XII Corps Division at Market Garden

I am still working on getting the OOB finalized for the Operation Market-Garden game I am trying to complete. I am limited to this map: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Market-Garden_-_Karte_Plan.png

my question is what based off of real movements of the XII Corps what was there "real" involvement in the operation?
Also I keep on reading that 7th Armoured was not stationed in Northern Belgium and didn't participate but I also read that units from the 7th Armoured assisted 101st Airborne in keeping the corridor open. Who am I to believe or were they "on call"?
And finally the 15th Scottish "passed" the 53rd on 19th but where was it going and how far did it go?

Thanks,
Guerrilla

 

Edited Post: Nevermind you answered my question. So they were only involved after the 24th.

 

Thanks I will check into that. Does anyone have answers to my other questions?

Guerrilla

 

According to Verney in his The Dessert Rats it seems that the Division was ordered to "move up" on the evening of the 19th and Brigadier Pepper (131st Bde) went forth to HQ 50th Division, however the next day it was decided that 131st Bde and the Inniskillings should come under the control of 50th Division, so it is hard to say the 7th Arm Division participated before the 24th.

On the 15th Division Verney is very vague as he only says:

On the 19th the Division [7th Arm Div] was given the task of carrying out the evacuation of the Gheel northern bridgehead. The 15th Division were required to move further east and the resistance here had been so strong and the losses so heavy that it was decided to abandon the positions gained.

Source: Verney, G.L. (1954). The Dessert Rats. p. 254-255.

Btw. on page 254 he also writes:

The 7th Armoured were not directly concerned during the first week of the operation, but as the aircraft carrying the troops flew over the Divisional area the artillery fired on such German anti-aircraft batteries as were within reach

It is actually strange that Verney refers to himself in third person in the book, which makes me wondering whether it has been ghosted. Does anyone know?

 

Nothing wrong with that. Alot of Histories I've read are in the third person.
Modesty perhaps? Or the focus of attention is the Unit not the person?

I didn't say that there is something wrong with it - just that I found it strange that he refers to himself as "Major-General Verney did ..." etc. and not "I did ..", and being interested in generals I am actually interested in knowing whether this book bearing the general's name is ghosted.

 

I didn't say that there is something wrong with it - just that I found it strange that he refers to himself as "Major-General Verney did ..." etc. and not "I did ..", and being interested in generals I am actually interested in knowing whether this book bearing the general's name is ghosted.

I believe it was written by his son.

 

And finally the 15th Scottish "passed" the 53rd on 19th but where was it going and how far did it go?

Thanks,
Guerrilla
15th Scottish arrived in Best Holland 21st September 1944. Finally liberating it, after the place was evacuated of civilians,on 24th October 1944.

 

7th Seaforths and 2nd Glasgow Highlanders opened the attack on Best 22nd September. Wilhelmina cnal could not be crossed as intended by bridge because of strong opposition. Seaforths Pioneer platoon apparently built a strong raft and crossed the canal at night ferrying all the required fighting material. 2nd Glasgow were unlucky, the raft sank before they could get all their material across.

 

During O.M.G. American para's were in Best 17th & 18th Sept but met with fierce opposition and were unable to secure the bridges over the Wilhelmina canal. 506th regiment sustained heavy losses, even the deployment of 3rd Batt 502nd regiment could not force a breakthrough. On the way to the bridges they were attacked so hard they had to retreat into the woods. so 2nd batt 502nd were deployed as well. So 2 battalions ended up fighting at 17.00 hours, for a bridge that had been blown up at 11.00 hours. Joe E Mann of the 502nd was killed on 19th Sept and Postumously awarded the CMH.

 

Thanks for the continuing info.

So as far as the 15th Scottish it would seem to me that there intended goal of driving towards Hertongosch was "held up" in order to assist 101 at Best in Late Operation action?

In the case of the Desert Rats there goal was merely logistical in the sense of keeping the Supply Route open (Hell's Highway) in order that Ground Supplies could reach the XXX Corps and VIII Corps. Is this right?

I am asking cause that is how I will have to structure them into the ruleset I am writing.

Guerrilla

 

Here's the detail on the plaque from the picture above:


As far as the books I have read state, the battle was a fierce affair and went on for over a month. The memorial commemorates the 120 Scottish lads who died during the fighting.

 

A month?!?!

Did the Germans focus the remnants of the 15th Armiee there? From my remembrance after the 502nd lost the town the 101 Counterattacked with elements of the XXX Corps and the officer who had led the assault on Best Bridge led his "captors" back to Division HQ (From A Bridge Too Far), and subsequently Best was captured. Or was there a counterattack?

GG

 

Best was never captured, until it's liberation by 15th Scottish 24th October, Nor for that matter were the Bridges. The Germans always held their positions in the centre of Best. When the American para's reached their goal, the bridge, they found it in pieces laying in the water.