Operation Deadstick: The Airborne Assault on Pegasus Bridge - June 6th, 1944
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- Опубліковано 7 вер 2024
- This is the story of the British 6th Airborne Division and their heroic D-Day attack on Pegasus Bridge during World War II.
To find out more about the film, visit: hentycrewfilms....
Read more about the history of 'Operation Deadstick' at:
www.forchristsg...
Filmed on location in Normandy, France.
Directed & Produced by William Moore.
© 2014 HentyCrew Films - All Rights Reserved.
Good effort William, especially the computer animation. But, a few errors: you left the impression that the 2nd Ox and Bucks were under command of Major Howard. Actually, he only led D Company and it attachments on 6 June. The Battalion itself was commanded by a Lt. Col. Roberts who didn't arrive in Normandy til about 2100 that evening. Lt. Brotheridge wasn't 2IC of D Company, but he did lead one of the platoons. Howard's second was Capt. Priday, who was to lead the assault on the nearby Orne River Bridge, but ended up some miles to the northeast near the Dives River, due to pilot error.Again, good effort.
Lawrence Myers thanks very much for the corrections. After I made the video, I still keep finding out things that I didn't know before. Thanks for the encouragement too. Cheers!
I would like to see you remake it. I'm sure it would be terrific.
I would like to see you remake it. I'm sure it would be terrific.
Cheers mate. There's an idea - I might just do that in the future.
yes laurence , you are right , plus he didnt leave behind wife and two children she was pregnant and had a daughter two weeks later
My Father was one of those 90...and my regiment, the Royal Green Jackets, erected the memorials. My last trip was on the 60th anniversary, and met one of the veterans who remembered my Dad. He was in his very early 90s...and drank me under the table at the cafe. Deep respect for that man and all the rest of them
andy young that's wonderful. My respects and thanks would certainly go to him.
Cheers, William
urgently required photo of your father , see normandy veterans friend and family page please
Andy, can I ask what your father's name was please?
My Dad was one of the 90 too.
My dad was one of these also. He left the UK in 1950 and moved to New Zealand. I would love it if you or anyone reading this could help with photos etc as my dad lost most of his collection during the move to NZ.
My grandfather took part in this mission and I am so very proud of him. I am going to visit the site later this year
Terrific! I'm going to be there and at Juno Beach this June as well for the 75th commemorative ceremonies.
You must be very proud Mark
My Grandad was Corporal on the mission ...never mentioned it in all our years together ..only now years after his passing is it all coming to light .. a more gentle , honest fellow you could never meet ...a true hero , God Bless him
That's amazing. My respects to him. Thanks for commenting.
My great grandfather was in glider 3. cpl Walter Ariss.
He died one year later during operation varsity in Germany.
Thank you for this video and paying tribute to those who sacrificed.
Those pinpoint landings are incredible, in the dark and with only a compass? Amazing!
I’ve stood on the spot where the three gliders landed. They were lined up so closely together that you can’t believe they did it, even when you see it with your own eyes. It’s astonishing.
Quite remarkable indeed. I have been to the spot twice, and it is truly amazing.
@@WilliamMooreHCFS I was only there once on a staff ride from the joint services command and staff college but that memory will always remain. I could not actually process in my mind how they got three gliders that size, in those conditions, to effectively arrive at the target as if they were parked up. I’ve seen worse arrangements of aircraft on a dispersal pan!
Actually 6 gliders were involved?
Im proud to say I've met a few of the men involved. One was known as 'H'? My son had a photo with him. And I met Harry Wheeler several yrs ago at the museum. I sat next to him ,and he told me his job was to cut the fuses to the explosives. His daughter told me he still had the cutters he used! He also told me that he was behind Len Brotheridge,who was fatally wounded. The first casualty of the landings. Harry said that if Len hadn't been in front,he would have taken the bullett! Respect for them all!
