2nd Bn Royal Sussex, later 10th Bn Parachute Regt

[Owen]

Some of my TA mates left us to join 10 Para, they said 10 Para had been formed from The Guards, obviously not.

[airborne medic]

Originally Posted by Thefightingtenth

Hi Carole

The Tenth Battalion the Parachute Regiment were formed at Kabrit from a nucleus of men of the 2nd Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment on 1/1/1943. However, the first parachute course for the battalion was on 17/12/42 at Kabrit. 2 Royal Sussex Regiment initially provided 8 officers including the Lt Col K.B.I Smythe, 31 senior ranks, 24 junior ranks and 104 other ranks. The Tenth Battalion was initially called 'S' Battalion until being given the designation The Tenth Battalion, The Parachute Regiment on 3/2/43.

If you have any further questions about the history of 10 PARA please ask. I also have some knowledge on 2 Royal Sussex Regiment.

Graham

Graham,
Welcome to the forum and your first post too......I have a question on the 10th about 19th September 1944...do you have a location (grid reference) where the unit's RAP was and therefore the location of the death of the RMO Captain Drayson?

[airborne medic]

Owen,

There was a Guards influence in some parachute battalions....several RSMs i.e Gay and Lord were wooden tops and also some of the officers....des Voeux and Bromley-Martin...but no specific Guards Parachute Battalion till post-war.....
Also more of the battalions in the 6th AB Division were based on infantry regts...realisitically in the 1st the only one was the 10th....

[Thefightingtenth]

airborne medic

Despite having been on a number of Arnhem battlefield tours including one conducted by Captain Booty the Tenths adjutant at Arnhem I do not have knowledge of any specific location for the 10th's RAP on the 19th September. Given the fluid and chaotic nature of the battle in and around Oosterbeek I would be interested to know myself where the RAP might have been located and how, if at all, it would have operated under such difficult circumstances. The Battalion war diary for the period covering the Arnhem battle is blank and thus it offers no help as to who was where, and when, during the Arnhem battle.

To an earlier question, I have a particular interest in the history of the Tenth Battalion as I served with the Battalion for many years. Some years back I researched the Battalion war Diary at the PRO, mainly for personal interest, I have kept the notes made at the time and that is where the information about the formation of the Battalion has come.

[Philip,ABRG]

Captain Jasper Booty was HQ 4th Para Bde HQ

[airborne medic]

Originally Posted by Thefightingtenth

airborne medic

Despite having been on a number of Arnhem battlefield tours including one conducted by Captain Booty the Tenths adjutant at Arnhem I do not have knowledge of any specific location for the 10th's RAP on the 19th September. Given the fluid and chaotic nature of the battle in and around Oosterbeek I would be interested to know myself where the RAP might have been located and how, if at all, it would have operated under such difficult circumstances. The Battalion war diary for the period covering the Arnhem battle is blank and thus it offers no help as to who was where, and when, during the Arnhem battle.

To an earlier question, I have a particular interest in the history of the Tenth Battalion as I served with the Battalion for many years. Some years back I researched the Battalion war Diary at the PRO, mainly for personal interest, I have kept the notes made at the time and that is where the information about the formation of the Battalion has come.

When and where you with the 10th DofYs or at a Company??

We have a rough idea where the 10th's RAP was located but on the various times I've been in the woods with a group and a very knowledgeable Dutch friend on the 10th it's always been a likely topic of debate.....perhaps pm me to discuss???

[airborne medic]

Jasper Booty role at Arnhem was 'Staff Captain' in 4th Brigade HQ...basically a job which involves making sure the Brigadier's and Brigade Major's orders are passed across effectively.....

He also in later days organised a parachute jump of vets into the sea off Poole....perhaps called 'The Leaping 70's'....

[von Poop]

Originally Posted by airborne medic

He also in later days organised a parachute jump of vets into the sea off Poole....

I've got to ask, or It'll bug me forever... Why? .
(Expecting 'because they could' type answer...)

And welcome aboard FightingTenth.

Cheers,
Adam.

[airborne medic]

Von Poop,

It was to raise money for charity......they were all in their 70's..hence the name....probably won't happen today due to service constraints and the health and safety police....the Depot trained them, the RAF flew them and the Marines pulled them out of the water in Studland Bay.....

[Thefightingtenth]

I stand corrected on Jasper Booty's role at Arnhem. I should have checked before posting.

airborne medic: without divulging too much public information I served in three different companies of 10 PARA at two different locations from the early 1980's to the mid 1990s. Can I ask why are you particularly interested in the location of the Tenth's RAP on the 19th September?