1.
United Kingdom
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The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom or Britain, is a sovereign country in western Europe. Lying off the north-western coast of the European mainland, the United Kingdom includes the island of Great Britain, Northern Ireland is the only part of the United Kingdom that shares a land border with another sovereign state—the Republic of Ireland. The Irish Sea lies between Great Britain and Ireland, with an area of 242,500 square kilometres, the United Kingdom is the 78th-largest sovereign state in the world and the 11th-largest in Europe. It is also the 21st-most populous country, with an estimated 65.1 million inhabitants, together, this makes it the fourth-most densely populated country in the European Union. The United Kingdom is a monarchy with a parliamentary system of governance. The monarch is Queen Elizabeth II, who has reigned since 6 February 1952, other major urban areas in the United Kingdom include the regions of Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, Liverpool and Manchester. The United Kingdom consists of four countries—England, Scotland, Wales, the last three have devolved administrations, each with varying powers, based in their capitals, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast, respectively. The relationships among the countries of the UK have changed over time, Wales was annexed by the Kingdom of England under the Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542. A treaty between England and Scotland resulted in 1707 in a unified Kingdom of Great Britain, which merged in 1801 with the Kingdom of Ireland to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Five-sixths of Ireland seceded from the UK in 1922, leaving the present formulation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, there are fourteen British Overseas Territories. These are the remnants of the British Empire which, at its height in the 1920s, British influence can be observed in the language, culture and legal systems of many of its former colonies. The United Kingdom is a country and has the worlds fifth-largest economy by nominal GDP. The UK is considered to have an economy and is categorised as very high in the Human Development Index. It was the worlds first industrialised country and the worlds foremost power during the 19th, the UK remains a great power with considerable economic, cultural, military, scientific and political influence internationally. It is a nuclear weapons state and its military expenditure ranks fourth or fifth in the world. The UK has been a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council since its first session in 1946 and it has been a leading member state of the EU and its predecessor, the European Economic Community, since 1973. However, on 23 June 2016, a referendum on the UKs membership of the EU resulted in a decision to leave. The Acts of Union 1800 united the Kingdom of Great Britain, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have devolved self-government
2.
British Army
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The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom. As of 2017 the British Army comprises just over 80,000 trained Regular, or full-time, personnel and just over 26,500 trained Reserve, or part-time personnel. Therefore, the UK Parliament approves the continued existence of the Army by passing an Armed Forces Act at least once every five years, day to day the Army comes under administration of the Ministry of Defence and is commanded by the Chief of the General Staff. Repeatedly emerging victorious from these decisive wars allowed Britain to influence world events with its policies and establish itself as one of the leading military. In 1660 the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were restored under Charles II, Charles favoured the foundation of a new army under royal control and began work towards its establishment by August 1660. The Royal Scots Army and the Irish Army were financed by the Parliament of Scotland, the order of seniority of the most senior line regiments in the British Army is based on the order of seniority in the English army. At that time there was only one English regiment of dragoons, after William and Marys accession to the throne, England involved itself in the War of the Grand Alliance, primarily to prevent a French invasion restoring Marys father, James II. Spain, in the two centuries, had been the dominant global power, and the chief threat to Englands early transatlantic ambitions. The territorial ambitions of the French, however, led to the War of the Spanish Succession and the Napoleonic Wars. From the time of the end of the Seven Years War in 1763, Great Britain was the naval power. As had its predecessor, the English Army, the British Army fought the Kingdoms of Spain, France, and the Netherlands for supremacy in North America and the West Indies. With native and provincial assistance, the Army conquered New France in the North American theatre of the Seven Years War, the British Army suffered defeat in the American War of Independence, losing the Thirteen Colonies but holding on to Canada. The British Army was heavily involved in the Napoleonic Wars and served in campaigns across Europe. The war between the British and the First French Empire of Napoleon Bonaparte stretched around the world and at its peak, in 1813, the regular army contained over 250,000 men. A Coalition of Anglo-Dutch and Prussian Armies under the Duke of Wellington, the English had been involved, both politically and militarily, in Ireland since being given the Lordship of Ireland by the Pope in 1171. The campaign of the English republican Protector, Oliver Cromwell, involved uncompromising treatment of the Irish towns that had supported the Royalists during the English Civil War, the English Army stayed in Ireland primarily to suppress numerous Irish revolts and campaigns for independence. Having learnt from their experience in America, the British government sought a political solution, the British Army found itself fighting Irish rebels, both Protestant and Catholic, primarily in Ulster and Leinster in the 1798 rebellion. The Haldane Reforms of 1907 formally created the Territorial Force as the Armys volunteer reserve component by merging and reorganising the Volunteer Force, Militia, Great Britains dominance of the world had been challenged by numerous other powers, in the 20th century, most notably Germany
3.
Infantry
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Infantry is the general branch of an army that engages in military combat on foot. As the troops who engage with the enemy in close-ranged combat, infantry units bear the largest brunt of warfare, Infantry can enter and maneuver in terrain that is inaccessible to military vehicles and employ crew-served infantry weapons that provide greater and more sustained firepower. In English, the 16th-century term Infantry describes soldiers who walk to the battlefield, and there engage, fight, the term arose in Sixteenth-Century Spain, which boasted one of the first professional standing armies seen in Europe since the days of Rome. It was common to appoint royal princes to military commands, and the men under them became known as Infanteria. in the Canadian Army, the role of the infantry is to close with, and destroy the enemy. In the U. S. Army, the closes with the enemy, by means of fire and maneuver, in order to destroy or capture him, or to repel his assault by fire, close combat. In the U. S. Marine Corps, the role of the infantry is to locate, close with, and destroy the enemy fire and maneuver. Beginning with the Napoleonic Wars of the early 19th century, artillery has become a dominant force on the battlefield. Since World War I, combat aircraft and armoured vehicles have become dominant. In 20th and 21st century warfare, infantry functions most effectively as part of a combined arms team including artillery, armour, Infantry relies on organized formations to be employed in battle. These have evolved over time, but remain a key element to effective infantry development and deployment, until the end of the 19th century, infantry units were for the most part employed in close formations up until contact with the enemy. This allowed commanders to control of the unit, especially while maneuvering. The development of guns and other weapons with increased firepower forced infantry units to disperse in order to make them less vulnerable to such weapons. This decentralization of command was made possible by improved communications equipment, among the various subtypes of infantry is Medium infantry. This refers to infantry which are heavily armed and armored than heavy infantry. In the early period, medium infantry were largely eliminated due to discontinued use of body armour up until the 20th century. In the United States Army, Stryker Infantry is considered Medium Infantry, since they are heavier than light infantry, Infantry doctrine is the concise expression of how infantry forces contribute to campaigns, major operations, battles, and engagements. It is a guide to action, not a set of hard, doctrine provides a very common frame of reference across the military forces, allowing the infantry to function cooperatively in what are now called combined arms operations. Doctrine helps standardise operations, facilitating readiness by establishing common ways of accomplishing infantry tasks, doctrine links theory, history, experimentation, and practice
4.
