Mémorial Pégasus

The Mémorial Pégasus (Pegasus Memorial) in Ranville is a museum and memorial to the activities of the British Army’s 6th Airborne Division during Normandy Landings and the subsequent Battle of Normandy from June to September, 1944. Under the command of Major-General Richard Gale, the unit engaged in numerous offensive operations in support of the D-Day landings and the Allied advance to the Rhine.

The 6th Airborne Division’s first mission was Operation Tonga on June 6, in support of the D-Day Landings. The unit was tasked with capturing and securing several key points, notably the bridges across the Caen Canal - this included the Pegasus Bridge in Ranville. All points were seized, though with heavy casualties. The Pegasus Memorial, adjacent to the bridge of the same name, presents a permanent exhibition on the Division’s history; the nearby Ranville Cemetery contains the remains of approximately 2000 of its members.    

The memorial was inaugurated by Charles, Prince of Wales on June 4, 2000.