On the 80th anniversary of the beginning of ‘Operation Overlord’ or D- Day, an unassuming Basingstoke pub that played its part in the preparations for D-Day.
This town centre pub has a small but significant role in the build up to the allied invasion of Nazi occupied Europe.
For 2 years on preparation from Jan 1942, before heading across the channel, Major Howard of the The 1st Airlanding Brigade and their officers’ mess was based in The Wheatsheaf.
Photo by Christie (Sgt), No 5 Army Film & Photographic Unit, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Basingstoke was well placed geographically as a hub for preparations in the build up to the most secretive mission undertaken for the retaking of mainland Europe. Training saw his airborne divison move frequently around the south of England in preparation, and it was only in the May of 1944 that Howard knew the full details of the mission.
When deployed, Major Howard and his airborne battalion used Airspeed Horsa gliders to reach the strategic river crossing, hours in advance of the Normandy beach landings.
Read more on Operation Deadstick here
The Basingstoke Heritage Society unveiled the plaque in 2012, 70 years after Major Howards posting.
It joined the 21 other Blue Plaques the society have invested around the town, highlighting the towns links to history!
The stuff around us in North Hampshire... 