Personnel On Board Horsa Gliders, Pegasus Bridge

Having researched my family history I'm told that an Uncle of mine was on board one of the gliders that took Pegasus Bridge.

How do I go about confirming this fact? Can someone point me to a "List" of personnel who took part in the Operation.

Any help you can give will be greatfully received

Thank You
Tony

 

Hello and welcome to the forum.

The best way to move forward would be to obtain a copy of his service records. They will tell you what unit he was with and when. From this information you can view and copy the units war diaries which will tell you as near as damit where he was and what he was doing throughout the war.

Regards
Andy

 

would there not be a namelist in the many books written about this attack?

 

Coup de Main Force


The following is a complete list of all those who participated in Major John Howard's Coup-de-Main raid on the Bénouville and Ranville Bridges, more familiarly known as the Pegasus and Horsa Bridges, in the early hours of the 6th June 1944. The list comes from "The Devil's Own Luck" by the late Denis Edwards, and from research notes that he passed on to the site.

Bénouville / Pegasus Bridge

Glider No.1 A Horsa glider towed by a Halifax tug piloted by Wing Commander Duder. All aboard, unless otherwise noted, were members of No.25 Platoon, designated No.1 Platoon for the duration of the Coup-de-Main Raid, of "D" Company, the 2nd Battalion The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.

Staff-Sergeant Jim Wallwork (Glider Pilot Regiment)
Staff-Sergeant John Ainsworth (Glider Pilot Regiment)
Lieutenant Den Brotheridge (Platoon Commander)
Sergeant Ollis
Corporal Caine
Corporal Webb
Corporal Bailey
Lance-Corporal Packwood
Lance-Corporal Minns
Private Baalam
Private Bates
Private Bourlet
Private Chamberlain
Private Denis Edwards
Private Gardner
Private Gray
Private O'Donnell
Private Wally Parr
Private Tilbury
Private Watson
Private White
Private Windsor
Private Jackson (08)
Major John Howard ("D" Company Headquarters, Commander Coup-de-Main Force)
Corporal Tappenden ("D" Company Headquarters, Wireless Operator)
Corporal Watson (249th Field Company)
Sapper Danson (249th Field Company)
Sapper Ramsey (249th Field Company)
Sapper Wheeler (249th Field Company)
Sapper Yates (249th Field Company)

The following men were of No.25 Platoon but did not participate in the Coup-de-Main raid. Privates Saunders, Fry, Taylor, Whale, Wilks and Sergeant Page.


Glider No.2 A Horsa glider towed by a Halifax tug piloted by Warrant Officer Berry. All aboard, unless otherwise noted, were members of No.24 Platoon, designated No.2 Platoon for the duration of the Coup-de-Main Raid, of "D" Company, the 2nd Battalion The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.

Staff-Sergeant Boland (Glider Pilot Regiment)
Staff-Sergeant Hobbs (Glider Pilot Regiment)
Lieutenant David Wood (Platoon Commander)
Sergeant Leather
Corporal Charles Henry Godbold
Corporal Cowperthwaite
Corporal Ilsley
Lance-Corporal Roberts
Lance-Corporal Drew
Private Chatfield
Private Lewis
Private Cheesley
Private Waters
Private Clarke (33)
Private Musty
Private Dancey
Private Harman
Private Warmington
Private Leonard
Private Weaver
Private Radford
Private Harry Clark (48)
Private Pepperall
Private Malpas
Lance-Corporal Harris ("D" Company Headquarters, RAMC Medic)
Captain Neilson (249th Field Company)
Sapper Conley (249th Field Company)
Sapper Lockhart (249th Field Company)
Sapper Shorey (249th Field Company)
Sapper Haslett (249th Field Company)

The following men were of No.24 Platoon but did not participate in the Coup-de-Main raid. Privates Orris, Davis, Batchelor, Irving, Brooks and Meredith.


Glider No.3 A Horsa glider towed by a Halifax tug piloted by Warrant Officer Herman. All aboard, unless otherwise noted, were members of No.14 Platoon, designated No.3 Platoon for the duration of the Coup-de-Main Raid, of "B" Company, the 2nd Battalion The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.

