War Diary: 1 Wing Glider Pilot Regiment - 1 Wing

Month and year: September 1944

During the 1 Wing Glider Pilot Regiment September 1944 war diary the unit takes part in operation Market Garden flying personnel in gliders.

National Archive Reference: WO 171/1234

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Page 1 of 21

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Base	1 Sep 44		Loading commenced for Operation 'LINNET'.
	2 Sep 44		Flight planned for Operation 'LINNET' altered. Squadron Commanders and
			Intelligence officers informed.
	"	2130	Operation 'LINNET' cancelled.
	3 Sep 44		All maps concerning previous Operations returned to 'T' Depot, Newbury.
	14 Sep 44		Letter re Destruction of all matter concerning Top Secret documents
			of previous operations forwarded to all Squadrons.

Page 2 of 21

Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
Base	3 Sep 44	2130	Squadron Commanders and Intelligence officers briefed for operation
			concerning MAASTRIGHT area.
	4 Sep 44	0030	Operation cancelled.
			Squadron Commanders briefed for Operation 'COMET'.
	7 Sep 44		Operation 'COMET' postponed 24 hours.
	8 Sep 44		Operation 'COMET' postponed 24 hours.
	9 Sep 44		Operation 'COMET' postponed 48 hours.
	11 Sep 44		Operation 'COMET' cancelled.
	14 Sep 44		Operation 'MARKET' planned.
	17 Sep 44	0730	Weather cloudy.
	"	0900	Stood by Gliders.
	"	1000	Personnel seated in Gliders, ready for take-off.
	"	1025	First Glider away. The Commanding Officer carrying the Divisional
			Commander and his Staff.

Page 3 of 21

Date	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
12 Sep 44	Operation 'MARKET' - 1 Airborne Div. Op Instr. No.9.	"A"
14 Sep 44	Operation 'MARKET' - H.Q. Commander Glider Pilots Op. Instr. No.1.	"B"
15 Sep 44	Operation 'MARKET' - Commander Glider Pilots Op. Instr. No.2.	"C"
15 Sep 44	Operation 'MARKET' - Amendt. No.1 to Commander Glider Pilots Op. Instr. No.1.	"D"
12 Sep 44	Information from Northern Group of Armies, Second Army and 30 Corps.	"E"
13 Sep 44	1 Airborne Div. Op. Instr. No. 10.	"F"
-	Resistance in Holland.	"G"

Page 4 of 21

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
17 Sep 44	1100	Fying in cloud, there are streams of Gliders on either side, above and
		below.
"	1230	Everything, so for, going smoothly, no sign of enemy fighters.
"	1320	Flak seen bursting away on starboard.
"	1330	Start unloading Gliders, no enemy about, everything quiet on L.Z.
"	1350	First Paratroops dropped from Dakotas.
"	1400	Sky is now full of Paratroops. Five of enemy come out to surrender,
		being without arms.
"	1415	Rendezvous at Divisional Headquarter without any interference from enemy.
"	1500	Wing Headquarters take up defensive position near Asylum,
"	1605	Rescue Parties go out to the crashed Gliders to extricate personnel trapped.
"	1630	The enemy send over mortar fire.
	1730	The Divisional Commander decides to move out of the present area, owing to
		danger of the woods catching fire.
"	1745	Start digging in, form a laager around Divisional Headquarters.

Page 5 of 21

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
17 Sep 44	1805	Stand-to. Fairly quiet night, firing in the distance in the direction of
		ARNHEM. Weather throughout the day, warm and fine,
18 Sep 44	0530	Stand-to.
"	0700	Move to new position astride the road at KASTEEL WNG???,
"	0805	Weather, Warm and many.
"	0900	Casualties coming in from the direction of ARNHEM. Heavy small arms and
		automatic firing coming from the direction of ARNHEM.
"	1105	Enemy aircraft overhead, recognised as F.W.190's. They start to shoot-up
		L.Zs. and stay over our area for about 10 minutes. No casualties as far
		as can be ascertained,
"	1210	The Padre reports to Wing Headquarters, that when the F.W's shot-up the
		L.Z. they set fire to a number of Gliders and also a farm near the L.Z.
"	1400	At present no sign of second lift.
"	1500	Friendly fighters over our area, Mustangs, Thunderbolts and spitfires.
"	1502	Second lift passing over, flak bursting, no gliders seem to be hit.

