Note: The 1st Parachute Brigade war diary for the period 17th - 25th September 1944 was lost when resistance at Arnhem Bridge fell. The following is as described in the introduction to the diary, "This outline is built up from the stories of a few hurriedly questioned survivors; a more accurate and complete account will be prepared in due course."

Thanks to The Airborne Soldier for this diary.

Abbreviations

171400 707764 AL Bde Bn Comd Coy Div DZ Gp Rly SP Sqn Tp

Abbr. 17th September, 1400 hours Map Reference Airlanding Brigade Battalion Command Company Division / Divisional Drop Zone Group Railway Self-Propelled Squadron Troop

Plan

1 Para Bde Gp was to drop on D.Z. 'X' commencing approx 171400 and to advance on ARNHEM on three routes :-

With the intention of seizing and holding the two road bridges.

1 AL Recce Sqn (less one tp) which was under comd was to seize the bridges by a coup de main.

Narrative

(It is proposed to deal with units individually taking Bde HQ Gp with 2 Para Bn, as owing to the breakdown of communications no co-ordinated action was possible)

    1 AL Recce Sqn:-

Great difficulty was experienced in assembling the transport and the 'Coup de Main' plan had to be abandoned: the Sqn subsequently reverted to Div control.

    2 Para Bn & Bde HQ Gp

171500 : 2 Para Bn moved off with 95% of their personnel.

171530 : Bde HQ moved off with 98% of their personnel.

Slight opposition was met along the route but it was successfully dealt with by A Coy, which was leading.

171800 (1) : C Coy was detached to capture the rly bridge 707764 but the southern span was blown by the enemy: the company resumed the advance into the town well in rear of the rest of the Bn and was ambushed in one of the parks.  It was forced into a hotel for the night 17/18.  On the morning of the 18 Sep the enemy surrounded the hotel with tanks and S.P. guns and started to blast it to pieces.  C Coy was forced to make a dash for it in sections and did not become a formed body again.

171800 (2) : The remainder of the Bn plus Bde HQ moved into the town with B Coy leading.

172000 : The main bridge was reported by R/T to have been reached by the leading Coy.

172300 : The main bridge was captured intact.

18-19 Sep : The enemy counter attacked the bridge with ever increasing violence bringing in Tiger tanks and S.P. guns.

By the evening of 19 Sep all survivors had been forced to [Page Ends]

    3 Para Bn

171500 : The Bn moved off with 95% personnel.

171600 : Strong opposition encountered in square 6878 where the Bn was forced to spend the night.

171800 : C Coy was detached to do a left flanking movement along the line of the railway.  Ten men of this Coy subsequently reached the bridge but apart from this nothing else is known of the Coy.

180400 : The remainder of the Bn disengaged to the South, with B Coy leading, and entered ARNHEM on the southern Route.

There was slight resistance on the road in.

180800 : The Bn bumped into stiff opposition at 719779 and was forced into houses.  Enemy fire increased in intensity during the day.

181600 : The Commanding Officer ordered the Bn to advance to the bridge under a left flanking movement along the line of the railway.

The enemy fire plan in the area of the rly did not allow this and the Bn gradually disintegrated into small groups.

60 all ranks subsequently reached 706774 during the afternoon of 19 Sep and were absorbed into LONSDALE force.

    1 Para Bn

171600 : The Bn moved off with 95% personnel.

171700 : Resistance was met on the line of the railway 66585 which the Bn by-passed to the North.

171800 : R Coy bumped a strong enemy position with tanks and S.P. guns at 676818 and was immediately fully committed.

The remainder of the Bn broke off and endeavoured to reach the Main Road East of this position.

171900 : S Coy now in the lead encountered strong opposition at 692811.

Night 17/18  : S Coy broke off the engagement and led the Bn SOUTH to the 3 Bn Route.

180530 : S Coy ambushed at 698785 and suffered heavy casualties.

181600 : Strong opposition encountered at 725777 and T Coy was split up.

181700 : The Bn was regrouped and ordered to get through to the bridge at all costs, in small parties if necessary.

181730 : Enemy fire power prevented a break through and the remnants were ordered back to 725777.  A further advance was tried but failed.

190700 : The Bn in conjunction with elements from other units of the Div advanced to the area of the CCS, 729780 but was again forced back to 725777.

191700 : 120 all ranks of the Bn reached 706774 and were later absorbed into LONSDALE force.