COUP DE MAIN FORCE NOMINAL ROLL
The below nominal roll is taken from the late Denis Edwards's book "Devils Own Luck" and information given to me by veterans.
The below nominal roll is taken from the late Denis Edwards's book "Devils Own Luck" and information given to me by veterans.
Glider Number 1 – Target: The Caen Canal Bridge
THE GLIDER PILOT REGIMENT
S/Sgt Wallwork Horsa Pilot
S/Sgt Ainsworth Horsa Co-Pilot
25 PLATOON, D COMPANY, 2ND (AIRBORNE) BATTALION,
THE OXFORDSHIRE AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY
Lt Brotheridge
Sjt Ollis
Cpl Caine
Cpl Webb
Cpl Bailey
L/Cpl Packwood
L/Cpl Minns
Pte Baalam
Pte Bates
Pte Bourlet
Pte Chamberlain
Pte Edwards
Pte Gray
Pte Gardner
Pte O’Donnell
Pte Parr
Pte Tilbury
Pte Watson
Pte White
Pte Windsor
Pte Jackson 08
COMPANY HQ, D COMPANY, 2ND (AIRBORNE) BATTALION.
THE OXFORDSHIRE AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY
Major Howard Officer Commanding, Coup de Main Force
Cpl Tappenden Wireless Operator, Company HQ
249 (AIRBORNE) FIELD COMPANY ROYAL ENGINEERS
Cpl Watson
Sapper Danson
Sapper Ramsay
Sapper Wheeler
Sapper Yates
Glider Number 1, together with gliders 2 and 3 landed very close to its target, the Caen canal bridge, now named Pegasus Bridge.
All three gliders landed within a few minutes of each other.
THE GLIDER PILOT REGIMENT
S/Sgt Wallwork Horsa Pilot
S/Sgt Ainsworth Horsa Co-Pilot
25 PLATOON, D COMPANY, 2ND (AIRBORNE) BATTALION,
THE OXFORDSHIRE AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY
Lt Brotheridge
Sjt Ollis
Cpl Caine
Cpl Webb
Cpl Bailey
L/Cpl Packwood
L/Cpl Minns
Pte Baalam
Pte Bates
Pte Bourlet
Pte Chamberlain
Pte Edwards
Pte Gray
Pte Gardner
Pte O’Donnell
Pte Parr
Pte Tilbury
Pte Watson
Pte White
Pte Windsor
Pte Jackson 08
COMPANY HQ, D COMPANY, 2ND (AIRBORNE) BATTALION.
THE OXFORDSHIRE AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY
Major Howard Officer Commanding, Coup de Main Force
Cpl Tappenden Wireless Operator, Company HQ
249 (AIRBORNE) FIELD COMPANY ROYAL ENGINEERS
Cpl Watson
Sapper Danson
Sapper Ramsay
Sapper Wheeler
Sapper Yates
Glider Number 1, together with gliders 2 and 3 landed very close to its target, the Caen canal bridge, now named Pegasus Bridge.
All three gliders landed within a few minutes of each other.
Glider Number 2 – Target: The CaenCanal Bridge
THE GLIDER PILOT REGIMENT
S/Sgt Boland Horsa Pilot
S/Sgt Hobbs Horsa Co-Pilot
24 PLATOON, LETTER D COMPANY, 2ND (AIRBORNE) BATTALION,
THE OXFORDSHIRE AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY
Lt Wood
Sjt Leather
Cpl Godbold
Cpl Cowperthwaite
Cpl Ilsley
L/Cpl Roberts
L/Cpl Drew
Pte Chatfield
Pte Lewis
Pte Cheesley
Pte Waters
Pte Clarke 33
Pte Musty
Pte Dancey
Pte Harman
Pte Warmington
Pte Leonard
Pte Weaver
Pte Radford
Pte Clark 48
Pte Pepperall
Pte Malpas
L/Cpl Harris RAMC Medic
249 (AIRBORNE) FIELD COMPANY ROYAL ENGINEERS
A/Capt Neilson
Sapper Conley
Sapper Lockhart
Sapper Shorey
Sapper Haslett
Glider Number 2, together with gliders 1 and 3 landed very close to its target, the Caen canal bridge, now named Pegasus Bridge.
