| 562 Transport Squadron RLC (v) | |
|---|---|
Corps Badge |
|
| Active | 1947-1978 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army |
| Role | Logistic Support 44 Para Bde |
| Size | Sqn Hq, 3 Task Troops, REME LAD, RAOC Platoon |
| Garrison/HQ | Sqn HQ - Southall Middlesex A Troop - West Ham B Troop - Dulwich |
| Motto | Nil Sine Labore (Nothing Without Labour) (Latin) |
| Commanders | |
| Colonel-in-Chief | HRH Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester |
| Insignia | |
| Drop Zone Flash | |
| Arm Badge Parachute Wings | |
562 Parachute Squadron Royal Corps of Transport (Volunteers) was a minor unit that supported 44th Parachute Brigade (V)
Contents |
1947 When the Territorial Army (TA)was reformed in the UK included in the Order of Battle was 16th Airborne Division (TA) with its Divisional Headquarters in Chelsea, South-West London. The Division included a Royal Army Service Corps Column which came into existence on 1 January 1947, though recruiting did not open until 1 May.
The Headquarters of 16th Airborne Divisional Column, RASC (TA) was initially at The Duke of York's Headquarters at Chelsea, but in 1949 it was re-located to the TA Centre at Hayes Bridge, Southall, Middlesex. The Column comprised three Companies;
1560th Company (Airborne Divisional Composite), RASC (TA), at Park Lane, Tottenham, N.17.
1561st Company (Airborne Divisional Composite), RASC (TA), at Vine Street, Uxbridge.
1562nd Company (Airborne Divisional Composite), RASC (TA), at Hayes Bridge, Southall.
The four-figure numbers allocatted to the Companies denoted that they were newly-raised units of the TA, having not existed prior to the Second World War.
The Commanding Officer and Adjutant were regular officers: the Regimental Sergeant Major, Permanent Staff Instructors (PSI) and a small cadre of drivers were regular soldiers. All other posts were filled by TA volunteer soldiers. The organisation of these companies was similar to the regular army RASC company except that they were on war establishment and had a smaller composite platoon. The Parachute course for the TA was compressed into two weeks to meet their limited training availability, but included the 8 qualifying jumps.
1951 A new numbering system for RASC (TA) units was adopted whereby all Companies were given a three-figure number. As a result the "1" prefix, was dropped and the Companies became known as 560th, 561st and 562nd Companies (Parachute Brigade Transport), RASC (Middlesex) (TA).
1952 Each of the Companies were allocated their own integral Light Aid Detachments (LAD)of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME). These were up-graded to Company Workshops in 1955.
1955 560th Coy re-located to the TA Centre in Tottenham High Rd, N.17 and 561st Company re-located to the TA Centre at Cowley. In that same year it was announced by the War Office that 16th Abn Div(TA)would disband the following year and be replaced by a single Parachute Brigade. The RASC unit required for the Brigade would be reduced to a single Company.
1956 In October, 44th Independent Parachute Brigade Group (TA) was created, with Headquarters at The Duke of York's HQ, Chelsea, London S.W.3. The 16th Airborne Divisional Column was temporarily placed under command of this Brigade as it underwent the process of disbandment and reorganisation into one Company.
1957 In February 16th Airborne Divisional Column, RASC (TA)was disbanded and 562nd Company (Independent Parachute Brigade Transport), RASC (Middlesex) (TA) became the sole RASC unit in the Brigade. It remained at Hayes Bridge along with its REME Workshops.
1965 In 1965 there was a general re-organisation of the British Army Corps structure which led to the Royal Army Service Corps transport and supply functions being separated and the corps disbanded. The new military transport organisation formed from this restructuring was the Royal Corps of Transport (RCT). The supply function was transferred to an enlarged Royal Army Ordnance Corps (RAOC). As a result of these changes and formation of the new corps 562nd Coy was redesignated as 562nd (Middlesex) Independent Parachute Squadron, RCT (TA)
1967 That year saw a transformation of Reserve Forces (Army) and the Territorial Army became the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve (TAVR). 562 Independent Parachute Squadron, RCT (Volunteers)was formed on 1 April 1967 as a successor unit to the old 562 Para Sqn RCT (TA). The Squadron HQ and HQ Troop remained at Hayes Bridge, Southall along with "C" Troop, whilst "A" Troop was formed at the Cedars TA Centre, Portway, West Ham, London E.15 and "B" Troop at Lordship Lane, Dulwich, London S.E.22. The Squadron continued to support 44 Parachute Brigade (Volunteers) as its integral RCT unit.
A new unit, 395 Air Despatch Troop, RCT (Volunteers), had been formed in 1967 at Coulsdon, Surrey. This was the first Air Despatch unit to be raised outside of the Regular Army and in 1971 the Troop was relocated to Bristol and then subsequently to Chippenham in Wiltshire, so as to be near to its Regular Army counterpart, 47 Air Despatch Squadron, RCT. Some personnel from the Troop at Coulsdon transferred to "B" Troop, of the squadron at Dulwich.
On the demise of the RASC there had still been a requirement for a combat supplies function to provide ammunition, fuel and rations to 44 Parachute Brigade (V). This function was assigned to a Combat Supplies Platoon formed within 562 Para Sqn. This platoon was based at Southall and manned by RAOC Territorial Army soldiers trained in that particular role,(See potted history of this sub unit below).