Airborne forces
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Airborne forces are military units, usually light infantry, set up to be moved by aircraft and dropped into battle, typically by parachute. Thus, they can be placed behind enemy lines, and have the capability to deploy almost anywhere with little warning. The formations are limited only by the number and size of their aircraft, so given enough capacity a huge force can appear out of nowhere in minutes, Major Lewis H. Brereton and his superior Brigadier General Billy Mitchell suggested dropping elements of the U. S. 1st Division behind German lines near Metz, the operation was planned for February 1919 but the war ended before such an attack could be seriously planned. Mitchell conceived that US troops could be trained to utilize parachutes. Following the war, the United States Army Air Service experimented with the concept of having carried on the wings of aircraft pulled off by the opening of their parachutes. The first true paratroop drop was by Italy in November 1927, within a few years several battalions had been raised and were eventually formed into two Folgore and Nembo divisions. Although these would fight with distinction in World War II. Men drawn from the Italian parachute forces were dropped in a special operation in North Africa in 1943 in an attempt to destroy parked aircraft of the United States Army Air Forces. Subsequently, on May 10,1928, Second Lieutenant César Álvarez War Palmas Las voluntarily jumped from a height of 3,000 meters, then on May 16,1928, Major Fernando Melgar Conde and Sergeant 1st. Jose Pineda Castro, jumped from the famous Las Palmas at altitudes of 2,000 and 4,300 meters, at about the same time, the Soviet Union was also experimenting with the idea, planning to drop entire units complete with vehicles and light tanks. To help train enough experienced jumpers, parachute clubs were organized with the aim of transferring into the armed forces if needed, one of the observing parties, Germany, was particularly interested. In 1936, Major F. W. Immans was ordered to set up a school at Stendal. The military had purchased large numbers of Junkers Ju 52 aircraft which were slightly modified for use as paratroop transports in addition to their other duties. The first training class was known as Ausbildungskommando Immans and they commenced the first course on May 3,1936. Other nations, including Argentina, Peru, Japan, France, France became the first nation to organize women in an airborne unit. Recruiting 200 nurses who during peacetime would parachute into natural disasters, several groups within the German armed forces attempted to raise their own paratroop formations, resulting in confusion. As a result, Luftwaffe General Kurt Student was put in command of developing a paratrooper force to be known as the Fallschirmjäger
5.
Division (military)
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A division is a large military unit or formation, usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. Infantry divisions during the World Wars ranged between 10,000 and 30,000 in nominal strength, in most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, in turn, several divisions typically make up a corps. In the West, the first general to think of organising an army into smaller units was Maurice de Saxe, Marshal General of France. He died at the age of 54, without having implemented his idea, victor-François de Broglie put the ideas into practice. He conducted successful practical experiments of the system in the Seven Years War. The first war in which the system was used systematically was the French Revolutionary War. It made the more flexible and easy to manoeuvre. Under Napoleon, the divisions were grouped together into corps, because of their increasing size, napoleons military success spread the divisional and corps system all over Europe, by the end of the Napoleonic Wars, all armies in Europe had adopted it. In modern times, most military forces have standardized their divisional structures, the peak use of the division as the primary combat unit occurred during World War II, when the belligerents deployed over a thousand divisions. With technological advances since then, the power of each division has increased. Divisions are often formed to organize units of a particular type together with support units to allow independent operations. In more recent times, divisions have mainly been organized as combined arms units with subordinate units representing various combat arms, in this case, the division often retains the name of a more specialized division, and may still be tasked with a primary role suited to that specialization. For the most part, large cavalry units did not remain after World War II, in general, two new types of cavalry were developed, air cavalry or airmobile, relying on helicopter mobility, and armored cavalry, based on an autonomous armored formation. The former was pioneered by the 11th Air Assault Division, formed on 1 February 1963 at Fort Benning, on 29 June 1965 the division was renamed as the 1st Cavalry Division, before its departure for the Vietnam War. After the end of the Vietnam War, the 1st Cavalry Division was reorganised and re-equipped with tanks, the development of the tank during World War I prompted some nations to experiment with forming them into division-size units. Many did this the way as they did cavalry divisions, by merely replacing cavalry with AFVs. This proved unwieldy in combat, as the units had many tanks, instead, a more balanced approach was taken by adjusting the number of tank, infantry, artillery, and support units. A panzer division was a division of the Wehrmacht and the Waffen-SS of Germany during World War II
6.
Army Reserve (United Kingdom)
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The Army Reserve is the active-duty volunteer reserve force and integrated element of the British Army. Most Volunteer infantry units had unique identities, but lost these in the reorganisation, only one infantry unit, the London Regiment, has maintained a separate identity. Reservists in the past also served as constables or bailiffs, even holding positions of civic duty as overseer of their parish, the more modern Yeomen of the 18th century were cavalry-based units, which were often used to suppress riots. Several units that are now part of the Army Reserve bear the title militia, after the Second World War, for example, the Army Reserve - or Territorial Army as it was known then - was not demobilised until 1947. All Army Reserve personnel have their jobs protected to a limited extent by law should they be compulsorily mobilised. There is, however, no protection against discrimination in employment for membership of the Army Reserve in the normal course of events. As part of the process, remaining units of militia were converted to the Special Reserve. The TF was formed on 1 April 1908 and contained fourteen infantry divisions and it had an overall strength of approximately 269,000. The individual units that made up each division or brigade were administered by County Associations, the other members of the association consisted of military members, representative members and co-opted members. Associations took over any property vested in the volunteers or yeomanry under their administration, each regiment or battalion had a Regular Army officer attached as full-time adjutant. In August 1914, after the outbreak of the First World War, territorial units were given the option of serving in France and, by 25 August, in excess of seventy battalions had volunteered. This question over the availability of territorial divisions for service was one of Lord Kitcheners motivations for raising the New Army separately. The first fully Territorial division to join the fighting on the Western Front was the 46th Division in March 1915, with divisions later serving in Gallipoli and elsewhere. As the war progressed, and casualties mounted, the character of territorial units was diluted by the inclusion of conscript. Following the Armistice all units of the Territorial Force were gradually disbanded, New recruiting started in early 1920, and the Territorial Force was reconstituted on 7 February 1920. On 1 October 1920, the Territorial Force was renamed the Territorial Army, the 1st Line divisions were reconstituted in that year. However, the composition of the divisions was altered, with a reduction in the number of infantry battalions required, there was also a reduced need for cavalry, and of the 55 yeomanry regiments, only the 14 most senior retained their horses. The remaining yeomanry were converted to artillery or armoured car units or disbanded, the amalgamation of 40 pairs of infantry battalions was announced in October 1921
7.
Major general
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Major general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the rank of sergeant major general. In the Commonwealth, major general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral. In some countries, including much of Eastern Europe, major general is the lowest of the officer ranks. In the old Austro-Hungarian Army, the general was called a Generalmajor. Todays Austrian Federal Army still uses the same term, see also Rank insignias of the Austro-Hungarian armed forces General de Brigade is the lowest rank amongst general officers in the Brazilian Army. AGeneral de Brigada wears two-stars as this is the level for general officers in the Brazilian Army. In tha Brazilian Air Force, the two-star, three-star and four-star rank are known as Brigadeiro, Major-Brigadeiro, see Military ranks of Brazil and Brigadier for more information. In the Canadian Armed Forces, the rank of major-general is both a Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Air Force rank equivalent to the Royal Canadian Navys rank of rear-admiral, a major-general is a general officer, the equivalent of a naval flag officer. The major-general rank is senior to the ranks of brigadier-general and commodore, prior to 1968, the Air Force used the rank of air vice-marshal, instead. In the Canadian Army, the insignia is a wide braid on the cuff. It is worn on the straps of the service dress tunic. On the visor of the cap are two rows of gold oak leaves. Major-generals are initially addressed as general and name, as are all general officers, major-generals are normally entitled to staff cars. In the Estonian military, the general rank is called kindralmajor. The Finnish military equivalent is kenraalimajuri in Finnish, and generalmajor in Swedish and Danish, the French equivalent to the rank of major general is général de division. In the French military, major général is not a rank but an appointment conferred on some generals, usually of général de corps darmée rank, the position of major général can be considered the equivalent of a deputy chief of staff. In the French Army, Major General is a position and the general is normally of the rank of corps general
8.