All three gliders landed within a few minutes of each other.
THE GLIDER PILOT REGIMENT
S/Sgt Boland Horsa Pilot
S/Sgt Hobbs Horsa Co-Pilot
24 PLATOON, LETTER D COMPANY, 2ND (AIRBORNE) BATTALION,
THE OXFORDSHIRE AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY
Lt Wood
Sjt Leather
Cpl Godbold
Cpl Cowperthwaite
Cpl Ilsley
L/Cpl Roberts
L/Cpl Drew
Pte Chatfield
Pte Lewis
Pte Cheesley
Pte Waters
Pte Clarke 33
Pte Musty
Pte Dancey
Pte Harman
Pte Warmington
Pte Leonard
Pte Weaver
Pte Radford
Pte Clark 48
Pte Pepperall
Pte Malpas
L/Cpl Harris RAMC Medic
249 (AIRBORNE) FIELD COMPANY ROYAL ENGINEERS
A/Capt Neilson
Sapper Conley
Sapper Lockhart
Sapper Shorey
Sapper Haslett
Glider Number 2, together with gliders 1 and 3 landed very close to its target, the Caen canal bridge, now named Pegasus Bridge.
All three gliders landed within a few minutes of each other.
Glider Number 3 – Target: The Caen Canal Bridge
THE GLIDER PILOT REGIMENT
S/Sgt Barkway Horsa Pilot
S/Sgt Boyle Horsa Co-Pilot
14 PLATOON, LETTER B COMPANY, 2ND (AIRBORNE) BATTALION,
THE OXFORDSHIRE AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY
Lt Smith
Sjt Harrison
Cpl Higgs
Cpl Evans
Cpl Aris
L/Cpl Madge
L/Cpl Cohen
L/Cpl Greenhalgh
Pte Wilson
Pte Hook
Pte Stewart
Pte Keane
Pte Noble
Pte Crocker
Pte Basham
Pte Watts
Pte Anton
Pte Tibbs
Pte Slade
Pte Burns
Pte Turner
Pte Golden
Captain Vaughan RAMC Medical Officer
249 (AIRBORNE) FIELD COMPANY ROYAL ENGINEERS
L/Cpl Waring
Sapper Clarke
Sapper Fleming
Sapper Green
Sapper Preece
Glider Number 3, together with gliders 1 and 2 landed very close to its target, the Caen canal bridge, now named Pegasus Bridge.
All three gliders landed within a few minutes of each other.
THE GLIDER PILOT REGIMENT
S/Sgt Barkway Horsa Pilot
S/Sgt Boyle Horsa Co-Pilot
14 PLATOON, LETTER B COMPANY, 2ND (AIRBORNE) BATTALION,
THE OXFORDSHIRE AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY
Lt Smith
Sjt Harrison
Cpl Higgs
Cpl Evans
Cpl Aris
L/Cpl Madge
L/Cpl Cohen
L/Cpl Greenhalgh
Pte Wilson
Pte Hook
Pte Stewart
Pte Keane
Pte Noble
Pte Crocker
Pte Basham
Pte Watts
Pte Anton
Pte Tibbs
Pte Slade
Pte Burns
Pte Turner
Pte Golden
Captain Vaughan RAMC Medical Officer
249 (AIRBORNE) FIELD COMPANY ROYAL ENGINEERS
L/Cpl Waring
Sapper Clarke
Sapper Fleming
Sapper Green
Sapper Preece
Glider Number 3, together with gliders 1 and 2 landed very close to its target, the Caen canal bridge, now named Pegasus Bridge.
