| On the 6 June 1944 the greatest seaborne | | | | brought Lt Brotheridge down. |
| invasion the world has ever known took | | | | Wally Parr was trying to shout "Able, |
| place on the Calvados Coast of Normandy, | | | | Able, Able" as he ran on to the bridge, |
| France. This invasion was the beginning | | | | but the words would just not come out. |
| of the end of the Second World War and | | | | Freeing his tongue from the roof of his |
| the 6 June 1944 will be forever known as | | | | dried out mouth he finally let out a |
| D-Day. This article is an account of | | | | yell of "Come out and fight you |
| the first action that took place on | | | | square-headed bastards" in his broad |
| D-Day at the Caen Canal and River Orne | | | | Cockney accent. Lt David Wood's men |
| Bridges near Bénouville, France. It | | | | were now starting to get to grips with |
| tells the true story of the coup-de-main | | | | the Germans on the home bank. |
| assault by British Gliderborne soldiers | | | | Running straight past Maj Howard, 14 |
| to capture these two vital bridges. | | | | Platoon raced on to the bridge; Lt Sandy |
| Preceding the seaborne landings three | | | | Smith had wrenched his knee and more |
| Allied Airborne Divisions were dropped | | | | hobbled than ran. As he crossed the |
| to secure the flanks of the | | | | bridge he saw Lt Brotheridge's Platoon |
| five-invasion beaches where the Allied | | | | firing their weapons and throwing |
| 21st Army Group was to come ashore. In | | | | grenades at the German defenders. As he |
| the west two US Airborne Divisions | | | | reached the far end he saw a German |
| dropped onto the Cotentin peninsula | | | | soldier near the low wall in front of |
| behind UTAH beach and in the east the | | | | the Café Gondrée about to throw a |
| British 6th Airborne Division (Br 6 AB | | | | stick grenade; with a burst from his |
| Div) dropped into the area between the | | | | sten he sent the German sprawling across |
| River Orne and River Dives to the east | | | | the wall dead, but the grenade landed |
| of SWORD beach. | | | | close to Lt Smith and went off. He did |
| One of the primary tasks of the Br 6 AB | | | | not feel a thing and it was only when |
| Div was to seize intact the two bridges | | | | one of his corporals who was nearby |
| over the Caen Canal and River Orne near | | | | asked if he was all right that Lt Sandy |
| Bénouville and hold them until relieved | | | | Smith noticed the holes in his Denison |
| against any German counterattacks. This | | | | smock and trousers; he had been hit by |
| mission was considered to be vital to | | | | the grenade's fragments and the wrist of |
| the success of the invasion, as it would | | | | his trigger hand had lost all of its |
| allow the seaborne forces to reinforce | | | | flesh, but he could still use his |
| the Br 6 AB Div's area and subsequently | | | | trigger finger. |
| break out to the east. D Company the | | | | Inside the Café Gondrée the owner, |
| 2nd Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire | | | | Georges Gondrée, had been awakened by |
| Light Infantry (D Coy 2 OBLI) commanded | | | | all the noise. Crawling to one of the |
| by Major John Howard was selected to | | | | upper floor windows he peeped over the |
| carryout this mission and this is their | | | | sill to see what was going on; as he did |
| story. | | | | so Lt Smith saw the movement and |
| On the morning of 5 June 1944 the men of | | | | thinking that it was a German soldier |
| D Coy 2 OBLI started their final | | | | let off a burst from his sten in the |
| preparations and at noon Maj Howard | | | | direction of the Café. Fortunately for |
| learned that the invasion was on. He | | | | Georges Gondrée the burst went high |
| ordered the men to rest and when the | | | | shattering the window and hitting the |
| evening meal was over they boarded the | | | | wooden beams. He beat a hasty retreat, |
| trucks to go to their gliders. As they | | | | gathered his family together, and then |
| climbed into their gliders he shook | | | | took them downstairs to the comparative |
| hands with the officers and called out | | | | safety of the cellar. Lt Smith |
| words of encouragement to the men. | | | | continued with the task in hand and led |
| Finally he moved to his own glider, upon | | | | his platoon in the clearing of the |
