16th Airborne Division (United Kingdom)

16th Airborne Division

Parachute drop of the 16th Airborne Division (Territorial Army) during Exercise King's Joker at the Stanford Parachute Training Area in Kent
Active 1947–1956
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
Type Infantry
Role Airborne forces
Size Division
Nickname Red Devils
Insignia
Emblem of the British Airborne Forces

The 16th Airborne Division was an airborne division of the British Territorial Army.

It was raised in 1947, to compensate for the loss of the 1st Airborne Division, which had been disbanded in 1945 and the 6th Airborne Division which was going to be disbanded in 1948. The number "16" being used in recognition of the two wartime divisions.

Formation

Commanded by Major-General Roy Urquhart, the 16th Airborne Division was raised in 1947. The division had three parachute brigade's the 4th, 5th and the 6th, each with three Territorial battalions of the Parachute Regiment. The brigades were renumbered the 44th, 45th and 46th in 1950. Then in December 1955, the British Secretary of State for War in an announcment on the future of the Territorial Army, proposed cutting the Territorial parachute battalions by five. The reduction in strength led to the disbandment of the division in 1956, leaving the 44th Independent Parachute Group (TA) as the only British reserve parachute formation.[1]

Order of battle

Commanders
Units

Notes