September 22nd, 1944, 1st Airborne Division

German Strategy Shift and Continued Resistance

Recognising that the previous day’s infantry and armour assaults on the 1^st Airborne Division have yielded little success and caused significant casualties, the Germans shift their tactics. Rather than attempting to overrun the Oosterbeek perimeter outright, they focus on containing the British forces within their defensive pocket, subjecting them to relentless artillery bombardment. By the end of the battle, the Germans have positioned 110 artillery pieces of various types around Oosterbeek, ensuring they are well-supplied with ammunition. The 1^st Airborne Division, unable to counter this heavy bombardment effectively, resorts to digging deeper into their slit trenches and fortifying their positions to minimize casualties from the constant shelling. The psychological toll of this bombardment is severe, particularly on those who have had little or no sleep for days, leading to cases of shell shock among the troops.

In addition to the artillery barrage, German snipers pose a constant threat. These snipers are not only positioned on the front lines but also infiltrate deep into British territory, taking advantage of the cover provided by the woodland in the southern half of the perimeter. Members of the Glider Pilot Regiment, who are part of the Division’s reserve and frequently patrol the gaps in the British defenses at night, take on the task of hunting down these snipers, a role in which they become highly effective.

The Germans continue to employ these tactics of bombardment and harassment until the end of the battle. Although infantry attacks still occur, they are more cautious and targeted, aimed at capturing strategically valuable buildings. Despite these efforts, the British defences largely hold, and any ground lost to the enemy is negligible. Tanks continue to operate along the front line, but not with the same impunity as earlier in the battle, as the 1^st Airborne’s anti-tank gunners are now better positioned to ambush vehicles that venture too close. The PIAT, a hand-held anti-tank weapon, proves particularly effective, often used by lone soldiers venturing into no-man’s land to stalk enemy tanks. However, ammunition for the PIAT becomes scarce quickly.

Royal Air Force Resupply Missions

The Royal Air Force does not conduct a resupply mission, as it is believed that XXX Corps will link up with the Division within hours, making further reinforcement unnecessary. This pause allows aircrews to rest and gives mechanics time to repair their damaged aircraft.

Contacting XX Corps

Lieutenant Colonel Mackenzie and Lieutenant Colonel Myers cross the River Rhine in a rubber boat, joining up with the Polish Brigade on the far side. They arrive under intense enemy fire, aimed at preventing the Poles from advancing towards the Arnhem road bridge, a move that was never part of the original plan. Just before the two officers reach Driel, a critical development occurs: the first direct contact between XXX Corps and the airborne troops. Three Daimler Dingo scout cars from the Household Cavalry, commanded by Lieutenant R. Wrottesley, navigate through country lanes and reach Driel. This route bypasses the main road north from the Nijmegen bridge, where the 10. SS-Panzerdivision has blocked the advance of the Guards Armoured Division and the 43^rd (Wessex) Infantry Division at Elst.

Upon arriving in Driel, Mackenzie and Myers use the radios in the Household Cavalry’s armoured cars to establish contact with Lieutenant General Horrocks at XXX Corps Headquarters. They relay Urquhart’s urgent message, stressing that without immediate reinforcements and supplies that night, the airborne division’s position will become untenable. Horrocks, recognising the gravity of the situation, commits to sending units from the 43^rd (Wessex) Infantry Division to the Rhine with amphibious DUKWs as a matter of urgency. However, a new challenge arises as the route to Driel is once again cut off by enemy forces, complicating the task further.

Polish Preperations for the First River Crossing

The 1^st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade is confronted with a daunting task: crossing the Rhine River to reinforce the 1^st Airborne Division, which is under intense pressure from German forces. The original plan had counted on the Polish Brigade landing once the Arnhem bridge was secured, allowing them to link up with the Airborne Division and launch a coordinated assault. After contacting XXX Corps, Lieutenant Colonel Mackenzie approaches Sosabowski with urgent orders from Major General Urquhart, stressing the immediate need to ferry Polish troops across the river to reinforce the perimeter’s defences before they are overrun. “Even a few men could make the difference,” Mackenzie insists, noting that several two-man rubber dinghies from the airborne forces could be used for the crossing. Sosabowski agrees and plans to begin the operation at nightfall, hoping that the DUKWs from the 43^rd (Wessex) Infantry Division might arrive in time to assist.

Meanwhile, the 43^rd (Wessex) Infantry Division is encountering significant challenges. The 129^th Infantry Brigade is advancing along the Nijmegen–Arnhem road with the Guards Division, while the 214^th Infantry Brigade attempts to push forward along minor roads to the west. Both brigades face stiff resistance from well-equipped German forces supported by armour, making progress slow and requiring carefully coordinated attacks.

To overcome these obstacles, Brigadier Essame, commanding the 214^th Infantry Brigade, dispatches a flying column from Lieutenant Colonel Taylor’s 5^th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, along side roads to reach the river. The column includes two DUKW’s loaded with supplies, intended to ferry Sosabowski’s brigade across.

Taylor’s group faces a hazardous journey but eventually reaches the river after dealing with two Tiger tanks. With the DUKW’s now at Driel, there is finally a way to transport Sosabowski’s brigade across the river. However, locating a suitable launching site proves difficult. Compounding the issue, rain begins to fall, turning the ground into mud and immobilising the heavy vehicles. Despite strenuous efforts to move them towards the river, the DUKW’s slide into ditches and become hopelessly bogged down, rendering them unusable.

With the DUKW’s out of action, the Poles are left with no choice but to use the rubber dinghies provided by the 1^st Airborne Division, ferrying two men at a time across the 400-metre-wide river.