Respect indeed. That's grand you were able to meet some of the men. Yes, six gliders were involved - three attacked what is now known as Pegasus Bridge, and three attacked the Orne River bridge about a mile east, now called Horsa Bridge. One of those gliders ended up landing some miles away, and two landed fairly close to Horsa Bridge.
My Granddad Jack was one of the men at Pegasus, I’ve visited there many times over the years and still have his insignia, it’s currently on the grill of my dads series one land rover (in good old british style)
Absolutely mad that my great uncle was one of the brave bastards to be a part of this. If it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be sat here saying this and neither would any of you lot. I don’t just owe him my life, but his dad before him for battling through the First World War and my other ancestors for taking Normandy. The two greatest generations to ever exist
Thank you William. My Uncle was one of the relief force that punched through to Howard and his men. Vincent survived that action and countless others but seemed to be never far from that day. Having him at my passing out parade when I joined the Australian Army was a huge honour. When he died at 85 the piper from BAFA here requested to play him to his rest, that melted me.
Phil, that's really neat. I feel privileged to have heard so many stories like this which have been shared through the fact that someone has watched my video and remembered their own family story.
An outstanding video presentation by this young man. You are a true historian. Your family should be proud of you!
My great grandad was in one of those gliders. He was the last of this regiment to pass away, at 94.
What was his name? I've met Harry Wheeler
Is he the one that took a dump mid-fight Just kidding, your great grandfather was a great man
@@FrostyyMcToasty fool
same here my great grandfather was part of this operation and survived all the way through the war but this particular op he was extremely proud of!
That's really fascinating Sam. I would imagine so too!
My great uncle was there, that's all my family knows, recipient of the Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur and died in December 2017 from shrapnel in his legs from wounds received during the fighting after the landing.
Very much enjoyed your mini-doc, William. My parents lived next to a kind old gent and his wife. I knew him as 'Mr Lowman' but he was also Brigadier Frank Lowman and on D-Day he was OC Royal Engineers, 6th Airborne. It was he who asked General Gale if he could design and erect the (original) Pegasus sign by the bridge and he also designed the smaller cross made of faux marble (concrete with ash mixed in!) dedicated to 6th Airborne at Ranville Cemetary. He was the kindest and modest of men. Thanks for posting your film.
That's amazing. What a neat story! Thanks for your comments.
It's a good thing for you to be keeping these events alive in our thoughts, they shouldn't be forgotten. We'll done.
Thanks very much!
Well done William : An excellent tribute to the brave men of England as they strike back at The Third Reich. In 1957, McGraw-Hill published a great work by author David Howarth called D Day, The Sixth Of June, 1944. The taking of Pegasus Bridge is covered in detail in the book's second chapter, "The British Air Drop". Mr. Howarth writes that gliders, rather than paratroops, were chosen for the task because "Airborne Sticks" were typically strewn over larger areas and valuable time was lost as men rallied together and would no doubt alert the German defenders. He writes that the men of the "Glider Pilot Regiment" took great pride in achieving the impossible with their aircraft and promised to do what Maj. General Richard Gale demanded of them. Their task was to "crash six gliders within a few paces of the abutments" within three minutes of 00:30 hours and without killing the infantrymen on board. Adding to the obvious difficulties of the assault, May 30th brought a new danger to the mission; the introduction of "Rommel's' Asparagus", wooden posts standing upright to prevent glider landings. When shown the surveillance photos the pilots exuded even more confidence; "that's just what we needed. We'll land between the posts......break off the wings, slow us down...... we shan't hit the bridge so hard". How could men like this ever be defeated? They could not. This story and so many others should be taught to new generations in order for all to understand how the Free World defeated Adolph Hitler. I know this is a long post but it is my small tribute to all the military and civilians of the Allied nations who brought about the collapse of Nazi Germany.
+Harry Stuart Thanks very much. I have read the book by David Howarth titled "Dawn of D-Day" which mentions the same stories you wrote in your comment. I too honour the Allied men of WWII who fought for freedom.
