Sword Beach: The Untold Story of D-Day with Stephen Fisher

In spite of all of the words that have been put to paper about D-Day, there is still very little that is known about the British landings at Sword Beach. Stephen Fisher is out set that right with his new book, "Sword Beach: The Untold Story of D-Day's Forgotten Victory".

[@LanceHarding]

I have bought the book this week. My Grandfather landed on Sword beach, he survived,but his best friend never even made it to the shore. Will be reading it forthwith, thank you for this book Stephen.

[@robpettitt]

Just ordered the book. My father landed on Sword Beach, second wave with 2 Bn Royal Warwickshire Regiment. His company, D Company, were ordered to follow up behind the commandos to Pegasus to relieve the troops there, which they did and held it until early morning on 7/6. Then they rejoined the Bn, and were in action at Lebisey vs the 21st Panzers, just east of Caen. He was wounded and eventually returned to the UK the next day. I did a video interview with my Dad in 2009 when we were there for the 65th, sadly he passed away in 2011. Looking forward to seeing how much of it accords with his recollections! Thank you for your work 🙂

[@1psychofan]

I may be the only view who pauses live playbacks to zoom in and explore the bookshelves behind speakers. Books--I cannot help myself

[@bruceday6799]

I'm not admitting to going through the bookshelves of people I don't know, but...

[@1psychofan]

@@bruceday6799 open confession is good for the soul….how good is my soul right now?

[@ddMcDd-yl4td]

I don't go quite that far, but I do spend alot of time trying to decipher the titles while the video plays...

[@WARdROBEPlaysWWII]

I paused and looked .

[@maikelvane5185]

I do sometimes.

[@grimmariner]

A superb, well written account of a not very well documented part of the D Day landings. A great interview too. Thanks!

[@KevG1962]

Really enjoyed this, great to have a bit more focus on the other beaches 🇬🇧🇨🇦🇫🇷🇺🇲

[@YuriBeckers9thID]

I missed this episode when it aired, but happened to see the book in a bookstore this past weekend and wanted to know more about it. This episode was perfect for getting a good inside on how was written and what it is about. I will surely buy the book in the near future! Great episode here, the book looks really great.

[@robertblack7610]

This is good, people forget there were more British & Canadian troops landing on D-Day than Americans, it was a joint operation not just an American operation

[@sbishop6450]

Really pleased to see this book and for the British story to start being told. Love the US story of Utah and Omaha beaches and the way the US has throughly told their side of the battle but it was not the whole story. The British and Canadian's deserve their side things to be told and understood as part of the whole story of the Normandy landings. Thanks JD for talking to Stephen and opening this up for us here in Britian and for those in the US too.

[@Pokonovic]

Thanks both for this nice interview, book ordered and inbound.

[@dankorolyk5917]

Another great interview JD

[@keithmitchell3916]

Excellent interview. Just pre ordered the book. Can't wait to read it after watching this.

[@luskimo1]

watched the replay and was impressed with fisher's research into his book

[@robinc6324]

I have had the privilege of getting to know Piper Bill's son, via FB. His recollections of his dad's experiences have been fascinating. Great presentation.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks!

[@larrydemaar409]

Thanks for highlighting Sword Beach by your great interview with Stephen Fisher. His use of the Cornelius Ryan interviews is fascinating.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@sharonrobb.94]

My Dad landed on Sword Beach by accident. They overshot Juno. I believe he landed on June 7.

[@Nyllsor]

Very intresting, I learned alot. Thanks for sharing!

[@LauraPrie]

I'm glad you have done this. I'm a Canadian currently working on D-Day from Juno Beach in a Documentary. Are you going to the 80th anniversary in June?

[@LauraPrie]

I'm also looking forward to reading Stephens book😊

[@keithmitchell3916]

I went to the Canadian War Memorial in the New Forest, UK last week where the 3rd Division held services from the 14th April '44 up until D Day.

[@LauraPrie]

@@keithmitchell3916 interesting, I didn't know. Thank you for sharing Keith.

[@LauraPrie]

Where is New Forest? I am planning to go to England for a segment on my Doc.

[@keithmitchell3916]

@@LauraPrie In Southern England west of Southampton. In the New Forest it's Bolderwood nr Lyndhurst. The memorial is next to the road. It has it's own parking. I imagine they were based there in the months before D Day.

[@402440]

My Uncle Frank landed D+2 … thank you for writing this book Steven 👍

[@grahamhorne6956]

Well done to both. A good interview and a gap that has needed plugging for too long.

[@bethluther3950]

Loved this!

[@anselmdanker9519]

Thank you for covering Sword beach

[@sonofhawaii4227]

Great interview guys! Very interesting and informative. I think we can all agree that Sword is not nearly talked about enough especially in the States. Can’t wait to get myself a copy!

