Page 27 - Seniorstoday June 2024 Issue
P. 27
capture Pegasus Bridge, and also “Horsa Subsequently I had lunch in the Golden
Bridge’’, a few hundred yards/metres to Lion Pub, which during the Second
the east, over the Orne River. The object World War had been the Officer’s Mess
of this action was to prevent German for Generals Eisenhower, Montgomery,
armour from crossing the bridges and Bradley and the senior commanders
attacking the eastern flank of the landings who would be the leaders for ‘Operation
at Sword Beach, and to prevent the British Overlord’. I had enjoyed my Fish n Chips
6th Airborne Division from being cut lunch and a salmon salad (with beer and
off. The Ox and Bucks were reinforced white wine) while I listened intently to
at 0300h on D Day by forces of the 7 the owner of the Pub and his stories of the
Parachute Battalion with Lt Richard Todd Officer’s Mess of World War 2. He said
(a Hollywood actor, subsequently who that his father had been the owner of this
played the role of Maj John Howard in the place when the architects of Operation
movie, ‘The Longest Day’) in the lead for Overlord used it as their Officer’s Mess.
the link up with the glider borne forces. There was a nice corner in the lounge
They were linked up by Brig Lord Lovat’s there with a scarlet-coloured leather
commandos of the 4th Special Service sofa set where apparently important
Brigade. Lovat led the men off the landing discussions about the forthcoming
craft; Lord Lovat’s brigade went ashore invasion would take place between the
under fire near Coleville. His Commandos senior commanders in May 1944.
had discarded helmets at the last moment There was a thick forested area behind
and donned their distinctive green the pub which in April 1944 had lodged
berets, complete with their regimental some of the Invasion forces in sausage
cap badges. Lovat led the men off the shaped structures. This is there in the
landing craft, and Piper Millin floundered movie, ‘The Longest Day’. After lunch I
toward the beach, Lovat shouted, “Give went to the 5th June 1944, embarkation
us ‘Highland Laddie,’ man!” Shivering points, the jetty from where the convoy
and waist deep in the water now, Millin of ships had sailed for the invasion. The
put the mouthpiece to his lips and started place is well maintained and the benches
playing as he struggled through the surf. there speak of their tribute to the gallant
They achieved their task well by 0015h soldiers who had participated in the sea
on D Day. The bridge which they had borne assault.
captured is now called the ‘Maj John
Howard Bridge’.
I had the great opportunity of visiting
the SHAEF (Supreme Headquarters
Allied Expeditionary Force) in Southwick
House, Portsmouth in England and have
seen the original D Day map with the
Tactical settings for that day. It was a
great experience being shown around the
place and seeing the operations room for Benouville; France - Major Howard statue near the Pegasus
Operation Overlord as it is referred to. bridge
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #60 | JUNE 2024 27