Very well done! I have visited here many times. Amazing to view and realise how brave they all were. There's nowhere to hide on the original bridge and seeing bullet holes is chilling. One time I took breakfast at Cafe Gondree beside the bridge. It was the first house liberated. On the night of 5th June '44 Arlette Gondree's parents took their family down to their cellar. Intelligence/resistance had warned them. Arlette was around 4. She served me in 2015. REAL history for sure........
Thank you! Incredible bravery indeed. That's really neat - I myself had lunch at the Cafe when I was there in 2013.
Cheers!
Have visited this bridge a few years ago ,how brave these guys were, the glider pilots must have been the best ever, wonderful to have visited this place great vid. John h
My Dad was one of the Glider pilots on that day. He lived only to be captured later in Operation Market Garden and spent the rest of the war as a POW. The Glider Pilot Regiment story is well told in a book called Operation Tonga. Good film William
Remarkable! Thanks for sharing!
Just got back from 1170 mile long campervan drive and called in to see the bridge among all the other sites to see from the Normandy invasion.
Great job you've done there of the video
Richard Todd who played Major Howard in the Longest Day, was actually part of an assault team with another outfit. He received a medal for his service.
I live in Tarrant Rushton so it is nice to see videos like this to inform me more of what happened
Great Video. My wife's great uncle was part of this mission and is buried at Ranville.
+Marksman Gaming Thanks. That's interesting to hear - my respect goes to him.
Marksman Gaming God bless your wife’s uncle and all who participated in this horrendous event.
I really enjoyed this video William. I absolutely love these sort of Historical WW2 video Documentaries.
Its well researched and delivered really well.. My grandfather fought in WW2 and he was captured in Italy he was then interrogated to find out if he was Jewish, he was repeatedly asked what Synagogue he worshipped at back in Glasgow (SCOTLAND) to which my Grandfather repeatedly told the NAZI'S he was a Catholic and told them the name of his local Parish church. Being a Catholic saved my Grandfather's life thank God or I wouldn't be here today. He was then sent to Poland to a POW CAMP and from there he was Liberated.
William thank you very much for taking the time to put this video together as it was well researched and delivered very well indeed. Best wishes from Scotland
Thanks, Ryan. Glad to hear from you. That's a fascinating story about your grandfather - thanks for sharing. I'm always learning more as I read and study on from when I made the film, so there are a few mistakes in it. Cheers.
Nice video, thanks for sharing. I have visited this part of Normandy on several occasions but I am always amazed and humbled by it's history.
Thank you! And so am I.
My great uncle was one of the gliders that captured Pegasus bridge.
Sergeant Peter ‘Rocky’ Bright
A nicely produced film. Well done, William. I enjoyed my visit tho the bridge & museum last year. I'm full of admiration for these soldiers. It was a brilliantly conceived and executed operation. It balanced well with the corresponding successful attack on the battery at Merville.
Masthead99 Thanks very much. It did indeed - I seem to remember that the chap who lead the attack on the Merville Battery only had 80 of his 350 soldiers he was supposed to have.
@@WilliamMooreHCFS The British parachute and glider-borne attack and capture of the Merville Battery is truly a remarkable story of courage and guts.
Fantastic documentary video, well done. Just to note that D Coy were bolstered by B Coy, of which my Great Uncle Duncan “Paddy” Anton was a member and was in the third glider.
Thanks for the info! Glad you liked it!
Obviously, you put a lot of work into the presentation. Nice job and I enjoyed watching.
An excellent video thanks for posting, I have visited the bridge a couple of times and to see how close the gliders landed is amazing. What bravery this took from all concerned we thank and remember them all. Just bear in mind that those who can - DO and those that cannot - CRITICISE!
Great video! I wanted to kow more about the gliders, so I am glad I looked at your informative video.
Pegasus bridge and Ranville CWGC is one of my favourite places to visit to remember the sacrifice made by the men of my country during both world wars. Nice little video, well done. may take the liberty to correct one thing? Jim Wallwork was British, not Canadian. He emigrated to Canada after the war.