Roy Urquhart
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Major-General Robert Elliott Roy Urquhart CB, DSO was a senior officer of the British Army who saw service during the Second World War and Malayan Emergency. He became prominent for his commanding the 1st Airborne Division which fought in the Battle of Arnhem during Operation Market Garden. Roy was born in London, the son of a Scottish dentist and he was educated at St Pauls School, London, and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, Urquhart was commissioned into the Highland Light Infantry in 1920. Urquhart was serving in India during the years of the Second World War. He remained there until 1941, when he was posted to North Africa before an appointment as a officer in the 3rd Infantry Division. For a short time, he commanded the 231st Infantry Brigade Group, until 1944, Urquhart was a senior staff officer in XII Corps. However, in year, he was given command of the 1st Airborne Division. Its former commander had been killed in the stages of the Italian Campaign. Ironically, Urquhart was prone to airsickness and had never commanded or, for that matter, for nine days Urquharts division fought unsupported against armoured units of II SS Panzer Corps. During these nine days of fighting the 1st Airborne Division had lost over three-quarters of its strength. Shattered as a formation, the division was withdrawn to the United Kingdom. Urquhart was awarded the Dutch Bronze Lion for his command, in May 1945, following the German surrender, Urquhart led a reconstituted 1st Airborne Division as the advanced guard of Force 134 in Operation Doomsday, the Allied occupation of Norway. During its time in Norway, the division was tasked with supervising the surrender of the German forces, as well as preventing the sabotage of vital military and civilian facilities. This meant that it was Urquhart who welcomed Crown Prince Olaf of Norway, General Thorne arrived on 13 May to take command of all Allied troops in Norway and at the end of August, 1st Airborne Division returned to the United Kingdom and disbanded. Urquhart was rewarded with the Norwegian Order of St Olav, following the end of the war Urquhart served in several staff positions, including service as the General Officer Commanding Malaya during the Malayan Emergency. He also commanded the 16th Airborne Division, a Territorial Army formation, from 1947 to 1948, Urquhart retired from the army in 1955. After leaving the British Army Urquhart became an executive in the engineering industry. In 1958 Urquhart published Arnhem, Britains Infamous Airborne Assault of World War II detailing his exploits in the battle, Urquhart was portrayed by Sean Connery in the 1977 film A Bridge Too Far, for which he himself served as a military consultant
9.
London
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London /ˈlʌndən/ is the capital and most populous city of England and the United Kingdom. Standing on the River Thames in the south east of the island of Great Britain and it was founded by the Romans, who named it Londinium. Londons ancient core, the City of London, largely retains its 1. 12-square-mile medieval boundaries. London is a global city in the arts, commerce, education, entertainment, fashion, finance, healthcare, media, professional services, research and development, tourism. It is crowned as the worlds largest financial centre and has the fifth- or sixth-largest metropolitan area GDP in the world, London is a world cultural capital. It is the worlds most-visited city as measured by international arrivals and has the worlds largest city airport system measured by passenger traffic, London is the worlds leading investment destination, hosting more international retailers and ultra high-net-worth individuals than any other city. Londons universities form the largest concentration of education institutes in Europe. In 2012, London became the first city to have hosted the modern Summer Olympic Games three times, London has a diverse range of people and cultures, and more than 300 languages are spoken in the region. Its estimated mid-2015 municipal population was 8,673,713, the largest of any city in the European Union, Londons urban area is the second most populous in the EU, after Paris, with 9,787,426 inhabitants at the 2011 census. The citys metropolitan area is the most populous in the EU with 13,879,757 inhabitants, the city-region therefore has a similar land area and population to that of the New York metropolitan area. London was the worlds most populous city from around 1831 to 1925, Other famous landmarks include Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, Piccadilly Circus, St Pauls Cathedral, Tower Bridge, Trafalgar Square, and The Shard. The London Underground is the oldest underground railway network in the world, the etymology of London is uncertain. It is an ancient name, found in sources from the 2nd century and it is recorded c.121 as Londinium, which points to Romano-British origin, and hand-written Roman tablets recovered in the city originating from AD 65/70-80 include the word Londinio. The earliest attempted explanation, now disregarded, is attributed to Geoffrey of Monmouth in Historia Regum Britanniae and this had it that the name originated from a supposed King Lud, who had allegedly taken over the city and named it Kaerlud. From 1898, it was accepted that the name was of Celtic origin and meant place belonging to a man called *Londinos. The ultimate difficulty lies in reconciling the Latin form Londinium with the modern Welsh Llundain, which should demand a form *lōndinion, from earlier *loundiniom. The possibility cannot be ruled out that the Welsh name was borrowed back in from English at a later date, and thus cannot be used as a basis from which to reconstruct the original name. Until 1889, the name London officially applied only to the City of London, two recent discoveries indicate probable very early settlements near the Thames in the London area
10.
1st Airborne Division (United Kingdom)
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The 1st Airborne Division was an airborne infantry division of the British Army during the Second World War. The divisions first two missions–Operation Biting, a landing in France, and Operation Freshman, a glider mission in Norway–were both raids. The first, Operation Ladbroke, carried out by infantry of the 1st Airlanding Brigade. The 1st Airborne Division then took part in a mostly diversionary amphibious landing, codenamed Operation Slapstick, in December, most of the 1st Airborne Division returned to England, and began training and preparing for the Allied invasion of Normandy. It was not involved in the Normandy landings in June 1944, in September 1944 the 1st Airborne took part in Operation Market Garden. The division, with the Polish 1st Parachute Brigade temporarily attached, landed 60 miles behind German lines, to capture crossings on the River Rhine, and fought in the Battle of Arnhem. After failing to achieve its objectives, the division was surrounded and took heavy casualties. The remnants of the 1st Airborne Division was returned to England soon after, the division never fully recovered from their losses at Arnhem and the 4th Parachute Brigade was disbanded. Just after the end of the war in Europe, the formation took part in Operation Doomsday in Norway in May 1945. They were tasked with the disarmament and repatriation of the German occupation army, the 1st Airborne Division then returned to England and was disbanded in November 1945. As a result, on 22 June 1940, No.2 Commando assumed parachute duties, on 21 June 1940 the Central Landing Establishment was formed at Ringway airfield near Manchester. Although tasked primarily with training parachute troops, it was directed to investigate the use of gliders to transport troops into battle. At the same time, the Ministry of Aircraft Production contracted General Aircraft Ltd to design, the result was the General Aircraft Hotspur, which was capable of transporting eight soldiers and was used for both assault and training purposes. The 2nd and 3rd Parachute Battalions were formed from volunteers, between the ages of twenty-two and thirty-two, who were serving in infantry units. Only ten men from any one unit were allowed to volunteer, the brigade comprised four battalions, the 1st Border Regiment, 2nd South Staffordshire Regiment, 2nd Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry, and the 1st Royal Ulster Rifles. The men who were unsuitable for airborne forces were replaced by volunteers from other units, by the end of the year Brownings command had become the headquarters of 1st Airborne Division. Browning expressed his opinion that the force must not be sacrificed in penny packets, permission was finally granted in July 1942, and the 2nd Parachute Brigade, commanded by Brigadier Ernest Down, was formed. The 3rd Parachute Brigade was formed in November 1942 and assigned to the 1st Airborne Division, in April 1943, the commander of the 1st Airlanding Brigade, Hopkinson, was promoted to major general and given command of the division
11.
