airborne regiments did the British Army and Commonwealth forces have in it's inventory? I've read about units designated as parachute regiments (such as 1st Para, 2nd Para) and others like regiments of the Ox & Bucks being airborne), and still designated as glider units. I know that there were only the 1st and the 6th Airborne Divisions, and their table of organization can be found on wiki, but there were many other units not assigned to those divisions I'm sure. Just curious. The US Army had 5 airborne divisions (11th, 13th, 17th, 82nd and the 101st), but there were many other regimental combat teams and separate battalions not assigned to those divisions.
There were 1st to 5th Parachute Brigades, and 1st and 6th Air Landing Brigades. 1st and 2nd Para Bdes were initially both part of 1st Airborne Division, but 2nd Para Bde remained in Italy when 1st Abn Div returned home to the UK in late 1943. 3rd Para Bde started life as part of 1st Abn Div but left before the formation travelled overseas for Sicily and joined the new 6th Abn Div shortly afterwards. 4th Para Bde was formed in the Middle East and filled the position vacated by 2nd Para Bde in 1st Abn Div. 5th Para Bde served solely with 6th Abn Div. Theoretically all the Battalions within the Para Bdes were units of the Parachute Regiment, though some included ancillary titles (such as 6th Bn, Royal Welch, who it seems a great uncle was a member of, and 7th Light Infantry). The two Air Landing Bdes each had three converted Inf Bns which remained part of their Regiment (Oxf & Bucks, RUR, South Staffs, etc). As far as I can recall outside of the two Abn Divs the only other Abn fmn in the British line up was 2nd Indep Para Bde Gp in Italy, which added RA, RE and service units once it left 1st Abn Div. I know the US had multiple Para Inf Regts and non-Div Abn Arty units, and also split up Glider Inf Regts to reinforce units, but the British orbat didn't follow that evolution. Prior to 1st Abn Div being stood up 1st A/L Bde was a Brigade Group (having been converted from 31st Indep Bde Gp in Home Forces). Gary
I never forget Canada (their archives have been extremely helpful in my WE obsession), but as long as you remember 3rd Para Bde you remember 1 Can Para Bn as well. Gary
It would have been something to see if those two Ghurka parachute battalions had jumped into Arnhem with the 1st Airborne.
