Arnhem: Black Tuesday

by Al Murray

The Battle of Arnhem is one of the best-known stories in British military history: a daring but thwarted attempt to secure a vital bridgehead across the Rhine in order to end the war before Christmas. It is always written about, with the benefit of unerring 20/20 hindsight, as being doomed to fail, but the men who fought there, men of military legend, didn't know that that was to be their fate.

By focusing on the events of one day as they happened through the eyes of the British participants and without bringing any knowledge of what would happen tomorrow to bear, Al Murray offers a very different perspective to a familiar narrative. Some things went right and a great many more went wrong, but recounting them in this way allows the reader to understand for the first time how certain decisions were taken in the moment and how opportunities were squandered.

Tuesday 19 September 1944 was that terrible day which became known as Black Tuesday. From just after 12:00 hours while plans were being made to seize the initiative and optimism reigned, to the following midnight, when Arnhem was burning and the Allied fortunes looked very different, a mere twenty-four hours changed the course of the war.

Al Murray has always been obsessed with Arnhem, and in Arnhem: Black Tuesday, brings all of his knowledge, interpretation and enthusiasm to bear to tell the story of one of history’s great heroic failures differently for the first time.

Genres: History, World War II, Military History, Nonfiction, War, Military Fiction

432 pages, Paperback

First published September 12, 2024

About the author

Alastair James Hay "Al" Murray is an English comedian and TV personality well known for his stand-up persona and quick repartee.

His best-known character is "The Pub Landlord", a mock-xenophobic but stereotypical publican.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Murray

Reviews

[Jonny · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting take on the story of the 'Bridge Too Far'. Al breaks the mould,much in the same way as Robert Kershaw did by introducing focus (in Robert's case to a single location, in Al's to a single day). His insistence on reintroducing the sense of jeopardy, reminding us that despite our knowledge that the resistance on the north bank of the Rhine is doomed, at the start of the day everything was still up for grabs, is important in grounding the narrative.

Anyone who's listened to Al's podcast with James Holland will know that Market Garden is Al's 'gateway drug'. In the book, he provides insight into a number of areas that are often overlooked, the efforts of 1 Airlanding Regt. RA, the difficulties faced by the RASC teams on the dropzones, recovering and organising supplies are dealt with in addition to the desperate stand at the bridge and the doomed attempts by the rest of the Division to break through to the besieged battalion and his on to the drop zones.

Well worth a look, and proof that there's still stories to be told, despite the passage of time.

[Chris Wray · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The air was fresh, the morning was beginning to sparkle and all the men looked jaunty and confident. A kind of watchful intentness for the first sight or sound that would proclaim the imminent test of their martial prowess now settled over this keen, battle-eager assembly.” Captain Stuart Mawson, RAMC

Is it possible to re-create a sense of drama for a battle as well-known and as much written about as Operation Market Garden? This book answers that question with a resounding yes! The device that Al Murray (yes, that Al Murray, The Pub Landlord!) employs to achieve this is to focus on a single day, Tuesday the 18th of September 1944, and specifically on what was happening in and around Arnhem. He organises his narrative around four locations (Town, Village, Woods and Bridge) and four times of day (Midnight, Morning, Afternoon and Evening). This is something of an experiment, but combined with Al’s brisk and engaging writing style, it works well to keep the narrative flowing and to inject a sense of jeopardy into a story where we already know the ending. The choice of this day in particular is also a good one, as the destruction of 4th Para Brigade north of Oosterbeek, the failure of any reinforcements to reach John Frost and 2 Para at the bridge, and the growing realisation that XXX Crops won;t be arriving any time soon, mean that this is the day where the wheels come off Market Garden. The vulnerability of airborne infantry in an age before helicopters, satellite communications and fast-jet air support is plain to see. Equally plain is the massive risk posed by the Allies veering off their highly mechanised, firepower-heavy steel-not-flesh approach to fighting the North West Europe campaign. On balance, Market Garden was probably worth the punt, but this book ably shows the size of the task that Browning had set for his men, and particularly those at the tip of the spear in Arnhem.

Another thing that strikes me is how bleakly realistic much of the writing is. This is not a light, entertaining book produced by a comedian: it is a serious, thorough, well-researched piece of narrative history that adds something valuable to the corpus of writing on Market Garden. Combined with Murray’s passion for his subject, which comes across in spades, this book represents quite an achievement. Bring on the next one!