| the nose of which Pte Wally Parr had | | | | remaining trenches on the western bank |
| chalked 'Lady Irene' to name it after | | | | of the Canal. |
| his wife. When Maj Howard got in the | | | | At 00.21 hrs, the fighting at the Caen |
| glider, the door was closed and on | | | | Canal Bridge started to die down and Pte |
| schedule they started to move down the | | | | Parr made his way to the Café that was |
| runway. At 22.56 hrs 'Lady Irene' was | | | | the rallying point for 25 Platoon. As |
| airborne and D Coy 2 OBLI was on their | | | | he ran past the end of the bridge he saw |
| way into history. | | | | one of his comrades lying on the ground |
| The six Halifax bombers from 298 | | | | in the middle of the road. Knowing that |
| Squadron RAF took-off with the | | | | he had to report to Lt Brotheridge he |
| accompanying Horsa gliders in tow and | | | | continued on for a few more paces before |
| crossed the English Channel flying at an | | | | he pulled up short. Turning around he |
| altitude of 7,000 ft. All around them | | | | realised that the soldier on the ground |
| were Heavy Bombers going to drop bombs | | | | was Lt Brotheridge. He went back and |
| on German positions in the invasion | | | | knelt down beside his Platoon Commander; |
| area, Caen or other selected targets. | | | | Lt Brotheridge had been shot in the |
| With all of this air activity the German | | | | neck, his eyes were open and his lips |
| anti-aircraft and searchlight crews | | | | were moving, but not a sound came out; |
| failed to notice the gliders. | | | | as Wally Parr put his hand under Lt |
| At the appointed time the Halifax bomber | | | | Brotheridge's head to lift it up his |
| released the first glider to begin its | | | | eyes just rolled back. |
| run into the target. In the glider S | | | | 24 Platoon had finished clearing the |
| Sgt Wallwork checked their altitude and | | | | trenches on the home bank of the canal |
| the compass, whilst S/Sgt John Ainsworth | | | | and Lt Wood decided to report to Maj |
| checked his stopwatch. At the appointed | | | | Howard that his task was complete. With |
| mark they turned to starboard and | | | | Sgt Leather and a runner he was moving |
| halfway down the crosswind leg of their | | | | back towards Maj Howard's position when |
| approach S/Sgt Wallwork saw it, he could | | | | a burst from a German schmeisser rang |
| make out the river, the canal and both | | | | out. Three bullets caught Lt David Wood |
| bridges. With visibility good and the | | | | in the leg and he fell to the ground. |
| target in sight he dropped the glider's | | | | Bleeding profusely, frightened and |
| nose and made for the LZ. With the | | | | shaken up he tried to stand but found he |
| ground rushing up at around 95mph he | | | | was unable to so. Both Sgt Leather and |
| held the glider on course; they hit the | | | | the runner had also been hit and lay on |
| ground and caught the first of the wire | | | | the ground nearby. Cpl Godbold one of |
| defences. Jim Wallwork shouted, | | | | his section commanders took over command |
| "Stream" and John Ainsworth released the | | | | of the platoon. |
| arrester parachute; it lifted the tail, | | | | It was about this time that a shaken, |
| forced the nose into the ground, tore | | | | but none too seriously injured S/Sgt Jim |
| off the wheels and bounced the glider | | | | Wallwork started to regain |
| back into the air. The arrester | | | | consciousness; he was lying on his |
| parachute did its job and they hit the | | | | stomach with his seat on top of him. He |
| ground again; this time on the skids. | | | | could hear John Ainsworth calling out |
| Jim Wallwork shouted, "Jettison" and | | | | his name and asking if he was all right. |
| John Ainsworth pressed the button to | | | | Looking around he saw S/Sgt Ainsworth |
| release the parachute; now travelling at | | | | pinned under the wreckage of the |
| about 60mph the glider threw up hundreds | | | | glider's nose and when he asked him if |
| of friction sparks from the skids as | | | | he could crawl out he replied, "No." He |
| they passed over rocks. Seeing these | | | | asked if he lifted the nose of the |
| sparks through the open door Maj Howard | | | | glider could he crawl out, to which he |
| thought that they had been spotted and | | | | received the reply, "I'll try" and as he |
