Thanks to The Airborne Soldier for this diary.
Abbreviations
|
A/ Adjt Admin Air A/Tk Bde Bn Coy Div DR GP I/C Lt LZ MDS MG MT MTB Ops RA RAP RASC Regt / Rgt RV Sq TCC |
Acting Adjutant Administration Airborne Anti-Tank Brigade Battalion Battery Company Division / Divisional Driver Glider Pilots In-Command Light Landing Zone Main Dressing Station Machine Gun Motor Transport Motor Torpedo Boat Operations Royal Artillery Regimental Aid Post Royal Army Service Corps Regiment Rendezvous Squadron Squadron Sergeant Major Troop Carrier Command |
Month and year: September 1944
Commanding Officer : Major T.I.J. Toler
1st September 1944
Place: Brize Norton
Briefing for Operation "LINNET" commenced. This is the landing of the Airborne Army in the LILLE, TOURNAI, COUTRAY, RENAIX area. "B" Squadron to land astride the Railway at BERCHEM. Carrying H.Q. and 2 Coys, 2nd South Staffs. and No.1 Airlanding A/Tk Bty, R.A. We are in "Placeforce" and are to defend QUAREMONT.
2nd September 1944
Place: Brize Norton
Operation "LINNET" postponed.
3rd September 1944
Place: Brize Norton
1030 - Station ordered to move to MANSTON today ready to operate on Sept. 4th.
1430 - Move cancelled at Midday and Operation "LINNET" cancelled. Briefing for operation entailing landing by bridges at MAASTRICHT and LIEGE at HARWELL in evening. This Operation cancelled at midnight.
4th September 1944
Place: Brize Norton
Move to MANSTON postponed on account of weather.
5th September 1944
Place: Manston
1500 - 1st Lift takes off for MANSTON in high wind. Only two combinations fail to arrive.
6th September 1944
Place: Manston
1030 - 2nd Lift arrive at MANSTON. Telephonic communication with base very difficult.
7th September 1944
Place: Manston
Raining very heavily. Briefing for Operation "COMET" in station cinema. Roof of improvised "Ops" Room leaks. All troops very wet. Operation to consist of 1 Air. Div. on bridges at ARNHEM, NIJMEGEN and GRAVE, "B" Squadron land near GROESBEEK and advance with 2nd South Staffs into Nijmegen. Same loads as for "LINNET". All Gliders deeply bogged. S/Sgt. Hooper arrives with No.13 Platoon having had two tug failures on successive days entailing forced landings. His third effort was successful.
8th September 1944
Place: Manston
Operation "COMET" postponed 24 hours.
9th September 1944
Place: Manston
Operation "COMET" postponed 48 hours.
10th September 1944
Place: Manston
Operation "COMET" cancelled.
11th September 1944
Place: Manston
Tugs and tug crews return to Brize Norton. Squadron liaise with Navy M.T.B's. and A.S.R's. at RAMSGATE.
12th September 1944
Place: Manston
Five conflicting orders received between 1200 and 1600 hours regarding Glider unloading.
13th September 1944
Place: Manston
Gliders eventually unloaded.
14th September 1944
Place: Manston
Major Toler, Capt. Neale and Lieut. Barclay return to Brize Norton.
15th September 1944
Place: Manston
Briefing for Operation "MARKET" at HARWELL. Same as Operation "COMET" but 1st Air. Div. landing at ARNHEM. 1 Flight of "B" Squadron are to proceed from ARNHEM Area after landing to increase to local protection for Corp. H.Q. at NIJMEGEN. Remaining Glider Pilots to remain with loads. Major Toler and Capt. Neale return to MANSTON.
16th September 1944
Place: Manston
Loading completed. Briefing for Operation "MARKET".
17th September 1944
Place: Arnhem
1040 - 1st Lift takes off from Manston on Operation "MARKET". Weather excellent over base and sea. Cloudy over Holland. L.Z. located and all landed within area without casualties except of S/Sgt. Hopkins and Sgt. Hooper who were wounded by M.G. fire after landing. Two Gliders failed to arrive. Lieut. Barclay and Lieut. Millar rope broke over TILBURG. S/Sgt. Geary and S/Sgt. Bristow rope detached from tug over U.K. Combination flew over on second day. No opposition on L.Z. South Staffs and G.P's. rendezvous at REIJERS CAMP. Quiet night after digging in.
