Beaminster Museum is supporting the D Day commemoration in Beaminster with an exhibition at the Town Hall on the afternoon and evening of June 6th. The focus will include those American Troops of the 16th Infantry of the 1st Division who were stationed in Beaminster. Below is a photo of many of the Anti-Tank Company outside the Red Lion in April 1945.
23 men who had been stationed in Beaminster were killed in the morning of June 6th on Omaha Beach, including 12 of the headquarters team who had been based at Parnham. George Taylors Executive Officer, Lt. Col. John Matthews, was killed the moment the ramp of his landing craft was lowered, and he was the most senior of the 1st Division killed on D Day. Three of the leaders based in Beaminster were awarded the DSC, of the five awarded that day to the 16th. George Taylor and Thomas O’Brien for their leadership on getting the men moving forward and off the beach, and Charles Tegtmeyer for his work under fire moving the wounded to shelter and organising medical care. Eight of his medical team were killed.
