John Waddy - Tour of the Arnhem Battlefields

It is said that one should never start a lecture with an apology, nevertheless, I shall start by apologizing for foisting yet another book about Arnhem on the public; yet in mitigation I can say that this is not quite a book, or rather, it did not intend to be one at its inception. Following the success of Sir Michael Grays excellent audio battlefield tour of the 6th Airborne Divisions operations in Normandy, it was envisaged that an Arnhem sequel might be produced.

I wrote the first script for this, and collated into it the stories of some fifty Arnhem veterans, ready for recording. It then became apparent that an audio tour was not the right medium in which to describe with clarity the complicated manoeuvrings of the various units, and the actions that they fought during the nine day long series of battles which are referred to collectively as The Battle of Arnhem. I decided to write a fuller account.

I am grateful indeed to all those many veterans who have so kindly sent me their personal stories of the actions in which they took part. I have managed to include most of these, albeit somewhat condensed, but inevitably some material has had to be edited out. However, all of it has been retained, and will eventually be kept in the archives of the Airborne Museum, Hartenstein, for posterity.

Having at last finished this second version, and here I must thank and congratulate Hugh Coleridge who typed the copy from a mixture of handwriting and my one finger typing. At that stage I had intended to produce a limited number of copies on a sort of DIY basis for possible sale in the two Airborne museums; but then General Sir John Hackett intervened, having read a draft copy, and he recommended the work to a publisher. I am most grateful to him for his advice, and it is sad for me that he will not see the finished product. I am forever in his debt for the wonderful experience of serving on his staff when he commanded 4th Parachute Brigade.

I have been fortunate in having so much help and encouragement from staunch friends of the airbornes in Holland. First and foremost is Dr Adrian Groeneweg OBE, Director in all but name of the superb Airborne Museum, Hartenstein. He has given me his knowledgeable advice in person, by telephone and in lengthy correspondence, correcting my numerous errors. Robert Sigmond, a Friend of the Airborne Museum, likewise has aided me with advice, encouragement and corrections. He arranged for me to meet Maarten van den Bent, a Resistance leader, and together we walked the course of Operation Pegasus 1. Robert Voskuil, another long time friend (and son of Jan Voskuil who was an advisor with me during the filming of A Bridge Too Far) has also provided much help. I spent a fascinating time with him in his studio in Oosterbeek looking over his huge collection of photographs, films and documents that his father, and then he, have collected over the past half century. Many of the photographs in this book are from his collection. To all these good friends of many years my heartfelt thanks.

Mrs Diana Andrews, for long the linchpin of the Airborne Forces Museum, Aldershot, helped me with documents and photographs, and I send her my thanks, now down in windy Cornwall.

I acknowledge, with many thanks the permission granted by the following authors Robert Kershaw, to quote from his book It Never Snows in September , the orders issued by HQ II Panzer Korps on 17 September. Martin Middlebrook, for the detailed list of the sub units which fought at the bridge, from his book Arnhem 1944 . Geoffrey Powell for permission to use maps from his book The Devils Birthday .

Michael White, who was sketch artist for the making of the film A Bridge Too Far, drew the sketch map of the bridge houses. And I send him and his wife Diana a big thank you; also for looking after the old colonel during his six months in Holland, whilst I was trying to advise the Director of that film.

I owe Mrs Sylvia Pywell, of Deane Business Services, Taunton, much gratitude and congratulations. First, she completely retyped my original script and then over several years has typed numerous pages of amendments, rewrites and additions, many of them with complicated details and in military parlance; always with good humour and impeccable efficiency.

Finally, to the one who has had the biggest burden my wife Ann, I owe the most. She has had to bear with my endless scribbling, thumping the typewriter, telephone calls, messages, letters and parcels, along with a permanently untidy desk.

In September 1944, Ann, then my fiancee, rode out from Melton Mowbray to watch the huge cavalcade of the skies in flight over Leicestershire as we set out with such high hopes on our ill-fated mission in Holland. Since those days she has followed the airborne drum with me to many far flung outposts across the world.

Photographs

The author is grateful to the following for permission to reproduce photographs on the pages listed:

Airborne Museum Hartenstein: 83, 101, 143, 145, 164.

Imperial War Museum: 17, 24, 32, 33, 38, 43, 51, 52, 54, 79, 92, 96, 100, 120, 122, 154, 160, 172, 190, 196, 197.

Airborne Forces Museum: 37, 46, 69, 203.

RAF Photographs: 40/41, 49, 62, 94, 104

Charles Bates: 33 (bottom)

Jasper Booty: 105

Mike Dauncey: 141

George Merz: 185

Robert Voskuil: 83, 85, 88, 108, 114, 116, 127, 168, 182.

THE BATTLE OF OOSTERBEEK - THE PERIMETER-20-26 SEPTEMBER KEY TO MAP ON BACK COVER

MAIN GERMAN THRUSTS AGAINST PERIMETER (From 20th Sept)