The 6th (Royal Welch) Parachute Battalion was formed from the 10th Battalion The Royal Welch Fusiliers in August 1942 and became part of the 2nd Parachute Brigade.
It embarked for North Africa in April 1943 and later took part in the amphibious landings into Italy in September 1943.
Although the landing was unopposed the transport ship HMS Abdiel carrying the 6th Parachute Battalion struck a landmine in Taranto Harbour on 10 September killing over 50 members of the Battalion. (57 officers and men are commemorated on the memorial in the Free Church at Taranto.)
The Battalion remained behind in Italy with the re-designated 2nd Independent Parachute Brigade.
The 6th Parachute Battalion formed the nucleus of a small task force 60-strong under command of Captain LA Fitzroy-Smith, which parachuted behind German lines during Operation HASTY in June 1944 near Torricella, to harass lines of communication. The Battalion subsequently jumped into Southern France in August 1944 and was part of the Athens occupation force in the winter of 1944-5.
The 2nd Parachute Brigade, including the 6th Battalion, came under the command of 6th Airborne Division in Palestine from 3 September 1945 where it served until 24 January 1947. The Battalion sailed from Haifa, as part of the 2nd Parachute Brigade Group, for the United Kingdom where it amalgamated with the 4th Parachute Battalion in December 1947.
The 4/6th Parachute Battalion was posted to Germany in February 1948 and re-designated as 1 PARA in 1948.
Commanding Officers:
1942-3 Lt Col CHV Pritchard
1943 Lt Col JR Goodwin
1943-5 Lt Col VW Barlow
1945-6 Lt Col A Tilly
1946-7 Lt Col JH Cubbon, DSO
Make a donation to Airborne Assault ParaData to help preserve the history of The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces
The Airborne Shop is the official shop of Support Our Paras (The Parachute Regiment Charity RCN1131977).
Profits from all sales made through our shop go directly to Support Our Paras, so every purchase you make with us will directly benefit The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces.
Latest Comments
Add Comment
In order to add comments you must be registered with ParaData.
If you are currently a ParaData member please login.
If you are not currently a ParaData member but wish to get involved please register.