Arnhem – A Bridge Too Far
Operation
“Market-Garden” was the name given to the plan devised by
Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery to cross the river Rhine and drive deep into Germany.
The essential feature of this plan was the capture of several bridges by the
daring use of airborne troops. The “prize” was the bridge
across the Rhine at the sleepy Dutch town of Arnhem. US Airborne, the 82nd
and the 101st, the Screaming Eagles were to capture and hold the
bridges at such places as Son, Graves, Eindhoven and Nijmegen – the “prize”
fell to British 1st Airborne under the command of Maj.Gen.Roy
Urquhart and the Polish Para Brigade under Maj.Gen.Stanislav Sosabowski, both
under the overall command of Lt.Gen.“Boy” Browning. Ground forces, in the shape
of XXX Corps commanded by Lt. Gen. Brian Horrocks and led by the Irish Guards
Infantry & Armour, were to drive the 62 miles across a carpet of airborne
troops, along a road to become known as “Hell’s Highway”, to eventually cross
into Germany over the bridge across the Rhine at Arnhem.
Made famous by the book “A Bridge Too Far”, by Cornelius
Ryan and later made into a film of the same name in 1976 with a host of stars,
including Dirk Bogarde, Sean Connery, Anthony Hopkins, Ryan O’Neil and James
Caan, this Operation has been well-covered by film and written works. Numerous
documentaries have been made about it and dozens of books have been written on
the operation that was supposed to shorten the war and have the ‘boy’s home for
Christmas’.
. 
PEGASUS, the symbol worn by all of Britain’s Airborne Forces
Day One: Cross by Eurotunnel or P
& O Ferry and drive to ‘Joe’s Bridge’ on the Dutch/Belgian border. The
scene of great gallantry, to secure a crossing over the last main obstacle
before entering Holland. Carry on along ‘Hell’s Highway’, a very narrow road
that a whole Corps of British troops were to advance along in just 4 days.
Drive on through Valkensward, where the Guards Armoured Division stopped on the
first night and proceed to the large Dutch town of Eindhoven. This was the
vital objective of the American 101st (Screaming Eagles) Airborne
Division. Driving further North you will cross the bridges that the 101st
were to secure at Son, St-Oedenrode and Veghel.
Moving onto Grave, in the sector allotted to the 82nd
(All American) Airborne Division you will cross the impressive bridge over the
River Maas. From Grave you can take two routes into Nijmegen. One crosses a
tributary of the Maas into Nijmegen centre itself, the other crosses the river
at Heumen and enters Nijmegen from the South via Groesbeek. There are six
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemeteries in the area and it is easy
to arrange a visit to any of them for a personal pilgrimage. You will then
cross the main Nijmegen road bridge onto the area of what became known as “the
island”. The bridge and the area between Nijmegen and Arnhem would see bitter
fighting and end in much controversy.
Drive to accommodation.
RENKUM HEATH, 17th
September 1944,
the 1st Parachute Brigade arrives.
Day Two: You will drive out to the fields and see where
the 1st Parachute Brigade and glider borne units landed on the 17th
September 1944. There are several memorials in the area dedicated to the units
that landed here. Alternatively you can visit the Ginkel Heath dropping zone
and see where the 4th Parachute Brigade landed on the 18th
September 1944. The routes of either Brigades attempts to drive into Arnhem and
secure their objectives can then be followed. We will then pay a visit to the
Airborne Museum, Hartenstein (which was General Urquart’s H.Q. in the battle).
Lunch can be taken at various places nearby, but the most often used by
returning veterans is the Café-Restaurant Schoonord on the all important
cross-roads and known as “The Airborne Pub No 1”. After lunch we move down to
the area of the Oosterbeek Church, where the final battles were fought to keep
a foot-hold on the North bank of the Rhine. We proceed into Arnhem stopping at
various points where significant actions took place, such as
L/Sgt.Baskeyfield’s gallant stand which gained him the V.C. We will finish at
the all important objective, the Arnhem road bridge now called John Frost
Bridge, after the commander of the 2nd Battalion, The Parachute
Regiment which captured it in 1944.
THE OBJECTIVE. John Frost Bridge.
Day Three: The Westerbouwing Heights and its
restaurant/café are our first stop. Here you will hear about how the battle
ebbed and flowed over this important piece of ground and its key role in the
battle. The tour will finish at the Arnhem/Oosterbeek Commonwealth war Graves
Commission Cemetery. There are three Victoria Cross winners buried here, along
with 1,700 other allied soldiers who died in the fighting in 1944 and 1945.
