Part 10: The Pegasus Bridge Hero: Denis Edwards

The Bridge for Part 10: From Shop Floor to Front Line

Up until now, we have looked at the 'Hush Hush' shop as a place of industry—a hive of precision joinery, volatile chemicals, and '8-stitch' perfection. But the true weight of that work wasn't measured in man-hours or material costs; it was measured in lives.

While the women of Lancing were stretching linen and the men were reinforcing timber floors, a local boy from just down the road was preparing to put their craftsmanship to the ultimate test. His name was Denis Edwards, and on the night of June 5th, 1944, he was a passenger in the lead glider of the most daring 'coup de main' raid in military history.

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The Lancing "Liberation" Links

1. The Pegasus Bridge Hero: Denis Edwards

In a truly incredible local connection, Denis Edwards lived in Lancing and was a member of the 2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.

• The Mission: He was a 19-year-old Private in the very first of the three Horsa gliders to crash-land at Pegasus Bridge in the early hours of D-Day.
• The "Lancing" Circle: Imagine the moment: Denis was sitting inside a Horsa glider—a machine likely containing floor sections and tail units built and doped by his neighbours in the Lancing Carriage Works—as it plummeted toward the Caen Canal. He survived the crash and the fierce battle that followed.

2. The "Sussex Sappers" (Royal Engineers)

The 1st Sussex Engineers had a huge presence in the area, with 263 (Sussex) Field Company based in Steyning. During the Rhine Crossing (Operation Varsity), they were the primary users of the Bailey Bridge Pontoons manufactured in Lancing's Hush Hush shop.

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The Man: Private Denis "Eddie" Edwards

Denis joined the army at just 16 (lying about his age). After the war, he lived in Lancing for decades and was a key figure in the Glider Pilot Regimental Association. He died in 2008, having spent his later life sharing the story of what happened that night in Glider No. 1.

The "Liberation" Timeline: Where Lancing Met the Front

Event	Date	Denis's Experience	The Lancing "Work" Link
D-Day (Normandy)	6 June 1944	Captured Pegasus Bridge in Glider No. 1.	Sitting on floors built in the Lancing Shops.
The Ardennes	Winter 1944	Fought in the "Battle of the Bulge."	Glider parts being repaired in the Works.
Rhine Crossing	March 1945	Landing near Hamminkeln.	Lancing Pontoons carrying tanks behind him.

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The Devil’s Own Luck: Denis recorded his experiences in his famous memoir. He described the Horsa as a "great wooden bird" that creaked in the wind—a direct nod to the high-quality joinery of the Lancing craftsmen.

For many in Lancing, Denis was a familiar figure in the maroon beret standing at the War Memorial every November 11th. He carried the pride of the village that helped build the 'wooden birds' that took him to history.
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The Wings of Lancing: Dennis Edwards and the Horsa Glider

"The sheer scale of the Lancing Carriage Works meant it could pivot from civilian comfort to military necessity almost overnight. Perhaps the most ambitious project was the construction of the Airspeed Horsa Glider.

This film clip, which Dennis Edwards was always so keen to highlight, captures the surreal transition of the works. Dennis often remarked on the irony of men who had spent their lives perfecting the smooth ride of a railway carriage suddenly applying those same woodworking skills to a 'disposable' aircraft made of plywood and spruce.

For Dennis, these gliders represented the ultimate 'quiet' contribution of the Lancing workforce. While the Spitfires got the glory, the Horsas—built in the very sheds we walk past today—carried the paratroopers into the heart of occupied Europe. Dennis’s research ensured that this 'wooden wonder' remained a central part of the Lancing story, reminding us that the 'Workshops' were, for a time, a frontline aircraft factory."

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Lancing’s Steel at Sea: The Whale Pontoons in Action

While the Horsa Glider was Lancing’s contribution to the air, these floating bridge sections—known as Whales—were its vital contribution to the sea.

The Lancing Carriage Works was one of the secret hubs for the construction of these massive steel roadway units. They were the backbone of the Mulberry Harbours, designed to be flexible enough to rise and fall with the tides while remaining strong enough to carry heavy tanks and supplies directly onto the beaches of Normandy.

Seeing the Results: This footage shows exactly why the craftsmanship at Lancing mattered. In the video, you can see the 'Whale' spans supporting active military convoys. Every rivet and every weld made in the Lancing shops had to hold firm against the movement of the sea and the weight of the Allied advance.

As Dennis Edwards often noted, the versatility of the Lancing workforce was staggering. In one area of the site, they were mastering the delicate woodwork of gliders, and in another, they were producing the heavy-duty steel engineering that quite literally bridged the gap between the ships and the shore. It is a powerful reminder that the men of the Carriage Works were instrumental in making the D-Day landings a success.

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A Personal Connection: The Driver’s View

My father was an RASC driver—one of the thousands who kept the advance moving. As he drove his Dodge WC-51 'Beep' onto a floating Bailey bridge, he was trusting the Lancing-built pontoons to keep his 8-ton load above the water.

Detail	Historical Fact	Local Link
Truck	Dodge WC-51 "Beep"	RASC Workhorse
Unit 83	Infantry Brigade Transport	Supporting the frontline advance.
Bridge Plate 4/8	Yellow weight rating disc	The "Pass" for Lancing Pontoons.

