2nd Parachute Brigade (United Kingdom)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 2nd Parachute Brigade


caption=The shoulder flash of the airborne forces
dates= 1942 - 1948
country= Great Britain
allegiance=Allies
branch= British Army
type=Airborne
role=Parachute Infantry
size=Brigade
command_structure=1st Airborne Division
6th Airborne Division
Force 140
garrison=
current_commander=
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
notable_commanders=
identification_symbol=
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nickname=
patron=
motto=
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battles= Operation Dragoon
anniversaries=
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World War II History

Brigade HQ formed 17th July 1942 in the UK . Assigned to the 1st Airborne Division on 30th July 1942 .

Moved to Tunisia with division April 1943. Allotted for drop in Sicily July 1943 but their mission was cancelled. Landed at Taranto with the 1st Airborne Division on 9th September 1943 .

On 16 November 1943 the brigade was relieved from the 1st Airborne Division and reorganized as an independent parachute brigade group. In early December 1943 committed to line north or Sangro River as conventional infantry. They remained in that role, with brief periods in local reserve, until withdrawn late May 1944 to a site near Salerno . The brigade moved to Rome area July 1944 to prepare for Invasion of southern France. 2nd Independent Parachute Brigade Group was dropped there 15 August 1944. They were withdrawn by sea 26 August 1944 to return to Italy.

Named Force 140 for operations in Greece 18 September 1944; title was discontinued by 2nd Independent Parachute Brigade Group on 6 October 1944, and taken over by 3 Corps. The brigade dropped into Greece 12 October 1944 (one company group) and 14 October 1944 (bulk of brigade). They entered Athens 15 October 1944. They followed the retreating Germans, moving various locations in Greece. However, they returned to Athens and became involved in fighting against Greek communist rebels until the latter were defeated 4 January 1945. The brigade then returned to Italy in January 1945 to prepare again for airborne operations. The war ended without any further airborne operations, and in January 1945 the brigade returned to the UK.

Assigned 6th Airborne Division 29 August 1945 and moved to Palestine in October 1945 to join that division. In 1948 the 2nd Independent Parachute Brigade Group was redesignated as the G.H.Q of 16 Parachute Brigade , the numeric title represented the 1st Airborne and 6th Airborne Divisions .

Assigned Units

4th Bn Parachute Regiment: 1 Aug 1942
5th Bn Parachute Regiment: 1 Aug 1942
6th Bn Parachute Regiment: 1 Aug 1942

Other Assigned Units 1942-1945

300th Airlanding AT Battery RA: 8 Dec 1943
64th Airlanding Battery RA: 23 Jun 1944 - 25 Jun 1945
2nd Parachute Sqn RE: 17 Nov 1943
2nd Indep Parachute Bde Gp Signals: 17 Nov 1943
1st Indep Glider Sqn AAC: 20 Nov 1943
23rd Indep Platoon Parachute Regiment: 17 Nov 1943
751st Parachute Bde Coy RASC: 18 Nov 1943
127th Parachute Field Ambulance: 17 Nov 1943
2nd Indep Para Bde Gp Workshop REME: 20 Nov 1943

Commanding Officers

30 Jul 1942: Brig E.E. Down
11 Sep 1943: Brig C.H.V. Pritchard
1 Mar 1944: Col T.C.H. Pearson (acting)
6 Mar 1944: Brig C.H.V. Pritchard
22 Aug 1944: Col T.C.H. Pearson (acting)
29 Aug 1944: Brig C.H.V. Pritchard
13 Nov 1944: Col T.C.H. Pearson (acting) v9 Dec 1944: Brig C.H.V. Pritchard
9 Feb 1945: Col H.B. Coxen (acting)
28 Feb 1945: Brig C.H.V. Pritchard
1 Jun 1945: Col H.B. Coxen (acting)
26 Jun 1945: Brig C.H.V. Pritchard

Sources

* Joslen, H. F., Lt.Col., "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)
* Otway, T. B. H., Lt.Col., "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)