A Bridge Too Far

by Martin Bowman

  ‘We were to cross in two waves’ recalled Major Bill Whittle: ‘first ‘A’ Company right and my ‘B’ Company left and in the second wave ‘C’ and ‘D’ Companies. Finally the boats turned up, ‘B’ Company had ten with no paddles! We set off through the orchards to the river 600 yards ahead, along a white tape laid by the Intelligence section. There was heavy machine-gun fire, mostly on fixed lines and some mortar fire and three of my boats were holed before we got to the river. We launched the others, but with only entrenching tools, rifle butts and hands acting as paddles it was difficult going. The darkness, enemy fire and the swift current separated the boats and only four landed with me. Two others were sunk and one was swept downstream. I gathered the thirty-two men that were left and charged across the road and up the steep wooded slope. We reached the top and took over the enemy trenches.’

  Sergeant Frederick John Petrie of the 553rd Field Company, 43rd (Wessex) Division took the first boat across the river on the 4th Dorset front. During the bridging of the River Seine at Vernon on 26 August he had gone out on to the half completed bridge to bring in a wounded officer although the bridge was under heavy aimed small arms fire at the time. This time the position of the enemy was known because of fire coming from the far bank and the boat itself came under machine gun fire. Only two men were found and these were brought off. Later Sergeant Petrie volunteered to take another boat over although it seemed fairly certain that the enemy were in strength on the far bank. On another occasion when his platoon was working on the routes and crossings over the River Odon and they were under frequent and heavy mortar fire, Sergeant Petrie was always out with his men and his encouragement of them aided considerably to the success of their part in the operation. For his example and fortitude both under fire and at all times Petrie was awarded the Military Medal.

  ‘Eddie’ Myers had volunteered to guide an RASC Company with DUKWs loaded with urgently needed supplies for the division. ‘They were to cross the river at the ferry site after the Dorsets’ he recalled ‘and as soon as the north exit was captured they would move into the perimeter. But as dawn approached this exit was still held by the enemy, so I ordered the DUKWs to cross and to shelter under the steep banks downstream of the ferry until it got light. I jumped on the third DUKW and we got across safely, but no more followed. As I carried vitally important orders and messages for General Urquhart.4

  Attempts to launch the amphibious vehicles laden with stores and ammunition proved virtually impossible as the ground at this point was most unsuitable. The DUKWs slithered off the road into the dyke and not one was successfully launched but the elements of four companies were ferried across during the night. The landing, however, directly amongst the German positions on the far bank, was a complete disaster and they were at once pinned down by heavy fire. Major Philip Roper, commanding ‘C’ Company, recalled: ‘Whilst waiting for the boats I took refuge in a deserted house and with me was Lieutenant Colonel Tommy Haddon, CO of the Borders, whose glider had twice been forced down and he was at last trying to rejoin his battalion in the perimeter. My company crossed in the second lift. At first the boats were swept downstream by the current, so I ordered them to be taken upstream and re-launched, which finally enabled us to land on the far bank at almost the right place. On the other side I collected 20 men and we fought our way up a steep slope, where we met our CO. We dug in quickly as the enemy engaged us closely. Daylight found us completely surrounded and we were forced to surrender.’ 5

  Very few Dorsets reached the 1st Airborne. Of 315 men that embarked to cross the river, less than half were able to form up as fighting groups. Major Bill Whittle had reached Westerbouwing Hill and was joined by the CO and Major Raper but they soon made off for ‘C’ Company’s objective - the road to the north. They sought to move to higher ground immediately above the river bank and not far from Oosterbeek, but to reach it they had to climb a slope of sixty degrees. The platoon in the van was led by Lieutenant Colonel Gerald Tilley. He was last heard shouting ‘There they are! Get at them with the bayonet!’ Tilley also was captured with most of his men. ‘After a while’ says Whittle ‘I set off to find ‘A’ Company to the right, but kept bumping into enemy positions; so at light I returned to our landing point and called in what was left of my company and with some others, thirty in all, we dug in between the road and the river bank. There were sunken or damaged assault boats in the water and two submerged DUKWs. We stayed in this position all day and were continually sniped at and machine gunned. A German officer tried to make us surrender. We were strafed by two Spitfires. After dark German patrols became very active and one group infiltrated along the river behind us. One of my soldiers, a strong swimmer, swam across to get further orders, but after several hours, when he had not returned, I decided to withdraw over the river. We had found a couple of usable boats and the wounded and non-swimmers crossed in these; when I felt they were in midstream the rest of us swam across.’

