1st Canadian Parachute Battalion

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion
abbreviation=


caption=
dates= 1942 - 1945
country= Canada
allegiance=
branch= Canadian Army
type= Infantry
role= Parachute
size= Battalion
command_structure= 6th Airborne Division
equipment=
Past Commanders= |ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
notable_commanders= Lt. Col. G.F.P. Bradbrooke, 1942 - June 1944
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_2=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=Operation Tonga
Battle of the Bulge
Operation Varsity
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=The 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion was formed in July 1942 during the Second World War; it served in North West Europe. Landing in Normandy on D Day, June 6, 1944 and in the airborne assault crossing of the River Rhine, Operation Varsity.

Early History

The first airborne unit formed in Canada was created to counter the threat of invasion by the Japanese on the west coast or by the Germans on the east coast of Canada.cite web|title=89fss|url=http://www.89fss.com/affiliated/1canpara.htm] cite web|title=junobeach|url=http://www.junobeach.org/e/4/can-tac-par-e.htm]

On 1 July, 1942 the Department of National Defence authorized the raising of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion. The battalion had an authorised strength of 26 officers and 590 other ranks, formed into a battalion headquarters, three rifle companies and a headquarters company.

The initial training was carried out at Fort Benning in the United States and at RAF Ringway in England. Groups of recruits were dispatched to both countries with the intention of getting the best out of both training systems prior to the development of the Canadian Parachute Training Wing at CFB Shilo, Manitoba.

The group that traveled to Fort Benning in the United States included the unit’s first Commanding Officer, Major H.D. Proctor who was killed in an accident when his parachute rigging lines were severed by a following aircraft. He was replaced by Lieutenant Colonel G.F.P. Bradbrooke who led the battalion until the end of operations in Normandy on 14 June 1944.

In 1942, volunteers were also requested for the recently formed 2nd Canadian Parachute Battalion, which formed the Canadian contingent of the 1st Special Service Force.

England

In July 1943 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion was dispatched to England and came under the command of the 3rd Parachute Brigade of the British 6th Airborne Division.The battalion spent the next year in training for airborne operations. Major differences between their previous American training and the new regime included jumping with only one parachute, and doing it through a hole in the floor of the aircraft, instead of through the door of a C-47 Dakota.

Operation Overlord

On the evening on 5 June 1944 the battalion was transported to France in fifty aircraft. Each man carried a knife, toggle rope, escape kit with French currency, and two 24 ration packs in addition to their normal equipment, in all totalling 70 pounds. The battalion landed one hour in advance of the rest of the brigade in order to secure the Drop zone (DZ). Thereafter they were ordered to destroy road bridges over the river Dives and its tributaries at Varaville, then neutralize strongpoints at the crossroads.

In addition, the Canadians were to protect the left (southern) flank of the 9th Battalion, Parachute Regiment during that unit's attack on the Merville Battery, afterwards seizing a position astride the Le Mesnil crossroads, a vital position at the centre of the ridge.

Lieutenant Colonel Bradbrooke issued the following orders to his company commanders: Quote box
quote =C Company (Major H.M. MacLeod) was to secure the DZ, destroy the enemy headquarters (HQ), secure the SE corner of the DZ, destroy the radio station at Varaville, and blow the bridge over the Divette stream in Varaville. C Coy would then join the battalion at Le Mesnil cross roads.

A Company (Major D. Wilkins) would protect the left flank of 9th Btn during their attack on the Merville Battery and then cover 9th Battalion's advance to the Le Plein feature. They would seize and hold the Le Mesnil cross roads.

B Company (Major C. Fuller) was to destroy the bridge over the river Dives within two hours of landing and deny the area to the enemy until ordered to withdraw to Le Mesnil cross roads."
source =
width = 80%
align = centerThe battalion Landed between 0100 and 0130 hours on June 6, becoming the first Canadian unit on the ground in France. For different reasons, including adverse weather conditions and poor visibility, the soldiers were scattered, at times quite far from the planned drop zone. By mid-day, and in spite of German resistance, the men of the battalion had achieved all their objectives; the the bridges on the Dives and Divette in Varaville and Robehomme were cut, the left flank of the 9th Parachute Battalion at Merville was secure, and the crossroads at Le Mesnil was taken.