“Wireless batteries, food, water and ammunition: the four requisites for survival. The batteries were finished; we could exist for a time without food and water but ammunition we must have, and this was becoming scarce as well. We must get some more soon or we would be finished.” Major Geoffrey Powell, 4th Parachute Brigade

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book giving a totally new perspective on this notorious battle a testament to bad planning and extraordinary bravery.

[Richard Luck · Rating 5 out of 5]

That rare history book that informs without admonishing the players for not doing what was obvious, for not being as clever as the author, etc.

[Dylan · Rating 2 out of 5]

focusing on a single day of a famous battle is an interesting concept, but the delivery is muddled. long sections of context which overshadow and undermine rather than enrich the central narrative coupled with a somewhat confusing (particularly for those unfamiliar with the battle) organisation make the book difficult to follow and at times boring.

some good parts (such as the description of the supply drop in the afternoon and the subsequent retreat from the woods) which are overshadowed by structural problems.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

I began this book on a train heading from Winchester to London in late September and found Al's writing style a refreshing change. He really captures the pandemonium of the later stage on one day of Market Garden when things were deteriorating. You pop in and out of each Battalion's story, meeting soldiers like Albert Blockwell and Robert Cain.
Even when you know the outcome you keeping hoping they make it, they reach Frost and his men on the bridge. Its paced well and very descriptive. I did find I had to refer back to the map pages to check on locations but a fantastic book nonetheless.
One little niggling point I have to make is that in his final summary he claims the Canadians liberated Arnhem in April 1945, it wasn't just the Canadians, there were British involved fighting in the city for example men of the 2nd Essex Regiment. I'm all for Canadians getting glory considering how Americans love to hog it all but include our own nation's too in its rightful place.

[Martin Groenewoud · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being very familiar with Operation Market Garden it was interesting to read a book that took a different approach. The details about all battalions, all fights, and all things that went wrong are great to read, but some might be a bit too detailed and extensive. Yet, the book does explain all the things that went wrong especially around landing of the gliders, the lack of ammunition and some questionable tactics. Of course there is no one single reason this battle failed, but is nog mentioned in the fact that, after the England Spiel, Monty didn't trust the Dutch resistance, while Jedburgh Team Claude's mission was to organize the Dutch resistance to help during the battle this never materialised in great numbers. A few time per year I visit Arnhem and my uncle's, Jacob Groenewoud's monument at the bridge. And his grave at the Oosterbeek Airborne Cemetry. A silent proof of the horrific battle that took place at the bridge.

[Graham Mott · Rating 2 out of 5]

A pleasant breezy book but feels very thin and rather rushed out to catch the enthusiasm for the excellent) podcast. The premise, to pick a particular day and focus on it, only works if this provides more insight and in this case it doesnt. Murray ignores XXX Corps (irritatingly called “30 Corps” ) the Germans and the American’s on the grounds 1st Airborne didn’t know what they were up to but but just seems lazy as the individual units didn’t know what each other was up to either. With apparently no new research beyond a trawl through unit histories, no new interviews, diaries etc there isn’t much new and even the photos are very familiar. An odd omission as there are amazing photos available online of the Monastery aftermath etc which aren’t in earlier books. Overall Martin Middlebrook’s Arnhem ‘44 covers this much better.
Sorry Al, as I’m. fan.

[Luke Proudfoot · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book detailing one day during the Battle of Arnhem. I really liked the structure of the book, being split into sections for midnight, morning, afternoon, and evening and then chapters within those for each location of the battle. I didn't like that there was a lot of what seemed like filler information such as details of how battalions were raised, officer biographies, lengthy details of weapons and kit. These parts took away from the narrative, especially when trying to follow what was happening in several places at once. I also felt that I would have enjoyed it more if I came into it with a better knowledge of Operation Market Garden because of the detailed nature of a book about just one day. Overall an enjoyable book that is well researched and written.

[Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cracking book this is. Found it incredibly hard to put down.

I really enjoyed this book for a number of reasons. I personally liked the way the author talks about the roles of the non combatants. Such as the quartermaster and REME. This book finally acknowledges not only bayonet fighting strength but the chaps carrying the guns and ammunition about the place.