6th Airborne Division (United Kingdom)
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The 6th Airborne Division was an airborne infantry division of the British Army during the Second World War. Despite its name, the 6th was actually the second of two airborne divisions raised by the British Army during the war, the other being the 1st Airborne Division. The 6th Airborne Division was formed in World War II, in mid-1943, the division consisted of the 3rd and 5th Parachute Brigades along with the 6th Airlanding Brigade and supporting units. The division remained in Normandy for three months before being withdrawn in September, while still recruiting and reforming in England, it was mobilised again and sent to Belgium in December 1944, to help counter the surprise German offensive in the Ardennes, the Battle of the Bulge. Their final airborne mission followed in March 1945, Operation Varsity, after the war the division was identified as the Imperial Strategic Reserve, and moved to the Middle East. Initially sent to Palestine for parachute training, the division involved in an internal security role. In Palestine, the division went through changes in formation. Then on 23 April 1943 the War Office authorised the formation of a second British airborne division and this second formation was numbered the 6th Airborne Division, and commanded by Major-General Richard Nelson Gale, who had previously raised the 1st Parachute Brigade. Under his command would be the existing 3rd Parachute Brigade, along with two battalions transferred from the 1st Airborne Division, to form the nucleus of the new 6th Airlanding Brigade. At the same time, several officers, combat veterans from the 1st Airborne Division, were posted to the division as brigade, headquarters were at Syrencot House, Figheldean, Wiltshire. From June to December 1943, the division prepared for operations, training at every level from section up to division by day, Airborne soldiers were expected to fight against superior numbers of the enemy, who would be equipped with artillery and tanks. Training was therefore designed to encourage a spirit of self-discipline, self-reliance and aggressiveness, with emphasis given to physical fitness, marksmanship, a large part of the training consisted of assault courses and route marching. Military exercises included capturing and holding airborne bridgeheads, road or rail bridges, at the end of most exercises, the troops would march back to their barracks, usually a distance of around 20 miles. An ability to cover long distances at speed was expected, airborne platoons were required to cover a distance of 50 miles in 24 hours, and battalions 32 miles. At the end of the war in Europe, in May 1945, the division’s advance party, formed around the 5th Parachute Brigade, had already arrived in India, when the Japanese surrendered after the Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Following the surrender, all these plans changed, the post-war British Army only needed one airborne division, and the 6th Airborne was chosen to remain on strength and was sent to the Middle East as the Imperial Strategic Reserve. When the division was dispatched to the Middle East, the 2nd Parachute Brigade was assigned to bring them up to strength, in May 1946, after the 1st Airborne Division was disbanded, the 1st Parachute Brigade joined the division, replacing the 6th Airlanding Brigade. On 18 February 1947, it was announced that the 6th Airborne Division would be disbanded when they left Palestine, on 23 December 1943, the division was told to be prepared for active service from 1 February 1944
12.
4th Parachute Brigade (United Kingdom)
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The 4th Parachute Brigade was an airborne, specifically a parachute infantry, brigade formation of the British Army during the Second World War. Formed in late 1942 in the Mediterranean and Middle East, the brigade was composed of three parachute infantry units, the 10th, 11th and 156th Parachute Battalions. The brigade was assigned to the 1st Airborne Division, just prior to the Allied invasion of Sicily, but played no part in the invasion. Instead the brigade first saw action in September 1943, during Operation Slapstick, largely unopposed, the brigade captured the ports of Brindisi and Bari before being withdrawn. By the end of the year, the 4th Parachute Brigade was in England, the brigade did not see action in France, being instead placed on standby for an emergency during the Normandy landings. Between June and August 1944 the speed of the subsequent Allied advance obviated the need to deploy airborne forces, in September 1944, the brigade formed part of the second days parachute landings at the Battle of Arnhem, part of Operation Market Garden. Problems reaching the bridges in Arnhem forced the commander, Major-General Roy Urquhart. After a short delay the brigade headed out for its objective, when only halfway there, however, the remaining two battalions were confronted by prepared German defences. The brigade, having suffered losses, was eventually forced to withdraw. The next day, weakened by fighting at close quarters and now numbering around 150 men, after a week of being subjected to almost constant artillery, tank and infantry attacks, the remnants of the brigade were evacuated south of the River Rhine. On 22 June 1940, No.2 Commando was turned over to parachute duties and, on 21 November, re-designated the 11th Special Air Service Battalion, with a parachute and this was later to become the 1st Parachute Battalion. It was these men who took part in the first British airborne operation, Operation Colossus and these battalions were assigned to the 1st Airborne Division with the 1st Parachute Brigade and the 1st Airlanding Brigade. The 4th Parachute Brigade was formed at RAF Kibrit in the Middle East on 1 December 1942, upon formation it consisted of the brigade headquarters, signals company, defence platoon and three parachute battalions. The brigades battalions all had the composition, three rifle companies, each comprising a company headquarters, and three platoons. Each had a Support Company of mortar, machine gun and carrier platoons, the brigades first commander, Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth Smyth, was replaced by Brigadier John Hackett on 4 January 1943. Facilities and weather conditions at Kibret proved to be unsuitable for airborne operations, the brigade came to full strength in May 1943, and in June was sent to Tripoli, where it joined the 1st Airborne Division. Also assigned to the division were the 1st and 2nd Parachute Brigades, in 1943, the 4th Parachute Brigade, although still part of the 1st Airborne Division, was kept out of the Allied invasion of Sicily by a shortage of transport aircraft. The 1st Airlanding Brigade took part in Operation Ladbroke and the 1st Parachute Brigade in Operation Fustian, both brigades suffered heavy casualties, so that by the time Operation Slapstick was proposed, only the 2nd and 4th Parachute Brigades were up to strength
13.