All three gliders landed within a few minutes of each other.
Glider Number 4 – Target: The Orne River Bridge
THE GLIDER PILOT REGIMENT
S/Sgt Lawrence Horsa Pilot
S/Sgt Shorter Horsa Co-Pilot
22 PLATOON, LETTER D COMPANY, 2ND (AIRBORNE) BATTALION,
THE OXFORDSHIRE AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY
Lt Hooper
Sjt Barwick
Cpl Goodsir
Cpl Reynolds
Cpl Bateman
L/Sjt Rayner
Cpl Ambrose
Cpl Hunt
Pte Allwood
Pte Wilson
Pte Hedges
Pte Everett
Pte St. Clair
Pte Waite
Pte Clive
Pte Timms
Pte Whitford
Pte Johnson
Pte Lathbury
Pte Hammond
Pte Gardner 08
Pte Jeffrey
COMPANY HQ, LETTER D COMPANY, 2ND (AIRBORNE) BATTALION,
THE OXFORDSHIRE AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY
Capt Priday Company 2IC
L/Cpl Lambley Company Clerk
249 (AIRBORNE) FIELD COMPANY ROYAL ENGINEERS
L/Sgt Brown
Sapper Deighton
Sapper Guest
Sapper Paget
Sapper Roberts
Glider Number 4 was scheduled to land first, but was pulled off course by its tug aircraft and landed by a bridge over the River Dives some 8 miles to the east. Although losing some men in skirmishes along the way, the crew and Airborne Infantry and Engineers successfully fought their way through the flooded Dives valley and back to Herouvillette, to rendezvous with the Regiment on 7th June.
THE GLIDER PILOT REGIMENT
S/Sgt Lawrence Horsa Pilot
S/Sgt Shorter Horsa Co-Pilot
22 PLATOON, LETTER D COMPANY, 2ND (AIRBORNE) BATTALION,
THE OXFORDSHIRE AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY
Lt Hooper
Sjt Barwick
Cpl Goodsir
Cpl Reynolds
Cpl Bateman
L/Sjt Rayner
Cpl Ambrose
Cpl Hunt
Pte Allwood
Pte Wilson
Pte Hedges
Pte Everett
Pte St. Clair
Pte Waite
Pte Clive
Pte Timms
Pte Whitford
Pte Johnson
Pte Lathbury
Pte Hammond
Pte Gardner 08
Pte Jeffrey
COMPANY HQ, LETTER D COMPANY, 2ND (AIRBORNE) BATTALION,
THE OXFORDSHIRE AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY
Capt Priday Company 2IC
L/Cpl Lambley Company Clerk
249 (AIRBORNE) FIELD COMPANY ROYAL ENGINEERS
L/Sgt Brown
Sapper Deighton
Sapper Guest
Sapper Paget
Sapper Roberts
Glider Number 4 was scheduled to land first, but was pulled off course by its tug aircraft and landed by a bridge over the River Dives some 8 miles to the east. Although losing some men in skirmishes along the way, the crew and Airborne Infantry and Engineers successfully fought their way through the flooded Dives valley and back to Herouvillette, to rendezvous with the Regiment on 7th June.
Glider Number 5 – Target: The Orne River Bridge
THE GLIDER PILOT REGIMENT
S/Sgt Pearson Horsa Pilot
S/Sgt Guthrie Horsa Co-Pilot
23 PLATOON, LETTER D COMPANY 2ND (AIRBORNE) BATTALION,
THE OXFORDSHIRE AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY
Lt Sweeney Platoon Commander
Sjt Gooch
Cpl Murton
Cpl Howard
Cpl Jennings
Cpl Stacey
L/Cpl Porter
Pte Allen
Pte Bowden
Pte Buller
Pte Bright
Pte Bleach
Pte Clark 46
Pte Galbraith
Pte Jackson 59
Pte Roach
Pte Roberts 94
Pte Read
Pte Tibbert
Pte Wixon
Pte Wood
Pte Willcocks
Lt Macdonald 7PARA Liasion Officer
249 (AIRBORNE) FIELD COMPANY ROYAL ENGINEERS
Cpl Straw
Sapper Bradford
Sapper Carter
Sapper Field
Sapper Wilkinson
Glider Number 5 landed in a field adjacent to the Orne River Bridge, not exactly where planned but very well positioned for the job that was to be
done.
