13th (Lancashire) Parachute Battalion

13th (Lancashire) Parachute Battalion

The 13th (Lancashire) Parachute Battalion was formed from the 2nd/4th Battalion The South Lancashire Regiment in May 1943 and belonged to the 5th Parachute Brigade of the 6th Airborne Division.

It jumped into Normandy on D-Day 6th June 1944 remaining in the line until the final break-out to the Seine in August.

During the heavy winter fighting in 1944-5 in the Ardennes 'Battle of the Bulge' the 13th Battalion was tasked to capture the village of Bure, which it accomplished after a costly three-day battle. It participated in the Rhine Crossing Operation VARSITY air assault and advanced across Germany with the 5th Parachute Brigade to the Baltic.

After the war in Europe the Battalion moved with the 5th Brigade to the Far East. It was during this period in Singapore that 258 men of the 13th Battalion refused to obey orders at Muar Camp due to conditions and were charged with mutiny. In the subsequent trial 3 men were acquitted, 8 sentenced to 5 years, and the remainder given 2 years. However, after much publicity in the UK with 10s of thousands of people signing petitions, 2 days later the sentences were quashed. 

Later the Battalion returnied to rejoin the 6th Airborne Division in Palestine in 1946, where it was disbanded and absorbed into the 3rd Parachute Battalion.

In 1947 the Battalion reformed as the 13th (Lancashire) Parachute Battalion (TA).

Commanding Officers:

1943            Lt Col Russell
1943-6        Lt Col PJ Luard, DSO, OBE
1946            Lt Col R Leyland

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Group photos_21

  • Group Photograph of 13th Parachute Battalion, December 1943.

    Group Photograph of 13th Parachute Battalion, December 1943.

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  • General Bernard Montgomery and others in a quarry at Ercarde in Normandy,  16 July 1944.

    General Bernard Montgomery and others in a quarry at Ercarde in Normandy, 16 July 1944.

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  • Members of 13th Battalion (Lancashire) The Parachute Regiment, September 1944.

    Members of 13th Battalion (Lancashire) The Parachute Regiment, September 1944.

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  • Group Photograph of 4 Platoon, B Company 13th Parachute Battalion, Salisbury, 1945.

    Group Photograph of 4 Platoon, B Company 13th Parachute Battalion, Salisbury, 1945.

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  • Men of 13th Battalion relax in the Far East, 1945-6

    Men of 13th Battalion relax in the Far East, 1945-6

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  • Non Commissioned Officers with Field Marshal Montgomery in Belgium, c1945.

    Non Commissioned Officers with Field Marshal Montgomery in Belgium, c1945.

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  • Group photograph of A Company 13th Parachute Battalion, February 1945.

    Group photograph of A Company 13th Parachute Battalion, February 1945.

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  • Warrant Officers & Sergeants Mess. 13th (Lancs) Parachute Battalion. Larkhill, Wilts. February 1945.

    Warrant Officers & Sergeants Mess. 13th (Lancs) Parachute Battalion. Larkhill, Wilts. February 1945.

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  • Group photograph of officers decorated by Field Marshal Montgomery, Lüneburg Heath Germany, 1945.

    Group photograph of officers decorated by Field Marshal Montgomery, Lüneburg Heath Germany, 1945.

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  • Scout Platoon of 13th (Lancs) Parachute Battalion with Para Dogs, Wismar, Baltic, May 1945.

    Scout Platoon of 13th (Lancs) Parachute Battalion with Para Dogs, Wismar, Baltic, May 1945.

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Photos_25

Medal Citations_6

  • Citation for the award of the MC to Major RM Tarrant, Normandy, 1944.

    Citation for the award of the MC to Major RM Tarrant, Normandy, 1944.

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  • Citation for the award of the Military Cross to Lt W F Hogdson, 1944.

    Citation for the award of the Military Cross to Lt W F Hogdson, 1944.

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  • Citation for the award of the Military Cross to Capt The Rev Whitfield Foy, 1945.

    Citation for the award of the Military Cross to Capt The Rev Whitfield Foy, 1945.

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  • Citation for the award of the Military Cross to Major 'Jack' Watson, 1945.

    Citation for the award of the Military Cross to Major 'Jack' Watson, 1945.

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  • Recommendation for the award of the MC to Lt Clements, 1945

    Recommendation for the award of the MC to Lt Clements, 1945

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War Diaries_1

Newspaper extracts_11

Documents_2

Letters and Cards_5

Official documents_1

Solo photos_4

Post-combat reports_2

  • Section of the 296 Squadron RAF War Diary. Contains details about 13th Bn drop with Para Dogs.

    Section of the 296 Squadron RAF War Diary. Contains details about 13th Bn drop with Para Dogs.

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Personal accounts_1

Latest Comments

Susan Trubey said:
I'm looking for my uncle whom I believe to have served in this regiment. His name was Kenneth Trubey and was from Swansea. He lied about his age and would have been 17 and three months on D Day. I've found a group photo. I think he's in it. I can't find any record of his service. Can anyone help with my research please?
Benjamin Hill said:
Service records can be applied for via the Gov.uk website. Here is a useful link
https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-records-of-service
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