Battlefield Sites
Pegasus Bridge
The New Pegasus Bridge
;)
The first place Allied troops landed during the Normandy Invasion June 1944 was the Caen Canal Bridge, shown in this photograph as it looks today. This bridge and the nearby Orne River Bridge were the only spans which allowed access to the invasion beaches from the east. It was vital that they be captured and denied to the Germans. If they could not it was feared that the German panzer armies would be able to sweep down from the east and south and attack the troops landing on the Normandy beaches. The task of securing these bridges was given to a specially trained and reinforced company of airlanding infantry from the 6th Airborne Division.;)
Led by Major Howard, a company of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry launched a surprise attack on the German defenders of these two vital river crossings. Floating silently down in six gliders out of the midnight sky on June 5th/6th the coup de main party stormed the bridges and secured both before the Germans could destroy them. The picture here is taken from the German gun pit on the east bank of the canal, near the superstructure of the bridge looking over to the Cafe Gondree on the west bank. It is this location that British troops first attacked, then to sweep across the bridge to secure the buildings on the other side.;)
With both bridges in hand the small group of British troops dug in to face the inevitable German counter-attacks. Major Howard established his HQ in a German dugout just north of the bridge on the eastern bank. The top photograph is taken from the location of the HQ, looking north up the Caen Canal towards the Channel. The bottom photograph is taken from the bridge looking south down the Caen Canal toward the city of Caen itself, several miles away.
;)
The assault force was reinforced some hours later by parachutists from 3rd Parachute Brigade, and the next morning were relieved by the commandos marching from the landing beaches. The bridges had been held. The Allies had secured the left flank of the invasion force in what was one of the most brilliant and heroic actions of the Second World War.;)
In memory of the action the Caen Canal Bridge was renamed Pegasus Bridge after the symbol of the British Airborne forces. The bridge that now stands on the site is a larger version of the original, which now stands 100 yards to the northeast at the beatiful museum recently completed to commemorate the action. Shown here is the plaque on the current Pegasus Bridge.Glider Landing Sites
;)
Three gliders were tasked with landing troops at the Caen Canal Bridge, including one carrying Major Howard. All three landed incredibly close to the bridge, one even coming to a stop within the barbed-wire perimeter of the German defenders. This photograph is taken near the landing spot of the furthest of the three gliders. The stone markers indicating the landing sites for the first and second gliders can be seen even closer to the bridge. The area is swampy and has several small lakes nearby, into which one of the gliders partially landed.;)
At the time Allied bombers were raiding the nearby cities and the German defenders of the bridge thought that the sound of the gliders landing was made by pieces of a shotdown bombers crashing nearby. They were taken completely by surprise as the British Airborne troops came running out of the night firing as they ran.
;)
The two sentries on the bridge were killed almost immediately, although one managed to launch a warning flare. The German defenders were attacked in their bunkers and dugouts and after a quick and vicious action were dispatched by the Oxs & Bucks. Shown in this picture is a marker for the location of the landing site of the first glider which carried Major Howard, along with a bust of Howard and a plaque commemorating his leadership.;)
The area of the glider landings is now a memorial site, and is very well tended and marked. A stone path leads south from the bridge along the canal and into the reeds. A cut path leads visitors past three stone markers which indicate the landing spots for each of the gliders. A plaque on each marker gives the names of the Glider Pilots and platoon officers who landed there. Shown here is the plaque on the marker for the first glider. Below are shown the marker for the second (left) and third (right) gliders.;)
;)
Original Pegasus Bridge
;)
The original Pegasus Bridge was removed by the French government in 1994 and replaced by a newer and larger bridge. The new bridge is also set slightly to the south of the original, although this does not noticeably distract from the historicity of the site. The original Pegasus Bridge was safely kept to the side while a museum was built at the site.
;)
The Pegasus Bridge Museum, located just a few yards to the northeast of the current bridge, is now open and welcoming visitors. The original bridge is beautifully restored and located on the museum grounds, as shown in this photograph above. Shown in this second photograph is the superstructure of the original bridge. It has been restored and repainted, but scars of the fighting are still visible.;)
Shown in this top photograph is the northern side of the bridge, giving an idea of the structure. It is also possible to walk onto the decking of the bridge and retrace the steps of the assault party as they crossed to the west. A number of wreaths have been placed on the site in honour of the fallen. Below is a photograph taken from the decking of the bridge beneath the superstructure on the eastern end.;)
Touring the battlefield sites gives the student of history a much richer understanding of the events of the past. Walking through the locations where history happened is both a rewarding and moving experience. Be sure to bring a tour guide, maps, and histories of the actions as reference. Give yourself plenty of time to stop and read about the sites you are visiting.