Impressed by the success of German airborne operations, during the Battle of France, the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, directed the War Office to investigate the possibility of creating a corps of 5,000 parachute troops.

[5] However it was decided in October 1942, that the brigade would only have Indian or Gurkha battalions and the 151st was released and sent to the Middle East.

[13] The battalion fought all day in the woods but its losses were very heavy, with 'A' Company losing all of its officers.

[13] Finally brigade headquarters obtained permission to withdraw south of the rail line into Oosterbeek.

The units in Wolfheze and the remnants of the 10th Parachute Battalion now prepared to defend the village.

[16] The battalion was now under command of Major Geoffrey Powell[17] The German tactics were to bombard the British positions with tank and mortar fire.

[20] By 23 September the battalions position was subjected to constant mortar and artillery fire and incursions by tanks and infantry were becoming more and more frequent.

[21] On 24 September the decision was made by Lieutenant General Horrocks commander XXX Corps to withdraw what was left of the division south of the Rhine.

[23] During the battle of Arnhem the battalion's casualties were, 98 dead, 68 were evacuated and 313 became prisoners of war.