19th September 1944

War Diary of H.Q., 1 Airborne Division

Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information
ARNHEM 19 Sep 0725 GOC returns from 1 Para Bde – reported that Brig. LATHBURY, Comd 1 Para Bde, was wounded and being taken care of in a private house near br 7377.
19 “ 0845 CRA & GSO.1 visit 4 Para Bde, whose task for the day is to occupy high ground at KOEPE 7179. Comd 4 Para Bde reports that KOSB who had been directed on LICHTENBEEK 7079, had been unable to adv beyond rd about 701798 and had been withdrawn to JOHANNA HOEVE 6980. 156 Bn were about to attack LICHTENBEEK again with 10 Bn on their left directed on rd junc 703803. At this time 7 KOSB was under command 4 Para Bde.
19 “ 0900 Recce and RA reports indicate enemy concentration in woods North of LZ ‘B’ HEELSUM 6477, NOERDBERG 6476, DOORWERTH 6574 and RENKUM 6276.
19 “ 1015 Report received that own armour has reached GRAVE 190900.
19 “ 1115 2 S.Staffords report they have reached 733781 but were being heavily mortared and shelled and suffered casualties.
19 “ 1155 Recce Sqn received report from civilian sources that 100 enemy tks were arriving in ARNHEM and APELDOORN.
19 “ 1215 HQ, RA report that a FOO was on North end of br 7476 and that he had reported that 2 S.Staffords and 11 Bn were held up on rd at 733781.
19 “ 1325 Report from RA that remains of 2 and 3 Para Bns with HQ 1 Para Bde were established at North end of br 7476 and that Lt. Col. FROST, OC 2 Para Bn was in comd.
19 “ 1330 GOC left, arrived 4 Bde 1400 hrs about pt 281, 68202 and informed Comd 4 Para Bde that 4 Para Bde less 11 Bn and 7 KOSB was to disengage, move inside the main divisional posn and to occupy a posn on the line rd and ry crossings 712784, 715780 and 712774, so as to protect the Div from attack from the EAST: later, if possible, 4 Para Bde should make contact with 11 Para Bn and occupy high ground North of ry 7178. 4 Bde HQ now 674799.
19 “ 1500 4 Para Bde started to try and disengage in order to implement this plan.
19 “ 1510 2 S Staffords report ry br 7076 down and some tps advance from ARNHEM.
19 “ 1545 21 Indep Para Coy report their location unchanged at 693793
19 “ 1630 Re-supply dropped on pre-arranged SDP ‘V’, which was in enemy hands. Yellow smoke, yellow triangles and every conceivable means were used to attract attention of pilots and get them to drop supplies within our lines; this had very limited success. Glider element of Polish Para Bde landed on LZ ‘L’ but was very heavily opposed from ground and air and suffered severe casualties.
19 “ 1900 4 Para Bde report unable to disengage at 1925 hrs. Reported that they had moved SOUTH of ry and met further opposition there, which would prevent movement during darkness.
19 “ 2215 POW taken by 4 Para Bde reports possible attack by two coys about 0300 hrs.
19 “ 2315 HQ 1 A/L Bde report composition of force 2 S Staffords area as being 11 Para Bn 150, 2 S Staffords 100, Glider Pilots 30, 3 Para Bn 40, 1 Para Bn 116, also two F.O. Os.
19 “ 2330 4 Para Bde able to move Bde H.Q. and 156 Bn to pre-arranged area, but out of touch with 10 Bn. G.O.C. agreed to move.