XXX CORPS Breakout 17/18 September 1944

Map:

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll119/dbf_bucket/NEERPELTTOEINDHOVEN17-18SEPT44.jpg


From "It never snows in September, Robert J. Kershaw."
One of the finest books written about the Arnhem Campaign, especially the first few chapters where it describes in detail the efforts made by the Germans to stabilise the front after the debacle of the retreat across France.

 

Does anyone have info about the role of 15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars ?

 

what an interesting thread, I travel this road every day

 

From the 15/19 Hussars war diary:

17 September Maps France & Belgium 1/50000 Sheet 26 & 36.
A fine morning, dull afternoon, turned to rain in the evening. It was learned early in the morning that the weather was suitable for operation MARKET GARDEN and that H hour at which the 101 U.S. Airborne Div was to be dropped was to be 1300hrs. Z hour at which the head of Gds Armd Div, leading ground troops of 30 Corps were to adv was later fixed at 1435hrs. Regt contd in posn in br hd, nothing of note occurred during the morning. A1 and A Echs were moved up to join the Regt in the br hd early in the morning. C.O. spoke to as many men as could be taken from fwd posns on the forthcoming operation. Regtl Gp was to move behind HQ Gds Armd Div which was expected to be about Z + 3 hrs. The adv was preceded by a barrage astride the road by about 500 guns and also was supported by about 12 Squadrons of Typhoons and 12 Squadrons of Spitfires. In spite of this considerable opposition was met and the adv did not proceed as rapidly as had been hoped.
By last light Irish Gds Gp at the hd of Gds Armd Div reached and captured VALKENSWAARD. ‘C’ Sqn advanced at Z + 5 mins and supported the Devons whose task it was to protect the flanks of the Centre Line and clear the wooded country on each side as far as HOEK 389034. Here again considerable opposition was met and the objective was not reached until last light. A number of mines were met during this operation and the C.O. who was following ‘C’ Sqn in his tk, and 2 tks of ‘C’ Sqn hit mines. No casualties were suffered except by SSM Sara’s crew in which No.4915269 L/C Batchelor W. was killed and No.547646 Sgt Pearson G. and No.4616545 Tpr Dick J. wounded. ‘B’ Sqn advanced later in support of the Dorsets who had a similar task to the Devons from a line East and West through HOEK up to VALKENSWAARD. Owing to the slow progress made by the leading tps they did not go beyond HOEK. Remainder of Regt did not move from their previous location. Some shelling into the area where RHQ and the Echelon were harboured which inflicted slight wounds on two or three men.

Hope that helps.

Tom

 

This is a very interesting thread - thanks, everyone, for your contributions. I am wondering if anyone has found any information about my grandfather, THOMAS JAMES McGOVERN, 2718054, 2nd Bn., Irish Guards, in his/her research? James was killed on September 17, 1944 and is commemorated on panel 3 at Groesbeek Memorial. I believe he fought in a tank and am hoping to find the specific tank, troop, squadron or company in which he served, but would be grateful for any and all information anyone might have in his/her records. Based on the information in this thread, I wonder if he was in one of the nine tanks that was knocked out in two minutes, as noted in Lt. Col. G.A.M. Vandeleurs' war diary entry for 14.35 hrs on 17 September 1944, but don't know how I would go about confirming this. I am in the process of requesting his service records from Regimental Headquarters. In the meantime, can anyone help? Thanks again.

 

Are there any sources containing the order of advance of 30 corps? Till now it seems to my a incredible piecemeal.

Thanks for your help.
Phil

 

Hello everyone, I am very much interested into this event and I appreciate a lot all the info you shaered in these pages. I am trying to draw a map with the positions of the oposing forces on the ground. In order to start that I need to locate the point from where the first Irish Sherman started the advance. Can you help me?