This is a must-read for any Arnhem fan..

[Grand Nerd · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a very interesting way of presenting a Battle mostly covered in passing during the Allies push from the West after D Day. It occasionally drags in places but overall it was very good.

[Simon Mee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cool heads had been required ever since Sunday, but they had not always prevailed.

The continuing publication of World War 2 books lends itself to variations in style. As a lot of the existing material has been presented before, fresh approaches include shifts in perspective or tone. We see this with trying to focus on less covered battles, such as with Bitter Peleliu or The Hill, or particular characteristics of a battle (the brutality in Bitter Peleliu, the contingency of individual actions in The Hill).

Popularity Club

Powell had been in Arnhem for more than twenty-four hours now, and in his distraction commanding C Company he had forgotten how hungry he was. He had enough tobacco to keep his pipe going, but these containers were a small crumb of comfort. Things were finally looking up.

Black Tuesday is another book in the vein of a novel. It leans into it even more so than The Hill, “reproducing” the thoughts of the participants with limited supporting quotes or citations. It's an expectation of trust in Murray that the reader must get comfortable with,.

The popular history style will not be for everyone, but I am willing to rate it for what it is (and says it is!), rather than expecting a scholarly work. If there are shortcomings in Murray’s description of events, which flow very well in the book, I will reconsider my rating. However, as is, I really enjoyed this. Murray seems to have used the experience in Command to focus on a particular event and dive into an appropriate level of detail for a high-level reader.

Ironically, Murray does step away from the novel format with various discourses on commanders, equipment and doctrine (including medical services, with a notable comparison between each side's style of treatment). I found he linked these well back into the main narrative, as they explained the decisions certain characters make. Separately, the map work is excellent, along with the descriptions of the battlefields. The maps are focussed on the battalions rather than the smaller units, but the perspective is sufficient for me to understand how the battle unfolded.

Glass Jaw

Herein lay the tension between the immediate tactical limitations of airborne landings and the necessities they threw up. Not unlike the question of needing to take particular care of ammunition expenditure, medicines would be in short supply if things didn’t go according to plan. Airborne resupply, a central part of the air plan, was critical to medical planning. Even more critical was being relieved, in that it would remove any constraints enforced by contingency.

One thing Murray gets across is the fragility of the 1st Airborne Division, being limited as to man- and fire- power, an elite unit but a brittle one that would be difficult to keep in action for prolonged periods.

Stepping slightly away from Murray's intentions, I would go even further in my reading. The impression I got was that, despite the impressively large forces deployed in World War II, there are noticeable points of separation from modern forces and we can see that apparent size covered for inherent weakness. Murray describes the drops of men and supplies as extremely inflexible; redeploying men for mission changes varied from extremely difficult to utterly impossible; and battalions and even brigades could be rendered combat ineffective while achieving very little. Even merely marching in different directions resulted in heavy losses due to falling out or unexpected roadblocks).

Black Tuesday demonstrates to me how limited the shots were in Allied commanders' chambers at all levels. These big units of thousands of men had very limited pointy ends that could be blunted remarkably quickly. This isn't a criticism of "long tails" or bravery, more that the perspective Murray gives me is more insightful than, say, Divided on D-Day. You really couldn't just draw arrows and expect victory, men had to assault the positions with the right weapons and the right understanding of the battlefield (Hackett's sojourn in the Woods being an example of a misunderstanding of the latter).

Here was the muddle in what had been decided in Urquhart’s absence playing out: despite it being obvious that the situation in Arnhem was nothing like what had been anticipated

I would say that you can get most of this information from a podcast, say one by Murray himself (perhaps paired with another popular historian). The choice of Black Tuesday depends on your preferred media format for this approach. However, I do want to credit him though for showing an excellent understanding of the battlefield and how he presents it to the reader.