18th September 1944
Place: Arnhem
19 Flight have moved off with their loads (No.1 A/Tk. Bty.) the previous day and nothing further has been heard of them. 20 Flight move off with S/Staffs towards the bridge at ARNHEM to relieve the 1st Para Bde. F.W. 190's shoot up L.Z. at approx. 1030 hours. Many snipers en route. By evening 20 Flight put under command of Major Timothy of 1st Para Bn. with the remainder of his men to act reserve and rearguard of 2 Coys. of S. Staffs. After nightfall we moved up the road by the river towards ARNHEM Bridge. High ground on N. of this road held strongly by enemy.
Place: Manston
0900 - Final briefing for 2nd Lift.
1215 - 2nd Lift took off on Operation "MARKET". S/Sgt. Proctor forced landed near ASHFORD.
19th September 1944
Place: Arnhem
0300 - Lt. Col. McCardie decides to go for the bridge which he understands is held by Lt.-Col. Frost and 80 men. Road of advance is covered by 20 mm. gun. Zero is 0400 hours. Major Timothy has rejoined 1st Para. Bn. Lt. Col. McCardie released Glider Pilots to return to Div. H.Q. 0330 hrs. 20 Flight return along road under fire and reach Div. H.Q. shortly after dawn.
Work and rest until midday. Capt. Neale reports all well with 2nd Lift and with Lt. Regt. R.A. Sec. first re-supply comes in under heavy Flak. In afternoon take up position round house at S.E. perimeter of Div. Sq. H.Q. within house. Dug in. Slight shelling during night. Mad woman runs through the position just after dusk, singing loudly.
Place: Manston
Residue of "B" Squadron personnel at MANSTON return to Brize Norton.
20th September 1944
Place: Arnhem
Capt. Miller reports in and says he is with the Lt. Rgt. by the Church at OOSTERBEEK. Slight mortaring in morning. See Capt. Barrie and Major Murray. Capt. Bottomley brings an Intelligence report and tells us we are to move back into the Div. H.Q. 100 yds. behind us with Capt. Priest of "G" Squadron on our left, and our right to link up with Capt. Walchi. S.S.M. Watt obtains German Staff Car.
Flight digs in in line of trees. In afternoon Flight opens up with PIAT and Automatics at Sniper in house opposite. P.I.A.T. very effective against house. Supplies dropped in enemy lines - heavier Flak. S.S.M. Watt arranges party with jeep to bring in supplies. Water to be obtained from well. Quiet night.
Place: Brize Norton
NORMAL ROUTINE
21st September 1944
Place: Brize Norton
NORMAL ROUTINE
Place: Arnhem
Heavy mortaring and "moaning minnies" in morning. Sgts. Andrews and Raggett killed. Capt. Low, S/Sgt. Watt, Sgt. McCarthy, Sgt. Consterdine wounded. All by Mortar burst. Wounded taken to M.D.S. by S.S.M. Watt. All trenches covered by overhead protection. In afternoon loudspeaker on our front called on us to surrender and mentioned Lt. Col. McCardie's name. We replied with Bren Gun fire. Staff car smashed by Mortar fire. Sgts. Andrews and Raggett buried.
22nd September 1944
Place: Arnhem
Heavy Mortaring and Shelling in morning. Supplies dropped in evening. Rocket Typhoons attacked enemy.
Place: Brize Norton
Capt. Tallantyre and 11 Glider Pilots arrived at Brize Norton.
23rd September 1944
Place: Arnhem
Very heavy mortaring and shelling for four hours continuously. Jeep set on fire. Several dug outs blown in. No one injured. Each section in turn has been occupying house outside our perimeter. S/Sgt. Thomson's Section now occupies the house by Major Wilson's H.Q. S/Sgt. Thomson wounded by Mortar fire in getting to position. S/Sgt. Baldwin taken over. Still no definite news of Troops crossing the river other than a few Poles. Water getting very scarce but still obtainable from well.
