To: Major-General R. E. Urquhart, D.S.O., Commander, 1st Airborne division.

Before you leave 2nd Army, I want to tell you how much I appreciate the great action fought by your Division at Arnhem.

From the moment that you came under my command on September 17th, until the day on which you were ordered to withdraw, you were fighting ceaselessly against odds which increased as the days went by.

I want all ranks in your splendid division to know that this action of yours played a vital part in the whole 2nd Army operation.

Thanks to the way in which you contained the enemy at Arnhem, we were able to secure the bridges at Nijmegen intact. Please convey to them all my admiration and gratitude for their great work.

 

M. C. Dempsey, Lieut. General, Commander, British 2nd Army.