[Pirate · Rating 5 out of 5]

The late Sir Richard Attenborough's epic star-studded A Bridge Too Far may well be the reference point for many with regard to Montgomery's folie de grandeur Operation Market Garden. Whilst Attenborough masterfully imho included all elements of the operation Al Murray brings you a condensed version focussing on one day of the ambitious but disastrous misadventure, and restricted to just the events round Arnhem,split into periods of the day and four sections -- the Woods, Village, Town and Bridge.
It is a great read, masterfully recounted with some light-hearted moments in the midst of carnage, highlights many instances of heroism -- marvel at the comportment of Captain Lionel Queripel one of five VCs awarded, four of them posthumously.
Perhaps summing up the chaos of the day is that one of those awarded the VC Major Robert Cain has by the time they are in full flight from Arnhem, having been overwhelmed by the Germans and leaving Lieutenant-Colonel John Frost and his battalion to fend for themselves, is in such a state of disarray he is told "to pull himself together" by Lieutenant Colonel William 'Sheriff' Thompson. Thanks to the latter's stoicism they hold the line.
Although Daphne du Maurier was apoplectic how Attenborough portrayed her husband Frederick 'Boy' Browning, the general in charge of executing Montgomery's plan, this account hardly glorifies his role either. From commandeering 38 gliders -- which prevented the South Staffordshire 2nd Battalion arriving altogether troops that could have been very useful -- so as to have his HQ in place near Nijmegen as he 'wanted to be there for the moment of victory' which also displayed his complacency to his dismissive treatment of the Poles. The 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade under Major General Stanislaw Sosabowski were they thought earmarked to be dropped in to help their compatriots in the Warsaw Uprising. Browning and Montgomery thought otherwise leaving the Poles in the Brigade distraught.
"The whole world knows what happened in Warsaw: how Polish patriots rose against the Germans as the Russian troops approached the city and how the Russians deliberately stopped, leaving the Germans to wipe out the Home Army. Can you imagine our bitterness and our inner defeat?" -- Sosabowski.
And what came of them? They eventually parachuted in and bizarrely Sosabowski was partly blamed by the Allied commanders for the failure of the operation. 'Once again the Poles were short-changed by 'Boy' Browning, who after doing so much campaigning to get them under his control now dropped them like a hot brick.'
Of course there were other factors at play in the disaster -- dire intelligence which assessed the German forces as being not top notch when in fact there was an SS Panzer Corps -- and the unfortunate absence of the commander on the ground Roy Urquhart, who had 'gone forward' to see what the situation was like in Arnhem only to be trapped in a loft for hours. An officer from the 3rd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment Captain Jimmy Cleminson, who was holed up with the general thought 'what a mess of things Urquhart had made, haring away from his headquarters, plainly lost'. Urquhart aside from being impatient to get back to HQ was irked by Cleminson's moustache, which the latter thought proudly was of 'heroic proportions.'
The only slight reservation I have was sometimes too much detail about ammunition and guns which broke up the excellent rhythm of the story. However, other insights into how the Allies fought to preserve the secrecy over penicillin -- to prevent the Germans obtaining the formula -- is fascinating. Also the callousness of the SS doctors towards their own wounded saying they would end their lives if they had head or stomach wounds with a shot of morphia. I guess logical behaviour given the horrific experiments their fellow SS doctors carried out in the death camps.
All in all this is a cracker of a book, inspired by Murray's father who did his national service and then stayed on to become a parachute engineer. Murray ends it by recounting how it is remembered every year by the locals -- their predecessors paid a heavy price in terms of dead and houses and businesses destroyed -- and a ceremony involving school children.
'On the Sunday of the weekend's commemoration, the children place flowers on the individual grave they have been taking care of and hand over responsibility to the next year of children.
'It is a ceremony of unique tenderness, and a perfect response to the endurance and sacrifice of the men who fought in the Woods, The Town, the Village and at the Bridge.'

[Mr Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read, what a well written and detailed book.
I was bit apprehensive that Murray had chosen just one day to write about the battle, but my doubts were soon dispelled, he has written a detailed and authoritative account of the battle that is up there with the best historians, adding his own unique perspective and voice even though he concentrates on “black Tuesday” he brings in the background and context to it as well, portraying the strategic planning and tactical information on the ground, he also provides details of the less talked about units, the artillery, engineers , air controllers, medics , supporting troops like the men of the RAOC &RASC and the RAF’s role also the Dutch women who risked their lives to nurse the wounded.He manages to capture the humanity and bravery of these men and women with a touch of respectful humour.
The section on the RAF’s re supply drop and flight lieutenants Lords bravery was particularly moving.
Murray’s book must be now one of the best accounts on Arnhem and he is the foremost authority alive on the battle.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you think that there can’t possibly be anything new to say about Arnhem, Al Murray comes up with ‘Black Tuesday’. Mainly focusing on what Murray considers the critical day, he succeeds in breaking down the many interlinked but often separate parts of the operation. This works very well.