  No more than 75 men of the Dorsets got back across the river. Altogether, 213 men had been lost, killed, drowned or captured in a most gallant but largely fruitless effort. Passing through German positions had proved to be impossible and Tommy Haddon, who had survived two forced landings in his glider on two consecutive days in England and Belgium before crossing the river with the Dorsets to rejoin his battalion, was captured before he could reach his men. Haddon spent the remainder of the war interned at Oflag XIIB, near Hadamar.6

  Two tons of stores were taken over but lost. The three DUKWs were bogged. Two FOO parties of 112 Field Regiment crossed with the Dorsets. Captain Rose with his team joined up with RHQ of the Airlanding Light Regiment and through his wireless link he was able to call for close support from his divisional artillery on to targets around the perimeter and inside it, especially during the German breakthrough towards Oosterbeek church on the Monday morning. He was killed that night.

  ‘Eddie’ Myers had left the DUKW and waded upstream until he was below the perimeter. ‘From there’ he says ‘I made my way to Division HQ, which I reached at about 0600. I handed over the outline plan by HQ 43rd Division for our withdrawal across the river that night in boats manned by the 43rd Division and Canadian sappers. I reported that the Dorsets’ crossing had clearly failed to help us. It did not take him long to accept the plan and to decide that the withdrawal must take place this coming night.’

  Urquhart returned to the cellar at Headquarters and sent a message to Corps Headquarters.

  ‘I consider it unlikely that we can hold out any longer. All ranks are now completely exhausted as the result of eight days’ continuous effort. Lack of food and water and deficiency in arms combined with high officer casualties’ rate has had its effect. Even comparatively minor enemy offensive action may cause complete disintegration. Should this become apparent all will be told to break out, rather than surrender. Controlled movements from present position in face of enemy are out of the question. We have done our best and will continue to do our best as long as possible.’

  Half an hour later Urquhart told the signaller to call General Thomas. Soon after eight on this morning of Monday 25 September he was speaking to him. Outside the shelling had started again.

  ‘Operation Berlin’, Urquhart said, ‘must be tonight.’

  A Nijmegen street on 24 September with men of the 43rd Division commanded by Major General Ivor Thomas taking a rest. At this time and during the previous two days, the Division had been fighting on the road north of the Waal towards Arnhem and elements of it had succeeded in breaking through to the lower Rhine at Driel.

  Jeep ambulance carries out the wounded at Nijmegen.

  Halftrack of 9th SS Panzer Division on the Driejenseweg on 19 September.

  Polish parachutists dropping south of Nijmegen on 23 September.

  A German assault gun in Oosterbeek behind a used parachute.

  Soldiers of 101st Airborne take cover as a convoy of XXX Corps vehicles come under fire on ‘Hell’s Highway’ north of Eindhoven on Wednesday 20
September.

  A British casualty with a leg wound is brought out of one of the hotels used as a Main Dressing Station on a stretcher.

  Brigadier Lathbury who with his fellow officers and Dutch Resistance leaders, collected British evaders from their dispersed hides and passed them over the river to safety.

  Lieutenant General Ritchie commanding XII Corps (far left); Lieutenant General O’Connor, commanding VIII Corps; Major General D. A. H. Graham, commanding 50th (Northumbrian) Division; Lieutenant General Sir Miles ‘Bimbo’ Dempsey and General Montgomery (far right) review the situation map at the end of Operation ‘Market-Garden’ at Graham’s Divisional HQ near Best on Thursday 28 September. Despite the smiles, Monty recommended O’Connor’s replacement that night.

  Officers of 1st Polish Parachute Brigade, 1st Airborne Division and 43rd Division at General Stanislaw Sosabowski’s HQ east of Driel, probably on Saturday 23 September planning the river crossing by 4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment.

