On this day in 1944 US paratroopers from the 82nd Airbourne Division crossed the River Waal to attack Nijmegen Bridge.
This is dramatically portrayed in the film 'A Bridge Too Far'.
Robert Redford leads his men across the River Waal.
The 82nd Airbourne Division.
In 2004, for the 60th anniversary of D Day, Fr John and Greg arranged for re-enactors to attend Mass to commemorate the US units based in Hinckley and Burbage prior to D Day.
I recently thought I must check which units they were and I knew just where to look as it is often discussed on the Hinckley FB page. I soon found posts from Greg stating that the 376th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion (PFABn) had been based in Hinckley and 307th Airbourne Engineer Battalion (AEBn) had been based in Burbage.
I noticed that some one commented 'yes and these were the troops who paddled across the river and Robert Redford played their Captain' errr really???
So I had to check that out.
FACT - Robert Redford played Maj Julian Cook, commander of the 3rd Battalion 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR) and they paddled across the river, so that's that I thought.
BUT
Reading on, the 26 flimsy canvas boats were assembled and crewed by men from the 307th AEBn. And the crews of the 11 surviving boats had the awful job of paddling back empty to collect the 2nd wave of troops. These brave men from Burbage crossed the 300m wide river seven times.
The crossing was covered by smoke screens and intense gun fire from several units.
On the river bank the 2nd Bn 504th PIR 'with every machine gun they could get their hand on' and the Sherman tanks of the Irish Guards fired their main guns and machine guns.
A bit behind them was a US artillery unit. The 376th PFABn (the unit based in Hinckley), firing 75mm Pack Howitzers.
Then finally, further back was a British heavy artillery unit, the Leicestershire Yeomanry, firing their 25pdr self-propelled guns called Sextons.
What amazing local connections.
And guess where the 307th AEBn were camped in Burbage? The playing field next to the old Scout Hut!
Michael Caine's Irish Guards provided support.
The Grenadier Guards cross Nijmegen Bridge later as a result of the attack.
376th PFABn the artillery unit which had been based in Hinckley prior to D Day.
I just love their motto.
307th AEBn the engineer unit which had been based in Burbage and Ullesthorpe prior to D Day.
A US 75mm Pack Howitzer in action.
A Sexton SP gun.
P.S. RIP Robert Redford who passed away this week.
