Operation Market Garden: The Digital Monument

Roll of Honour

September 17th 1944 - September 25th 1944

3,363 personal files|2,100+ portrait photos|2,800+ headstone photos

Created by Remco Hendriks | Market Garden Foundation

Commemorating

Four Allied Airborne Forces

Polish Cross for Valour

Kpr. Stefan Zawistowski

On September 25th, 1944, the 27-year-old Polish paratrooper flew into battle aboard Glider 890 carrying anti-tank guns. Under heavy German fire, the glider crashed. Of the four crew aboard, only one survived. Zawistowski's body was never recovered.

Explore the Story

The Nine Days: September 17–25, 1944

Day 1

September 17, 1944

D-Day: The Landings Begin

The largest airborne operation in history begins. Over 20,000 Allied paratroopers and glider troops land behind German lines in the Netherlands. The 1st Airborne Division drops near Arnhem, while American divisions secure bridges to the south.

21 years

Twin brother who ran through enemy fire to reach his wounded brother Tommy. Found lying side by side, they rest in adjacent graves at Oosterbeek. This database is dedicated to the Gronert twins.

21 years

Hit in the mouth by enemy fire at Oosterbeek Laag railway station, his cries for help drew his twin brother Claude to his side. They now rest in adjacent graves at Oosterbeek War Cemetery.

Day 2

September 18, 1944

The Bridge Battles

Lt. Col. Frost's men hold the north end of Arnhem Bridge against fierce German counterattacks. Relief forces struggle to break through. At Nijmegen and Eindhoven, American paratroopers fight to secure their objectives.

22 yearsMedal of Honor

Wounded four times but refused evacuation. When a grenade landed among his comrades, he yelled 'grenade' and threw his body over it, sacrificing his life to save them.

28 years

Wounded while hunting German snipers, he was taken to a casualty station later overrun by SS troops. Witnesses believe he was murdered. His body was never found. He had said he would never be taken alive.

Day 3

September 19, 1944

The Supply Crisis

RAF pilots fly through heavy flak to resupply surrounded troops at Arnhem. Many drop zones are in German hands. The bridge defenders are running low on ammunition. Polish gliders bringing reinforcements are shot down.

30 yearsVictoria Cross

His Dakota on fire, he ordered his crew to bail out while he continued the supply drop. He held the burning aircraft steady so the last man could jump, then went down with his plane over Arnhem.

24 yearsVictoria Cross

Wounded in the face, then both arms, he reorganized his scattered company under heavy fire and personally led attacks on German positions. When cut off with a small party, he ordered his men to withdraw while he stayed behind alone with pistol and grenades to cover their escape. He was never seen again.

Day 4

September 20, 1944

The Waal Crossing

In a desperate gamble, American paratroopers cross the Waal River in canvas boats under withering fire. At Arnhem Bridge, the last defenders finally fall after four days. The perimeter at Oosterbeek shrinks.

26 yearsVictoria Cross

Wounded in the shoulder on D-Day, again in the back on Day 3, he refused evacuation. On Day 4, he stood in full view of enemy tanks to direct his men's withdrawal. He was killed that night after four days of relentless fighting.

23 yearsDistinguished Service Cross

Crossed the Waal in the bow of his boat, firing his machine gun at German positions. When his gun was destroyed, he crawled within 15 yards of the enemy and destroyed their position with grenades before falling.

Day 5

September 21, 1944

The Poles Arrive

After four days of delays, the Polish Brigade finally drops at Driel, south of the Rhine. They land under fire in rapidly shrinking drop zones. The Oosterbeek perimeter contracts as German pressure intensifies.

20 yearsMedal of Honor

Single-handedly stopped a German counterattack at Oosterhout. With his rocket launcher, he destroyed two tanks, killed nine Germans in a house with one round, then fell to a mortar shell while reloading.

20 years

At just 20, his Stirling bomber was attacked by German fighters after a supply drop. With his aircraft ablaze and heading toward the Dutch village of Batenburg, he deliberately steered away to crash into the River Meuse, saving hundreds of civilians. For 60 years, villagers have composed annual songs in his honor.

Day 6

September 22, 1944

Holding On

The Oosterbeek pocket becomes a desperate siege. Supplies dwindle. The wounded fill every house. Polish troops attempt night crossings of the Rhine to reinforce the perimeter, suffering heavy casualties.

22 years

Before the battle, he wrote: 'I loved you, Mom, you were the best Mother in the World... I want no flowers, no epitaph, no tears. All I want is for you to remember me and feel proud of me.' His farewell letter became famous.

22 years

An American from New Jersey who joined Polish Forces in 1940. At farm De Baarskamp, he moved forward to identify figures calling in English, wanting to prevent friendly fire. He was killed when a German attack suddenly began.

Day 7

September 23, 1944

Polish Sacrifice

Polish troops continue desperate attempts to cross the Rhine and reinforce the British. Heavy casualties mount on both banks. In the corridor, American engineers race to build and defend vital bridges.

25 years

Led his engineers for 23 hours straight, building a critical bridge at Veghel under sniper fire. A Dutch engineer wrote: 'His calmness, especially in moments of danger, was remarkable.' He was killed by a sniper the next day.

29 years

Served under the name 'John P. Rodley' to hide his Jewish identity. Fighting against Nazi Germany, he carried the additional burden of knowing what capture might mean. His true name is now restored.

Day 8

September 24, 1944

The Last Stand

The decision is made to evacuate. Surviving troops prepare for withdrawal across the Rhine. In the perimeter, fighting continues house to house. The wounded who cannot be moved will be left behind.

21 years

An Irish immigrant, he attended Father Sampson's mass and told his buddies he had a feeling he wouldn't make it. They laughed it off. Two hours later, an 88mm shell took his life. 'All the men from his platoon cried.'