| were being fired upon. All of a sudden | | | | lifted the wreckage John Ainsworth |
| there was an almighty crash and the | | | | crawled out. After getting a medic to |
| glider came to a jarring halt; Jim | | | | see to John Ainsworth's injuries, Jim |
| Wallwork and John Ainsworth were hurled | | | | Wallwork began his secondary task of |
| out through the cockpit still strapped | | | | unloading ammunition and carrying it |
| in their seats. It was 00.16 hrs early | | | | forward to the men on the bridge. |
| in the morning of D-Day 6 June 1944 and | | | | It was now 00.22 hrs, six minutes after |
| the first Allied soldiers had arrived on | | | | the first glider had landed, and reports |
| French soil. | | | | of what was happening started to reach |
| The glider's passengers were momentarily | | | | Maj Howard. The first information to |
| knocked unconscious, but Maj Howard's | | | | come in was about Den Brotheridge; this |
| fanaticism for physical fitness paid | | | | was devastating news, as they were the |
| off; they quickly recovered and in a | | | | best of friends. The next piece of news |
| matter of seconds their training kicked | | | | he received was that Lt David Wood and |
| in. Automatically removing their | | | | his Platoon Sergeant had also been hit; |
| harnesses, they exited the glider | | | | two of his three platoons at the bridge |
| through any hole they could make or | | | | were now without their Platoon |
| find. On reaching the outside Maj | | | | Commander. This was followed up with a |
| Howard realised that there was no | | | | report from 14 Platoon that informed him |
| shooting and they had landed without | | | | of Lt Smith's injuries. Whilst Sandy |
| being spotted. Looking around he | | | | Smith was still on his feet Maj Howard |
| thanked god for Jim Wallwork and John | | | | could not help thinking that he had |
| Ainsworth; they had put the glider right | | | | effectively lost all three of his |
| into the corner of the field where he | | | | Platoon Commanders at the canal bridge; |
| wanted it. | | | | added to this he did not know what was |
| Lt Herbert Denham 'Den' Brotheridge and | | | | happening at the Orne River Bridge. |
| the men of 25 Platoon swiftly exited the | | | | At the Orne River Bridge the action was |
| glider and quietly shook out into their | | | | nowhere near as dramatic, glider 94 had |
| assault formation. Lt Brotheridge | | | | missed the target area altogether |
| whispered into Cpl Jack Bailey's ear and | | | | landing some eight miles away near one |
| off he went with his two men to deal | | | | of the bridges over the River Dives by |
| with the pillbox where the firing | | | | Varaville; the Halifax crew had released |
| mechanism to blow the bridges was | | | | the glider in the wrong place due to a |
| located. Gathering the remainder of his | | | | navigational error. |
| platoon he gave a whispered, "Come on | | | | Glider 96, piloted by S/Sgt Roy Howard |
| lads" and they made a dash for the | | | | and S/Sgt Fred Baacke, was the only one |
| bridge. | | | | of the three gliders to come to rest on |
| One minute had passed since the first | | | | LZ 'Y'. At 00.20 hrs they made an easy |
| glider had landed and S/Sgt Oliver | | | | landing coming to a halt some three |
| Bowland at the controls of glider 92 | | | | hundred yards from the bridge; in this |
| came down within 25 yards of glider 91. | | | | glider were Lt Dennis Fox and 17 |
| Lt David Wood was thrown clear still | | | | Platoon. On landing Sgt Thornton |
| clutching on to his sten and canvas | | | | reminded Lt Fox that he had forgotten to |
| bucket of extra grenades; relieved to | | | | open the door, but when Dennis Fox tried |
| find himself in one piece he pulled | | | | to open it the door would not budge so |
| himself together, gathered his platoon | | | | Sgt Thornton had to show him how it was |
| and set off for the wire perimeter where | | | | done. |
| Maj Howard would be waiting. | | | | A minute later glider 95, piloted by S |
| Lt Brotheridge and 25 Platoon were | | | | Sgt Stan Pearson and S/Sgt Len Guthrie, |
| moving on to the bridge at a steady trot | | | | touched down and came to a halt short of |
| as two German sentries passed each other | | | | LZ 'Y', some 700 yards away from the |