5th Parachute Brigade (United Kingdom)
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The 5th Parachute Brigade was an airborne forces formation of brigade strength, raised by the British Army during the Second World War. Created during 1943, the brigade was assigned to the 6th Airborne Division, serving alongside the 3rd Parachute Brigade and the 6th Airlanding Brigade. The brigade first saw action in the British airborne landings on D-Day Operation Tonga, where it was responsible for capturing bridges over the Caen Canal, the brigade remained in Normandy until September 1944, by which time it had advanced to the mouth of the River Seine. Its next engagement was in reaction to the surprise German offensive in the Ardennes and this was followed by Operation Varsity, the last Allied airborne mission of the war. After this, the brigade advanced across Germany, reaching the Baltic Sea by the end of fighting in the European theatre, the brigade was then sent to India as the divisions advance party, but the war ended before it could begin operations. Instead the brigade became involved in disarming the Japanese forces in Malaya and Singapore and its last operation was in Java, where it remained until a Dutch force arrived to take over. The brigade then rejoined the 6th Airborne Division, which was serving in Palestine, as a result, on 22 June 1940, No.2 Commando assumed parachute duties, and on 21 November was re-designated the 11th Special Air Service Battalion, with a parachute and glider wing. This later became the 1st Parachute Battalion, on 21 June 1940 the Central Landing Establishment was formed at Ringway airfield near Manchester. Although tasked primarily with training parachute troops, it was directed to investigate the use of gliders to transport troops into battle. At the same time, the Ministry of Aircraft Production contracted General Aircraft Ltd to design, the result was the General Aircraft Hotspur, an aircraft capable of transporting eight soldiers, that was used for both assault and training purposes. On 23 April 1943 the War Office authorised the formation of an airborne division. To fill out the division, a new brigade was raised on 1 July by the redesignation of the 72nd Independent Infantry Brigade. In 1945, while the brigade was serving in the Far East, the parachute battalions in the brigade were the experienced 7th, which was transferred from the 3rd Parachute Brigade, and two new parachute battalions, the 12th Parachute Battalion and the 13th. These were standard line infantry converted to parachute duties, and had to undergo airborne forces selection, on formation, each battalion had an establishment of 556 men in three rifle companies, the companies were divided into a small headquarters and three platoons. Each platoon had three Bren machine guns and three 2-inch mortars, one of each per section, the only heavy weapons in the battalions were a 3 inch mortar platoon and a Vickers machine gun platoon. By 1944 a headquarters or support company was added to the battalion, comprising five platoons, motor transport, signals, mortar, machine-gun and this company had eight 3 inch mortars, four Vickers machine guns, and ten PIAT anti-tank projectors. The brigade was supported by the 4th Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery from the Royal Artillery and this battery had three troops, equipped with four Ordnance QF6 pounders each, and provided the brigades only anti-tank guns. Later in the war, the battery was increased to five troops, while the 6 pounder could fit inside the Horsa glider, the size and weight of the 17 pounder and its Morris C8 tractor unit required the larger Hamilcar glider
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Parachute Regiment (United Kingdom)
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The Parachute Regiment, colloquially known as the Paras, is an elite airborne infantry regiment of the British Army. One battalion is permanently under the command of the Director Special Forces in the Special Forces Support Group, the other battalions are the parachute infantry component of the British Armys rapid response formation,16 Air Assault Brigade. The Paras are the line infantry regiment of the British Army that has not been amalgamated with another unit since the end of the Second World War. The Parachute Regiment was formed on 22 June 1940 during the Second World War, in Europe, these battalions formed part of the 1st Airborne Division, the 6th Airborne Division and the 2nd Independent Parachute Brigade Group. Another three battalions served with the British Indian Army in India and Burma, the regiment took part in six major parachute assault operations in North Africa, Italy, Greece, France, the Netherlands and Germany, often landing ahead of all other troops. At the end of the Second World War, the regiment was reduced to three regular army battalions first assigned to the 16th Parachute Brigade and later the 5th Airborne Brigade, the reserve 16th Airborne Division was formed using the regiment reserve battalions in the Territorial Army. Defence cuts gradually reduced the TA formations to a parachute brigade, the Parachute Regiment consists of three regular army battalions, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, and an Army Reserve battalion, the 4th. The 1st is based at St Athan, Wales, and is attached to the Special Forces Support Group. They receive further training on weapons, communications equipment and specialist assault skills. All men within the Parachute Regiment can expect to serve with the SFSG on rotation and this ensures that the advanced military skills taught to the SFSG are maintained in the other two regular battalions. The 2nd and 3rd battalions are the infantry component of the 16 Air Assault Brigade, the armys rapid response brigade. The reserve 4th Battalion has its headquarters at Pudsey and companies in Glasgow, Liverpool, volunteers for the Parachute Regiment are invited to a 3-day insight course at the Parachute Regiment Assessment Course at Catterick Garrison. Over the three days, they have to pass a series of fitness assessments. All recruit training is undertaken over a 30-week course with 2nd Infantry Training Battalion at the Infantry Training Centre at Catterick. P company puts recruits through a number of physical assessments designed to test fitness, stamina, at the end of P Company, recruits take part in eight pre-parachute selection tests. Those who are successful are awarded their maroon beret, currently, recruits for the Parachute Regiment must be male and aged 16 to 33 for the regular Army, or 18 to 40 for the Army Reserve. Potential Officers must be aged 18 to 29, on completion of his basic training and entry into his battalion, recruits are posted to RAF Brize Norton for a Basic Parachute Course. Since 1995, all jumps are carried out from powered aircraft
15.
Secretary of State for War
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The position of Secretary of State for War, commonly called War Secretary, was a British cabinet-level position, first held by Henry Dundas. In 1801 the post became that of Secretary of State for War, the position was re-instated in 1854. In 1946, with the creation of a cabinet-level Minister of Defence separate from the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for War ceased to be a cabinet position. On 1 April 1964, with the creation of the Secretary of State for Defence position, in charge of a new united Ministry of Defence, for 1801–1854 see Secretary of State for War and the Colonies
16.
44th Parachute Brigade (V)
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The 44th Parachute Brigade was a British Army Territorial Army parachute brigade, active from c.1950 to 1978. From 1950-1956 it was one of the brigades of 16th Airborne Division, from 1956 the division was reduced to the 44th Independent Parachute Brigade Group, comprising the 10th, 12th, 13th, 15th and 17th battalions of the Parachute Regiment. Shortly after formation, the 12th and 13th Battalions were amalgamated as 12th/13th Battalion, in 1967, the TA battalions were reduced again, the 12th/13th and 17th being amalgamated to reform the 4th Battalion. It was reformed on 1 April 1967 from 44th Independent Parachute Brigade Group, the Brigade was the only Territorial Army Parachute formation in the Armys order of battle. The following units were part of the Brigade, Brigade Headquarters and Defence Platoon - based in Chelsea, London 289th Parachute Battery, Royal Horse Artillery located in East Ham, London. 4th Battalion, Parachute Regiment - Battalion HQ in Pudsey with Rifle Companies in Liverpool, Oldham, Gateshead,1 Parachute Provost Platoon, Royal Military Police - located at Tulse Hill in South London. The 44th Parachute Brigade was disbanded on 31 March 1978
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Gerald Lathbury
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He later became Governor of Gibraltar from 1965 to 1969. Lathbury was born into a military family and his father was Colonel Oscar Lathbury. He was educated at Wellington College and at the Royal Military College, Lathbury was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in 1926. He was seconded to the Royal West African Frontier Force and Gold Coast Regiment between 1928 and 1932 and went to the Staff College, Camberley between 1937 and 1938 and he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for this action. The citation reads, Lathbury was still in command of the 1st Parachute Brigade during the Battle of Arnhem, Lathbury was left in the care of a local Dutch family and became a prisoner of war. He concealed his rank, pretending to be a lance corporal and he escaped by simply walking out of the main doors of the hospital in which he was held. The Dutch resistance put him in touch with other hiding British soldiers, Lathbury, along with Lieutenant Colonel David Dobie and Major Digby Tatham-Warter, organised an escape across the Rhine. S. Brigadier Lathbury was portrayed by Donald Douglas in the 1977 film A Bridge Too Far, after the war Lathbury went to Palestine for several years and then went on to the Imperial Defence College in 1948. He was appointed General Officer Commanding 16th Airborne Division in 1948 and then Commandant of the Staff College and he went on to be Commander-in-Chief East Africa in 1955 and Director General of Military Training at the War Office in 1957. He became General Officer Commanding-in-Chief for Eastern Command in 1960 and Quartermaster-General to the Forces in 1961, finally he was appointed Governor of Gibraltar in 1964, he retired in 1969. He was described as radiating a serene imperturbability by Joshua Hassan, lathburys composure was invaluable at the time as the politics meant there was doubts over the status of Gibraltar with questions being asked at the United Nations. This made the locals nervous especially as there was a de facto freeze on take home pay in Gibraltar. He was also an ADC General to the Queen from 1962 to 1965 as well as Colonel Commandant of both the 1st Green Jackets and the Parachute Regiment from 1961 to 1965, in 1965 he participated in the third of the series of Harold Hall Australian ornithological collecting expeditions. In 1942 he married Jean Gordon Thin, they had two daughters, in 1972 he married Mairi Zoë Gibbs, widow of Patrick Somerset Gibbs. There is a Lathbury Barracks in Gibraltar
18.
