Richard Todd Returns to Normandy

We recently had the great pleasure of taking a battlefield tour to Normandy made special by our guest, the actor, Mr Richard Todd.

Richard Todd parachuted into Normandy in the early hours of 6 June 1944 as a young officer with 7th Battalion of The Parachute Regiment. The battalion had the task of reliving Major John Howard's glider assault force after they successfully captured both Pegasus and Horsa bridges at Bénouville and Ranville; the very first action of D-Day. The 7th battalion then held both bridges, and the village, until relief arrived late on 6 June.

During the tour the group witnessed a re-union between Madame Arlette Gondrée and Mr Richard Todd. Arlette Gondrée is the owner of the Pegasus Bridge Café, the first house to be liberated on 6 June 1944. As the group left to continue the tour Richard Todd presented Arlette Gondrée with his webbing equipment he was wearing when he parachuted into Normandy in 1944. He said that ' ... it was to be held in safe keeping in the Pegasus Bridge Cafe ...' Following the days tour the group had a dinner in their hotel and invited both Madame Arlette Gondrée and Mr Richard Todd as their guests.