Amongst the rows of headstones can
be found the grave of Captain. Jack Grayburn V.C
OOSTERBEEK C.W.G.C.
Cemetery.
The Guides
Bob Hilton
Apart from
myself, I am extremely fortunate to work with one of the most knowledgeable
guides in the UK, a man who has made the study of the British Airborne, and
this battle in particular his life’s work. I am proud to introduce Bob Hilton, hon.
member of the Arnhem Veterans Association and someone with whom I have worked on many occasions. Bob was a member of
The Parachute Regiment from 1981 to 2003. He served, in an operational
capacity, in the Falkland Islands, Northern Ireland (7 tours of duty), Belize
(twice), Sierra
Leone, Macedonia and
Afghanistan. He has trained in many varied and diverse environments, usually
after carrying out a parachute drop, such as Germany, Canada, Italy, Botswana,
Kenya, Egypt and the USA. He has taken part in several battlefield parachute
drops and tours to commemorate actions at Bruneval and Normandy in France and
Arnhem in Holland. Upon retirement from the Army he took up being a full time
battlefield guide, specializing in Britain’s Airborne Forces and its actions in
World War Two.
Bob is capable of covering all the various sub-units of the 1st Airborne Division, in detail and not just from a book. That in 90% of cases he will know where a man fell and was killed and has extensive lists of POW’s, Wounded, Escapee’s and those who returned
over the River on the withdrawal. This information is available to tourers whilst we are on the ground.
Bob Hilton
Bob Hilton with veterans at Oosterbeek
CWGC September 2004.
One thing is
certain, whatever else you may do, you will never forget a tour of the Arnhem
battlefields in Bob’s company. I cannot think of a better guide to take you on
this unforgettable journey.
Travel & Accommodation For
small group tours of up to 5 persons travel will be by people carrier with air-conditioning.
Larger groups up to 14 will be by minibus, groups of up to 24 by small luxury
coach. Accommodation will normally be in 3* hotels near, or actually in Arnhem
town, or family-run B&B at your choice. Board basis will be full-board, or
a combination of B&B with additional lunches and 3-course evening meals
with wine. All museum entrance fees are included. There are NO hidden extras.
Prices start from
£449 per person. Single room supplements will apply according to location.
Market-Garden/Arnhem Battlefield Tour Itinerary
Day 1.
09.00 hrs – Depart on Eurotunnel shuttle or Ferry.
10.35 hrs – Arrive Calais/France (local time, 1 hour
ahead)
4 Hour (approx) drive to the Belgian/Dutch border,
including short lunch –break.
14.30 hrs – Short stop at “Joe’s Bridge’, start of ground
phase.
15.00-17.00 hrs – Drive along ‘Hell’s Highway’ via
Nijmegen to Arnhem.
17.30-18.00 hrs – Book into Hotel/Accommodation.
19.00 hrs – Evening meal, in Hotel/Accommodation or in
one of the many fine restaurants in Arnhem Centre or in the Summer on the river
promenade.
Day 2.
08.30 hrs – Depart the Hotel/Accommodation.
09.00 hrs – Arrive at the D.Z’s/L.Z’s & memorials. (1
Para or 4 Para Bde’s)
10.00 hrs – Follow a particular sub-unit route.
(i.e: 1 A/B Recce Sqn, 1 Para Bde, 4 Para Bde, 2nd
Para Bn, etc)
12.00-14.00 hrs – Hartenstein Airborne Museum visit and
lunch break.
14.30 hrs – The Oosterbeek Church, ‘Lonsdale Force’, The
Light Regiment, R.A, etc.
15.00 hrs – Commence the trip along ‘LION ROUTE’.
16.00 hrs – St Elizabeth’s Hospital area.
17.00 hrs – ‘John Frost Bridge’.
18.00 hrs – Return to the Hotel/Accommodation.
19.00 hrs – Evening meal.
Day 3.
08.30 hrs – Depart the Hotel/Accommodation.
09.00 hrs – Arrive the Westerbouwing Heights (known
locally as ‘the second hill of Holland’)
10.30 hrs – Visit to the C.W.G.C. Cemetery at Oosterbeek.
12.00-12.30 hrs – Depart the Arnhem/Oosterbeek area for
the return shuttle/ferry.
16.30 hrs – Arrive Calais area (short time for shopping)
17.30-18.00 hrs – Return to U.K.