Clifford Maughan

Just after 1:30 am on D-Day - June 6th, 1944, Private First Class Clifford Maughan stepped out of a flying aircraft and landed in what is now Ellwood von Seibold's back garden. Of course, at that time the house was occupied by a German, who took Maughan captive. During his D-Day Battle tours, Ellwood tells participants the story of Clifford's capture and the surprising aftermath.

For years, Ellwood looked for a relative of Maughan. He finally found his sister, but was never able to locate his son. Then, last month, Donald Maughan contacted Ellwood. He was coming to Normandy, and had arranged a tour through Rick Steves. As luck would have it, the tour was with Ellwood. The two arranged to keep Donald's father's identity secret from the rest of the tour group, until they reached Ellwood's home.

Standing in the back garden, Ellwood began the tale of Clifford Maughan. He told how he landed that D-Day night and was captured. He talked about what happened afterward - a story not even Donald had heard.


Then, he told the group how he had been looking for Clifford's son, without success, until he received that fated phone call a few weeks before . . . .

Donald Maughan with Ellwood, by the plaque honoring his father

You can just imagine the applause and the emotion when everyone realized  that Clifford Maughan's son was standing in the very garden where his father stood, on D-Day, 67 years before. Ellwood described the day as, "simply amazing."

They made their way to the C-47 Cafe, where Donald signed the C-47 tail piece for his father, joining the many other veterans who have placed their signatures there.

 

Ellwood is the tour guide for the American Road to Victory film series. He resides in Ste. Marie Eglise.