154 Gurkha Parachute Battalion

The 154th Gurkha Parachute Battalion was formed from the 3rd Battalion, 7th Gurkha Rifles. It served with the 50th (Indian) Parachute Brigade from December 1942.

Originally a part of Lieutenant-General Slim's Burma Corps, the Battalion had suffered heavy casualties and was left with just 6 officers and 300 men. It was sent to Amritsar to regain its strength, and in late November its CO, SFH Williams, received a letter stating that it would become an airborne unit. Unfortunately, Williams failed the necessary medical screening owing to long-lasting injuries. He was replaced as CO by Parsons in February 1943. However, Parsons broke his leg parachuting and was soon replaced by Lt Col Bond. 

The battalion was eventually renamed to 154 Gurkha Parachute Battalion so that it could draw from all the battalions of the Gurkha Brigade, and not just the 7th Gurkha Rifles. During the climactic events of the battle of Sangshak, the 154 was left at its base in Campbellpur as it was understrength and had not completed its air training.   

It was eventually re-designated the 3rd Battalion, the Indian Parachute Regiment in March 1945, which was in turn disbanded in October 1946.

Commanding Officers:

1942-3        Lt Col SFH Williams
1943           Lt Col H Parsons
1943-4        Lt Col GHW Bond
1944-6        Lt Col GO Whyte. (3 (Indian) PARA 1945-6)

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)

With Pegasus in India - the Story of 153 Gurkha Parachute Battalion, Major Eric Neild

Article written by Alex Walker