D-Day memories by Corporal Reddy

Corporal Andy Reddy, a serving soldier and Army photographer whose parents still live in Farnsfield, recently attended a range of commemorative events held at Pegasus Bridge to mark its iconic status as where the D-Day landings started, 70 years ago.

Lord Astor, Under Secretary of State for Defence and the Lords Spokesman on Defence, and Air Chief Marshal Sir Joseph French, Vice-Chairman Commonwealth War Graves Commission, joined some 500 veterans and their relatives at the Musée Memorial Pegasus.

The visit included the concurrent laying of wreaths at the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry Memorial and at a statue of Brigadier James Hill, Commander of 3rd Parachute Brigade and the unveiling of a restored Centaur artillery observation vehicle used by the Royal Marines on D-Day

A commemorative service was then held at the memorials at the Pegasus Bridge landing site, with wreathes laid by veterans and current representatives of the three units involved in the operation – 2nd Battalion, The Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry; The Glider Pilot Regiments; and The Parachute Regiment.

The Prince of Wales, Colonel in Chief of Army Air Corps, and The Duchess of Cornwall then visited Pegasus Bridge to lay a wreath at the Glider Pilot Memorial before meeting veterans.