Battle Honours
The Parachute Regiment
Primosole Bridge *
Seven officers and thirty-one men jumped into Italy in February 1941 to destroy the Tragino Aqueduct. Although the force acheived their objective all members of the raid were captured as they made their way to a planned rendezvous with a submarine.
Bruneval *
In February 1942 a force of 120 parachutists (under then Major John Frost) landed at night on the coast of France near the town of Bruneval. Their goal was to capture a German radar installation and return with its parts for study. The raid was successful with a total of 12 casualties; the equipment and two German operators were returned by the Royal Navy.
Oudna *
The 2nd Battalion under Lt-Col John Frost was dropped in North Africa near Oudna to destroy a German airfield. Ground forces could not link up, and the battalion undertook a legendary forced march behind enemy lines. They reached the safety of British forces fifty miles later after taking over 250 casualties.
Tamera *
In March 1943 the 1st Parachute Brigade fought against a division of attacking German forces in the Tamera valley in North Africa. Although forced to make local withdrawals the brigade succeeded in repelling all attacks against overwhelming forces.
Normandy Landings *
On the night of June 5th, 1944, the 6th Airborne Division dropped into occupied France as part of the Allied invasion. The division held the extreme left flank of the Allied beach-head, destroying or holding key bridges and crossing points. Over 4000 casualties were suffered until the division was withdrawn in late August.
Breville *
A key location in the middle of the 6th Airborne Division's landings at Normandy, it was held in strength by German infantry and armour that threatened the beaches. After days of fighting and heavy loses the 12th Parachute Battalion led a successful assault that captured Breville and secured the center of the division's lines.
Southern France *
In August 1944 the 2nd Independent Parachute Brigade landed with American and French forces on the southern coast of France. The drop was made over very difficult terrain, and although scattered the troops blocked the major roads that were their objectives with relatively few battle casualties.
Arnhem 1944 *
From the 17th to the 25th September the 1st Airborne Division fought at Arnhem, Holland. Faced by several veteran German units far behind enemy lines, the 1st Airborne held off the enemy for nine days while awaiting relief from ground units. Eventually the division was withdrawn, having suffered over 7000 casualties.
Athens *
In October 1944 the 2nd Indpendent Parachute Brigade was landed at Megara Airfield outside Athens to take control of the evacuated capital. Fighting in the city between rival political forces raged until January 1945, when the city was secured. The brigade suffered over 100 casualties.
Rhine *
On March 24th, 1945, the 6th Airborne jumped across the Rhine into Germany. After stiff fighting over the next two days the Allies broke the German lines, and the 6th Airborne was at the forefront of the advance across Germany to the Baltic Sea.
Ourthe
Soudia
Djebel Azzag 1943
Djebel Alliliga
The 1st Parachute Battalion in Tunisia took part in the assaults against Djebel Alliliga, a dominant feature on the lines separating the Allied First Army and Von Arhim's Axis troops west of Tunis. Despite high casaulties from many units the mountain remained in enemy hands.
El Hadjeba
During the 2nd Parachute Battalion's epic retreat from Oudna they took up position on highground hard-pressed by German pursuers. The battalion fought against heavy odds throughout the day, repelling the enemy's attempt to take their position. This enabled the survivors to continue the retreat that night.
Djebel Dahra
Kef El Debna
North Africa 1942 - 43
This is a battle honour awarded to all regiments who fought in the theatre. The Parachute Regiment fought in a number of actions in Tunisia, including battalion-sized parachute actions.
Sicily 1943
The 1st Parachute Brigade and 1st Airlanding Brigade (glider-borne) took part in the invasion of Sicily in 1943. They landed ahead of the troop-ships, seizing bridges that would be used in the 8th Army's advance up the East coast of the island. Many gliders and their crews were lost due to water landings from early releases.
Taranto
This Italian port in the boot of Italy was seized by the 2nd and 4th Parachute Brigades in September 1943. Landing by boat the troops secured the city against little oposition, but over 200 casualties were suffered when a troopship struck a mine in the harbor.
Orsogna
The town of Orsogna on the River Sangro in Italy was part of the same German defensive line that included Cassino. The 2nd Independent Parachute Brigade's three battalions fought a dogged struggle against the German forces in the area before being transfered to Cassino itself.
Italy 1943 - 44
The 2nd Brigade of the 1st Airborne Division (4th, 5th, and 6th Battalions) was renamed the 2nd Independent Parachute Brigade Group and assigned to General Freyberg's command in Italy as part of the 2nd New Zealand Division. They fought as infantry during the rugged fighting in the mountainous Italian terrain.
Pegasus Bridge
A key position to the Normandy flank was the Orne River and Canal bridges outside Caen, France. The coup de main party from the 2nd Battalion the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (6th Airlanding Brigade) was reinforced by the 7th Parachute Battalion. The seizure of these points kept German panzer forces from disrupting the landing beaches.
Merville Battery
Elements of the 9th Battalion, 6th Airborne Division, attacked the Merville Battery in the early morning of June 6th, 1944. Although heavy casualties were incurred the battery was taken and the guns which threatened the landing beaches were destroyed.
Dives Crossing
The River Dives in Northern France was crossed at several points by the 6th Airborne Division during the early stages of the August 1944 breakout from the Normandy beach-head. The 3rd and 5th Parachute Brigades successfully crossed at Bures, France.
La Touques Crossing
La Touques was the second river to be crossed during the August 1944 breakout from the Normandy beach-head by the 6th Airborne Division. The town of Pont L'Eveque, which stradled the river, was the chosen crossing point. The 5th Parachute Brigade took the town and the crossing after two days of fighting and heavy casaulties.
Northwest Europe 1944 - 45
This is a battle honour awarded to all regiments who fought in the theatre. The Parachute Regiment engaged in four major operations in Northwest Europe during this time: the Normandy landings, the Arnhem drop, stopping the German Ardennes offensive, and crossing the Rhine.
Greece 1944 - 45
The 2nd Independent Parachute Brigade took part in a campaign in Greece that involved first chasing the German forces and later suppressing rival political factions. The fighting was of the nature of a civil war, and costly to all sides of the conflict. The paratroopers' tasks included peacekeeping and civilian relief efforts as well. The Brigade was withdrawn to England in June 1945.