🇫🇷 Cérémonie du 5 juin 2025 – 81e anniversaire du Débarquement
Le 5 juin dernier, le Memorial Pegasus a accueilli une cérémonie particulièrement émouvante à l’occasion du 81e anniversaire du Débarquement allié en Normandie.
En présence de vétérans britanniques et américains, cet hommage s’est tenu dans le parc du musée, devant le pont Pegasus – premier des deux ponts libérés dans la nuit du 5 au 6 juin 1944.
✨ Plusieurs moments forts ont marqué cette commémoration :
🔹 La prise de parole, empreinte d’émotion, de Dorothea, vétéran britannique de 102 ans, dont les mots ont profondément touché l’assistance ;
🔹 Le témoignage du vétéran américain Bill Becker, venu lui aussi honorer ses frères d’armes ;
🔹 L’intervention de Kerry Ricketts, petite-fille du Major John Howard, figure emblématique de la libération du pont Pegasus ;
🎙 Le chant a cappella de "Ce n’est qu’un au revoir", interprété en anglais par une élève de l’école de Cabourg – un moment suspendu, plein de grâce et d’émotion ;
🪖 La bénédiction solennelle du Révérend Gavin Smith, venu rappeler la dimension spirituelle de ce souvenir collectif ;
🎵 Et, pour clore la cérémonie, les notes poignantes d’"Amazing Grace", jouées à la cornemuse.
Merci à toutes celles et ceux qui étaient présents pour honorer la mémoire de ces hommes et femmes qui, il y a 81 ans, ont changé le cours de l’Histoire.
🇬🇧5 June 2025 – 81st Anniversary of the D-Day Landings
On 5 June, Memorial Pegasus held a deeply moving ceremony to mark the 81st anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy.
In the presence of British and American veterans, the commemoration took place in the museum’s park, facing Pegasus Bridge – the first of two bridges to be liberated during the night of 5 to 6 June 1944.
✨ Several powerful moments shaped this tribute:
🔹 A heartfelt speech by Dorothea, a 102-year-old British veteran, whose words resonated with emotion and strength;
🔹 A moving testimony from Bill Becker, an American veteran honouring the memory of his fallen comrades;
🔹 A meaningful address by Kerry Ricketts, granddaughter of Major John Howard, who led the daring assault on Pegasus Bridge;
🎙 A beautiful a cappella rendition of “Ce n'est qu'un au revoir” in English, performed by a student from Cabourg – a moment of grace and silence shared by all;
🪖 A solemn blessing from Reverend Gavin Smith, reflecting the spiritual depth of remembrance;
🎵 And to close the ceremony, the haunting sound of “Amazing Grace” played on the bagpipes.
Thank you to everyone who joined us in honouring the men and women who, 81 years ago, helped shape the course of history.
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groot respect 😢🌺
Aujourd'hui, 80 ans après la libération de la France.
Nous tenons à commémorer les combattants de la 6e division aéroportée qui œuvrent pour la libération de la France.
Aujourd'hui le musée commémore ces soldats ayant libéré Ranville et Bénouville.
Découvrez les images.
80 years after the liberation of France.
We would like to commemorate the soldiers of the 6th Airborne Division who worked to liberate our country.
Today, the museum commemorates the soldiers who liberated Ranville and Bénouville.
Discover the pictures on May 8.
