Q pig. These Y.'t.;re ~t.u ov<:r to the .A.U.!S for ccn­

su;nl'tion o.t tr v:u-ious res •

. ~krt ru.'i.tlj ~ Si.... firo caust;;d c;,;,.s on DHA.

1.11 Units VI~ru..:-d utrac';:st (' 'ns~r vuti';n amn, sups

9.ll!, IX t nuc-=!!:.Hlry Q1'J : r c - ili.stribution of rcr.tnining CC'r.!;:'o
on ba3is of ~-o l."'ltion per lilOJl as f'll' !lS ~o9sibl(; .
Units inf ,rnu.:ri th'lt lir.ti. ted quullti tif.,t9 of wnn VlJrc still
avllih.ulo fran :r::shil••

20 Sop. R(; - oul1 c!U·ri~·. uut in heavy f1el' but f a ir pr Opor­

tion recovi...rt;d in..:l 2 , 000 r ati ons whi ! Wl.ru all i S5UOJ
j

an rcvrtoscnted 0. gcnC'ra.l r nti on of 1 ... ·.;twc;t.:n 3. Very

henV'J '7l(~rt~ on nt.:,', continue'l in 0, rr.il\;.. . • Cas fairly
hea.vy . .\, a rt:;sult uf 'incre!lsed 8AA "' '0': ii:ma,ue.3 L~
mt!. lx.:c'lJilC: i rr.\-,cssiblc c.."ld it VI'lS nK_ V", 1 ','ithin Div HQ
t,t:r1rnt::t(;r .

l·\zrtru:.r is!:u\;;s of IJ..~ lJ8,..11,; frr-., 1 :':. incl fir s t

,1elivcL'Y of gun a.nm to Lt RCGt by RASC , Sene urdts
\,{t,;rc , howi..v~r , f'.b:!.l. to c'l11ect p..J.diti ·ntu. S~)S nnl.o. amn
from ;utlyine eI';ll.S •

. m caVt1.a'ed. ,::.nd maj ority c,f ca~ rcr:lOv(.,,.]. by ~nnans .

Dvm med stf'.Cf l ooking eftcr r!:mru.nU.;.;r Ul'lI!c,;r nIlrtS .

Two ~arril:' rs load.c:C. with rut a~t..;m(,tt1l1 t " rl;;.!ch 1

Bdu without auocl"lss .

Cas ir_ Li v ar(;li he:c.vy ru'1o'... mnny P..I\SC jocps vn;;rc

divcrt..:d '1.S ;,r..- 'J an:.. trailers for cD.:n,:yine '7at<.:r t o 1'IDS .

Durir.e ,.;..,. e v e nine of 20/21 SE:. tht; lJulie of the

Div RJ'" • v~rc f. l"Ill.OO into ll. pL'\toon lU"ICkr the; ClltOO. of
Ca},It . J . Cp....~ -Bn~G , lX ' J £USC . , n.TII.! toe k V'CIr a
porti ·.:n cf the Div pcr1mctt:r from the I .I.'or'l. .Bole .

21 SO' . Sup droP.'i:u cn!ricd out in vu~' huavy flak and

with hi,eh .:-,,"-rc-.:ntacc -:·f ElI'oF losses . iToportion of Sups

rt:~(\v, ..red a.nd issw.;;s ~ fr an Dl,~i. . 3i',eci al slt":'lrtage

of sten arnr. . Rel~rv:i..T limitet:. . Srn'l.ll stllck c f Pet

h...lu. .

1.~rc eun 'll:Dl deli Vt.rcJ to Lt Reet curing the day

by RlSC .

Div H-~ c1is~rsl.'U over wider O.l"uc. in M't(;rnoon t

avoi-l possibl£l cP's1.ll'll.ties . Tac JlQ r':':lll.:.incd in ht"oust; in
cellar . lJuring this UIlY heavy shcllint' P.nti mrrt:lTing cf the
Div HQ oren clluse(: fir.... s nnr_l eX1'1 o~i "ns in the rNA _ . These
firos 'I1<':l"~ only put out with cl"'nnirler .... bl•. 'lifficulty .

