It is now necessary to recount the activities of the 1st Polish Parachute Brigade Group. Its anti-tank battery had
landed in gliders in the midst of the battle on the 18th and 19th September and been absorbed into the Division.
Because of the altered course of the events, the Brigade itself could not be dropped on the 19th September as planned.
It was clear also that it could not carry out its original task of landing south of the main Arnhem bridge, crossing it
and occupying a position east of Arnhem. A dropping zone was therefore selected for the Poles east and north-east of
Driel on which they landed on the evening of 21st September with the task of holding a firm bridgehead on the south bank
of the river in that area. That night their patrols found that the Heveadorp ferry had been sunk and that the north bank
of the river at that point was in enemy hands, Meantime during the 20th and 21st enemy attacks on the Divisional perimeter
had been continuous and the whole area was being submitted to an intense bombardment by every kind of shell, mortar and
bomb the enemy possessed. Hand to hand fighting with enemy infantry and close range engagements with enemy gun and
flamethrowing tanks were frequent occurrences. It was imperative that if the British Second Army were to take advantage
of this small remaining bridgehead on the north bank of the river they should do so immediately. Reinforcement of the
perimeter was also essential if it was to remain of sufficient size to cover a crossing of the river in force.
However it was only by the night of 20th September that a gallant operation by the
British Guards Armoured Division and the American 82nd Airborne Division had succeeded in capturing the bridge at Nymegen,
and despite all efforts made it was not until the evening of the 23rd September that the 43rd British Infantry
Division succeeded in reaching the south bank of the river west of Driel in force. They were too late for any major
crossing to be attempted that night.
Nevertheless efforts had been made on the night of the 22nd September to get as many of the Polish Parachute Brigade
as possible across the river from south to north. As a result of enemy action and a shortage of boats or rafts only
some 50 men got over. The following night the Polish Parachute Brigade again tried to cross the river in force and,
after many casualties, they ferried over a further 200 officers and men. On the nigth of the 24th September the 4th
Battalion The Dorset Regiment of the 43rd British Infantry Division made a very gallant attempt to cross the river led
by their Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel G. Tilly. The landings were very scattered owing to enemy fire and the
swift river current, and the battalion was never able to concentrate on landing. This was, however, a very brave and
determined effort to come to the rescue of the 1st Airborne Division.
By the morning of the 25th September it was clear to General Urquhart, the landings during the previous night having
failed, that heavy casualties, fatigue, and lack of ammunition, food and water were exercising an increasing effect
on the defenders of the perimeter and that further strong enemy offensive action might cause its defences to
disintegrate. It was at this time that a message was received from 2nd Army stating the possibility of the withdrawal
of the lst Airborne Division southwards across the river. General Urquhart immediately replied that if this withdrawal
was to be carried out, it must be done on the night of the 25th September and no later. A signal confirming that the
withdrawal would be that night was soon after received.
This was all they
had for crossing.
Enemy action during the 25th September was fortunately less intense than on previous days, and by ten o'clock that
night the withdrawal began in a storm of wind and rain and strong artillery and machinegun support from the south bank
of the river, which all helped to deaden sounds of movement. By dawn on the morning of the 26th approximately 1700
men of the 1st Airborne Division together with about 420 pilots had been ferried across
the river, 300 men remaining on the north bank, all who could swim having already done so.
These were all that remained from a force of 10.000 men.