Northumbrian Gunner: Market Garden

Tuesday, 19 March 2013

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 - Northumbrian Gunners St Odernode

Operation Market Plan

Operation Garden commenced at 14:15 17^th September 1944 with an opening barrage from the Corps Artillery, together with 7 squadrons of rocket firing typhoons. Over 300 guns opened fire on a rolling barrage 1 mile (1.6 km) wide and 5 miles (8 km) in depth. The opening line of the barrage was allocated to 74^th and 124^th (Northumbrian) Field Regiments.

The Northumbrian Gunners continued to support XXX Corps on the move north. After the initial fire plan, they engaged targets into the night of the 17^th, conducted fires over the next few days plan to support the bridgeheads being established, as well as firing counter battery missions.

The war diary of 124^th (Northumbrian) Field Regiment chronicles the opening days of Operation Market.

124 Regiment was ordered to move north with 69^th Brigade on the 21^st September 1944. At this point in time the Bridge at Arnhem had already been lost.

On the 22^nd 69 Brigade was in trouble when two enemy battalions of infantry and a regiment of tanks cut the main Corps centre-line near Uden, eight miles south of the bridge at Grave. The brigade was cut in half with the East Yorkshires in the north and the Green Howards in the south. 124th Regiment found itself in a similar predicament. The main body cut off from the CO, 2IC, C.P.Os and Survey party.

Captain Dowdeswell the battery captain of 288th Battery put the regiment into action in support of the 101st Airborne Division. 86th Field Regiment was also in the area and the groups of mixed artillery were collected together, with the commanding officer of the 86th Field Regiment acting as Commander Royal Artillery to the American divisional commander.

124 (Northumbrian) Regiment RA (TA)
St Odernode

St Odernode

124 Regiment 441 Battery welcome an Amrican visitoe from 101st AB

Arnhem - Eindhoven

The American 101^st Airborne were tasked to secure Eindhoven, bridges over the Wilhelminakanal to its south, and to the north, bridges on the River Donnel and Zuid Willemswaart . The 101^st had reached most objectives by 16:00 on D Day; however the bridge at Son was blown. The move north of XXX Corps had already been delayed by the enthusiastic crowds in Eindhoven as they welcomed their liberators, the requirement to build a bailey bridge at Son added further to this delay.

Once the bridge was built, XXX Corps continued to strike north, the venerable route was however now subject to counter attack.

Operation Market 101st AB

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

Arnhem - Airborne Museum

The Hartenstein Hotel in Oosterbeek was used by General Urquhart as the HQ for the 1^st Airborne Division. It now houses the Airborne Museum which tells the story of the battle for Arnhem.

AIRBORNE MUSEUM HARTENSTEIN

Airborne Museum Oosterbeek

Airborne Memorial to the Dutch People

TO THE PEOPLE OF GELDERLAND

50 years ago British & Polish Airborne soldiers fought here against overwhelming odds to open the way into Germany and bring the war to an early end. Instead we brought death and destruction for which you have never blamed us.

This stone marks our admiration for your great courage remembering especially the women who tended our wounded. In the long winter that followed your families risked death by hiding Allied soldiers and airmen, while members of the Resistance helped many to safety.

You took us then into your homes as fugitives and friends we took you forever into our hearts.This strong bond will continue long after we are all gone.

1944 – September - 1994

Air Crew Memorial

To the memory of the Royal Air Force, Commonwealth and United States Aircrew who died on Operation Market Garden, September 1944.

“In memoria aeterna”

AB Museum - Hartenstein location of General Urquharts photograph

Arnhem – Remembering the Battle

Oosterbeek church contains a memorial to the men of the 1^st Air landing Light Regiment Royal Artillery. It seemed appropriate that a wreath be placed at a memorial tree in the church yard to remember the Airborne Gunners at Arnhem.

In memory of the Airborne Gunners

1^st Air landing Light Regiment RA

1^st Forward Observation Unit (Airborne) RA

1^st Air landing Anti-Tank Battery RA

2^nd Air landing Anti-Tank Battery RA

43 casualties

7 casualties

23 casualties

31 casualties

Oosterbeek Church and memorial tree

Memorial tree Oosterbeek Church

NVAA wreath
In memory of the Airborne Gunners in Arnhem

Arnhem – Withdrawal

General Urquhart ordered that that the remnants of 1^st Airborne would withdraw across the Lower Rhine at 22:00 25^th September 1944. Two routes across the river were provided by engineers from XXX Corps who had managed to link up with the Polish Paras near Driel. On that night 2,398 men were rescued.

Oosterbeek Withdrawal Routes

Oosterbeek Withdrawal Area

Arnhem – Gunners Oosterbeek Church

The 3^rd Air landing battery had been moved to the area of the church on 18^th 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 19^th September 1944, as the defensive perimeter was being formed, the CRA ordered the guns of the 1^st and 2^nd Air landing batteries ^t to concentrate on the church and form a regimental position in the area.

Gunner locations Oosterbeek Church

Oosterbeek Chuch

1^st Air landing Regimental HQ

The Gunners provided constant fire support to the division. As well as shoots conducted by the parties from the 1^st 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 20^th 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 21^st September the war diary details the first contact by the Airborne Gunners with 64^th 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 1^st Airborne Division and XXX Corps. At 10:35, 211 Battery 64^th 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 24^th September. However by the evening of the 25^th 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.

Arnhem – Oosterbeek Perimeter

The defensive perimeter was formed with the Borders to the west, units of 4^th Parachute Brigade and KOSB north east, remnants of 1^st Parachute Bridge south east, with gaps being filled in by other units and glider pilots. At this stage many units were down to 100 fit men. Over the next 5 days the perimeter was subject to sustained German attacks as they tried to dislodge the airborne troops.

Oosterbeek Perimeter September 1944

Some of the heaviest fighting occurred around the area of the cross roads at Oosterbeek. On the cross roads medical dressing stations were established in the Schoonoord Hotel, the Tafelberg Hotel (formerly a German HQ for General Model) to the south and the Vreewjick Hotel. The Quatre Bras was used as a headquarters.