Geoffrey Bourne, Baron Bourne
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General Geoffrey Kemp Bourne, Baron Bourne GCB KBE CMG was a British soldier. In 1938 and 1939, he was General Staff Officer of the War Office. During the Second World War, he was a member of the Joint Planning Staff between 1939 and 1941, and a member of the Joint Staff Mission in Washington, D. C. in 1942. In 1944, he was Commander of the 152nd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, fighting in Italy, between 1945 and 1946, he commanded the 5th Indian Division, in Java and worked at the Imperial Defence College in 1947. He was Head of the British Mission to Burma in 1948, between 1951 and 1953 he commanded 16th Airborne Division, was General Officer Commander in Chief Eastern Command between 1953 and 1954, and General Officer Commanding Malaya between 1954 and 1956. Bourne was Commander-in-Chief, Middle East Land Forces in 1957 and Commandant of the Imperial Defence College between 1958 and 1959. Bourne was invested as a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, as a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire and as a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath. On 22 August 1964, he was created a peer with the title Baron Bourne
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10th Parachute Battalion (United Kingdom)
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The 10th Parachute Battalion was an airborne infantry battalion of the Parachute Regiment, raised by the British Army during the Second World War. The battalion was raised around volunteers from the Royal Sussex Regiment at Kibrit in the Middle East, assigned to the 4th Parachute Brigade, they joined the 1st Airborne Division in Tunisia. The battalion fought their first action in Operation Slapstick part of the Allied invasion of Italy and they were then withdrawn to England at the end of 1943. Being held in reserve during the Normandy landings, their action was in Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands. The battalion landed on the day of the Battle of Arnhem and unable to reach their assigned objective. The surviving men managed to withdraw into the position at Oosterbeek. After holding a position in the perimeter, the handful of men left were evacuated south of the River Rhine, the battalion never recovered from the heavy casualties, sustained during the battle and was disbanded. The surviving men being posted to the battalions of the 1st Parachute Brigade, when the Territorial Army was reformed after the war in 1947. A new 10th Battalion was raised and it was part of the reserve 44th Parachute Brigade in the 16th Airborne Division. However, as a result of defence cuts the battalion was amalgamated with the 4th Battalion. The standards set for British airborne troops was high. It was these men who took part in the first British airborne operation, Operation Colossus, the 10th Parachute Battalion was formed in Egypt. The battalion was assigned to the 4th Parachute Brigade, joining the 156th Parachute Battalion. Upon formation, the battalion had an establishment of 556 men in three rifle companies, the companies were divided into a small headquarters and three platoons. The platoons had three Bren machine guns and three 2-inch mortars, one of each per section, the only heavy weapons in the battalion were a 3 inch mortar and a Vickers machine gun platoon. By 1944 a headquarters or support company, was added to the battalion, comprising five platoons, motor transport, signals, mortar, machine-gun, with eight 3 inch mortars, four Vickers machine guns and ten PIAT anti-tank projectors. All members of the battalion had to undergo a training course carried out at No.2 Parachute Training School at RAF Kirbrit in Egypt. Initial parachute jumps were from a barrage balloon and finished with five parachute jumps from an aircraft
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11th Parachute Battalion (United Kingdom)
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The 11th Parachute Battalion was an airborne infantry battalion of the Parachute Regiment, raised by the British Army in World War II. The battalion was formed in the Middle East and was assigned to the 4th Parachute Brigade, as it was still training it was left behind when the rest of the brigade took part in the invasion of Italy. One company later parachuted onto the island of Kos taking prisoner the large Italian garrison, the battalion rejoined the rest of the division in England. The only battle in which the battalion participated was the Battle of Arnhem in September 1944, the battalion sustained very heavy casualties and was disbanded following the battle and the men were used as replacements elsewhere. After the Second World War a reserve 11th Battalion was formed by the Territorial Army in 1947 and it was these men who took part in the first British airborne operation, Operation Colossus, on 10 February 1941. The 11th Parachute Battalion was raised in Kibrit Egypt in March 1943, assigned to the 4th Parachute Brigade, 1st Airborne Division the battalion was still in training when the rest of the brigade left to join the division for the Allied invasion of Italy. In 1942 a parachute battalion had an establishment of 556 men in three companies supported by a 3-inch mortar and a Vickers machine gun platoon, by 1944 a support company to command the battalions heavy weapons was added. It comprised three platoons, Mortar Platoon with eight 3-inch mortars, Machine Gun Platoon with four Vickers machine guns, the only combat seen by the battalion in the Mediterranean, was in September 1943. A Company and the mortar and machine gun platoons parachuted onto the island of Kos in the Dodecanese, the Italian garrison numbered around 4,000 men did not put up any resistance. The company was soon after and rejoined the battalion. In December 1943 the battalion rejoined the 4th Parachute Brigade who by this time were in England, the two battalions were located in the town about 1,100 yards short of the bridge. They were just about to another attempt to break through to the 2nd Parachute Battalion. With no appreciation of the ground the 11th Battalion was held in reserve playing no part in the attack. Under heavy fire the attempt stalled and to relieve the pressure on the assaulting troops, the 2nd South Staffords had been decimated with only their C Company surviving as a unit. The 1st Parachute Battalion were in a worse state and only numbered about 40 men. The battalion was gradually worn down withdrawing through the city and casualties mounted, a move to gain some high ground to the north was discovered and the battalion was caught in the open and decimated, with only around 150 men left. One of the casualties being the commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel George Lea, the second in command Major Richard Lonsdale now took command of the battalion and the remnants of the 1st, 3rd Parachute and 2nd South Staffords battalions. Forming them into a force which became known as Lonsdale Force
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12th (Yorkshire) Parachute Battalion
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The 12th Parachute Battalion was an airborne infantry battalion of the Parachute Regiment, raised by the British Army during the Second World War. The battalion was formed by the conversion of the 10th Battalion and they were then assigned to the 5th Parachute Brigade, alongside the 7th and 13th Parachute battalions, which was part of the 6th Airborne Division. They battalion took part in Operation Tonga during the D-Day landings, capturing Ranville and it later fought in the Battle of Breville, and played a part in the 6th Airborne Division advance to the River Seine, after which it was returned to England in September 1944. The battalion was deployed to the River Meuse with the 5th Parachute Brigade during the German Ardennes offensive in December and its final mission in Europe was Operation Varsity, the River Rhine crossing in March 1945. They then advanced further into Germany, and had reached the Baltic Sea, after the war in Europe the battalion was sent to the Far East, taking part in operations in Malaya and Java. In 1946 the battalion rejoined the 6th Airborne Division in Palestine, in 1947 a new 12th Battalion was raised as part of the 16th Airborne Division in the reformed Territorial Army. In May 1943, the 10th Battalion, Green Howards was converted to parachute duties becoming the 12th Parachute Battalion, the battalion was then assigned to the 5th Parachute Brigade, part of the 6th Airborne Division. Upon formation, the battalion had an establishment of 556 men in three rifle companies, the companies were divided into a small headquarters and three platoons. The platoons had three Bren machine guns and three 2-inch mortars, one of each per section, the only heavy weapons in the battalion were a 3 inch mortar and a Vickers machine gun platoon. By 1944 a headquarters or support company, was added to the battalion comprising five platoons, motor transport, signals, mortar, machine-gun, with eight 3 inch mortars, four Vickers machine guns and ten PIAT anti-tank projectors. All members of the battalion had to undergo a parachute training course carried out at No.1 Parachute Training School. Initial parachute jumps were from a barrage balloon and finished with five parachute jumps from an aircraft. Anyone failing to complete a descent was returned to his old unit and those men who successfully completed the parachute course, were presented with their maroon beret and parachute wings. Airborne soldiers were expected to fight against superior numbers of the enemy, armed with weapons, including artillery. So training was designed to encourage a spirit of self-discipline, self-reliance, emphasis was given to physical fitness, marksmanship and fieldcraft. A large part of the training consisted of assault courses. Military exercises included capturing and holding airborne bridgeheads, road or rail bridges, at the end of most exercises, the battalion would march back to their barracks. An ability to cover long distances at speed was expected, airborne platoons were required to cover a distance of 50 miles in 24 hours, on 6 June 1944, the 12th Parachute Battalion landed in Normandy at 00,50
