As part of the community's research into connections with the D-Day landings of 1944, a new book has been produced by the Buriton Village Association as part of the Heritage Bank initiative.
Copies of the special book have been delivered to every house in the parish - with extra copies available at £5 each.
Aswell as recollections about Canadian troops camped around the village, the new book describes first-hand accounts from people in the Buriton area at the time describing:
- parachuting into Normandy soon after midnight to capture Pegasus Bridgeand other vital targets,
- landing on the beaches later on D-Day,
- follow-up operations including the Mulberry Harbours and
- an amusing account from someone 'with an inside track' who missed it all.
By bringing all these stories together, the book is able to highlight the scale, complexity, secrecy and bravery of Operation Overlord 'through local eyes'.
A pack of educational materials has also been produced for Buriton Primary School.
However, the search to try to identify exactly which Canadian Regiments and Units spent time in the parish in the build-up to D-Day continues - and anyone with any ideas or information about this is encouraged to contact Doug Jones (01730 231326 or email doug.pam@btinternet.com)
