Nigel Poett

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Sir Nigel Poett
1907 – 1991
Brigadier J H N Poett conferring with General Sir Bernard Montgomery. Poett had just been decorated by the Commander of the United States First Army, General Omar Bradley on behalf of President Roosevelt at General Montgomery's Headquarters in Normandy.
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Rank	General
Unit	Durham Light Infantry
Commands held	Commander-in-Chief, Far East Land Forces British 6th Airborne Division 5th Parachute Brigade
Battles/wars	World War II Operation Tonga
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order

General Sir Joseph Howard Nigel Poett KCB, DSO (1907-1991) 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.

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