GO TO IT!

Pegasus bridge shortly after being taken by British Airborne forces. Note the proximity of the gliders in the background.

      On June 6, 1944 the 7th Light Infantry Parachute Battalion, which was part of the 5th Parachute Brigade, jumped into France landing on Drop Zone "N" at 0050 hrs. The battalion had to assemble and move quickly to take their objectives and hold the flank of the invasion forces coming from the sea. Company "A" was commanded by Major Nigel Taylor. "A" Company moved out from the DZ and moved across the Caen Canal bridge. There they took up positions in homes on the southern part of Benouville.

Left picture: (click for larger version) Actor Richard Todd and Mr. John Butler, both members of the 6th Airborne. Right picture: Mr. John Butler today. He was a member of C coy from Nov 1943 to July 1944. Both pictures courtesy of Mr. Butler

         Throughout the morning of June 6th, the enemy probed the defenses of "A" Coy, but they held for some time. At one point in the late afternoon, the company was cut off from the rest of the Battalion. During this time,  Major Taylor was wounded in the thigh but continued to command the company. The Regimental Aid post was in "A" company's area and had been overrun by German troops and armored support. Padre Parry was in the RAP at that time and was killed while trying to protect the wounded soldiers  whom the Germans were systematically disposing of.

            By the afternoon, Major Taylor had to turn command over to Captain Jim Webber, his second in command. Captain Webber was also wounded but was able to carry on. "A" company held on by themselves, against superior numbers of enemy troops and tanks for a total of 17 hours with all of its officers either killed or wounded. The company was in good heart, but tired and further weakened by their casualties. The 7th Para lost in all on June 6, 1944:

Killed                   18 (including 3 officers)

Wounded              36                                                      

That was just the beginning for "A" company and the rest of the 7th Parachute Battalion. They would fight on in many more battles including as an infantry  unit  in the "Bulge" and make one more combat jump in operation "Varsity", The jump across the Rhine was the beginning of the end for the Germans, breaking them once and for all and winning the war in Europe.