29 years

Murdered by SS-Sgt. Karl Lerche on the steps of the Municipal Hospital at Arnhem. A war crime that was documented and the perpetrator identified. Even hospitals offered no sanctuary.

Day 9

September 25, 1944

The Withdrawal

Under cover of darkness and artillery, 2,400 survivors slip away across the Rhine. Canadian and British engineers ferry them in small boats. Many drown or are killed in the crossing. Over 6,000 are left behind.

19 years

Last seen rescuing his drowning commanding officer during the river crossing. His body was found in the Rhine weeks later. At just 19, he gave his life trying to save another. In 2003, his siblings finally visited his grave.

22 years

Operating Stormboat 1 to evacuate survivors, his boat took a direct mortar hit shortly after launching at 21:45. All four crew died instantly. His body was found in the river seven weeks later. He died trying to bring others home.

SeptemberSept1944'44

The Full Campaign Story

Go deeper into Operation Market Garden with detailed battlefield narratives, location photography, and historical context covering the entire operation—not just the nine days of combat.

Read the Full Story

Burgerslachtoffers Database

Naast de militaire slachtoffers vielen er ook honderden burgers tijdens de Slag om Arnhem en omstreken. Ontdek hun verhalen in een eigen database met 640 geregistreerde personen.

In addition to military casualties, hundreds of civilians perished during the Battle of Arnhem. Explore their stories in a dedicated database of 640 registered persons. Dutch language only.

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Search the Roll of Honour

Find by Name, Age, Army Number, Nationality, or Division

Browse Profiles

Roll of Honour

Showing 20 of 3,363

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James G. Salmon, Tpr.

Age: 19

James L. Diel, 2/Lt.

Age: 22

Walenty Nycz, St.strz.

Age: 24

Michael S. Page, Maj.

Age: 33

Edward Kostrz, Plut.

Age: 25

Richard W. Briscoe, Lt.

Age: 27

Jack Carr, Cpl.

Age: 22

Herbert Osborne, F/Sgt.

Age: 23

William A. Fraser, Lt.

Age: unknown

Joseph W. Mizerak, Pfc.

Age: 22

Dennis A. Johnson, Sgt.

Age: 25

Ernest Finchett, Pte.

Age: 29

Walter Landon, Pte.

Age: 24

Harry B. Weatherell, Gnr.

Age: 28

John K. MacDonnell, F/O

Age: 21

Dennis A. Matthews, Sgt.

Age: 25

Zygmunt Pawluczuk, Sap.

Age: 23

Gerald P. Hereford Jr., Pfc.

Age: 20

Raymond Dentino, S/Sgt.

Age: 34

Robert C. Bondy, Dvr.

Age: 35

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Personal information

Age

Nationality

American

Date / place of birth

25 July 1922, Vermillion County, Indiana, U.S.A

Military information

Army Number

15335096

Rank

Pvt.

Function

Regimental Telephone Switchboard

Platoon / Troop / Flight

Communications Platoon

Company / Squadron

Regimental Headquarters Company

Division / Transport / Command

82nd Airborne Division

Regiment

508 Parachute Infantry Regiment

Decorations

Death information

Died when

2-10-44

Died where

Wylerbaan

Spot

Regimental Command Post

Burial location

Grave number

G-5-11

Graves overview

Personal notes

Killed with Fisher / Hartman and Jones by a tree burst of artillery fire. Entered service at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana on Thursday, 5 November 1942. Pvt. Thomas was buried at 1730 hours, on 3 October 1944, in Grave 191, Row 10, Plot B, of the Temporary American Cemetery #1, at Molenhoek, Holland. His body, in uniform was first wrapped in a blanket and then in a parachute for burial. The temporary grave marker was a simple peg driven into the ground with one of his identification tags attached. To the right of Pvt. Thomas was buried S/Sgt Abraham L. Atkins of B Company, 1st Battalion, 325th Glider Infantry Regiment. On his left, Pvt. Garrett A. Youngs of D Battery, 376th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion was buried. On 17 June 1948, the remains of Pvt. Richard Thomas were disinterred at the Temporary American Cemetery #1, at Molenhoek, Holland by Mr. Jesse G. Ray. Pvt. Thomas was permanently buried in the American Military Cemetery at Margraten, Holland on 26 January 1949, at the wishes of his father, Mr. George H. Thomas of Clinton, Indiana. It is so amazing how a young man of 22 years, Pvt. Richard H. Thomas, who died in a foreign country over sixty years ago still touches the hearts of his family today. Every time we find out another bit of information about him, or look at the picture of Uncle Richard hanging in our study our eyes begin to blur with emotion and a knot forms in our throats. Every time we think of what he did for us and for the people of Holland we thank him. There is so much that we don't know about Richard Thomas and some that we do know. We know that he enlisted in the U.S. Army and volunteered to become a paratrooper. We know that he jumped into Normandy and was wounded there, rejoining the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment in time to participate in the airborne invasion of Holland. And, we know that he was engaged to marry an English girl. The other day when I was talking to Andries Hoekstra about the paratroopers who had been killed in action being buried in the temporary cemeteries without caskets and with only blankets for their shrouds I made the remark how sad this was, he told me that this was much better than burial in a field grave where there were no blankets or anything else. I then began to think about how many American soldiers of generations past were buried wrapped in an Army gray or olive blanket. And, I remembered that Generals Eisenhower and Mac Arthur were both wrapped in a simple soldier's blanket for burial. I don't believe Uncle Richard would have minded being buried wrapped in a soldier's blanket and parachute silk in the time honored tradition of the American military.

Additional Information

Original burial location

Richard H. Thomas, Pvt.82nd Airborne Division

Personal information

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Additional Information

Original burial location