  Lieutenant Jack Reynolds sticks two fingers up at the German cameraman as he is marched off into captivity.

  British dead strewn along a street in Arnhem.

  British PoWs including a Glider Pilot with his arm in a sling after the Battle of Arnhem.

  Dejected British soldiers march off.

  Men of VIII Corps on 24 September taking a meal break during the attempt to shore up XXX Corps’ right flank.

  XXX Corps march up ‘Club Route’ behind the Guards Armoured Division. The gun on the left is a German 88mm.

  Two British soldiers who fell one on top of the other in death.

  The wrecked remains of the Johannahoeve.

  Major J. Anthony Cotterell, an Army Bureau of Current Affairs Staff Writer, which issued fortnightly ‘WAR’ bulletins to soldiers, seen here with Pilot Officer Bob Knights, pilot of the 619 Squadron Avro Lancaster that he flew on during a night raid on Frankfurt on 20 December 1943. During the ‘Market-Garden’ operation he was attached to 1 Airborne Division and he went in with the airborne forces at Arnhem. He was captured and was being taken into captivity on Saturday 23 September with other captured officers and men in an open lorry towards Munich when a guard in the truck opened fire after two men jumped off the tailgate attempting escape. Cotterell and five other men were killed. (via Hugh Trevor)

  Men of the Royal Army Service Corps resting after drinking some of the local Dutch beer.

  Members of E Company of 506th PIR in Eindhoven. (Pratt Museum, Fort Campbell, Kentucky).

  A Sherman tank passes the burnt out wreck of a German Panzer IV near Uden on 23 September.

  British columns moving across Nijmegen Bridge.

  American and British soldiers sharing their sweet ration with Dutch children.

  German infantry with a Self Propelled gun clearing houses near the Rhine Pavilion during the afternoon of 19 September.

  At the end of Market-Garden an Intelligence Officer of 1st Polish Brigade asks questions of his men while an officer of 1st British Airborne Division (right) listens.

  SS Soldiers during a lull in the battle in an Arnhem street.

  1 The other 17 aircraft gave up at Nijmegen, 15 of them dropping their supplies to the 82nd Division and two air-landing them at a newly discovered airstrip near Grave. All returned safely, but four had been damaged by flak. On 25 September the squadron of 46 Group at Brussels sent seven Dakotas with medical supplies and food over the southern route to a drop point at Heveadorp. One was shot down and three damaged by flak. At least six C-47s dropped their loads and four did so within sight of 1st Airborne, but the troops were so pinned down that they could not recover a single bundle. The resupply missions were protected by 60 Spitfires and 36 Mustangs of ADGB. These encountered about 50 enemy fighters near Arnhem and about 40 near Hengelo and claimed four destroyed at a cost of two Mustangs. Antiaircraft fire against the British missions was probably reduced by 7 Typhoons, 54 Mitchells and 24 Bostons of 2 T AF which were operating against enemy guns in the Arnhem area, primarily to ease the pressure on the airborne.

  2 In part, his Citation said: ‘In Holland on 19 September, Major Cain was commanding a rifle company of the South Staffordshire Regiment during the battle of Arnhem when his company was cut off from the rest of the battalion and during the next six days was closely engaged with enemy tanks, self-propelled guns and infantry. The Germans made repeated attempts to break into the company’s position by infiltration and had they succeeded in doing so the whole situation of the airborne troops would have been jeopardized. Major Cain, by his outstanding devotion to duty and remarkable powers of leadership, was to a large extent personally responsible for saving a vital sector from falling into the hands of the enemy. On 20 [sic, 21st] September a Tiger tank approached the area held by his company and Major Cain went out alone to deal with it armed with a PIAT. Taking up a position he held fire until the tank was only 20 yards away when he opened up. The tank immediately halted and turned its guns on him, shooting away a corner of the house near where this officer was lying. Although wounded by machine-gun bullets and falling masonry, Major Cain continued firing until he had scored several direct hits, immobilized the tank and supervised the bringing up of a 75mm howitzer which completely destroyed it. Only then would he consent to have his wounds dressed. The next morning this officer drove off three more tanks by the fearless use of his PIAT, on each occasion leaving cover and taking up position in open ground with complete disregard for his personal safety. During the following days, Major Cain was everywhere where danger threatened, moving amongst his men and encouraging them by his fearless example to hold out. He refused rest and medical attention in spite of the fact that his hearing had been seriously impaired because of a perforated eardrum and he was suffering from multiple wounds. On 25 September the enemy made a concerted attack on Major Cain’s position, using self-propelled guns, flame-throwers and infantry. By this time the last PIAT had been put out of action and Major Cain was armed with only a light 2-inch mortar. However, by skilful use of this weapon and his daring leadership of the few men still under his command, he completely demoralized the enemy who, after an engagement lasting more than three hours, withdrew in disorder. Throughout the whole course of the Battle of Arnhem, Major Cain showed superb gallantry. His powers of endurance and leadership were the admiration of all his fellow officers and stories of his valour were being constantly exchanged amongst the troops. His coolness and courage under incessant fire could not be surpassed.’

