Abbreviations

6579

2 i/c

A/B

A/L

Bde

Br.

Btn

Bty

Cmd

Comm.

Coy

CP

Dis

Div

Est.

GOC

IM

Inf

LZ

MG

MR

OC

'O' Group

Op

PR

Pty

RA

Regt

RV

Sec

Sigs

Sqn

Tps

Map Reference

Second in Command

Airborne

Air Landing

Brigade

British

Battalion

Battery

Command

Communications

Company

Command Post

Disabled

Divisional

Established

General Officer Commanding

Instrument Mechanic

Infantry

Landing Zone

Machine Gun

Map Reference

Officer Commanding

Orders Group

Operation

Public Relations

Party

Royal Artillery

Regiment

Rendezvous

Section

Signals

Squadron

Troops

 

 

Month and year: September 1944

Commanding Officer : Lt.Col. T.G.V. Stephenson

 

6th September 1944

Place: Transit Camp

 

1000 - Div 'O' Group held at Moor Park for operation 'fifteen'; operation subsequently given name 'COMET'.

 

7th September 1944

Place: Down Ampney (Gloucs)

 

1000 - All ranks briefed for operation COMET.

 

1800 - All ranks briefed for operation COMET.

 

2300 - Op COMET postponed 24 hours.

 

8th September 1944

Place: Down Ampney (Gloucs)

 

2030 - Op COMET postponed 24 hours or more.

 

9th September 1944

Place: Down Ampney (Gloucs)

 

Op COMET cancelled.

 

10th September 1944

Place: Down Ampney (Gloucs)

 

Nothing to report.

 

11th September 1944

Place: Down Ampney (Gloucs)

 

Rumour of further operation called op 'MARKET'.

 

12th September 1944

Place: Down Ampney (Gloucs)

 

1 A/B Div Sigs O.O. No.1 (op. MARKET) issued.

 

13th September 1944

Place: Down Ampney (Gloucs)

 

Nothing to report.

 

14th September 1944

Place: Down Ampney (Gloucs)

 

Nothing to report.

 

15th September 1944

Place: Down Ampney (Gloucs)

 

Nothing to report.

 

16th September 1944

Place: Down Ampney (Gloucs)

 

1800 - All ranks briefed for op 'MARKET'

 

17th September 1944

Place: Arnhem 1/25,000 Sh 6 N.W. Square 6579

 

1030 - Glider element of 1st lift took off.

 

1130 - Parachute element of 1st lift took off.

 

1330 - (approx) Glider & Parachute elements landed.  Flight uneventable - very little 'flak'.  No opposition on landing and Dropping Zones.  Comm. established on Div 'A' Wave to Parachute report centre and HQ 1 Para Bde and later to 21st Independent Parachute Company.

 

1602 - Skeleton Signal Office opened at Div HQ in wood on east side of landing zone.

 

1607 - G.O.C. OC Signals & Adjutant arrived at Div HQ.  Codesigns from destruction tubes handed in to Signal Office for distribution to 'G'.

 

1645 - 1 Para Bde commenced advance: communication by wireless established between 1st Para Bde and 82 (US) Airborne Division.

 

1700 - Heavy interference on Div 'A' Wave: frequencies of Div 'A' and Div 'B' waves interchanged to provide better comm. on div 'A' wave.  Spasmodic mortaring of Div HQ area - no casualties.

 

1720 - 1st Para Bde out of comm. on Div 'A' & Div 'B' waves.  SDR despatched to 1st Para Bde with OP message - returned at 2050 unable to locate HQ.  Thereafter no DR's allowed out without permission from Bde staff.

 

1727 - Div HQ moved from wood to glider landing zone.

 

2105 - 'A' & 'B' waves out of comm. owing to extremely heavy interference.

 

2145 - Momentary wireless contact with Airborne Corps on base net: corps working to base R5/5.  No other comm. to higher formation yet established.

 

2300 - Div 'A' wave through to 1st Airlanding Brigade and 21 Indep.Para Coy.

 

18th September 1944

Place: Arnhem 1/25,000 Sh 6 N.W. Square 6579

 

0016 - Comm. to base established: traffic passed by DC procedure.  No contact with 1st Para Bde on any net (Div A wave, RA net, Recce Sqn net).

 

0630 - Div HQ re-established in woods on east of LZ.  Communication state:-

Div A wave:

Div B wave:

Base wave:

1st A/L Bde R5/5; 21st Indep Para Coy R3/5

1st A/L Bde R5/5

no comm. with Base or A/B Corps

Base and A/B Corps in touch.

