24th September – Urquhart’s wounded are evacuated under medical truce leaving him with 1,800 troops of the 10,000 that landed. 315 men of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Dick's first regiment ) cross the Lower Rhine and briefly hold part of Westerbowing, near Heveadorp (south-west of Oosterbeek). 200 are captured but two reach Urquehart with the plans for evacuation the following night.
At nightfall on 25th September Urquhart’s men are evacuated crossing the Lower Rhine in little boats under heavy fire (Operation Berlin - Arnhem). Many of the Airborne who made it to the other side of the river were met by former comrades who had, like Dick, joined 43rd Recce from the Airborne Reconnaissance Squadron. (From From ‘Operation Market Garden, Netherlands 17th – 25th September 1944’ and ‘Only the Enemy in Front Every other beggar behind…’ The Recce Corps at War 1940-1946’ by Richard Doherty, Tom Donovan Publishing Ltd 1994)
Eric Postles records that 61st Recce's 'B' Squadron was supporting the 43rd Division Infantry in this rescue: "When it became clear that the Arnhem Bridge was beyond 30 Corps reach our squadron was moved to join 43 Division infantry where we protected their right flank as they advanced to the Waal, crossed it and helped the Airborne survivors back from the Osterbeek area. The crossing place was just downstream from Driel and the attack took place at night using moonlight (searchlights on cloud) and Bofar gun tracer to mark the boundaries. 43 Division crossed the river and surviving Airborne troops were brought back but the cost in lives of the 43 Division infantry was heavy. I remember seeing a field full of parachutes of different colours used to identify the contents of the containers, which had been dropped on the wrong side of the river." (Extract from ‘My War Years’ by John Eric Postles ISO used by kind permission of the author.)
Of the 10,000 British troops that had landed in Market Garden that ‘bridge too far’ had lost almost 8,000. Only 2,163 were safely evacuated in Operation Berlin (1,741 from British 1st Airborne and 422 from the Glider Pilot Regiment) with 160 Polish paratroopers and 75 Dorset infantry men. 240 escaped later with the help of the Dutch resistance. 1,485 were killed in action or died of wounds while 6,525 were captured or missing. Less than 8% of the supplies intended for the British Airborne had reached them.
The American airborne had approximately 3,200 casualties (2,100 for the 101st and 1,100 for the 82nd).
Market Garden had involved over 20,000 paratroopers and more than 13,500 glidermen. 862 aircraft crew were lost.
On the ground XXX Corps had taken 1,480 casualties.
On 24th September Roy Howard of ‘A’ Squadron notes that 61st Recce were on the south bank of the Rhine, west of Arnhem, and kept up continuous patrols on ‘the Island’ until 17th October.
Eric Brewer, who had been in the section of 61st Recce left behind when the Germans intercepted the XXX Corps salient, recorded that 61st Recce “shifted to the flank, plenty of mortar shelling and spandos. A few Gerry prisoners taken today. Also woman.”
(From ‘Beaten Paths are Safest’ by Roy Howard, Brewin Books 2004)
61st Recce Roll of Honour includes the following who died on 24th September 1944:
Major Stanley George Alexander (age 34) of Tetbury, Gloucestershire
who is laid to rest in the Mierlo War Cemetery, east of Eindhoven. (See 61st Recce Roll of Honour, courtesy of Recce Mitch.)
We will remember them.
There were other 61st Recce casualties from Arnhem – Major Rayor lost a leg when he stepped on an anti-personnel mine on ‘the Island’ during the advance towards Arnhem.
Tony Macotta, who had been Colonel Mount’s Adjutant planning for the invasion, took over Major Alexander’s role as commander of 61st Recce’s HQ Squadron (see Colonel Brownrigg’s obituary for Tony in ‘Beaten Paths are Safest’).
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