Final Orbat
The squadron was commanded by a Major and was established along traditional lines with a Captain second in command (2i/c). Other Captains held appointments, Transport Control officer (TCO) being one. The transport troops were usually commanded by a Subaltern with a Staff Sergeant (SSGT) as 2i/c. The REME workshop was commanded by either a Captain or Subaltern with a Warrant Officer Class Two who held the appointment of Artificer Quartermaster Sergeant (AQMS) as 2i/c. HQ troop was of course the nerve centre organisationally of the unit where the Squadron Sergeant Major and Chief Clerk amongst other appointments were to be found. As an independent TA squadron there were also a number or regular army soldiers posted to the establishment of the Squadron. Their primary role was to advise the command elements in training matters and ensuring the unit retained its fully trained operational status. These soldiers were known as Permanent Staff Instructors (PSI’s).
This unit's role was transport support to the Territorial Army's 44 Parachute Brigade (V). When this Brigade was disbanded in March 1978 562 Parachute Squadron Royal Corps of Transport (Volunteers) was redesignated 562 Squadron Royal Corps of Transport (Volunteers) and taken under the command of 151 (Greater London) Transport Regiment RCT (Volunteers). With the loss of the parachuting role and the coveted "Red Beret" significant numbers of the unit transferred to other TA units that still retained a parachute role. The Parachute Regiment's 10th Battalion being the biggest beneficiary as like the squadron it to was based in London.
This unit was formed after reorganization from the R.A.S.C. to R.C.T. It is descended from the Composite companies in 16 Airborne Division and 562 Parachute Coy R.A.S.C. T.A. These units supplied ammunition, fuel, composite rations, fresh meat, bread, and vegetables to the front line. Thus, anyone who was a butcher, baker or greengrocer and could be Para trained would be selected to serve. The Airborne was no different except for the fact that every thing they needed had to be delivered by air or sourced locally from the indigenous population when on the ground as supplies by road could not be guaranteed.
The re badging parade was held at Plaisterdown Camp in July 1967 The unit was badged as R.A.O.C. in line with the current M.O.D. policy at the time that all Army transport would be administered by the newly formed R.C.T.. 562 Para Parachute Combat Supplies Platoon RAOC (V) was born and would now be responsible for supplying all combat supplies (ammunition, fuel, and rations) to 44 Parachute Brigade’s fighting echelons. Personnel with the relevant civilian trade experience were all Para trained and later they were to have acquired rigging skills on Medium and Heavy Stressed Platforms at J.A.T.E. Watchfield. Their main function was to set Distribution Points (DPs) for Combat Supplies to the rear of the Airborne fighting echelons. The stores would then be collected by the “Q” reps of each unit on the ground this included setting up re fuelling facilities for heliborne exercises. This unit also had another function; When the Brigade was in a static location they would be required to provide a source of high quality fresh meat, vegetables, and other foodstuffs from local suppliers so as to feed the paratroopers on the ground. This would mean that they would have to identify fresh vegetable suppliers, local baking and slaughtering facilities and if necessary bring them up to the required military standard using existing civilian labour There was a case where this happened when 44 Parachute Brigade went to Cyprus on “Ex New Venture” 562 Parachute Combat Supplies RAOC were tasked to visit the local meat supplier to the UNCYP Forces based on the island. Sgt Dalton, Corporals Preston and Laing who are all qualified Master Butchers in civilian life were on hand to advise on the latest slaughtering techniques and meat preparation which included sausage making This was very much appreciated by UNICYP especially the British contingent.
| Date | PSI and OC Combat Supplies Platoon | S/Sgt TAVR Sgt TAVR |
|---|---|---|
| 1967-1969, | S/Sgt P McCann RAOC
Capt Tappenden TAVR |
S/Sgt P King Sgt J Allen |
| 1969-1972 | S/Sgt G Hawthorn RAOC
Capt K.J. Rawlings TAVR |
S/Sgt J Allen Sgt E Dalton |
| 1972-1978 | S/Sgt A Beverly RAOC
Capt.K.J. Rawlings TAVR |
S/Sgt E Dalton Sgt C Preston |
Until 1965, when the Royal Army Service Corps became the Royal Corps of Transport, the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers element within 562 Parachute Company comprised a Light Aid Detachment, located in the Workshop area of the Drill Hall at Southall Middlesex. This unit had responsibility for first line recovery/repairs only and was manned accordingly. In 1965 the establishment and scale of equipment for 562 Workshop element was increased with responsibility given for second line repairs.
This gave rise to the change of title from Light Aid Detachment to Workshop, still based at Southall. Because 16 Para Brigade retained its full Workshop within 1 Para Log Regiment, 562 became the only Parachute Squadron Workshop in the British Army with a unique establishment and role. The only other REME formation in 44 Brigade was a Parachute Platoon of 133 Field Workshop [REME](V) based in Coventry. Other REME personnel in the Brigade comprised attached personnel.
The workshop was established with a Captain commanding, WO2 AQMS as 2I/C with six other senior ranks including a Sergeant Storeman. The Permanent Staff Instructor was a Regular Para trained WO2 Artificer until 1975 when a Para trained SSGT Artisan was posted in.
During the seventies, the Workshop regularly took part in Exercise Southern Craftsman (the annual REME fitness for role/field engineering competition) and won on three occasions. Workshop personnel also took part in a number of Competitions, representing 562 Squadron including Nijmegen Marches, Courage Trophy, AESOR and Chichester March.
Major Units of 44 Para Brigade were:
Other Minor Units of 44 Para Brigade were: