David Dobie

The 3rd Parachute Battalion was halted at the Hotel Hartenstein in Oosterbeek with its brigade commander and the divisional commander.

Lieutenant Colonel David Dobie's 1st Parachute Battalion, entangled in the woods north of the railway, had abandoned its objective, and General-Lieutenant Hans von Tettau was preparing a dawn assault on the landing zones.

So let's start at the beginning.

It is midnight on Sunday, September 17th, 1944.

The Battalion War Diary suggests the preparations were already in hand.

At about 1500, Lieutenant Herbert Burwash and up to 40 men from his assault platoon and Company A reach Wadi.

They have fought their way up the Klingelbegseweg in the same attack that Dobie's battalion mounted from 1400.

They bring a Bren carrier of ammunition.