HQ 1st Airborne Division

HQ 1st Airborne Division formed the headquarters for operations of the 1st Airborne Division, protected by the Defence Platoon.

The 1st Airborne Division was formed on 1st November 1941 with its Headquarters initially in King Charles Street London, until moving to Syrencote House at Figheldean in Wiltshire.

Its primary campaigns were brigade actions in North Africa and Sicily, landing as a division in Italy in 1943. It was not used for the D-Day landings and was on stand-by for numerous cancelled actions until the ill-fated MARKET-GARDEN Operation in September 1944.

At Arnhem, the Divisional Headquarters established at the Hartenstein Hotel was hugely significant. The Airborne Museum 'Hartenstein' now acts as a permanent memorial to the conflict, and a place of pilgrimage for veterans of the Battle.

The Division was virtually wiped out during the fighting around Arnhem and Oosterbeek. It was disbanded on 15th November 1945 after participating in the Liberation of Norway and Denmark.

Divisional Commanders:

• Maj-Gen F ‘Boy’ Browning 1941-2
• Maj-Gen Hopkinson 1943 (Killed in Italy) Temporarily replaced by Brig EE Down
• Maj-Gen Roy Urquhart 1944-45

See also: 1st Airborne Division