 

0730 - 2 i/c (Major A.J. Deane Drummond M.C. R Signals) sent to 1st Para Bde to try to establish communications.

 

Place: Hill Oek. MR6778 Arnhem 1/25,000 Sh 6 N.W.

 

0800 - Div HQ moved to HILL OEK.

 

1010 - 2 S.Staffs ordered to reinforce 1 Para Bde; 68P set working on Div A wave despatched to them.

 

1015 - 22 Set complete station despatched to try to get through to 1 Para Bde.  Air support: Still no contact established.

 

1415 - Second lift Gliders and Parachute aircraft started to arrive.  Resupply drop by Douglas and Stirling aircraft.  'Flak' light.

 

1510 - 'Phantam' set contacted HQ 30 Corps.

 

1530 - 4 Para Bde joined Div 'A' wave (Bde arrived on second lift)

 

1655 - Div HQ moved to Park Hotel, HARTESTEIN.  HQ RA est. in grounds of Hotel.

 

Place: Hartestein, Arnhem 1/25,000 Sh 6 N.W. MR 6978

 

2040 - Both base wave day crystals useless.  Comn established on night crystals: control asked to remain on night frequency 24 hours a day.

 

2120 - Decision given by OC Signals that all air support demands to be cleared to any higher formation (A/B Corps, 30 Corps, or 2nd Army) by whichever means available: ASSU set not through.

 

2300 - 22 set station sent to 22 Para Btn who are to try and reach 1st Para Bde on bridge: set will be included on Div Comd net.

 

19th September 1944

Place: Hartestein, Arnhem 1/25,000 Sh 6 N.W. MR 6978

 

0200 - Jeep SDR sent to 1st Para Bde: returned having failed to get through because of enemy opposition.

 

0503 - HQ RA in contact with 3 Bty, 1st A/L Light Regt. RA who are with 1 Para Bde on bridge: out of comm. a few minutes later.

 

0820 - Report from wireless crew returned from bridge that 2 i/c was seen with 2nd Para Btn at 1800 hrs 18 Sept 44.

 

0947 - 2 S. Staffs now on Div 'A' Wave. Comn State:-

Div A wave:

R5/5 to 4 Para Bde, 1 A/L Bde, 11 Para Btn, 2nd S Staffs, 21 Ind. Para Coy.

Div B wave:

R5/5 to 4 Para Bde, 1 A/L Bde

Base:

R2/2

Phantam to 30 Corps:

R5/5

Public Relations to W.Office (London) 

R4/4

 

Nothing heard on ASSU, Corps 'A' wave or Corps 'B' wave.

 

1000 - Light mortaring & shelling of Div HQ: some casualties.  Div HQ being continually sniped.  Message from Rear HQ Airborne troops (base) shows that base wave day crystals being despatched to us by re-supply today - containers carrying 76 sets with crystals to be distinguished by black parachutes.

 

1630 - Resupply drop - heavy flak and many aircraft show down - Most of drop fell into enemy territory.

 

1802 - 22 set opened on Polish Brigade command net.  Nothing heard.  Informed that Polish Para Bde had not dropped.

 

2055 - Comn state:-

Div A wave:

R5/5 to 4th Para Bde, 1 A/L Bde, 21 Ind. Para Coy.

Div B wave:

R5/5 to 4 Para Bde, 1 A/L Bde

Base:

crystal dis.

Public Relations:

Set temporarily dis.

Phantom, ASSU, Corps A, Corps B:   

Nil

 

2100 - Local lines laid to all wireless sets in HQ.

 

2316 - Public relations set R5/3

 

20th September 1944

Place: Hartestein, Arnhem 1/25,000 Sh 6 N.W. MR 6978

 

0200 - Public relations set R5/5.  Div A wave: unworkable owing to heavy interference.  Div B wave: through to 1 A/L Bde only.

 

0440 - Div B wave: R5/5 to 1 A/L Bde and 4 Para Bde.

 

0500 - Phantom set through to 2nd Army and 30 Corps.

 

0720 - Base link through to Airborne Corps & Base.

 

0840 - Contact established with 1st Para Bde for a few minutes.

 

1017 - Line through to 1st A/L Bde.

 

1127 - Lines through to 4th Para Bde.

 

1130 - Both air support tentacles put permanently out of action by Shell fire.

 

1200 - GOCs Jeep hit by a mortar bomb during a recce.  Wireless set salvaged and repaired.

 

1400 - Base set unable to pass traffic owing to jamming.  Report received that Capt. S. Blatch, R Signals, OC L Section, had died of wounds received during the morning.

