Daughter pays tribute to father at Pegasus Bridge

The daughter of the man widely regarded as the first soldier killed on D-Day, has paid her respects at a yearly Pegasus Bridge service.

Lt Den Brotheridge, who served in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, took part in an operation to capture the Caen canal and Orne river bridges, a few miles inland from the port of Ouistreham in Normandy, France.

The codenamed mission Operation Deadstick was successful but he was shot down by a German machine gunner.

Margaret Brotheridge, who never knew her father, laid wreaths and flowers at the memorial site for the fallen Allied soldiers, alongside the family of Major John Howard, who led the airborne operation.

Lieutenant Brotheridge (centre) was in command of 25 platoon

About 500 people gathered at the service, which is held every year to mark the bravery and sacrifice of those who served in the 6th airborne division.

Among the attendees were senior military officers, French dignitaries and 60 World War Two US veterans.

About 200 family members and friends of the British service personnel who took part in the capture of Pegasus Bridge were also present.

Major Howard's granddaughter Kerry Ricketts said the tradition was started by her grandfather.

"It used to be just granddad and a few other men who were there in 1944 walking slowly over the bridge with a bottle of champagne," she said.

"Now it's grown into an event which kick starts the D-Day commemorations".

Speaking ahead of her visit to the memorial, Ms Brotheridge said: “I’m doing this for everybody else as well, not just my father.

"I’m doing this for everybody else who never came home.”

Lt Brotheridge was recommended for a Military Cross for his bravery at Pegasus Bridge but regulations at the time prevented that medal being awarded posthumously.

A vigil to mark the exact moment 80 years ago when gliders swooped in to start the liberation of France will be held on the bridge itself on Wednesday evening.