| Page Created |
| March 12th, 2025 |
| Last Updated |
| March 15th, 2025 |
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| Operations |
| June 6th, 1944 |
| Coup de Main |
| 6th Airborne Division, Glider Pilot Regiment |
| 181 men of 2nd Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, the 249 Field Company (Airborne) and 12 men from the 1st Wing, B Squadron, Glider Pilot Regiment. Their mission is to capture and holdthe bridges over the Caen Canal and the Orne River to secure the Eastern flank of Operation Overlord in Normandy, France. In the early hours of June 6th, 1944, Major John Howard and the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (Ox and Bucks) execute a crucial mission to capture Pegasus Bridge and Horsa Bridge in Normandy. After landing in gliders near the bridges, they swiftly secure the objectives, surprising the German defenders. Despite heavy sniper fire and counterattacks at dawn, the Ox and Bucks, reinforced by the 7th Parachute Battalion, held their ground. Around 13:00, reinforcements led by Lord Lovat and Piper Bill Millin arrived, boosting the defence with additional troops and Churchill tanks. German attacks persist throughout the afternoon, but the defenders successfully repel them. By mid-afternoon, the intensity of the attacks decreases, and the 6th Airlanding Brigade arrives to further strengthen the position. Major Howard hands over the bridges to the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Warwickshire Regiment, and rejoins his battalion in Ranville. Despite losses, the operation is a success, preventing German counterattacks from threatening the Allied landing forces. |
| June 6th, 1944 |
| Operation Tonga |
| The Parachute Regiment, The Glider Regiment, 6th Airborne Division |
| Operation Tonga, the airborne component of the British assault during the Normandy invasion, begins late on the night of June 5th, 1944. It involves elements of the British 6th Airborne Division, tasked with securing critical targets ahead of the main Allied landings. The initial force, led by Major John Howard of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (part of the 6th Airlanding Brigade but temporarily assigned to the 5th Parachute Brigade), departs Royal Air Force Tarrant Rushton in six Halifax bombers towing Horsa gliders. Their objective is to capture two strategically vital bridges: one over the Caen Canal (later known as Pegasus Bridge) and another over the River Orne in a Coup de Main. Howard’s force lands between 00:15 and 00:20, successfully assaulting German defences. Three gliders land close to the Caen Canal bridge, two land near the Orne bridge, and one glider lands seven miles off-course due to navigational error. Despite encountering initial resistance, the British troops quickly overwhelm enemy positions. At the Caen Canal Bridge, German defences are swiftly neutralised. Similarly, the troops at the Orne Bridge suppress limited German resistance and capture it with minimal casualties. Contrary to intelligence expectations, neither bridge is rigged for demolition. German counter-attacks soon follow, including two tanks at 01:30, one of which is destroyed by British anti-tank fire. Following closely behind the initial assault are pathfinders of the 22nd Independent Parachute Company, responsible for marking drop-zones for subsequent airborne troops. However, adverse weather conditions, navigational errors, and miscommunication result in significant dispersal of troops and misplacement of markers. The 5th Parachute Brigade under Brigadier Nigel Poett experiences significant dispersion upon landing, complicating troop assembly. Nevertheless, elements of the brigade quickly secure key areas around the captured bridges and establish defensive positions against intense German counter-attacks, including attacks by infantry, armoured vehicles, and a failed Luftwaffe bombing raid. At Bénouville, British paratroopers repel fierce assaults from the German 192. Panzergrenadier-Regiment, disabling numerous enemy vehicles. Despite heavy fighting and losses, the airborne troops maintain control until relieved by the advancing British 3rd Infantry Division late on June 6th, 1944 and into early June 7th, 1944. The brigade’s 12th Parachute Battalion and 13th Parachute Battalion are similarly dispersed but regroup sufficiently to accomplish their objectives. The 12th Parachute Battalion captures the village of Le Bas de Ranville by 04:00, repelling intense counter-attacks from German panzergrenadiers supported by tanks and artillery. The 13th Parachute Battalion captures Ranville under considerable resistance, also securing critical defensive positions despite limited manpower. They successfully protect landing areas for the divisional headquarters. The 3rd Parachute Brigade, commanded by Brigadier James Hill, faces comparable issues of scattered landings and confusion. The 8th Parachute Battalion tasked with destroying bridges at Bures and Troarn finds many of its troops landing far from their objectives. Nevertheless, after regrouping, the battalion discovers the Bures bridges already demolished by advance teams of Royal Engineers and moves on to Troarn, where they further damage a partially destroyed bridge after overcoming local German resistance. Afterwards, they establish defensive positions around Le Mesnil. The 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, responsible for bridges at Varaville and Robehomme, also faces severe dispersal. Some paratroopers land in flooded areas, resulting in several drownings. However, despite delays, they successfully destroy the Robehomme bridge after improvising with limited explosives. Another Canadian company engages heavily fortified German positions near Varaville, initially suffering heavy casualties and losing their commander. The stalemate ends only when the German garrison surrenders under mortar fire, after which the Canadians are relieved by British Commandos. One of the most challenging actions involves the 9th Parachute Battalion’s assault on the heavily fortified Merville Gun Battery. The battalion, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Terence Otway, is severely scattered on landing and assembles fewer than half its expected strength. With limited equipment, they launch an assault at 04:30, suffering heavy casualties while capturing the battery. They discover the artillery is older and smaller calibre than intelligence had indicated. Nonetheless, the guns are destroyed, and the position neutralised. The depleted battalion then withdraws, avoiding planned naval bombardment scheduled as a contingency. |
