Jun 01 2023 78 mins
Walk Among Heroes is pleased to welcome James Kelly as our guest for episode 39.
James Kelly landed in a glider on D Day, June 6, 1944, near the village of Ranville with the 1st (Airborne) Royal Ulster Rifles, on the eastern flank of the main landing front. The Royal Ulster Rifles’ mission was to capture the bridges over the Caen Canal and the River Oren and to seal the eastern flank, thus protecting the main invasion from any possible counter attacks by German armored divisions.
The famous Pegasus Bridge mission was part of this operation. Mr. Kelly was one of the first Allied soldiers to land in France, landing just after midnight on D-Day, June 6, 1944. After the Normandy battles, his battalion fought in the Battle of the Bulge in late 1944 and then the Rhine Crossings....and on into Germany.
Mr. Kelly will be traveling with us all week throughout Normandy, so lots more to come!