Staff-Sergeant Barkway (Glider Pilot Regiment)
Staff-Sergeant Boyle (Glider Pilot Regiment)
Lieutenant Richard Smith (Platoon Commander)
Sergeant Harrison
Corporal Higgs
Corporal Stan Evans
Corporal Aris
Lance-Corporal Madge
Lance-Corporal Cohen
Lance-Corporal Greenhalgh
Private Wilson
Private Hook
Private Stewart
Private Keane
Private Noble
Private Crocker
Private Basham
Private Watts
Private Anton
Private Tibbs
Private Slade
Private Burns
Private Turner
Private Golden
Major Jacob-Vaughan (Medical Officer)
Lance-Corporal Albert Gregory (195th Airlanding Field Ambulance, Medic)
Lance-Corporal Waring (249th Field Company)
Sapper Clarke (249th Field Company)
Sapper Fleming (249th Field Company)
Sapper Green (249th Field Company)
Sapper Preece (249th Field Company)


Ranville / Horsa Bridge


Glider No.4 A Horsa glider towed by a Halifax tug piloted by Flying Officer Clapperton. All aboard, unless otherwise noted, were members of No.22 Platoon, designated No.4 Platoon for the duration of the Coup-de-Main Raid, of "D" Company, the 2nd Battalion The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.

Staff-Sergeant Lawrence (Glider Pilot Regiment)
Staff-Sergeant Shorter (Glider Pilot Regiment)
Lieutenant Tony Hooper (Platoon Commander)
Sergeant Barwick
Corporal Goodsir
Corporal Bateman
Lance-Sergeant Rayner
Corporal Ambrose
Corporal Hunt
Private Allwood
Private Wilson
Private Hedges
Private Everett
Private St. Clair
Private Waite
Private Clive
Private Timms
Private Whitford
Private Johnson
Private Lathbury
Private Hammond
Private Frank Gardener (08)
Private Jeffrey
Captain Priday ("D" Company Headquarters, Second-in-Command)
Lance-Corporal Lambley ("D" Company Headquarters, Company Clerk)
Lance-Sergeant Brown (249th Field Company)
Sapper Deighton (249th Field Company)
Sapper Guest (249th Field Company)
Sapper Paget (249th Field Company)
Sapper Roberts (249th Field Company)

The following men were of No.22 Platoon but did not participate in the Coup-de-Main raid. Lance-Corporal Griffiths, Privates Harris and Nicholls.


Glider No.5 A Horsa glider towed by a Halifax tug piloted by Warrant Officer Bain. All aboard, unless otherwise noted, were members of No.23 Platoon, designated No.5 Platoon for the duration of the Coup-de-Main Raid, of "D" Company, the 2nd Battalion The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.

Staff-Sergeant Pearson (Glider Pilot Regiment)
Staff-Sergeant Guthrie (Glider Pilot Regiment)
Lieutenant "Tod" Sweeney (Platoon Commander)
Sergeant Gooch
Corporal Murton
Corporal Howard
Corporal Jennings
Corporal Lawrence Stacey
Lance-Corporal Porter
Private Allen
Private Bowden
Private Buller
Private Bright
Private Bleach
Private Clark (46)
Private Galbraith
Private Jackson (59)
Private Roach
Private Roberts (94)
Private Read
Private Tibbett
Private Wixon
Private Wood
Private Wilcox
Lieutenant Macdonald (7th Parachute Battalion, Liaison Officer)
Corporal Straw (249th Field Company)
Sapper Bradford (249th Field Company)
Sapper Carter (249th Field Company)
Sapper Field (249th Field Company)
Sapper Wilkinson (249th Field Company)

The following men were of No.24 Platoon but did not participate in the Coup-de-Main raid. Privates Fergoson, Giles and Lance-Corporal Lennon.


Glider No.6 A Horsa glider towed by a Halifax tug piloted by Flying Officer Archibald. All aboard, unless otherwise noted, were members of No.17 Platoon, designated No.6 Platoon for the duration of the Coup-de-Main Raid, of "B" Company, the 2nd Battalion The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.

