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Break out from their bridgehead over the Maas-Scheldt Canal.
By 17:00 hours on the first day, XXX Corps is expected to reach Eindhoven, with the goal of arriving in Veghel by midnight and relieve the U.S. 101st Airborne Division.
On the second day, they aim to reach Grave by 12:00 hours and Nijmegen by 18:00 hours and relieve the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division.
Reach Arnhem by 15:00 hours on the third day and relieve the British 1st Airborne Division and the 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade
Operational Area
Highway 69 (Hell’s Highway), South of The Netherlands
Allied Forces
XXX Corps
Corps Troops:
11th Hussars
73rd Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
27th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
2nd (Armoured Recconnisance) Battalion, The Welsh Guards
153rd (Leicestershire Yeomanry) Field Regiment Royal Artillery
615th Field Squadron, Royal Engineers
Guards Armoured Divisional Troops
Headquarters, 21st Anti-Tank Regiment Royal Artillery
Headquarters, 94th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery
Headquarters, Guards Armoured Division Engineer Regiment, Field Park Company 11th Bridging Troop, Royal Engineers and Divisional Postal Unit
Number 1 Independent Machinegun Company, The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers
Royal Army Service Corps
Headquarters, Guards Armoured Division, Royal Army Service Corps, Battalion, Tank Delivery Squadron
Royal Army Medical Corps
19th Light Field Ambulance, 128th Field Ambulance and Field Hygiene Section
Royal Army Ordnance Corps Guards Armoured Division Ordnance Field Park, Company RAOC and Mobile Bath Unit
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 5th Guards Armoured Brigade Workshop, 32nd Guards Armoured Brigade Workshop
Military Police Guards Armoured Division Company Royal Corps of Military Police
Intelligence Corps Field Security Section
43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division
Headquarters, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division
43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division, Signal Regiment
Headquarters, 129th Infantry Brigade
4th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry
4th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment
5th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment
Headquarters, 130th Infantry Brigade
7th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment
4th Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment
5th Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment
Headquarters, 214th Infantry Brigade
7th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry
5th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry
1st Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment
43rd (Wessex) Infantry Divisional Troops
43rd (Wessex) Reconnaissance Regiment (The Gloucestershire Regiment), Royal Armoured Corps
1/8th Machine Gun Battalion, Middlesex Regiment
94th (Queen’s Own Dorset Yeomanry) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
112th (Wessex) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
179th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
59th (Duke of Connaught’s Own) Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
110th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
43rd (Wessex) Divisional Engineers, Royal Engineers
43rd (Wessex) Divisional, Royal Army Service Corps
43rd (Wessex) Divisional, Royal Army Medical Corps
43rd (Wessex) Divisional, Royal Army Ordnance Corps
43rd (Wessex) Divisional, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
43rd Wessex Division Provost Company, Royal Military Police
57 Field Security Section
Postal Unit
231st (Malta) Infantry Brigade
Detachment 4th Armoured Brigade
44th Royal Tank Regiment (to 101st Airborne Division)
Detachment 11th Armoured Brigade
5th / 19th Hussars (to 231st (Malta) Infantry Brigade and subsequently to 101st Airborne Division)
8th Independent Armoured Brigade
4th / 7th Royal Dragoons Guards
13th / 18th Royal Hussars
Nottinghamshire (Sherwood Rangers) Yeomanry
12th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps
147th (Essex Yeomanry) Field Regiment Royal Artillery
(Self Propelled) Anti-Tank Battery Royal Artillery
8th Armoured Brigade Signal Squadron
8th Armoured Brigade Workshop, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
8th Armoured Brigade Ordnance Field Park
552nd Company Royal Army Service Corps
168th (City of London) Light Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps
265th Forward Delivery Squadron RAC
Royal Netherlands Motorised Brigade “Prinses Irene”
I Motorised Independent Infantry Company
II Motorised Independent Infantry Company
III Motorised Independent Infantry Company
Reconnaissance Company
Artillery Battery (six 25 pounders)
Brigade Signals
Brigade Maintenance
21st Army Group Troops
64th Medium Regiment Royal Artillery
147 (Essex Yeomanry) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
419th Heavy Battery
Axis Forces
6. Fallschirmjäger Regiment
Bataillon I
Bataillon II
Bataillon III
Pionier Kompanie
Panzerjäger Kompanie
Fusilier Kompanie
Operation
The ground operation for XXX Corps begins at a key strategic point: the bridge over the Scheldt-Meuse Canal at Lommel, known as Joe’s Bridge. This bridge was captured on September 10th, 1944, by No. 1 Squadron of the 3rd Battalion, Irish Guards, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel John Ormsby Evelyn Vandeleur. XXX Corps, is to advance through the designated Corridor created by the 101st Airborne Division, the 82nd Airborne Division, the 1st Airborne Division and the 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade, passing through Eindhoven, Son, Sint-Oedenrode, Veghel, Uden, Grave, Nijmegen, Elst, Arnhem, and ultimately reaching Apeldoorn. According to the marching orders, this route will allow XXX Corps to secure key areas held by the enemy, ensuring contact with the three airborne divisions positioned at critical points along the way. These divisions are tasked with holding strategic locations, facilitating the Corps’ progression and the success of the operation.