Hi I just posted a similar thing as I knew Jim though he's cousin
Thanks for the upload. My great uncle was part of the airborne division dropped to assault the bridge.
Thanks! And that's really neat.
Alot of people seem to think that there were only 3 gliders,when in fact 100% there were 6 as 3 captured the orne river bridge and 3 captured the orne canal bridge. For the mission to have been successful both bridges had to be taken
Would be very grateful if you could make that known please. Many thanks
That is quite true, and the book "'Go To It!' The Illustrated History of the 6th Airborne Division" has a wonderful pictorial record of that side of things. However, when I was putting this video together, nigh on ten years ago now, I intended to focus primarily on the assault on Pegasus Bridge.
Thank you for this video! I appreciate how you professionally and understandably present the material in an inspiring way. I will be looking forward to new videos you produce!
Thanks Seth.
Thanks for your work Will, great video
My great grandad Albert Wilson was in one of those gliders. 19 years old. Would always tell me he was in the same glider as the first man to die on D-Day. Respect to those 180 brave men that dared to dance with death for freedom. You don’t have heroes like those men anymore.
Thank you Great Britain and Canada for this very important and specific brave mission ☆☆☆☆
I thoroughly enjoyed the video William. I hope that you make more of them.
Keith Dawes I plan on doing so in future. Thanks!
This is a wicked good video! I actually learned from it. Thank you for putting the time and effort into making it.
+Huck Carignan Thanks very much. I learned a lot too as I made it. Glad to hear you enjoyed it.
Cheers, William
a few mistakes but good effort
The British actor Richard Todd was a member of the Oxford Bucks light infantry and took part in this operation
Yessir! And he then went on to play the part of Major Howard in the film The Longest Day.
He was actually in the 7th Parachute Bn, landing on Ranville DZ the same night and advancing to the bridge in the early morning. I’ve met have a number of times, first at RHQ Parachute Regiment in Aldershot in the early 90s and then twice at the bridge in subsequent years. He was always astounded to be asked to play Maj Howard in the film ‘The Longest Day’ as by the time the film was made some 20 years had passed and he thought he was too old!
He was Irish!
Well spoken and presented and to the point.
Great music !!
There were 6 gliders carrying the men of D company & 2 platoons from B company plus 10 Royal Engineers to capture 2 bridges now known as Pegasus & Horsa bridges
R.i.p. SGT "Titch" Rayner. In my family circle until his passing in recent times
.Survivor and heroe at Pegasus Bridge.God bless
A marvellous man! Much missed and fondly remembered!
Good job Mr, Moore.
@ William A. Moore Thankyou for your efforts. Quite interesting. There is a fascinsting description of the attack on the Bénouville Bridge / Pegasus bridge in a book titled "The Devil's Own Luck" by Denis Edwards. Perhaps you have read it?
Please could you explain how the replacement bridge is in fact one third larger than the original one that now resides in the museum grounds?
That would make it very much bigger.
As far as I'm aware the first bridge was extended to accomodate a widening of the Caen canal in the 1960s, however I don't believe the canal was widened even further as to necessitate the replacement bridge being a third larger.
Thank you for your comments. Most likely my math was way off. I don't think saying "a third size larger" was the correct way to explain it. If I ever remake the video I will certainly correct it! Yes, the canal was widened only once, and the new bridge was built slightly larger to replace the old extended bridge.
Well done, nice little video (was walking on Pegasus Bridge yesterday)
Brings a grown man to tears, such sacrifice.
honneur et respect à ces soldats anglais qui ont combattu et parfois sont morts pour liberer mon pays
Thank you for your kind words from the U.K.
Normandiet
Lagu jepang kawasaki honda
Cycle camping in France, I went to this bridge and drank a beer in the cafe in their memoriy
thankyou thankyouthankyou
Thank you William , fine name William
Great video William. My wifes relative took part.
A half decent effort...... few major errors.
