Market Garden day 7, 8 and 9

[Joris]

A lot has happened since the last update, unfortunantly I wasn't able to write it down because I was away on a mission.

 

September 22nd:

Two troops of the 2nd Household Cavalry, 43rd Wessex Division, XXX corps reaches Driel by using small roads, bypassing the German positions at Oosterhout. The last link has finally been established, although they were still on the south side of the Rhine. In the evening more troops arrived from XXXcorps, 5 DCLI with troops, tanks and DUKWs filled with supplies for the 1st Airborne division fighting in Oosterbeek in the so called "dash for Driel".

 

Plans are made immediately to reinforce the besieged troops and deliver the supplies. Unfortunately not much comes of this, the Poles have hardly any boats, the DUKWs get stuck before they reach the Rhine. On top of that, the crossing site is under constant German fire comming from the Westerbouwing Heights. Eventually only 50 poles manage to get across the Rhine and get into the perimeter. The Brits at Oosterbeek would have to do another 24hrs on their own.

 

Early in the morning near Veghel, disaster strikes when the Germans with the 1/22 SS Panzer Grenadiers supported by Panthers, Tigers and self propelled guns manage to block the corridor between Veghel and Uden.

 

September 23rd:

The Airbornes are hard pressed around the perimeter at Oosterbeek, the Germans use heavy artillery and snipers combined with sharp attacks backed by armour to try and cut the perimeter in two. The Brits and Poles have a huge shortage of food, water, medicine and ammunition due to the fact that most of the supplies dropped fall into enemy hands. Only the long range artillery fire from XXX corps keeps the perimeter intact. It's uncertain how long the perimiter can hold out.

 

Another attempt was made to ferry the polish paratroopers across the Rhine, followed by 5 Dorset and 7 Hampshire of the 43rd Wessex division. However there are only 16 boats available and just 250 Poles managed to get across and into the perimiter, the Dorsets and Hampshires can do nothing but wait and never even got close to the boats. During the crossing the Poles susstain very heavy casulaties.

 

Late in the afternoon the allies manage to reopen the corridor at Veghel, persistent attacks from the 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne and the 44 Royal Tank Regmiment of 32 Guards brigade manage to break up the blockade.

 

September 24th:

In a final attempt to reinforce the Perimeter and secure a crossing site the 4th Dorsets cross the Rhine at night. Their main objective is to secure the Westerbouwing Heights so that future reinforcements can be brought in without being under constant German fire. Unfortunately there are too few boats to make a crossing in force and because of the fast flowing Rhine the Dorsets land widely dispersed and are destroyed by the Germans. Only a very small number of Dorsets reach the perimeter, the rest are all taken prisoner.

 

In the evening the corridor is again blocked by the Germans at Eerde near Veghel. This is the death stroke of the operation and the order is given to evacuate the forces north of the Rhine.

 

September 25th:

 

All day preparations are being made for the evacuation which takes place tonight. They plan to take only the walking wounded with them, the rest will have to be left behind. The medical staff volunteered to stay behind to take care of the wounded. Now lets hope the Germans won't notice what's going on.

[Joris]

Last one...

[LeeEnfield]

Joris,

Your a STAR, for posting these entrys.

 

Very Many Thanks.

 

Andy