Arnhem - Northumbrian Gunners Nijmagen

Just before the end of Operation Market, 124 (Northumbrian) Regiment TA moved to a position north of Nijmagen.

They engaged targets to their north, during which Captain WA Wood MC was killed. By 26th September 1944, Operation Market garden was at an end with the withdrawal from Oosterbeek. The battle for the Island of land between the River Waal and the lower Rhine would however continue till February 1945 when Arnhem was liberated by Canadian forces.

124 Regiment War Diary Nijmagen

 

124 Regiment Gun Position Nijmagen



124 Regiment Gun Position was just to left of Nijmagen Bridge

124 Regiment 441 Battery gun dug in north of Nijmagen

 

Arnhem - Nijmegen

82nd Airborne Operation Market

The capture of the bridges at Nijmegen and Grave, together with some smaller bridges over the Maas-Waal Canal, was tasked to the American 82^nd Airborne Division. As part of the protection to the bridges and the XXX Corps route they were to secure the Groesbeek Heights to the east.

The bridge at Grave was captured, two bridges over the canal were blown, but a third was captured and the Groesbeek Heights were secured despite German counter attacks.

The capture of the bridge at Nijmegen did not go to plan. The Germans resisted the initial attempts by the American Paratroopers. The Guards Armoured Division linked up with the Americans, but was unable to dislodge the German defenders.

Eventually Assault boats were brought up and the 504^th Parachute Infantry Regiment under heavy fire crossed the River Waal and captured the bridge from the north.

At 18:30 the first elements of XXX Corps crossed the bridge at Nijmegen 36 hours behind schedule and according to the original plan they should have been in Arnhem.#

Nijmagen Bridge