The Irish Lancastrians (3 Para 1947 )

[Peter Brydon]

There seems to be little written about the above other than an article by Jake Whitehouse ( a former member of the battalion ) which first appeared in the West Midlands MHS newletter of early 1988.A shortened version of Jakes article appeared in the MHS Bulletin of May 2007.

There was another article in the MHS Bulletin of May 2001 entilted "Airbourne units after WW2 until 1970 " which says that in 1947 the various para battalions were liked to the Training Brigades and that 2/3 Para were linked to the Yorkshire,Lancashire and Irish Brigades.

Jake says the adoption of the subsidiary title was before the amalgamation of 2 and 3 Para although the change was imminent.

With regard to insignia Jake says most of the Para badges worn had lugs not sliders and officers generally wore other ranks versions.Jake`s batman obtained a badge for him which was more solid than the other ranks and the Battalion second in command had a bullion cap badge.

In service dress (in the mess and for walking out ) officers wore the badges of their parent unit.

Most interestingly the battalion formed a Pipe band,and the pipe major wrote a tune called the "Irish Lancastrians ".

Although the the pipers wore the standard dress for the battalion ( depending on the time of the year ) I presume that the pipe bags would have been covered with a particular tartan or cloth. I wonder if anyone has any information on this ?.

It is these relatively unknow details regarding particular units which make military history so interesting.
P.B.