Operation Freshman was the codename given to a British airborne operation conducted in November 1942 during World War II.

It was the first British airborne operation conducted using Airspeed Horsa gliders and its target was the Vemork Norsk Hydro hydrogen electrolysis plant in Telemark, Norway which produced heavy water as a byproduct. One of the key aims of Dr Tocher's book project has been to trace the families of the 48 soldiers and airmen who took off for Norway on that fateful evening of the 19th of November 1942. The idea is to tell the story of these incredibly courageous young men through their lives and the lives of their families, rather than more conventional histories which focus primarily on the events themselves.  Since the start of 2020, the project has managed to establish contact with the relatives of 36 of the 48 soldiers and aircrew who took part in Operation Freshman.

The author, Dr Bruce Tocher, will give this talk at the museum, 1pm on the 16th of November 2024 at the Royal Engineers Museum in Gillingham.