OPERATION MARKET GARDEN - THE BATTLE FOR ARNHEM

[GeeRam]

The father of one of my friends from junior school days (early 70's) was a WW2 Para. My friend was a late and surprise addition to the family, his two brothers were 10+ years older, and his Dad had a very strong west country accent, even having spent all his time post WW2 living in West London. I remember my Dad telling me he rescued or carried his wounded officer to a dressing station or safety of some kind. Every few years after the war this officer would take him and his wife for an expensive dinner as a way of continued thanks.
He worked for the council for decades, driving the tractors around the council parks and grounds cutting the grass, and I last saw him sometime in the early 90's. He'll be dead now of course.
I've always assumed he fought at Arnhem (could have been Varsity or indeed Normandy with 6th AB), and would love to know if his name appears on the Arnhem list. I can't now recall if Dad ever mentioned it was Arnhem or elsewhere.
His name was Nelson Bone, which is quite distinctive.

[Flying10uk]

and would love to know if his name appears on the Arnhem list. I can't now recall if Dad ever mentioned it was Arnhem or elsewhere.

Gil did kindly find my relative on the "Arnhem list" a few years ago for me. Although we already knew that my relative fought at Arnhem some other information was also suggested by Gil which may be confirmed when I get round to applying to the MOD for a copy of my relative's service record.

[Gil Boyd]

GeeRam,

There was only one BONE S.G. at Arnhem who was with the Glider Pilot Regiment who was a S/SGT. Quite a rare surname.
Your relative probably fought at Normandy or elsewhere.

[GeeRam]

GeeRam,

There was only one BONE S.G. at Arnhem who was with the Glider Pilot Regiment who was a S/SGT. Quite a rare surname.
Your relative probably fought at Normandy or elsewhere.

Most likely 6th AB then, and dropped at Normandy or Op.Varsity (or both)

[Bob Womack]

I do hate the term "A Bridge too Far" because without an attempt to capture the bridge at Arnhem there would have been little point to the whole operation, Market Garden.

As I understand it the term was originated by General Fredrick 'Boy' Browning, who led I Airborne from Nijmegen.



Bob

[Flying10uk]

As I understand it the term was originated by General Fredrick 'Boy' Browning, who led I Airborne from Nijmegen.



Bob

The term may have been used in the film but was the term actually used in real life?

If it was, it seems a stupid thing to say because the whole point of the entire operation was to capture all of the bridges including, most importantly, the bridge at Arnhem because that bridge led into the heart of Germany.

[Bob Womack]

The term may have been used in the film but was the term actually used in real life? If it was, it seems a stupid thing to say because the whole point of the entire operation was to capture all of the bridges including, most importantly, the bridge at Arnhem because that bridge led into the heart of Germany.

The exchange is really strange. During planning for Market-Garden Browning was told he would have to hold the Arnhem Bridge two days to which he replied they could hold it for four days. After the operation, when relating this to Urquhart, he insisted that he'd followed that estimate with, "But I think we might be going a bridge too far." So, the plan was to seize all the bridges but many, right up to Browning, seemed to have thought it was simply not possible, right from the outset.


It is significant that Montgomery refused to seek the advice of the Dutch Army officers in exile about his plan. As it turned out, an assault from Belgium was a standard problem on the Dutch Army officer's Academy test. When asked about it after the fact, a Dutch officer laughed and said, "Ah, Monty would have failed the Dutch Army Academy graduation exam. We all knew you couldn't fight up the route he choose - it was an elevated highway that exposed you to fire over every foot you moved. Our leaders had developed a route over a system of back-roads that were largely protected."


Bob

[Flying10uk]

"But I think we might be going a bridge too far."

The use of this phrase implies that it would have been perfectly sensible and logical to attempt to seize all of the bridges except the Arnhem bridge. In my opinion unless an attempt was made to seize the Arnhem bridge there was little point in attempting to seize any of the other bridges.

[Bob Womack]

The use of this phrase implies that it would have been perfectly sensible and logical to attempt to seize all of the bridges except the Arnhem bridge. In my opinion unless an attempt was made to seize the Arnhem bridge there was little point in attempting to seize any of the other bridges.

It just hits me as a cautionary thing. He's looking at the plans and thinks they might tried too much in one action and/or perhaps thinks the plan has become over-dependent on too many breaks going their way. I see it more of an evaluation of the scope of the plan rather than of the validity of seizing all but the Arnhem bridge. It is un-qestioned that the whole plan was predicated on creating a bridgehead to the Ruhr.


Bob

[Flying10uk]

We know the outcome if we had gone after all of the bridges except the Arnhem bridge, in the hope of capturing it some time later. The Germans would have blown it up as soon as they realised our intentions which is what they did in reality after the battle of Arnhem was over.