1. What about the other bridge, now named HORSA Bridge? What about 22 Platoon in no4 glider? Op Deadstick was not just one bridge.
2. LCpl Fred Greenhalgh was the first allied soldier to die on D-Day. He was in no3 glider and was thrown out when it broke on landing, ending up in the pond and sadly drowned. Lt Den Brotheridge died approximately 2hrs after being wounded in the neck as he crossed the canal bridge.
3. Jim Wallwork was NOT a Canadian but was from Manchester. He lives in Canada in later life, also spending winters in Mexico.
Harv Chops thank you for your notes, sir. Since making this video I have found out a lot more about Operation Deadstick, such as the other bridge story and other associated operations. I didn't do as much research as I ought to have, so your corrections are greatly appreciated. Cheers.
William A. Moore I have been lucky enough to have met about 25 of the ‘Coup de Main’ Veterans over the last 20years or so. There’s only 2 remaining that we know of...... amazing men who faced much tougher battles in the following months, than this operation.
Harv Chops that's incredible. Very true, every man's a hero. Cheers mate.
@@harvchops3648 only one left now tug wilson , frank borlet died june 2018
Yes I know about Frank Bourlet. Sadly, Tug isnt keen on coming over for the anniversaries and doesnt have much to do with it now. A real shame but we must respect his wishes.@@alexoldrid2406
Den brotherigde did not have 2 children. His wife was 8 months pregnant when he died as the first soldier on d day. His daughter was born 2 weeks later. The wife remarried and the the daughter first learnt about her father when she was 40.
Very nice production very nice production good job.
Very good presentation...
Got to visit Pegasus bridge a few years ago but regrettably did not get to see the whole site. Good effort on the video but did not understand your including footage of an American cemetery in a video about an exclusively British operation.
I thought "Here we go, another terrible video of WW2"... But I was pleasantly surprised. Thank you, a nice video. 👍
You did a fine job sir
Great work! Thanks a lot!
The music is a little over the top but I very much appreciate the specialization on this singular topic. Good show.
Fuzzy Dunlop cheers mate.
Nice video William.
Flashman Thanks very much!
My father was in D Company Ox and Bucks. In regards to that photograph in front of the Horsa Glider, is that D Company? I would love to get a copy if that is the case. Can you help?
Chris, thanks for commenting. I need to go back through some of my files to find the picture, and/or where I sourced it from. If you could please email me at:
igogoniantcrist@gmail.com
I would be more than happy to help you out.
Cheers,
William
thanks for making this video...
Ian Lewis You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed it.
Nice music fitting for the film
William you did a wonderful job on the video. I'm currently reading the Stephen Ambrose book "Pegasus Bridge" and came here to see some actual footage about the mission. What I can't understand though is how was it that the Halifax pilots towing the gliders were able to stay on course so perfectly, and allow the gliders to disengage precisely on time and location, while most of the other troop planes carrying paratroopers that night were scattered all over Normandy and a lot of them made their drops no where near the intended targets. Have you ever come across an explanation for this contradiction?
+pablo1911 Thanks very much. The only explanation I can recall is differing weather conditions - the Pegasus operation in the north part of Normandy had mostly clear skies I think, while the more southerly paratrooper drops did have quite some cloud and wind to contend with, I believe. The gliders could also deal with wind much better than a relatively uncontrollable parachute.
Cheers, William
+pablo1911 One possible explanation for the Halifax pilots staying on course is the fact that as bomber pilots they were or could have been used to maintaining course while flying through flak. Most of the paratroops jumped out of Dakotas (C47s) and those pilots would be more likely to avoid flak. ( This is just my theory )
+magnum427 That's an interesting idea. I do remember reading stories about planes jumping around to avoid flak . . .
The pilots had orders from Eisenhower that stated that anyone they came across had to escort the pilots back to England which is stated in the Ambrose book as they were so highly trained they were too valuable to fight that day and did not stay and fight as mentioned in the video.
