591 (Antrim) Para Sqn RE

[Mike Jackson]

Those who have access to Militaria magazine will find a nine page article on 591 (Antrim) Para Sqn RE in No 377 (February 2017). Having started the War as the Antrim Fortress Company RE, this unit went on to sustain heavy casualties in Normandy, including the attack on the Merville Battery - some 23% of the Sqn's strength killed, wounded and missing between 6 June and 21 August 1944. Of these, seven wounded were captured and murdered by members of 744 Grenadier Regiment, 711 Inf Div. Mike

[Postwarden]

An excellent article as expected from two expert authors.

I'll see if I can get the Editor's and Authors' permission to reproduce the full colour badge page.

Jon

[Postwarden]

With permission from the authors, Mike Jackson and Robert Le Chantoux and the Editor of Militaria magazine, Philippe Charbonnier herewith the page of insignia from the Antrim Engineers article.

Anyone interested in this excellent French language publication should have a look at the English language version of their website

http://www.histoireetcollections.com/en/. They have also just published an interesting book in English on WW2 Women in Uniform.

Apart from having written some articles for them some 18 years ago I have no connection with the magazine.

Jon

[Belly]

Thanks Jon
Such a shame there is not the perceived demand for an English version of this any more
Paul

[Mike B]

Totally Agree - It is a superb publication. Surely there is a market for a version in English again. I could never understand why it was stopped - a real shame!
Mike

[Mike Jackson]

To pre-empt comment from the purists, we decided to include the post-1945 title THE ANTRIMS worn by 591 Indep Fd Sqn RE (TA) for the sake of completeness. According to a history of the Territorials in Northern Ireland 1947-1978, it was worn under the title ROYAL ENGINEERS. In researching the article we were surprised that the involvement of members of the Sqn in the attack on the Merville Battery was glossed over by historians (and in some cases not mentioned at all). Mike

[Pretani]

The current 591 Sqn have an annual D Day dinner, started a few years ago, to recognise the sacrifice of the Sqn in Normandy.