Omaha beach

[Kiwiwriter]

I sit corrected on Morris and Hillman. And I'm still unsure about the Luftwaffe radar station at Douvres.

[sapper]

My memory is pretty good, but by no means perfect, Douvers managed to resist capture for a few days. During the landing operation, the Commandos came in later than the main force.

That caused a remark that is still around to day, A Pioneer Corps lad labouring on the beach looked up and said to the Commandos "Where have you been then"

What did happen, is that Commandos had specific tasks, one was to take the Lyon post, in that they ran into trouble, and borrowed I'm not sure if it was three or five Royal Engineer tanks? and lost the lot, penetrated with ease by the enemy.

There are so many Legends about those time that are utter crap, some of it Hollywood stuff, but some created by our own media.

The wonderful story of the Commandos that reached Pegasus with their piper....great stuff...wonderful for the press! As they arrived, they were watched by a Sapper Sgt hands in pockets, and few other Sappers leaning against the iron work, waiting for the Assaul bridging supplies to arrive.

The first troops ashore were Sappers, to open up and prepare the way,I have a lovely little bit somewhere where the account of the assaulting troops said when we arrived, we found the "Gallant Sappers already there"

[morse1001]

The wonderful story of the Commandos that reached Pegasus with their piper....great stuff...wonderful for the press! As they arrived, they were watched by a Sapper Sgt hands in pockets, and few other Sappers leaning against the iron work, waiting for the Assaul bridging supplies to arrive.

the Commandos were members of No 4 commando commanded by Lord Lovet. here is Lovets description of their arrival at Pegasus bridge

THE BRIDGES
I ran across with Piper Millin, Salsbury and a handful of fighting men. There was a fair amount of mortaring, and a machine-gun up the water pinged bullets off the steel struts, but no one noticed and brave fellows from the gliders were cheering from their fox-holes at the other end.

Soon I was hailing John Howard, a hero in the Ox and Bucks who had crash-landed his ship with its nose almost in the canal. He advised me to keep moving: it was no place to hang about. No. 6 and No. 3 Commandos got across in no time; the marines, close behind, had their CO picked off by a sniper. As the day wore on, Germans infiltrated along the river and canal banks, causing considerable damage.

John Howard's nocturnal coup de main was a notable achievement, His fast-dwindling company was to take punishment all day, but they kept the bridge open until darkness fell again. John, a modest fellow, was to be badly shot up later in the war. I remember an apology as wr doubled over this hot potato. 'Sorry about the mortaring from thill ruddy chateau. The bastards have got the range, but it happens to be a maternity hospital and I have strict orders not to disturb the inmates!"



Piper Millin struck into a march and played us across the water,*

Also, Maj Howard with his glider landed at 0016 and claimed to be the first allied troops on Normandy soil.

[sapper]

Absolutely right the Airborne Coup was spectacular, the position of the nearest glider is about right, as you cross the bridge from the West, and turn slightly right here is the nearest glider. I am not disputing the wonderful assault by the glider lads, Bravery of the highest order...what I am talking about is the releiving force.

When they arrived, the Sapper Sgt as I said was stood there waiting for supplies to turn up. If I recall correctly..... Colonel Tiger Uquahart (Our CRE) had decreed that no armour should use Pegasus in the early hours, as it was not known if the blasted thing would collapse?

Instead, the Sappers had assault rafts, and a tidal bridge to build, having to break off now and then to defend the thing from direct enemy attack. Shell and mortar fire, with low level air attacks and flaming snipers. We sent out a patrol and got one of them" 17 enemy planes were shot down over Pegasus in low level attacks.

It is claimed mostly by rifle and bren fire,,,Though I doubt it myself, though it has to be said rifle fire is devastating.

My Fox hole was on the Western bank about 50 yards from the bridge in an Eastern direction. Get your head down slit! I see now, there are trees growing along the bank. There were many other coups my company pulled off including the harbour gates at Ouistreham.
Sapper

[morse1001]

Lord Lovet's commando was the first unit to arrive at pegasus bridge after the glider assult. Later on after the German counterattck did 3 div turn up and i do not know if Maj Gen Rennie had a personal piper at his disposal.

[sapper]

Not only were they not there first, but there was the odd bod there from other units.
Sapper

[morse1001]

Originally posted by sapper@Mar 12 2005, 12:56 PM
Not only were they not there first, but there was the odd bod there from other units.
Sapper

Quoted post

the assult force was made up of various units the second glider in had the RE section.

Some of the gliders landed away from the lz abd the troops made their way to the bridge.

[sapper]

The RE Sgt and Sappers were from sea born forces. I know that it does not fit the history books, or the legends created, certainly not the media.

There are other reports, that other sea born forces had somehow or other, got there. Odd isnt it? the steadfast refusal to come to terms with what happened, But I can tell you that some others got there before the releiving forces.

I dont expect anyone to believe me. Why should they? they have been reading about what happened for years, and films and Hollywood says that is so.....

Interesting aint it? I spent some time at Pegasus, What I do find, is that people today find it difficult to come to terms that there is an old Normandy Veteran around capable of recalling what happened 61 years ago.

What has occured, is that over the years Hollywoods created Legends have now become accepted fact, and is more likely to be beleived than what did actually happen.
Sapper

[sapper]

Just one other thing! It has always been said by the Americans that Sword was an easy landing. Complete rubbish.
I can tell you that of the assault craft we lost 29 out of 38, nor only that, but I can name them and where they came from.
Sapper

[angie999]

There is some misunderstanding about the role of Lovat's commandos. Their purpose was not to relieve or reinforce the Ox and Bucks at the bridge. They were in fact a first reinforcement for 6th Airborne in general and, on crossing the bridge, they moved on and away from the bridge.

The initial reinforcement for the Ox and Bucks was 7th Battalion the Parachiute Regiment which, due to the nature of the drops, arrived in somewhat piecemeal fashion.

The first seaborne reinforcements were as described by Sapper, but they arrived some time after the commandos had reached the bridge, crossed it and moved on, so the impression would have been that the RE etc. were there first.