| in the middle. The sentry walking | | | | bridge. This glider carried Lt H J |
| towards the eastern end of the bridge | | | | 'Todd' Sweeney and 23 Platoon. |
| was suddenly confronted by a pack of | | | | Dismounting from their glider 17 Platoon |
| British airborne soldiers coming out of | | | | shook out into their approach formation; |
| the night; confronted by this hellish | | | | one section to the front followed by Lt |
| sight he turned tail and ran shouting | | | | Dennis Fox, the remaining two sections |
| "paratroopers" as he went. The second | | | | and Sgt Thornton with the remainder of |
| sentry, a German NCO, turned to see what | | | | platoon headquarters at the rear. When |
| was happening and on seeing the British | | | | the lead section did not move off, |
| paratroopers running towards him pulled | | | | Dennis Fox went forward to find out why. |
| out the Verey pistol that he was | | | | The section commander pointed out a |
| carrying. Pte Billy Gray sent a burst | | | | German manning a machine-gun at the |
| from his Bren towards him and Lt Den | | | | bridge. Lt Fox told him to get moving, |
| Brotheridge fired off a full magazine | | | | but he still hesitated; so taking the |
| from his sten. The German NCO was hit | | | | bull by the horns Lt Dennis Fox led 17 |
| by a storm of bullets, but as he fell | | | | Platoon off to start their approach. |
| dead to the ground the Verey pistol went | | | | They had just got moving when the German |
| off and a flare shot up into the night. | | | | at the bridge saw them and opened up |
| As the flare went off Cpl Bailey and his | | | | with his MG 34; the men of 17 Platoon |
| two men arrived at the pillbox and | | | | dived for cover. Sgt Thornton at the |
| tossed their grenades in through the | | | | back grabbed hold of the platoon's |
| weapon slits; the grenades were followed | | | | 2-inch mortar and immediately returned |
| up with a burst of fire and they looked | | | | fire, putting a mortar round right on |
| inside when the dust settled to find no | | | | top of the machine-gunner. Seeing this |
| one left alive. | | | | land, Lt Fox and his platoon got up and |
| Pte Wally Parr was just running on to | | | | charged to the bridge shouting "Fox, |
| the bridge when the flare shot skywards; | | | | Fox, Fox" as they went. Reaching the |
| he saw the door of a nearby dugout half | | | | bridge they were just in time to see the |
| open and abruptly shut again. Pulling | | | | last of the Germans running away. One |
| out a grenade he ran across the road and | | | | of the NCOs from the 17 Platoon's lead |
| by the time he got to the dugout the pin | | | | section jumped into the empty |
| was out. Opening the door just enough | | | | machine-gun pit, grabbed hold of their |
| to throw it in, he tossed the grenade | | | | discarded MG 34 and sent a long burst of |
| through the opening and quickly shut the | | | | fire after them. These were the only |
| door. As the grenade exploded Pte | | | | shots fired in the capture of the bridge |
| Charlie Gardiner jumped into the dugout, | | | | over the River Orne. |
| Wally Parr opened the door again, and | | | | Lt Todd Sweeney and 23 Platoon |
| Gardiner finished off the Germans inside | | | | dismounted from glider 95 to hear the |
| with a burst from his sten. | | | | machine-gun open up at the bridge. They |
| The shouts of "paratroopers" from the | | | | quickly shook out and headed off for the |
| running sentry, the sound of Lt | | | | bridge at the double with Lt Sweeney |
| Brotheridge's sten, Pte Gray's burst | | | | leading the way. The only casualties |
| from his Bren, the crump of Cpl Bailey's | | | | they suffered were those that failed to |
| grenades going off and the flare from | | | | see the drainage ditches that crossed |
| the German NCOs Verey pistol brought the | | | | their approach. Soaked to the skin and |
| other German defenders to life. Many of | | | | covered in mud, Lt Sweeney led his men |
| the private soldiers were foreign | | | | up to the bridge. Unnerved by the |
| conscripts and these quickly faded into | | | | seemingly calm situation and the lack of |
| the night, but the NCOs all of whom were | | | | any opposition on the bridge, he made |
| German sprang to their positions. | | | | the final approach with caution. |
| Back on LZ 'X' glider 93 came to a halt | | | | Leaving one section to secure the home |
