CLARENCE HOUSE
This book is dedicated to the men of the 6th Airborne Division who gave their lives in Normandy during the battle for the liberation of France. On 6th June 1944 the role of the Division in the initial assault onto the Normandy coast was to seize, intact, the bridges over the River Orne and Canal de Caen (‘Pegasus Bridge’) East of Benouville and to establish a bridgehead east of the river to secure these crossings. Additional tasks were to silence the guns of a coastal defence battery south east of Merville and to destroy certain bridges over the rivers Dives and Divette.
These objectives were achieved with great courage and determination. In the early hours of the morning a coup de main party landed in the dark in gliders and captured the bridges, whilst before dawn the Merville Battery had been silenced. The securing of this east flank was vitally important, as it was eventually the hinge on which the entire Allied armies would pivot as they broke out of the bridgehead to sweep on to Paris, Brussels, Antwerp and the Rhine.
Today the Airborne Assault Normandy Trust works to preserve both the memory of those who died in the battle and also the history of the Campaign. As Colonel-in-Chief of the Parachute Regiment, I salute those who took part in the 6th Airborne Division Campaign.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales.
Much has been written about the D-Day landings of the British 6th Airborne Division over the years. This work, originally titled Pegasus Bridge & Merville Battery, was the first to be commissioned that extensively guided the battlefield visitor to the exact locations and tells the story, in depth, using the words of so many veterans. Now, the work has been extensively revised and updated and divided into two works; the second titled Pegasus Bridge & Horsa Bridge. For this opportunity I would first like to thank the Chief Executive, Charles Hewitt, Editorial Manager, Brigadier Henry Wilson and Series Design Manager, Roni Wilkinson, also Jonathan Wilkinson and Jonathan Wright, of Pen & Sword Books Ltd.
My gratitude also to: The Airborne Assault Normandy Trust who have provided me with so much information in the course of my research. My most sincere thanks to the Patron of the Trust, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales KG KT GCB OM, for his endorsement of my work; also to Lieutenant General Sir Michael Gray KCB OBE DL FI MGT F Inst D, Lieutenant Colonel Joe Poraj-Wilczynski, Major Jack Watson MC and Major Mike McRitchie MC for their support, invaluable assistance and advice with proofs.
I would also like to extend my thanks to the following: all the staff and workers, past and present, at the Musée de la Batterie de Merville including: Military Historian, Curator and fellow battlefield guide Tony Lea for sharing his knowledge of the Parachute Regiment and for providing the use of the museum, and his own, extensive archives; Archivist and battlefield guide Mike Woodcock; Monsieur Michael More, Pascaline Dagorn, Stéphanie, Céline, Nathalie, Elisa and Morgane who have always made my visits there most welcoming.
Thanks also to the Curator of the Musée Mémorial Pegasus Mark Worthington, Director Beatrice Boissee, Assistant Curator Nicolas Dumont and Martin Janssen, Saudrine Gabrol, Pascal Crespin, Rolande Vimond and Halima Fringaut.
The staff at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) for their tireless work in tending and preserving the war cemeteries in Normandy and for answering all of my numerous enquiries, in particular Barry Murphy, Roy Hemington, Christine Woodhouse, Chris Hawes Nigel Haines and Peter Francis; Peter Hart at The Imperial War Museum for the use of their sound archives; Eddie Hannath MBE of the Normandy Veterans Association; Beverley H. Davies at The Royal British Legion; and staff at the Public Records Office (now National Archives) in Kew, the Airborne Forces Museum in Aldershot, and the French Tourist Office in London and Caen.
I would also like to acknowledge the overwhelming hospitality and friendship I have received from many of the local people in Normandy who have always made my many visits there all the more worthwhile and enjoyable. Thanks to Delphine Bautmans, Pascaline Dagorn, Patrick Elie, Corinne Hamon (née Lecourt), Marc Jacquinot, Christian Keller, Patrig Lagadu, Lionel Laplaise, Daniela Lemerre, Gérard Maillard, Patrick Moutafis, William Moutafis and Alan Soreau. Thanks also to the many expatriates who also make my visits all the more welcoming, particularly to fellow battlefield guide and historian Stuart Robertson and his wife Jenny for their hospitality, friendship and company in the many hours shared walking the battlefields.