Place: Brize Norton
H.M. Queen Mary visited Brize Norton Aerodrome. Gliders under command of Capt. Tallantyre carried out Demonstration landing. Lieut. Palmer reported for duty as Admin Officer vice Lieut. Futter, absent on Operation "MARKET. S/Sgt. Baavke returned to Base from Operation "MARKET", having forced landed in Channel. S/Sgt. Goldsack and Sgt. Foster returned to Base from Operation "MARKET" having forced landed behind enemy lines and been assisted in their escape by the Dutch Resistance Movement.
24th September 1944
Place: Arnhem
Shelling and Mortaring very heavy. More trenches blown in. P.I.A.T. smashed by Mortar fire. Major Toler takes over No.1 Wing vice Lt. Col. Murray commanding 4th Para Bde. vice Brig. Hatchett. Very heavy mortaring and shelling of Div. H.Q. Wood on South of our position vacated by Bde. H.Q. without informing us. Enemy infiltrate into this wood.
Place: Brize Norton
S/Sgt. Goldsack and Sgt. Foster proceeded to Moor Park for interview by Col. Baird, H.Q. Airborne Forces, relative their recent escape.
25th September 1944
Place: Arnhem
Shelling and Mortaring not so heavy. S/Sgt. Baker killed by bullet. S/Sgt. Gowen wounded by splinter through roof of dug out. Order for withdrawal at 1300 hours. 20 Flight to withdraw with Div. H.Q. Section under Major Wilson. Remainder of "B" Squadron at Lt. Rgt. position under command of Lt. Rgt. R.A. Withdrawal to start at 2045. S.S.M. Watt, Capt. Priest, Lieut. Futter, to arrange piquets on Eastern route to river. All quiet at start. Very heavy automatic fire in wood South of Division probably for diversion by 30 cwts. Very wet and dark night. Route to river O.K. Everyone bunched at last hedgerow by river and enemy put three Mortars in centre of bunch causing many casualties. Boats commenced ferrying and several were sunk and occupants drowned, carrying heavy equipment. After crossing the river Flight R.V. at DRIEL with no further casualties other than S/Sgt. Norris who was taken to R.A.P. on S. side of the river.
Place: Brize Norton
1400 - 8 crews of Capt. Tallantyre's Flight proceeded to TARRANT RUSHTON.
26th September 1944
Place: Nijmegen
At NIJMEGEN. Joined up with Seatail.
Place: Brize Norton
Lieut. Howarth (Yorks and Lancs Regt) reported for duty as A/Adjt. Advance party proceeded to R.A.F. Station, Earls Colne, party consisted of: Sgt. Roberts, (i/c) L/C. Macilquham (Clerk), Tpr. Hayward (D.R.), Tpr. Webber, Tpr. Adams, Tpr. Hollis (all G.D.)
27th September 1944
Place: Nijmegen
At NIJMEGEN.
Place: Brize Norton
S/Sgt. Harrison W.F. and S/Sgt Cotterill reported back to Base from Operation "MARKET" (ex ARNHEM).
28th September 1944
Place: Louvain
Squadron embussed in R.A.S.C. transport for Brussels. On passing through the "corridor" N. of EINDHOVEN, enemy burst through within 100 yds. Spent night at Barracks at LOUVAIN.
Place: Brize Norton
Moving of stores etc, to Earls Colne.
29th September 1944
Place: Brize Norton
In transport to Brussels airfield. Emplaned in Dakota of 9th T.C.C. landed at LYMPNE due to bad weather. Took off after lunch and landed at RAMSBURY. Transport from Brize Norton to take us to base.
1900 - Major Toler, Lieuts. Futter and Norton and 54 N.C.O's. of Squadron arrived from ARNHEM, having been landed at RAMSBURY and been collected by M.T. from that 'drome.
30th September 1944
Place: Brize Norton
Debriefing of personnel ex ARNHEM carried out by Major Toler and Lieut. Norton.
