APPENDIX B
Recommended Reading
Since the first edition of this work (Pegasus Bridge & Merville Battery) was completed in 1999, there have been quite a number of additional works published relating to the 6th Airborne Division in Normandy. In particular, the growth of the internet and world wide web has allowed many documents, articles and photographs to become much more easily available for the battlefield enthusiast and historians alike. Some of those publications are mentioned in the following bibliography; however, a few sources do deserve special mention as they will provide the reader of this work with much extra interesting information about this subject.
Many of the National Archive documents are available for viewing on www.pegasusarchive.org/normandy/main.htm. Built and maintained by Mark Hickman. This is undoubtedly one of the most valuable sources regarding information on the 6th Airborne Division that has been made freely available on the web. There is also much additional information as well as many articles, links and photographs available to view.
For information directly from those higher ranking officers who were in Normandy the following are particularly recommended: Dropzone Normandy by Napier Crookenden. This covers all the airborne landings in Normandy, and With The 6th Airborne Division In Normandy by R.N. Gale, is an account by the commanding officer of the division.
With regards further eyewitness accounts of veterans who served in Normandy; Neil Barber has published his work, The Pegasus And Orne Bridges, in 2009. The author has edited many eyewitness accounts together covering the events early in June 1944 and this work will provide the reader with much extra interesting detail of this period (available from www.pen-and-sword.co.uk).
For those wishing to know more individual detail about the officers and NCOs who led the 6th Airborne Division, Carl Rijmen (aka Rymen) published his work, Gale’s Eyes, in 2009. After many years of research he has compiled a list and biographical detail of nearly every officer and NCO who served in the 6th Airborne Division. Although this work is not generally available, a copy of the work, and cost, can be obtained by emailing: pegasuscr2002@yahoo.com.
In addition to much correspondence, many interviews and tours around the battlefields with veterans during the last two decades, this work has also been compiled with use of the following documents, publications and articles:
Official Sources
‘6 Ab Div Outline Plan Map’, Scale 1:25,000, printed by 42 Survey Engineer Group, source AANT.
AANT Battlefield Study, ‘6th Airborne Division Operations in Normandy June 1944’, extracts from PRO docs.
Anon, By Air To Battle: The Official Account of the British Airborne Divisions, HMSO (1945).
Anon, ‘Report On Operations In Normandy 5 June – 3 Sep 44’, compiled from PRO docs, reference unknown.
Lacoste, Major, ‘Top Secret intelligence assessment report of 8 May 1944’, source and reference unknown.
Report by Dwight D. Eisenhower to Combined Chiefs of Staff, HMSO (1946).
National Archives (formerly Public Record Office)
WO 171/425: 6 Ab Div HQ
WO 171/1242: 9 Para
WO 171/1239: 7 Para
WO 171/1246: 13 Para
WO 171/591: 6 Airldg Bde
WO 171/1018: 2 Airldg Lt AA Bty
WO 171/960: 4 Airldg A Tk Bty
WO 171/1652: 591 Para Sqn RE
WO 171/1622: 286 Fd Pk Coy RE
WO 171/1234: No. 1 Wing Glider
Pilot Regt
WO 171/2371: 63 Ab Div Comp
Coy RASC
WO 171/2525: 716 Ab Lt Comp
Coy RASC
WO 171/433: 6 Ab Div Ord Fd Pk
WO 171/436: 6 Ab Div Pro Coy
WO 171/2950: 1 Cdn Para
WO 171/595: 5 Para Bde HQ
WO 171/1245: 12 Para
WO 171/1249 22 Ind Para Coy
WO 171/1357: 2 Oxf Bucks
WO 171/959: 3 Airldg A Tk Bty
WO 171/1019: 53 (WY) Airldg Lt
Regt
WO 171/1605: 249 Fd Coy RE
WO 171/429: 6 Ab Div Sigs
WO 171/1235: No. 2 Wing Glider
Pilot Regt
WO 171/2453: 398 Ab Comp Coy
RASC
WO 177/793: 195 Airlanding Fd
Amb
WO 171/434: 6 Ab Div Ord Fd Pk
WO 218/59: 1 SS Bde HQ
Publications
Titles in bold are written by, or diaries of, veterans of the campaign
Ambrose, Stephen, Pegasus Bridge, 6 June 1944, George Allen & Unwin (1984).
Arthur, Max, Men of The Red Beret, Hutchinson (1992).
Bailey, Roderick, Forgotten Voices of D-Day, Edbury Press (2009).
Barber, Neil, The Pegasus and Orne Bridges, Pen & Sword Books Ltd. (2009).
Barley, Eric & Fohlen, Yves, Para Memories: 12 (Yorkshire) Para Bn, Parapress Ltd. (1996).
Bellis, Malcolm A, Regiments of The British Army 1939-45 (Artillery), Military Press International (1995).
Bernage, Georges, Red Devils in Normandy, Heimdal (2002).
