.....On 17 September the huge air armada carrying the first lift of the three divisions landed. The 101st captured their objectives after some hard fighting. The 82nd took the Grave bridge at once but it took four days hard fighting to capture Nijmegen bridge with the Guards Armoured Division (who kept stopping to drink tea). Due to insufficient aircraft the 1st Airborne Division had to be landed in three lifts and the Air Forces insisted that they land on DZs eight miles to the west of Arnhem.

.....The 1st Parachute Brigade advanced on three routes to capture the main bridge at Arnhem but met with stiff opposition. Only 2 PARA, with elements of Brigade HQ and a company of 3 PARA, were able to get through and seize the northern end of the bridge.

.....The Airlanding Brigade remained on the DZs and LZs to protect the second lift on the second day of the 4th Parachute Brigade and the remainder of the division. The Polish Parachute Brigade were due to land south of the bridge on the third day. Heavy opposition was encountered from the 9th SS Panzer Division which moved to block the route between the bridge and the DZs.

.....The 1st Parachute Brigade with the 2nd South Staffordshire Regiment and 11 PARA were cut to pieces during the heavy streetfighting in their effort to reach the bridge. 2 PARA was became isolated in the houses at the northern end of the bridge but they held out for three days and four nights until they were pounded into destruction by the ever encroaching German forces.

.....The remnants of the division formed a tight perimeter around the village of Oosterbeek to the west of Arnhem. The Germans concentrated their strength against this perimeter, attacking it ceaselessly with mortar artillery and tanks. Despite heavy casualties and no re-supply the defending forces held on, in a position which even the Germans called the 'Cauldron'.

.....Due to bad weather the Polish Parachute Brigade could not be dropped until the fourth day at Driel, south of the river. Despite strenuous efforts they were unable to get more than a few hundred men across the river to reinforce the division.

.....Following the delay of the ground troops of XXX Corps in reaching Nijmegen and their consequent inability to aid the beleagured division, Montgomery was forced to order the withdrawal of the remnants of the 1st Airborne Division. This was effected during the night of 25 September with little over 2000 men escaping out of the original force of 10000. The fatal casualties, including those of the Air Forces, totalled 1916.