5th Parachute Brigade (United Kingdom)

5th Parachute Brigade
Men of the 5th Parachute Brigade on patrol in Batavia
Active1943–1946
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeParachute Infantry
RoleAirborne forces
SizeBrigade
Part of6th Airborne Division
23rd Indian Infantry Division
Nickname(s)Red Devils [nb 1]
EngagementsNormandy landings
Capture of the Caen canal and Orne river bridges
Operation Tonga
Operation Paddle
Battle of the Bulge
Operation Varsity
Advance to the Baltic
Operation Zipper
Operation Tiderace
Operation Pounce
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Brigadier Nigel Poett
Insignia
Emblem
of the
British
airborne
forces

The 5th Parachute Brigade was an airborne forces formation of brigade strength, raised by the British Army during the Second World War. Created during 1943, the brigade was assigned to the 6th Airborne Division, serving alongside the 3rd Parachute Brigade and the 6th Airlanding Brigade.

The brigade first saw action in the British airborne landings on D-Day Operation Tonga, where it was responsible for capturing the Caen canal and Orne river bridges. The brigade remained in Normandy until September 1944, by which time it had advanced to the mouth of the River Seine. Its next engagement was in reaction to the surprise German offensive in the Ardennes, the Battle of the Bulge. This was followed by Operation Varsity, the last Allied airborne mission of the war. After this, the brigade advanced across Germany, reaching the Baltic Sea by the end of fighting in the European theatre.

The brigade was then sent to India as the division's advance party, but the war ended before it could begin operations. Instead the brigade became involved in disarming the Japanese forces in Malaya and Singapore, to restore British sovereignty. Its last operation was in Java, where it remained until a Dutch force arrived to take over. The brigade then rejoined the 6th Airborne Division, which was serving in Palestine, but was disbanded almost immediately afterwards.

  1. ^ Otway, p.88


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