I am fortunate enough to be taking my wife's granddad to Normandy for the 70th Anniversary in June this year. We hope to see many events including the parachute drop at Ranville on the 5th June. For me the trip will be very special as my Dad, Reginald Giles parachuted into Normandy with the 8th Airborne battalion on D-Day. I have described his D-Day details elsewhere on other posts, but this is the first time I have ever visited the area. My Dad was injured in the initial drop and from what I can understand was possible taken to the Main Dressing Station in a farm at Le Mesnil and treated by members of the 224th Parachute Field Ambulance before evacuation back to England. I am really keen to visit the farm and think I have found its location via the war diaries of the 224th. I would like to know from any other forum members, have they visited the farm before ? if so do they have any photos ? Also what is the etiquette for visiting such privately owned locations, I don't speak French and obviously don't want to offend the current owners by trespassing !! I have several WWII photos of the farm and several modern photos from a German web page, including a photo of small wall mounted memorial at the location, any other photos would be great. Last but not least can members advise of anywhere else that I should visit in the Normandy area which would have specific relevance the 8th Airborne Battalion and any action they were involved in. Thanks for any help or advise that can be offered Bill
I went a couple of years ago. Opposite the gates for the clay/brickworks on the ranville - le mesnil main road just before the crossroads is a small track/driveway. This leads to the farm. I met the owners and he let me sit on the outside steps where Brigadier Hill used to sit. I was shown the barn which was used as a operating theatre and the cheese making table that was the operation slab! Look on pegasus archive website there is a couple of photos from the era featuring 224 ambulance jeeps etc. He was very friendly and helpful.
Hi Bill, There's a bit of a history of the farm in the 2010 Airborne Assault Normandy newsletter where it says, " Discreet visitors to the memorial plaque, who respect the owners' privacy are welcome." So it's probably just a matter of contacting them in advance to let them know of your wish to visit. The 8th Battalion's DZ and the bridges at Troan and Bures would be good sites to view to give you an idea of their movements and objectives, though I'm sure you have already taken that into consideration. Any photos you have come across of the farm and plaque I'm sure would be of interest to others. It certainly sounds like it will be a memorable trip for you and your family. Regards ...
Thanks roodymiller and Cee for your responses, the link to the Airborne Assault Normandy newsletter really interesting. roodymiller, did you contact the owners in advance of your visit to the farm or just turn up. I imagine the whole aree will be very busy this June and I wondered whether the owners will just expect people to arrive without prior notice ? Thanks Bill
Bill, To be on the safe side have you applied for the accreditation pass? http://dday70.wordpress.com/2014/04/02/latest-news-on-d-day70/ Later ...
Hi Cee, Thanks for that, I didn't know there was a need for passes until another member of the forum messaged me. So many thanks, applications now completed and emailed for myself and my wife's grandad. Thanks again Bill
I just wandered down on my own. It wasn't around the D-Day times though it was July I think. Luckily the owners were outside and I sheeply approached them and politely asked them if I could look around and explained what I was looking for etc. They showed me around. It'll be totally different around the anniversary time...
Hi there chaps, Does anyone here have images of or close ups of the shoulder patches worn during D-Day?
Hi folks. Looking to see if anyone has any photos or personal photos from the 224th field Ambulance, 3rd Battalion, 6th Airborne division? My Grandad was Capt. Thomas Grant Gray who parachuted into Normandy and missed the drop zone landing around East of Varaville. It was he and others who set up the main dressing station at the farm in Le Mesnil. He worked for 36 hours until a relief surgeon arrived and took over for him. I was wondering if anyone had photos or such things as I would love to see them. Kind Regards
Hi Grimbobby, You may already have this. Some of the MDS buildings at Mesnil where your father performed his operations are shown in an article by Neil Barber here: 3rd Parachute Brigade HQ Ceremony - 6th June 2019 | Pegasus Bridge Regards ...
I think my great uncle Captain Frank Murray was the relief surgeon you mentioned. He was a surgeon in 224 PFA and is mentioned as having carried out an amputation on a young paratrooper. So I think he may have been at the MDS. The attached is from Red Devils their unit history. I wonder if the two captains knew each other?
Have you seen this pic before? They may well have known each other. Have you much in the way of photos of the 224th?
