Building work to permanently alter the topography of the Merville Battery.
A hangar is to be erected across the 9th Parachute Battalion’s attack route.
The set up of the Management of the Merville Battery Museum is quite possibly unique for Normandy. All of the decisions are made by an Anglo-French (GIP) Committee, with four representatives (of which I was one) from the British ‘Friends of the Merville Battery’. The other big difference is that much of the work carried out on the site is performed by a large group of French volunteers. These people have done a tremendous amount to evolve the Merville Battery Museum over the last ten years. With the fame of the 9th Parachute Battalion’s action and the museum increasing, visitor numbers have risen accordingly, necessitating a new entrance building and car park. These are absolutely vital improvements and during the commemorations for the forthcoming 75th Anniversary of D-Day, on 5th June the new building will be officially opened.
However, there is one other part in the building project which I believe will be disastrous for the site and its history (and has caused my resignation from the Committee). This is a hangar for the Dakota that will be built right across the attack route into the Battery by Colonel Otway’s small force.
Apart from altering the historic topography, the proposed hangar is HUGE and will dominate the site, providing a seismic shift in the focus of the Merville Battery. Also, this will not be just a hangar. It is obvious that it will become a museum within its own right, splitting the history of the Merville Battery.
This will be a final dilution of the 9th Parachute Battalion’s history, which has been gradually eroded for a few years now, in favour of becoming a more ‘general museum’ about the 6th Airborne Division.
The Dakota at the site has been designated as a ‘national treasure’, and requires protection from the elements. However, it is my opinion that the position chosen for this hangar is to the detriment of the history and the future of the site. Although there is the link between visitor numbers and people becoming more aware of the action, there comes a time when enough is enough. This is a step too far.
I think this is not what Merville Battery is all about.
My father was on this raid and I always assume this to be a site of historic interest. Please do not resign from the committee as we need your expertise.
Maybe we should start a petition to voice our negative views to this retrograde step.
I will be at Merville on the 6th June [ although I am finding it very hard to obtain our ‘relatives’ passes this year] and at Ranville Cemetery on the 7th June.
Fathers details
Private Henry Frances Gibson 6024551
Hello Ray, I hope you’re well. Thanks for the message. The committee thing for me is over, however I’m still a ‘Friend of the Merville Battery’ and so can have some input into content/history etc. Petition-wise, I just can’t see it happening. The committee (both British and French members) have agreed to this and so, with any petition, this will be thrown back in our faces, even if the building options supplied to the British members offered little choice. On the ceremony, I have not heard of any passes that will be required. If I do hear anything, I’ll post it on Facebook.
Regards,
Neil.
Totally agree Neil,The Dakota has NO bearing in relation to the Battery and the 9th’s history and to build it on the attack route which in my mind is hallowed ground goes all against what was promised to Lt Col.Otterway when he was alive
Thanks for the message Allan. You’re spot on. This is hallowed ground and should be treated as such (in all matters).
See you in a few weeks.
Regards,
Neil.
What a shame! My Dad was RSM in 9th Parachute Btn, although he left before D Day. He was replaced by his good friend Bill Cunningham who was sadly killed. Col Otway wrote of Dad that he believed Dad to be “largely responsible for the fact that we considered the 9th to be the best battalion in 6th Airborne Division” The Merville site shouldn’t be messed around with!
Hello Alan, many thanks for the message. Do you have a wartime photo of him ? Regards, Neil.
We just visited the Batterie-Melville. It was a wonderful exploration of the site. I enjoyed going on the C47.-SNAFU immensely, given my father was a C47 pilot in Overlord thru to the end of the War. That said, any increase in emphasis on aspects of the war other than the assault on the casemates and the batterie presents a serious detriment to the historic value of the site. As a visitor, I would hope that supporters of this valuable historic site recognize that the C47 is a different part of the war – it needs to be a discrete site that does not impinge on the integrity of the Mervillle Batterie site.
Glad you enjoyed your visit, Rebecca. And I couldn’t agree more about the Dakota. It’s a massive worry.