For my appeals I would like to thank the staff at Channel 4’s Service Pals Teletext Service, Editor John Elliot and Chris Kinsville-Heynes from Soldier Magazine, Colonel K. Coates Editor of The Pegasus Journal, Robert Beaumont of The Yorkshire Evening Press (now The Press) and Mike Laycock, also thanks to the secretaries of several regimental associations and Ken Wintle for the use of his extensive appeal database.
As always, the most interesting and rewarding part of this type of research is gained through interviews and correspondence with the veterans themselves. To hear their firsthand accounts of the events, and on occasion escort them around the Normandy battlefield; often concluding with a visit to the War Cemetery at Ranville so that they may pay their respects to their fallen comrades, has been, and always will be, a great privilege. Overwhelmed by the response to my appeals, I must apologise to those whose anecdotes I have not been able to use because of the inevitable editorial restrictions.
Thanks to the many veterans and their families who have kindly loaned valuable documents or photographs. A few I would like to mention, who have helped specifically with this work, are: R. Daeche, R. Deller, Peggy and Mary Eckert and family of Cyril and Stan Eckert, Denis Edwards, Major Ellis Dean MBE MC, Ted George, Major John Howard DSO, David ‘Dai’ King, Bill McConnell, H. Pegg, Edward Pool MC, Brigadier G. Proudman CBE MC, family of John Rollingson, James Sanders, family of Peter Sanderson, Maurice Segal, Ray Shuck and family, Norman Stocker, Ernie Stringer, Richard Todd, Major N. Ward, Major Jack Watson MC, Harry White and family of George White, Charlie Willbourne and Major Anthony Windrum,
Thanks also to Don Mason, who passed away before the completion of my manuscript for the first edition of my book Pegasus Bridge & Merville Battery back in 1999, and I offer my condolences to his family. Sadly, many other veterans, some who became very close friends, mentioned in this acknowledgement have also passed away in the time leading up to this extensively revised and updated new edition; and the accompanying work Pegasus Bridge & Horsa Bridge. While their company and presence is sorely missed, their memory lives on as strong as ever. I hope this work helps to preserve some of that memory for posterity.
Others who have assisted or provided valuable information are Rev. Neil Allison, David Ashe, Neil Barber, Ted Barwick, Tom Buttress, Captain R. Clark, Lt Cdr W. N. Entwisle RN, Lt Cdr John Lavery RN, Cheryl Hamilton, Paul Harlow, Helen Hartley, Mark Hickman, Al Jones, Michiels Kris, William J. Lewis Platt, Major Will Mackinlay SCOTS DG, Paul McTiernan, Capt G. M. Timms, Angus Newbould, Doug Oxspring, Keith Petvin-Scudamore, Paul Reed, Victoria Raynor, Carl Rymen, Paul van Rynen, Chris Summerville.
Thanks to Dave Popplewell for sharing his extensive knowledge on German and British vehicles, weapons and unit formations, and for his generous assistance in proof reading and checking of statistics. Thanks to Lance McCoubrey for help with maps and sketches and to the late Lieutenant Colonel Sir James Stormonth Darling CBE MC TD for his advice. Also to my late dear friend military historian, author and former Associate Professor, Charles Whiting; for sharing his unquestionable knowledge of the Second World War and his literary skills. Thanks also to other friends who have been supportive of my work.
Special thanks, and love, go to my family: to my daughters Michaela and Hannah for their interest and curiosity in their father’s work. They have both made wonderful travelling companions around the battlefields over the years. Thanks also to them for putting up with a dad whose head seems forever submerged in papers, books or behind a camera lens. Last, but by no means least, to my ‘other half’, Irena, for her patience, interest, help and hours of tireless proof reading during my research and writing; and without whose constant support and help, I would not be able to complete any of the many projects I undertake.
Any errors in the text are mine alone, and if anyone can provide any further information or photographs about any individuals, veterans or places relating to the 6th Airborne Division in Normandy, please forward any details to fallenheroes@btinternet.com. Please add ‘6 Ab Div’ as the subject title.
To everyone I hope my work justifies all our efforts.
Spring 1944, German coastal troops prepare for the Allied invasion.
