hi - researching airborne operations Dday

thanks that would be brilliant. Really appreciate your help.

Tom

 

Hello, Tom.
Is there a particular aspect that you'd like to concentrate on, or are you aiming for a broad overview? I'm no expert on it, but I'm aware it's a very large subject that has been dealt with in an awful lot of detail over the years - have a look at this previous thread on sources.

 

basically i'm looking at whether the airborne achieved their objectives in support of the amphibious landing. Looking at pegasus bridge and merville battery assaults for the British side and then Ste. Mere-Eglise and unsure of a second for the American side of things

 

Tom_1303

The Canadians were part of the 6th British AB Div.
More info at 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion C Coy

 

That's helpful. I'd be inclined to make a beeline for the war diaries, and any operations orders therein, to get chapter and verse on what they were supposed to achieve. The histories will cover the why and how to some extent, but nothing beats seeing the actual orders.

 

Tom_1303

The Canadians were part of the 6th British AB Div.
More info at 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion C Coy

thanks i'll look into that.

That's helpful. I'd be inclined to make a beeline for the war diaries, and any operations orders therein, to get chapter and verse on what they were supposed to achieve. The histories will cover the why and how to some extent, but nothing beats seeing the actual orders.

yeah I've found a few sources of information giving the orders that Gale received in reference to the British operations, however these where in a book that was recently published and id quite like to find an original source before i trust it 100%

Tom.

 

thanks that would be brilliant. Really appreciate your help.

Tom

Tom - disappointing news - the Library holds a copy of Gale's book but it is not for loan. This makes it difficult to make photocopies. :mellow:

 

Tom - disappointing news - the Library holds a copy of Gale's book but it is not for loan. This makes it difficult to make photocopies. :mellow:

ahh okay thanks for trying though.

Tom

 

managed to find it for sale however unfortunately its £54.

Tom

 

Tom,

If you haven't found it previously there are a few extracts from Gale's book on a page at Pegasus Archive. Not quite the real thing, but interesting nonetheless.

Major-General Richard Nelson Gale MC

 

Tom,

If you haven't found it previously there are a few extracts from Gale's book on a page at Pegasus Archive. Not quite the real thing, but interesting nonetheless.

Major-General Richard Nelson Gale MC

Thanks, i have seen that before was hoping for the actually book though more for my reference purposes than the content as there are some very good points that i would like to quote in the link just no page references

Tom

 

Don't forget that the Bridges and the Battery were only parts, although extremely important ones, of Operation TONGA; there was also the bridge blowing task, too. Also, Operation MALLARD, in the evening of D-Day; have you factored this into your research?

Steve W.

 

Don't forget that the Bridges and the Battery were only parts, although extremely important ones, of Operation TONGA; there was also the bridge blowing task, too. Also, Operation MALLARD, in the evening of D-Day; have you factored this into your research?

Steve W.

I've decided to focus just on the bridges and the battery because i have a limited word count, even limiting myself i am going to struggle to stay under my 12000 limit.

Thanks

Tom

 

You might also like to reference the "Bogus Map Series" created for training troops prior to the operation. Some info can be found here - http://www.amerisurv.com/PDF/TheAmericanSurveyor_D-DayMapping_June2005.pdf
Tim

 

Tom - found some time today to make copies of Gale's book on the 6th Airborne Division in Normandy and just emailed two chapters to you (Ch. IV The task of the Division in the Invasion and Ch. VI The Assault). If there are more of you interested in these chapters, I could drop them as thumbnail on the site.

 

Tom - found some time today to make copies of Gale's book on the 6th Airborne Division in Normandy and just emailed two chapters to you (Ch. IV The task of the Division in the Invasion and Ch. VI The Assault). If there are more of you interested in these chapters, I could drop them as thumbnail on the site.

I've got the emails they are brilliant thank you i will look through them tonight

thanks

Tom

 

Hi Tom,
I hope that I can contribute something. My father was a Pvt in 9 Para of 6th Airborne and dropped on 5/6 June as part of the attack on The Merville Battery.

Between 1975 and 1999 I accompanied one of the groups of Para vets annual "pilgrimage" to Normandy on D-Day organised by Alan Jefferson (a lieutenant in the attacking force). It was my privilage to meet and talk with these self effacing heros who largely saw themselves as ordinary blokes who did what they had to do.
I was also lucky enough to witness some remarkable things -
* The meeting of 2nd Lieutenant Steiner CO of the battery and the vets when he was invited to attend the D-Day commemoration at the battery
* A private discourse by Major John Howard about the attack on Pegasus Bridge at the bridge on 6 June
and much more.
I still visit Merville each year on D-Day, unfortunately last year only 7 vets from 9 Para were able to make it ...

I have an awful lot of material about the subject and I recommend you try to obtain "Assault on the Guns of Merville" by Alan Jefferson. It's out of print and I won't let my signed copy out of my sight (sorry) - but it was written by someone who was there (and wounded) in the battery and addresses the thorny subject of the outcome of the raid.
You may not be aware of the following -
* The guns were not the 150mm artillery that was expected, they were 75mm field pieces although they could still range on the invasion beaches.
* The guns were not destroyed by the Paras, they were incapacitated and didn't fire to any effect on D-Day but were later removed north by the Germans

These two points drove a wedge between two elements of the 9 Para vets - you have to remember that battle honours were awarded to the regiment for the attack on the battery - and many felt it was degrading the memory whereas Alan's contention was that the facts did not lessen, in any way, the heroism of the men who took part.

If there is any specific information that you need I may be able to help, you can email me directly if you wish,

good fortune with your work
Richard

Tom - sorry need to correct an error, the guns in the battery were Skoda 100 mm model 14/19 produced in Czechoslovakia in 1916

 

thanks Richard, unfortunately are uni library doesn't have 'Assault on the Guns of Merville' in its collection but i have managed to find it cheap second hand so i will order that and have a look at it. I knew about the guns not being what was expected to be there but was under the impression it was 75mm guns but i'll double check as that was just from memory from when i visited the battery last March.

Thanks for the useful information,

Tom

 

thanks for the welcomes and i will be going to the archives next month to do some research.

Tom

Hi Tom,
Welcome

A suggestion

There is so much info in the Archives here. Go to the very bottom of the page, you will see Archive.

Best wishes
peaceful
Chrissie

 

Hi Tom,
Welcome

A suggestion

There is so much info in the Archives here. Go to the very bottom of the page, you will see Archive.

Best wishes
peaceful
Chrissie

i've had a look through some of the Archives and found some useful information

Thanks
Tom