Heres my 13th Parachute Battalion Battle dress.
As history goes on the battle dress, the previous owner discovered it 5 years ago at an auction in Wales. He believes that prior to him it has never been in any other collection.
There are two names inside the jacket. One being Hudson and maybe his service numbers and the other is Roberts followed by some numbers and HQ.
The black shoulder strap loops are sewn to the underside of the shoulder straps. On the backside of the jacket the soldier had sewn a loop so that the waist belt wouldn’t flap about. There is also evidence that there was once a medal bar.
On the left hand sleeve is a metal wound stripe and the most incredible part about it is that there was a German bullet found in one of the top pockets! Hopefully some one can help identify it.
My next step is to research the names and see what I’m able to come up with. If anyone can help me out I would be most appreciative!
Heres a brief history of the 13th Parachute Battalion:
The 13th (Lancashire) Parachute Battalion was an airborne infantry battalion of the Parachute Regiment, raised by the British Army during the Second World War. The battalion was formed in May 1943 by the conversion of the 2/4th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment to parachute duties and was assigned to the 5th Parachute Brigade in the 6th Airborne Division.
In mid-1944, the battalion took part in the Normandy invasion and the 6th Airborne Division's advance to the River Seine, before being withdrawn back to England. Three months later they were sent to Belgium to help counter the surprise German Ardennes offensive, which became known as the Battle of the Bulge. Later, in March 1945, the battalion took part in the last airborne operation of the war: the River Rhine crossing in Germany. After the war in Europe ended, they were sent to India to conduct operations against the Japanese Empire, however, the war ended before they could begin. As a result the battalion was sent to British Malaya, Singapore and Java to help disarm the Japanese occupiers and restore law and order. While in the Far East 252 men of the battalion were convicted of mutiny and soon afterwards, in May 1946, the battalion was disbanded.
Cheers
Edward
As history goes on the battle dress, the previous owner discovered it 5 years ago at an auction in Wales. He believes that prior to him it has never been in any other collection.
There are two names inside the jacket. One being Hudson and maybe his service numbers and the other is Roberts followed by some numbers and HQ.
The black shoulder strap loops are sewn to the underside of the shoulder straps. On the backside of the jacket the soldier had sewn a loop so that the waist belt wouldn’t flap about. There is also evidence that there was once a medal bar.
On the left hand sleeve is a metal wound stripe and the most incredible part about it is that there was a German bullet found in one of the top pockets! Hopefully some one can help identify it.
My next step is to research the names and see what I’m able to come up with. If anyone can help me out I would be most appreciative!
Heres a brief history of the 13th Parachute Battalion:
The 13th (Lancashire) Parachute Battalion was an airborne infantry battalion of the Parachute Regiment, raised by the British Army during the Second World War. The battalion was formed in May 1943 by the conversion of the 2/4th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment to parachute duties and was assigned to the 5th Parachute Brigade in the 6th Airborne Division.
In mid-1944, the battalion took part in the Normandy invasion and the 6th Airborne Division's advance to the River Seine, before being withdrawn back to England. Three months later they were sent to Belgium to help counter the surprise German Ardennes offensive, which became known as the Battle of the Bulge. Later, in March 1945, the battalion took part in the last airborne operation of the war: the River Rhine crossing in Germany. After the war in Europe ended, they were sent to India to conduct operations against the Japanese Empire, however, the war ended before they could begin. As a result the battalion was sent to British Malaya, Singapore and Java to help disarm the Japanese occupiers and restore law and order. While in the Far East 252 men of the battalion were convicted of mutiny and soon afterwards, in May 1946, the battalion was disbanded.
Cheers
Edward
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