Because the British advance route was still under German fire and the column was being continuously brought to a halt, the Allies looked for alternative routes for their tanks and other equipment.
The bridge over the River Dommel in Veldhoven was perhaps a possibility. It was reconnoitred by a unit of armoured vehicles, commanded by Lieutenant Palmer. As a result, on September 18 1944 at half past nine in the morning, they were the first liberators of Veldhoven.
This reconnaissance unit drove west in a wide circle around Eindhoven and made contact with the U.S. 101st Airborne Division in the northern part of Eindhoven at a quarter past twelve. Later in the day, it turned out the bridge was too weak for the heavy British tanks.
