Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum marking 80 years since D-Day

Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum is calling on locals to contribute their memories or family stories from the time of the D-Day landings, with particular focus on accounts of aircraft from the region's airbases and the presence of allied servicemen in the area.

David Shouesmith, chairman of the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Trust, said: "This anniversary is an opportunity to restate and refresh some of the compelling stories of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and the Pegasus Bridge operation in particular, but there will also be many other less dramatic stories of how the county was involved in the run-up to D-Day which we are keen to bring to light, and which may resonate with wider audiences."

The MK 1 Horsa G (Image: Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum)

Currently, visitors to the museum can partake in experiences such as sitting in a replica of an Airspeed Horsa Glider.

These were used to transport troops of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry to Normandy.

An audio feature offers insight into Major John Howard's role in the Pegasus Bridge operation as part of one of the museum's permanent displays.

The display also shows weapons and equipment used by soldiers and the opposition they faced.

But the new temporary display, opening on May 18 and closing on September 24, will include a broader collection of perspectives, detailing contributions from various RAF stations and other sites across the county.

Painting depicting the capture of Pegasus Bridge (Image: Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum)

In time for the anniversary, the museum is organising online and in-person events.

An online talk will be aired at 7pm, Wednesday, May 22, featuring recorded interviews with Pegasus Bridge veterans.

The museum is inviting viewers to donate in support of its activities.

On May 30, the museum will host Ingram Murray, a former officer in the Royal Engineers' Independent Parachute Engineers squadron, for a discussion on 'Sappers in the Gliders'.

This talk will delve into the experiences of the Royal Engineers who accompanied the Oxfordshire regiment soldiers on the gliders bound for Pegasus Bridge.

Ingram Murray, the father of Al Murray, who has a World War Two podcast and has written books about the war, will donate proceeds from the talk to the museum and ABF: The Soldiers’ Charity.

For those interested in sharing their Oxfordshire D-Day stories with the museum, they can get in touch via the contact form on the website, by calling 01993 810 210, or via email at frontofhouse@sofo.org.uk.