22 Scp o llO Re -S~l .

DuriIl!t the:: day rurm in tht. Bt.. caught fire twioe

(1,9 th~ r .sult of nortor fire 1.l.nd a ate.ck of 6- pr 'llUl1
<.:x: 1od<.:u as 8. result of 0. Uiroct hit. All fir~s w",re
agp.in cxtinguish.E:'.l. Issuos W..:r<:: mc:.ch:: to the 1st and
4th ~'3rCl '&:1,;9 i n Brcn Cnrri ers . Mcss'lE:~ 9,-,nt C'.5king f-:n­
S"1.,ecial drop of :i-'Il.Ts , M.:.rtars -.:...'":d ~>L~T 'l1lJ 8tl;;n .:::unn.
__ ___/23 So,
• •
•

23 Sar . Sut' cr-:" "'o.rri _ out ....t.::r~)it.t.; v"ry hcrvy .. :. )~iti h ,

smnll;>r ,rti· 'ne sups c:-llect& - on. .istrlbutc.:l as fer
ns J"lOasiblc . J\t thi~ gtn~t,. thLrd w,.r,~ ('nly 0. few nervico ­
able .11. C~9 ClJ'\J. tr-.ulers 'Hhi. ~ (' ulJI h, 4S~ll , the; Tt.'l':lB.inUc.r
h:'lvinr, br..:(.n rc.nderc:l \llU!t;rvic£ablc ty ,,,-,rtal' an shr:ll fire .

CiLSt- Il.l1d ',...::..G r.;;c~(. ... ar~ll. ~:")y··xJ.:s the river for
pO~6ibL Iil." without SUCC(.ls!' , ,,','inc t blocking f rc.9.ds
by tr~c~ r trct.;n,JPUt~ 3 , etC' ,
V.ort; vt;;.ry hc~vy nr-rt~:.rin~; OJf UJL~ rd'tCl' T __ - tH1i". .ll:0'l
stcaks ogllin cal,ching firL . Very f,,'W rati,ns TCCC1VW
arul all W~l'(; hanlc.-u UVOl~ to lIDS' 1'1 . Stocks cf eUll at'n,
~.'L~'1' J Mortar llllil Stt:n which w<.::ru i n gt'c;'1.t d.;.1TUltld W\,l'C
almost non- ~xiat~nt .

2h SC;D . Ilo re- .,

lit, n' W f..r:r::,ty exc£:!,t f·.:r st....cks i 2" ~!or Sue..
17 -pl' nnJ. rut .
'lI;1ll

On the nibht cf 21./25 3t.Ok an ut.tcrr[lt VI"l9 t:laL.C in

ccnjunction ,lith - 43 Div nne! i)"lint .,L'nrll blc: t.·
ferry Sups , ~-.mn , Pc.;t nnd I.ledic·'!.l !JtQre;; l('lr ',83 th~ riw-r
in viJlcr1S . 9 DlJKY1S wt:.:rl: lodtlcJ but ~,'sition W!'13 8"
hC'lVY tbe..t .mly 4 DUl\iiS 5uccOCth.:d i n "''''. 38ing tL,c river .
lll:lhl! ,.t thC!lC stor~s cculd be wUOadi '1S the JtfrCWs
\'ft::l"r, unCcr hca.vy Cru.J:lY firt.;; ~ it we.. impossible (.....' ill!;
t, thE. ~tl\tc: 'of' thE:: r )!lUS to bring til." UUY.'NS ~ to th{.;
Div ~X~~ trim the river bank.
25 SO'" . t. X'e; - sup drnp of 4 aircra!'1. t· 'k plnce: . N, aUi's
rt.:coveru . "(hen tho Div e vp.cu'ltcu onl.J 2 R....:3C jl;\;,Il'S 1lT.d
tJ-nlcr:J rt!JMinG'l 5crvl<:-.en.blc and DMA W'.18 cm~ty ','nth the
ox"c!'>tir.n of' 2" Mor Sm.ke , 17-rr nnd _Let.

PAP. ~ III .

OPERATION 'ltt.::iKE'~" .

13'l'HOWCTlc,/ .

221. Thu rollo-,':in ri,;I!l8J.'ks art;; of I'l. general 1".turC in most. CBSl..S .
Thl: dt.t..ulud l'urqrts of th~ Vari;)U8 Arm.:'l can to r\3OO in the /ume:xuroz's. .

