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1944 World War II - The D Day landing

Malta

 

Laois played its part in D-Day Fifty years ago numerous Irishmen, including several Laoismen, participated in "Operation Overlord," the landing in Normandy in France by the Western Allies which helped to end the war against Nazi Germany within a year.  For countless people on mainland Europe the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944, was the beginning of the end of the nightmare which started in September 1939. Among the Laois men active in the D-Day operations was Lieut. Michael Dowling of the Royal Ulster Rifles, whose family came from Portlaoise.  He volunteered to join the 9th Battalion of the Parachute Regiment, a special unit raised by Col. Terence Otway from Tipperary. About 100 Royal Ulster Rifles men, including many from the South and North of Ireland, joined and were specially trained to take Merville Battery on the Normandy coast, one of the heaviest German gun positions.  The 650-strong battalion landed by parachute and gliders, near Merville, just after midnight on June 6, but only 150 men, including Lieut. Dowling, survived the drop.  Numerous perished at sea or on nearby marshes. Lieut. Dowling led a party of the gun casemates of Merville and succeeded in detonating charges which destroyed and immobilised guns in the battery.  After he reported to Col. Otway that his missions had been successful, he died from  wounds received during action. -Source: The Nationalist (date unknown)   If you know more about Michael please contact me.  A picture will be very welcome.  Information on other Dowlings in WWII that is either in the public domain or that close relatives are willing for me to share is always wanted. Back to Top