It was during the course of my research in Normandy that I became aware of the dedicated efforts of a number of people who have all volunteered their time to uphold the aims set out by a trust that was initially proposed by the Commander of the 6th Airborne Division, General Sir Richard Gale. Supported by General Sir Anthony Farrar-Hockley, then Colonel Commandant The Parachute Regiment, the Airborne Assault Normandy Trust was founded to preserve the history of the 6th Airborne Division’s assault into Normandy with the following aims:
· * To provide a memorial, in France, of the airborne assault into Normandy in 1944.
· * To honour the many who gave their lives in achieving success.
· * To preserve the memory of the vital part played by the French people of the region as well as that of the assault force.
· * To continue into the future the happy relationships of wartime years between the people of Normandy and the liberating forces.
· * To preserve and accurately relate the history of the 6th Airborne Division and other Allied forces who operated in the area in the first few days after 6 June, 1944.
There are two main projects that the Airborne Assault Normandy Trust has helped to finance over the years:
The first has been the preservation of Musée de la Batterie de Merville (The Merville Battery Museum). Opened in 1982, to date, extensive work has been carried out and it has been transformed into the wonderful museum that you can see today. It is hoped that one day the whole site will eventually be restored to its original condition complete with rearmament and the opening up of the underground chambers and tunnels.
The second, in conjunction with the Comité du Débarquement, is the Musée Mémorial Pegasus (Pegasus Memorial Museum). Opened on 4 June, 2000, by HRH The Prince of Wales, the memorial park is dedicated to all those who served in Normandy with the British 6th Airborne Division. The centrepiece of the memorial garden is the original, and now restored, Pegasus Bridge. The bridge was relocated, having been rescued from a nearby field where it had been left to rust, after it was replaced in 1994 from its position over the Caen Canal.
Like all registered charities though, despite the tireless efforts of its members, the Trust is reliant upon public donations and in need of more funding if it is able to maintain its aims and turn future project ideas into a reality. If you wish to ensure that this part of our history is to be remembered by future generations, then the Airborne Assault Normandy Trust would be most grateful of any donation, however small, to help them achieve their aims. All donations should be forwarded to: The Airborne Assault Normandy Trust, Regimental Headquarters, The Parachute Regiment, Browning Barracks, Aldershot. Hampshire, GU11 2BU. All donations, made payable to the Trust, will be gratefully acknowledged.
Whatever the contribution, it is a small price to pay for the freedom that we have gained through the sacrifice of so many young men who will never return from the battlefields of France.
Carl Shilleto
RANVILLE, FRANCE
German defenders in a cliff top position practice with balls of TNT intended to be rolled down on any Allied invaders.
ADVICE FOR VISITORS
Your visit, to the 6th Airborne Division area of operations, will cover ground in the north-eastern part of Calvados, which is the smallest of Normandy’s five departments. The scene today is one of a picturesque countryside, with half-timbered houses and sprawling farmland, reminiscent of what it must have been like before the invasion and inevitable destruction that came in 1944. The towns and villages have long since been rebuilt and have grown in size to accommodate the ever-increasing population. New roads now make travelling across the area more comfortable and quicker than anything that was experienced by the troops during the Second World War and the lunar landscape of carpet-bombed countryside has once again returned to smooth, lush, green grazing land or to golden fields of corn. Still clearly visible in places though, are the high hedgerows and small fields that make up the infamous bocage.
A visit during the winter months will allow you to see the area in the Dives valley partially flooded, although the floods are never as extensive as they were back in June, 1944. I recommend that the best time to visit the area is during the summer when the climate is more agreeable, places of interest are open and you are seeing the environment in climatic conditions similar to that experienced by the troops during the campaign itself. Normandy is very much like the British climate with unpredictable rainstorms. The only exception is that in summer it is likely to get very warm; therefore sun cream, sunglasses and a bottle of water are all sensible additions to your travelling pack. Also include a small first-aid kit and a comfortable rucksack to carry everything in. Sturdy shoes or walking boots are essential and good waterproofs should also be taken as rain storms can be torrential.
For British Nationals, in case of any accident or illness that may require medical attention, you should take your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) This is available online via the National Health Service (www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk – type EHIC into the search bar), by telephone 0845 606 2030, or by post (application form available at your local post office). This will cover medical treatment in France. Also ensure that your tetanus jab is up to date and it is advisable to take out medical insurance while travelling abroad.
