Parachute Regiment Battle Dress

[Graham Stewart]

Originally Posted by 3battalion

Hi Gents,

Now I'm confused and my limited knowledge of what units were converted to Parachute or Air Landing roles is probably the cause. I do know the soldier started out in the Lancashire Regiment and obviously ended up in a Parachute Unit. Like Lee mentioned I don't the significance of the yellow lanyard but I don't believe we'll get to the bottom of this until the family finds some paperwork or someone remembers something more concrete than just the Lancashire Regiment!

Thanks for everyone's help.

Paul

Exactly - the greatest help would actually be his regimental number, because from the 1920's onwards each regiment received a block of numbers to issue and it's from those numbers you can generally determine the unit a man served in, and even on transfer that number went with him.

[3battalion]

Agreed Graham and I'll keep trying to find out more information on this soldier.

Mike B,

I remember ages ago reading a good article on the different lanyard colours to different Battalions / Regiments and am kicking myself for not keeping a copy of it. The good thing about this forum is that there is probably a collector specializing in lanyards who is lurking in the shadows just waiting for his moment to shine so hopefully he reads this post!

Thanks

Paul

[Peter Brydon]

There was an article on lanyards in one of the MHS Bulletins in ( I think ) the 1970`s or 1980`s, I will try and find it over the next few days.

In the meantime the attached is the Kings Liverpools Lanyard in their regimental colours.

P.B.

[Mike B]

Peter - A great example of a Lanyard that is probably not known to many collectors.
Paul - It would be great if a Lanyard expert did step forward, they are a much neglected accoutrement
Thanks again. Mike

[Old Smelly]

I'm keen to know more about lanyards too. I have a few wirh id in my collection and several that are a mystery. A problem I have found is that some regiments in WW2 seem to have a tittle variation, possibly a battalion thing, and also some have changed postwar. There are also a few I know that have a specific pattern, Somerset LI and KOYLI for a start. Perhaps something worthy of a separate thread or project album.
Lee

[Mike Jackson]

Here a couple of post-War examples - 1 LF, 23 British Inf Bde Gp and 14 Para (TA), 4 Para Bde:
Lanyard.1 LF.jpg Lanyard.14 Para.jpg

[3battalion]

I know we've gone slightly off topic, but lanyards seem to be a neglected topic.

Lee, there seems to be no set construction for lanyards and I have seen colours vary greatly even within the same Regiments. This can obviously be put down the colours used to dye the lanyard but I also note constructions vary widely as well.

Mike J, thanks for sharing those scans. They look like very nice jackets and I also noted the big difference in construction of the two lanyards.

Thanks again

Paul

[Mike B]

Mike - Thanks for those lanyard images - great to see these examples.
I also apologise for going off thread but agree with everything said on the subject so far - this subject would make a great thread or study in its own right.
Mike

[Unknownsoldier]

I have a few lanyards, I can post perhaps we can set up a thread on lanyard colours?

Tom

[richiejones1]

Tom,

I'd be interested to see your lanyards.

Richie

[3battalion]

Please post the photos Tom as I'd like to see them.

Paul

[Unknownsoldier]

Ok, I'll dig them out and post them

Tom

[jdr]

Can we see some more pics of the wing? At the moment, I'm not convinced hmmm

[3battalion]

Here you go Jack.

I don't know if the photo shows it but the wings were once blue and have faded to an off white colour.

Paul

[Farang]

There is very little information, either written or pictorial, concerning insignia worn by units making up the Indian Airborne Division. They were not part of the Ordinance system which controlled UK based units and local sourcing was usual. This situation was compounded by the ease by which individuals could commission local 'bazaar' made insignia while waiting for demob at the end of the war.

The attached lanyard was described as being for the 15th Parachute Battalion when I obtained it. I have no independent confirmation of this attribution.

I have also attached a summary of my understanding of what lanyards were worn by Parachute Regiment Battalions during the period 1941 to 1945. This is very much a work in progress and any additional information is welcomed. This summary builds on information initially compiled by my father, Major Bob Bragg, who served with 13th and 12th/13th Battalions post war.


Parachute Regiment lanyards and epaulette slips 1941 to 1945

Battalion Lanyard

1st Parachute Brigade Headquarters Blue
1st Parachute Bn Green
2nd Parachute Bn Gold then later Yellow
3rd Parachute Bn Red
4th Parachute Bn Black
5th Parachute Bn Sky blue
6th Parachute Bn Red/ Green
7th Parachute Bn Green
8th Parachute Bn Dark Blue
9th Parachute Bn Maroon
10th Parachute Bn Deep Maroon
11th Parachute Bn Light Blue/ Dark Blue
12th Parachute Bn Light blue
13th Parachute Bn Black
17th Parachute Bn Light Blue/ Dark Blue
(adopted 11th Bn colours on formation because 11th Bn was not reformed after Arnhem)
156 Parachute Bn Deep maroon/ Blue?

Canadian Parachute Corps Light blue?

21st Independent Parachute Company Pale blue or Pale Blue/ White?
22nd Independent Parachute Company Pale Blue/ White

Indian Airborne Division
151 Parachute Bn Red?
152 Parachute Bn
153 Parachute Bn
154 Parachute Bn

15th Parachute Bn Crimson
16th Parachute Bn Green/ Red

Initially only the 1st, 2nd. 3rd and 4th Battalions adopted lanyards but by 1944 pictorial evidence suggests that the other battalions had also adopted lanyards.


Best regards,

Andy