In the following days, the Canadians were later involved in ground operations to strengthen the bridgehead and support the advance of Allied troops towards the Seine River. On 6 September they left Normandy and returned to the Bulford training camp.

On 23 August 1944 Lieutenant Colonel Bradbrooke was appointed to the General Staff at Canadian Military Headquarters in London with Major Eadie taking temporary control of the battalion.

On 26 August 1944 the 6th Airborne Division was pulled from the line in Normandy. Of the 27 officers and 516 men from the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion who took part in the Battle of Normandy, 24 officers and 343 men gave their lives. The unit had to be re-organized and retrained in order to regain its strength and combat-readiness. The Battle of Normandy had brought a major change to the way the war was fought. Airborne troops needed new training to prepare for an offensive role, including street fighting and capturing enemy positions. In December 1944, the Battalion was again sent to mainland Europe, on Christmas Day they sailed for Belgium, to counter the German offensive in the Ardennes what became known as the Battle of the Bulge.

The Ardennes and Holland

On 2 January 1945, the battalion was again committed to ground operations on the continent, arriving at the front during the last days of the Battle of the Bulge. They were positioned to patrol during both day and night and defend against any enemy attempts to infiltrate their area. The battalion also took part in a general advance, taking them through the towns of Aye, Marche, Roy and Bande. The capture of Bande marked the end of the fight for the Bulge and the battalion's participation in the operation.

The battalion was next moved into the Netherlands in preparation for the crossing of the River Rhine. They were active in carrying out patrols and raids and to establish bridge heads where and when suitable. The heavy shelling of battalion positions resulted in very few casualties considering the length of time they were there and the strength of the enemy positions. The battalion maintained an active defence as well as considerable patrol activity until its return to the United Kingdom on 23 February 1945. On 7 March 1945, the battalion returned from leave to start training for be the last major airborne operation of the war, Operation Varsity, the crossing of the Rhine.

Operation Varsity

The 17th U.S. Airborne and 6th British Airborne divisions were tasked to capture Wesel across the Rhine River, to be completed as a combined paratrooper and glider operation conducted in daylight.

3rd Para Brigade was tasked;
*To clear the DZ and establish a defensive position road at the west end of the drop zone.
*To seize the Schnappenburg feature astride the main road running north and south of this feature.

1st Canadian Parachute Battalion was ordered to seize and hold the central area on the western edge of the woods, where there was a main road running north from the Wesel to Emmerich, and to a number of houses. It was believed this area was held by German paratroopers. "C" Company would clear the northern part of the woods near the junction of the roads to Rees and Emmerich. Once this area was secure, "A" Company would advance through the position and seize the houses located near the DZ. "B" Company would clear the South-Western part of the woods and secure the battalion's flank. Despite some of the paratroopers being dropped some distance from their landing zone, the Battalion managed to secure its objectives quickly. The battalion lost its unpopular commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel J.A. Nicklin who was killed during the initial jump on 24 March 1945. Following the death of Lt. Col Nicklin, the last unit Commander was Lt. Col. G.F. Eadie until its disbandment.

The outcome of this operation was the defeat of the I. "Fallschirmkorps" in a day and a half. In the following 37 days, the Battalion advanced convert|285|mi|km, driving the German Army to the Baltic Sea and taking, the city of Wismar on May 2 1945.It was at Wismar that the battalion met up with the Russian Army (the only Canadian unit to do so during hostilities). The armistice was signed on May 8 and the battalion returned to England.

The battalion sailed for Canada on the "Isle de France" on 31 May 1945, and arrived in Halifax on 21 June. They were the first Canadian unit to be repatriated, and on September 30 the battalion was officially disbanded.

Victoria Cross

One member of the Battalion was awarded the Victoria Cross, Corporal Frederick Topham, [London Gazette, 3 August 1945] [ [http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/bbtopham.htm Archived Citation from VictoriaCross.org] ] east of the River Rhine, near Wesel, Germany, on 24 March 1945.

ee also

*The Canadian Airborne Regiment
*Devil's Brigade

References

Further reading

*John A. Willes, Out of the Clouds, The History of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, 1995.
*Don Hartigan, A Rising of Courage, Canada's Paratroops in the Liberation of Normandy, Calgary, Drop Zone Publishers, 2000.
*Bernd Horn & Michael Wyczynski, Tip Of The Spear, An intimate account of 1 Canadian Parachute Battalion, Dundurn Press 2002.