Emergency numbers in France are: 112 for any emergency service, 17 for the Police, 15 for an Ambulance and 18 for the Fire Brigade. The Operator is 13 and Directory Enquiries is 12. When telephoning the UK dial 0044 then the UK area code minus the first 0, and then the number you require. Finally, do not forget that a valid ten year British passport is still required for British Nationals to enter the country.
A camera, plenty of film or memory cards, and a notebook and pencil (ink smudges when wet) are the best way to record your visit, but don’t burden yourself with unnecessary equipment. A tripod is not really essential (unless you are going to be taking photographs in low-light or of yourself) and the average compact digital zoom camera will more than meet your needs. For the more avid photographer, I find an SLR and 10-20mm, 18-70mm and 70-300mm lenses are an ideal choice. Remember not to shoot into direct sunlight and a good tip if taking pictures of headstones or memorials is to crouch down to the same level and, when the light is bright; take your picture from an oblique angle so that the inscription is more defined by the shadow.
Unlike the static trench warfare of the First World War, where the fighting was carried out on the same battlefield for several years, the Second World War saw the arrival of modern warfare; here technology played as greater part in the battle, as did the men who had to fight it. However, despite the weapons of mass destruction, the task of securing an area and expanding the bridgehead was still left to the men on the ground, the infantry. Unlike their forefathers though, these men would find themselves making advances over ground in days rather than months and years. Consequently, you are unlikely to find anything in the way of old munitions lying about today on or beside the well-trodden tourist tracks. Nevertheless, there are still many munitions left over from the battles, buried beneath the ground or in woods and pathways off the beaten track. There are also other grim discoveries still being found today.
On 8 May 2009, the bodies of five German soldiers, still wearing their metal identity tags, were found in a shallow unmarked grave near Bavent. The bodies were later reinterred at the German cemetery at la Cambe. On 14 February 2010, some 20,000 of Caen’s 110,000 inhabitants had to be evacuated when a 1,000lb (453kg) Allied bomb was found during building work at Caen University. A bomb disposal squad safely disarmed the bomb during the day. So if you do find something unusual, do not touch!
What also remains today are the extensive fortifications that once formed part of Hitler ’s Atlantic Wall. Positioned all around the Norman countryside these concrete monoliths remain as formidable and awesome as they were over half a century ago. Normandy also has what is probably the greatest concentration of war memorials, than any other battlefield in the world. Over 200 are connected with the 6th Airborne Division alone.
Maps and Satellite Navigation
The most detailed maps of this area are IGN SÉRIE BLEUE (Series Blue). You will need two: the 1612OT 1:25000 CAEN map and the 1612E 1:25000 DIVES-SUR-MER/CABOURG map. The IGN SÉRIE VERTE (Series Green) 1:100 000 No. 6 map is also useful if you wish to explore the rest of the Normandy landing beaches or American airborne sector. Maps may be ordered via most good bookshops or online (www.ign.fr).
To assist those who have satellite navigation equipment there is, in the appendices of this work, a list of the satellite navigation coordinates of all the places of interest and locations of many of the memorials and exhibits mentioned in the text. For the armchair tourist and traveller alike, I can highly recommend using these coordinates to reference places on www.earth.google.com. The resources available on this site, along with the aerial photography, are particularly valuable to the reader as it will allow them to understand the distances involved and appreciate the terrain of the area much more easily.
Travel and Accommodation
Travelling to this part of France is probably best done by using one of the ferry companies: Brittany Ferries (www.brittanyferries.com) sailing from Portsmouth to Caen (approx. 6hr day crossing and 7hrs at night), Portsmouth to Cherbourg (high-speed 3hr crossing); LD Lines (www.ldlines.co.uk) sailing from Portsmouth to Le Havre (approx. 5hrs day crossing and 8hrs at night); P&O Ferries (www.poferries.com) from Dover to Calais (approx. 1hr 30mins crossing). The latter will involve a 3 to 4hr drive from Calais to Caen but can work out to be a cost-effective way of travelling, even with the added cost of the toll roads, called the Péage. From Calais you take the A16 to Boulogne and Abbeville, the A28 towards Rouen, then the A29 towards Le Havre and finally the A13 to Caen.