Page 6 of 21

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
18 Sep 44	1515	Dakotas and Stirlings dropping supplies, success of drop unknown.
"	1525	Organised parties are sent out to gather in the supplies.
"	1540	Major Royle sniped at. A search is organised to seek out the sniper.
"	1600	Move farther along the ARNHEM-UTRECHT road towards ARNHEM.
"	1610	Take over hotel HARTENSPEIN as headquarters, it is about three kilometers
		from ARNHEM. The night is fairly quiet, only spasmodic firing in the
		distance. Weather throughout the day, fine, warm and sunny.
19 Sep 44	0550	Stand-to.
"	0630	Stand-down.
"	0930	No.2 Wing make contact with this H.Q., Lieut-Colonel Place coming over
		himself.
"	1100	Enemy aircraft overheard, F,W. 190's start shooting-up our area, staying for
		about ten minutes, no sign of our own fighters.
"	1115	Message received from Divisional Headquarters stating that armour had
		reached GRAVE at 190900.

Page 7 of 21

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
19 Sep 44	1205	Massage sent to all Squadrons and Flights regarding A.A. fire, being a
		waste of ammunition.
"	1430	Enemy aircraft overheard, again F.W. 190's, Shooting-up our positions only
		staying for about ten minutes.
	1520	Third lift passing over the Headquarters, Flak very heavy. Two Stirlings
		and three Dakotan are hit and soon burning. Three of the Crew seen baling-
		out of the Stirling,
"	1640	Food supplies are now low, ono box of Compo rations now issued for 80 men.
"	1905	Stand-to.
		Weather, been very sunny.
20 Sep 44	0105	stand to.
	0110	Our guns opened on enemy positions.
	0605	Captain FLETCHER and Lieut BOTTOMLEY as one party, Captain TAITT and Sgt
		STRAITER as another, out on patrol.

Page 8 of 21

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
20 Sep 44	0610	Commanding Officer out on recce,
	0715	Commanding Officer returns from recce.
	0870	Commanding Officer attends G.O.Cs, Conference,
	0825	Commanding officer reports back from the Conference and states that the
		general situation is good.
	0830	H.Q. comes under shell fire.
	0925	H.Q. still under heavy shell fire, fairly heavy casualties.
	0935	Stand-to.
	1130	Major Royle Captains Taitt, Ogilvie and Murdoch with two Sections out on
		patrol.
	1200	Patrol met with machine gun fire, Major Royle killed, Captain Ogilvie
		slightly wounded.
		A.F.W. 3010.C. not sent to Echelon as there is no means of contact.
	1230	Water supply is getting bad, no water coming through mains,
	1405	Mustangs and Thunderbolts flying over H.Q.

Page 9 of 21

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
20 Sep 44	1410	Supplies are being dropped.
	1650	Supplies aro still being dropped by single planes.
	1715	Supplies still beding dropped but mostly in enemy positions.
	1920	Stand-to.
		Weather continues to be sunny.
21 Sep 44	0500	Commanding Officer and Lieut. BOTTOMLEY out on patrol.
	0510	Stand-to.
	0512	Our guns commence firing at enemy positions.
	0630	H.Q. under mortar fire.
	0800	Commanding Officer attends G.O.C.s Conference.
	0905	Intermittent mortar fire.
	0922	Commanding Officer and Captain FLETCHER with a Section want out to take
		cross-roads by the M.D.S.
	0945	Heavy mortar fire Lieut. CHITTLEBURGH, 'D' Squadron, killed.
	1200	Commanding Officer and Captain FLETCHER return from patrol.

Page 10 of 21

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
21 Sep 44	1315	Lieut. BOTTOMLY with seven men and Lieut. FUTTER 'B' Squadron with seven
		men, out on a tank-hunting reconnaissance.
	1317	H.Q. again under heavy mortar five.
	1323	Our fighter aircraft pass over.
	1330	Casualties, as far as can be ascertained, are 9 killed, 15 wounded, but
		owing to Squadrons and Flights being split information is very hard to
		obtain.
	1340	Supplies being dropped mostly out of our area, flak.
	1440	Supplies being dropped again very little in our area.
	1505	Lieut. BOTTOMLEY returns from the reconnaissance.
	1600	Supplies being dropped but like the others very little lands in our area.
	1615	Lieut. STRATHEARN and Tpr. BUCKLY both of 'D' Squadron, go out to bring
		in Lieut. KERSHAW, 'D' Squadron, who has been wounded.
	1705	Lieut. FUTTER returns from tank-hunting patrol and reports that the enemy
		are running a propaganda wireless set calling on Division to surrender.

