Wendy George from ParaData had been doing some research for me on my late father. 5119595 Sgt. Reginald James Giles. HQ Company, 8 Para This was Wendy's update to me. "Reginald James Giles served with The Royal Warwickshire Regiment when in November 1942 The 8th (Midland) Parachute Battalion was formed from the 13th Battalion The Royal Warwickshire Regiment. The 8th (Midland) Parachute Battalion was part of the 3rd Parachute Brigade of the newly formed 6th Airborne Division in 1943. After training at Hardwick Hall he attended Parachute Training Course 44, which ran at RAF Ringway from 28 December 1942 to 8 January 1943. The course notes record "L/C Giles: Performed well. A good NCO and is fully recommended’ Can anyone out there give me any more info in relation to Parachute Training Course 44, any lists of persons taking part, documents, photo's etc etc. Would also like to know what the actual course entailed ? Once again thanks very much in advance for any information that may be available out there Thanks Bill
Wendy George from ParaData had been doing some research for me on my late father. 5119595 Sgt. Reginald James Giles. HQ Company, 8 Para This was Wendy's update to me. "Reginald James Giles served with The Royal Warwickshire Regiment when in November 1942 The 8th (Midland) Parachute Battalion was formed from the 13th Battalion The Royal Warwickshire Regiment. The 8th (Midland) Parachute Battalion was part of the 3rd Parachute Brigade of the newly formed 6th Airborne Division in 1943. After training at Hardwick Hall he attended Parachute Training Course 44, which ran at RAF Ringway from 28 December 1942 to 8 January 1943. The course notes record "L/C Giles: Performed well. A good NCO and is fully recommended’ Can anyone out there give me any more info in relation to Parachute Training Course 44, any lists of persons taking part, documents, photo's etc etc. Would also like to know what the actual course entailed ? Once again thanks very much in advance for any information that may be available out there Thanks Bill Bill, Ringway was where most of the paratroopers in WW2 got trained...I'm sure there will be a few websites out there with info..but basically the guys learnt how to 'parachute' - exits, emergency drills - although they had no reserve in those days, drills whilst descending, landings etc.....upon completion of I think it was their 7 jumps they got their wings.....they used such training aids or delights as the 'fan' and the 'knacker cracker'.....Hope this helps....it was around a two to three week course sometimes dependent on the weather......
Thanks for that info, hopefully someone may have some more specific information in relation to Course 44 at RAF Ringway Thanks Bill
Bill, You could ask Duxford again for that course but normally the only records surviving are of the individuals performance and I don't think they keep or were even written on 'courses' just the individual.....What exactly are you looking for on this course?
Bill, Some Links on Hardwick and Ringway if you don't already have them. Sorry I can't help with any specific course. The Ringway Index ParaData - Ringway Parachute Training and Development - Just Ordinary Men Parachute course at Ringway - WW2Talk Regards ...
Thanks again for your replies, I'm basically looking for information/documents that refer to the members of Course 44 especially in relation to my Father. Hoping that ParaData can supply me a copyof the document that says "The course notes record "L/C Giles: Performed well. A good NCO and is fully recommended’ Thanks again Bill
My uncle, John William Riddell, also took part in Course 44. He was KIA on March 24, 1945 while landing in Operation Varsity. You can contact me at gsoutham@sympatico.ca.ca
My grandad CSM William Burns took part in course 44.have you managed to find out any more info. He took part in D day. Ardennes, and Varsity.
thejackal12 your father was wounded on D-Day having a DZ injury taken to the MDS but official records claim he was wounded on the 8th June 1944. Riddell and Giles were both in HQ Coy. brithm
There is a very good book by Carl Rymen, Two Steps Forward. All about 8th parachute Battalion. Lots off information, including a list of men on course 44 (Your father is one as is my grandad) I would love to see the courses 44 report if anyone could point me in the right direction Thanks
