Parachute Regiment Battle Dress

[3battalion]

Hello Andy,

Welcome to the forum and thanks for the great summary of lanyard colours to the Parachute Regiment. Mike has started a thread on lanyards so the mods may move your post to that thread.

Thanks again

Paul

[cw2311]

Originally Posted by 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

Excellent Lanyard list Andy! I have definitely gained some knowledge from it. Here are a couple pictures of 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion uniforms with original Lanyards. One is light blue as mentioned and the other maroon & dark green.

Cheers!

[Farang]

Many thanks for the uniform pictures, it is good to have tangible confirmation. A picture of the light blue varient I have is attached.

There is also a reference to another varient worn being worn at Fort Benning at the following link;

http://bcoy1cpb.pacdat.net/history.htm

This appears to be a light and dark two colour twist.

Best regards,

Andy

[Mike B]

I have done a further link to the thread on Lanyards:

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...391#post221391

The information on Airborne Unit Lanyards provided by Farang etc is exceptional and very relevant to that thread.

Mike

[fougasse1940]

This is what I've found:

AIRBORNE LANYARDS/LOOPS:
Parachute battalions:
1st battalion: green lanyard
2nd battalion: yellow lanyard
3rd battalion: red lanyard
4th battalion: black lanyard
5th battalion: Hunting Stewart tartan behind cap badge
6th battalion: black collar ribbon
7th battalion green cloth behind cap badge
7th battalion: green loop
8th battalion: dark blue loop
9th battalion: maroon loop
10th battalion: light blue and dark blue with orange strip in the middle
12th battalion: light blue loop
13th battalion: black loop
12th battalion: light blue epaulet loop with "Yorkshire"
156th battalion: black lanyard and qualification wings on a black background
1st Canadian para battalion: yellow loop
21nd and 22nd Independent Parachute Company: white/blue lanyard

Airlanding infantry battalions:
2nd battalion South Staffordshire regiment:
Bn HQ and HQ Company: white lanyard
A Company: green lanyard
B Company: red lanyard
C Company: blue lanyard
D Company: black lanyard
S Company: yellow lanyard
F Company: dark blue lanyard

1st battalion the Border Regiment:
HQ Company: yellow loop
A Company: green loop
B Company: white/purple loop
C Company: red loop
D Company: pale blue loop
S Company: dark blue loop
T/R Company: black loop

1st battalion the Royal Ulster Rifles:
rifle green lanyard

2nd battalion the Oxfordshre and Buckinghamshire light infantry:
blue lanyard

12th battalion the Devonshire regiment:
red lanyard

Airborne support units:
16th Parachute Field Ambulance:
cherry and yellow lanyard

Air-Landing Field Ambulance units:
cherry lanyard

Royal Artillery airlanding anti-tank battery:
white lanyard

1st Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers:
blue lanyard

Rgds, Thomas.

[Farang]

During WW2 RAMC units attached to Airborne Forces adopted a maroon and blue lanyard. I have seen reference to this lanyard being adopted in 1941 but do not have an ACI for this. This tradition continues to thIs day. When 23 PFA disbanded in September 1999, the last CO of 23 PFA asked for and received permission for 16 Close Support Medical Regiment 16th Air Mobile Brigade to continue to wear the Airborne Medical Services stable belt and lanyard.

The Airborne RAMC lanyard has two twists of maroon cord and one twist of light blue. 16th Parachute Bde Workshop REME also wore this lanyard.

Best regards,

Andy

[swedebasher]

on the list of lanyards it states the 12th Devons wore a red lanyard, any specific shade of red? does anybody have a photo?.
Going back to the original topic of the Indian BD, a very nice item and rather scarce, well done.

[Farang]

Unfortuantely I do not have an example of this lanyard nor any definition of the shade. This piece of information came from information my father compiled in the 1970's.

Best regards,

Andy

[Mike B]

Thomas
Many thanks for the listing - another very comprehensive guide
Mike


Those interested in Lanyards will notice that Tim (Grey Green Acorn) has both started a separate Lanyard thread under 'Forum Projects' and also an interest group.

[Paul3965]

Hello chaps,
Firstly may I say what wonderfully informative threads this and the other one are, fascinating stuff!
Now, I wonder if any of you can help me with this one. I have three lanyards which all purport to belong to the 1st Airborne Recce Squadron which fought at Arnhem in September 1944.
Can anyone here tell me which one (if any) is the correct one?
Thanks in advance,
Paul ..........

[Luc]

Originally Posted by fougasse1940

This is what I've found

It is closer to the truth to say that all that information is a direct copy from my old website.

[fougasse1940]

That may well be true, at the time I didn't take notes where I got various info from. A belated thank you is in order then.

Rgds, Thomas.

[William Brooks]

This is a 3 Para lanyard.