In the small hours of June 6th 1944, ahead of the main seaborne landing force that would hit the coast of Normandy, members of D Company, 2nd (Airborne) Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, were tasked with landing their gliders as close to Benouville Bridge as they could.
The bridge, that spans the Caen Canal, was a vital part of the invasion strategy. If the airborne forces could take the bridge quickly and hold it, the main invasion force would have an immediate advantage, stopping any counter attack that the Germans might launch from the east.
The mission was a coup-de-main operation led by Major John Howard. He had to land his Horsa gliders as close to the bridge as possible. Speed and surprise were key, and as James and Al discover, the operation, one of the first of D-Day, was brilliantly executed.
Benouville Bridge was renamed Pegasus Bridge in honour of the operation. The name comes from the Pegasus shoulder emblem that was worn by British airborne forces.
In Walking the Ground, historian James Holland and writer and comedian Al Murray follow in the footsteps of World War 2 soldiers and commanders, unearthing fascinating insights and stories along the way. Exclusively on Youtube. Subscribe now.
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Excellent presentation. Looking forward to the rest. You make it so interesting. Thank you.
Nice one boys, enjoyed that, looking forward to the rest of the series. Good PIAT-mention too, of course they hit the lead boat with one too. Thornton is also on record as saying he didn't have too much faith in the PIAT doing the job but he was pleasantly surprised – bagging (probably) the first AFV kill by allied ground troops in N.W. Europe!
Absolutely brilliant, adding so much to the podcast.
Great show chaps.
For those of us that chucked a cricket ball in from the boundary on a bracing April afternoon at the start of the season…lobbing is a much much better idea! Less damaging to the shoulder joint.
What a pairing..! Looking forward to watching future episodes. Thanks 👌🏻
Can't wait for the next episode! Brilliant!!!
The bridge over the canal is not the original Pegasus Bridge. The original is about 680 feet or 207 meters away safely preserved on land at the museum there, all a DO NOT MISS if you visit Normandy.
I love the podcast and this first episode hasn’t disappointed. I can’t wait to see the rest. A question, though. At 14:48, James talks about a soldier running over the bridge to destroy a German vehicle with something that sounds like “pea-yote.” I’ve never heard that word before and I tried googling it using different spelling variations but all I get are results for peyote, the hallucigenic drug. Can anyone clarify what weapon he is talking about? Thanks.
Brilliant love the anecdotes, amazed at the detailed knowledge of Al, as the saying goes "cannot judge a book.." So looking forward to the next
It was not the Oxon and Bucks in the regiment only used the title by regiment or by the battalions titles, the 1st Battion( 43rd Foot) Monmouthshire, Light Infantry, 2nd (Oxfordshire Light Infantry, Buckinghamshire Battalion which was a Rifle battalion and a TA battalion in Oxfordshire. The Buckinghamshire Battalion wear Rifle Green uniform and had by the Rifle Birgade march I`¡my 95th
Love the podcast too
Don't forget to visit the real bridge in the museum. Speak with Nicolas, museum curator. He can show you specifics on the original bridge. Very entertaining and better than reading books 🙂
Great episode guys keep it coming
You two knuckleheads make me smile… and I've learned so much from both of you. Crack on.
Geez, worried James was going to get run over there for a minute during his assault on the bridge.
There's also a great you tube video 'D-Day 40th Anniversary' Parts I & II by ITN. Many who were there that day at Pegasus Bridge: describing the glider landing, taking of the bridge, plus witnessing death of Den Brotherage – input from Major John Howard and many members of the Ox and Bucks – a real gem to see them reliving it & retracing their steps on the bridge. Funny to see Peg Bridge before the museum there… ! Looking forward to seeing more of these Walking the Grounds..
Cycled through Normandy during the 78th anniversary,an emotional journey 🏴
I knew a former Captain in the RA who was on his way by glider to act as an FOO at Pegasus Bridge. His glider's tow broke, they came down in the Channel, got into the dingy and wer finally captured. He passed his law degree in the POW camp and came back to meet the sone his wife had been carrying when he left. He lived long enough to receive his Croix de Guerre and died at 99. The other team were never heard of again. My grateful thanks to all those, including my father (who I first met on VE day when I was six and a half when he returned from India) who fought, died or were wounded.
I like Al’s man bag…