Pryor Commando Redevers Michael (1 results)
- Map
Seller: Daniel Crouch Rare Books Ltd, London, , United KingdomDaniel Crouch Rare Books Ltd
Contact seller4-star sellerCondition: Used
US$ 48,363.86
US$ 26.83 shippingShips from United Kingdom to U.S.A.Quantity: 1 available
Top Secret D-Day BIGOT maps used by Beachmaster Commando Redevers Michael Pryor Two lithograph maps, one lithograph chart; [together with] concertina photograph album; [together with] midshipman's journal; [together with] a naval sword; [together with] a set of miniature medals. Top Secret 'Bigot' D-Day maps, and other personal…effects, from the estate of Commando Redevers Pryor, Beachmaster for the 'Juno-Mike Red' sector, as part of Operation Overlord, and a veteran of five Second World War beach assaults! Operation 'Overlord' Operation 'Overlord', was part of a large plan designed to bring about the defeat of Germany by heavy assaults on German-occupied Europe from the United Kingdom, the Mediterranean and Russia. The outline of the plan was completed in July 1943, and the particular assault on the Normandy beaches from the UK and the English Channel elaborated under the title of Operation 'Neptune' in February 1944. It involved preparatory aerial and naval bombing of German coastal positions, before the historic landings of D-Day itself: the largest amphibious operation in history, and a pivotal moment in the course of the Second World War which eventually resulted in the liberation of western Europe from German occupation. The coastline was divided up into sectors, code-named by their main beaches, 'Utah', 'Omaha', 'Gold', 'Juno', 'Sword' and 'Band' (though the assault on 'Band' was cancelled at the last moment). Utah and Omaha beaches were by far the bloodiest areas of conflict, largely due to their positions either side of inland passage towards the Route Nationale. The Germans ensured that the inlet between the two sectors was strongly defended with machine guns during the assault. As a result, the Allied forces suffered extremely heavy casualties, with thousands of U.S., British, Canadian and French soldiers killed or wounded. Many of the men were shot down or scattered as soon as they reached the sand, or even while still in the water, meaning that by mid-morning the situation was so bad that President Eisenhower considered recalling the mission. Largely thanks to individual acts of bravery by certain soldiers, however, the troops were able to attack some key German strongpoints from the side or the rear, and eventually overturn their defences. By the end of the day, the battle had been won by the Allies at a terrible cost. The BIGOT classification Two of the maps in the collection are marked "BIGOT MOST SECRET", and "BIGOT TOP SECRET". Introduced during the Second World War, BIGOT was the highest-level military security classification, above Top Secret. Some sources suggest that it was an acronym for "British Invasion of German Occupied Territory;" others, that it was a "backronym" for "To Gib," the code stamped on the papers of officers headed to Gibraltar in advance of the 1942 North Africa invasion. Whatever the origins of the term, extraordinary efforts were made to protect BIGOT-level material. When for example a practice landing ("Operation Tiger") on the Devon coast was ambushed by U-Boats, Eisenhower himself ordered the recovery of the bodies of the ten known victims with BIGOT clearance. This was necessary to prove that they had not been captured alive, as their capture would have compromised the invasion plans and necessitated its cancellation. Commander Redevers Michael Pryor (1893-1964) Commander Redevers Michael Pryor DSO, DSC, M.P., RN (known as Michael Courtenay Holland-Pryor until 1924) had served as a submariner in the Great War, and was a veteran of five wartime beach assaults. He first served aboard HMS 'Neptune' as midshipman between 1912 to 1914, when was promoted to acting sub-lieutenant, making full lieutenant in 1916; he would be promoted to lieutenant commander in 1924. He left the service by the late 1920s. At the outbreak of the Second World War, he rejoined the Royal Navy, first in charge of the anti-submarine trawler Angle, and then the trawler Ruby. At the end of May 1940, he saw action.
