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506th Parachute Regiment
101st Airborne Division
United States Army

Company 'B' of the 1st Battalion and the 2nd Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division were stationed in Aldbourne during 1943 and 1944. They occupied a hutted camp on the playing field; the officers were billeted in the 'Old Manor' (a misnomer) and the officer's mess was at 'Hightown', the house to the racing stables in the centre of the Village. Troops were billeted in the stables which by all accounts were very comfortable. They arrived in Aldbourne in September 1943 and stayed until March 1944 training for the D-Day landings 6th June 1944

The 101st Airborne Division, commander Major General M D Taylor comprised the 501st, 502nd and 506th Parachute Infantry Regiments together with the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment and various artillery and support units.

The Airborne Divisions which took part on D-Day were the 82nd (US) Airborne Division and the 6th (BR) Airborne Division as well as the 101st.

The 82nd and the 101st dropped around the area of Ste-Mere-Eglise to seal off the Cherbourg peninsula whilst the 6th Airborne dropped between Cabourg and the River Orne on the East flank.

The mission of the 101st Airborne Division was :-
     a. Seize the roads leading westwards to Utah Beach through the flooded area between there and the River Douve.
     b. Hold the River Douve and the lock controlling its level at La Barguette just North of Carentan
     c. When relieved by the 4th (US) Division, capture Carentan and link with troops from Omaha Beach

On D-Day the 101st when dropped was scattered over a large area, a fact which probably helped sow confusion in the German ranks. After a hard day of fighting, including the capture of several villages, strong points and batteries, the Division had succeeded in its mission of capturing the roads leading off the beaches and controlling the River Douve.

Losses amounted to 1,259 killed, wounded or missing during the day.
The 506th returned to Aldbourne on 16th July.

On 16th September 1944 they left again from nearby Membury airfield to take part in the campaign in NW Europe which included Operation Market Garden, the Arnhem campaign in conjunction with the British 1st Airborne Division. They successfully opened the road and captured the bridges for the British XXX Corps advance towards Arnhem. They were also engaged in defending Bastogne during the German offensive in the Ardennes and they finished the war in Berchtesgaden.

The playing field in Aldbourne is still referred to by some Parishioners as 'the Camp' and there can be little doubt that the building which is the football changing room was part of the hutted camp and was most likely the cook house

On 5th August 1999 a service took place to dedicate the bronze plaque erected in the Memorial Hall, Aldbourne to commemorate the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment's stay in the village during World War II.

Present at the ceremony were two veterans of the Regiment, William Merit True II and Tom Alley. There were also thirteen veterans of the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards who had been in action with 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment during operation Market Garden, and representatives of the Parachute Regiment, West Berkshire Branch led by Colonel Hynes. The Chairman of the Aldbourne Parish Council and Aldbourne Parishioners also attended.

The service was taken by Cecil Newton an Aldbourne Parishioner and 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards veteran. Standards and banners were paraded by the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards and the Parachute Regiment. The trumpeter was Carl Smith of the Aldbourne Silver Band and the piper was Pipe Major Ian Hutton, Royal Dragoon Guards.

On 8th September 2000 Don Straith of Warren Michigan, who served with the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, with his wife Barbara, paid a visit to Aldbourne. Don runs the veterans Association of 'A' Company. After being entertained to lunch Don and Barbara visited the stables at 'Hightown' and then the Memorial Hall to see the plaque. Over the plaque hangs a United States flag presented to the village by Deryck True son of William True. Alongside the flag is a framed certificate which reads "This is to certify that the accompanying flag was flown over the United States Capitol at the request of the Honourable Howard L Berman, Member of Congress. This flag was flown to honour the people of Aldbourne, England for their kindness shown to American soldiers in World War II".

The plaque alongside is "In Memory of the Gallant Men of the U.S. 436th Troop Carrier Group who operated from Membury Airbase during World War II". Aldbourne remembers with affection the American soldiers who were billeted here and honours those who left the Village, not to return, sacrificing their lives for our Peace and Freedom.

Take these men for your example
Like them remember that prosperity
can only be for the free,
that freedom is the sure possession of those alone
who have the courage to defend it.

                                   Pericles


Cecil Newton, who has researched the content of this page, is the Secretary to The Cruelly Club of the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards (N W Europe 1944-1945) Association.
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