[@pauldouglas3084]

Really enjoyed the video mate can't wait for the next one

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks! Stephen really knows his stuff. I'm looking forward to his book.

[@kyliecook8889]

Australia was there as well

[@annsmith8000]

Thanks Australia fair

[@MrWhitelightning73]

Outstanding

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks!

[@WARdROBEPlaysWWII]

I’m playing a game about the commonwealth beaches and the first 10 days. I would love some good books with maps and picks for the 3 beaches. Any good recommendations? 8:16 oh, he answers it here. There aren’t any/many! Battalion by battalion is what im talking about.

[@PalleRasmussen]

Nice one. And I like the shoutouts to Woody.

[@Nyllsor]

:)

[@harbourwoodlandvisitor2445]

here are some detailed personal accounts from individuals involved in D-Day operations, particularly those connected to airfields in the New Forest located close to Southampton port, England such as RAF Holmsley South, RAF Stoney Cross. RAF Holmsley South Airfeild Captain Jack Carder - 397th Bomb Group (USAAF): Role: Captain Carder flew B-26 Marauders from RAF Holmsley South. Account: In his diary, Captain Carder described the pre-dawn briefing on June 6, 1944. The tension was palpable as the crews were briefed on their targets. Carder’s squadron was tasked with bombing coastal defenses at Utah Beach. He recounted the intense anti-aircraft fire and the sight of the vast armada of Allied ships below. His bombardier successfully hit the target, which he later learned had helped ease the path for the landing forces. RAF Stoney Cross Airfield - Private Bob Slaughter - 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division: Role: Although he was an infantryman, Slaughter was transported via C-47s from RAF Stoney Cross. Account: Slaughter described boarding the aircraft with his fellow soldiers in the early hours of June 6. He wrote about the camaraderie among the men and the heavy silence as they approached the drop zones. His plane came under heavy fire, and he parachuted into a field scattered with anti-aircraft debris. Slaughter’s vivid recounting of the confusion and chaos on the ground offers a gripping perspective of the airborne assault. Among the Royal Navy ships lost in the English Channel during World War II, HMS Charybdis (88) suffered one of the greatest losses of life. HMS Charybdis Type: Dido-class light cruiser Date Sunk: October 23, 1943 Location: English Channel, near the Channel Islands Cause: Sunk by German torpedo boats (E-boats) during a raid on a German convoy Losses Casualties: Approximately 464 of her 572 crew members were lost when HMS Charybdis was sunk. This represents one of the largest losses of life for a Royal Navy ship in the English Channel during the war. Details of the Incident Operation: HMS Charybdis was part of a force sent to intercept a German convoy off the Brittany coast. Attack: On the night of October 23, 1943, the ship was attacked by a flotilla of German torpedo boats. Two torpedoes struck HMS Charybdis, causing her to sink rapidly. Aftermath: The heavy loss of life was a result of the sudden and devastating nature of the attack, which left little time for an effective evacuation. The sinking of HMS Charybdis was a significant and tragic loss for the Royal Navy, reflecting the dangers faced by Allied naval forces operating in the English Channel during World War II.

[@danferrell674]

Nice change up JD. I'm sure there's plenty to learn from reading this book!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks! Can't wait to get my hands on a copy.

[@lindadye3147]

Where can I find the photo of the men on the landing craft shown about the 34:00 part of your video?

[@milodogliani1727]

my great grandfather landed at sword beach, he hardly spoke of the war. i think he must have pushed most of it out

[@maikelvane5185]

I wish i could be there in France in June. But unfortunately i cannot… so sad. 😢

[@Nyllsor]

No worries! Some loclas say D-Day celebrations are too crowded anyways, getting a tour is much nicer before or after apparently. But I still feel a bit the same, I'd love to see the convoys of historical vehicles they drive there on D-Day celebration. Have a good day!

[@maikelvane5185]

@@Nyllsor i’ve heard the same in various podcasts. Although it is 80 years ago. I’ll be attending Bastogne again in december during NUTS weekend. It might be crowded. But it has an extra dimension to be ‘there’

[@williambuttermark5250]

Going next week. 5 days in Normandy. Starting. By. Juno beach

[@EricRush]

"Pre-warn"?

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prewarn#:~:text=%3A%20to%20warn%20(someone)%20beforehand%20%3A%20forewarn

[@EricRush]

@@TheHistoryUnderground That dictionary would make a good doorstop, if it's an actual book. What is the difference between 'warn' and 'pre-warn', the difference between 'plan' and 'pre-plan'?

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

@@EricRush - I don’t know. I’m just happy for once that it’s an actual word and not something that I made up. 😅