2nd Bn Royal Sussex, later 10th Bn Parachute Regt

I've read on Wikipedia (bad source I know) that the 2nd Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment was formed into the 10th Battalion Parachute Regiment in 1943.

My question is in what month in 1943 the conversion took place. Did the 2nd Sussex return to the UK from North Africa or did they take any part in the campaign in Sicily?

Cheers,
Carole.

 

Not sure of the exact date but it should be in the 'Otway' book and I'll check it out. I seem to recall it was after El Alamein wihch was of ocurse October 1942....
I can say with some certainty that they did not take part in the Sicily campaign....their first experience of 'action' as a parachute battalion was in Italy....and they landed by sea at Taranto in September 1943.....they returned to the UK from Italy around December 1943....

 

Many thanks - I hadn't known that they were in action as a parachute battalion prior to Arnhem, so that's new information for me

 

Just having a look at the info on my chap at unithistories.com - my chap is down as being transferred to the Parachute Regiment on 29 August 1943. Now why didn't I look there first? I am silly.

Cheers,
Carole.

 

Just having a look at the info on my chap at unithistories.com - my chap is down as being transferred to the Parachute Regiment on 29 August 1943. Now why didn't I look there first? I am silly.

Cheers,
Carole.

He would have been a late transferee then as they were a fully functioinig parachute unit by around April 1943.....

 

Think I've been guilty of making too many assumptions. I know he was in the Royal Sussex and was later in the Parachute Regiment, but when I saw that the 2nd Sussex had become 10 Para I assumed they were his battalions without any proof. The only thing I know with any degree of certainty about which specific battalions he was with is that unithistories.com gives his role at Arnhem as "Liaison Officer 11th Parachute Battalion with 4th Parachute Brigade".

For the record his name was William Sackville, Lord Buckhurst, later 10th Earl De La Warr, in case that helps.

Cheers,
Carole.

 

And you are looking for information about him for?

 

Hi Philip

I'm just looking for my own interest - I'm interested in the family. To cut a long story short, I read an article about his great-aunt which sparked my interest in the family and I've been fact hunting ever since. I'm not related to the family at all, but once my interest in something is sparked I tend to be hooked.

Cheers,
Carole.

 

Hello Carole

A friend of mine is writing a book about 11th Parachute Battalion, and I am helping him out, have been in touch with family of him.

 

The 2nd, 4th (TA) and 5th (TA - Cinque Ports) Bn lost heavily in the Desert campaign and were disbanded - personnel from all three ended up in 10 Para.

I have the history of 10 Para - as I am sure Philip does - if you need anything Carole?

I realise your man was in 11 Para at Arnhem, but there might be something in the book?

 

Carole -
If memeory serves - the 2nd Sussex went out to Egypt as part of 44th Division on/or around the Aug/Sep '42 in time to take a reserve part at Wadi el Halfa -then on to El Alamein where Monty was not too pleased with their performance and the whole division was "broken up for spares" - in the fullness of time they then joined Brig.Hacket of the 4th Para Bde in Tunisia/Algeria - as reserve for the Sicily landings - they then went ashore at Taranto and pushed up to near Foggia when 78th Division landed near Bari to capture the Foggia airfields - 4th para came home around Oct/Nov '43. leaving 2nd bde which then became indepentant in Italy. The brigadier in charge of 231 Ind Inf Bde in the Sicily campaign came home around the same time and took over the 1st Para Div - you know - the Sean Connery look alike !

 

Carole -
If memeory serves - the 2nd Sussex went out to Egypt as part of 44th Division on/or around the Aug/Sep '42 in time to take a reserve part at Wadi el Halfa -then on to El Alamein where Monty was not too pleased with their performance and the whole division was "broken up for spares" - in the fullness of time they then joined Brig.Hacket of the 4th Para Bde in Tunisia/Algeria - as reserve for the Sicily landings - they then went ashore at Taranto and pushed up to near Foggia when 78th Division landed near Bari to capture the Foggia airfields - 4th para came home around Oct/Nov '43. leaving 2nd bde which then became indepentant in Italy. The brigadier in charge of 231 Ind Inf Bde in the Sicily campaign came home around the same time and took over the 1st Para Div - you know - the Sean Connery look alike !

Small point 1st Airborne Division not 1st Para Div!

 

Airborne Medic -
Thank you for that small correction - we were of course , not familiar with the other airborne units of that organisation at the time and so it was quite a revelation to us that there were other elements involved - although we were aware of the Russian "airborne" units as far back as 1936 as reported by Gen. Wavell.
Regarding your trip - I think you will find that the distance from Sousse and Tebarka/Abiod is in the region of 300 Kms and can be quite warm.

 

Hello Carole

A friend of mine is writing a book about 11th Parachute Battalion, and I am helping him out, have been in touch with family of him.

Philip,

Can you share with the forum what Captain Buckhurst did at Arnhem? He was down as the liaison officer with 4th Para Brigade HQ for the 11th Btn, so when they were given to the 1st Para Brigade did he go with them into Arnhem or did he stay behind and take part in the fighting in the woods?
Did he undertake any liaison trips?

 

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/world-war-ii-news-articles/6981-captain-piers-st-aubyn-arnhem-veteran-obituary.html

From this it seems to me he was in the woods, surrounded with the rest....

He can have been in the town and returned by afternoon/evening of the 19th ... but why should he report to Hackett as 11 Para was no longer under command of 4 Para Bde... ?

As I have no other information, to me it looks like he did stay with 4 Para Bde HQ (possibly in another role then LO for 11 Para)

 

Sorry mate - wrong man you are talking of Piers St Aubyn (hope I've got that right)....he was with the 156 as IO.....Carole's interest is in Captain Lord Buckhurst Liaision Officer 11th Btn at 4th Para Brigade HQ.....so I feel we are waiting for Philip to share his info with us ......

 

.............On visiting brigade HQ to obtain rations he [Piers St Aubyn] found no food, but happily fell into conversation with his cousin, Lord Buckhurst, until Hackett told them sharply to get into a trench before they were killed........

 

Hi Carole

The Tenth Battalion the Parachute Regiment were formed at Kabrit from a nucleus of men of the 2nd Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment on 1/1/1943. However, the first parachute course for the battalion was on 17/12/42 at Kabrit. 2 Royal Sussex Regiment initially provided 8 officers including the Lt Col K.B.I Smythe, 31 senior ranks, 24 junior ranks and 104 other ranks. The Tenth Battalion was initially called 'S' Battalion until being given the designation The Tenth Battalion, The Parachute Regiment on 3/2/43.

If you have any further questions about the history of 10 PARA please ask. I also have some knowledge on 2 Royal Sussex Regiment.

Graham

 

Fightingtenth -
and Kabrit is near the Suez canal and their first jump was after the 44th Div had been broken up - after El Alamein - probably journeyed to Tunisia/Algeria along with 11th battalion who were making their way there from Palestine to join Brig Hacket - in time to be a reserve for Sicily in July '43 ?

 

Graham - you obviously have a special interest in the 10th? Are you writing or have written something on them?