The operation requires XXX Corps to break out from their bridgehead over the Maas-Scheldt Canal, starting at Joe’s Bridge near Lommel. Their advance follows a carefully planned route cleared by airborne forces, passing through key towns such as Eindhoven, Sint-Oedenrode, Veghel, Uden, Grave, Nijmegen, and ultimately Arnhem. The timeline for the advance is tightly coordinated. By 17:00 hours on the first day, XXX Corps is expected to reach Eindhoven, with the goal of arriving in Veghel by midnight. On the second day, they aim to reach Grave by 12:00 hours and Nijmegen by 18:00 hours. The final objective is to arrive in Arnhem by 15:00 hours on the third day.
According to the plan, XXX Corps should make contact with the 101st Airborne Division by the end of the first day, link up with the 82nd Airborne Division on the second day, and reach the 1st Airborne Division and the 1st Polish Independent Parachyte Brigade in Arnhem by the fourth day at the latest. Once this link-up is achieved, the airborne divisions will support XXX Corps in breaking out from the Arnhem area, driving the operation forward. This carefully coordinated effort is vital for the overall success of the mission, with each milestone crucial to ensuring the rapid progression through enemy territory.
XXX Corps is to advance along a narrow two-lane road known as Highway 69. The Corps consists of several key units: the 2nd Household Cavalry Regiment, led by Lieutenant Colonel Henry Abel Smith; the Guards Armoured Division, commanded by Brigadier Allan Henry Shafto Adair; the 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division, under Lieutenant General Gwilym Ivor Thomas; the 8th Independent Armoured Brigade, headed by Brigadier George Erroll Prior-Palmer; the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division, led by Major General Douglas Alexander Henry Graham; and the Royal Netherlands Motorised Brigade “Prinses Irene”, commanded by Colonel Albert Cornelis de Ruyter van Steveninck.
The Guards Armoured Division leads the advance along the single road. If any bridges remain uncaptured along the route, the 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division is tasked with securing the crossings. On the left flank, XII Corps, led by Lieutenant General Neil Methuen Ritchie, provides support, while on the right flank, VIII Corps, commanded by Lieutenant General Richard Nugent O’Connor, advances alongside. However, both supporting Corps face significant challenges as they are understrength and have yet to establish bridgeheads across the Meuse-Scheldt Canal. In addition, some units are still engaged in battles elsewhere, limiting their ability to assist XXX Corps. Despite these difficulties, both Corps have operational plans in place to support Market Garden.
On September 10th, 1944, the 1st Canadian Army has secured the western flank of XII Corps, holding a bridgehead near Geel, just across the Meuse-Scheldt Canal. To improve the advance, the 53rd Welsh Division, commanded by Major General Robert K. Ross, is to establish another bridgehead near Lommel and then proceed through Turnhout and Tilburg towards ’s-Hertogenbosch, crossing the Maas. Meanwhile, VIII Corps on the right flank has the 11th Armoured Division, led by Major General George Roberts, and the Belgian 1st Infantry Brigade, commanded by Colonel Jean-Baptiste Piron. They plan to cross the Meuse-Scheldt Canal near Sint Huibrechts-Lille and advance through Helmond towards Cuijk on the Maas.
While operational plans are developed, the Dutch government-in-exile in London works closely with the Allies. To disrupt German troop movements, the Dutch Railways are instructed to initiate a general strike. Additionally, Dutch resistance groups are mobilised to support the Allied forces, with Jedburgh teams deployed to liaise with the resistance and assist them in sabotage and intelligence efforts. Dutch commandos, trained for this purpose, are integrated into Allied units and the Jedburgh teams to serve as interpreters, guides, and communication specialists.
On September 11th, 1944, D Squadron of the 2nd Household Cavalry Regiment conducts a reconnaissance beyond the bridge. By the night of September 16th, 1944, all units are in position, poised to launch Operation Market Garden.
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