The 9th Parachutists Battalion landed under cover of darkness to capture the battery in the early hours of June 6th. Many para's drowned in the nearby marshes but the battery is under Allied control by 5:00am. A museum is now located inside one of the blockhouses.

PEGASUS BRIDGE MUSEUM

The first men on the ground on June 6th were the 5th Parachutist Brigade in charge of capturing the bridges over the Orne river and canal. Landing their gliders within yards of the bridges, they captured them and held them until Lord Lovat's Cammandos Brigade arrived to reinforce the positions. After the canal was widened, the original bridge became part of the museum located close by. 

Included in the Pegasus Bridge museum is a Bailey Bridge, in various stages of construction. Displayed along with the bridge is a 1941 Christmas/New Year card to the designer of the bridge from Adolf Hitler, congratulating him for such a successful design. This card can be seen below right. This bridge was still in use locally until the early 1990's!!

HORSA REPLICA AND A SECTION OF AN ORIGINAL HORSA

CENTAUR MEMORIAL
at La Breche d'Hermanville

The 3rd Infantry Division and 79th Armoured Division land at Sword Beach around 7:30am. The 2nd east Yorkshire Regiment and French No4 Commandos are blocked by a German strong point until 8:45am. Hermanville-sur-Mer is liberated in the evening. This Centaur tank stands as a memorial to these actions. 

The 41st Royal Marines Commandos land at Sword Beach at 7:30am. They take the first German strong point, but are held up by the second which resists attacks until a surrender is obtained the following day. Lion-sur-Mer is liberated on the 7th and the meet up is made with the 46th Commands. The Churchill tank and large metal sundial stand as a memorial.

Sadly, and with little respect for history and the liberators, the Churchill has received graffiti ( edited out in two of my pictures ).

LIBERATION MONUMENT
at St-Aubin-sur-Mer

This monument, next to the small anti-tank gun, commemorates the bridgehead established on June 6th by the 48th Royal Navy British Commandos at Langrune-sur-Mer. 

JUNO BEACH CENTRE
at Courseulles-sur-Mer

The Juno Beach Centre was paid for by returning Canadian Veterans after finding no memorial to their efforts during the landings. It charts the involvement of the Canadians since the beginning of the war.

Outside the Centre are plaques with the names of sponsors of the museum. 

SHERMAN MEMORIAL
at Courseulles-sur-Mer

In the town centre there is a Sherman Duplex Drive (DD) Tank which stands as a memorial to those involved in attacking Juno Beach. It was raised from the seabed 27 years after the invasion.

Considering its long years in salt water, it has been well restored and is in good condition. 

CHURCHILL MEMORIAL
at Graye-sur-Mere

This Churchill tank stands near the liberation monument at Graye-sur-mere, just in the dunes behind Juno Beach.

Here I am making an appearance with "Jessie" beside the Churchill. 

SEXTON SPG MEMORIAL
at Ver-sur-Mer

The 50th Infantry Division landed at Gold Beach on a 3 mile stretch of the beach, their objective was Bayeux. The 2nd Devon clears up the beach, the 47th commando attacks Port-en-Bessin. The 7th Green Howards enter Ver-sur-Mer without resistance. This Sexton Armoured Vehicle in the town is based on a Sherman chassis. 

 UNDERWATER WRECK MUSEUM
at Port-en-Bessin

This unique museum shows artifacts, recovered over 25 years of underwater exploration, many of which are WW2 related. Dominating the outside of the museum are several tanks including two Sherman DD tanks recovered from the area around the D-Day beaches.

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