British 3rd Parachute Brigade
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| 3rd Parachute Brigade | |
|---|---|
| Active | 7th November 1942 |
| Country | Great Britain |
| Branch | British Army |
| Type | Parachute Infantry |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Normandy Rhine Crossing, 1945 |
| Battle honours | D-Day |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Brig. Gerald Lathbury |
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] World War II History
Brigade HQ formed in the United Kingdom on 7 Nov 1942 by redesignation and conversion of HQ 223rd Independent Infantry Brigade . Assigned 1st Airborne Division 13 Nov 1942. Relieved from 1st Airborne Division 11 Apr 1943.
[edit] D-Day
Assigned 6th Airborne Division 15 May 1943. The brigade landed with the division in Normandy 6 Jun 1944, on the left of the invasion beaches to establish a bridgehead across the River Orne and Caen Canal . The division was in action 7 Jun to 16 Aug 1944 consolidating the bridgehead and holding it against German attacks. With enemy withdrawal on the front, 6th Airborne Division began to advance 17 Aug 1944, reaching the Seine later in the month before halting to reorganize and mop-up. The brigade returned with the division to the UK in early Sep 1944.
[edit] Ardennes
The 6th Airborne Division returned to the Continent late in Dec 1944 because of the German Ardennes offensive, and elements saw some fighting in Jan 1945 before returning to the UK in Feb 1945.
[edit] Operation Varsity
The next airborne operation would be assisting 21st Army Group cross the Rhine. The brigade landed with 6th Airborne Division in daylight 24 Mar 1945. Contact was made with ground troops by the second day, and on 28 Mar 1945 6th Airborne Division began advancing from the airhead. The division crossed the Weser from 5 Apr 1945 and the Elbe on 30 Apr 1945. On 31 Apr 1945 6th Airborne Division reached Wismar on the Baltic Sea. The brigade returned to the UK in late May 1945.
[edit] Component Units
7th Bn Parachute Regiment: 7 Nov 1942 - 8 Aug 1943
8th Bn Parachute Regiment: 7 Nov 1942
9th Bn Parachute Regiment: 5 Dec 1942
1st Canadian Parachute Bn: 11 Aug 1943 - 31 May 1945
3rd Bn Parachute Regiment: 7 Aug 1945
[edit] Commanding Officers
7 Nov 1942: Brig Sir A.B.G. Stainer, Bt.
8 Dec 1942: Brig G.W. Lathbury
25 Apr 1943: Lt-Col S.J.L. Hill (acting)
4 May 1943: Brig S.J.L. Hill
20 Dec 1944: Col R.G. Parker (acting)
30 Dec 1944: Brig S.J.L. Hill
2 Jul 1945: Brig G.W. Lathbury
[edit] Sources
Information based on Lt. Col. H. F.Joslen, Orders of Battle, Second World War, 1939-1945 History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series (London: Her Majesty's Stationary Office, 1960 in 2 vols; reprinted London: The London Stamp Exchange, 1990 in one vol) and Lt-Col T. B. H. Otway, Airborne Forces The Second World War 1939-1945, Army (London: Imperial War Museum, Department of Printed Books, 1990; originally published as Confidential volume 1951 by the War Office)