Pl.A1mrnc .
1
2::2. &von day:1 vmre't'oWld to be adequnte,,; i'm" j"lanniru:r, i~suu of
ordors , rnov~ tC' ai.!-·f'itllds , general briefing tU'ln loaJ..ir.g of glidc.:rs .
This BS..\.lmos that h'llns'i)ort is available for !3uch mo V ~5 end trarulit
cD.Cpo arc.: r~wl:I for the l'~ccl}tion of trOOIf1 .

It is doubtful. hcwcv~r , i f this tir.lu ':to'lid bo oufficir.·nt for

a Div which cith·-.;I' had not carrh;d cut an ai.rbcrne o.e.eration befol'C:
('r had not had (;~'~riencl,,; of rc..:·id ;,la.ruLingtnd 1geu", c;f ordt::l's o
In an l..DlCrgcncy, \~l:' rl tr..e •.'lan is si.mrlc , troOl_s ru.'~' at TrW\3it
CatrIi)5 nnd e1i,Jcrs loaded: en CT•.-<;ration hli5 b:.:cn laid orl in 72 hrs .
The C'lpCration did not tab.! ... ,l<lct., but the drill Vln:;: Vlorkc:d '-'llt so
that planning ,ra.s c~l ;ed in that tic.... .

223 . An Airb."Irn(; l,iv" n is d( si,;;rlcd to fi&:t '\8 n whole . If

the Division is Si'lit B.a..:. cur.r.itted to n 2nd lift smc 21.. hrs
Intt.;r th'.:n, c,'ling ti-; tlJ.c fl(;ct.;sdty of ullottiIli..;. J.~nrt of tb~ first lift t (
.l'''t... ~t th~ n . :~:J . und L. Zs. l\f t:K fcllowint 4::l"""'Pll, tho efft.:ctive
strengtb for inr-.;ediat(; oi"f;!nsivc .'!l.ctiOl~ of thl. Mv is r.,;.ducuu to
that of rt &lc .

224. r.t is cunsitit;red that ''Ie munt be pTG, 'J.I'.. I to take raora
risks during tht: ini tinl st~e~ of '-l1l Airbl.rn... llJ 'vr.o.tion. ,'/hen
th~ bu.lanc.,,- shed cf co.sualti... s at Aru~: iR rrl~.u:r" it woultl !lJ..\·.CLX
u !'(:!~sonl\blo risk to hw\ l'l1ldcd th<.: Div mlloh .Iloscr to the. obj(.i(' ­
tivt:: chl'svn, (,:v",n in the:.. 1'3.0(: of 3001;; enemy fI' l - , It h9.8 el\',C3S
be. n titw rule when C:nr~nc"" tho.t the rnt"...ximtlrl d...~·,to.r.ct,,; from the
D. Z. or L . t. t,J th.... objucti...;,;'~ould not UXCI.;L :.; milL:~ . In the
AJ.lltil:.i.1 O! ~r~.tivn tIn!' disto..rux "0.:\ 7 riles nnd in am!.; '~:'\sefl 8 tidIes .
! ,n !';xtra t\'10 .:dnut<':tl flying tine in thr~ f-:..:.ce of .:'l-:Ut, if' not to,­
swver", woulu hr;:.vIJ ;.ut the Div - rllvr..y:' o~ ._o=i,~ th· !!rCluncl v:as
suit.l\ble - much r,,-:U'cr i1:9 objective . lnitic.l lUTI-risc. in this
c""!cr.'ltion \'1'\.3 obtair.cd, but the effoct of the nxprisu \I';lS lost
o~·."ing to the tine l:::.g of son:: 1;. m:s befor' th6 roO'i,'s could nrri ve
a.t the objective -m:)$On.

A whole. Bolo r·. ~~J m;:a.r tho briJglo ai tl '\t AkNHl!::' night
have bclon n l:>.!ljor fc.ctor in th(; outCOf)(.; of 4:h~ b!lttlCj long(;r
dcll.\Y ". the cnf;ny woc.ld hs.vt: bucn i.~-.oscu nntl, if the ::.r.cOlm Atny
h:W. man~c.-d t·. get throu..:h ELST 'l"r... thin the !'irst few days , the
lnrgcr hridgchcc.d r ..,.,JOu by the DUo: mi;j1t h'\ve t.:ldo just the
diffc.:ronce to the further IrOe':'t..:35 of that Arr:ty north of Iu"lNifD .•

225 . The' foreef\.st of "'" 'Photogrllt-mic intol"pr<.:tuUon tmd of the

II ' lli'ilr ocintion, both L 9lld Army, ,f tht.! fl"L1.:: defcnC(,js to be
met i n tht.:: !U'" 'c, ·'r~·r...' li v... 'y p""a,~il:li3tir .

