Lieutenant Colonel Bernard Abbott was the first commanding officer of the 152nd (Indian) Parachute Battalion. However, in the summer of 1943 he was promoted to Deputy Brigade Commander of the 50th (Indian) Parachute Brigade. 

During the battle of Sangshak, he walked the 9 miles from Litan to Sheldon's corner together with Brigadier L.F. "Dicky" Richards, arriving in the area on 20th March. The brigade was later forced to withdraw through the jungle, with Abbott himself forced to hide in some bushes with Lieutenant Colonel Paul Hopkinson, as the Japanese hunted them down. After the battle of Sangshak the Brigade Commander Hope-Thompson was invalided out, so Abbot became the 50th Brigade's commander. 

Compiled with information from:

India's Paratroopers, A History of the Parachute Regiment of India (London, 1975), K.C. Praval 

Airborne Assault Archive (Boxes 3 H4 20.1.1, 3 H4 20.1.2 and 3 H4 20.1.3)

Article written by Alex Walker