However this was not the case for Howards men who had spent 1 year training to capture bridges and after 6th June were merged back into the ranks of the Ox and Bucks which was a waste of exceptional talent considering they had captured Ham and Jam bridges in minutes.
+Wiserwoogawooga that's very true. I had gotten some facts mixed up from the Operation Market Garden offensive when some pilots did stay out of necessity to fight.
This operation was not called Dead Stick
This give me COD 1 nostalgia feel to it.
It wasn't operation Deadstick.
Coup de main
Two platoons from B coy also.
didnt realise the Horsars were so big
Great film, but the Dam buster music!!! Please
Does anyone know which glider Martin Maxwell was piloting? I'm preparing to interview him and looking for more info which is proving hard to find.
Hello Herrie, I do not know if Maxwell was a participant in Operation Deadstick, or part of the bigger glider landings later on June 6th. Here is a list of all the men who landed at the Pegasus and Orne Bridges: www.pegasusarchive.org/normandy/repCoupDeMain.htm
Shame on the narrator! At 0:57 he states "it was called Pegasus Bridge". NOT! It was known as the Bénouville Bridge until the operation. The name is derived from the shoulder emblem worn by the British airborne forces, which is the flying horse Pegasus.
+Dave Garner, If you listen further on, I do explain that it only came to be know as Pegasus Bridge *after* it was captured. See 2:10.
He did go on to explain that in the video, you must have gone for a brew
Just imagine waking up in an early morning then almost gets shot by a british soldier on a CAFE
Sorry rong Jim Walworth was born in Britain (Isle of man) he move to Canada after the war where he had a farm, I know this because I became a good friend of his cousin Elizabeth, and I also became a friend of Jim, in fact up until John Howard died Jim would come back to England for remembrance day and push John in the parade in a wheelchair
push John in the parade in a wheelchair
Yes, that's right. I found out the right details only after filming unfortunately.
Wrong info provided:-
1. There were 6 gliders and D coy plus 2 Platoons took part.
2. Capt Brian Priday was the second in command not Lt Den brotheridge.
3. Major Howard led only the Delta company, not the entire battalion.
Overall, good effort for creating the video.
Thanks for your comments. I was only focusing on the Caen Canal bridge, not the Orne River bridge. Thus, three gliders.
Cool lil video man :)
paolobrossi78 Thanks, glad you liked it!
Can someone please tell me what the music in the video is called? thx!
+Harry Hadder Official I picked it up from some free downloads of British military bands playing some great war movie themes, such as the Longest Day, Battle of Britain, etc. Hope that helps!
thankyou
Is this from cod 1? Also good documentary
AnimationG - animation,roblox & more! No, I used Flight Simulator X for the animation shots.
2017 film remake, starring Jason Flemyng
My uncle was part of this mission,
Good effort, however, not the complete picture, the actor Richard Todd, and his unit were also there, and played their part.History seems to always focus on the action of Major Howard and his men, this isn't to deny them their fame, they earned it, and a good few paid with their lives. Lesson; don't rely upon a single source.
Paix for the héros 😘🇬🇧🙏💨💐
Great video, no mention of the Royal Ulster rifles though.
+Rob Meharg Thanks!
I had never heard of the part the Royal Ulster Rifles played in the D-Day invasion. That prompted a search which resulted in this link: www.paradata.org.uk/units/1st-airborne-battalion-royal-ulster-rifles
Thanks for bringing that fact to my attention.
great vid
Pegasus bridge
You strike me as a guy that would like Hell Let Loose A WW2 milsim online shooter check it out dude if your into gaming.
A fair few goofs if I do say so
This womans voice narrating is very annoying. Anyone know of a good vid on 'deadstick'
Dim Beam I apologise for my awesomely bad voice. Maybe you should appreciate the fact that not too many young people love this period of history and those that do are trying their best to remember it.
@@WilliamMooreHCFS Please ignore that person's trolling comment. Personally, as an old man, I was impressed that a young man like you should have appreciated the immense sacrifices made during D-Day to ensure your future. My sincere respects to you.