World War II D-Day Accounts from the Cornelius Ryan Collection

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Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 020, folder 35: Charles Leslie Edgson

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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? Not really. To the best of my knowledge we did not come under direct attack: we did our job of road making as best we could without interference. We were scared of mines more than anything else.

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? My O.C., Major J. A. [?Fenwick?] & Lt. R. E. Williams (ranks as then, Regular Officers) from the same Company R.E. landed much in advance of main body & had a very uncomfortable time, I believe, both for themselves & in the fate of others - individuals drowning & boats sinking, & powerless to help. I do not know where they are now, but R.E. Records should know.

What do you do now? Schoolmaster. Brentwood School, Essex.

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 O. Isaacs The Reader's Digest

Last edit 11 months ago by hminbrd
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2, The Mews, Middleton Hall, Brentwood, Essex 14th May 1958.

16 MAY 1958.

Dear Sir,

I am answering your advertisement on behalf of my husband* [inserted] C.L. EDGSON [end inserted] who took part in the landings, during the time you mention.

He was in the Sappers, rank of Captain, a field company, - mainly bridges.

He teaches at Brentwood School and is very busy just now, - but if there are any specific questions

Last edit over 1 year ago by martinar317
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[illegible] May 16, 1958

Dear Mrs. Edgson, Thank you for your letter of May l4. It was very kind of you to reply to our advertisement so promptly.

I am sure our author, Mr. Ryan, would be most interested to hear of your husband’s experiences on D-Day. At present he is in Paris, interviewing French civilians and Resistance workers who were in Normandy during the first hours of the Invasion. He is returning to England shortly, when he hopes to be able to talk to men and women of the British Forces about their D-Day experiences. In the meantime, we should be very grateful if your husband would kindly complete and return the enclosed questionnaire. A stamped and addressed envelope is also enclosed for his use. I will write to you again on Mr. Ryan’s return.

Yours sincerely, (Joan Ogle Isaacs) Research Editor.

Mrs. C.L. Edgson, 2 The Mews, Middleton Hall, BRENTWOOD. ESSEX.

Last edit over 1 year ago by martinar317
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17th July, 1958.

C.L. Edgson, Esq., 2, The Mews, Middleton Hall Lane, Brentwood, Essex

Dear Mr. Edgson,

I felt that I should personally write to thank you for the wonderful contribution which you have made in the preparation of the D-Day book which I am writing. The material in the questionnaire you sent me has been a great help in filling in many of the details of the work done in Normandy that day by members of the British Services.

It will probably be a full year before the book is completed and on its publication in The Reader's Digest under the story "The longest Day," it will give us great pleasure to send you a copy.

Yours sincerely,

(Cornelius J. Ryan)

Last edit over 1 year ago by martinar317

Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 020, folder 12: Thomas A. W. Cole

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14th July, 1958.

T.A.W. Cole, Esq., 3, Sage Villas, Elmstead Market, Colchester, Essex.

Dear Mr.Cole,

In Mr.Ryan's absence in Germany I am writing to thank you for your letter of the 9th July. I know Mr.Ryan is very sorry that we were unable to arrange a mutually convenient appointment. However, he has asked me to say that your questionnaire was so complete and the account you gave so precisely the sort of thing that he was searching for that he is confident he will be able to use extracts from it as he is writing the book. I do not think, therefore, that we need trespass on any more of your time.

As you must well appreciate, we are dealing with several thousand neople, and in the book's final edited formed we shall probably be lucky if we can do more than give each participant a few lines. It is the sum total, however, of all these accounts which I hope will give the book its accuracy and unbiased presentation.

I have one more request to make of you. In order to extract some material from your questionnaire, I will need your signature to the attached release. A stamped and addressed envelope is enclosed for your use.

It may well be y year before the manuscript is published In The Reader's Digest, but at that time we will duly send you a copy of the issue with the story "The Longest Day”.

Yours sincerely, (Joan Ogle Isaacs)

Last edit over 1 year ago by martinar317
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GOLD 86 Field Artillery R.A 50th Div

0745 Arromanches

Tie with Jones

I hereby agree that Mr. Cornelius Ryan has all rights whatsoever in the questionnaire and letter from me regarding D-Day.

SIGNED T Cole DATE 15 JULY 58

Wounded trooper about to be evacuated - saw small boat ferrying wounded overtime in rough sea - came back to him [illegible]. Preferred to take chances with them

Took up gun positions on beach - frogmen were in action on the beach. Saw them dragged under a propeller

Last edit over 1 year ago by martinar317
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17th June, 1958.

T.A.W. Cole, Esq., 3, Sage Villas, Elmstead Market, Colchester, Essex.

Dear Mr. Cole,

Further to my letter of the 6th June, Mr. Ryan is now in London and would very much like to meet you in connection with his book on D-Day.

I wonder, therefore, if you would very kindly telephone me at the above address, reversing the charges, so that we could arrange a mutually convenient meeting.

Yours sincerely, (Joan Ogle Isaacs) Research Editor

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Mr T Cole 3 Sage Villas, Elmstead Market Colchester, Essex.

9 July 58.

Research Editor Readers Digest

Dear Madam

With regard to your letter of the 17 June may I please apologise for delay in answering. I have tried to contact you by phone on two occasions. As I am on a 44 hr working week the only time I can phone within office hours is on Saturday mornings. Unfortunately I also have to

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attend dental appointments on Saturday morning & the last three weeks have been occuppied thus. I shall be with the dentist this coming Saturday & am certain to be booked for several more Saturdays in the near future

I am not trying to avoid Mr Ryan, I should very much like to meet him. I am willing to travel to London to meet him if required. With my present spare time comittments I can see but two arrangements which may be convenient. I can meet Mr Ryan sometime during my annual holiday, last week in July, first week in August, or I could take a half day off work but I don't think the expence about $5 with last bonus

Last edit over 1 year ago by martinar317
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would justify it.

If either of these arrangements are suitable would you please let me know. If you have other suggestions I would be pleased to consider them.

In closing I would add that I will be pleased to help in any way with the futhering of Mr Ryans book.

Your Sincerely. T. Cole

Last edit over 1 year ago by martinar317
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