| with a shuddering crash on the edge of | | | | bank, Lt Sweeney led the remainder |
| the pond between the two gliders already | | | | across at the run. As they reached the |
| on the ground, as it did so it swung | | | | far end Lt Todd Sweeney saw Lt Dennis |
| ninety degrees breaking in half. Capt | | | | Fox. Lt Sweeney raced up to him, |
| John Vaughan RAMC was thrown clear and | | | | "Dennis, how are you, is everything all |
| knocked completely unconscious. Lt | | | | right?" to which he received the reply, |
| Richard 'Sandy' Smith was also thrown | | | | "Yes I think so, but I can't find the |
| clear to land face down in the mud; he | | | | bloody umpires!" |
| had lost his sten and momentarily did | | | | Leaving Lt Fox to organise the immediate |
| not know where he was or what he was | | | | defence of the River Bridge Lt Sweeney |
| doing. Picking up the nearest sten Lt | | | | made his way to the Canal Bridge to |
| Smith gathered his platoon together and | | | | report to Maj Howard. At 00.26 hrs, ten |
| made for Maj Howard's position. One of | | | | minutes after glider 91 had landed, John |
| the other members of 14 Platoon however, | | | | Howard had the news he had been waiting |
| was not so lucky; L/Cpl Fred Greenhalgh | | | | for; D Coy 2 OBLI had seized both |
| was knocked unconscious on impact and | | | | bridges intact. Exuberant Maj Howard |
| thrown clear to land face down in the | | | | turned to his radio operator Cpl |
| pond where he drowned. | | | | Tappenden and told him to send the |
| By now the sappers from glider 91 were | | | | message that the bridges had been |
| under the bridge cutting wires and | | | | captured. "HAM and JAM, HAM and JAM, |
| looking for explosives as they went. Lt | | | | HAM and JAM" out over the radio the |
| David Wood's 24 Platoon were just | | | | codewords went; "HAM and JAM, HAM and |
| arriving at Maj Howard's position and | | | | JAM, HAM and JAM" Cpl Tappenden |
| barely two minutes had passed since the | | | | continued to send. What Maj Howard and |
| first glider had touched down. | | | | Cpl Tappenden did not know was that Brig |
| The German sentry reached the far end of | | | | Poett was unable to receive the message. |
| the bridge without being hit and threw | | | | The Caen Canal Bridge was named "Pegasus |
| himself into a trench. The Germans in | | | | Bridge" after the Pegasus emblem worn by |
| their trenches turned their weapons to | | | | the British 6th Airborne Division in |
| point at the running airborne soldiers. | | | | memory of this action. The River Orne |
| Lt Brotheridge was almost across the | | | | Bridge was renamed "Horsa Bridge" after |
| bridge when he saw the first of the | | | | the gliders that carried the men who |
| enemy beginning to react and pulled a | | | | landed here. |
| grenade from his pouch as he ran. Pte | | | | You can read more about D-Day on our |
| Billy Gray fired his Bren from the hip | | | | free D-Day website at which is brought |
| towards the enemy, as did many of the | | | | to you by: - |
| other charging men of 25 Platoon. | | | | In the footsteps BATTLEFIELD TOURS and |
| Getting the pin out of his grenade Lt | | | | Battlefield Tours 4u |
| Brotheridge threw it at one of the enemy | | | | In the footsteps BATTLEFIELD TOURS ( |
| occupied trenches. As he did so a | | | | offer a bespoke battlefield tour service |
| machine-gunner in another enemy trench | | | | for those wishing to follow in the |
| off to his right sent a burst in his | | | | footsteps of an ancestor, relative or |
| direction. As his grenade exploded in | | | | particular unit. Battlefield Tours 4u ( |
| the enemy trench wiping out its | | | | offer a range of set itinerary |
| occupants Lt Den Brotheridge was thrown | | | | battlefield tours for those wishing to |
| back by the force of the machine-gun's | | | | follow a more general view of the |
| bullets to land on his back in the | | | | battle. |
| middle of the road. Other members of 25 | | | | As part of the In the footsteps |
| Platoon began firing at the Germans in | | | | BATTLEFIELD TOURS you can also purchase |
| their trenches; the combination of this | | | | related history and tour books written |
| fire and a burst from Pte Gray's Bren | | | | by Major Ian R Gumm. |
| knocked out the machine-gun that had | | | | |