Th..:; for... cast rlS to the sui+ bility of the. D. Z. a.rul L. Z .

in the P,,)LDloJt Cowltry WIlS :.lso ~x:s iMistic. !··..... m subsoqucnt
cxnniMtion it would 0.: 'j t.:Dr th~t i c,r."'!.cilutl: tl'OC._:l c.)uld hc.v~ bee.n
c1r0i,1';""" .,rnctic.:lll,y 1lJ'I,)....ltwre outside the built U;,l nnd wooded !".r~C.3 .
Clldu-s cou2.d also lvvt... b·~en l..'lndc in ,lc.cc'3 ·Tt.viously ccnsitieree.
,5 ~Uh 8 uuAui t.nblP.' . It i elf CO'..ll'· ". !..J.i~r 1.< \t A. r -.l.. ·u :.,1 1

... ../~!!
 0 '
••
•

AIR S\lPPOHT .

226 . Close "..ir sll['llort tluring the first aftern.oon of the opern­
tion wouJ.d have: been inyalun..bl!; . If tlotare h-il been a "cab
r~ n ilvoilablt:; then !ll1d on subsequent deys , th., effeot; on the
cn,;;,'m;y vlOult1 h'lv(.:) w€ ' n consirler~ble . Close ei:' :3u:p,brt L.uring
tho l'brioo whon tro09 ':'/eI'U in IIOVt:;ffi.I.:;nt night ..;. 't:3il~~ h avu turned
the sr{\].a ~a nllowcd thE: ~molo cf 1 Para. Bde to he.ve oonc.entrated
near the l!lrUn AR!'iH!il~ Bridge . Air fO-Y'f!'I.ations r...U:<it not expect to
be gi ven !~in -:",o~nt targets alw6,Ys when ai'l' slr.JIort id de:manderl .
It was f.ound that '.'Ih~n area targets were i nrlictat,.::d, 1)oth for
Jnt3Jium gun shoots and .m:r sUfli.1ort , tht: result::! w(;;rc consit;;.Grable
D,nCl. the effect on tho ensl!"e'! s mortl1e DWlo.ill2.C . II. near !\Iiss
within t\'Jo hundl:' Jd yds or SIJ. has n v~ry f!hokin~ effec.t .

227. The sU?t,ort by ~on roc'wt aircrai't W,\s 'l great suocess
'll\U on" caul,. ho.ve wished thtlt me.ny mort;; sorties of n Bimi~
natur<J h?d bClZ;n forthcoming . There is no J.oubt tha.t in ~
o:t.:ratian of' this ld!1tl., i.mmediate air su}pcrt must ~ availnble
e.t very frcqUt:nt intervals if v!e.nt)"\.er l,Crmi ts . Te.q R .e.ircrrU't

w6re askl:.:Q for on Il"ilU'lY (lccc.sions but none '''i~l'e ~lottel~ . Both

thc2£ nru! l;rtY, R !'.irer" <; ':Ir5 fQrms 01' SU'lJi.."lort whirh shoulG.. be

.,..utom'itic in tm l.irear...! op~rc.tion , or rmy Ci.)uration i'm' that

matter , in th.:.: future .

. 228 . It i3 oon!lidc.::-od thc.t there should be ont) to on€: Signal

"orki~ bl:twl;.cn the ground fO~fI1r'..tion ~1 tht: ('.ir formr.tion whifh
is :l.otll~lly det(~iled to provide ('lose ci.r Sttp~J."\rt on call . t.. .
p~nnanent allotm0nt. .')j1- a VCP to Eaoh Di v Ii'J for usc on tJ.· nining,
/ill:! wttll · r>g on l..\'..:rn.tir.ms is a p.roern necessity.

