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Product Description
John Howard's name will forever be linked to the highly successful Pegasus Bridge assault by his glider-born company of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. His men regarded him with awe and his courage and toughness were bye-words. However this book reveals the human side of the man as well as providing a graphic account of the preparation, actual operation and aftermath of this iconic raid.The Pegasus Diaries is a book that will be enjoyed by men and women alike, presenting as it does a complex man often torn between his high sense of loyalty to his men and devotion to duty.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
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.
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.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
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
I would whole heartedly recommend this book to any WWII enthusiast!
Danny Greeno
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A superb, well written biography. Hard to put down!!
An honest and sometimes too honest description of the Ox & Bucks and D-Day.
Would recommend this to anyone
An honest and sometimes too honest description of the Ox & Bucks and D-Day.
Would recommend this to anyone
Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Pegasus Diaries
Anyone interested in vital actions of D Day needs to read this book. John Howard tells of his personal battle to overcome the class war of fellow officers (some of whom) who... Read more
Published on 23 May 2010 by J. O'brien
The Pegasus Diaries
It was greatly enjoyed by my father who is a D-Day veteran and was under Major John Howard and did subsequently meet him on a previous re-union.
Published on 13 July 2009 by Oliver Cromwell
Diary of a brave man
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... Read more
`An offensive military operation that capitalises on surprise and simultaneous execution of... Read more
Published on 22 July 2008 by Tony B
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