THE GLIDER PILOT REGIMENT
S/Sgt Pearson Horsa Pilot
S/Sgt Guthrie Horsa Co-Pilot
23 PLATOON, LETTER D COMPANY 2ND (AIRBORNE) BATTALION,
THE OXFORDSHIRE AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY
Lt Sweeney Platoon Commander
Sjt Gooch
Cpl Murton
Cpl Howard
Cpl Jennings
Cpl Stacey
L/Cpl Porter
Pte Allen
Pte Bowden
Pte Buller
Pte Bright
Pte Bleach
Pte Clark 46
Pte Galbraith
Pte Jackson 59
Pte Roach
Pte Roberts 94
Pte Read
Pte Tibbert
Pte Wixon
Pte Wood
Pte Willcocks
Lt Macdonald 7PARA Liasion Officer
249 (AIRBORNE) FIELD COMPANY ROYAL ENGINEERS
Cpl Straw
Sapper Bradford
Sapper Carter
Sapper Field
Sapper Wilkinson
Glider Number 5 landed in a field adjacent to the Orne River Bridge, not exactly where planned but very well positioned for the job that was to be
done.
Glider Number 6 – Target: The Orne River Bridge
THE GLIDER PILOT REGIMENT
S/Sgt Howard Horsa Pilot
S/Sgt Baacke Horsa Co-Pilot
17 PLATOON, LETTER B COMPANY, 2ND (AIRBORNE) BATTALION,
THE OXFORDSHIRE AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY
Lt Fox
Sjt Thornton
Cpl Lally
Cpl Burns
L/Cpl Loveday
Pte Collett
Pte Hubbert
Pte Clare
Pte Peverill
Pte Pope
Pte Whitehouse
Pte Whitbread
Pte Lawton
Pte Rudge
Pte O’Shaughnessy
Pte Annetts
Pte Summersby
Pte Woods
Pte Wyatt
Pte Ward
Pte Storr
L/Cpl Lawson RAMC Medic
249 (AIRBORNE) FIELD COMPANY ROYAL ENGINEERS
Lt Bence
Sapper Burns
Sapper C.W. Larkin
Sapper C.H. Larkin
Sapper Maxted
Glider Number 6 landed on schedule, close to the river bridge.
THE GLIDER PILOT REGIMENT
S/Sgt Howard Horsa Pilot
S/Sgt Baacke Horsa Co-Pilot
17 PLATOON, LETTER B COMPANY, 2ND (AIRBORNE) BATTALION,
THE OXFORDSHIRE AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY
Lt Fox
Sjt Thornton
Cpl Lally
Cpl Burns
L/Cpl Loveday
Pte Collett
Pte Hubbert
Pte Clare
Pte Peverill
Pte Pope
Pte Whitehouse
Pte Whitbread
Pte Lawton
Pte Rudge
Pte O’Shaughnessy
Pte Annetts
Pte Summersby
Pte Woods
Pte Wyatt
Pte Ward
Pte Storr
L/Cpl Lawson RAMC Medic
249 (AIRBORNE) FIELD COMPANY ROYAL ENGINEERS
Lt Bence
Sapper Burns
Sapper C.W. Larkin
Sapper C.H. Larkin
Sapper Maxted
Glider Number 6 landed on schedule, close to the river bridge.
The original Pegasus Bridge now resides in the grounds of the memorial Pegasus museum.
In 2009 on the 65th Anniversary six memorial stones carved with the names of those who took part in the coup de main operation were unveiled.
