ARNHEM RELIEF

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25051, 15 November 1944, Page 5

ARNHEM RELIEF

THE GALLANT 43RD

GRIM SACRIFICE

DASH OVER ENEMY ZONE

FIGHTING ALL THE WAY (Reed. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 13 The full story of the relief of the First Airborne Division at Arnhem by infantry of the 43rd (Wessex) Division has just been released, says the British official wireless. The grim fight of the 43rd Division to reach the airborne force north of the River Lek began on September 22, four days after the first airborne landings. That day, with the fenland north of Nijmegcn impassable to armoured columns, the division was called upon to make the first attempt to get supplies to the airborne garrison. Two brigades of infantry crossed the Nijmegen bridges. Supported by a small number of tanks, they had orders to break through the dyke country, drive up the Arnhem road and make contact with the airborne force still believed to be holding out in Arnhem itself. Very bitter fighting developed along the dykes and roads and in the villages and woods of this inhospitable fenland Ijetween.the two rivers. The drive up the Maun road made no progress. The airborne force was short of ammunition and likely to be short of food, and needed medical supplies. Relief had to be got to them without delay.

Tiger Tanks Out Column That evening an armoured relief column, made up of an infantry battalion of the 43rd Division and a squadron of an armoured unit, set out to crash through all opposition and reach the river with several "ducks" loaded with ammunition and food. The infantry rode on tanks and Bren carriers. On the way some five German tanks broke into the column, fortunately at a point where it had become split two-thjrds of the way back. With Tiger tanks following it up, the head of the column sped on, covering ten perilous miles in 20 minutes, and reached the river bank. Behind it a company commander, Major H. Parker, collecting together a fighting force and all the Piats (anti-tank weapons) he could muster, set booby traps for the Tigers on a crossroads. lairing from ditches on the roadside, Piat crews riddled the first tank at five to ten yards' range as it and a second tank behind opened fire and endeavoured to hide in a smokescreen. The first tank was Bet on fire and the second ran into a ditch after being hit. Two others following up behind also ditched themselves in efforts to get off the road. All four were brand new Tigers which passed out of a Nuremburg factory only a fortnight earlier.

First Effort in Vain The daring drive straight through German-lield territory had gained the river, but the effort was in vain. As the men struggled to get laden "ducks" down to the river in the darkness each "duck" in. turn slithered off the narrow road into a dyke. No supplies reached the airborne force that night. Next day, September 23, a bigger organised attempt was made. A brigade, armed with supplies and assault boats, instead of "ducks," moved forward. Battle was joined on the way. Tiger tanks again got in among the troops. The relief force was split fighting and the eventual hard-won arrival on the river bank was so delayed that darkness fell before the necessary reconnaissance could be made, but contact was made with Polish forces who had been dropped south of the river the previous day. The Poles knew the country and offered to get the supplies across. Ferried over the fast river by Royal Engineers of the 43rd Division, they did succeed in getting a quantity of supplies and 100 of their own men across. A beginning had been made, but it was not enough. A battalion of a Dorsetshire regiment was to cross to extend the bridgehead next night, September 24. Urgent demands were made to the rear for more assault boats. The first lot to come up ran into enemy positions and were shot up or captured. Another two lorrv loads fell into a dyke and had to Le extricated before some 20 could be mustered for the operation.

Dorsets Gross the River • Under cover of darkness the Dorsetshire regiment carried the boats some 600 yards down through an orchard and ovei; obstructions to the riverside. They were mortared and machine-gunned. One boat was sat on fire and others were holed befote they could be got into the water. The first troops were crossing at 1.30. Some boats wore hit and sank and others were carried downstream by the swift curreut, but by daylight the elements of four rifle companies were across. They were subjected to a closerange attack and some were pinned down as they landed. In small groups, none more than a platoon in strength, they fought in the darkness to reach their objective—high ground through woods skirting the river. To gain this ground meant fighting a way up a 60degrce slope with the enemy holding the top. It was here that the colonel of the battalion, Lieutenant-Colonel G. Tilly, was seen leading a platoon forward along the lower slopes of the hill. Shortly after ho was heard urging his men on. shouting: "There they are — get at tiiem with the bayonet." Ho was not heard again and no trace was found of him. Hand-to-Hand Battle Another small party had also made its objective—the link-up with an airborne headquarters on the right. Two of this party were officers, Major J. D. Grafton, who alone had been told by his colonel of the plan to withdraw the airborne force next night, and Lieutenant D. L. Eccles, who had been given the task of delivering an important written message to the Airborne Division headquarters. Throughout daylight of September 25 men of the 43rd Division fought on in scattered groups in a confused hand-to-hand battle. Rushing inland, although the odds were all against them, they gained- pitcious elbow room to allow for the withdrawal of the airborne force. It was very costly fighting. During this time Major Grafton, fighting with one of many small groups into which the airborne force had been split, called over the radio for our guns to put a concentration down on his own map reference. German tanks had infiltrated right into the area. The fierce British barrage was effective and Major Grafton continued to call artillery down on various targets to the great assistance of airborne pockets of resistance.

Lieutenant Eccles also succeeded in making contact with airborne headquarters with his message and returned through German positions to join Major Grafton. Shortly after this they were forced by German pressure to destroy their wireless set and move their ground. Lieutenant Eccles was later reported missing. Evacuation Begins So it went 011 through the day, while Royal Engineers on the south bank made preparations under cover for the night's evacuation. As darkness fell assault boats manned by Royal Engineers of the 43rd Division took the water. The airborne force began an orderly withdrawal to the water's edge. To guide them Bofors guns fired two lanes of tracers continuously throughout the night across the river, infantry of the 43rd Division fought 011 in the woods, covering the withdrawal they did not know was taking place. An officer of the Dorsets, Captain R. F. Hall, now slipped across from the south bank and made his way along toward his infantry to warn them for the first time that evacuation was ordered. They were to withdraw as best they could. He reached the woods, avoided German posts which were alert and shot up one which slept. Gathering up a few men and assuring himself that no others could be found, he got them back across the river. Many Rescuers Lost The evacuation of 2800 airborne men was achieved in spite of the Germans' machine-gunning and shelling. But of the 250 men of the Dorsets who crossed to save the airborne force, only some got back that night. Some swam back and others crossed in boats. During the next two nights officers and non-commissioned officers made several gallant efforts to gather up stragglers. Crossing again to the north bank, they placed lifebelts 011 the side of the river and combed the woods. Another 50 in little groups, who swam or floated across 011 logs bit by bit, found their own painful way back. The colonel, some officers and many men of the 250 rescuers did not return. The 43rd Division had saved the airborne force in Arnhem, but at a cost of considerable sacrifice.