5th Parachute Brigade

5th Parachute Brigade

On 1st June 1943 the the 5th Parachute Brigade was formed with the initial nucleus provided by the 7th Parachute Battalion transferred from the 3rd Brigade and became part of the newly created 6th Airborne Division.

The 5th  Brigade jumped over Normandy on 6th June and was responsible for securing ‘Pegasus Bridge’ having been tasked to secure the Benouville and Ranville areas. It subsequently fought in the Ardennes during the winter of 1944-5, participated in the Rhine Crossing in March 1945 and the advance across Germany to the Baltic ending in May 1945.

The Brigade was then assigned to the Far East, arriving after VJ Day, but continued with internal security and relief operations in Singapore and Java until 1946. The Brigade was sent to Palestine in August 1946 where it was disbanded and its men absorbed into the other units of the 6th Airborne Division.

Order of Battle:

  • 12th Bn, The Parachute Regt. (from the 10th The Green Howards)
  • 13th Bn, The Parachute Regt. (from the 2/4th The South Lancashire Regiment)
  • 7th Bn, The Parachute Regt. (from the 10th The Somerset Light Infantry)
  • ‘B’ Company 2nd Parachute Battalion


Assigned Units:

  • 591 (Antrim) Parachute Squadron RE
  • 225 Parachute Field Ambulance
  • 4th Anti-Tank Battery RA


Commanders:

 

  • Brig. E.W.C. Flavell : 1943-4
  • Brig. J.H.N. Poett : 1944-6
  • Brig. Ken Darling : 16 Feb 1946
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Photos_9

  • 5th Parachute Brigade listen to Field Marshal Montgomery at HQ near Osnabruck, 1945.

    5th Parachute Brigade listen to Field Marshal Montgomery at HQ near Osnabruck, 1945.

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  • General Montgomery talks to Gen Gale and Brigadier Poett, 1944.

    General Montgomery talks to Gen Gale and Brigadier Poett, 1944.

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  • Harry Marshall (on the right) and mates in the Far East c1945

    Harry Marshall (on the right) and mates in the Far East c1945

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  • Captured enemy aircraft at Wunstorf airfield, April 1945

    Captured enemy aircraft at Wunstorf airfield, April 1945

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  • A British soldier examines captured Messerchmitts at Wunstorf Airfield, 1945

    A British soldier examines captured Messerchmitts at Wunstorf Airfield, 1945

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  • A captured Junkers Ju 88G aircraft in a hangar at Wunstorf airfield, April 1945

    A captured Junkers Ju 88G aircraft in a hangar at Wunstorf airfield, April 1945

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Pre-combat reports_2

Post-combat reports_1

Official documents_3

Documents_1

Obituaries_2

Solo photos_1

Group photos_3

Medal Citations_1

  • Citation for the award of Capt Vere Hodge's Mention in Despatches, 1945.

    Citation for the award of Capt Vere Hodge's Mention in Despatches, 1945.

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Letters and Cards_1

  • Letter from HQ 5 Para Brigade to Charles Strafford, Editor of 'Pegasus Goes To It!' 7 February 1945

    Letter from HQ 5 Para Brigade to Charles Strafford, Editor of 'Pegasus Goes To It!' 7 February 1945

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Maps_1

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