hi - researching airborne operations Dday

i have been finding contrasting information about the size of the guns in the Merville Battery some are saying they were 75mm and some saying they were 100mm. does anybody know which is correct?

Thanks
Tom

 

Hi Tom,
Alan's book (chap 4 and app 4 & 5) is quite definitive. He details the guns as I said earlier. Prior to writing the book Alan met with 2/Lt Steiner and Battery Sgt Maj Johannes Buskotte on a number of occasions gathering information. He actually acknowledges their input in the forword.
I was amongst a group of veterans who met Steiner at the battery (I think Buskotte was there also) in 1986 and (being German) I don't think they would have allowed such a mistake on Allan's part.
Steiner also gives a reason why the calibre of the guns may have been mistaken after the battery was abandoned - see pages 151 and 166.
cheers
Richard

 

Hi Tom,
Alan's book (chap 4 and app 4 & 5) is quite definitive. He details the guns as I said earlier. Prior to writing the book Alan met with 2/Lt Steiner and Battery Sgt Maj Johannes Buskotte on a number of occasions gathering information. He actually acknowledges their input in the forword.
I was amongst a group of veterans who met Steiner at the battery (I think Buskotte was there also) in 1986 and (being German) I don't think they would have allowed such a mistake on Allan's part.
Steiner also gives a reason why the calibre of the guns may have been mistaken after the battery was abandoned - see pages 151 and 166.
cheers
Richard

thanks for that, i'm ordering the books recommended tonight so will have a good look through them when they arrive.

Tom

 

just another quick question. the German counter attack at pegasus bridge which Thornton subdued with a Piat Gun. Was it a mark IV German tank, a half track vehicle or an old French tank as i have read in three different books three different stories. Any knowledge would be great.

Thanks
Tom

 

Thornton's citation on The Pegasus Archive reads:

"2. On a patrol to the West of the canal bridge he knocked out and killed the crew of an armoured carrier with a PIAT."

An armoured carrier suggests to me a half-track. Have you come across Fowler's musing on pages 44 and 45 of his book Pegasus Bridge?

 

Hi Guys - I'm just getting to this phase of the war - well, actually I'm stuck in Cornwall just after Dunkirk with the 48th Div when my uncle Kent was transferred to the Ammunition Coy, but I'm working my way forward. Kent became an RASC liaison to the airborne who spent part of the war at Syrencote House where they did a lot of the planning for D-Day. Problem is, I don't really know what he was doing there. The war diaries are a huge help as is Drew, who knows how to get at them. "Plain Soldiering: A History of the Armed Forces on Salisbury Plain," has interesting maps and photographs, as well as comments about American driving habits and manners, not much of it complimentary.

Barbara

 

Thornton's citation on The Pegasus Archive reads:

"2. On a patrol to the West of the canal bridge he knocked out and killed the crew of an armoured carrier with a PIAT."

An armoured carrier suggests to me a half-track. Have you come across Fowler's musing on pages 44 and 45 of his book Pegasus Bridge?

i haven't looked at Fowler's book, according the Ambrose it was a mark IV but Beevor says in his book it was a half track so was un sure which was right mostly because I've found a few other errors in Beevors book. ill have a look through some more books try and get a definite answer

 

Hi Guys - I'm just getting to this phase of the war - well, actually I'm stuck in Cornwall just after Dunkirk with the 48th Div when my uncle Kent was transferred to the Ammunition Coy, but I'm working my way forward. Kent became an RASC liaison to the airborne who spent part of the war at Syrencote House where they did a lot of the planning for D-Day. Problem is, I don't really know what he was doing there. The war diaries are a huge help as is Drew, who knows how to get at them. "Plain Soldiering: A History of the Armed Forces on Salisbury Plain," has interesting maps and photographs, as well as comments about American driving habits and manners, not much of it complimentary.

Barbara

Barbara,

Don't you think we need a picture of Syrencote House, Figheldean as it stands today?

I suspect your dear Uncle Kent was privy to some interesting conversations and decisions if given early access even if only with regard to his particular unit.

Checking Amazon I see the book you mention is available from $124.26

Plain Soldiering: History of the Armed Forces on Salisbury Plain by N.D.G James

Regards ... Chuck

P.S. - I found listing for Syrencote House which I suspect is out of date. When it does become available again, if you don't mind, I'll take the South Wing ...

 

Hi - I managed to find a used copy that had been rejected by a library that costs very little, but I know I was lucky. I'm going to Syrencote House with a wonderful guy who is in the military and has helped me enormously in tracing my uncle's experience. I haven't met him or his family yet, but will do so in March and am really looking forward to this. My uncle seems to have been in charge of training, but who, about what and exactly when aren't entirely clear to me yet. Anyhow - I wanted the South Wing, but am willing to share. Will send photos and some sort of report after my visit - and I know I will need your help understanding what I've seen and learned.

Thanks

Barbara

 

Forgot to add that the listing about Syrencot House is a terrific help - lots of information about the house itself and great photographs. Thanks. I guess in some ways it is quite small to have been the location for so much of the planning for D-Day. I wish the British government could buy it and make it into an extension of the IWM.

Barbara

 

got the 3 books recommend about the merville battery so reading through them at the minute while writing up. saw my dissertation tutor and only thing i need to do is make it a bit more analytical so it seems to be going well so far

 

Way to go Tom, let us know how you get on. I realize you are a bit off from completion, but I'd love to read your paper when done. No excuses young man, you have my email address -

 

Way to go Tom, let us know how you get on. I realize you are a bit off from completion, but I'd love to read your paper when done. No excuses young man, you have my email address -

don't worry ill let you read it when its done

 

I'm working on the 82nd airborne side of my dissertation now but struggling to find war documents and diaries, does anybody know where i can find some? i have read that they 82nd weren't too good at documenting events but there must be some.

Thanks

 

tom 1303,

Just noticed your thread....

Try this website for all things Screaming Eagles (101st PIR)
TRIGGER TIME - 101st Airborne WW2

The site is that of the author Mark Bando who has written books about the part played by the 101st PIR during D-day to include St Mere Eglise etc. It has a forum where you can post questions. Very good site.

The U.S. 82nd Airborne (AA) were also involved in a bridge crossing of the river Merderet at a place called Le Fiere. This was (as I understand it) the single passable road from the intended landing beaches inland. It had to be captured and the battle led to terrible losses on both sides. This was the American forces way into Normandy.

In regards to the British raid on Pegasus Bridge, a good account of the lead up (training) and actual Coup-De-Main raid is a book by the late Denis Edwards called 'Devils own luck' he was one of the attackers led by Maj John Howard in Glder number one.
It is available on your favorite internet book supplier for less than £3 including P&P

If you have half an hour read my own blog about my pedal cycle tour along the landing beaches including all the airborne landing places.
crazyguyonabike.com: Bicycle Touring: Normandy France. The D-Day beaches tour, by Graham Smith

Hope a bit of this helps

Graham

 

just want to say thanks for all the help off everybody, i ended up getting a top 2:1 just missed out on a first for my dissertation with a lot of information a gained on here helping me to do this