Kernow Harley Riders.

worldfamous · Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 11:14 am Post subject: Pegasus Bridge 06/06/09

Just got this from Taff -

Now then,
Pegasus Bridge 06.06.09, the guy on the back (Gary Garrington) was the one who kicked the door in of the 1st house to be liberated during the invasion, which now of course is Pegasus Bridge Café.
Apparently he had wanted to go on a Harley for 50 years, that was the last time he’d been on one, and it was my pleasure to oblige.
Please note I am flying the flag for Kernow!!!!!!!
Take care.
Taff

The story -
AS a fearless teenager Gary Garrington helped kick down the door of one of the first buildings to be liberated in Nazi-occupied France.
The 83-year-old, of Colina Close, in Willenhall, Coventry, landed almost a mile from Pegasus Bridge, which had just been captured by the first wave of British troops on June 6, 1944, at 12.16am.
A member of the 7th Light Infantry Parachute Battalion, Gary was dropped into a quarry half-an-hour later.
After scrambling out, the 17-year-old made his way to the bridge which had to be defended if D-Day had any chance of succeeding.
Gary, who has three children, eight grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren, said: “On the way there we came across an empty machine gun nest that had been manned by Germans. Next to it was the glider that had knocked it out.
“When we got to Pegasus Bridge there was a lot of gun fire. We walked across to Café Gondrée, which was all shut up.
“We kicked down the door to claim the place as a first aid post.
“Mrs Gondrée was handing out wine to anybody who wanted it.”
He then remembers seeing movie star and soldier Richard Todd, Colonel Richard Geoffrey Pine-Coffin and Major John Howard, involved in a serious conversation.
A member of the same battalion as Gary, Todd was one of the first British officers to land in Normandy.

MORE -

http://inthefootsteps.org.uk/Articles/D-Day/PegasusBridge.htm

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Kernow Bys Vyken! GEDDON