3rd Parachute Brigade (United Kingdom)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 3rd Parachute Brigade


caption=The divisional shoulder flash of the airborne forces
dates= 7 November 1942
country= United Kingdom
allegiance=
branch= British Army
type= Airborne
role=Parachute Infantry
size=Brigade
command_structure=6th Airborne Division
garrison=
current_commander=
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
notable_commanders= Brig. Gerald Lathbury
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_2=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= Battle of Normandy
Rhine Crossing, 1945
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours= D-DayThe 3rd Parachute Brigade was a military unit of the United Kingdom.

History

The Brigade's Headquarters was formed in the United Kingdom on 7 November 1942 by the re-designation and conversion of the HQ 223rd Independent Infantry Brigade. The Brigade was assigned to the 1st Airborne Division on 13 November 1942 and was relieved from the division on 11 April 1943.

D-Day

On 15 May 1943, it was assigned to the 6th Airborne Division. The brigade landed in France with the division in Operation Overlord on 6 June 1944, on the left of the invasion beaches to establish a bridgehead across the River Orne and Caen Canal. The division was in action from 7 June to 16 August 1944 consolidating the bridgehead and holding it against German attacks. With enemy withdrawal on the front, the 6th Airborne Division began to advance on 17 August 1944, reaching the Seine later in the month before halting to reorganise and mop-up. The brigade returned with the division to the UK in early September 1944.

Ardennes

The 6th Airborne Division returned to the Continent late in December 1944, because of the German Ardennes offensive, and elements saw some fighting in January 1945 before returning to the UK in Feb 1945.

Operation Varsity

Operation Varsity was an airborne operation to assist the 21st Army Group in Operation Plunder, the crossing of the Rhine. The brigade landed with 6th Airborne Division in daylight on 24 March 1945. Contact was made with ground troops by the second day, and, on 28 March 1945, the 6th Airborne Division began advancing from the airhead. The division crossed the Weser from 5 April 1945 and the Elbe on 30 April 1945. On 31 April 1945, the 6th Airborne Division reached Wismar on the Baltic Sea. The brigade returned to the UK in late May 1945.

Component Units

*7th Battalion Parachute Regiment: 7 November 1942 - 8 August 1943
*8th Bn Parachute Regiment: 7 November 1942
*9th Bn Parachute Regiment: 5 December 1942
*1st Canadian Parachute Battalion: 11 August 1943 - 31 May 1945
*3rd Bn Parachute Regiment: 7 August 1945

Commanding Officers

*7 November 1942: Brigadier Sir Alexander Stanier, Bt.
*8 December 1942: Brig Gerald Lathbury
*25 April 1943: Lt-Col S J L Hill (acting)
*4 May 1943: Brig S J L Hill
*20 December 1944: Col R G Parker (acting)
*30 December 1944: Brig S J L Hill
*2 July 1945: Brig G W Lathbury

Bibliography

*cite book
last= Jolsen
first=Lt. Col H F
title= Orders of Battle, Second World War 1939-1945
origyear=1960
publisher=HMSO
location=London
*cite book
last= Otway
first=Lt. Col T B H
title= Airborne forces : the Second World War, 1939-1945
origyear=1951
year=1990
publisher=Imperial War Museum: Department of Printed Books
location=London
isbn=0-90162-7577 Originally published as confidential volume by the War Office.