guides

James Davies

My interest in D-Day became apparent following a holiday in Normandy many years ago, during which time I went to many of the places we as a tour company now visit. I think what attracts me to this particular period of World War Two is the immense nature of the task! How the Allies managed to keep D-Day a secret to the extent it did will always amaze me, the counter espionage and diversionary tactics used are mind boggling, more amazing still is the fact that even as D-Day was happening the Germans were convinced the assault was a diversion! To this end D-Day was a resounding success, casualties were remarkably low, especially when considering the losses the Americans took taking the Japanese islands around the same time. What is also truly fascinating about D-Day is the amount of smaller missions that took place on that one day aside from the main landings, the actions of the paras at Pegasus Bridge and the Merville Battery could have and has filled books on their own, the co-ordination between all the forces and nations involved is staggering.

With a whole new generation being introduced to this momentous day from films and TV documentaries such as 'Saving Private Ryan' and 'Band of Brothers' the interest in D-Day seems to grow by the year, as does mine. I can't think of a better way to spend my summer than being able to introduce people to these events and stand in the places where it all happened.

At the infamous Molen Beek. left to right, Captain John Lincoln MC, Sgt David Richardson, Gary Weight. September 2011

Your Guides

Gary Weight

I’m Gary Weight and work as a tour guide, writer and researcher in Normandy, France. I established Pegasus Normandy Tours in 2006 after working as a military guide on various European Tours including ‘battle scene’ tours in Berlin and the Ardennes (Battle of The Bulge region) since 1999. I currently split my time between England and France whilst researching and writing a forthcoming book on one of the Regiments active in Normandy on D-Day and running our exciting Normandy tours. I run private tours and specialize in many fields within Normandy, but Normandy only. This is an important factor. Whether it is the American, Canadian or British sectors I have researched all equally and met many veterans so have first hand accounts to pass on within the tours. I use many maps, photographs and personal accounts to ‘bring alive’ the tours. During the winter months I also lecture at various establishments, mainly in the UK, on the events in Normandy during 1944.

Background

I was born in London in the 1960’s and even from about the age of 4 was very interested in World War II. As children we played in the old air-raid shelters and bomb sites which were still everywhere in those days. At a nearby airfield we would play in an old disused ‘Dakota’ (C-47) and jump out as paratroopers (something I’ve since found out that the young children in Ste-Mère-Église would also do just after the war), I even had an old incendiary bomb as my bedroom doorstop! We spent a great deal of time in the company of relatives where talk was often about the war, stories of the ‘doodlebugs’ (V1 rockets) falling close to where we lived, and everyone’s part including my parents who were 5 and 6 years old themselves at that time. My Grandfathers saw service during both wars and a number of family members were lost during active service mainly in Burma. As regards my career I was active throughout the world on all continents for twenty years. I have since begun focusing on my writing and lifelong interest of World War II. Now I concentrate solely on Normandy and enjoy the constant research to make the tours even more interesting. My aim is always to ‘bring to life’ the events of the summer of 1944 so that people of all ages can not only ‘see’ but ‘feel’ what it was like during this important period in Normandy’s history.

Normandy is a large area, it is larger than some countries, many people live here, it has over 3 million inhabitants. To expect to see everything in a day is physically impossible, therefore having a reasonably good idea of what you want to see before you arrive is what one may consider “a pretty good idea”! People come here for many reasons of course, some have been here before, some have not. Some come here to holiday and have no wish to to explore anything related to past events, some come here with only one thing in mind, the 6th June 1944! Others come here on a far more serious note to pay their respects to lost friends and relatives and whilst a great many people live here a great many people also died, and are buried here. Allied soldiers, French civilians and of course soldiers of the Third Reich. Memorials are everywhere, there are over 1000 in Normandy now and more are being added all the time to preserve the memory of the soldiers and civilians who laid their lives on the line for both sides. Certainly during your visit you will experience deep emotions and witness others who have become overwhelmed for various reasons, this is inevitable, it’s a historic battlefield which is still very fresh in many peoples memories and many people who were here in 1944 are still here now.

In 2011 I escorted The Commander of the American Legion (Cmdr Jimmie L. Foster) during the June 6th memorial events and gave a guided tour of the British sector. A first for the American Legion.

Here we are outside the Café Gondrée at Pegasus Bridge. 1st house liberated in France 1944.

Left to right Gary Weight, Mme Arlette Gondrée, Commander Foster and Major-General George A. Buskirk Jr

In 2010 I escorted The Commander of the American Legion (Cmdr Clarence Hill) during the June 6th memorial events and gave a guided tour of the area.

Here we are after Commander Hill had lowered and folded the flag at the US Normandy Cemetery.

The American Legion has over 2.5 million military veteran members.

View the American Legion website here

Robert (Bob) Wright with Gary Weight June 2010 outside Angoville-au-Plain Church.

Bob was a medic with 101st Airborne Division and this modest Norman church is now dedicated to him and Kenneth Moore who utilised the church as a medical centre for a number of days during which time intense fighting took place in June 1944 tending to and saving the lives of at least 75 men, women and children.

1st hand accounts are the only resources that are used within Pegasus Normandy Tours.