1 Wing Glider Pilot Regiment - B Squadron War Diary: September 1944
The 1 Wing Glider Pilot Regiment B Squadron September 1944 war diary covers
the units time during Market Garden in the areas around Arnhem and Nijemen
National Archive Reference: WO 171/1234
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Page 1 of 11
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brize Norton | 1st | 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. | |||
| Brize Norton | 2nd | Operation "LINNET" postponed. | |
| Brize Norton | 3rd | 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. | |||
| Brize Norton | 4th | Move to MANSTON postponed on account of weather. | |
| Manston | 5th | 1500 | 1st Lift takes off for MANSTON in high wind. Only two combinations fail |
| to arrive. | |||
| Manston | 6th | 1030 | 2nd Lift arrive at MANSTON. Telephonic communication with base very |
| difficult. |
Page 2 of 11
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manston | 7th | Raining very heavily. Briefing for Operation "COMET" in station cinema. | |
| Roof of improvised "Ops" Room leaks. All troops very wet. Operation to | |||
| consist of landing 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 | |||
| succesive days entailing forced landings. His third effort was successful. | |||
| Manston | 8th | Operation "COMET" postponed 24 hours. | |
| Manston | 9th | Operation "COMET" postponed 48 hours. | |
| Manston | 10th | Operation "COMET" cancelled. | |
| Manston | 11th | Tugs and tug crews return to Brize Norton. Squadron liaise with Navy M.T.B's. | |
| and A. S. R's. at RAMSGATE. | |||
| Manston | 12th | Five conflicting orders received between 1.200 and 1600 hours regarding | |
| Glider unloading. | |||
| Manston | 13th | Gliders eventually unloaded. |
Page 3 of 11
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manston | 14th | Major Toler, Capt. Neale and Lieut. Barclay return to Brize Norton. | |
| Manston | 15th | 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. | |||
| Manston | 16th | Loading completed. Briefing for Operation "MARKET" | |
| Arnhem | 17th | 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 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 |
Page 4 of 11
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| at REIJERS CAMP. Quiet night after digging in. | |||
| Arnhem | 18th | 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 1st para Bn. with the | |||
| remainder of his men to act reserve and rearguard to 2 Coys. of S. Staffs. | |||
| After nightfall we move up the road by the river towards ARNHEM Bridge. | |||
| High ground on N. of this road held strongly by enemy. | |||
| Manston, | 18th | 0900 | Final briefing for 2nd Lift. |
| 1215 | 2nd Lift took off on Operation "MARKET". S/Sgt. Proctor forced landed near | ||
| ASHFORD, | |||
| Arnhem | 19th | 0300 | Lt. Col. McCardie decides to go for the bridge which he understands is held |
| by It.-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. |
Page 5 of 11
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arnhem | 19th | 300 | J.t. 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. withing house. Dug in. Slight shelling during night. Mad | |||
| woman runs through the position just after dusk, singing loudly. | |||
| Manston | 19th | Residue of "B" Squadron personnel at MANSTON return to Brize Norton, | |
| Arnhem | 20th | 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. Walchli. | |||
| S.S.M. watt obtains German Staff Car. |
Page 6 of 11
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arnhem | 20th | 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. | |||
| 20th | NORMAL ROUTINE | ||
| Norton | 21st | NORMAL ROUTINE | |
| Arnhem | 21st | 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. | |||
| Arnhem | 22nd | Heavy Mortaring and Shelling in morning. Supplies dropped in evening. |
Page 7 of 11
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arnhem | 22nd | Rocket Typhoons attacked enemy. | |
| Brize Norton | 22 | Capt. Tallantyre and 11 Glider Pilots arrived at Brize Norton, | |
| Arnhem | 23rd | 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 scarce but still obtainable from well. | |||
| Brize Norton | 23rd | 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 |
Page 8 of 11
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brize Norton | 23rd | 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. | |||
| Arnhem. | 24th | 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. | |||
| Brize | 24th | S/Sgt. Goldsack and Sgt. Foster proceeded to Moor park for interview by | |
| Norton | Col. Baird, H.Q. Airborne Forces, relative their recent escape. | ||
| Arnhem | 25th | 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 |
Page 9 of 11
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arnhem | 25th | 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. | |||
| Brize Norton | 25th | 1400 | 8 crews of Capt. Tallantyre's Flight proceeded to TARRANT RUSHTON. |
| Nijmegen. | 26th | At NIJMEGEN. Joined up with Seatail. | |
| Brize Norton | 26th | 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.) |
Page 10 of 11
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brize Norton | 26th | Tpr. Webber, Tpr. Adams, Tpr. Hollis (all G.D.). | |
| Nijmegen | 27th | At NIJMEGEN. | |
| Brize Norton | 27th | S/Sgt. Harrison W.F. and S/Sgt. Cotterill reported back to Base from | |
| Operation "MARKET" (ex ARNHEM) | |||
| Louvain | 28th | Squadron embussed in R,A.S.C. transport for Brussels. On passing | |
| through the "corridor" N. of EINDHOVEN, enemy burst through withing 100 yds. | |||
| Spent night at Barracks at LOUVAIN. | |||
| Brize Norton | 28th | Moving of Stores etc, to Earls Colne. | |
| Brize Norton | 29th | In transport to Brussels airfield. Emplaned in Dakota of 9th T.C.C. and | |
| 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. | |||
| Brize Norton | 30th | Debriefing of Personnel ex ARNHEM carried out by Major Toler and Lieut Norton. |
Page 11 of 11
| Place | Date | Hour | Summary of Events and Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brize Norton | 30 | 1600 | Personnel ex ARNHEM dispatched on 14 days leave. S/Sgt. Caunter arrived |
| ex ARNHEM, debriefed and sent on 14 day's leave. |
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