Page "Operation Fustian" Paragraph 17

The relieving force for both the commandos and paratroopers would be from the British XIII Corps, commanded by Lieutenant-General Miles Dempsey.

The corps consisted of the 5th Infantry Division, 50th ( Northumbrian ) Infantry Division and the 4th Armoured Brigade.

The armoured brigade, with three tank regiments, was equipped with the American built Sherman tank.

Early on 13 July the commander of the 50th ( Northumbrian ) Infantry Division, Major-General Sidney Kirkman, was called to General Montgomery's headquarters.

Here he was informed about the two missions by the British Commandos and the 1st Parachute Brigade, and the requirement for the bridges to be captured intact.

Montgomery's intention was for the 50th ( Northumbrian ) Infantry Division to lead the Eighth Army's advance and relieve the commandos and the paratroopers.

To assist General Kirkman in the task, Montgomery placed the 4th Armoured Brigade under his command.

Montgomery was insistent that he wanted the infantry division to relieve the parachute brigade early on 14 July, which would require the division to advance around in 24 hours.

The 50th Division had landed on 10 July and by this time had been fighting for three days non-stop.

With the daily temperature most of the time reaching, many of the men in the division were physically exhausted and suffering from heat exhaustion.

The division's situation was not improved by a grave error of judgement by Montgomery.

During the planning for the invasion, he had overestimated the strength of the German and Italian resistance to the Allied landings.

The British Eighth Army consisted mainly of infantry, tanks and heavy weapons but were light on any form of mechanical transport, so any advance by the 50th Division would have to be conducted on foot.