6th Airborne Division

6th Airborne Division was a formation of the British Army during the Second World War, formed in 1943 from various Parachute Regiment units and other Royal Air Force and Royal Navy personnel. The division was trained to conduct Airborne operations, with its primary role being to support the Allied invasion of Normandy on D-Day. The division was composed of experienced soldiers, including those from the Special Air Service, Royal Engineers, and Glider Pilot Regiment. The division's formation was influenced by the experiences of the 1st Airborne Division during the North African Campaign and the Italian Campaign, with notable figures such as Winston Churchill, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Bernard Montgomery playing a role in its development.

● History

The division's history began in 1943, when it was formed under the command of Major-General Richard Nelson Gale, with its headquarters at Carter Barracks in Bulford Camp. The division was initially composed of the 3rd Parachute Brigade, 5th Parachute Brigade, and 6th Airlanding Brigade, with supporting units from the Royal Artillery, Royal Corps of Signals, and Royal Army Medical Corps. The division's training was overseen by General Sir Alan Brooke, Chief of the Imperial General Staff, and General Sir Bernard Paget, Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces. The division's early history was marked by intense training, with exercises such as Exercise Spartan and Exercise Eagle, which involved United States Army Air Forces and Royal Canadian Air Force units. Notable figures such as Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, General George S. Patton, and General Omar Bradley were aware of the division's formation and training.

● Organisation

The division's organisation was based on the British Army's standard divisional structure, with three infantry brigades and supporting units. The division was commanded by Major-General Richard Nelson Gale, with Brigadier James Hill as his deputy. The division's brigades were organised as follows: the 3rd Parachute Brigade was composed of the 7th Parachute Battalion, 8th Parachute Battalion, and 9th Parachute Battalion, with supporting units from the Royal Engineers and Royal Signals. The 5th Parachute Brigade was composed of the 12th Parachute Battalion, 13th Parachute Battalion, and 22nd Independent Parachute Company, with supporting units from the Royal Artillery and Royal Army Service Corps. The 6th Airlanding Brigade was composed of the 12th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, and 1st Battalion, Royal Ulster Rifles, with supporting units from the Royal Tank Regiment and Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. The division also included units from the Special Air Service, Royal Marines, and Royal Air Force Regiment.

● Operations

The division's first major operation was the Allied invasion of Normandy on D-Day, where it was tasked with securing the eastern flank of the invasion area. The division was transported to Normandy by Glider aircraft and Parachute units, with the Glider Pilot Regiment playing a key role in the operation. The division's objectives included the capture of the Pegasus Bridge and the Merville Gun Battery, which were defended by German Army units such as the 21st Panzer Division and the 716th Static Infantry Division. The division's operations were supported by units from the Royal Navy, including the HMS Warspite and the HMS Ramillies, and the United States Navy, including the USS Nevada and the USS Arkansas. The division also worked closely with the French Resistance, including the Maquis and the Forces Françaises de l'Intérieur.

● Order of Battle

The division's order of battle during the Normandy Campaign was as follows: the 3rd Parachute Brigade was composed of the 7th Parachute Battalion, 8th Parachute Battalion, and 9th Parachute Battalion, with supporting units from the Royal Engineers and Royal Signals. The 5th Parachute Brigade was composed of the 12th Parachute Battalion, 13th Parachute Battalion, and 22nd Independent Parachute Company, with supporting units from the Royal Artillery and Royal Army Service Corps. The 6th Airlanding Brigade was composed of the 12th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, and 1st Battalion, Royal Ulster Rifles, with supporting units from the Royal Tank Regiment and Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. The division also included units from the Special Air Service, Royal Marines, and Royal Air Force Regiment, with notable figures such as Lieutenant-Colonel John Frost, Lieutenant-Colonel Terence Otway, and Major John Howard playing key roles.

● Notable Members

The division included many notable members, including Major-General Richard Nelson Gale, Brigadier James Hill, Lieutenant-Colonel John Frost, and Lieutenant-Colonel Terence Otway. Other notable members included General Sir Bernard Montgomery, General Sir Alan Brooke, and Field Marshal Sir Harold Alexander, who played key roles in the division's formation and operations. The division also included soldiers from other countries, including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, with units such as the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion and the 2nd New Zealand Division.

● Legacy

The division's legacy is marked by its bravery and sacrifice during the Normandy Campaign and the Rhine Crossing. The division's actions during the war were recognised with numerous awards, including the Victoria Cross, the Distinguished Service Order, and the Military Cross. The division's history is commemorated by the Pegasus Bridge Museum and the Merville Gun Battery Museum, which are dedicated to the division's operations during the war. The division's legacy continues to be celebrated by the Parachute Regiment and the Airborne Forces community, with notable events such as the Arnhem Anniversary and the D-Day Anniversary being marked by ceremonies and parades. The division's story has been told in numerous books, films, and documentaries, including The Longest Day and Band of Brothers, with notable authors such as Cornelius Ryan and Stephen Ambrose writing about the division's history. Category:British Army divisions