During the opening minutes of D-Day, 6th June 1944, a small group of heroes flew from Dorset to Normandy in Horsa Gliders, destined for their objective; two vital bridges which they were tasked with capturing and holding. These bridges were captured successfully and were later named Pegasus, in honour of the Airborne Forces emblem, and Horsa, in tribute to the remarkable aircraft that carried the men safely to their objectives.
The latter of these bridges, Horsa, spans the Orne River in Ranville and The Veterans Charity is creating a striking new memorial which will be dedicated to the heroes who captured the bridge and to the aircraft after which it is named.
Also on D-Day, US forces landed south of the town of Sainte Mere Eglise in a large number of Horsa Gliders as part of Mission Elmira, which was designed to enable artillery, vehicles and troops to be delivered behind the beaches to provide support to those arriving in the early waves on the beaches at Omaha and Utah. Although successful, Elmira suffered a large number of casualties including numerous glider pilots.
Ride To Horsa promises to be a hugely poignant and highly memorable cycling event which follows a route from Tarrant Rushton Airfield, where the gliders took off on the night of 5th June 1944 and will also pay tribute to the US troops killed on Mission Elmira.
First day's ride covers a challenging and beautiful 48-mile route through the Dorset countryside and along the epic Jurassic Coast to the first campsite in Lytchett Minster.
Early the following morning, the group will cycle a short distance to Poole to catch the ferry to Cherbourg. Once there, the group will then cycle 25 miles to the historic town of Sainte Mere Eglise for the second night's campsite in the town centre.
Day 3 will feature a hugely poignant 72-mile route through key Horsa Glider landing zones and towns including Carentan and Isigny before passing all five Normandy Landing Beaches and stopping at famous locations including the American Cemetery above Omaha Beach and the British Normandy Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer where the group will honour those who served on both Operation Elmira (US) and Operation Coup de Main (UK). The ride will continue along the coast to Ouistreham before then heading inland and crossing both Pegasus and Horsa Bridges, on route to the final campsite in Ranville.
- Thursday 5th September: Tarrant Rushton to Lytchett Minster (48 miles)
- Friday 6th September: Lytchett Minster to Poole. Ferry to Cherbourg (0830 sailing). Cherbourg to Sainte Mere Eglise (25 miles)
- Saturday 7th September: Sainte Mere Eglise to Ranville (72 miles)
- Sunday 8th September: Memorial unveiling at Horsa Bridge.
On Sunday 8th September, the group will attend the unveiling of a brand new and highly unique memorial which will be situated next to Horsa Bridge and will help to raise the awareness of this strategically critical D-Day objective.
Participants on Ride To Horsa are required to raise funds for The Veterans Charity who have created this exciting event. The funds raised will pay for the memorial and also help the charity to continue delivering vital support to Veterans of the UK Armed Forces.
Places are limited to 150 participants and available on a first come, first served basis. The cycling event is being managed by our friends at Sportive HQ!
A detailed info pack is available to download at www.veteranscharity.org.uk/horsa
