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