Following a moving ceremony at the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery at Ranville, where wreaths were layed at the grave of Edouard Gerard, the first Belgian soldier killed in Normandy, a delegation from the Belgian Brigade "Piron" visited the museum where a bag pipier welcomed them.
The Brigade landed in August at Arromanches and served alongside the 6th Airborne Division on the eastern flank of the D-Day Coast during the advance to the River Seine.
Leading the group were four wartime veterans including Peruvian Jorge Sanjinez, 102 years old, who was invited to attend the 75th Anniversary commemorations of the Battle of Normandy by the local communes and the association “Les Amis du Mont Canisy”.
The following day, after a discrete visit to the Memorial Pegasus, King Phillipe of Belgium payed a visit to the four Veterans and The Brigade Piron Association at Cabourg.
Au nom de nos chers vétérans et des familles, nous remercions de tout cœur monsieur le Directeur et le personnel du Musée Memorial Pegasus pour leur chaleureux accueil. Jean-Louis Marichal Secrétaire FRNAC Brigade Piron.
Respect à vous messieurs
N’oublions pas les disparus
Steven Goethals
Merci à vous Messieurs 🛡⚔️ 🇧🇪
Centre Juno Beach / Juno Beach Centre
🇨🇦 Et les vétérans, qu'ont-ils pensé de ce 75è anniversaire ? Réponse dans cette vidéo 👇
Un grand merci à Eric Brunt pour la réalisation de cette vidéo.
ericbruntmedia.com
🇨🇦 And veterans, what did they think of this 75th anniversary? Answer in this video👇
Many thanks to Eric Brunt for making this video.
ericbruntmedia.com
Merci
I was there for the 75 anniversary of D-Day back in June
Bravo et respect à tous les vétérans..
Stephane Eloi
The daughter and granddaughter of one of the Pegasus Bridge hero’s visited the museum today.
Mary Ann Thomas and her daughter Kate were visiting the museum for the first time to learn about the role John Ainsworth played on D-Day 1944.
John was co-pilot to Jim Wallwork and navigated the first glider to land next to Pegasus Bridge early on 6th June 1944. Using only a compass and stop watch, John guided the aircraft to within 47 metres of Pegasus Bridge. Considered one of the most precise landings of all time, and in a 7 tons glider, at night, with a 20 knots wind!
Prior to D-Day, John had flown a Horsa glider into Sicily and, after D-Day, into Holland on the Market Garden Operation.
Sadly, John died young and his family never really knew about the extraordinary role he played on D-Day.
Mary-Ann and Kate, and their husbands, were guided in the museum by the curator who proposed that they come to Normandy in 2020 for 76th Anniversary of D-Day to be present at the commemorations alongside the families of the other veterans who took part in the “Coup de Main” operation to liberate the Caen Canal and River Orne Bridges.
My father's name was Pvc Ralph S Monteleone.
How lovely for you all
Hope they can come back for the anniversary celebrations.
My father ,William Stone banks , flew A Horsa Glider into France. On D Day. He crashed close. to the Pegasus area . Landed. In small village called Brucourt The people there are wonderful they hold a celebration ever year close to D day Remembering th men that died . My father was unfortunately killed , I was only a tiny baby. My husband and I went to France 2 years ago. The mayor of the town Marie she. Is lovely. Met mark the curator also. I married an American so we cannot go As often. We live in Florida
It would be lovely to meet them next year xx
That is so wonderful that they visited. May your father rest in peace. My Dad was in a horsa glider LK-135 that crashed on DDay plus1 and survived with serious injuries. 14 men were killed in that glider. My husband and I are visiting in Oct.Going to crash site, Heisling Cemetery and then praying at the graves of 4 of the men killed and interred at Normandy Amer Cemetery. We will visit the museum. Hard to believe how much they all endured. So proud of them. My Dad passed at the age of 86 in 2009.
This is amazing xxx
Wonderful- I’m sure it was a very emotional and special day 🥰. Give your Mum a hug from me Kate Wargen xxx
Fabulous xxx
How wonderful
I have been doing research on my Uncle and the other men on the Coup de Main but had trouble finding anything on John Ainsworth now I know why. I didn't find out about my Uncle Fred till 1993.X
Wow. 🙂
What a time in history.
Sean Wheeler The co-pilot of your dad... 😉
The Veterans Charity spent several days at the museum meeting visitors and explaining its role.
The charity provides immediate needs support for veterans of all conflicts who are facing distress and hardship.
To commemorate 75th Annniversary of D-Day and the liberation of the Caen Canal and River Orne Bridges, the charity organised a 100 mile run from Tarrant Rushton airfield in Dorset to Pegasus Bridge. The route represented the flight taken by the Horsa Gliders transporting the men to Normandy in 1944.
My Uncle was part of the D-Day landings at Horsa Bridge. Glider 96. Staff/Sgt. Frederick Baacke and his pilot Staff/Sgt. Roy Howard landed close to the bridge. X
Well Done
1953
Great photo. Thanks for sharing.
What's the date of that photo?
Tim Pocklington
Nestor Magalhaes Luiz Marcello Palmeira Leite