SHORT HISTORY OF THE PARACHUTE REGIMENT

On 22nd June 1940 Winston Churchill called for the formation of ‘a corps of at least five thousand parachute troops, suitably organised and equipped’. A Parachute Training School was formed at Ringway, and No 2 Commando chosen for training in parachute duties. As the scope of training increased, the title of No 2 Commando was first changed to ‘11th Special Air Service Battalion’ and then to ‘1st Parachute Battalion’ and then to ‘1st, 2nd, & 3rd Parachute Battalions in the 1st Parachute Brigade’, which had been formed under the command of Brigadier RN Gale, OBE MC in the previous month. In October 1941 Major General F A M Browning DSO was ordered to form an Airborne Division. Under his guidance The Parachute Regiment was formally established as a Regiment on 1st August 1942. By the end of the war it comprised 18 Battalions and a number of independent pathfinder units. Not all the Battalions were raised at home; three were formed in India and two in Egypt. The training and dropping of the Parachutists was entrusted to squadrons of 38 and 46 Groups RAF. Their history is closely linked to The Regiment.

In 1941, it was found possible to mount an experimental raid in Southern Italy against the Tragino aqueduct in Apulia, Italy. A year later, on 17th February 1942, a successful attack was made by C Company of the 2nd Battalion on the German radar station at Bruneval on the coast of France. It was here that the Regiment increased its scope as the technique of Airborne Warfare developed and more resources became available. In North Africa the battalions of the 1st Parachute Brigade were dropped on widely separated objectives, and in the subsequent fighting earned for The Regiment, which now wore the maroon beret, the name of ‘Red Devils’ bestowed upon it by the enemy. In the attack on Sicily, the same brigade was dropped by night with the task of seizing Primisole Bridge. When 1st and 4th Brigades returned to England before the invasion of Northern France, 2nd Independent Parachute Brigade remained and later took part in airborne operations in Italy, Southern France and Greece.

he night of 5th/6th June 1944 marked the first divisional airborne operations of the war. It was then that the 6th Airborne Division, which included the 3rd and 5th Parachute Brigades, landed in Normandy, France. This Division was commanded by Major General R N Gale OBE MC who had raised it. There followed the famous operation at Arnhem on 17th September 1944 by the 1st Airborne Division, which included the 1st and 4th Parachute Brigades and which, with the 82nd and 101st US Airborne Divisions formed the 1st Allied Airborne Corps, which took part in the crossing of the Rhine and the subsequent operations which led to final victory in May 1945.

Direct enlistment into The Regiment by other ranks was introduced in 1953. Direct Commissioning of officers was introduced in 1958 although a small proportion continues to be seconded from other regiments.

From 1945 to the 1960s The Regiment had served in most theatres, including the Far East, Palestine, Germany and the Middle East, playing a prominent part in Airborne operations at Port Said in 1956.

During the 1960s The Regiment was involved in operations in Cyprus in 1964 (1 Para), Radfan in 1964 (3 Para), Borneo in 1965 (2 Para) and Aden in 1967 (1 Para). Since 1969 all three battalions have served in all parts of Northern Ireland on numerous short and long tours of duty.

From April to June 1982 the 2nd and 3rd Battalions were involved on Operation Corporate in the South Atlantic. During this conflict on the Falkland Islands, both Battalions played a very important part in the Task Force, in particular at Goose Green, Darwin Hill, Wireless Ridge (2 Para), and Mount Longdon (3 Para). On conclusion of this operation two VCs were posthumously awarded for bravery, as were numerous other awards for gallantry. Since the Falklands War The Regiment has been on numerous operational tours of Northern Ireland. The Regiment has had an almost continual presence in the province, sometimes with two and occasionally all three Battalions there at the same time.

THE MAKE UP OF THE REGIMENT

The Regimental cap-badge is a set of wings either side of a parachute above which is the crown of the reigning Monarch.

Underneath the capbadge is The Regimental motto ‘ UTRIQUE PARATUS’ which means ‘Ready for anything’, something The Regiment lives up to particularly well.

The Regimental march is Wagners’ ‘ Ride of the Valkyries’.

The Regimental mascot is a Shetland pony, called ‘Pegasus’.

THE AIRBORNE EMBLEM

The emblem of Airborne Forces is Bellerophon mounted on the winged horse Pegasus. The first recorded instance of an ‘Airborne warrior’, his exploits are recorded in Greek mythology where he is chiefly famous for the slaying of the fire-breathing monster Chimaera. Mounted on Pegasus with a spear in his hand, Bellerophon rode into the air, swooped down upon the monster and destroyed it.

This emblem was chosen by the late Lieutenant General Sir Frederick ‘Boy’ Browning, GCVO KBE CB DSO DL, when he was appointed to raise Airborne Forces in 1941. Major Edward Seago designed the logo in May 1942, to be worn on the arm by all airborne soldiers. The colour maroon was chosen by General Browning when the Regiment was formed, as tradition demanded.

REGIMENTAL BATTLE HONOURS

BRUNEVAL; TAMERA (Tunisia); THE RHINE CROSSING (Operation Varsity); NORMANDY LANDING (Operation Overlord); BREVILLE (Normandy); PRIMISOLE BRIDGE (Sicily); SOUTHERN FRANCE (Operation Dragoon); ARNHEM (Operation Market Garden); ATHENS; OUDNA (Tunisia); FALKLANDS ISLANDS (Operation Corporate).

Parachute Regiment parachuting from a Hercules.

Member of the Parachute Regiment.

Regimental march - "The Ride of the Valkyries".

A better site about the Parachute Regiment may be found here.