229 . It ·'r..3 round tha.t tne g1.i .l",r pilots, nur'it~ ...ring some lloo,
who l.omdud with the Divisirn t00k their ~ert 'wl t:.J. surQ0SS in the
d~fensi vet b:lttl", which followed . 'i'he benefit ...'{' their ini ti1\l
tr.... .ining I'.nd their ability to shoot "VI~!J invclurl,.lt. . If such
pcr50nnL:l h'lil k~n' untr;".ined they TlOuld havt: lx" ,:;me a co~,lete
li'\bili t.y very early on in the bl!ttlo- . In such manl,<.Irs , if
untrained , it is G.iCficult to see now hoVi thE>Y c ..·uld hc.ve been
tuok(..c1 f>..Wft¥ \'Ii thout bLCt)Ming e. c13Il!.)lete menno.." to our own siJe a.'ld
a liabili ty ~8 Togo-ls th~ cCU3U1ili'tion of' thf~ s."'lhll !lInO\l!1t of
rn.tions f.1.llU .....atE:.l· ,-.moh wr;,.s I'vail"!.b1.o .

230. It W:l.S four:u..l tlu..t the &is','; end, of courSI.; , the RE could

tEJec their ':"ll::..ct.; in thL line ~)f llattle Vii th Thry r:,fficie::nt results .

f.U ?erson.ru:::l in. thl: J.\irbctnc DiviaionJ who ·'\I"e likely to baoome involved
in a battle, must be: eivi:in tb0 llL'lXimtnn infant.ry OO'lU ',;eaL'l,:m tl~a:i.r'.ing

thr~t ocn 'be imr.ark::1 in tl'lf,l time, nvtlilc.blo • .

2}1 . It i3 thot~ht tr' '; WG do not r~!Uisi:: O~tr Own strl;)ngth as

reE4"'...rls tl!.C (;fi'ect of'V '.v~:!r:.pon$ ·.;hich we possess . It ·,'ro.s not

until the Di\· "w<:!.s rut 1;0 ~ t 'Jurine thL:. u€·ft:rnsiv,,- bl",ttH.c nrul in

the aElcre'~sirte p~lr1=et("rc.t ,j..iINH]l,r th::\t. nr:my of tl.e solJ.iE:rs ".Jrre­

cintetl h(A'I easily they could 5tq; thQ Germo.n IlTh~ .1estroy him with

th·.,.: wel"!.pons they possfi;ss:ecl. The convers~ of c.ourse i s very

1o?h' rcwseu r..nU ov(!r e.z·4mEl.l:.. ~tt'.."'- ... urinE the e''.l~l,;· stages of

'a uilttlc. . fl very f~JW Germ,~8 'with light D.utomC'tics S01lktimes

m!m~C(-: to holt:' up tr~101"::; f-;:;r much lone.er thr.n "fA-a nnticipate<•

.. .. .;'.e
 •

"'e can eo this I..'qunll.y ll~ wull, if not octter, but 'IVt: must ~r·prt. ­
ciete whllt our m.:epoll:' W' f er Ill'l14 W~ ltu' lenrn to do e:arly
wnnt 'N'(;. ho..1 to c10 in thl ,nd.

232 . Tht; vciU(. of the P . .i. J.. T. in th.i.ck coWltry nnd in built
u:' tLrE:63'l:! n tlU'lk de~trcyi.ng wee.;)on is immense . AU ranks have
now com::l... tt; cortfi'kncc in i ts \lSI,;; en... throughoc.t the battle
thore' vms .e. ccnot!'U'lt cry 1'<...1.' mor e Fa . 1..1•• T. ~; nore bombs . .An
in'.~r(;e.spd c!:!tnblishment of th,.;s..:; wCllpon3 , f or Para Bns on.l an
ini tin! allotl;,e;nt for the Lt Regt end A tk btys itt baing dCIlIa.oo~-t:.

233 . Too murh cm;h'1.sis cannot be lni<.t on th\:l n(ot;!!sity f or tht;

stri ct insistl:nce on ci.isci Dline durinB trP..inirlg '~t. rf'(;pAX''ltion
f or battlt:.: . It wns 'borne out in every c ~e(; th:l.t the bLtt,r
trained and ~tter (!isciplined the wti.t so the better it fought .
Whcl'"(; , in sane CflSt:s , tm:3~ i'<).ctors wert not as g,ooJ. as they
might hav~ been, th~ results were v~ry quickly shmm. '

The tiis.--1.}i1nc Cor units shovm d.urina tht.: wi th,l.rll.wal W'l.S quite
fil':lt 011.3s anQ thdr bch:lvir.-'(I' on the river bank until light
broke ty.o~ll~nt .

