D-DAY June 6th 1944
The supreme commander of the allied forces in Europe General Dwight D Eisenhower, gave the go-ahead to start operation overlord on June 5 1944.
Operation Overlord was to be the largest amphibious military operation in history, 6000 landing craft, ships & other vessels carrying 176,000 troops heading to France.
There were 18,000 parachutists already on the ground by dawn on 6 June 1944.
Paratroopers and gilders from the British Airborne Division consisting of D Company Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry began to land at 00:16 hours east of the River Orne and the Caen Canal. After just 90 minutes after taking off from RAF Tarrant Rushton, Major John Howard sent a signal that the Benouville bridge, now known as Pegasus bridge had been captured after a ten-minute fierce fight, the fighting finished by 00:26 a full six hours before the beach landings.
The land invasion started at 6:30 am on June 6 1944.
The British & Canadians captured Gold. Juno and Sword beaches with light opposition, the Americans took Utah much the same. However, It was not the same on Omaha beach, 2,000 US troops were lost on the beach. Casualties for the British forces are believed to be 1,000 on Sword Beach around 1,000 on Gold Beach, with another 700 killed or wounded during the airborne assault, Canadian loses on Juno Beach are 340 killed 574, wounded.
Cheshire Soldiers who lost their lives on June 6 1944
Corporal 7899446 Ernest David Booker 25 years old from Sale.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Corporal 4279711 Samuel Andrew Brandon 23 years old from Birkenhead WW2.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Lance Serjeant 931941 John Richard Brown 23 years old from Wallasey.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Private 3602499 Ernest Bull 27 years old from Stockport.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Corporal 2343775 George Challinor 28 years old from Nantwich.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Telegraphist P/SSX31057 Bertie Kenning Corfield 23 years old from Sale.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Flying Officer J/22347 Jack Scott Cox 23 years old from Cheshire Virtual.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Gunner 14622085 Edward Davenport 22 years old from Stockport.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Sergeant 5124711 John Davies 22 years old from Birkenhead WW2.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Lieutenant 237637 Alan Law Davis 24 years old from Cheshire Virtual.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Colour Serjeant 3771705 Norman Clare Davis 28 years old from Hoylake.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Flight Sergeant 1544756 Henry Charles Dent 22 years old from Birkenhead WW2.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Bandsman 5771384 Harold Alfred Dinwoodie 27 years old from Birkenhead WW2.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Trooper 7947393 Michael Percy Done 19 years old from Malpas.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Wireman D/MX 105715 Charles Sydney Dooley 20 years old from Macclesfield.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Warrant Officer 1235092 Albert Theodore Downing 23 years old from Cheshire Virtual.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Trooper 7882656 William Edwards 31 years old from Birkenhead WW2.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Private 3657354 Charles William Ernest Elliott 26 years old from Stockport.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Private 3782008 Bernard Emmett 22 years old from Chester area.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Corporal PLY/X108740 William Gregory 20 years old from Cheshire Virtual.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Sapper 3866302 Albert Gunning 21 years old from Cheshire Virtual.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Corporal 3782516 James Peter Harding 19 years old from Stockton Heath.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Private 4133145 Robert Wilfred Hargreaves 33 years old from Stockport.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Private 3712746 Arthur John Hogan 26 years old from Birkenhead WW2.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Private 14287644 Herbert Sydney Houldin 20 years old from Cheshire Virtual.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Private 3776060 Leslie Hudson 28 years old from Cheshire Virtual.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Private 14617334 Ronald Jenkins 20 years old from Cheshire Virtual.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Private 3783935 Charles Victor Jones 19 years old from Cheshire Virtual.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Corporal 5829258 John Stanley Tucker Jones 28 years old from Cheshire Virtual.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Flight Sergeant 1545657 Leonard Jones 23 years old from Birkenhead WW2.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Able Seaman D/JX 362781 George Lea 20 years old.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Gunner 3862700 Wilfred Stanley Lever 35 years old from Northwich.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Lieutenant 247205 Samuel Alfred Lyons 22 years old from Altrincham.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Corporal 3653622 Ronald Mccoll 25 years old from Birkenhead area.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Sergeant 2209648 Francis Louis Mcmahon 19 years old from Hazel Grove.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Corporal 1285110 Eldred Francis Middleton 32 years old.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Marine EX/4167 William Hamilton Murphy 24 years old from Northwich.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Staff Sergeant 7523696 Ronald New 30 years old.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Private 14612006 Cyril Newall 34 years old from Winsford.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Private 4546224 Samuel Nicholls 21 years old from Northwich Dane Bridge.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Leading Aircraftman 1527578 Richard Croxton Parr 22 years old from Crewe.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Squadron Leader 122402 Arthur William Raybould 23 years old from Cheshire Virtual.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Trooper 7955285 Richard Alfred Roberts 20 years old from Wallasey.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Lieutenant 273646 Philip Charles Scarfe 30 years old from Cheshire Virtual.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Corporal 13086722 Arthur Stanworth 34 years old from Stockport.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Private 3656971 Sydney Stringer Walton 26 years old from Knutsford.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Private 3661928 Thomas Walton 31 years old from Stockport.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Sapper 14366817 Frank Winstanley 31 years old from Wallasey.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Lieutenant Thomas David Yates 22 years old from Sale.
Tuesday 6th June 1944, (82 Years this day).
Private 7363459 George Eric York 25 years old from Stockport.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.