Following the route of 2nd Battalion Parachute
Regiment from Heelsum, towards Arnhem the first sight of the
Lower Rhine and the Arnhem road bridge can be seen in the distance.
The men of 2 Para reached the bridge by 20:30 in the evening
and secured the northern end. Two attempts were made to secure the southern end
during the night, but were unsuccessful. The Gunner elements that reached the
bridge were the 1st Air landing-anti tank battery HQ with five 6
pounders, an OP party with HQ 1st Parachute Brigade and two FOO’s
with 2 Para.
The 3rd Battalion the Parachute Regiment had been
blocked from re-enforcing the bridge by the Germans.
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| John Frost Bridge Arnhem |
On the 18th September, at 09:30 armoured vehicles from the 9thh SS Panzer Division tried to force themselves across the bridge from the southern end but were repulsed by mines, Projector Infantry Anti-Tank (PIATs) and the anti-tank Gunners.
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| Locations on the bridge September 1944 Anti-tank guns in sight of the bridge |
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| Modern day map of Arnhem with plan from 1944 superimposed |
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| The battle for Arnhem Bridge |
No further re-enforcement of the men at the bridge occurred.
The men of 3 Para fought a desperate battle in the buildings of Arnhem, street
by street, room by room, sustaining heavy casualties, but were unable to reach
2 Para. The arrival of 4th Parachute Brigade on the 18th
September also released 1st Air landing Brigade from securing the
landing areas, however the advance on Arnhem was blocked by German defences and
counter attacks.
Eventually after 88 hours, with little sleep, no relief, 12
hours without food and water, and heavy casualties, the men at the bridge ran out of ammunition
and on the 21st September they were overwhelmed and the bridge was
in German hands
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| No Surrender -F the Gerry's The Airborne gunners sentiments |
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| John Frost Bridge Arnhem 2013 |
Crossing John Frost Bridge Arnhem