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Short extracts on YouTube for you: Pegasus Bridge youtu.be/-bCrca8Xe0c 6th Airborne's First Contact at Pegasus Bridge, Vital for D-Day Success | WW2 Walking The Ground Join WWII historian James Holland and writer and comedian Al Murray on their battlefield tour of Normandy for their on-the-ground perspective on the vital seizure of Pegasus Bridge by British Airborne forces on D-Day, 6th June 1944. Episode Notes... In the small hours of 6th June 1944, ahead of the main seaborne landing force that would hit the coast of Normandy, members of D Company, 2nd (Airborne) Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, were tasked with landing their Horsa gliders as close to Benouville Bridge as they could. Spanning the Caen Canal, the bridge was a vital part of the D-Day invasion strategy. If the airborne forces could take the bridge quickly and hold it, the main invasion force would have an immediate advantage, stopping any counter attack that the Germans might launch from the east. The mission was a coup-de-main operation led by Major John Howard. Speed and surprise were key, and as James Holland and Al Murray discover, the operation, one of the first of D-Day, was brilliantly executed. Benouville Bridge was later renamed Pegasus Bridge in honour of the operation. The name comes from the Pegasus shoulder emblem that was worn by British airborne forces. Ranville Church youtu.be/hrIeNGCSDyA The first paratroopers to land on D-Day were those 22nd Independent Company of the British 6th Airborne Division, the legendary Pathfinders. In this episode, James Holland and Al Murray share historical insights and surprising facts as they follow in the footsteps of the Pathfinders sent to the Normandy village of Ranville, near Drop Zone N. They explore the evidence of fierce fighting that remains on and around Ranville Church and the experiences of Sergeant Herb Fussell, who had an interesting encounter with a German soldier, the results of which can still be seen to this day. They also search for the grave of Lieutenant Brotheridge, the first Allied soldier to be fatally wounded on D-Day. They take time to reflect on the bravery and sacrifice of those who fought during the Allied invasion of Normandy invasion and pay their respects to the fallen at the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery. Breville Ridge youtu.be/i4IRmTNnCnI With his special interest in British airborne operations during World War II, Al Murray is excited to be heading out with his friend James Holland to the historic Breville Ridge, which was a key objective for the British 6th Airborne Division on D-Day, June 6, 1944. This significant ridge runs roughly North-South, strategically positioned between the Caen Canal and River Orne to the West and the River Dives Valley to the East, making it a crucial location for military operations during the war. As Al and James investigate this important site, they engage in an enlightening discussion about how German Field Marshal Rommel himself visited the very spot just before D-Day, clearly recognising its vital importance for the success of the German defence in France. On D-Day and in the days that followed, bitter and intense battles were fought along this ridge line, which was fiercely held by British paratroopers until the very end of the campaign, showcasing the bravery and determination of the soldiers involved. Also, Arromanches... youtu.be/p-_KqB9iKgw Al Murray and James Holland head to Arromanches where following D-Day, the British built the Mulberry B harbour -- a concrete megastructure constructed in pieces in the UK and then, incredibly, floated across the English Channel and anchored in Normandy to deliver 550,000 tons of allied supplies. The remnants of Mulbery Harbour are visible today. Al and James take in the sheer scale of this military engineering and logistics endeavour on a steep walk from the beach to the top of the cliff and pause to overlook and reflect on this magnificent reminder of the allied efforts involved in Operation Overlord.
Good luck and thank you for what you all do
Musée visité ce jour, 9 Juin, super !
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🇫🇷 Une nouvelle plaque commémorative est venue compléter les collections du musée. Elle rend hommage aux chiens enrôlés dans les forces armées et notamment à Bing, berger allemand qui a servi dans le 13ème bataillon du « Parachute Regiment » auprès des soldats de la 6ème Division Aéroportée Britannique. Pour ces bons et loyaux services au cours de la Libération, Bing s’est vu attribuer la « Dickin Medal » qui est l’équivalent de la Victoria Cross pour les animaux. Cette plaque ainsi qu’une reproduction de cette décoration ont été offertes par l’« Eltham & Chislehurst Branch », de la « Parachute Regiment Association ».
Cette plaque a été inaugurée au musée le 6 juin 2024.
🇬🇧A new commemorative plaque was added to the museum’s collections. It is dedicated to the war dogs, and especially to Bing an Alsatian dog, who served in the 13th Battalion of the Parachute Regiment with the soldiers of the 6th British Airborne Division. Bing was awarded the “Dickin Medal” the animal equivalent to the Victoria Cross, for his bravery in serving his country. This plaque and a reproduction of that medal were presented by the « Eltham & Chislehurst Branch » of the Parachute Regimental Association.
This plaque was inaugurated on June 6, 2024.
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Fantastic Nicholas, and uncle David Thorp would have absolutely Loved Bing's wonderful story, Bing's honour, and also the plaque. David had and loved a great number of Alsatians and German Shepherd dogs. They're truly wonderful and remarkable dogs. I'm so very sorry I will miss seeing you, and everyone at Musée Pegasus this time. My thoughts and heart are with you all. Jeremy ❤️
Super !
Emouvant
Retrouvez le reportage réalisé par D-DAY Live dans notre musée en compagnie de notre conservateur, Nicolas.
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