As ever, while reading an account of market garden you will on the paratroopers, maybe in this telling they’ll succeed? The tragedy, however, unfolds nonetheless and gets increasingly desperate as the day goes on. It’s hard not to feel for the participants.

This book is firmly aimed at those already familiar with market garden and should be avoided as a first book on the subject. The ultra focus on one day brings new incite but avoids the big picture of the wider operation.

[Joshua Sucher · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read (listen), but it feels like Murray hit his stride towards the end of the book.

As someone who has relatively little knowledge of Arnhem, it's given me a better understanding as to why the battle was a failure for the Brits. I enjoyed the more personal feeling of focussing on a single day - it shows the everyday heroism and day-to-day decision making that was made, rather than the grand strategy that can become a game of meaningless arrows.

The production of the audiobook left a little to be desired - changes in sound quality and a couple of stumbles, but they can be ironed out and aren't a reflection on the author.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well researched and written book. Often, authors fall into the trap of admonishing and belittling people who were on the ground at the time for decisions or inactions. without having the power of hindsight, these people made the choices thought to be correct at the time, and no one should forget that. Al, thankfully, does not fall into this trap.
He has highlighted the battle, the planning and decisions made at all levels, and whilst has spoken about shortcomings in planning, he has not taken anything from the remarkable fighting men.
Moreover, he has managed to keep this on a more intimate level of writing and covering the battle.
Brilliant book.

[Mark Bowden · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is interesting to focus in on one day of one part of a long and complex campaign but the wider picture is more interesting still. Murray is spared from having to consider the main weakness of the operation, XXX Corps' drive from the south. The map on p xviii shows their advance as a massive arrow, about 10 miles wide at scale, but in reality their advance was more like 10 metres wide, on a single track road with marshland on either side. I would back Gloucestershire County Council Highways Dept to stop an armoured corps under those conditions, let alone the Wehrmacht.

[Thomas Malbon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murray’s decision to focus on one day and one perspective (1st Airborne on Tuesday the 19th) gives this book a unique feel and really draws you into the struggle the men faced. When reading you feel as the men did, hopeful at the beginning at the possibilities and opportunities offered; despairing at the end and wondering what could have been.

An enjoyable read with a unique style covering many different areas of the division and their individual struggles.

[Frank Hermens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome overview of the day everything went south in the Market part of operation Market Garden. Lots of anecdotes of bravery and sacrifice. The German view is also neatly depicted.
I do think this is not for the newbies on the subject since it details on a specific day of the battle. Better first start with a book that gives an overview such as the epic “Arnhem” by Anthony Beevor

[Stuart Harland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book. As good as anything I have read by James Holland or Max Hastings and just as engaging. You feel like you are on the streets of Arnhem living through the hell of it. Highly recommended.

[Grant Bowman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very insightful, but not the easiest read, not the fault of the author though. The disjointed feel of the book made it difficult to stick with at times but seeing as thats how that day went its rather fitting in a way.

[Mr Keith Malda · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a long time listener of Al’s WW2 podcast. It was fantastic to see how he would tackle a single day in one of the most famous battles. He nailed it and I hope Al continues to write about his passion for a long time

[Alf Jupp · Rating 5 out of 5]

a different approach

A great read written with a passion for the subject as the landlord would say he knows his onions !

[Ray Murdoch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb!

[Andrew Rock · Rating 3 out of 5]

An informative book but probably need to know about the full Armhem history to be fully involved

[John Endacott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written and an easy, quick read. Some interesting bits and perspectives. It’s a long time since I read “A Bridge Too Far” and probably my perspective has changed in the 45 years or more since.

[Albert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fresh and non standard look at Operation Market Garden/Battle of Arnhem. I enjoyed it and passed it to my son who is a history teacher. His remark, after reading it, was that this book was, among others, ideal for highschool pupils interested in WW2 history.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely absorbing and outstanding. I read this in two days. Excellent work, Mr Murray!

[Nigel Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. So insightful. Lots of things I wasn’t aware of. Recommended for all military enthusiasts.