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17th Parachute Battalion (United Kingdom)
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The 17th Parachute Battalion was an airborne infantry battalion of the Parachute Regiment, which was raised by the British Army during the Second World War. The battalion was raised in August 1945 and assigned to the reformed 1st Parachute Brigade and it was posted to Palestine with the 6th Airborne Division later that year. Post war reductions in the army resulted in the battalion being amalgamated with the 7th Parachute Battalion in 1946, in 1947, a Territorial Army battalion was raised from the 9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. The new battalion, the 17th Parachute Battalion, served in the 6th Parachute Brigade, defence cuts in 1967 saw the battalion being amalgamated with the 12th/13th Parachute Battalion to become the 4th Battalion, Parachute Regiment
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13th (Lancashire) Parachute Battalion
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The 13th Parachute Battalion was an airborne infantry battalion of the Parachute Regiment, raised by the British Army during the Second World War. In June 1944, the took part in Operation Tonga, the invasion of Normandy on D-Day. Three months later they were sent to Belgium to help counter the surprise German Ardennes offensive, later, in March 1945, the battalion took part in the last airborne operation of the war, the River Rhine crossing in Germany. After the war in Europe ended, they were sent to India to conduct operations against the Japanese Empire, however, as a result, the battalion was sent to British Malaya, Singapore and Java to help disarm the Japanese occupiers and restore law and order. While in the Far East 252 men of the battalion were convicted of mutiny and soon afterwards, in May 1946, a new 13th Parachute Battalion was raised when the Territorial Army was reformed in 1947. Over the years, as a result of a number of amalgamations, the standards set for British airborne troops were extremely high, and from the first group of 3,500 volunteers only 500 men were accepted to go forward to parachute training. It was these men who took part in the first British airborne operation, Operation Colossus, the 13th Parachute Battalion was formed in May 1943, by the conversion of the 2/4th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment to parachute duties. This was the last British parachute battalion formed before the invasion of France, the first commanding officer was Lieutenant-Colonel Russell, who was succeeded by Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Luard. Upon formation, the battalion was based at Larkhill and had an establishment of 556 men in three rifle companies, the companies were divided into a small headquarters and three platoons. The platoons had three Bren machine guns and three 2-inch mortars, one of each per section, the only heavy weapons in the battalion were a 3 inch mortar and a Vickers machine gun platoon. By 1944 a headquarters or support company, was added to the battalion and it comprised five platoons—motor transport, signals, mortar, machine-gun and anti-tank—and was equipped with eight 3-inch mortars, four Vickers machine guns and ten PIAT anti-tank projectors. All members of the battalion had to undergo a 12-day parachute training course which was carried out at No.1 Parachute Training School, Training consisted of an initial parachute jump from a converted barrage balloon and finished with five jumps from an aircraft. Anyone failing to complete a descent was returned to his old unit, while men who successfully completed the parachute course were presented with their maroon beret. Airborne soldiers were expected to fight against superior numbers of the enemy, armed with weapons, including artillery. As a result, training was designed to encourage a spirit of self-discipline, self-reliance, emphasis was given to physical fitness, marksmanship and fieldcraft. A large part of the training consisted of assault courses. Military exercises included capturing and holding airborne bridgeheads, road or rail bridges, at the end of most exercises, the battalion would march back to their barracks. An ability to cover long distances at speed was expected, airborne platoons were required to cover a distance of 50 miles in 24 hours, at 00,50 on 6 June 1944, as part of Operation Tonga, the 13th Parachute Battalion landed in Normandy
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15th (King's) Parachute Battalion
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The 15th Parachute Battalion was an airborne infantry battalion of the Parachute Regiment, raised by the British Army in World War II. The 15th Parachute Battalion was formed in India during 1945 from the 1st Battalion the Kings Regiment, prior to this the 1st Battalion Kings had been part of the Chindits special force and taken part in the second Chindit expedition, Operation Thursday, of 1944. It was assigned to the 77th Indian Parachute Brigade, part of the 44th Indian Airborne Division, after the war, the battalion was reconverted to standard line infantry as the 1st Kings Regiment. The battalion was disbanded in December 1946 and reformed by the Territorial Army in 1947 as the 15th Parachute Battalion, in 1967 it was re-designated 15 PARA and came under command of the 44th Parachute Brigade. In June 1974, Warrant Officer Class 2 John Gordon McRae, during a practice parachute jump from a C-130 the parachute of one of his men failed to open. The man crashed through McRae’s rigging and as he did so McRae managed to keep a hold of him, during September 1974 the battalion suffered the highest loss of TA soldiers during a major NATO exercise. Dropped off course six men landed in the Kiel canal and drowned, defence cuts in April 1993, resulted in the amalgamation of the three remaining TA parachute battalions. The battalion numbered 4th Battalion, Parachute Regiment, retains a rifle company based in Scotland
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16th (Staffords) Parachute Battalion
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The 16th Parachute Battalion was an airborne infantry battalion of the Parachute Regiment, raised by the British Army in World War II. The battalion was formed in India from the 1st Battalion the South Staffordshire Regiment in January 1945, the South Staffords had previously been part of the Chindits special force and taken part in the second Chindit expedition in 1944, Operation Longcloth. The battalion was assigned to the 77th Indian Parachute Brigade, attached to the 44th Indian Airborne Division, the war ended before the battalion was committed to action but a number of men parachuted into Japanese Prisoner of War camps to aid the prisoners. The battalion was disbanded in 1946, but a new battalion was formed in the United Kingdom as part of the Territorial Army, renamed the 16th Parachute Battalion, it was assigned to the TA 5th Parachute Brigade of the 16th Airborne Division. It was re-designated 16 PARA in 1948 and resulting from defence cuts disbanded in October 1956
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Royal Welsh
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The Royal Welsh is one of the new large infantry regiments of the British Army. After the restructuring and reorganisation of the army in 2006, the Royal Welsh is one of three regiments to trace its lineage and draw its recruits primarily from Wales, the Royal Welsh initially consisted of two Regular Army battalion, plus an Army Reserve battalion. In July 2007 the 2nd battalion deployed to Iraq and between 2009 and 2011 the battalion deployed companies to Afghanistan, the 2nd battalion merged with 1st battalion to form a single battalion, the 1st Battalion, The Royal Welsh on 2 April 2014. The 1st Battalion, The Royal Welsh is a Regular Army armoured infantry battalion based at Tidworth Camp and it comes under 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade. The 3rd Battalion, The Royal Welsh is an Army Reserve light infantry battalion based at Maindy Barracks in Cardiff, with locations in Swansea, Pontypridd, Aberystwyth. Paired with 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, it comes under 11th Infantry Brigade, the regiments cap badge is a representation of the Prince of Waless feathers, while the hackle of the Royal Welch Fusiliers is worn by all NCOs and Other Ranks. HM The Queen is the new regiments Colonel-in-Chief, the regiment includes a goat, presented by the monarch, this is not a mascot but a ranking soldier. Lance Corporal William Windsor retired on 20 May 2009, a replacement, the Regimental Band of The Royal Welsh is an all-brass band within the British Army. Formed of 30 soldiers who are all members of the Army Reserve, it can provide a marching band, a concert band or a fanfare team. In October 2009, due to £54m of Ministry of Defence budget cuts affecting front line including the war in Afghanistan. This covered the Autumn Rugby Union Internationals and Remembrance Day, Band members agreed to honour all charity appearances during this period, but without pay
27.