234. Lce.dl.r3h1~ and {!(,j E.l1":d.n'!ti on ~enin showed tht:I:1SC:.!.VtoS to

the 'ic'lXil:"lUl!l duriflt. this battle . :lumocrs of men ru-b not of tile
3lightc~t uS(; ""nen the battle b<..:COIlll.-S rt.;.:J.ly sti oky , Unless there
is CIll offiQ(.;r c·r NCO who cc..r., e..nd dol..s , lc~ them . The success
01' otht;Tln»... of tli.e acti:m alw~.I.j's rt:..rlcct~ so6n:.:.:r 'r lat.;r th(:
dl:tt.rminnt.ion .:m:.l guts oJ' +h... :''lrti~uh..r lo.!"..(h.:r ~no he.., ~'cns to be
rC3")'lnsiblc: in thn.t noigh. ·lrh~ .

235 . !'h<;r(.: is eent:ro.lly ·t ('.ert!\.in runount of sti cktncse: •.u,~st

units who Ilr\... in the battl.;: for tht,.; first time . This clisn~:\c.a.rs
in IIloat C!\8La wh~n th(l noist: S of battle have lJven ,.:;;..-neri enr.ed.
In Ol'dint..'.rY fOl',."U·tions uni ts !.'.r~ br okon in e{;;ntl,y "Ih~rt;v(!r f'oss ible
but this i~ nl.;v(.r the ('!lSO with nIl i.irb":'rnt; lJ1vision , who e~nern.lly
c:h'O'~'" strnicht inte the r.ri.ddle of the bnttl... •....i th l i ttle or no
tin: to (!ut i ts v:-~~s ~orrc'?t .

236 . Ono "V!:>.;j in which this ini ticl ncrvous~9a iT. battle shm':oo.
itself \'iT~9 in the 'lmOwtt of indisC'..ri.r.dne.lc shootinc Y.ilich went on
.m-ing tho l'ir:Jt 4J hrs . Shooting!\t nothtns; in ·".rticuler by
inJivirlUf'..ls i:,; ". cont.q~iou~ c1isc~s' . "'Jld is t..:xtrw..:..ly 'U'Uloying to
t.:vt;..rybody . This r,uat ut,.· ch(;c.'<o:..d in t.he vt.ry ,~t:'.Tly ste.ges o It
::rust bl'; i.mr·r ~sscJ, on individu~s th~t they shoul(~ .;hoot only tit
dd'ini.te: tru.·sets or if then.. i~ 11 ...E;finite sus~ici'··n of 'l t!ll."got
in their 1U't.:!'l . "'his rt;striction wauL. nnt , of c'Jlu"'sE: , a)rly
when ~. wood f'lC:lf'.rir.g o~,..:ra.tion or one of IIJ. 3i.r,d.llU' l1?:ture i s
tnking ~,lIlCC , v.i)(m hosl .~ ipl.;.; I:lt;thoos cr "m"..rchiIll fire " may be jwt
whnt is requirec. o

The nE:oo fOl' .,rE; -bp.ttle h·ru.ning under f' uJtditions whirh
arc as runlistio ~s i.,ossiblo ~ ennot be over tJr.1i.,he.si sed.

237 . ,·jert: 3tr~S$ mwt be 1~J. on the. h'aining of !.~m to be morE

indi vitlufl.l.ia tic, (. ':".Ieci '\11y in thick ."'ll'lI.... ,li ffi a 'J.lt country . TherE;
i s l'..btays ~ tCllidenry to but ~ together and to l?Ok to the locP..l
oonmandcr ~ rort.: t'\ld.ng ....n~. ~tion . lYe 1.J"c well bumn.... the GEl:n!l!lJ"l
when i t com... s t,. infiltrf!.ti-.:.r. "9 s:.C'".vn by tn(.ir ani ,...1'8. The
value of night trninine \'/qS borne out ;.:.1\' thux'u v,'t. k~ve '!. tremendous

•.•. oj ad.v antage;

 ,
"
'v

advan+:D.gi-' ov..;r tnl.l Gcrenn wh' vw:y &t:<l dar. Ci3=-, 11\Y~ Ill'\Y init i a.tivo
d uring tho; hou"'J or darkne!i~ . '!'his iMctivity on his ,crt durin.c
the wi thdrr:.w, 1 t:nabhd us to reach the rivtir b~~ . I t- i 3 p r ob nblt::
th~t vth(:!"Wis1;.r v.. ry h<..Q.vy c:.~ua.lti(;~ would n':.-.I\. been :Juff:.:r<;;d.

