Hello, I'm a new member here gathering research for a WWII project I'm heading. I was wondering; of the many British Paratroopers of the 6th Airborne whom were lost on D-Day having wildly missed their DZ, what might of happened to them? Providing they were not in any position to take their objectives, and assuming that not all of them were captured or killed by the enemy, what other adventures might they have gotten into? I know it's a rather broad question but I would really appreciate the help on this.
Hi and welcome, here is somewhat to find to this topic: Normandy (Operation Overlord) | ParaData British Airborne Assault - Battle of Normandy Tours https://www.4para.co.uk/index.php?Itemid=118&option=com_content And i´m sure that others will know more to this topic.
You´re welcome! Its a interesting topic cause my Grandpa served as an German Paratrooper at there and had some bad close combat experiences with the Britsh ones.
Here's my situation... I'm trying to conceptualize a hypothetical situation whereby a small four or five man British Paratrooper unit, having missed their drop zone by a rather large distance on D-Day, embark on a kind of pseudo-mission that takes them on a journey, spanning several days, across the French countryside. For example, imagine you're a child playing "Army", like many of us did, and the situation of the game were those highlighted above, what would your mission be?
Ihavent a clue how youd find em...Maybe ebay..but some of the anniversary magazines for d day..50th 60th etc included stories of derring do if you like by miss dropped brit paras..some a long way inland..who went off to play cowboys and indians if you like..I remember glossy mag anniv edition of London Evening news and one called simply red beret..Ihave both but impossible to get hands on at moment..try ebay.
Mate plenty of books are available which tell the story of 6th Airborne in Normandy , many of them who were lost went down into the flooded ground east of the Breville ridge and drowned not sure how you can reenact that.
General statistics at D-Day casualty estimates, Col. Stacey 6th Airborne excerpt: "BRITISH AIRBORNE SECTOR (6th Airborne Division) The division's undated report states that the first two days fighting "cost the division over 800 casualties in battle", while in addition "the missing from the drop still numbered approx 1000". A War Office analysis gives the final figures of missing for the two parachute brigades in the initial airborne operation as 658 all ranks. The glider units would presumably raise it to at least 800; in addition, glider pilot casualties are given at 95. Since the the fighting on 7 June was considerably less heavy than that on D Day, perhaps 600 of the 800 "battle" casualties might be assigned to 6 June. This would give a roughly estimated total of 1500 D Day casualties for the sector: a figure comparable with those for the U.S. airborne divisions. [Note: The British 6th Airborne included the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion.] " Many drowned in flooded fields.
