The 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion was formed in July 1942 during the Second World War; it served in North West Europe. Landing in Normandy on D Day, June 6, 1944 and in the airborne assault crossing of the River Rhine, Operation Varsity. After the end of hostilities in Europe, the Battalion was returned to Canada where it was disbanded on 30 September 1945.
By the end of the war the battalion had gained a remarkable reputation: they never failed to complete a mission, and they never gave up an objective once taken. They are the only Canadians to participate in the Battle of the Bulge and had advanced deeper than any other Canadian unit into enemy territory.
By the end of the war the battalion had gained a remarkable reputation: they never failed to complete a mission, and they never gave up an objective once taken. They are the only Canadians to participate in the Battle of the Bulge and had advanced deeper than any other Canadian unit into enemy territory.
|
|
The formation of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion was authorized on 1 July 1942. The unit was conceived as a rapid deployment force in case of enemy activity or attack on either coast of Canada. Since Canada did not have an airborne training school, members of the original cadre were sent to both the US Airborne School at Ft. Benning, Georgia and the British Airborne school at Ringway, England. They would return to Canada and establish a Canadian Airborne school at Shilo, Manitoba. The curriculum would be the best of both the US and British schools. The remainder of the Battalion would be trained at Shilo. The original commander, Major Proctor, was killed during training.
|
|
1st Can Para Bn would consist of the Battalion Headquarters, HQ Company, and three line companies (A, B and C), with at total strength of 26 officers and 590 other ranks. By March 1943 Canada had its Parachute Battalion, but the fear of an enemy invasion had faded.
While completing training, discussions were underway in England about the deployment of this new unit. The Battalion would be part of the Canadian element in the United Kingdom, but under command of, and equipped as, a British parachute formation. The 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion arrived in England in July 1943. Over the next year, the Battalion continued intensive training for special airborne operations. The Battalion undertook courses to familiarize them with British methods, equipment and aircraft. Among other lessons, the Canadians had to get used to jumping without a reserve parachute and through a hole in the floor of the aircraft, instead of out the side door of a C47 “Dakota”
While completing training, discussions were underway in England about the deployment of this new unit. The Battalion would be part of the Canadian element in the United Kingdom, but under command of, and equipped as, a British parachute formation. The 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion arrived in England in July 1943. Over the next year, the Battalion continued intensive training for special airborne operations. The Battalion undertook courses to familiarize them with British methods, equipment and aircraft. Among other lessons, the Canadians had to get used to jumping without a reserve parachute and through a hole in the floor of the aircraft, instead of out the side door of a C47 “Dakota”
|
|
The 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion joined with the British 8th and 9th Parachute Regiments to form the 3rd Parachute Brigade under Brigadier James Hill, in the British 6th Airborne Division, Major General Gale, Commanding.
The Commanding officer of the battalion, Lieutenant Colonel G.E.P. Bradbrooke declared, "skill and efficiency in the handling of all the formation of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion was authorized on 1 July 1942. The unit was conceived as a rapid deployment force in case of enemy activity or attack on either coast of Canada. Since Canada did not have an airborne training school, members of the original cadre were sent to both the US Airborne School at Ft. Benning, Georgia and the British Airborne school at Ringway, England. They would return to Canada and establish a Canadian Airborne school at Shilo, Manitoba. The curriculum would be the best of both the US and British schools. The remainder of the Battalion would be trained at Shilo. The original commander, Major Proctor, was killed during training.
The Commanding officer of the battalion, Lieutenant Colonel G.E.P. Bradbrooke declared, "skill and efficiency in the handling of all the formation of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion was authorized on 1 July 1942. The unit was conceived as a rapid deployment force in case of enemy activity or attack on either coast of Canada. Since Canada did not have an airborne training school, members of the original cadre were sent to both the US Airborne School at Ft. Benning, Georgia and the British Airborne school at Ringway, England. They would return to Canada and establish a Canadian Airborne school at Shilo, Manitoba. The curriculum would be the best of both the US and British schools. The remainder of the Battalion would be trained at Shilo. The original commander, Major Proctor, was killed during training.
Lieutenant Colonel G.E.P. Bradbrooke
The Battalion’s first combat operation would be D- Day. Late on 5 June 1944, they took off with fifty aircraft carrying troops and equipment heading for France. "C" Company would be among the very first Allied troops on the ground in France on 6 June 1944. Despite being scattered wide of their intended drop zones, the Battalion achieved all it's objectives: silencing a German artillery battery and seizing or destroying several critical bridges. The plan for the invasion called for the Paras to be returned to England after being relieved by sea borne infantry in a matter of a few days. In reality, they would spend 88 days in combat after the initial drop before the remainder of the Battalion would be withdrawn to England.
1st Canadian Parachute Battalion D-Day France
The German breakthrough at the "Bulge" in December brought them back to the continent, by ship and truck. 1CanPara joined the British force under Montgomery, and became one of only two Canadian units actively engaged in the "Battle of the Bulge." In May of 1945.
Ill-clad paratroopers of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion in the Ardennes in January 1945. |
Paratroopers of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, Bastonge, 1945 |
They would make the Rhine crossing drop as part of Operation Varsity. In this operation, Corporal Fred Topham of 1CanPara earned the only Victoria Cross, Britain's highest decoration, awarded within the 6th Airborne Div.
After Varsity, the Battalion was tasked with racing the Soviets to the Baltic, and fought as light infantry all the way across Germany until they met the advancing Soviet forces at Wismar in 1945.
After Varsity, the Battalion was tasked with racing the Soviets to the Baltic, and fought as light infantry all the way across Germany until they met the advancing Soviet forces at Wismar in 1945.
Frederick George Topham VC (click here)
|
|
|
After cessation of hostilities in North West Europe in May 1945, the unit left England in the middle of June 1945 , arriving in Halifax on the first day of summer. The Battalion was the first Canadian unit to return home from overseas service and received the key to the city of Halifax. After a month's leave, the Battalion reassembled at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. With the end of the war in the Pacific in August, the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion was disbanded on 30 September 1945.
1st Can Para Robby Robson returning via boat from the Battle of the Bulge and Holland. |
1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, Greven, Germany, 4 April 1945. |
