Order of Battle and Operational Details, 1st British Airborne Division and Attached Units.

Notes: Locations of UK bases for glider-borne units are their long-term ones, not the transit camps near airfields occupied just before Operation 'Market'. Details of airfields from which units flew may contain inaccuracies because loading lists for 'Market' are often those of Operations 'Linnet' or 'Comet' which were amended. Personnel statistics are the best available, often from conflicting sources, and usually include men who left England but did not arrive at Arnhem. 'Died' includes men who were killed in action or in battle atrocities or escape attempts immediately after the battle, and those who died of wounds up to the end of 1944. The 'missing' were mostly prisoners of war - many wounded - and some who subsequently returned as evaders.

1st British Airborne Division (Maj.-Gen. R. E. Urquhart, evader)

Divisional HQ and Defence Platoon Based at Fulbeck Hall. Flew in 7 C-47s from Barkston Heath and Saltby and 29 Horsas from Fairford, Down Ampney and Manston. Went in: 142 men; died: 14; evacuated: 70; missing: 58.

1st Parachute Brigade (Brig. G. W. Lathbury , wounded and evader)

Brigade HQ and Defence Platoon Based at Syston Old Hall. Flew in 9 C-47s from Barkston Heath and (believed) 8 Horsas from Blakehill Farm. Went in: 82 men; died: 5; evacuated: 3; missing: 74.

  • 1st Parachute Battalion (Lt-Col D. T. Dobie, taken prisoner but escaped and became evader)

    • Based at Grimsthorpe Castle and Bourne. Flew in 34 C-47s from Barkston Heath, vehicles in 7 Horsas from Keevil and a Hamilcar from Tarrant Rushton. Went in: 548 men; died: 82; evacuated:89 or 108 (reports differ); missing: 377 or 358.

  • 2nd Parachute Battalion (Lt-Col J. D. Frost, prisoner of war)

    • Based at Stoke Rochford and Grantham. Flew in 34 C-47s from Saltby, vehicles in gliders as 1st Battalion. Went in: 525 men; died: 57; evacuated: 16; missing: 452.

  • 3rd Parachute Battalion (Lt-Col J. A. C. Fitch, died of wounds)

    • Based at Spalding. Flew in as 2nd Battalion. Went in: 588 men; died: 65; evacuated: 28; missing: 495.

  • 1st Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery, RA (Maj. W. F. Arnold, prisoner of war)

    • Based at Heckington and Helpringham, with newly formed 17-pounder P Troop at Tarrant Rushton. Flew in 30 Horsas from Manston (mostly) and Blakehill Farm, 17-pounder troops in 8 Hamilcars from Tarrant Rushton. Went in: 191 men; died: 24; evacuated: 52; missing:115.

  • 1st parachute Squadron, RE (Maj. D.C. Murray, prisoner of war)

    • Based at Donnington. Flew in 9 C-47s from Barkston Heath and 4 Horsas from Keevil. Went in: 143 men; died: 20; evacuated: 13; missing: 110.

  • 16 Parachute Field Ambulance, RAMC (Lt-Col E. Townsend, prisoner war)

    • Based at Culverthorpe. Flew in 6 C-47s from Barkston Heath and Saltby and 6 Horsas from Keevil. Went in: 135 men; died: 6; probably none evacuated; missing: up to 129.

    1st Airlanding Brigade (Brig. R. H. W. Hicks)

    Brigade HQ and Defence Platoon Based at Woodhall Spa. Flew in 11 Horsas from Broadwell. Went in: 69 men; died: 7. evacuated: 39; missing: 23.

  • 7th (Galloway) King's Own Scottish Borderers (Lt-Col R. Payton-Reid, only battalion commander to return on the evacuation)

    • Based at Woodhall Spa. Flew in 56 Horsas from Down Ampney and Blakehill Farm and a Hamilcar from Tarrant Rushton. Went in: 765 men; died:112 ; evacuated: 76; missing: 577.

  • 1st Border (Lt-Col T. H. Haddon, taken prisoner while attempting to reach his battalion after his glider twice came down before reaching Arnhem)

    • Based at Woodhall Spa, B Company at Bardney. Flew in 56 Horsas from Broadwell and Blakehill Farm and a Hamilcar from Tarrant Rushton. Went in: 788 men; died: 121 (more than any other battalion); evacuated: 235; missing: 432.

