The Pegasus Diaries: The Private Papers of Major John Howard DSO

Coup De Main: From the French meaning `A strike or blow of the hand'.

`An offensive military operation that capitalises on surprise and simultaneous execution of supporting operations to achieve success in one swift stroke.'

On the night of the 5th & 6th June 1944, three gliders carrying troops of the Ox's & Bucks light infantry set out towards to two key bridges, over the River Orne and Caen Canal, in Normandy. Executing what was later described by the Allied Air force Commander in chief as `The finest piece of pure flying of World War Two' Staff Sergeant Jim Wallwork landed his glider on the wire defences. The rest has gone down in history as a classic coup De Main operation.

The officer commanding the force was Major John Howard DSO, the bride over the canal has since been known as `Pegasus Bridge. There

is a tendency for later generations to assume that things just happened, a highly trained force was magiced into existence, a plan formed and everything just went the way they were intended.

This book proves that such things don't happen with out a great deal of work and worry. The book covers the in depth training and problems preparing for D-day, both military and personal. The actual raid on the bridges is almost passed over; Major Howard shows his concern for his men was deep felt by making much more of the later battles in the villages of Escoville and Herovillette. The pain he feels at the causalities is very obvious.

Prepared from Major Howard's personal diaries by his son and daughter, this book could be described as a posthumous autobiography. It must have taken a lot of thought before the family decided to publish. The book shows not the Hero that Major Howard has rightfully become, but a man with concerns for his family, his men, his admitted prejudices and an utter determination to succeed.

It is a book that will strike chords with the present, the determination to do what has to be done, despite interference from higher levels, the demands that are placed on an officer in command of men, and the constant worry of failure.
I found this book totally absorbing; in addition to the story of a brave man it is also an interesting social study of period. I would recommend it as a study in the operation of itself, and also a lesson in command responsibilities.

A great read with a very personal touch (1/1 people found this helpful)

When I heard about the release of this book I rushed to buy a copy. Having read it, I was NOT disappointed, more delighted with it's content. It was thrilling to read Major Howard's own words and to hear more about life away from the war. A real insight into the mind of a great leader.

I would whole heartedly recommend this book to any WWII enthusiast!

Danny Greeno

Certainly one for WW2 enthusiasts (15/15 people found this helpful)

Basically this is the biography of Major John Howard DSO, the courageous British Army officer who led the attack by the 6th British Airborne Division on the bridge over the Caen Canal of the River Orne in June 1944.
Having said it is a biography and a most enjoyable one at that, this interesting volume based on Howard's own diaries and papers and co-written with his daughter, provides the reader with a fascinating insight into the man himself, as well as conditions on the home front in the latter years of the Second World War. The majority and most interesting part of the book however is devoted to the recruitment and subsequent training of a battalion of the Airborne Forces for D-Day as well as the actual invasion itself.
Howard and his men of the 2nd Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry were amongst the first troops to land on enemy held soil on D-Day. Transported by Horsa gliders, they were towed across the English Channel by Halifax bombers and having been released from their towing aircraft at 8000 feet, they remarkably landed within meters of their target - a target that had been chosen as it would be via this bridge that the enemy would aim to re-enforce their positions in Normandy in the event of invasion.
John Howard died at the age of 86 in 1999. As a result of his actions during this particular campaign, Howard was awarded the DSO and Croix de Guerre with Palme, however many consider that a far greater and lasting tribute to him and his brave men was the fact that the road that crosses the bridge was re-named Rue John Howard and the bridge itself is now known both locally and internationally as Pegasus Bridge.
This volume will appeal to a wide range of readers from anyone who enjoys war biographies to those with a special interest in events at this time. It will no doubt be popular with military historians and anyone whose ancestors actually fought there.

The Pegasus Diaries: The Private Papers of Major John Howard DSO

John Howard, Penny Bates

Reader Reviews:

Diary of a brave man (0/0 people found this helpful)

A great read with a very personal touch (1/1 people found this helpful)

Certainly one for WW2 enthusiasts (15/15 people found this helpful)

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