Bénouville in Calvados, Normandy, France — Western Europe
Major John Howard
Distinguished Service Order
| — | Croix de Guerre avec Palme | — |
Photographed by James Hulse, June 2, 2025
1. Major John Howard Marker
Company Commander of 'D' Company 2nd Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry who were part of 6 Airborne Division
In the early hours of 6 June 1944 one hundred and eighty men led by Major Howard landed according to plan in six gliders and captured intact the bridges over the Caen Canal and the River Orné
Reverse Side
Presented to the Mayor and the people of Bénouville by the Airborne Assault Normandy Trust and the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry Association
Sculpted by Vivi Mallock
Capitaine de la compagnie D du 2ᵉ bataillon d’infanterie légère d’Oxfordshire et du Buckinghamshire qui faisait partie de la 6ᵉ division des troupes aéroportées
Dans les heures matinales du 6 juin 1944, cent quatre-vingts soldats menés par le major Howard ont atterri à l’endroit prévu en six planeurs et ont pris intacts les ponts traversant le canal de Caen et l’Orne
Verso
Offert au Maire et au peuple de Bénouville par l’Airborne Assault Normandy Trust et l’Association de l’Infanterie Légère d’Oxfordshire et du Buckinghamshire
Sculpté par Vivi Mallock
Topics.
this page online
Location. 49° 14.496′ N, 0° 16.416′ W. Memorial is in Bénouville, Normandie (Normandy), in Calvados. It is on Avenue du Commandant Kieffer just west of Av. Major John Howard, on the left when traveling west. The marker is located southeast of the Pegasus Bridge. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 25 Av du Commandant Kieffer, Bénouville, Normandie 14970, France. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, Europe, the European Union, Atlantic Europe, the Schengen Area, Western Europe, a coastal Mediterranean country, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a French colony and also the Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Major R. J. Howard (here, next to this marker); «L’arbre de la liberté» / «The Liberty Tree» (a few steps from this marker); Les rives de l’Orne / The Banks of the Orne (within shouting distance of this marker); L/Cpl Fred Greenhalgh (within shouting distance
Photographed by James Hulse, June 2, 2025
2. Major John Howard
Also see . . . John Howard (British Army officer). Wikipedia
Major Reginald John Howard DSO (8 December 1912 – 5 May 1999) was a British Army officer who led a glider-borne assault that captured the Caen canal and Orne river bridges on 6 June 1944, as part of the D-Day landings during the Second World War. These bridges spanned the Caen Canal and the adjacent River Orne (about 500 yards to the east), and were vitally important to the success of the D-Day landings. Since the war, the bridge over the canal has become known as "Pegasus Bridge," a tribute to the men who captured it. The bridge over the River Orne later became known as Horsa Bridge after the Horsa gliders that carried troops to the bridges.(Submitted on July 3, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
Photographed by James Hulse, June 2, 2025
3. Major John Howard Marker (ride side)
Photographed by James Hulse, June 2, 2025
4. Major John Howard Marker - Reverse Side
Photographed by James Hulse, June 2, 2025
5. The view of the Pegasus Bridge and Major John Howard Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on July 3, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 2, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 140 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 3, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