Page 11 of 21

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
21 Sep 44	1710	H.Q. again under mortar fire.
	1712	Polish Paratroops are dropping on the South side or the River.
	1730	Commanding Officer and Captain FLETCHER set out on visit to forward positions
		Commanding Officer sends out the following message:-
	1730	To all Squadron and Flight Commanders:-
		"Situation well in hand. Nine fire tasks given to 30 Corps Artillery to
		neutralise enemy fire. Guards Armoured Division trying to get up tonight
		but may not get through until morning. Supply drop successful. Local
		enemy opposition consists, few S.P. guns and quickly gathered units from
		50 different divisions. We are superior in numbers, Several S.P. guns
		have been knocked out in last twelve hours. Several Germans are
		surrendering along the River. The Poles have dropped. You are doing a
		splendid job, keep it up and most important, keep cheerful".
	1755	H.Q. under shell fire again.
	2025	Captain FLETCHER returns.

Page 12 of 21

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
21 Sep 44	2100	Commanding Officer to G.O.C's Conference.
	2115	H.Q. under mortar and shall fire.
		Night fairly quiet, weather misty during the morning, brightening up during
		the day.
22 Sep 44	0520	Stand-to.
	0522	Commanding Officer explains that the next 24 hours are critical as the
		Armoured Division is not expected today, and it is essential that our
		position in held.
	0535	Commanding Officer and Captain FLETCHER visit Sections.
	0545	H.Q. under shell and mortar fire.
	0555	G2, reports that the Poles are holding the ferry on the SOUTH side of the	GOT TO HERE
		River, We are not holding this side and view are not in enough strength to
		attack.
	0650	Commanding Officer and Captain FLETCHER return.

Page 13 of 21

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
22 Sep 44	0730	H.Q. under heavy shell and mortar fire,
	0900	H.Q. been under continuous heavy shell and mortar fire since 0600 hours.
	1040	Commanding officer, Captain TAITT and Lieuit. BOTTOMLEY want out to bury
		Major ROYLE.
	1045	Shell and mortar fire continuous, casualties are heavy.
	1120	Major TOLEP, 'B' Squadron, Captain OGILVIE and Lieut. 'D'
		Squadron, reported.
	1130	Message received from Intelligence stating that the 43rd Division attacked
		ARNHEM at 1000 hours and that the Household Cavalry had linked up with the
		Poles.
	1140	Captain FLETCHER set out with a Sgt. from No.2 wing to our House where there
		are a number of men without an officer.
	1150	Commanding Officer sends out the following message to all Squadrons and
		Flights.

Page 14 of 21

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
22 Sep 44		"43 Div. attacking main bridge, ARNHEM on Two Brigade front, 1000 hours.
		2nd Household Cavalry contacted Polish Para. Bde".
	1215	H.Q. again under heavy fire, one shell bursting in an adjoining room
		causing damage.
	1245	Commanding Officer Goes out visiting sections. The whole of our area is
		under heavy shell and mortar fire.
	1400	Captain FLETCHER reports back.
	1515	Commanding Officer returns.
	1715	H.Q. under shell and mortar fire again.
	1800	Stand-to.
	1815	H.Q. still being subjected to shell fire.
	1825	Position much the same, no supplies were dropped today.
	1835	Captain PRIEST and Lieut. BEWLEY 'G' Squadron, report that although they
		have been subjected to shell and mortar fire, Local movement is quiet.

Page 15 of 21

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
22 Sep 44	1840	Sgt. STREETER nota out to give Commanders the password for the following day.
	1950	Sgt. STREETER returns.
	1955	Mortar fire has started again.
	2005	Counter battery fire by our guns.
		Weather misty in morning, brightening during the day
23 Sep 44	0415	H.Q. under shell fire.
	0525	Stand-to.
	0550	Commanding Officer and Lieut. BOTTOMLEY sot out on visit to Sections.
	0700	Weather bad, pouring with rain.
	1040	H.Q. been under very heavy shell fire and mortar fire since 0800 hours,
	1145	Still under heavy fire, Shrapnel in Wing H.Q. Office.
	1205	Our casualties are heavy and supplies are low.
	1310	H.Q. still subjected to heavy shell and mortar fire,
	1325	Captain BARCLAY reports that his Section has been under heavy fire all

Page 16 of 21

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
23 Sep 44		morning and he has a number of casualties within his Section.
	1342	Lieut. STEATHWARN reports that his section has been under continuous shell
		and mortar fire since 0700 hours.
	1600	Supplies dropped from Dakotas most of them fell outside of our area. Very
		little Flack. One Dakota seen to go down in flames, crew baled out.
	1615	Mustangs and Thunderbolts circling our area, No Flak. Mortars still
		firing on Divisional Headquarters. The only time our fighter aircraft
		are seen in this area is when supplies are being dropped.
	1630	Heavy mortar firing, H.Q. receives direct hits.
	1715	Snipers are firing into the entrance of H.Q.
	1820	Stand-to.
		weather, fine.
24 Sep 44	0530	Stand-to.
		Weather, fine and close.
	0600	Commanding Officer informs us that 50 Poles were able to cross the River