1st Airborne Division’s Preperations for the First River Crossing

As the 1^st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade is making its plans to cross the river, Captain Harry Faulkner-Brown of the 4^th Parachute Squadron, Royal Engineers is given a critical mission: to ferry Polish soldiers across the river using inflatable dinghies. The operation is fraught with difficulties from the outset. The river’s strong current, coupled with intense enemy artillery fire, makes the crossing perilous. The limited number of dinghies available—small, two-man recce boats—adds to the challenges, as each trip can only transport a single soldier at a time.

In the early afternoon, Captain Faulkner-Brown sets out to retrieve the dinghies from a location south of the Hartenstein Hotel, where the lightly wounded are being sheltered. He manages to gather six recce boats and one large dinghy from the Royal Air Force, possibly salvaged from a downed aircraft. Despite the grim circumstances, there is a brief moment of camaraderie when a padre offers Faulkner-Brown a cup of tea. However, this brief respite is shattered when a mortar bomb explodes nearby, fatally wounding the padre and starkly reminding everyone of the constant danger they face.

As night falls, the situation becomes even more critical. Faulkner-Brown selects twelve sappers to assist in the ferrying operation. They load the dinghies, along with essential equipment such as tracing tapes, signal cables, and a wireless set connected to Divisional Headquarters, onto two jeeps and head out to the riverbank. The journey is tense, as the group must navigate through the dark, rain-soaked terrain, moving cautiously to avoid detection.

First Polish River Crossing

Upon reaching the river, they find a suitable location for the crossing—a shoreline sheltered by stone groynes that extend about 45 metres into the water. The area is ideal for loading and unloading the dinghies, but the operation remains incredibly dangerous. As they prepare to launch the first dinghies, British Lieutenant Maclean of the Glider Pilot Regiment approaches Captain Zwolanski of the Polish Advanced Liaison Party to discuss the night crossing. Despite the risks, Maclean and his fellow glider pilots volunteer to assist in the operation, demonstrating their determination to help their beleaguered comrades.

Captain Zwolanski and Lieutenant Maclean work together to plan the crossing, establishing posts along the riverbank and mapping out the route through the meadow to the Division’s positions. As they set out, they encounter heavy artillery fire, the sound of shells passing overhead louder than anything they have experienced before in Arnhem. The intensity of the bombardment is unnerving, as the soldiers know that a single direct hit could cause catastrophic damage, especially with the Hartenstein Hotel and their trenches vulnerable to heavy artillery.

As the operation begins, Captain Faulkner-Brown sets up a defensive position on the shore and rows across the Rhine to establish contact with the Polish forces on the other side. Upon arrival, he is greeted by a group of Polish soldiers who are eager to cross but report that they are under heavy fire. Despite the difficult conditions, the soldiers are determined to push forward, aware of the critical role they play in the ongoing battle.

However, the crossing proves to be more challenging than anticipated. The strong current of the Rhine snaps the signal cables meant to guide the dinghies, forcing Faulkner-Brown and his men to rely on manual rowing. Each dinghy can only carry one soldier at a time, significantly slowing down the operation. Meanwhile, the Polish troops on the south bank continue to face intense ground fire, adding to the difficulties of coordinating the crossing.

As the night wears on, the situation becomes increasingly dire. Captain Mackowiak, leading the Polish Advanced Liaison Party, guides his men through the riverside meadow, which has now become “No Man’s Land.” The burning suburbs of Arnhem and the village of Driel on the opposite bank illuminate the night, casting an eerie red glow over the landscape. The group moves cautiously, aware that any misstep could expose them to enemy fire.

Upon reaching the riverbank, they take cover behind a stone embankment, observing German machine-gun positions on either side. Captain Mackowiak instructs his men to remain hidden and silent, ensuring that the Polish troops crossing the river can do so undetected. Despite the heavy artillery fire and the challenges posed by the burning landscape, the first dinghy manages to reach the shore, delivering six Polish soldiers.

Lieutenant David Storrs, a Field Engineer from the Commander of Royal Engineers, joins the operation with remarkable determination. Over the course of the night, he rows back and forth across the river 23 times, ferrying one Polish soldier on each trip. However, despite the best efforts of everyone involved, only 40 to 50 Polish soldiers successfully cross the river. The operation’s slow pace frustrates the Polish liaison officer, leading to tensions with Captain Faulkner-Brown, who eventually orders the officer to leave.

As more Polish soldiers arrive on the northern bank of the Rhine, they move quietly along the embankment, making their way back to the meadow. The rain intensifies, providing some cover from enemy fire, but the conditions remain harsh. The soldiers, though tired and cold, gather with a sense of purpose, knowing that their reinforcement is crucial to the ongoing battle.

The group eventually reaches the artillery positions, where they are directed to a nearby church to await further orders. Inside the darkened church, the flames from the distant fires cast a crimson glow through the windows, illuminating the high altar. The atmosphere is tense yet focused, as the soldiers prepare for the next phase of their mission.

By 04:00 on Saturday morning, the ferrying operation is halted, likely due to the exhaustion of the men and increased German interference. While accounting for his troops near the church, Captain Faulkner-Brown realises that Lance Corporal Flannery is still on the south bank. Determined to bring him back safely, Faulkner-Brown and another sapper row across the river one last time, successfully retrieving Flannery without incident.

In total, only 60 Polish soldiers manage to cross the river that night—a number far too small to make a significant impact on the battle. The limited reinforcements underscore the challenges faced by the Allied forces, who are struggling to hold their ground against a relentless enemy. Despite the bravery and determination shown by all involved, the operation highlights the overwhelming difficulties and the precariousness of the situation as the battle for Arnhem continues.