The 1st Airborne Division was formed on 1st November 1941 with its Headquarters initially in King Charles Street London (known as 'The Dungeon Party'), until moving to Syrencote House at Figheldean in Wiltshire.
Its primary campaigns were brigade actions in North Africa and Sicily, landing as a division in Italy in 1943. It was not used for the D-Day landings and was on stand-by for numerous cancelled actions until the ill-fated MARKET-GARDEN Operation in September 1944. It was virtually wiped out during the fighting around Arnhem and Oosterbeek. It was disbanded on 15th November 1945 after participating in the Liberation of Norway and Denmark.
Order of Battle:
1st Parachute Brigade 1941 – 1945
2nd Parachute Brigade 1942 – 1943
3rd Parachute Brigade 1942 – 1943
4th Parachute Brigade 1943 – 1944
1st Airlanding Brigade 1942 – 1945
Division Troops
Attached Units:
1st Polish Independent Para Brigade under Maj Gen S.Sosabowskie
1st Wing Glider Pilot Regiment Lt.Col I.Murray
2nd Wing Glider Pilot Regiment Lt.Col J.Place
Dutch liaison at Arnhem, LCdr A.Wolters and Lt M.Knottenbelt
Commanders:
Maj-Gen F ‘Boy’ Browning 1941-2
Maj-Gen Hopkinson 1943 (Killed in Italy) Temporarily replaced by Brig EE Down
Maj-Gen Roy Urquhart 1944-45
See also: HQ 1st Airborne Division
Airborne Assault Museum
