THE WORCESTERSHIRES - MARKET GARDEN & ELST
In September 1944 the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment headed towards the Dutch frontier having already moved through France and Belgium. After a few days rest on the outskirts of Leopoldsburg (Bourg Léopold) they learnt that they would play their part in the now famous operation codenamed “Market-Garden”.
“Market-Garden” was a combined airborne and ground offensive, with the airborne division dropping behind German lines planning to capture and hold 5 key bridges intact while the ground forces of 30 Corps drove north through Holland to hold their gain. This would allow Allied troops access across the Rhine and into Germany.
It was in these circumstances that the men of the Worcestershire Regiment found themselves battling for control of the small town of Elst just a few miles from Arnhem.
The battle for Elst was to be hard fought with close quarter fighting as the German army occupied virtually every house in the town.
Men of the 1st Worcesters at Lummen
(17th September 1944)
On the 14th September 1944 the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment received orders for a move into Belgium and left Pressagny L’Orgueilleux at 07.00 hours arriving at the village of Brain-le-Compte, to the north of Mons at 21.45 hours. On the morning of the 15th they continued their journey through Belgium and at 19.45 hours they arrived at the small village of Lummen,where they bivouacked on waste ground. On the 18th September 1944 the battalion received orders to move to a concentration area south-west of Hechtel where they once again bivouacked next to some military barracks at Leopoldburg.
It was at Leopoldsburg that the plan for the joint land and air assault on Holland (Market Garden) was unfolded. 30 Corps, with the Guards Armoured Division leading, were to break out of the bridgehead now established across the Meuse-Escaut Canal and were to head for Eindhoven, Graves, Nijmegen, Arnhem, Appledorn and the sea.
The Worcestershires’ objective in this operation was to be an area just north of the village of Tenet, roughly a third of the way between Arnhem and Appledorn.
5 Long Days in September...
20th - left Leopoldsburg with the 30 Corps convoy
21st - convoy passed through Eindhoven, Grave & Nijmegen
22nd - followed 7th Somerset Light Infantry into Oosterhout and assembled in Valberg at 22:00 hours
23rd - moved on Elst with the 7th Somersets. The battle lasted for the best part of two days, with many soldiers killed or wounded.
Comprehensive details and stories of the 1st Worcestershires' experiences and role in both Market Garden and the Battle for Elst can be found at the following links:
With thanks to http://www.worcestershireregiment.com/ for content