| June 6th, 1944 |
| Operation Mallard |
| The Parachute Regiment, The Glider Regiment, 6th Airborne Division |
| Operation Mallard, begins with 256 gliders departing from Great Brtain, transporting additional troops and equipment for the British 6th Airborne Division, escorted by Royal Air Force fighters. Crossing the English Channel without issue, the gliders reach Normandy in daylight, mitigating previous navigation problems but facing anti-aircraft fire upon approach. The troops land at two designated zones: Landing Zone W near Saint-Aubin-d’Arquenay and Landing Zone N near Ranville. The 6th Airlanding Brigade Headquarters, the 1st Battalion, Royal Ulster Rifles, and the 6th Airborne Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment, equipped with Tetrarch tanks, land at Landing Zone N. Major-General Gale notes the relief provided by these reinforcements. The glider landings provoke a limited German reaction, causing minimal casualties among the Allied troops. However, Generalmajor Feuchtinger orders German units at the beaches to withdraw northward, inadvertently stopping the only German armoured attack on D-Day. After landing, the Royal Ulster Rifles capture Longueval and attempt to move towards Sainte-Honorine but are halted by German artillery and mistakenly shelled by H.M.S. Arethusa. Meanwhile, artillery support from the 211th Battery, Royal Artillery, quickly engages German targets. The 2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry cross previously captured bridges, advancing towards Hérouvillette and Escoville, successfully achieving all assigned D-Day objectives by midnight. In the aftermath, reinforcement by the 6th Airlanding Brigade significantly strengthens the 6th Airborne Division, compensating for losses from scattered parachute drops. By the following morning, key positions including Escoville and Longueval are securely occupied. Additional reinforcements from the 12th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, arrive to bolster defences at Bas de Ranville. |
| March 24th, 1945 |
| Operation Varsity |
| The Parachute Regiment, The Glider Regiment, 6th Airborne Division |
| On March 24th, 1945, the 6th Airborne Division participates in Operation Varsity, an airborne assault aimed at facilitating the Allied crossing of the River Rhine.Over the Rhine, the first British formation of the 6th Airborne Division to land is the 8th Parachute Battalion, belonging to the 3rd Parachute Brigade commanded by Brigadier James Hill. The brigade drops onto Drop Zone A nine minutes ahead of schedule, successfully landing despite encountering intense German small-arms and 20 millimetres anti-aircraft fire. As the troops engage enemy forces within the Diersfordter Wald, they sustain several casualties. However, by 11:00 hours, the brigade has effectively cleared the drop zone of German resistance, and all battalions are formed and ready for action. A strategically important position at Schnappenberg is swiftly captured by the 9th Parachute Battalion, operating alongside troops from the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion. However, the Canadian battalion’s commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Nicklin, is tragically killed by German small-arms fire moments after landing. Despite further casualties, the brigade successfully drives the Germans from the area. By 13:45 hours, Brigadier Hill reports that all of the brigade’s objectives have been fully secured. Canadian medical orderly Corporal Frederick George Topham is later awarded the Victoria Cross for his extraordinary bravery under fire, as he rescued and treated wounded soldiers despite sustaining injuries himself. Following closely behind is the 5th Parachute Brigade, under Brigadier Nigel Poett, landing on Drop Zone B. Although this brigade achieves its landing zone, poor visibility leads to less accurate drops than those of the 3rd Parachute Brigade, complicating the assembly of troops on the ground. The brigade faces immediate resistance from nearby German units, coming under intense small-arms fire, artillery bombardment, and mortar fire, resulting in casualties in their assembly points. Nevertheless, the 7th Parachute Battalion soon clears the area of enemy troops occupying farms and nearby buildings. The 12th and 13th Parachute Battalions promptly secure the brigade’s remaining objectives. Subsequently, the brigade advances eastwards to clear German positions around Schermbeck and engages enemy concentrations near the farmhouse used as headquarters by the 6th Airborne Division. By 15:30 hours, Brigadier Poett confirms that all objectives have been secured and successful links established with other airborne formations. The 6th Airlanding Brigade commanded by Brigadier Hugh Bellamy, lands shortly afterwards by glider. Tasked with capturing several key locations, including the town of Hamminkeln, this brigade is split into company-sized groups, landing across Landing Zones P, O, U, and R under heavy anti-aircraft fire. Difficulties are exacerbated by dense haze and smoke, causing several glider pilots to become disoriented, leading to crashes or landings away from designated areas. Despite this confusion, most gliders land safely enough for the brigade’s battalions to achieve their mission objectives. They swiftly capture three vital bridges across the River Issel intact. Furthermore, with assistance from American troops of the 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment, who inadvertently land in the vicinity, the brigade successfully secures Hamminkeln itself. Shortly after taking the town, Brigadier Bellamy reports all objectives secured and firmly under British control. |