Artists Rifles
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The Artists Rifles is a regiment of the British Army Reserve. Raised in London in 1859 as a light infantry unit. It did not serve outside Britain during World War II, as it was used as a training unit at that time. The regiment was disbanded in 1945 but in 1947, it was re-established to resurrect the Special Air Service Regiment, today, the full title of the Regiment is 21 Special Air Service Regiment and with 23 Special Air Service Regiment, it forms the Special Air Service. The regiment was formed in 1859, part of the volunteer movement which developed in the face of potential French invasion after Felice Orsinis attack on Napoleon III was linked to Britain. It was established on 28 February 1860 as the 38th Middlesex Rifle Volunteer Corps and its first commanders were the painters Henry Wyndham Phillips and Frederic Leighton. The units badge, designed by J. W. Wyon, shows the heads of the Roman gods Mars, until 1914 the regimental full dress uniform was light grey with white facings, silver buttons and braid. This distinctive uniform dated from the foundation as a volunteer unit. After World War I standard khaki was the normal dress, in September 1880, the corps became the 20th Middlesex Rifle Volunteer Corps, with headquarters at Dukes Road, off Euston Road, London. It formed the 7th Volunteer Battalion of the Rifle Brigade from 1881 until 1891, during this period, The Artists Rifles fought in the Second Boer War as part of the City Imperial Volunteers. After the 1860s the voluntary recruitment basis of the regiment gradually broadened to include professions other than artistic ones, by 1893 lawyers and architects made up 24% of the unit, doctors followed with 10% and civil engineers 6%. Sculptors and painters totaled about 5%, following the formation of the Territorial Force, the Artists Rifles was one of 26 volunteer battalions in the London and Middlesex areas that combined to form the new London Regiment. It became the 28th Battalion of The London Regiment on 1 April 1908, the Artists Rifles was a popular unit for volunteers. It had been increased to twelve companies in 1900 and was formed into three sub-battalions in 1914, and recruitment was restricted by recommendation from existing members of the battalion. Over fifteen thousand men passed through the battalion during the war, the battalion eventually saw battle in France in 1917 and 1918. Members of the Regiment won eight Victoria Crosses, fifty-six DSOs, in the early 1920s, the unit was reconstituted as an infantry regiment within the Territorial Army, as the 28th County of London Regiment. In 1937, this regiment became part of The Prince Consorts Own Rifle Brigade, the regiment was not deployed during the Second World War, functioning again as an Officers Training Corps throughout the war. It was disbanded in 1945, but reformed in The Rifle Brigade in January 1947, the number 21 SAS was chosen to perpetuate two disbanded wartime regiments 1 SAS and 2 SAS, with the 1 and the 2 being reversed into 21
28.
Middlesex Yeomanry
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The 47 Signal Squadron is a unit of the Royal Corps of Signals within the British Territorial Army. A second troop was raised in 1798 with the change of title to Uxbridge Yeomanry Cavalry, captain-Commandant Christopher Baynes was appointed Major-Commandant and the UYC was given a wider sphere of operation. The Commanding Officer adopted the Hussar uniform, keeping the green Hussar tunic with black collars and cuffs, yellow Hussar lace on the collars, cuffs, there were many changes in the Yeomanry Force during the later years of the 19th century. The Squadron became the official unit, the Middlesex Yeomanry was formed of two squadrons, each with two troops, and the regiment was brigaded with the Berkshire Yeomanry, which formed the 1st Yeomanry Brigade. Soon after the reverses in Natal the Government found that the way to raise a large number of mounted men was to call upon the Yeomanry for volunteers to serve overseas. There was a response from the regiment and by the end of January 1900 the Middlesex Yeomanry had raised three Companies, the 34th, the 35th, and the 62nd plus a maxim-gun detachment. The 34th and 35th Companies together with two Companies raised in Kent formed the 11th Battalion under command of Colonel Kenyon Mitford, the Commanding Officer of the Middlesex Yeomanry, the 62nd was placed under command of the 14th Battalion. B. Few Yeomanry Regiments have such proud memories of daring in South Africa as the two fights against such heavy odds which occurred at Senekel and Tweefonteen, with the end of the South African War in 1902 there was a general re-organisation of the Yeomanry. The title of the force was changed to Imperial Yeomanry. The regiment was increased to four squadrons totalling 596 all ranks, at the time there were four new Yeomanry regiments being recruited in London, so it was not an easy task to increase the strength of the regiment from 200 to about 600 all ranks. On 1 April 1908 the regiment became part of the Territorial Force being recruited in London, the title then changed to the 1st County of London Yeomanry and with the other London Yeomanry Units formed the London Mounted Brigade. However, on the outbreak of war on 4 August 1914, therefore, TF units were split in August and September 1914 into 1st Line and 2nd Line units. Later, a 3rd Line was formed to act as a reserve, providing trained replacements for the 1st and 2nd Line regiments. In the summer of 1914 the regiment was in camp at Moulsford Berkshire when the declaration of war with Germany interrupted the inter regimental sports planned to place on the Bank Holiday. Instead the regiment returned to headquarters and by 5 August was ready to mobilize, the Middlesex Yeomanry together with the 1st City of London Yeomanry and the 3rd County of London Yeomanry formed the 8th Mounted Brigade of the Yeomanry Mounted Division. During this campaign, Alexander Malins Lafone was awarded the Victoria Cross, lt Col Oliver Cyril Spencer Watson, another Middlesex Yeoman, was detached from the Regiment to the 2nd/5th Battalion, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in 1917. He ultimately assumed command of this infantry Regiment and was awarded the Victoria Cross on 28 March 1918 at Rossignol Wood, north of Hebuterne, the Middlesex Yeomanry consequently lays claim to two of the three Victoria Crosses awarded to the Yeomanry as a whole. The 2nd Line regiment was formed at Chelsea in 1914 and in November 1914 it was at Ranelagh Park, by June 1915 it was with 2/1st London Mounted Brigade in 2/2nd Mounted Division and was at Bylaugh Park in Norfolk
United Kingdom
British Army