  • 2nd South Staffordshires (Lt-Col W. D. H. McCardic, wounded and prisoner of war)

    • Based at Woodhall Spa. Flew in over two days in 62 Horsas from Manston and Broadwell and a Hamilcar from Tarrant Rushton. Went in: 767 men; died: 85; evacuated: 124; missing: 558.

  • 181 Airlanding Field Ambulance, RAMC (Lt-Col A. T. Marrable, prisoner of war)

    • Based at Stenigot House and Martin. Flew in 12 Horsas from Down Ampney. Went in: 137 men; died: 5; probably none evacuated; missing: up to 132.

    4th Parachute Brigade (Brig. J. W. Hackett, wounded and evader)

    Brigade HQ and Defence Platoon Based at Knossington Grange. Flew in 9 C-47s (1 with Advance Party from Barkston Heath, 8 from Spanhoe) and 8 Horsas from Keevil. Went in: 86 men. died: 12; evacuated: 43; missing: 31.

  • 156 Parachute Battalion (Lt-Col Sir R. de B. des Voeux, killed in action)

    • Based in and around Melton Mowbray. Flew in 34 C-47s (1 with Advance Party from Barkston Heath, 33 from Saltby), vehicles in 7 Horsas rom Keevil and a Hamilcar from Tarrant Rushton. Went in: 479 men (possibly more); died: 98; evacuated: 68; missing: 313.

  • 1Oth Parachute Battalion (Lt-Col K. B. 1. Smyth, died of wounds)

    • Based at Somerby, Thorpe Satchville, Burgh-on-the-Hill and Twyford. Flew in 34 C-47s (1 with Advance Party from Barkston Heath, 33 from Spanhoe), vehicles as 156 Battalion. Went in: 582 men; died: 92; evacuated: 86; missing: 404.

  • 11th Parachute Battalion (Lt-Col G. H. Lea, wounded and prisoner of war)

    • Based at Melton Mowbray. Flew in as 156 Battalion. Went in: 571 men; died: 92; evacuated: 72; missing: 407.

  • 2nd (Oban) Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery, RA (Maj. A. F. Haynes, prisoner of war)

    • Based at Harrowby, Flew in 24 Horsas from Blakehill Farm and 8 Hamiicars from Tarrant Rushton. Went in: 168 men; died: evacuated: 37; missing: 106.

  • 4th Parachute Squadron, RE (Maj. A. J. M. Perkins, wounded and prisoner of war)

    • Based at Uppingham. Flew in 9 C-47s from Spanhoe and 4 horsas from Keevil. Went in: 155 men; died: 19; evacuated: 64; missing:72.

  • 133 Parachute Field Ambulance, RAMC (Lt-Col W. C. Alford, prisoner of war)

    • Based at Barleythorpe Hall. Flew in 6 C-47s from Spanhoe and Saltby, and 6 Horsas from Keevil. Went in: 129 men; died: 6; probably none evacuated; missing: up to 123; one officer from the 'sea tail' also died.

    Divisional Units

  • 1st Airlanding Light Regiment, RA (Lt-Col W. F. K. Thompson, wounded and prisoner of war)

    • Based at Boston. The regiment (less No.2 Battery) flew in 57 Horsas from Fairford, Blakehill Farm, Down Ampney, Manston and Keevil on first lift; No. 2 Battery and others flew in 33 Horsas from Manston on second lift. Went in: 372 men; died: 36;evacuated: 136; missing: 200.

  • 1 Forward (Airborne) Observation Unit, RA (Maj. D. R. Wight Boycott, at Airborne Corps HQ)

    • Based at Harlaxton Hall. Flew in 3 Horsas from Keevil and in small groups in C-47s and Horsas of brigades and battalions. Went in: 73 men; died: 7; evacuated: 23; missing: 43.

  • 1st Airborne Divisional Signals (Lt-Col T. C. V. Stephenson)

    • Based at Caythorpe. Flew in C-47s and Horsas from several airfields, much of the unit being split up to provide signals for the division's infantry brigade and artillery HQs. Went in: 348 men; died: 28; evacuated: 149; missing: 171.

  • 9th (Airborne) Field Company, RE (Maj. J. C. Winchester)

    • Based at Tattershall and Coningsby. Flew in 22 Horsas in two lifts from Keevil. Went in: 194 men; died: 44; evacuated: 71; missing: 79.