Bowman, Martin W., Remembering D-Day, Harper Collins Pub. (2004).
Chant, Christopher, Order of Battle: Operation Overlord, vol. I, Ravelin Ltd.(1994).
Chatterton, George, The Wings of Pegasus, Macdonald (1962).
Collier, Richard, Ten Thousand Eyes, Collins (1958).
Crookenden, Napier, Dropzone Normandy, Ian Allen Ltd. (1976).
Davies, Howard P., British Parachute Forces 1940-45, Arms & Armour Press (1974).
Delve, Ken, D-DAY The Air Battle, The Crowood Press (2004).
Doherty, Richard, Normandy 1944, Spellmount (2004).
Dover, Major Victor, The Sky Generals, Cassell Ltd. (1981).
Durnford-Slater, Brig John, Commando, William Kimber & Co. Ltd. (1953).
Edwards, Denis, The Devil’s Own Luck, Pen & Sword Books Ltd. (1999).
Edwards, Commander Kenneth, Operation Neptune, Collins (1946).
Eisenhower, Gen Dwight D., Crusade in Europe, William Heinemann Ltd. (1948).
Ellis, Major L.F., Victory in The West, vol. I, HMSO (1962).
Ford, Ken, D-Day 1944 (3) Sword Beach & British Airborne Landings,
Osprey Publishing (2002).
Gale, R. N., A Call To Arms, Hutchinson (1968).
Gale, R.N., With The 6th Airborne Division in Normandy, Sampson, Low & Marston (1948).
Gregory, Barry & John Batchelor, Airborne Warfare 1918-1945, Phoebus Publishing Co. (1979)
Harclerode, Peter, Go To It !, Bloomsbury (1990).
Harclerode, Peter, Para, Arms & Armour Press (1992).
Hargreaves, Richard, The Germans in Normandy, Pen & Sword Books Ltd. (2006).
Hastings, Max, Overlord, Michael Joseph Ltd. (1984).
Hogg, Ian V. (Intro.), German Order of Battle 1944, Arms & Armour Press (1975).
Holt, Major & Mrs, Normandy D-Day Landing Beaches, Pen & Sword Books Ltd. (1999 & 2006).
Howard, John & Bates, P., The Pegasus Journals, Pen & Sword Books Ltd. (2006).
Howarth, David, Dawn of D-Day, Chivers Press (1959).
Isby, David C. (Ed.), Fighting The Invasion: The German Army At D-Day, Greenhill Books (2000).
Leeming, Raymond, And Maybe A Man: With The Royal Signals Of 6 Ab Div, Parapress Ltd. (1995).
Johnson, Garry & Christopher Dunphie, Brightly Shone The Dawn, Frederick Warne (1980).
Lynch, Tim, Silent Skies, Pen & Sword Books Ltd. (2008).
Maguire, Eric, Dieppe August 19th 1942, Jonathan Cape (1963).
McNish, Robin, Iron Division, Ian Allen Ltd. (1978).
Middlebrook & Everitt, The Bomber Command War Diaries: 1939-1945 , Viking (1985).
Montgomery, Normandy to the Baltic, Invasion, vol. II, Hutchinson & Co. Ltd. (1947).
Neillands, Robin, The Raiders: The Army Commandos, Weidenfeld & Nicolson Ltd. (1989).
Norton, G.G., The Red Devils, Leo Cooper (1971).
NVA, Members of Dorset 84 Branch, Memories of World War II, Private Publication (2002).
NVA, Members of South East 23 Branch, Memories of Normandy 1944, Private Publication (2005).
Otway, T., Airborne Forces, Imperial War Museum (1990).
Pine-Coffin, P & B. Maddox, The Tale Of Two Bridges, Private Publication (2004).
Poett, N., Pure Poett, Leo Cooper (1991).
Ramsey, Winston G. (ed.), Normandy After The Battle, vol, I, After The Battle (1977).
Rijmen, Carl, Gale’s Eyes: 6 Ab Div Who Was Who in Normandy, Private Pub (2009).
Robins, Bernard & Fay, Remembered With Honour: 8 Para, Private Publication (2002).
Saunders, Hilary St George, The Green Beret, Michael Joseph Ltd. (1949).
Saunders, Hilary St George, The Red Beret, Michael Joseph Ltd. (1950).
Scarfe, Norman, Assault Division, Collins (1947).
Shannon, K. & Wright, S., One Night in June, Airlife Publishing Ltd. (1994).
Shave, Major J.S.R., Go To It: The Story of the 3rd Parachute Squadron RE (2003).
Shaw, F. & Shaw, J., We Remember D-Day, Private Publication (1983).
Shilleto, Carl, Fallen Heroes of Normandy 1944: The Commonwealth War Cemeteries, Pen & Sword Books Ltd. (2012). Shilleto, Carl, Pegasus Bridge Merville Battery, Pen & Sword Books Ltd. (1999).
