The Parachute Regiment Reserve Battalion was established at the East Yorks Depot in Beverley at the turn of 1944-45.

The reserve battalion then relocated to Piddlehinton in Dorset in 1945 and at one stage had around 90 officers and 2,000 other ranks on the books - a mix of freshly trained soldiers awaiting postings to service battalions and old hands looking forward to imminent demobilisation.

The legendary Alistair Pearson initially commanded the battalion, with Capt Hugh McCartney as Adjutant. Major George Widdowson was appointed as the battalion 2i/c in 1945.

The PR Reserve Battalion transferred to Talavera Barracks in Aldershot around September 1946 where it was renamed as The Parachute Regiment Training and Holding Battalion. 

Commanding Officers

Profile under development pending further research.

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