  • 261 (Airborne) Field Park Company, RE A small detachment, under the of Lt W. H. Skinner (who was killed in a battlefield atrocity)

    • flew in 3 Horsas and a Hamilcar, believed all from Tarrant Rushton. Went in: 13 men; died: 2; evacuated: 5; missing: 6.

  • 21st Independent Parachute Company (Maj. B. A. Wilson)

    • Based at Newark. Flew in 12 Stirlings from Fairford and a Horsa (believed from Fairford). Went in: 186 men; died: 20; evacuated: 120; missing: 46.

  • 1st Airborne Reconnaissance Squadron (Maj. C. F. G. Gough, prisoner of war)

    • Based at Ruskington. Flew in 8 C,47s from Barkston Heath and 22 Horsas from Tarrant Rushton. Went in: 181 men; died: 30; evacuated: 73; missing. 78.

  • 250 (Airborne) Light Composite Company

    • RASC Based at Longhills Hall, Branston, and at Lincoln. Three parachute platoons, with jeeps sections attached, together with a light transport section of jeeps, were provided by the company for the airborne operation, most of the heavy transport coming up with the 'sea tail'. Flew in 4 C-47s from Barkston Heath and Saltby and 34 Horsas and 3 Hamilcars from Keevil, Harwell and Tarrant Rushton. Went in: 226 men (including 10 from 93 Company attached); died: 29; evacuated: 75; missing: 122.

  • 1st (Airborne) Divisional Field Park, RAOC (Maj. C. C. Chidgey, wounded and prisoner of war)

    • Based at Grantham. Flew in a shared C-47 from Barkston Heath and a Horsa from Keevil. Went in: 19 men; died:2; evacuated: 2; missing: 15.

  • 1st (Airborne) Divisional Workshops

    • REME Based at Sleaford. A detachment of the unit flew in 4 Horsas from Fairford and Down Ampney, and individual men flew in with various units. Went in: 61 men; died: 6; evacuated: 29; missing: 26.

  • 1st (Airborne) Divisional Provost Company, CMP (Capt. W. B. Gray, died of wounds)

    • Based at Stubton Hall, Newark, but sections at divisional and brigade HQs. Company HQ_flew in a Horsa from Down Ampney, sections in shared C-47s or Horsas with units. Went in: 69 men; died: 7; evacuated: 13; missing: 49.

  • 89th (Parachute) Field Security Section, Intelligence Corps (Capt. J. E. Killick, prisoner of war)

    • Based at Wellingore. HQ flew in a shared Horsa from Fairford, others with units. Went in: 16 men; died: 3;evacuated: 4; missing: 9.

    Units Attached To The Division

  • The Glider Pilot Regiment No. I WING (HQ Harwell) commanded by Lt-Col I.A. Murray - A Squadron at Harwell, B Squadron normally at Brize Norton but flying to Arnhem from Manston, D Squadron at Keevil and G Squadron at Fairford. No. 2 WING (HQBroadwell) commanded by Lt-Col J. W. Place - C Squadron at Tarrant Rushton, E Squadron at Down Ampney and F Squadron at Broadwell and Blakehill Farm. Went in: 1,262 men; died: 219; evacuated: 532; missing: 51 1. (These figures do not include 76 glider pilots of Regimental HQ including Col G. S. Chatterton, and of A Squadron who flew gliders carrying Airborne Corps HQ without serious casualty.)
  • 6080 and 6341 Light Warning Units, RAF These mobile radar units flew in 4 Horsas from Harwell on the second lift. Went in: 45 men; died: 9; evacuated: 4; missing: 32.
  • Dutch Liaison Mission. This 12-strong group, mostly from No. 2 (Dutch)Troop of No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando, flew in with various units. One Commando was killed; two were taken prisoner; the remainder were evacuated or became evaders.
  • Public Relations Team Fifteen men flew in; one was taken prisoner; it is thought that the others were evacuated safely.
  • US Air Support Signals Teams Two teams, each of five Americans from the 306th Fighter Control Squadron with two British jeep drivers, flew in 4 Waco gliders from Manston. No fatal casualties; numbers evacuated and missing not known.
  • GHQ Signal Liaison Regiment Detachment (Phantom) Ten men flew in (aircraft/glider details not known); no fatal casualties; no further details available.
  • 'Jedburgh' Team. Two officers (one Dutch, one US) and one US NCO flew in shared C-47. The Dutch officer was killed and the American officer became a prisoner of war; the US NCO, Technical Sergeant Carl A. Scott, evaded capture and returned to duty but was killed in action later in 1944.