The RASC Driver beside his truck. A legacy built on the strength of Sussex pontoons.

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Did you know? The Green Turtle (Railwaymen’s Club) on South Street was originally built in 1928 by Mr Tom Lance at a cost of £6,500. Special thanks to Margaret Sear for identifying Mr Tom Lance as the original builder!

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Series Links: Lancing Village Memories

Part 1: The Guardians of the Works

Part 1b: The Philip Fry Collection

Part 2: The Silent Partners

Part 2b: The Secret of the "Hush Hush" Shop

Part 3: Mr Warr & the Fire Brigade

Part 4: The Bofors Crew

Part 4b: The Shingle Skeletons

Part 5: Precision on the Front Line

Part 6: Bomb Alley

Part 7: The Invisible Colony

Part 8: The Skeletons in the Garden

Part 9: From the 'Running Man' to the 'Rocket Dance'

Part 10: The Pegasus Bridge Hero (You are here)

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Thank you to John Maple, Cyril Morris, and Jenny Sampson for turning

Story 11 from Paul Kidger

Hear Paul's story The two of Paul's messages combined

Paul Kidger replies to the question from Paul Bridle

Refuelling the DUKW and the Mermaid Kiosk

Yes, I remember the DUKW at Lancing and the method of refuelling....someone would carry a 5-gallon drum of petrol from the local garage and just tip it in. Struck me as very crude. Was it painted yellow? We did go out on it once or twice. There were 2 at Worthing painted Red, White and blue for coronation year and maybe one was named Princess Anne.

At the side of the Mermaid Beach cafe was a kiosk which, at one time, was run by an enterprising young lady. I think that she used to ride a motorcycle, which was guaranteed to turn a few heads.

Monk’s Farm: Petrol, Floods, and the High Tide

In the early '60s, I used to work at Monk's Farm petrol station during holidays and at weekends. The owner, Mr Lyons, also ran the beach garage for a short while. His brother Alf used to run a driving school. I remember the foundations for that station being dug and seeing them flood at high tide. That part of Lancing, just North of the police station, is actually below the high water level, even though it is about a mile from the sea.

Monk’s Farm: Petrol, Floods, and the High Tide

My own driving lessons were courtesy of Mill Road Driving School. That was run by another enterprising young lady who once owned the nurseries, which were then redeveloped into the Norbury estate of bungalows. She was one of the regular dog walkers who would pass by the rear of our house in Ring Rd. One old dear had a dog called Kiltie. I mistook her summoning her dog, and she was henceforth known to us as the 'Filthy Lady'. Another dog walker would come past at 1 pm, and I called her the 1 o'clock jump after the Benny Goodman hit of the '40s. Both parents collapsed with laughter. It wasn't until many years later did I realised the significance of my comment

Dungo Barton’s Path and the Chalkpit

Pat Barton used to run the horse riding stables at the top of Mill Rd. Since he used to sell horse muck as garden fertiliser, he was known to us as Dungo Barton, and the path through the chalkpit, which he used with his horse and cart, was Dungo's path. The Barton farm is no more, fallen down and totally overgrown...well,l it was a few years ago. I was at school with Jane Barton, his daughter.

Oak Panels and the Legend of 'Lord Lancing'

Regarding the Corner House, before it became the Potter and an eatery, it had lovely oak panelling in all bars.

Does anyone remember the slightly eccentric 'Lord Lancing' who would cycle around the town wearing a boater, striped blazer and flannels, probably a monocle and cigarette in a holder?

Paul Kidger

Editors note

The DUKW, affectionately nicknamed the "Duck," is a unique six-wheeled amphibious truck that played a critical role in military history before becoming a beloved tourist novelty.

 * Inventor and Design: The DUKW was a modification of the General Motors Company (GMC) CCKW military truck. Its design was a collaborative effort, primarily led by yacht designer Rod Stephens Jr. of Sparkman & Stephens, along with Dennis Puleston and MIT's Frank W. Speir. The project was developed by the National Defense Research Committee in a remarkably short time (around 38 days) to solve the critical problem of resupplying units during amphibious landings. The name DUKW is a GMC manufacturing code, with D for the design year (1942), U for utility, K for all-wheel drive, and W for dual rear axles.

 * WWII Use: Initially rejected by the military, the DUKW's potential was proven during a storm rescue of a Coast Guard crew. It was finally adopted and first used during the Allied invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky) in 1943. General Dwight D. Eisenhower famously called it "one of the most valuable pieces of equipment produced by the United States during the war." Over 21,000 were built by the end of 1945. They were essential for ferrying troops, ammunition, and supplies directly from ships, past the surf, and onto the shore, circumventing destroyed port facilities. They saw extensive service in every major amphibious operation, including the D-Day landings at Normandy.

 * Peacetime Tourism: After the war, thousands of DUKWs were sold as surplus. Many were adapted for civilian use, but their most enduring legacy became their role as tourist craft. Repainted in bright, cheerful colors, these rugged vehicles were converted for sightseeing tours in waterfront cities all over the world, including Boston, London, Dublin, and along the Wisconsin River. Tourists marvel at the novelty of driving through city streets before the "Duck" seamlessly transitions into a boat, offering a unique, splashy tour experience.

This one was used in Liverpool.

Here's a full history of the DUKW from militaryhistoria.com