brithm, I quite liked that. Another old chestnut from a time when the fate of the bridge hung in the balance. Demolition of Pegasus Bridge - Richard Todd Interviewed The following intriguing video was found on Pathe News which includes numerous scenes dated June 13 and 14, taken by a Sgt Grant. One of the scenes early on was possibly shot from the bridge itself ... ? Invasion Scenes 1944 - Pathe News Now which Grant would this be - Ian Grant of AFPU or one of the two Grants from CFPU (Bill and Don)? And speaking of Ian Grant, where is the damn footage he captured of Lord Lovat and his mob crossing the bridge with Piper Millen in the lead. It burns me to think it was lost. Cheers
I've been able to confirm with the help of Glenn Warner at Maple Leaf Up and Terence Gallacher (colleague) that the Invasion Scenes are indeed the work of Ian Grant, No. 5 AFPU. The medical station shown with the large red cross draped across the front is that of 195th Airlanding Field Ambulance located at 6 Rue du General de Gaulle, Ranville. I never thought I would actually see a clip of that MDS and with all the clear face views hopefully someone will make an identification. The chateau originally a German HQ was captured by the 13th Battalion in the early hours of D-Day. The two church scenes were taken by the Basilica of Notre Dame in Douvres-la-Delivrande, west of the Orne Canal. Any ideas of why he was in that area? As for the lost scenes of Lovat crossing or approaching Pegasus Bridge shot by Grant the footage was given to a dispatch driver to be delivered to the beach for immediate transport to England. Neither driver or footage was ever heard from again. I believe this information is contained in Grant's book Cameramen at War. Ian Grant was initially attached to the 1st Special Service Brigade before being transferred to the 11 Armoured Division. I'll attach a couple of comparison examples. Edit: Replaced lost attachments, but can't order them as I wish ...?
brithm, A very interesting video. Unfortunately my high school French isn't quite good enough to follow all that was being said. From what I can make out Françoise Gondrée is giving her point of view on the controversy that followed the change over to the Pegasus Memorial Museum. I'm surprised that English subtitles weren't used and they do themselves a disservice by using poor quality stills in the production. It was interesting to hear from Alain Doix who as a young lad is mentioned in Cornelius Ryan's book, The Longest Day, when he and his father standing by a bedroom window in the chateau that was later to be the 6th Airborne HQ saw the approach of the silent, bat-like coup de main gliders. Françoise H. Gondree's Site
Several Normandy Veterans Associations fought hard to keep the bridge. They were in the end; responsible for it being parked in a nearby field. I am always amazed at how many "Return" to Pegasus. Being I was dug in on the near side bank, it was very unhealthy place, and very few folk around... WE did geta mention for replacing a sinking from shell fire pontoon, whole under heavy fire....
The two church scenes were taken by the Basilica of Notre Dame in Douvres-la-Delivrande, west of the Orne Canal. Any ideas of why he was in that area?. There is not really anything unusual about filming in and around the basilica. It would be quite feasible for a motor cyclist to take the route between Luc-sur-mer (Sword Beach) and Pegasus Bridge to travel via Douvres-la-Délivrande, especially while Caen was still in German hands. I would also suggest it was quite feasible for someone filming in the area to photograph the basilica. On more than one occasion I have more or less followed the same route myself. I have also visited the basilica and taken a few photographs. It is well worth a visit.
Thank you Brian and ritsonvaljos for your thoughts. I'll try to gather together a few of my own in response if I can find the scattered pieces in the coming days. On another note I was taken by one of the photos in the video which looks vaguely familiar. I'll add it as an attachment with hopes that someone could perhaps identify a locale or face. Regards ...
Cee, That Photo is of 317 Airborne Field Security Section at Ranville - 7 July 1944 L-R: Sgts Phil Cleator, Piet Veroft, Jack Kershaw, Jerry Caudell, Fraser Edwards, Jean Fesq, Rene Howse and Tony Thomson. (from p.140 of Graeme Deeley's book Worst Fears Confirmed) Brithm
Thanks brithm, that's great information and Worst Fears Confirmed is yet another book I'll have to get my hands on. Cheers ...
Some great footage and quite timely considering I've just started reading "The Pegasus and Orne Bridges: Their Capture, Defence and Relief on D-Day" by Neil Barber. Also noted in the Acknowledgements section of the book is the authors gratitude to our good friend and esteemed forum member Brian (sapper).
Some great footage and quite timely considering I've just started reading "The Pegasus and Orne Bridges: Their Capture, Defence and Relief on D-Day" by Neil Barber. Also noted in the Acknowledgements section of the book is the authors gratitude to our good friend and esteemed forum member Brian (sapper). One thing I've learned from Brian's many posts on that time was how dangerous the area continued to be in the days following the capture of the bridge. My Father who was with 7 Para, and by comparison there for only a short time, had a pal killed by sniper fire on D-Day. He writes, "While we were there (in preparation camp) one of my buddies got a telegram from home saying his wife had given birth to a baby girl. He said, "I will never see it". We tried to talk him out of his premonition, it was no good, he was convinced he wouldn't see his daughter. He was right of course. He died the next day hit by a sniper's bullet. Many men had such premonitions." Some 10 days after D-Day there was a British casualty clearing station and hospital established at the La Delivrande Convent. It may have been another reason for trips to Douvres-la-Delivrande. I'm not sure if it was set up when Grant recorded his scenes of the town. Regards ...
PEGASUS BRIDGE's Gallery In keeping with the original intent of this thread there's a Picasa Web Albums site devoted exclusively to the bridge. A couple of the albums show the dismantling of the old bridge and the later construction of the new. Démontage .. 1993 Remontage .. 1994 Also came across the following short video containing more scenes from Pegasus Bridge, dated June 11th, 1944. 11 juin 1944 : les planeurs du major Howard Pégasus Bridge - ina.fr That site is a bit temperamental so hopefully it plays. Regards ...
Just a couple of images that popped up on another forum - probably well-known but I thought I would throw them in here anyway
Hi Dave, A couple oldies but goodies for sure - photo by Sgt. Christie No. 5 AFPU, June 1944 and the print, Operation Deadstick, by Michael Turner ... :smile: I'll add a well known aerial of the bridge sometime post war and another of the pillaged remains of the Pegasus Gliders that never ceases to amaze me. BHC 007157 Soldiers view the wreckage of the Orne gliders - Battlefield Historian Regards ... Edit: It seems some images if too big get re-sized. Here's the original for the aerial.
