Members of 2 Commando selected for parachute training July 1940.
Formed into 11 Special Air Service Bn (approx 500 men) November 1940
Renamed 1 Parachute Bn September 1941
1 Parachute Brigade (formed 5.9.1941)
1 Bn formed September 1941
2 Bn formed 30.9.1941
3 Bn formed 1.10.1941
2 Independent Parachute Brigade Group (formed July 1942 as 2 Brigade but
became Independent 17.11.1942)
4 (Wessex) Bn formed in Derby 1.1.1942,amalgamated into 4/6 Bn Dec.1947 and
became new 1 Bn June 1948
5 (Scottish) Bn formed May 1942 from 7 Bn Cameron Highlanders
became new 2 Bn July 1948
6 (Royal Welch) Bn formed mid 1942 from 10 Bn Royal Welch Fusiliers
amalgamated into 4/6 Bn Dec.1947 and became new 1 Bn June 1948
3 Parachute Brigade (formed 7.11.1942 on conversion 223 Indep.Infantry Brigade)
7 Bn 7.11.1942-8.8.1943 (to 5 Brigade)
8 (Midland Counties) Bn formed November 1942 from volunteers from 13 Bn Royal
Warwickshire Reg.,amalgamated as 8/9 Bn 10.1.1948,disbanded June 1948
9 (Eastern and Home Counties) Bn formed November 1942 from volunteers from
10 Bn Essex Regiment),amalgamated and disbanded with 8 Bn
1 Canadian Parachute Bn (see own Category)
4 Parachute Brigade (formed December 1942,disbanded 10.12.1944)
156 Bn formed as 151 Bn(50 Indian Para Bde) 18.10.1941,156 1943,disbanded 10.12.1944
10 Bn formed 1943 from volunteers of 2 Royal Sussex Reg.,disbanded 10.12.1944
11 Bn formed from cadre of 156 Bn + volunteers Middle East,disbanded 10.12.1944
5 Parachute Brigade (formed 1.6.1943)
7 (Light Infantry) Bn formed Nov.1942 from 10 Bn Somerset Light Infantry,3 to 5
Brigade 8.8.1943,1 + 2 Brigade 1946-47,reformed as 3 Para Bn July 1948
12 (Yorkshire) Bn formed June 1943 from 10 Bn Green Howards,disbanded 1946
13 (Lancashire) Bn formed Jun.1943 from 2/4 South Lancashire Regiment,
disbanded on return from Java 1946
21 Independent Parachute Company
formed June 1942 from volunteers,some from Glider Pilot Regiment
disbanded September 1946
1 Independent Parachute Platoon
formed November 1943 from 3 Platoon,21 Indep.Para Company (originally 23 Independent Platoon)
disbanded June 1945
22 Independent Parachute Company
formed October 1943
served Java 1945-46 with 5 Parachute Brigade
on arrival Palestine 1946 members absorbed into Parachute Bns
note :- The first 3 parachute training deaths can be found in the Army Commandos
section as 2 Commando (R.Evans,S.Watts and H.J. Carter)