0922_02: Are We There Yet? - PzC 10 Market Garden '44

Nijmegen, September 22nd 1944: The 43rd Wessex Division had been waiting 3 days, 50 miles to the south. Now the time had come for their part in the attack. However, the 43rd found that it was painfully slow going to get the front, and had just made it to Nijmegen as the Irish Guards were assembling to assault on the road to Arnhem. The move over the bridges was confusing as they were to use the rail bridge to concentrate for their attack the next morning. Confusion notwithstanding, the 43rd were ready first thing in the morning. Plans were made to assault, after relieving the Guards, at dawn the next day. Incredibly, part of the orders from XXX Corps read, "Intelligence believes the enemy in Oosterhout will withdraw during the night. 43rd Wessex will relieve the Guards and continue the advance. One squadron of the 2 HCR will advance to Arnhem, covering the 43rd, at first light." The Germans, who had fought so tenaciously the day before, had no intention of withdrawing. At first light, in thick fog, 2 troops of the 2nd HCR slipped past some surprised Germans, but that was all! [Size small]