I am looking for any info on what the 1st parachute battalion were doing in the first 2 weeks of October 1943. I am hoping to find out where my grandfather was injured as he was posted to x(2) list on the 7/10/43
Have you seen this Edward? Story of a chap in 1 PARA-Thomas Davies-his story in 13 parts on the BBC People's War website BBC - WW2 People's War - Thomas E. Davies - 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment - My Story Category Went to Sicily 9 July 1943 (Although two-thirds of men didn't land but went back to North Africa) Looks like they then returned to Liverpool. December 1943 in Lincolnshire Then to N/West Europe, Arnhem. Something here too from Paradata John Timothy | ParaData Operation Simcol-Italy Operation Simcol (Italy) | ParaData Lesley
Looking at your other post I see that you suggest your Grandfather was possibly injured in a Parachute training accident in October 1943. The only opportunity for him to sustain a parachuting injury in October 1943 would have been on Op Simcol, commencing on 2 Oct 1943, when Major Timothy and 8 O/Rs from R Company were parachuted in to try to find Allied POWs in hiding after escaping from their POW Camps when the Italian Army.had capitulated in September. However the Operation report completed by Sgt H Guest after their return in November states "Emplaned Bari 1545 hrs (2nd October). Parachute descent 1730 hrs on an exact DZ. Perfect drop, no casualties." There is no report of any member of the party being injured in the subsequent days, certainly nothing before 7th October.. There is also nothing in the war diary that would suggest any opportunity for sustaining a parachute injury, apart from normal training such as route marches. The 1st Bn, together with the remainder of the 1st Airborne Division had travelled to Italy, by Sea, from N Africa, arriving at Tarranto on 10 September. Although they continued their normal training there was certainly no opportunity for practice parachute drops.
Thanks guys. My dad always believed he was injured in a parachute accident after d-day and from the records I have it looks like he was injured twice but having trouble finding how