On Monday September 18 1944, the Household Cavalry, a reconnaissance section of the British XXXth Corps, advanced to the bridge over the river Tongelreep at Aalst. Once there, the British column came under fierce fire from 88mm guns, which were set up in the sports park in Eindhoven. The Irish Guards arrived too. They asked headquarters for air support. But none could be had at the time, due to fog at the airfields in Belgium. Meanwhile, a number of soldiers also found time to visit the hairdresser.

This new hold-up meant Operation Market Garden had been delayed by 24 hours, which gave the Germans every chance to regroup. The success of Operation Market Garden was severely endangered.