  Cain took part in Operation Doomsday on 11 May 1945, where the 1st Airborne Division oversaw the German surrender in Norway. Cain travelled to Oslo with the 1st Airlanding Brigade. Working with Milorg (the Norwegian resistance), the British took the surrender of German troops in Norway without incident, before returning to the UK on 25 August. Having remained in the service of the South Staffordshire Regiment, Cain officially relinquished his wartime commission on 28 December and was granted the honorary rank of Major. Upon leaving the army he went back to his pre-war occupation with Royal Dutch Shell, living in East Asia and then West Africa. In 1951 he was elected to the Nigerian House of Representatives while working there. He returned to Britain in 1965 and settled in the Isle of Man upon his retirement. Cain died of cancer on 2 May 1974 in Crowborough, Sussex. His daughter, Frances Catherine Cain, unveiled a set of commemorative coins honouring her father on the Isle of Man in 2006. She is also married to and acts as the agent for, TV and motoring journalist Jeremy Clarkson who presented a BBC documentary, The Victoria Cross: For Valour on Cain and other VC recipients in 2003. Frances was unaware of her father’s VC until after he died because, according to Clarkson, ‘he’d never thought to mention it’.

  3 Thanks are due to Marie Owen and Ian O’Rourke for this information.

  4 One was an out-of-date letter from Browning and the other a more recent one that he had memorised from Major General Thomas of the 43rd (Wessex) Division. Major Grafton of the Dorsets, carrying a duplicate set of the withdrawal plans, also managed to reach
the Division HQ at the Hartenstein.

  5 At 1330, at an ‘O’ Group at HQ Airlanding Brigade, Major Breese received orders for the withdrawal over the river that night. Breese force was to cover the withdrawal of the remnants of the division on the western flank and then be the last to withdraw. On the river bank as dawn broke on the next day Major Breese collected a few remaining wounded into the last boat; Sergeant Clark rallied the remainder and swam with them across the river.

  6 Upon repatriation, he returned to the Chief of Staff Committee and attended the Potsdam Conference in the latter half of July 1945; when Stalin, President Truman and Churchill (replaced midway by the new Prime Minister, Clement Attlee) met in Berlin to discuss how Germany should be governed. In 1948, he was reunited with the 1st Border, serving once more as Second-in-Command, who were stationed in Palestine but later moved to East Africa. In 1951 he was transferred back to the War Office in the Army Council Secretariat, before once more returning to the 1st Border as its commander for the second time in December 1955; stationed in Gottingen and Berlin as part of the British Army Of The Rhine. Under his leadership, the battalion was hailed as one of the finest in the British Army. Promoted to Brigadier in 1958, he was given the task of raising the Singapore Military Forces and subsequently became Chief of Staff, Hong Kong Land Forces. He was awarded an OBE in 1951 and a CBE in 1961 and he served as an aide-de-camp to the Queen from 1962 to 1968. A keen golfer and trout fisherman, much respected and described as a man of integrity, kindness and firm Christian beliefs, Haddon chaired a number of charitable organisations. He also remained very active with his Regiment and was made President of the Border Regiment Association in 1966 and Vice-President Border Affairs in the KORB Regimental Association in 1975. He died in 1993 aged 80.