238 There i s stili ftr too .uch re3~ct f-r ~m.r;y pr Oi,e:rt y Or

!Jr 0i'",rty of the .cotmtry in ·:ihir.h o:,erllti ons I r.,; tcld.r..g !_lo.oe .

This result.s in e. ten:;;.cncy in the eC'.rly stagffl for the: t r oo:?s

to ooc.:roo r ow...- bound ar.d 1\ failure to inriltr~tc or mt".nOC'JV!'.. in

the way thLt thG situation r ~q~es .

GENERAL POINTS .

239 . ~

if the FOU was provl;..-d .

The ve.lu(;: 'fh(; irmr.t.'<li~tc support

givl.Jn by Jllt,lrlium e.rtillury W'lS qui tc rt..;m.... rk!\bl t. . To shoot r".t

thu rr-..ngc of 19 , 000 ':"!U'"Us on n me~ ruftrenc('; t ..',ret:t which 1 s

surrotlJld~ by our O\'m. troO"~s only a flM hU1ll.lrod yards fj,\'tflY , and

do this Vii thout \..lll!lur :M.LCX to thee' i s 8 r~;Ijark o.blc: feat .

The trelncncl.ou3 o....,nfi , ..: l~rx: of the i nfantr y W.l.S sur:h that repeAt

shoots we.;r..:: r:ontinuall.;:. JU:)8.])dc.-<J. enu thE; mE:dium ~til1cry ncvt:r

fniled in their -:.:>r.si :;ltf;:!lt nnd ac~urate SUPl ort .

r.ilIl ~un i s not a good c.nti - tnnk w'~ar)on at shor t

The 7!>
rang~ ,owing to the lack of a shiel d to p rot~ct the ~r sonncl .

It did ~xtr~~ ly well i n all other i nst&nc~s in tho normal rol~ .

The nced for e. third Anti - 'l'f>.nl: Bty WA.l" shown. A thi rd

bty htul bt:cn I)rgruUsc.d out of Div rcsourc(;S 'Cd'ore the cor:Jritmc(: ­

mont of thfJ 'La ttlo ::.nd. i ts value wns f ound inw~MC . It was .

,found tha.t nnti - tank guns , E:::i,th£:r 6-rr or 17- •.'r, cannot be US(;tl
a3 nniping w(,,;o.pons . Once i n '!,"osi tion tht;.-y l"IU t stay i n rnai t i on .
Ii' tanks ho.vlJ to bo~ stolkc.-d this r:tust be carri"l out by 8llti­
tank m'l;VlS Dr.Jed I'rith Ps . r. ;. . 'I1 . c.na. trcint:.od in tank hunti ng­
mothoo!' . Tid=: fonn of trei~ must be .'·r'lcti.,ed.

It iu (" n~.i .el'l;;d th.... t all R. E . uuts vritlrl..n the jlivi si on

should be ho,"~;";I,.,n.....,u.", Tht;ru is 0. distinct l'.c.r:k or equii.;lllcnt
wi.th thll Para " ill ~s at ?n,:~';,nt orgf.!J'li3ed .

Th<: v.:uu{. o1~ tite 5Jl~\:.x. r tl3 an i nfn.ntry ",l.dil;;r WCB prove.!
uJ..l tC'l thLJ hil t . They c:umot J hl'J'l'I1:;vl;;r J 1x. !\skeJ. both to fight CoS
i nfantry lU'lu wi)rk ~..s 9f',:~r~ . 'l'h~y r.e.tl only 11; onu th.:ing at c.
tint.. •

241. Infantry .

Tho vAlut.: of ol'll':L "icrs to battalions of b,· th Parll ales /'l,nd

Airlo.ndint. Blo WIJl'C ?rovcd. At l(';ll.~t tW("l t,tir .r.m llrc; c8s~nt i D.1 in
f uturl. .

