'The Sacrifice of the Dorsets'

On 23 September 1944 the 4th Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment reached the south bank of the Lower-Rhine at Driel. The British Airborne forces at that moment were concentrated in a small pocket at the opposite site of the river. 4th Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment was ordered to cross the river to make the evacuation of hard-pressed Airbornes possible.

In the afternoon of 24 September, the Commanding Officer of the Dorsets, Lieutenant-Colonel Gerald Tilly took his company commanders up Driel church tower to view the proposed crossing point. The crossing was scheduled for that night. At 01.00 hours that night, under the cover of darkness and three hours behind schedule, some 315 men of Tilly’s battalion fought their way across the river. Scattered over numerous groups the Dorsets tried to establish themselves on the north bank of the river, but suffered terrible losses.

Twenty-four hours later, the Airborne pocket was evacuated. However, out of the 315 men who crossed the river, eventually only 75 men came back. Both the Corps Commanders Brian Horrocks and Boy Browning visited the much-depleted battalion afterwards and spoke to all men and officers. The 4th Battalion awarded the unique distinction of an Airborne Pennant, embroidered with the Dorset regimental crest, to be carried with the Colours. The 4th Dorsets would be the only non-Airborne battalion to win the battle honour ‘Arnhem’.