Page 17 of 21

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
24 Sep 44		during the night.
	0700	H.Q. under heavy shell fire.
	0730	Ammunition dump hit by shell fire.
	0800	M.E. 109's shoot up H.Q. area.
	1000	M.E. 109's over our area again, shooting up targets, no sign of any of our
		fighter aircraft.
	1200	Change in the weather, it is NOW. raining.
	1230	Typhoons fly over our area.
	1500	M.E. 109's flying over our area and shooting up our gun emplacements.
	1635	Air battle between Spitfires and M.E. 109's. 3 M.E.s. shot down.
	1705	Havocs bomb ARNHEM area.
	1820	Typhoons shooting up enemy positions.
		Night fairly quiet, occasional mortar fire,
25 Sep 44	0515	Stand-to.
	0530	SOUTH-EAST area of H.Q. under heavy shell fire and mortar fire.

Page 18 of 21

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
25 Sep 44	0615	Weather is bad, it is raining very hard.
	0805	H.Q. under heavy mortar and shell Fire.
	0830	Commanding Office takes over Command of 4 Para. Bde.
		Brigadier Hackett being wounded.
	0935	M.E. 109' shooting up our area.
	0950	More M.E. 109's shooting up our positions.
	0955	Major Roler BR Squadron takes over Command of No.1 wing.
	1000	A further 90 Poles have pressed the previous night from the SOUTH bank of
		the River, it was decided to reinforce the NORTH-EAST corner of the
		Perimeter, up to now held by Glider Pilots, with these troops. Guided to
		this position by Lieut. BOTTOMLEY and Sgt. STREETER, whole party immobilised
		in houses by heavy machine gun fire. Polish Commanding Officer killed and
		one other rank wounded. Have successfully completed under cover of
		darkness later in the day.
	1100	H.Q. again under heavy shell fire.

Page 19 of 21

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
25 Sep 44	1130	Ammunition dump set on fire by enemy shelling.
	1245	H.Q. under continuous shell and mortar fire.
	1600	Plans made for general evacuation of area.
	2030	Wing H.Q. party leave Divisional H.Q. to proceed to the NORTH bank of the
		RHINE.
	2100	Everything going smoothly, no encounters with enemy troops, it is pouring
		with rain.
	2105	Heavy shelling by 30 Corps Artillery from the SOUTH bank of the RHINE, on
		enemy positions.
	2120	Column under machine gun and mortar fire.
	2135	Column is broken by another party converging on us.
	2205	Bank of the RHINE reached, awaiting for the boats to cross.
	2215	Mortar fire along the banks of the River, some casualties.
		Boat loads of men getting safely across.
	2230	The an any still mortaring along the NORTH Bank of the River.

Page 20 of 21

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
25 Sep 44		Evacuation continues throughout the night.
26 Sep 44	0100	Reached a Sorting Centre, everybody given hot-food and drink.
	0130	Transported in "Ducks" and Jeeps to Rest Centre in NIJMEGEN.
	0730	Hostel in NIJMEGEN where some of the Division are resting is bombed by
		enemy fighter-bombers.
		Enemy aircraft over NIJMEGEN at frequent intervals throughout the day.
		Heavy A.A. fire.
	1640	Move to now barracks in NIJMEGEN.
		Heavy A.A. fire heard at frequent intervals throughout the night.
27 Sep 44	1000	Advance party leaves NIJMEGEN for GRAVE to emplane for the United Kingdom.
	1425	Emplaned in Dakota for Brussels.
	1505	Disemplaned at BRUSSELS.
	1610	Emplaned in Dakota for UNITED KINGDOM.
	1911	Disemplaned at HARWELL in the UNITED KINGDOM.

Page 21 of 21

Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information
29 Sep 44	0700	Main Party leaves NIJMEGEN for LOUVAIN and stays for one night.
30 Sep 44	0900	Party leaves LOUVAIN for BRUSSELS Aerodrome.
	1100	Emplane at BRUSSELS for RAMSBURY Aerodrome in the United Kingdom.
	1230	Forced landed at LYMPH Aerodrome, DOVER, due to bad weather.
	1430	Emplaned at LYMH for RAMSHURY.
		From RAMSBURY, Squadrons were taken to their own Stations by transport
		All men from ARNHEM granted 14 days special leave.

		Casualties sustained by Wing H.Qrs. during Operation 'MARKET' - 66172
		Major J.P. Royle (Killed),175561 Rev. G.A. Pare (Missing, believed P.O.W.),
		6843827 RSM. Bayford, G. (Missing).

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War Diary: 1 Wing Glider Pilot Regiment - 1 Wing

Month and year: September 1944

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