Nigel Poett

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

General Sir Nigel Poett (J.H.N. Poett) was a British Army officer best known for commanding the 5th Parachute Brigade, British 6th Airborne Division during the Battle of Normandy.

Shortly before one o'clock on the morning of June 6, he and his brigade parachuted into France. They landed between the River Orne and River Dives, on the extreme eastern (left) flank of the invasion area. After subduing resistance in the area, the brigade took up positions to defend the two bridges of the Benouville-Ranville crossing against counter-attacks by German units from Caen, to the south. The lightly armed paratroopers held their position against fierce attacks by panzergrenadiers, mortars, machine-guns, self-propelled guns, and tanks of the German 21st Panzer Division. Later in the day, they were reinforced by glider-borne and sea-borne units. Despite heavy casualties, the 5th Parachute Brigade continued to fight on the eastern flank of the invasion area until German forces withdrew in late August, 1944.

Poett was the son of a major-general in the Indian army. Before becoming a paratrooper, he was an officer in the Durham Light Infantry. At the end of his career he was Commander-in-Chief, Far East Land Forces, British Army.