Roy Urquhar Biography

Additionally, Major General Williams-commander of IX Troop Carrier Command-decided that it would only be possible for one air lift per day, meaning it would take three days to deliver the entire Division and Polish Brigade to the area

However, Urquhart was severely restricted in how he could prepare and deploy his troops.

Meanwhile, the first lift suffered only light losses as the aircraft and gliders flew from British bases to the target area.

Required to secure the road, rail and pontoon bridges over the Lower Rhine and hold them for two to three days until relieved by XXX Corps.

The US IX Troop Carrier Command were limited in their availability; with two more major drops taking place at the same time, there were insufficient carrier aircraft available to fly the entire division to The Netherlands in one lift.

The first arrivals were the 21st Independent Parachute Company at 12:40, who marked the landing zones for the gliders and parachutists in advance of the main landings.

The first lift was preceded by intense bombing and strafing raids made by the British Second Tactical Air Force and the American Eighth and 9th Air Forces. These targeted the known flak guns and German garrisons and barracks across the area.

The task of securing the Rhine Bridgehead fell to the 1st Airborne Division under the command of Major General Roy Urquhar.

Arnhem was a victory for the Germans (albeit tempered by their losses further south]) and a major defeat for the British army. The Allies withdrew from the southern bank of the Rhine and the front stabilised on "the island" between the Rhine and Waal rivers

The Glider Pilots would organise the routes to the river and the whole operation would be covered by an intense artillery barrage from XXX Corps.[163] South of the river the evacuation was organised and staffed by men of the Royal Engineers of 43rd Division and Royal Canadian Engineers, using rafts

Urquhart formulated his withdrawal plan on the successful method used in the evacuation of Gallipoli during the First World War. The northernmost units would fall back first, moving through the more southerly groups who would then follow behind.

and storm boats.