If driving, comprehensive insurance is advisable. If it is your own vehicle you must carry the original vehicle registration document (V5), if it is not your vehicle you must have a letter from the registered owner giving you permission to drive. A full valid driving licence and current motor insurance certificate is also required and an international distinguishing sign (GB) should be displayed on the rear of the vehicle (unless your vehicle displays Euro-plates). You should also carry spare bulbs as it is illegal to drive with faulty lights. A high visibility reflective jacket in the passenger compartment, in case you need to exit the vehicle after a breakdown, and a warning triangle to be used in conjunction with the vehicles hazard warning, are also compulsory. Headlight beams should also be adjusted for right-hand driving using headlight convertors.
The minimum age for driving a car is eighteen years. You should not drink alcohol and drive. Seat belts are compulsory for all occupants and children under ten years of age are not permitted to travel in the front of the vehicle. As a general guideline, speed limits (unless otherwise indicated) are: 130kmh (80mph), or 110kmh (68mph) when wet, on motorways (autoroutes); 110kmh (68mph), or 100kmh (62mph) when wet, on dual carriageways; 90kmh (55mph), or 80kmh (49mph) when wet on open roads; and 50kmh (31mph) in built-up areas. The lower limit applies if the driver has held his driving license for less than two years. Fines are on the spot and if caught speeding at 25kmh (15mph) above the speed limit you may also have your driving licence confiscated immediately.
Driving is on the right-hand side in France. While driving, take particular care at junctions. The rule of giving right of way to traffic coming from the right can still apply (Priorité à Droite). A yellow diamond sign indicates you have priority. On a roundabout you generally give priority to traffic coming from the left. One word of warning, if a driver flashes his headlights in France it generally indicates that he has priority and that you should give way. This is contrary to the standard practice (but not the law) in the UK.
Further up-to-date advice can be obtained from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (www.fco.gov.uk).
Some of the tours in this book do use some single track roads, so take care when driving, parking and walking. When travelling please be courteous to the local people and show respect when looking about near their property or land. Please do not trespass.
Another cost-effective way of travelling to, or around, Normandy is to use one of the many battlefield tour coach travel companies. With experienced guides to enhance your tour of the area these can provide an invaluable insight into Normandy landings. Leger Holidays, offer many tours, some conducted by authors who write for the Battleground Europe Series. A brochure can be obtained by calling 0845 408 07 69 or by visiting their website (www.leger.co.uk).
For more personal tours, in smaller groups, these can be arranged on a daily basis. These tours can also include visits to areas not open to the general public. For more details contact Stuart Robertson at www.normandybattletours.com.
There are plenty of hotels to choose from in this area of Normandy, though remember that these are always busy around each anniversary. I have often used the Hôtel Restaurant Kyriad Caen-sud (www.kyriad-caen-sud-ifs.fr), 698, route de Falaise, 14123 IFS Caen. Tel: 0033 (0)2.31.78.38.38. that is situated on junction (sortie) No. 13 of the Caen Southern ring road (péripherique Sud) from where you can join the A13 (Autoroute de Normandie) which leads to the D515 and D514 to Bénouville.
Accommodation can also be found on the official website of the French Tourist Office (www.francetourism.com) and French Government Tourist Office (wwww.franceguide.com). Local tourist information can also be found at the following regional and county tourist boards and tourist offices (Office de Tourisme or Syndicat d’Initiative): Normandy Tourist Board (www.normandie-tourisme.fr), Calvados Tourist Board (www.calvados-tourisme.com), Cabourg Tourist Office (www.cabourg.net), and at Caen Tourist Office (www.tourisme.caen.fr).
To make the best use of this guide it would be of benefit to read it before you travel. This will help you become familiar with the operation and objectives given to the 6th Airborne Division as well as highlighting the significance of the local features and the area in general. While on your tour this guide will provide a ready reference and direction to the villages, memorials and cemeteries as well as a description of the battles.
Since much of the story is told in the words of the veterans themselves it will also vividly recreate the emotional turmoil of excitement, uncertainty, comradeship and horrors that face men in times of war. Above all, it is my intention that this guide will allow you to better understand the reason why the sacrifices made by these young men so many years ago should never be forgotten; along with the hope that, while that memory remains fresh, another generation of mothers, fathers, daughters and sons need never again experience the indiscriminate killing, and waste, of total war.
Admirals of the Kriegsmarine, including Gross-Admiral Dönitz (second from left), are shown over Battery Lindemann, (four coastal guns between Calais and Wissant) by the commander, K K Schneider (saluting).
