Arnhem – John Frost Bridge

Following the route of 2^nd 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 1^st Air landing-anti tank battery HQ with five 6 pounders, an OP party with HQ 1^st Parachute Brigade and two FOO’s with 2 Para.

The 3^rd Battalion the Parachute Regiment had been blocked from re-enforcing the bridge by the Germans.

John Frost Bridge Arnhem

On the 18^th 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.

Locations on the bridge September 1944
Anti-tank guns in sight of the bridge

Modern day map of Arnhem with plan from 1944 superimposed

 

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 4^th Parachute Brigade on the 18^th September also released 1^st 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 21^st September they were overwhelmed and the bridge was in German hands

No Surrender -F the Gerry's
The Airborne gunners sentiments

John Frost Bridge Arnhem 2013

Crossing John Frost Bridge Arnhem