 

1406 - Further resupply drop; heavy 'flak'; little of supplies recovered.

 

1440 - Line to 1 A/L Brigade out by mortar fire; repaired within 15 minutes.

 

1700 - Further re-supply; heavy 'flak'; much of dropped supplies recovered.

 

1800 - 4th Para Bde and 1st Airlanding Bde off Div A wave.

 

1833 - New rover station ready for use by GOC.

 

1900 - 1 A/L Bde now on A wave; contact est. on A wave with 22 set situated at ferry on river due South of HQ.

 

1935 - Contact with ferry set last.

 

2300 - Combined Signals / 21st Indep Para Coy patrol despatched to attempt recovery of 'eureka wireless sets'.  Patrol ambushed and no recovery made.

 

2348 - No contact between A/B Corps and base on base net.  Div A wave now through to 1 A/L Bde, Ferry, 21st I P.Coy.

 

21st September 1944

Place: Hartestein, Arnhem 1/25,000 Sh 6 N.W. MR 6978

 

0145 - Base set experiencing jamming; not possible to pass traffic.

 

0345 - Contact with ferry set lost.

 

0347 - Public Relations set dis; set repaired by I.M. and working by 0417.

 

0715 - Div A wave: 1st A/L Bde off.

 

0859 - 4 Para Bde R3/3 on Div B Wave.

 

0900 - Contact established by No.19 HP set with 64th Medium Regt RA (43 Inf. Div) ranging commenced at once.

 

1000 - Lt. Bosworth. R Signals sent to 4 Para Bde to act as Bde Signal Officer: OC Signal Section Capt Kennett reported wounded and missing.

 

1020 - Ferry set returned to Div HQ.

 

1100 - Heavy mortaring and shelling constantly cutting lines; all locals and 4th Para Bde line now OK.

 

1245 - Resupply drop. Flak intense.

 

1330 - Line to 1 A/L Bde repaired.

 

1520 - Owing to increased mortaring and shelling of Div HQ, following alterations made: Div command post, including Signal office, moved into basement of Hotel.  Departments of HQ staff not essential in C.P. (e.g. ADOS, CRASC) moved into defence lines in grounds of Hotel.  All Div Signals personnel off duty allotted a defence area commanded by Adjutant with RSM and CSM 1 Coy.

 

1521 - Request from K Section for Wireless batteries & cable; sent on authy from OC Signals.

 

1650 - Div A wave: R5/5 to 1 A/L Bde. 4 Para Bde. 21 Ind. Para Coy.

 

1715 - Polish Parachute Brigade dropped on South bank of river: no contact made by wireless on either link (i.e. Poles Cmd Net or Rear Link).

 

2122 - Line State: all OK excepting A/L Bde line, dis. by mortar fire.

 

22nd September 1944

Place: Hartestein, Arnhem 1/25,000 Sh 6 N.W. MR 6978

 

0320 - Message arrived stating 43 Div would come up on Airborne Corps Command frequency and giving call signs to be used.

 

0545 - 21st Ind. Para Coy placed under cmd of 4 Para Bde and therefore transferred from Div A wave to bde cmd net.

 

0810 - All lines out through mortar fire.

 

0905 - One to one link established with Polish parachute brigade.

 

1000 - Four 300 watt charging engines destroyed by mortar fire; battery charging position critical.

 

1100 - 1st A/L Bde HQ moved few hundred yards; line through by 1215 hours.

 

1445 - Base wave out of touch.

 

1757 - All lines dis - heavy mortaring.

 

1927 - 1 A/L Bde line through.

 

2049 - 4 Para Bde line through.

 

2147 - A wave through to 4 Para Bde, out to 1 A/L Bde.

 

2245 - Base set through; intermittent jamming.

 

23rd September 1944

Place: Hartestein, Arnhem 1/25,000 Sh 6 N.W. MR 6978

 

0415 - Line to 1 A/L Bde out.

 

0555 - A/L Bde line through.  Link to Polish Bde R5/5.

 

0750 - All lines out again through heavy mortaring.

 

1300 - No.22 sets listening for Airborne Corps and Div Guard closed by OC Signals; battery charging position critical owing to casualties in charging engines and Instrument Mechanics.

 

1545 - Lines through to 1 A/L Bde, 4 Para Bde.

 

1555 - Base set interfering strongly with Polish link: base set closed for one hour to enable Poles to clear traffic.

 

1605 - Resupply drop.

 

1800 - All lines out: Snake hit by mortar bomb.

