Be Bold by Rosier Frederick; Rosier David;

Author:Rosier, Frederick; Rosier, David;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: HISTORY / Military / World War II
ISBN: 1665308
Publisher: Grub Street Publishing
Published: 2014-04-02T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

THE END IS NIGH

THE LOW COUNTRIES – AUTUMN 1944

In the early part of September Monty started planning a complex operation designed to leap frog forward and to establish a bridgehead over the Rhine. It was to involve the British 2nd Army, with three divisions of General Browning’s 1 Airborne Corps with the 82nd US Airborne Division under command. Before joining in the Canadian 1st Army would concentrate on opening up the port of Antwerp.

D-Day for Operation Market Garden was on 17th September. That morning vast fleets of aircraft and gliders converged on their landing areas close to the Arnhem bridge meeting light opposition. However, two days later the weather was so bad that the air lift programme had to be halted and our tactical fighters could not provide support. These factors were to have a serious effect on the whole operation.

Sadly, on the night of 25th September 2,400 men, including some of the Polish Parachute Brigade, had to be evacuated across the lower Rhine and Arnhem was lost to us, as was Nijmegen which was still in German hands. In his book From Normandy to the Baltic Monty claims that the battle of Arnhem was ninety per cent successful. On the ground we thought otherwise. It seemed a sad end to an ill-conceived and ill-fated operation. It should be noted that we in 84 Group were not included in its planning. Had we been, we would have had the necessary ‘crystals’ in our radio sets to communicate with our ground forces during the first few days and to give direct support to them.

20th September

Mac got back today and told me I could take a day off. Unfortunately, it’s impossible this week, as you will have probably gathered from the news (Operation Market Garden/Arnhem), but I hope to get away next Monday or Tuesday. I’ll probably be able to bring back the odd pair of stockings.

It’s been a tiring day. I held a conference at 8 this morning, AOCs conference at 9. Army conference at 10, a quick lunch, tea in my office, conf at 5.30, half an hour for dinner and it’s now well after midnight.

22nd September

Flew to Brussels yesterday afternoon and had to stay the night because I had been delayed. It’s just like peacetime there – but terrifically expensive. I went out with Tom Morgan, Derrick Walker and Killy. But believe it or not I was so tired I left them and went to sleep.

On 22nd September Boulogne had fallen to the Canadians after the last strongpoint received a final ‘rocketing’ from our Typhoons. Cap Gris Nez and Calais soon followed. In the south the Americans, after a spectacular outflanking drive, reached the German border. Le Havre finally fell, brought to its knees by a mass Lancaster raid, and Ghent was captured by the Polish Armoured Division (within the Canadian 1st Army). Hence, in late September our group HQ was able to move in their wake to Ghent. From Amblie in France, 84 Group HQ, alongside that

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