Staff-Sergeant Howard (Glider Pilot Regiment)
Staff-Sergeant Baacke (Glider Pilot Regiment)
Lieutenant Dennis Fox (Platoon Commander)
Sergeant Charles Thornton
Corporal Lally
Corporal Burns
Corporal Reynolds
Lance-Corporal Loveday
Private Collett
Private Hubbert
Private Clare
Private Peverill
Private Pope
Private Whitehouse
Private Whitbread
Private Lawton
Private Rudge
Private O'Shaughnessy
Private Annetts
Private Summersby
Private Eric Woods
Private Wyatt
Private Ward
Private Storr
Lance-Corporal Lawson ("D" Company Headquarters, RAMC Medic)
Lieutenant Bence (249th Field Company)
Sapper Burns (249th Field Company)
Sapper C. W. Larkin (249th Field Company)
Sapper C. H. Larkin (249th Field Company)
Sapper Maxted (249th Field Company)

The 6th Airborne Division in Normandy

 

No doubt this would be very helpful

 

Thank you all for the items you've posted, I will follow them up in due course

Tony

 

Tony,

Hello and welcome to the forum.

I hope that you find your answers.

A great post by wtid45.

Regards
Tom

 

Is he on the list Tony?

 

Unfortunately I can't find him on the list. I think I'll to go back and check the story with family members.

Once again, thanks for all the help and guidance

Regards
Tony

 

Here's a link to getting his service records-They'll have the answer to who he was with and when.

Army Personnel Centre - British Army Website

 

According to the Escape and Evasion report of Private Leslie Chamberlain (IS9/WEA/2/34/187) who was on board Glider No 1 - Private Wale (Whale) was also on board this glider. However he is shown on the list of participants above as one of those from 25 Platoon that did not.

John

 

My late Uncle was also Ox & Bucks in 6th Airlanding brigade and family legend had it that he was also involved in the Pegasus Bridge attack, however, what little he mentioned of his part in D-day always brought to the front that he never saw a "Bloody Cafe with frogs bringing bloody champagne out to us". He was involved in D-day and went to one of the LZ around Ranville but after visits to the museum and e-mail contact with Denis Edwards when he was alive, I am now convinced he was not part of the Coup-De-main. I will try the army records link but would they have any mention of where he was involved in such a massive event? I have his Army number and know he was part of A company 52nd LI Ox & Bucks in March 1943 (Have his company photo in front of me)

 

Bit of a long shot!

I'm looking for a relative with the surname Lawson who was Lance-Corporal in the R.A.M.C - but in WW1.

I don't know his first name, but I know he survived WW1. He was located around Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire area. The only other thing I have is a photo of him in his WW1 R.A.M.C uniform.

---

So I've just seen in Glider 6 - Lance-Corporal Lawson ("D" Company Headquarters, RAMC Medic).

Is it possible that this may be someone of the right age, who has retained their rank from WW1? And is there any known photo!

Yeah I know, I'm not asking much for a first post am I

 

Watched 'Find my Past' on Yesterday tv channel earlier today.
Episode 4 of 10. D-day
Featured 2 Grand daughters and 1 grand niece of men from the three gliders at Pegasus bridge.

Glider 1 L/c Minns
Glider 2 S/sgt Boland
Glider 3 Major Jacob-Vaughan.

Bound to be repeated.

 

Great I think I just found the person I have been looking for on Glider 5, Lance-Sergeant Brown (249th Field Company). Will have to wait for his service record to be sure. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150592662729175&set=p.10150592662729175&type=1&theater

 

Hi I've sent you a msg via email

 

Quite a while since this has been added to, but I came across this snippet about the pilot of Horsa No 5, SSgt Stanley Pearson DFM:

which may be of interest. He is also mentioned at:
Stan Pearson | ParaData
and:
https://mobile.twitter.com/6thairborne/status/1068656799618871297?lang=en-GB

 

The chart used by S. Sgt. Pearson on the night of June 5/6 is held in the Archive at the Army Flying Museum

 

Hi,

S/Sgt Stan Pearson at the1989 Horsa Bridge Memorial Service, from a letter to the Pegasus Journal.



Regards ...

 

5 June 1994. I remember all 6 Pegasus Bridge glider pilots were present.
If you've got names to add, please let me know.

L to R: S/Sgt. Jim Wallwork; DFM, S/Sgt. Peter Boyle; S/Sgt. Geoff Barkway, DFM


L to R: unknown; Sgt. Charles "Wagger" Thornton, MM; Cpl. Ted "Ham and Jam" Tappenden; unknow; S/Sgt. Peter Boyle; S/Sgt. Jim Wallwork, DFM


L to R: Sgt. Charles "Wagger" Thornton, MM; unknown


Major John Howard