GOURLAY James, Capt, 4th Parachute Battalion, "C" Coy

James GOURLAY was born on November 28, 1918 in Greenock, Scotland. He studied at Kelvinside, then at the Edinburgh academy where he was the captain of the pool team. In July 1939, he enlisted in the "Royal Scots", and in October 1940 was commissioned with the "Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders". First incorporated into a machine gun section (341st Machine Gun), he will then be transferred to the 6th and 15th A&SH battalions. In 1941, he married Sybil EDWARDS, before being transferred to the...

Veterans · 23 April 2020

PRITCHARD Charles, Brigadier, 2nd Independent Parachute Brigade Commander

Charles Hilary Vaughan PRITCHARD was born 29th November 1905 in London. He was the son of Lt.-Col. Charles Hamerton Pritchard. . He was educated at Cambridge, before joining the royal Welsh Fuliers in 1927. After some various assignements, he became Adjutant of the 53rd Welsh Infantry Division. In August 1942 he was commanding the 10th Battalion The Royal Welsh Fusiliers when it was converted as an airborne unit and became the 6th Royal Welsh Parachute Battalion. In May 43, he let the 6th Para...

Histoire · 20 February 2020

4th Parachute Battalion

Commanding Officer : Lieutenant-Colonel H.B. COXEN 2nd in Command : Major J.L. de V. MARTIN Adjudant : Captain R.V. St LAWRENCE Intelligence Officer : Lieutenant E.G COLE Regimental Signal Officer : Lieutenant R.N. GEALL Quartermaster : Lieutenant A. WRIGHT Administrative Officer : Captain D.H. MARLOW Regimental Medical Officer : Captain J.P. IRWIN Reverend : Captain E.N DOWNING Rear Party : Captain S. BARRATT Regimental Sergeant Major : Warrant Officer I G. AINGER

Veterans · 16 February 2020

MATTHEWS Peter 4th British Para Bn. B. coy

A brave soldier who was part of the very formation of the Parachute Regiment and served throughout the war as Part of the 4th Battalion with distinction. He was born on 20th February 1925 Wanting to fight for his country when the war broke out he went to the recruiting centre on 21st September 1941 whilst only sixteen years old and stated that he was born in 1923. He enlisted into the London Irish Rifles and almost immediately volunteered for the newly formed Parachute Regiment, then under the...

Veterans · 17 January 2020

NOLAN James, Spike, 4th British Para Battalion,

(Page under construction with courtezy of Spike Nolan daughter Carol and Grand daughter Danielle) James Spike NOLAN, Member of the "B" company, 4th British parachute battalion of the 2nd independent para brigade, part of the First Airborne Task Force division dropped in southern France between villages of La Motte, Le Mitan and Le Muy on Drop Zone "O" at 4.30 am on the 15th of August 1944. The 2nd independent para brigade, was part of the First Airborne Task Force division, the Airborne part of...

In Memoriam · 18 October 2017

STEWART Arthur C.F , 4th Parachute Battalion, August 15 1944

STEWART Arthur Rank : Lieutenant Service number : Regiment : 4th Parachute Battalion Date of death : August 15, 1944 His grave kept the insignia of his first unit, the York and Lancaster Regiment.