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Major Stephen Henry Brunton Blakie was the second in command of the 4th Parachute Battalion in Italy in 1943. After the Battalion commander Lt Col JA Dene went missing on a forward reconnaissance in September, Blaikie was briefly made the CO of the battalion until "Vic" Coxen arrived. 

Major Blaikie advanced from a 2nd Lieutenant to a full Lieutenant on 12 July 1939 whilst in the 7th/9th (Highlanders) Battalion of the Royal Scots. He then joined the 4th Parachute Battalion as a Lieutenant on the 7th January 1942. He promptly completed his parachute jump training on course 8 from 10 to 25 February. This was a course noted for its difficulty owing to weather. After the disappearance of Lt Col Dene, Blaikie would have been granted a temporary rank of seniority. He officially became a Captain on joining the RAMC on 29 April 1952, also receiving the honorary rank of Major. This was backdated to 1 September 1948 to include the time he had spent in the TA. He retired on 31 March 1967, retaining his honorary rank. 

Service History

Operations

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Italy
The Italians had capitulated while the force was still at sea. The sinking of HMS Abdiel by a mine in the harbour, however, r...

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South France (Operation Dragoon)
The airborne assault was mounted alongside five US Parachute Battalions and one US Air Landing Brigade. The 51st US Troop Car...

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Greece (Operation Manna)
One company of the 4th Para Battalion was dropped in high winds at Megara airfield 40 miles from Athens suffering numero...
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