Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 021, folder 41: Godfrey Maddison

MADDISON, Godfrey British 6th Airborne Box 21, #41

Brit Excl Ack 22/5/58

THE ASSAULT LANDINGS IN NORMANDY MIDNIGHT JUNE 6 D DAY: MIDNIGHT JUNE 5

What is your full name? Godfrey Maddison

What is your present address? 3 Fernvine St Sunderland Durham

Telephone number:

What was your unit, division, corps? /13th (lanes) Parachute Batt. 6' Airborne Div

Where did you land and at what time? Ranville Normandy (approx) 01-22 AM

What was your rank and age on June 6, 1944? (private) 20 yrs I was 21 on the 20' June

Were you married at that time? No What is your wife 's name? Did you have any children at that time?

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? I always thought I would be in the invasion also the training and schemes for a full year prior to D-Day put us all in the know

What was the trip like during the crossing of the Channel? Do you remember, for example, any conversations you had or how you passed the time? The trip across was uneventful having the marker lights over the North Sea which we could see from the aircraft We had canisters of sweet tea which we drank to steady our nerves I should think it was intentional

Were there any rumours aboard ship? (Some people remember hearing that the Germans had poured gasoline on the water and planned to set it afire when the troops came in.)

Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? No

2. Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? Were you wounded? No How were you wounded?

Do you remember what it was like —that is, do you remember whether you felt any pain or were you so surprised that you felt nothing?

Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it may not have seemed amusing at the time? Or anything unexpected or out~ of-place? on the night we went to load up the planes I was transferred to another plane with my Sgt. I had to carry 3" mortar bombs for H.Q. This plane I had never seen before or jumped from it was called I believe an Albamarle and it was very small and only eight men carry full packs and bombs could get in Still it was very cramped the hole through wich we jumped was large and in shape

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, that struck you more than anything else?

of a coffin maybe you know about "Ringing the bell" thats when a paratrooper jumps and hits the other side of the hole thats just what the Sgt did and got a cut forehead Well the last thing that flashed through my mind as I jumped was thats pints all round when I see him again "thats the penalty" But I didnt see him when I landed and when we did meet again we were to busy to remember But made the Sgt still

3. In times of great crisis, people generally show either great ingenuity or self-reliance; others do incredibly strange or stupid things. Do you remember any examples of either ?

Do you know of anybody else who landed within the 24 hours ( midnight 5 June to midnight 6 June) either as infantry, glider or airborne troops, whom we should write to?

What do you do now? N.C.B. Boldon Colliery Durham Driftman-Miner

Please let us have this questionnaire as soon as possible, so that we can include your experiences in the book. We hope that you will continue your story on separate sheets if we have not left sufficient room. Full acknowledgement will be given in a chapter called "Where They Are Now." Cornelius Ryan Joan 0. Isaacs The Reader ' s Digest

After dropping I made my way to the RV guided by the sound of hunting horns which was a great idea of the CO I was still carring all my gear and on the top of that four 10 pound mortor bombs, on the way I slipped down a grassy slope and landed with my legs under a barb wire fence and there I was stuck with all the gear I was carring and it was quite a load I couldnt move up or down I started to panic a bit and it was very dark and I thought someone might take a pot shot at me I managed to struggle round and get a pair of wire cutters off the back of my belt and cut all the wire round me and was on my way again After dumping my bombs at HQ I rejoined my plattoon and we took up position on the crossroads in Ranville I had a PIAT which is an anti-tank gun and was in position on one of the roads looking into the x roads By this time the gliders we coming in and one could hear them swish through the air it was very uncanny suddenly I heard the noise of tanks making for the x road I loaded up and sighted at a shape looming up but before it got in range it was challenged and it turned out to be a small bulldozer and dont think that driver knew how near he was to Blighty that night To conclude I would like to say that we dropped and to us it seemed that it was just another night scheme and every one was in the village I think if the Pubs were open there it would have been just a night out for the lads every body was great and in good spirits (bodily) If Mr Ryan decides to come and see me there might be some more I can tell but Im afraid names places seem to fade after a lot of years and I think one is gratefull for just being spared. Sincerely yours G Maddison