WW2 Paratroopers Grouping which Battalion ?

[waffen44]

I was fortunate enough to 'stumble' over this grouping recently and would very much appreciate any details relating to which Para Battalion Alfred Hubball served in WW2.
In the grouping are some 25 Private photos showing troops in C47 aircraft waiting to jump, landing on drop zones ect ect . I have included a couple as I thought the union jack armband being worn by one para inside the aircraft prior to jump may be of interest to you para buffs out there ! I have also tried to show there seems to be some sort of coloured flash being worn behind his beret badge.
Here is what I know of Albert;
2936250 Hubball Albert
DOB 6/5/1922
Transferred to AAC in 1942
Awarded Africa Star, Italy Star, 39-45 Star , Defense Medal .
Appointed L.corpral 15/1/45
Appointed Cpl 17/8/45
Appointed Sgt 2/5/46

I would be very grateful to learn more of where Albert saw service ect in WW2 ( I can guess Italy and Africa based upon his medals ) .
Many Thanks , James.

[loupie1961]

Originally Posted by waffen44

I was fortunate enough to 'stumble' over this grouping recently and would very much appreciate any details relating to which Para Battalion Alfred Hubball served in WW2.
In the grouping are some 25 Private photos showing troops in C47 aircraft waiting to jump, landing on drop zones ect ect . I have included a couple as I thought the union jack armband being worn by one para inside the aircraft prior to jump may be of interest to you para buffs out there ! I have also tried to show there seems to be some sort of coloured flash being worn behind his beret badge.
Here is what I know of Albert;
2936250 Hubball Albert
DOB 6/5/1922
Transferred to AAC in 1942
Awarded Africa Star, Italy Star, 39-45 Star , Defense Medal .
Appointed L.corpral 15/1/45
Appointed Cpl 17/8/45
Appointed Sgt 2/5/46

I would be very grateful to learn more of where Albert saw service ect in WW2 ( I can guess Italy and Africa based upon his medals ) .
Many Thanks , James.

Well, at a guess he served with the 1st Airborne Division, 2nd Parachute Brigade, therefore Sicily (Husky), landing at Taranto (Slapstick) and afterwards, as 2nd Independent Parachute Brigade, Monte Cassino, Operation Dragoon (Southern France) and Greece (operation Manna).

[loupie1961]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2nd_Pa...United_Kingdom)

[Frank Kelley]

Do you think that the 6th Battalion memorial photo is a red herring then? 6 Para was part of 2nd Para Brigade they did serve in Greece in 1944 and subsequently in Palestine, anything shown in AB64?

[waffen44]

Originally Posted by Frank Kelley

Do you think that the 6th Battalion memorial photo is a red herring then? 6 Para was part of 2nd Para Brigade they did serve in Greece in 1944 and subsequently in Palestine, anything shown in AB64?

Hi Frank , I am just going to take another quick look now and will report straight back . James

[waffen44]

Hi Frank , Nothing else evident; just Gas and 3" Mortar training . James

[jdr]

This is definitely 5th (Scottish) Battalion The Parachute Regiment. They served with 2nd Parachute Brigade. The tartan backed cap badge on the photographs gives this away.

The Vickers photo is particularly nice

Hope this helps
Jack

[waffen44]

Thanks Jack ! That would make sense , I need to have a look in his registaration document when I get a moment. I have a feeling he was in one of the Scottish regiments before transering to AAC . James

[waffen44]

Here is his W5258 entry ; does this help confirm ? James

[jdr]

Originally Posted by waffen44

Here is his W5258 entry ; does this help confirm ? James

Hi James

Yes it confirms 5th Battalion as this Battalion was formed from the 7th Cameron Highlanders "Camerons"

Jack

[arnhem2280]

Hi 2936250 Hubball was on a parachute course at Ringway between 21/9/1942 and 28/9/1942. At that stage he was shown as a member of 5th Scottish Battalion Parachute Regiment. This Battalion was formed from the 7th Battalion Cameron Highlanders in May 1942. It spent its whole time as a part of 2nd Independent Parachute Brigade and served in Italy, where it was deployed as an Infantry Battalion alongside the 4th and 6th Battalions.
The Battalion later took part in Op Dragoon, South of France and Op Manna, Greece. On both occasions it took an Airborne Role.
It appears he did not take part in either of these.
Hope this is of some use.

Cheers

Arnhem

[waffen44]

Arnhem , Thanks for your kind information; Would the photo showing Albert in Mortar action against E.L.A.S in Dec 44 not indicate that he was involved in the operations ?? James

[arnhem2280]

Originally Posted by waffen44

Arnhem , Thanks for your kind information; Would the photo showing Albert in Mortar action against E.L.A.S in Dec 44 not indicate that he was involved in the operations ?? James

Hi James

Yes it would. My mistake I forgot the Italy Star covered the Greek theatre of operations. On that basis he would have been on Op Manna. He does not appear on the jump list for 5th Battalion for Op Dragoon though for which he would have been awarded the France and Germany Star if he had taken part.

I should have looked at the photos more carefully before I posted.

Cheers

Arnhem

[Frank Kelley]

James,
Disappointing, but, certainly not unusual, AB64's can often be a pain and throw up yet more questions than they answer.
I have a particular interest in Palestine and of course, without direct enlistment, the regiment was busy getting hold of young lads from the General Service Corps in order to replace their casualties they had incurred throughout the latter stage of the war.
Anyway, the badge is the giveaway and certainly nice to see the plastic badge actually being worn, is his Parachute Badge shown in AB64 and it's date of award, I expect so.
Regards Frank

Originally Posted by waffen44

Hi Frank , Nothing else evident; just Gas and 3" Mortar training . James

[DougSA]

His Army number also shows that he enlisted with The Cameron Highlanders in the first place, so consistent with the above...