The anti-tank battery went into Arnhem during the first days of the battle, supporting the British paratroopers at Oosterbeek. This left Sosabowski without any anti-tank capability. The light artillery battery was left behind in England due to a shortage of gliders. Owing to bad weather and a shortage of transport planes, the drop into Driel, on the south bank of the Rhine, was delayed 2 days. Finally the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the brigade were dropped under German fire. They captured Driel, set up defensive positions and tried to cross the Rhine that evening. Unfortunately, the ferry which was supposed to take them across, had been sunk.
The following day, the Poles were able to produce some make-shift boats and attempted the crossing. With great difficulty and under German fire, the 8th Parachute Company and later additional troops from 3rd Battalion, managed to cross the Rhine in two attempts. In total about 200 Polish Paratroopers made it across in two days, and were able to cover the subsequent withdrawal of the remnants of the British 1st Airborne Division.
On the 26th of September1944, the brigade (now including the 1st Battalion which had arrived over land) was ordered to march in the direction of Nijmegen. The brigade had lost 23% of its fighting strength, amounting to 400 casualties.