COfrf .wuo' tiens "'J.thin th", i.irborn..: Vivi si n CJlI! to th{; B..~se
l\l'lCl t~u.
n!,;xt hij,.:.:r farll~tion ncxxl dras ti c revi :ti.'.,n '.:llU. i.rn:)r ~cmi:mt .
The 3\Ots at pTI..Iscnt i n us~ t'U"e n,./t sc.ti sfl\ctor:,' in tlll co-sea . The
l.'mulc attrib ~ tt 1 to sdt': "i'l''l.S no!'xly cl.W"'..ys fCUT.;. to be grossly
(lxa.gsvrntod .

. . .. •/?}.} .
 The 'Nhol~ 1\K'~ti.;n of .'<ir rusu;. ly n~c~.s l"Jcr;,;C'.nisil"-8 '
Som!.: r"lie.bl... r.)..;thC"_ of communic'":.tinz ch.'lJ"lCl:.; of SLP r.rust be
evolvt:.;, . The V"'P c 'ntrCl1 f't.;r cl050 SllJ.( :Jrt nircr:lft CI".1l be
uao4' for c;.)ntrollln..: (tir r.;;su.1"ly .

LIlrg~ n\.1t.!ut:.;rs uf jE.:~~;S wt:.;rl;; put ,-'ut of ~I.!tion by rlr

burst mortar fi re nne. v·".jri.cles Flust 1)1:; .AlI; in '13 ...:C'.rly r,s I>Ossiblc
in Q dercnsiv~ battlu .

Th(;;re is no doubt thn.t 1'1.11 ranks ct'.n fii..,Jlt \'t! th much l~ss
in th(;; Wf'.y c! su~)~)lies then is normo.lly prupcrcil f.')r . \7c shoulu
concc:ntrntt, on a.rnm.uni tion" and oc 1 rCl.H~rcd ucntlllly tr: (.;xist on
Vf..;ry littl...: fox f:--r c"'nsidcr~bly lonr;tJr thlln i3 n':)rm!llly the
c~s\.# . •
244. Fd Am"Ls shoul bf..; hor.;.')e...ncous in futu1'(;; 'l\L.l. contro.n :1 l'c.r'" ­
chuto t;lClnl.:nt, a gli":'croornc t.:lect:nt c.nU. I! s(,;~born... c1Lm...:nt .
S01ile nt;ili.c;.l p(;rscnnel shaul'; be llllottcd to ~Mh wit J howvvcr ~,
sr.cll .

Uccli.c'll surl,lics ,urine the battll.: rari'lJ bccDJ.'V~ ~hort

"'.nd in the;) OI'.j('lri ty of CC.Sl:S th se wounded only l"tJcoi v. tl '1 sc:rvic<.;
fi..:..l.1 Crcssil"ll.' . In ~I'it\.. of littl!;; ntt(;nticn r.:'l· flJur or fiv(;
days the cenCi ti~,n of cnsunlties r·.;£\..u.n(:'l extrci.l'!ly i!;:>cYl .

245 . In ~enLl.·!ll the or6rud~ ..." ti -n of an Airbol'ru. Divisi n ~h(Y\'red

u. [;xtrcnely well . R.wc;pt f "r Minor intt.rna.l r, ,justr;).••m ts thert;
is ' little neeil fOl" "":'~tcr~.tion .

246. Th~ lessons lc:u-nt in r.m.ny cttSE;S erc not new r.m:.
thE.:Y
s~rv(; Cts f'. romiru.cr for c, 'nst1\nt f'.ttOIl,tinn Juri.nt; the praD(U""J"·ti~n
l,eri

247 . Xhe; Oper"..tion IlL. ~ . wc.s n·~t lOO~ e 3lOccass "'.n(!. did not
end quite ns w'\z int"ndt.: . The 1085';S Wt..rt; ht,;·wy Lut "~l r~s
n~'prucillte th'1t tht: risko involv(.:J W,,;l"E. r~(',son..-'\11.... . Thera is
no uoubt toot cl.I would. willingly undt:1'takc tlJloth.r op,-,rl'l.tion
unrler simil.a.l" c;:.;nJ.i.tions in the future .

We h.('.v\.# no rezrcts .

d { ~1Z1jor-Genora1 J
l',.i' . O. Englc.nd . Ca:una.ndEr J
10 .hn 45 •. 1 l~borno Division.

REU/BB