Regiment Identification - Possible Parachute Regiment

Discussion in 'General' started by eddie chandler, Mar 17, 2010.

  1. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

    Right as far as the Parachute Regiment was concerned in India we can look at the following,15 Para who I mentioned earlier were part of 77th Indian parachute Brigade who were originally the 77th Infantry Brigade, Special Force, Chindits and a picture (from Para! by Peter Harleclerode) showing thier CO at the time Terance Otaway accompanying GOC 44th Indian Airborne Divison Major General Eric Down, on a inspection of the battlion in August 1945 clearly shows wings on the chest of the two men in question, this ties in with the ribbons as a guy on the end of the row being inspected has ribbons up............ more to follow.
     
  2. Paul Pariso

    Paul Pariso Very Senior Member

    Hello chaps,

    Could he have been part of 5th Parachute Brigade in the Far East? I have a couple of pics of a former neighbour of mine who, after Arnhem, transferred to the 5th Brigade and served out there.
     

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  3. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

    Im laying odds this guy is 15 Para in my last post the pic(which i cant post at the moment anyone else got the book Para! by Peter Harlerode pics following page 2883rd plate in 15 para) I refer to and the guy with ribbons is im almost sure the very samr R Lunn. and if you go to ParaData | A living history of the Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces look up 15 Para and there is a battalion photo cant find him but they all have wings on their chest.
     
  4. eddie chandler

    eddie chandler Senior Member

    I have been informed that the army service record has been applied for. Will let you wonderful detectives know the information as soon as I get it.
     
  5. RobertLunn

    RobertLunn Junior Member

    Im laying odds this guy is 15 Para in my last post the pic(which i cant post at the moment anyone else got the book Para! by Peter Harlerode pics following page 2883rd plate in 15 para) I refer to and the guy with ribbons is im almost sure the very samr R Lunn. and if you go to ParaData | A living history of the Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces look up 15 Para and there is a battalion photo cant find him but they all have wings on their chest.

    Hi Everyone,

    My attention has been drawn to this forum by Eddie Chandler who has been very kindly helping me with my grandfather's military records.

    I would very much like to see the picture mentioned above by wtid45. Is there anyway someone could make it available for me to see?

    It would be very much appreciated.

    Many thanks - RL
     
  6. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

    Hi Everyone,

    My attention has been drawn to this forum by Eddie Chandler who has been very kindly helping me with my grandfather's military records.

    I would very much like to see the picture mentioned above by wtid45. Is there anyway someone could make it available for me to see?

    It would be very much appreciated.

    Many thanks - RL
    Will post the pic up in the morning......... unless someone else with the book can do so first............ and just found another pic showing 15 Para gives a better view of the wings and shows very clearly Pegasus with India written underneath pic states men are wearing no 6 warm weather parade dress, second pic and info from The Paras by James G.Shortt
     
  7. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    Right as far as the Parachute Regiment was concerned in India we can look at the following,15 Para who I mentioned earlier were part of 77th Indian parachute Brigade who were originally the 77th Infantry Brigade, Special Force, Chindits and a picture (from Para! by Peter Harleclerode) showing thier CO at the time Terance Otaway accompanying GOC 44th Indian Airborne Divison Major General Eric Down, on a inspection of the battlion in August 1945 clearly shows wings on the chest of the two men in question, this ties in with the ribbons as a guy on the end of the row being inspected has ribbons up............ more to follow.

    There were two British parachute battalions in 44th Indian Airborne Division:

    15th Para, created from 1st King's Regiment and
    16th Para, created from 1st South Staffordshire Regiment
     
  8. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

    There were two British parachute battalions in 44th Indian Airborne Division:

    15th Para, created from 1st King's Regiment and
    16th Para, created from 1st South Staffordshire Regiment
    Hey Sol, yes mate I know;) I mentioned the 15 only due to the pic showing what im sure is the same guy in the book, I mentioned in my earlier post showing men from 15th Para.
     
  9. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    Hey Sol, yes mate I know;) I mentioned the 15 only due to the pic showing what im sure is the same guy in the book, I mentioned in my earlier post showing men from 15th Para.

    Oh ... sorry, my mistake, looks I somehow missed that :D

    I must be more careful
     
  10. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

    Finally got a good shot from my books of these pics as my scanner is broke it took a while to get a good pic but here we are.... pic on left is from Para! by Peter Harlerode, and the guy on the end of the front row is im pretty sure R.Lunn from Eddies pic in post 1. Caption reads, Field Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck inspects men of 15th Para Bn in the Bilaspur area of central India August 1945.On his left is the Co Terance Otway.Behind and in the centre is Major Gen Eric Down GOC 44th Indian Airborne Div.Pic 2 is from The Paras by James. G. shortt, caption reads, The commander in chief (India) Sir Claude Auchinleck inspects men of 15 Para.Note that on thier pegasus badge they have the inscription 'India' and thier Parachute qualification wings are worn on the right breast.The men wear No 6 warm weather parade dress.15 Para was formed from Chindit units aspart of 44th Indian Airborne Divison.
     

