3rd Parachute Brigade HQ Ceremony – Le Mesnil – 6th June 2019
The northern flank of the 6th Airborne Division’s perimeter was deliberately situated on the vital Breville Ridge which overlooked the whole area, including Pegasus Bridge. This ridge was held by Lord Lovat’s 1st Special Service Brigade and Brigadier James Hill’s 3rd Parachute Brigade. Hill set up his HQ at what was a cheese farm only 100 yards from the vital crossroads at Le Mesnil, the main road of which ran directly to the bridges across the river and canal. Also situated there amongst various buildings was the Main Dressing Station of 224 Field (Parachute) Ambulance. Although it had been part of the plan to have a Field Ambulance situated so close the Front Line (for the first time), the location was not that originally intended, but the proposed position was found to be unsuitable.

The farm is now owned by the Roy family and for the first time, Monsieur Bertrand Roy opened up his home for a commemoration ceremony at 2pm on 6th June 2019. With the help of Yves Le Cuziat, President of the Association for the Liberation of Sannerville (and a long-time friend of the 3rd Parachute Brigade) a short Service was performed in front of a good attendance of officials and military personnel, followed by a wreath laying beside the Field Ambulance building, as seen in the main photo.


The room that Brigadier Hill used as his office was opened for viewing by the public for the first time.


The highlight of the afternoon was the presence of Harry Read, a signaller who actually served there. The previous day he had completed a tandem parachute jump onto DZ ‘K’ !

Visited the location several years ago.
My dad Sgt Reginald Giles landed on D-Day with the 8th Parachute Battlalion, was injured nearby and was then treated in the barn before being evacuated back to England.
Amazing to visit, such a quiet place now but not back then in those early weeks of June 1944 !
Thanks for the message, Bill. Do you know the circumstances of your father’s injury ?
Regards,
Neil.
My Father, L/cpl William Young, was the RASC electrician attached to the 224th (Parachute) Field Ambulance and served with it throughout the Normandy campaign. He arrived on D-Day in one of the 224th’s 2 gliders, bringing with him half of the first blood plasma supply to arrive in Normandy; with him on board was a Jeep and 2 drivers. His glider landed off course, near the River Orne, so he and his party set off with their precious cargo to find the MDS; but their Jeep was commandeered by sappers intent on blowing up a bridge at Troarn; my Father had to use German prisoners and bicycles to carry the blood plasma for the last part of the journey.
I have a much treasured original copy of the 224th’s own unofficial account of those desperate days in Normandy: ‘Red Devils – A Parachute Field Ambulance in Normandy’ – I’m sure you’ve seen a copy – which describes the above incident and other exploits.
My Father continued to serve with the 224th throughout the War, including the defence of the Ardennes, December 1944 to February 1945, crossing the Rhine in March 1945 and the march to the Baltic, ending the war in Europe at Wismar; after that he was deployed with the 224th to Palestine until he was discharged in 1946, when the unit was merged with another Field Ambulance.
I have been filling in some of the blanks of his military record and it was a real pleasure to find your site.
Hello David, many thanks for your message. Apologies for the delay in responding, but I’ve been concentrating on writing and research for a book, would you believe, on the destruction of the Dives Bridges. And so, I’m very familiar with your father’s actions and have emphasised in the draft text (so far) about the importance of his actions. I interviewed the glider pilot of the Horsa in which your father flew and so have very good information about why they landed on the wrong DZ, and had trouble in getting the tail off.
I’m so pleased that you’ve made contact. I agree totally about the 224 (Para) Field Ambulance document. It is superb and has been such a help to me over the years.
Do you have a wartime photo of him that I could use ? I would love to incorporate it.
Best wishes, Neil.
I’ve replied to you by email, but thank you again for the very helpful information you have provided. I can certainly provide some photographs. Kind regards, David