RANVILLE Calvados - 6 km north-east of Caen
The gliders of the Ox and Bucks took off
The paratroops are among the first soldiers to set the foot on the Norman ground. The 6th Airborne Division under General Gale was assigned the mission to control the left flank of the Allied landing zone. The British had to capture the bridges on the river Orne and the canal of Caen, and neutralize the heavy guns of Merville battery. In the night of 5 to 6 June 1944 the parachutists of the 2nd Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry took on board their Horsa gliders. They hit right in the objective, Major Howard’s glider landed in the barbed wire defending the bridge of Bénouville. The Germans were taken by surprise, the bridges on the river Orne and the canal of Caen were seized untouched. The Operation Coup de main party was a complete success. The town of ranville was liberated by the 13rd Parachutist Battalion under Lieutenant-colonel Luard at 14 p.m.
  
   
 
 
British War cemetery
In the War cemetery were buried 2 562 soldiers : 2 151 British, 76 Canadians, 1 Australian, 1 Belgian, 322 Germans and 2 unknown. In the graveyard next to the War cemetery was buried the first British soldier killed on 6 June 1944.
Situation : in the town center, near the church
  
Pegasus Memorial
This museum was inaugurated in 2000, it is dedicated to the British Airborne troops. Walking round you can see a map in relief, uniforms, weapons, materiel and famous Bill Millin bagpipe. Outside the Memorial you discover the original Pegasus bridge that explain the highest importance of the parachutists's mission.
  Brigadier Hill statue
Statue in memory of Brigadier James Hill, Commander of the 3rd Para Brigade (6th Airborne division).
Situation : in Memorial Pegasus park
  Horsa glider
This plane is the replica of a Horsa glider that brought the British parachutists in their objectives in the night of 5 to 6 June 1944. Next to the replica, a showcase houses elements of an authentic glider.
Situation : in Memorial Pegasus park
  Major Strafford plaque
Plaque in memory of Major Strafford, MBE HQ of the 6th Airborne Division.
Situation : facing the War cemetery entrance, on a wall
  Scottish parachutists plaque
Plaque dedicated to the scottish parachutists killed in Normandy. It was inaugurated on 18 October 1994, on behalf of General Alastair Pearson.
Situation : on a bench near the mill (facing the War cemetery gate)
  General Gale stele
Stele representing General Sir Richard Gale Commander of the 6th British Airborne division, who liberated Ranville in the night of 5 to 6 June 1944.
Situation : in the court of the town hall
  Jim Wright plaque
Plaque in memory of GNR/signaller Jim Wright FOORA MID 6 juin 1944 - 6th British Airborne division.
Situation : in the local cemetery, on the chapel wall
 
 

June 1944 stele
This stele was erected in September 1944, by soldiers of the Royal Engineers of the 6th Airborne Division.
Situation : in the War cemetery, left of the headstone
 
  Major Howard stele
Stele in memory of Major Howard, Commander of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Battalion.
Situation : facing the entrance of Memorial Pegasus 		 
     
  Brigade Piron plaque 
Plaque dedicated to the Belgian soldiers of Brigade Piron, killed in August 1944.
Situation : facing the cemetery entrance, on athe mill wall
   
Horsa bridge stele
Stele recalling that on the D-day a Horsa glider, piloted by R. Howard and F. W Baacke, landed near that bridge with a section of the Ox and Bucks Light Infantry commanded by Lieutenant Fox, and Royal Engineers commanded by Lieutenant Bence. They captured the bridge and were reinforced with a second section commanded by Sergeant Pearson and Lieutenant Guthrie.
Situation : at the side of the D514 road , near the bridge on the river Orne
  6 June 1944 plaque
Plaque commemorating the liberation of Ranville, first town in France liberated on 6 June 1944 at 2:30 a.m. by the 13th (Lancashire) Battalion The parachute Regiment.
Situation : in the town center, 6 June 1944 place
ROAD MAP
   
INTERESTING WEB SITES

Ranville city web site
http://www.ranville.fr
Association web site about the Brigade Piron
http://users.skynet.be/brigade-piron
Commonwealth War Graves Commission web site
http://www.cwgc.org
Personal web site about D-day and Normandy battle
http://www.dday-overlord.com/index.htm
Personal web site about the Glider Pilot Regiment of the 6th Airborne Division
http://www.gliderpilotregiment.org.uk/
Personal web site about the 6th Airborne Division
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/passion.histoire/paragb.htm
 
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