T H E C O V E N A N T E R
occasional mortar bomb. adjoining roadsides. Now clearly surplus to
The Norton was parked against a tree at requirements in his designated role, Scott
the side of the building, while Scott went merely filled in at H.Q. when required. He
to report for duty. He was ordered to dig was not called to fill any particular post,
in outside the hotel beside the Division’s and at times felt very much the outsider.
Defence Platoon. He had reverted to being He was never equipped with an airborne
a plain footslogger with no apparent type helmet. His conventional issue steel
immediate role - one for which he would helmet, probably the only one of that type
never require the services of the Norton. in the perimeter (Airborne troops wore a
Scott cannot recall its fate, and can only closer fitting rimless variety) led to several
assume that it fell into German hands. No misunderstandings and disappointments
information was available about the capture for the defenders, many of whom wrongly
of Deelen airfleid, and thus, none about the assumed that the relieving force had arrived
possible arrival of 52nd Division. Wireless when Scott came into view.
commication with 21st Army Group was By now, the Hartenstein was under almost
virtually non-existent, leaving Scott in constant shellfire, and it was becoming
the position of an observant bystander. clear that the bridgehead could not hold
From that time onwards, he acted mainly much longer. Still waiting in England, the
as a supernumerary, performing any task Commander of 52nd’s two Air Portable
that became necessary. Information about Brigades, Major General Hakewell-Smith,
the general situation was sketchy. General realised that there would now be no
Urquhart was missing, having failed to possibility of the intended fly-in to Deelen
return from visiting his Brigades. airfield. His offer to fly a Brigide by glider to
Scott was given several tasks when none of bolster the shrinking perimeter was refused,
the H.Q. Staff we were available. By this time not on logistical grounds, but because of
the situation around the Hartstein Hotel had a lack of appreciation of the gravity of
livened up considerably. The quiet of the first the situation by lst British Airborne Corps
day of his arrival had long gone. There was Headquarters, still some twelve miles South
constant mortar and artillery bombardment, near Nijmegen. The only relief from the
and latterly also bursts of machine gun fire enemy’s constant bombardment of mortar
sweeping the open grounds. Headquarters and artillery fire occurred when re-supply
of lst Airborne Division was in the cellars of aircraft flew over at heights as low as three
the hotel. When called on to receive orders, hundred feet to make supply drops. The slow
the short dash from slit trench to the shelter flying transports, flew fearlessly through
of the building became an increasingly heavy anti-aircraft and small arms fire, the
hazardous undertaking. Being able to drive loadmasters continuing to offload supplies,
a Bren, gun carrier - as a trained mortar that sadly fell into enemy, not British,
platoon officer - he was ordered to take a hands. Scott viewed this respite with mixed
carrier loaded with ammunition to 7th feelings, as he watched with admiration
K.O.S.B., which was entrenched in the North the bravery of the aircrews, some of whom
Eastern shoulder of what had now become a continued their hazardous duty even when
defence perimeier. On another occasion, he on fire and soon doomed to crash.
was ordered to deliver a message on foot to On the afternoon of 25th September the
the Eastern Perimeter about one mile from order was given to evacuate the bridgehead.
the Hartenstein, held by ‘Lonsdale Force’, Scott recalled a spectacular barrage by the
a mixture of units now gathering round British Artillery to seal off the perimeter,
Oosterbeek Church near to the river. These and to conceal what was taking place. The
defenders, by now, were in a desperate evacuation was an orderly process. Scott
state, under constant fire tired and needing was one of many parties of men, fifteen to
to be rallied. Scott arrived to hear the now twenty in number. They were passed to the
legendary inspirational address by Major riverbank though several staged checkpoints,
‘Dicky’ Lonsdale to the remnants of his all these being manned by glider pilots.
Force, delivered from the Church’s pulpit. All were ordered that on no account were
From time to time, he was ordered to carry they to halt to assist the wounded or any
out patrols near to the H.Q. to protect against stragglers. There was intermittent and
possible infiltration by the enemy. He also apparently random machine gun fire. He
laid and, as far as possible, camouflaged was impressed by the fact that while many
a series of some fifty Hawkins anti-tank were waiting, there never was any rush for
mines in the vicinity of the Hotel and the places as each boat came into view -

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