80th Anniversary of D-Day

Today marks an incredible 80 years since the D-Day landings on the 6th June 1944.  

The Rifles’ forebearers, the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (Ox and Bucks) carried out the very first action that took place on D-Day, several hours ahead of the main landings, at 0015 hrs. on the 6th of June 1944. This action was a critical aspect of the wider D-Day invasion which marked the beginning of the end for the Third Reich. 
 
Crucial to the victory of the landings was for the Allies’ amphibious assault to gain a solid bridgehead off the beaches of Normandy. If concentrated enemy Panzer divisions attacked during the vulnerable opening stages then the success of OPERATION OVERLORD would be in tremendous danger. 
 
D-Company of the Ox and Bucks were selected to capture and hold the strategically crucial Pegasus Bridge via a highly daring glider assault which would prevent enemy tanks from reaching the beaches and threatening the vulnerable seaborne invasion. 

 Codenamed OPERATION DEADSTICK, the Ox and Bucks successfully landed their gliders alongside Pegasus Bridge with the complete element of surprise. D Company, reinforced with two platoons from B Company, making a total of five British assault gliders landed as close as 50 yards from the bridge after which they rapidly overran the German defenders in under 10 minutes. 

 
Despite determined German attempts to re-capture the bridge, it was held. It was not until the following afternoon that the Ox and Bucks were relieved by forces moving inland from Sword Beach. 
 
The Bridge has been replaced with a replica, with the original sitting alongside it still bearing the scars of the battle. It acts as a memorial to one of the 20th Century’s most important battles and a decisive military engagement that is a key part of the Regiment’s history. Swift And Bold!