    Attached Files:

  11. eddie chandler

    eddie chandler Senior Member

    Thank you all for your help. Application form for service records has been sent...so now we are the mercy of the MOD. But as and when I get the information I will let you guys know and hopefully be able to find more about the story of 'Bob'.

    And I'd just also like to welcome his grandson to the forum. I hope he finds it as interesting and help as I have. I have been helped over several hurdles since my time on here so I'd like to thank you all for your help.

    Eddie
     
  12. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

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    They do look similiar don't they ?
     
  13. eddie chandler

    eddie chandler Senior Member

    Totally agree, what a lucky chance to pin point someone. If you look on his pocket the ribbons are even present so I'd assume its a very good chance that they are one of the same.
     
  14. RobertLunn

    RobertLunn Junior Member

    Well Gentlemen,

    Thank you so much for posting these pictures. It does indeed look very much like him. The ear shape is correct and he has the same family trait, being joined to the head rather than having a separate lobe. The Jaw line looks correct and there is the hint of the Ronald Colman mustache. As Eddie points out, he seem to be wearing similar medal ribbons as well. So it is very likley him, hopefully the Army personnel records might confirm this if they have him listed as being part of 15 Para. Although aren't Indian records held somewhere else?

    Can anyone tell me if the knife/dagger is significant. What rank is he likely to be in this photo?

    I only hope that the Army Records people can find his records. There is a lot of things that I do not know or that are contradictory still, not least is that it has been reported that he was under age when he joined up in 1939 and quite probably lied about his date of birth coupled with the fact he used different first names during his life and I am uncertain of the name he gave as well.

    In 1964 it was reported that he originally joined the Royal West Kents but the archivist cannot find a Lunn listed however the first name issue could be the problem. I think the West Kents were in India but how he might have got from them into the Chindits/15 Para' is something that doesn't seem to add up.

    Thank you again for taking the time look around and post what you have found. I had started to dispair of finding very much out about him.

    Thank you - RL

    Added - Can any tell what appears to be hanging from his belt on the far side? I looks like a stick or a gun barrel?
     
  15. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

    It looks like a knife...........fighting knife maybe a Fairbain Sykes:unsure: not to sure cant zoom in clear enough to make it out properly.
     
  16. RobertLunn

    RobertLunn Junior Member

    It looks like a knife...........fighting knife maybe a Fairbain Sykes:unsure: not to sure cant zoom in clear enough to make it out properly.

    Fairburn Sykes - Ah yes I looked it up on the internet. I have one of these somewhere in its sheath although I have not seen it for 20 years. Probably in a box in the attic. Although it didn't belong to my grandfather. I think that it might have belonged to my Uncle, Gordon Owen (differnent side of the family) who was also in the Parachute Regiment and was at Arnhem. I have not started to look into his history at all yet. The only thing I know is that he managed to evade capture and got back to the British lines. His story must also be an interesting one as well.
     
  17. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

    Fairburn Sykes - Ah yes I looked it up on the internet. I have one of these somewhere in its sheath although I have not seen it for 20 years. Probably in a box in the attic. Although it didn't belong to my grandfather. I think that it might have belonged to my Uncle, Gordon Owen (differnent side of the family) who was also in the Parachute Regiment and was at Arnhem. I have not started to look into his history at all yet. The only thing I know is that he managed to evade capture and got back to the British lines. His story must also be an interesting one as well.
    Hi Robert you and Eddie just keep them coming Arnhem is a magic word to some of us on here;) anything you can tell us on your Uncle then we will try and do as good a job as we hopefully have on your Grandad.And any chance you can post a pic of the knife?
     
  18. Paul Pariso

    Paul Pariso Very Senior Member

    Arnhem? Did someone mention Arnhem? o_O
     
  19. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

    Arnhem? Did someone mention Arnhem? o_O
    Steady that man:lol:
     
  20. Paul Pariso

    Paul Pariso Very Senior Member

    :lol: OK OK!

    I've been looking at the pic of the knife and it seems to me as if the scabbard/sheath of the knife has a slight curve at the bottom. As the Gentleman was posted to the Far East could it be some sort of khukri? I admit it doesn't look curved enough to be a 'proper' khukri but it's just a thought. :unsure:
     

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