Lunch With Colonel David Wood, OC 24 platoon Coup de Main Options

[ham and jam]

Today Max and I went for lunch with Colonel David Wood who landed in glider 2 at Pegasus bridge. It would be fair to say that Max and I were slighty nervous on the way down (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif) I was lucky enough to meet David in Normandy this year (signature photo on right)
Well we need not have worried as David and his wife Alice made us very welcome.

David had got out lots of his wartime stuff such as his diary which was amazing.
Our jaws dropped even further when David showed us an entry on the 3rd of June where Den Brotheridge and a couple of other officers had had a few drinks too many and got hold of David's diary and wrote silly names in. Dens is the top one where he wrote Denny Wenni (I think thats what it is, correct me Max if I got that wrong) the other two are Davy Wavy, and Harri Karri.
(IMG:http://img16.exs.cx/img16/2245/DavidWoodlunch005.th.jpg)
sorry not very clear

(IMG:http://img2.exs.cx/img2/9126/DavidWoodlunch006.th.jpg)
Diary

We had a lovely lunch and then went back into the lounge where we were showed more stuff. Badges, medals, models of gliders, many pictures, a letter that Major Howard had wrote to David when he was back in England being treated for his wounds. We got to see Ambrose's book, Pegasus bridge, which had been signed by the author thanking David and Alice for their kind hospitality.

(IMG:http://img17.exs.cx/img17/91/DavidWoodlunch001.th.jpg)
book
Some of the signatures on these pages are by Major Howard, who calls David one of his best platoon commanders, Wagger Thornton, Todd Sweeney, Arlette Gondree and others.

We also got to see David's medals, 2 special ones are the MBE and Légion d'honneur (Chevalier, Knight). We were then kindly given signed pictures and we took a couple more photos and said our goodbyes


Please correct me Max if ive got any of that wrong or forgotten anything (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Andy

This post has been edited by ham and jam: Sep 27 2007, 12:35 PM

[Jimmydoorknobs]

Andy,

I see nothing wrong with the photo of you and David other than one of you looks as if you had a toast or two.

[homefront41]

Nice goin', you guys. Waiting for some further details.

The diary is amazing, Andy. Did you see the entry for June 4? That'll give you chills.

“We are still here although we expect to go any night now.

We have had visits from the Colonel, General Gale, Brigadiers [sic] Powett and Kindersley, who all encouraged us generally and wished us the best of luck.

The (food?) here is still short. I went to a film though called “Stormy Weather”. It is an all Negro cast and is worth seeing. The Padre came and we had our service in the open.”

I continue to thoroughly enjoy your connection with these veterans. They receive you so easily because of your straight forward approach. Thanks so much for sharing these meetings with us. BK

[Bart]

Andy and Max... you are soooo lucky!!! You've met veterans in Normandy and Arnhem and visited Brian and probably thought that things couldn't get any better. But meeting Colonel Wood must have been the highlight of the year.

[Vicky]

Andy & Max, I'm so pleased for you both with getting to spend this wonderful time yesterday with Colonel David Wood and his wife. As Bk said, it couldn't have happened to two more deserving chaps! Thank you for sharing your photos here.

The photos of his wartime diary have come out really well. Its amazing what stories diaries have to tell, isn't it? Especially the part about where the officers were a bit tipsy and wrote sill names in it, that's not the kind of first-hand experience that you get to read about in books about the war.

Vicky

[ham and jam]

Actually JDK I was sober for a change, all though we had a beer with our lunch (IMG:http://forums.wildbillguarnere.com/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

I think Max and I could have sat all afternoon and looked through that diary BK, I cant remember now if the 3rd was his last entry of if he did carry on to the 4th. But it eneded and he didnt start writing in it again until October.

Bart, its been a year to remember, and I think one veteran I have met this year stands out more than most, and is the one im glad I met more than any other and thats Brian.

We had to laugh Vicky because a couple of times I think David was a bit hesitant about us reading certain bits, after all it was his personal diary (IMG:http://forums.wildbillguarnere.com/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

(IMG:http://img85.exs.cx/img85/3272/Woodsmedals1.th.jpg)
David's medals, MBE on left and Légion d'honneur on right
Photo taken by Max

Andy

[Max (UK)]

Yeah, looking at David's diary for 1944 and reading a letter he got from John Howard, written in a trench by Pegasus Bridge only a few days after D-Day and talking about all the things that had happened (David was injured on D-Day and sent back to the UK for treatment). That letter was amazing, Howard talked about how things were going, his narrow miss getting a bullet through the helmet from a sniper, his sorrow at losing Den Brotheridge and plenty more. Both the diary and that letter are just such amazing history.

David had also dug out all his old photos and various bits and pieces for us to look at, plus he had more pics hanging on his walls and all over the place - it was amazing.

He gave me some notes he had made of his memories of the build up and the operation itself, I will type them in at some point; they make very good reading.

[misako]

I liked the pic with medals- beautiful! thank you for your posts, Andy and MAX (IMG:http://forums.wildbillguarnere.com/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) misako

[Vicky]

He gave me some notes he had made of his memories of the build up and the operation itself, I will type them in at some point; they make very good reading.

I'd very much like to read those Max. Colonel Wood was interviewed quite a bit on the televised coverage from Normandy in June and what he said was really interesting. He came across as such a lovely chap, so unassuming and polite. You and Andy were so lucky getting the chance to spend these valuable hours with him and his wife at the weekend.

Vicky

[ham and jam]

Actually Vicky he said his favourite interview out in Normandy was the one with Mary Nightingale, that is on one of the videos you lent me. He is being interviewed with Margaret Brotheridge. I think Margaret is often popping round as in a letter I got back from David sometime ago, he mentioned her calling in on her way to play bowls. Then on Saturday he told us she was calling round on Sunday. Its nice to see them all keeping in touch.

I know Max will say the same as he has rung him, but I just phoned him to ask a few questions and he couldnt be more happy to help. Lovely man.

Andy

[Max (UK)]

Yeah, lovely man.

Vicky, I'll get typing ASAP in a new thread - Pegasus Bridge by David Wood. Look out for it ! (IMG:http://forums.wildbillguarnere.com/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[BobFish]

Wasn't he 20 or 21 when he landed in Normandy? And he led a platoon....incredible. I can never get my head round the ages that these guys were when they went into battle, sometimes again and again. Sure grew up fast that's for certain.

This post has been edited by BobFish: Oct 11 2004, 12:50 PM

[Vicky]

Vicky, I'll get typing ASAP in a new thread - Pegasus Bridge by David Wood. Look out for it !

I certainly will Max, but there's no rush...honestly!

Actually Vicky he said his favourite interview out in Normandy was the one with Mary Nightingale, that is on one of the videos you lent me. He is being interviewed with Margaret Brotheridge.

Ah yes, I know the one you mean Andy. Colonel Wood and Margaret Brotheridge did seem to have quite a rapport with each other during in the interview, the kind that only comes when you know a person well, you know. Like you, I think its great that they all keep in contact after so many years.

Vicky

[Frank Gubbels]

Can you please tell me what Major Howard wrote.
I'can't read it (yet) (IMG:http://forums.wildbillguarnere.com/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) .

Frank

[Kiwiwriter]

Great stuff and luck on meeting Col. Wood. What did he do after the war?