 

1830 - Wire arial of base set hit by mortar fire.

 

1952 - Base set comm. re-established; jamming by German station, codesign P6Z experiencing.

 

2006 - Lines through to HQ RA.

 

2100 - Line to 4 Para Bde through.

 

2130 - All lines through.

 

2310 - Line to 1 A/L Bde out - shelling at HQ 1 A/L Bde.

 

2330 - All lines out through shelling.

 

2350 - Base and PR Sets: fading and heavy interference.

 

24th September 1944

Place: Hartestein, Arnhem 1/25,000 Sh 6 N.W. MR 6978

 

0001 - Comm State:-

Div A wave:

R5/5 1st A/L Bde.

Public Relations:

R3/3 : X5/5.

Base:

R3/3 : X5/5

Phantom:   

N

RA Communications satisfactory.

 

0220 - A/L Bde off A wave.

 

0330 - 22 set despatched to Poles, working on Div A wave: Poles expected to cross river during night.

 

0530 - Line state:- Locals OK.  Bde Lines dis.

 

0600 - Phantom set through to 30 Corps and 2nd Army.

 

0630 - 4 Bde line through.

 

0707 - Base set arial blown down: heavy mortaring which continued for three hrs.

 

0800 - All lines blown.  OC 2 Coy Div Signals joined Polish link.  He was then ordered to report to 130 Inf Bde (forward Bde of 43 Inf Div).  Wireless comm with 130 Inf Bde thus maintained until close of op.

 

0805 - 18 set comm. between G Office and HQ RA tried - no success.

 

0955 - Phantom and PR ariels blown.

 

1145 - Corps Cmdrs' rover of Br. Airborne Corps head on Div A wave.  Satisfactory comm. not established.

 

1230 - Phantom set through again.

 

1330 - Lines to 4 Para Bde and HQ RA.

 

1340 - PR set through.

 

1410 - Div A wave set 'dis'.

 

1536 - Div A wave working and through to 1 A/L Bde and 4 Para Bde.

 

25th September 1944

Place: Hartestein, Arnhem 1/25,000 Sh 6 N.W. MR 6978

 

0215 - Phantom set closed down; PR set out of communication.

 

0310 - Line to 1 A/L Bde through.

 

0530 - Phantom and Public Relations sets through.

 

0637 - Base set closed until 0912 hours to enable Poles to pass traffic.

 

0957 - 22 Set standing by to be sent to Btn of Dorsets (130 Inf Bde); Btn crossed river to our area during night.

 

1031 - Phantom link R1/1.

 

1136 - Base link R/1.

 

1200 - Base set closed for one hour.

 

1500 - Conference of signals officers.  OC Signals issued orders for withdrawal: Parties to leave HQ consisting of a dozen men commanded by an officer.  First pty, commanded by Adj. Signals, to leave at 2200 hours.  Remainder to follow at fifty yards interval.  O.C. Signals to leave with last pty.  Route to river bank given: cross-roads 691783 - Fork roads 690777 - road junction 693775 - due South to River Bank.  There to be ferried across River by 43 Div engineers or swim if necessary.  RV to be at DRIEL MR 6875 (Sheet 6 S.W.)

 

1900 - Signal office prepared for move.  Diary and registers retained, all other docs destroyed.  All equipment rendered unserviceable excepting Base and 130 Bde link sets.  These were kept in operation for some hours after the withdrawal by wounded signallers who could not be evacuated to cover withdrawal.

 

2000 - Withdrawal commenced.  Heavy MG and artillery covering barrage provided by 43 Inf Div.  Most Ptys reached River Bank without incident.  Transporting of troops across river slow process.  Frequent mortaring of ferry area by enemy.

 

26th September 1944

Place: 1/25,000 Sh 6 S.W. NIJMEGEN

 

0500 - Majority of tps evacuated.  Div area established in NIJMEGEN.  Men fed and rested.

 

27th September 1944

Place: 1/25,000 Sh 6 S.W. NIJMEGEN

 

0900 - Advance ptys from England from all units left by air.  Adjutant sent as Div Sigs representative.

 

28th September 1944

 

Div moved to BRUSSELS area.

 

29th September 1944

 

Div flew back to Base.

 

2000 - Div Sigs deplaned Barkston Heath airfield (¼ to mile Sh 6 N.Midlands & Lincolnshire MR 4062).

 

30th September 1944

Place: ¼-1 mile Sh 6 MR 4062 CAYTHORPE.

 

Unit Board of OC 2 Coy, OC A Sec and RSM assembled to collect and investigate casualty returns.