21st Independent Parachute Company

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by MadDog_ANZAC, Sep 16, 2013.

  1. MadDog_ANZAC

    MadDog_ANZAC New Member

    I am currently attempting to gather as much info on my father who served with the 21st throughout the war. I know its a long shot but I am hoping to track down any surviving members to see if they remember him, also looking for any period photos that may show him.
    Private Larry Brand 2nd Platoon Medic
     
  2. airborne medic

    airborne medic Very Senior Member

    Hello..I know the name... he was 7398211 Private L Brand....He returned across the Rhine....There are several members of the Company still alive but of course now all quite old.
    My advice as a starter for 10 would be to look for a copy of Leading the Way to Arnhem which is the story of the Company in WW2..It has many pictures and a potted history on a lot of the members of the unit....However be warned it is now out of print and so a copy may not be that easy to find.....My copy is downstairs but I'd be fairly certain he would be mentioned in the book

    There is also First in but IMHO this is not as good as Leading the Way and only has ten pictures of which six are 'well known' IWM general Arnhem ones.....
     
  3. Lofty1

    Lofty1 Senior Member

    View attachment 110935 21st 001.jpg
    As Naill says, Leading the way to arnhem is for you a must, there are 9 page numbers to L Brand, had a quick look don't think there are any pictures of your dad, added page 180 to give you a start,
    L Brand does not appear in the personalia index of First In,

    regards lofty

    Edit------ correct Naill, (see below) missed that, must try harder :lol: Here it is
     

    Attached Files:

  4. airborne medic

    airborne medic Very Senior Member

    He is in the group photo in LWA taken before the Company went to Arnhem.....
     
  5. Paul Pariso

    Paul Pariso Very Senior Member

    Here's his page from my database.

    All the best :)
     

    Attached Files:

  6. airborne medic

    airborne medic Very Senior Member

    Paul..very nice and for Maddog's benefit the page numbers look suspiciously like those from LWA......LOL!
     
  7. Paul Pariso

    Paul Pariso Very Senior Member

    :lol: Well spotted mate! Book ID No.159 is indeed LWA! ;)
     
  8. MadDog_ANZAC

    MadDog_ANZAC New Member

    Guys thank you very much for your help, its greatly appreciated. looking at the photo that is without a doubt him so well pleased about that. I have been trying to get a copy of that book for some time as it was recommended but is rare as hens teeth and when they do pop up very expensive but will continue the search :)

    Paul it is interesting that you show he was possibly awarded the MM. I saw the recommendation card that was briefly on ParaData and it was recommended by Boy Browning but it doesn't appear to have gone any further as it was void of any marking to show if it was either agreed or knocked back. I suspect it was never submitted due to the fact it is still amongst paperwork held. I have his medals and its not with them.

    The photographs in the book, do you know were they are sourced from and is it possible to get copies of them do you know?

    Again your help is very much appreciated ;)
     
  9. Paul Pariso

    Paul Pariso Very Senior Member

    MadDog,

    I've looked through "Leading the Way.........." and unfortunately it doesn't say who has the copyright to the group photo that Larry's in so I'm not sure how you can get a copy. This is the only pic of him in the book. I have photographed all the pages where Larry is mentioned and attached them here. I've also tried to scan the group pic but because it's spread over two pages it hasn't come out very well I'm afraid.

    All the best :salut:
     

    Attached Files:

  10. MadDog_ANZAC

    MadDog_ANZAC New Member

    Paul

    These are brilliant thank you, far more than I ever hoped for and goes a long way in building up a better picture of his time there.

    Still have Africa, Italy, Norway and Palestine to look into.

    I also believe he was evacuated out of Dunkirk as he was attached to one of the units there as a medic

    Your time is really appreciated. If there is anything I can provide that will fill in anything on your database let me know

    All the best

    Scott :salut:
     
  11. Paul Pariso

    Paul Pariso Very Senior Member

    No problem Scott, you're welcome :)
     
  12. Packhow75

    Packhow75 Senior Member

    I am an associate member of the XXI IPC Veterans club - I can put you in touch with the right person.

    Please drop me a line with your email address.

    Tim

     
  13. Packhow75

    Packhow75 Senior Member

    I know who has the copyright for the group photo... and I know how to get copies.

    Tim
     
  14. Al the Airborne Dog

    Al the Airborne Dog New Member

    I was speaking to Peter, who co-wrote Leading the Way to Arnhem, out in Oosterbeek a few days ago and he confirmed that the book is being re-printed in softback sometime next year.
     
  15. MadDog_ANZAC

    MadDog_ANZAC New Member

    Fascinating, will definitely be looking out for this when it comes back out

    Cheers :salut:
     
  16. Packhow75

    Packhow75 Senior Member

    I can get copies of the group pic from the daughter of one of the Veterans @ 15 GBP plus shipping - PM me if you are interested in a copy.

    Tim


     
  17. Paul Pariso

    Paul Pariso Very Senior Member

    I heard last year that there may be some additions to the "new" version. Defintely worth keeping an eye open for it ;)
     
  18. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Hello - Have you considered looking at the units war diaries at the National Archives?

    WO 166/8561 21 Independent Parachute Company 1942 June- Dec.
    WO 169/10357 21 Independent Parachute Company 1943 Jan.- Apr., July, Aug., Nov., Dec
    WO 175/119 21 Independent Parachute Company 1943 May, June
    WO 171/1248 21 Independent Parachute Company 1944 Jan.- Dec.
    WO 166/17190 21 Independent Parachute Company 1945 Feb.-Apr.
    WO 171/8506 21 Independent Para, Company 1945 May - Sept.
    WO 169/20086 21 Independent Parachute Company 1945 Oct.- Dec.
    WO 169/23231 21 Independent Parachute Company 1946 Jan.- June

    Good luck
    Andy
     
  19. Lofty1

    Lofty1 Senior Member

    I have passed on some material, some of which I believe will be in the 2nd edition.

    lofty
     
  20. airborne medic

    airborne medic Very Senior Member

    Mr P I presume you got written permission from the publisher to reproduce these pages as denoted at the front of the book????? LOL! Won't look good on your record if you are 'done' for copyright infringement!
     

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