The 3rd Air landing battery had been moved to the
area of the church on 18th September, at that stage this was outside
the Divisional area so 40 Glider Pilots provided the local defence. The guns
were in line of sight to the bridge.
Oosterbeek Church area of 3 A/L Battery |
Battery position – view to the bridge |
On the 19th September 1944, as the defensive
perimeter was being formed, the CRA ordered the guns of the 1st and
2nd Air landing batteries t to concentrate on the church
and form a regimental position in the area.
Gunner locations Oosterbeek Church |
Oosterbeek Chuch |
1st Air landing Regimental HQ |
The Gunners provided constant fire support to the division.
As well as shoots conducted by the parties from the 1st Forward
Observation Unit, reports of concentrations were received from the Dutch
Resistance. The gun positions themselves were subject to shelling, and
occasional strafing by German fighters.
The war diary for 20th September records “ 18:00 - Capt Walker fired several Mike Tgts "unobserved" as
"Morale" shoots as the infantry liked to hear our shells”.
As XXX Corps
progressed north their Artillery came into range. On the 21st September the war
diary details the first contact by the Airborne Gunners with 64th
Medium Regiment RA “0900 - Touch made on
arrival with 64 Medium Regt by A/L Bde. FOO put HQRA 19 set on this wave and
maintained first class communications on it for rest of battle” The link
from the Gunners was the only radio link in place between the 1st
Airborne Division and XXX Corps. At 10:35, 211 Battery 64th Medium
Regiment reported ready with 8 x 4.5 inch guns. By 13:00, 212 Battery was ready
with 8 x 5.5 inch guns. The fires from XXX Corps continued over the next few
days.
In Oosterbeek, the
gun positions were subject to repeated attacks and shelling. The scars from the
battle can still be seen on the walls of the church at Ooosterbeek.
Oosterbeek Church – Battle Damage |
Ammunition for the
75mm started to get short so shooting was restricted, though some air supply
arrived on 24th September. However by the evening of the 25th
orders had been given for the Division to withdraw from Oosterbeek, with the
guns from XXX Corps to conduct a fire plan to cover the withdrawal.
The final act for
the Gunners was to bury their breach blocks, destroy their sights and radios.