The Forces March is a re-creation of an epic WW2 training march from Ilfracombe in North Devon to Bulford in Wiltshire.

The 1942 march was undertaken by men who would go on to spearhead the entire D-Day liberation with the assault on Pegasus and Horsa Bridges in Normandy.

 

The Forces March is based on an undertaking by men of the legendary 2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, at the end of a month of gruelling PT in Devon.

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Extract from 'PEGASUS BRIDGE' by Stephen E Ambrose:

'In August of 1942, General Gale sent the whole regiment to Devonshire for two months of cliff climbing and other strenuous training. He then decided to march the regiment back to Bulford Camp - some 130 miles! Naturally it became a competition between the companies.

 

Howard marched up and down the column, urging his men on. He had a walking stick, an old Army one with an inch of brass on the bottom. His company clerk and wireless operator, Corporal Tappenden, offered the Major the use of his bike. He refused, growling "I'm leading my company!" From gripping the stick, his hands grew more blisters than Tappenden feet. But he kept marching. 

D Company got back to base on the evening of the fifth day, marching in at 140 steps to the minute and singing 'Onward Christian Soldiers', loudly. They came in first in the regiment by half a day! Howard had lost only two men out of 120. His stick however was so worn he had to throw it away."

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Major Howard's D Company were later selected to spearhead the entire Allied invasion on D-Day. Thanks to their astounding fitness and training, the men achieved their almost impossible objective - to capture the legendary PEGASUS AND HORSA BRIDGES, in under 10 minutes.