The 16th Airborne Division (TA) was formally established in 1947 to compensate for the reduction of the three wartime Airborne Divisions and Independent Brigade Group, to one regular Independent Brigade Group. It was numbered in recognition of the two predecessor British Airborne Divisions in World War II, the 1st and 6th.
In December 1955 the Secretary of State for War pronounced on the future of the Territorial Army (TA) with a proposed cut of five TA PARA Battalions and the first quarter of 1956 was one of uncertainty with none of the Divisional units assured a future.
16th Airborne Division was disbanded in 1956, however the 10th, 12th, 13th, 15th, and 17th Battalions survived the cull to form part of the the 44th Independent Parachute Group (TA) in 1956, although the 12 and 13th Battalions amalgamated shortly after in October.
The following units were included in the Order of Battle during the Division's existence:
4th Parachute Brigade (Territorial) (renamed 44th Parachute Brigade in 1950)
10th Battalion (TA)
11th Battalion (TA)
14th Battalion (TA)
5th Parachute Brigade (Territorial) (renamed 45th Parachute Brigade in 1950)
12th Battalion (TA)
17th Battalion (TA)
18th Battalion (TA)
6th Parachute Brigade (TA) (renamed 46th Parachute Brigade in 1950)
13th Battalion (TA)
15th Battalion (TA)
16th Battalion (TA)
16th Airborne Division Artillery (TA)
880 Forward Observation Battery RA (TA)
285 Airborne Field Regiment RA (TA)
291 Airborne Field Regiment RA (TA)
292 Airborne Field Regiment RA (TA)
629 (The Cambridgeshire Regiment) Airborne Light Regiment RA TA) 1955-56
446 (Royal Welch) Airborne Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA (TA)1955-56
16 Airborne Division Royal Engineers (TA)
HQ 16 Airborne Divisional Royal Engineers (TA)
131 Airborne Engineer Regiment (TA)
16th Airborne Division RAMC (TA)
4th Parachute Field Ambulance (TA) (44th Parachute Field Ambulance from 1950)
5th Parachute Field Ambulance (TA) (45th Parachute Field Ambulance from 1950)
6th Parachute Field Ambulance (TA) (46th Parachute Field Ambulance from 1950)
1 Reserve Medical Section 16 Airborne Division (TA)
16th Airborne Divisional Column RASC (TA)
HQ 16 Airborne Divisional Column RASC (TA)
1560 Company RASC (TA)
1561 Company RASC (TA)
1562 Company RASC (TA)
16th Airborne Division REME (TA)
4th Airborne Workshop REME (TA) (44th Airborne Workshop REME from 1950)
5th Airborne Workshop REME (TA) (45th Airborne Workshop REME from 1950)
6th Airborne Workshop REME (TA) (46th Airborne Workshop REME from 1950)
plus various Light Aid Detachments attached to units.
Other Divisional Units
21st Special Air Service Regiment (TA)
16th Airborne Division Signal Regiment (Middlesex Yeomanry) (TA)
16th Airborne Division Ordnance Field Park (TA)
16th Airborne Division Provost Company (TA)
16th Airborne Divisional (Lincoln) Independent Company (TA)
North Somerset Yeomanry (RAC) (TA)
16 Airborne Division Field Security Section (TA)
Other Associated units not within the Order of Battle
Parachute Balloon Training Unit RAF Cardington
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