Shilleto, Carl, The D-Day Beaches of Normandy, Leger (1999). Shilleto, Carl & Mike Tolhurst The Traveller’s Guide to D-Day and The Battle For Normandy, Interlink Pub. (2000).
Smith, Claude, The History of The Glider Pilot Regiment, Leo Cooper (1992)
Thompson, Major General Julian, Ready For Anything, Weidenfield & Nicolson Ltd. (1989).
Todd, Richard, Caught in the Act, Hutchinson (1987).
Tugwell, Maurice, Airborne to Battle, William Kimber, (1971). Vaughan, John, All Spirits, Merlin Books Ltd, (1988).
Weeks, John, Airborne Equipment. A History of its Development, David & Charles Ltd. (1976).
Weeks, John, Assault From The Sky, Westbridge Books (1978).
Wheldon, Sir Huw, Red Berets into Normandy, Jarrold & Sons Ltd. (1982).
Wilmot, Chester, Struggle For Europe, Collins (1952).
Wilson, Chris & Col John Nowers, D-Day June 1944 And The Engineers, Royal Engineers Museum (1994).
Wynn, Humphrey & Susan Young, Prelude To Overlord, Airlife (1983).
Young, Brigadier Peter, Storm From The Sea, Greenhill Books (2002).
Zetterling, Niklas, Normandy 1944: German Military Effectiveness, J.J. Fedorowicz Pub Inc. (2000).
Articles & Papers
Anon., ‘6th Airborne Division Roll of Honour 1944-45’, pp. 1-44, source unknown (no date).
Anon., ‘The Register Of The Graves (6 AB Div)’, pp. 1-25, Source unknown – prob. CWGC – (no date).
Anon., ‘Part II, The Air Plan’, Staff College Camberley Course Documents (1947).
Buck, Captain T.G., ‘Ham & Jam Battlefield Tour 1996’, The Bucks Bugle, pp. 1-36, (1996).
Lowman, Brigadier F.H., ‘The 6th Ab Div Engineers on D-Day 1944’, Corps History. Vol IX, pp. 339-343, (no date).
Plaice, Ellis, various articles, Red Berets ’44, The London Illustrated News’, pp. 3-65, (1994).
Useful Websites
Archives & Research (British, Canadian & French Forces)
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
www.cwgc.org
www.pegasusarchive.org/normandy/frames
www.1940.co.uk/history/article/merville/merville.htm
www.6commando.com
www.6juin1944.com/en_index.html
www.bayonetstrength.150m.com/British/Airborne/british_parachute_battalion%201944%20to%201945.htm
www.britisharmedforces.org
www.britisharmedforces.org/pages/nat_jim_wallwork.htm
www.britisharmedforces.org/pages/nat_richard_todd.htm
www.combinedops.com/Combined_Ops_index.htm
www.gliderpilotregiment.org.uk
www.gotoitgunners.co.uk
www.normandy1944.info
www.normandie44lamemoire.com/versionanglaise/indexus.html
www.paradata.org.uk/events/normandy-operation-overlord
www.prinsesirenebrigade.nl/
www.raf38group.org
www.theairbornesoldier.com
www.trueloyals.com
www.ww2battlefields.com
Archives & Research (German Forces)
www.atlantikwall.co.uk
www.axishistory.com
British Library
http://portico.bl.uk/
Archive Film
www.britishpathe.com/results.php?search=Normandy+1944&o=0
Pegasus Journal
www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/5904.aspx
Museums (France)
www.batterie-merville.com/index_uk.html
www.the-snafu-special.com
www.junobeach.org/e/4/can-tac-par-e.htm
www.musee-4commando.org/1st_bfmc_120.htm
www.memorialpegasus.org/mmp/musee_debarquement/index.php?lang=uk
Museums (UK)
www.airborneassault.org.uk
www.ddaymuseum.co.uk
www.d-daytanks.org.uk/regiments/6th-airborne.html
www.flying-museum.org.uk
www.iwm.org.uk
www.remuseum.org.uk/campaign/rem_campaign_6adiv.htm
Airborne Engineers Association
www.airbornesappers.org.uk
Commando Veterans Association
www.commandoveterans.org/site
Normandy Veterans Association
www.nvafriends.nl/index.php?cid=36
The Parachute Regimental Association
www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/5905.aspx
The Royal British Legion
www.poppy.org.uk
Airborne Charities and Projects
www.abfc.org.uk
www.airborneforcesmemorial.org.uk
www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/4795.aspx
www.assaultgliderproject.co.uk
www.fallenheroesphotos.org
www.project65.net
www.sopara.org.uk
Living History Groups
www.1canpara.com/
www.1canpara-hq.org
www.6th-airborne.org
www.7thpara.netfirms.com
Research Services
www.findasoldier.co.uk
www.ww2battlefields.com/ww2_research.htm
Forums
http://forum.axishistory.com/
www.ww2talk.com
Battlefield Tours
www.ddayhistorian.com
www.guidedbattlefieldtours.co.uk
www.leger.co.uk
www.normandybattletours.com