Kosovo was the first operational deployment for 5th Airborne Brigade apart from the Falklands and Northern Ireland for 17 years and reflected the British Army’s increasing commitment to dampen regional conflict whilst acting as a peacekeeping and intervention force in the Balkans and Sierra Leone.
On 30 July, after only 5 days preparation in Aldershot, the advance elements of the contingent, under the command of CO 5 Airborne Brigade Logistic Battalion arrived at Kigali airport on the outskirts of the capital. They came after 100 days of fighting...
The United Nations Mission troops in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) were under strength and of insufficient quality to face down rebel forces intent on encroaching the capital. The 1 PARA battle group with D COY 2 PARA was in place, within 64 hours of receiving...
On 6th June the 1 PARA group reinforced by 125 men from 3 PARA was deployed in Macedonia under 5 Airborne Brigade to spearhead a forced entry by the NATO KFOR Peacekeeping Force. The aim was to clear any pockets of hard-line resistance that might impede...
Airborne Assault Museum