Thats strange mate because my Great Grandad was Airborne Signals throughout the war (and post war until 1960's) yet on all his photos i have bar 1 which was 1942 he is wearing his Pegasus patch with no Airborne Tab which would suggest he was Parachute Regiment but his should title clearly says Royal Signals? Old thread this but.... I don't wish to state the obvious here but as the airborne strip wasn't introduced until Oct 42 and the order to remove it from battledress was circa late 44 - is it not possible that the photos you do have were taken either side of those dates?.
The PR did wear the AIRBORNE strip under the Pegasus until late '44 when it was removed by all Airborne troops. Photos on Para Data to verify this fact, ParaData | A living history of the Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces There is the well known photo of Lt Midwood briefing his men prior to the Normandy Operation and they are all wearing the strip. Others as well showing PR members wearing after being presented medals by Monty shortly after Normandy so plenty of evidence that they did wear it. The quote from the book stating it wasn't worn by them is nonsense. It wasn't to distinguish non-para personnel from rear echlon elements!
I hate to nitpick but, I don't think there was a 'P' Company in WW2. I'd agree, P Coy is a modern (post war at least) additon to Abn Forces Trg. Having reenacted the PR from WW2 and had to explain to a member of 2 Para who had just left the Army why the hell I was wearing 'his' beret etc without having donw P Coy. He was fine after I explained it wasnt about in WW2 and I actually educated him on his own Regt which he thanked me for
Very interesting thread. My father was Airborne, starting in 6 Airborne Armoured Recce, then to HQ 6 Airborne and, later, to Para Depot and 3 Para. I have always understood he did not go airborne till (shortly) after the war, yet I can remember one of his battledresses in the wardrobe complete with Parachute Regiment flashes (in dark blue on pale blue) and the Airborne flash below the Pegasus. Strange! And in 1955 or so, 3 Para wore a green lanyard. Chris
IIRC the AIRBORNE strip/badge was predominately a 6th Airborne thing pre late '44 when all personnel were ordered to remove it. Photos of 1st Abn Div don't have them for Arnhem and neither do 6th Abn for the Rhine Jump.
I actually educated him on his own Regt which he thanked me for I did the same myself recently with some Royal Navy ratings from the 70s. They didn't thank me for it though. Still satisfying!
IIRC the AIRBORNE strip/badge was predominately a 6th Airborne thing pre late '44 when all personnel were ordered to remove it. Photos of 1st Abn Div don't have them for Arnhem and neither do 6th Abn for the Rhine Jump. I beg to differ, there are numerous photos of the troops at Arnhem with the Airborne strip on their sleeve. For example see By Land Sea and Air pages 119, 129, 154 and 156. John
My apologies, it was from Nov '44 that it was to be removed so Ardennes/Varsity onwards it wouldn't be present.
