British Parachute Regiment
| The Parachute Regiment | |
|---|---|
Cap Badge of the Parachute Regiment
|
|
| Active | 1940 – present |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
|
| Branch |
 British Army
|
| Type | Airborne Infantry |
| Role |
1st Battalion—Special Forces Support 2nd Battalion—Parachute Infantry 3rd Battalion—Parachute Infantry 4th Battalion— Army Reserve |
| Size | Four battalions |
| Part of |
16 Air Assault Brigade Special Forces Support Group |
| Garrison/HQ | 1st Battalion—St Athan 2nd Battalion—Colchester 3rd Battalion—Colchester 4th Battalion—Pudsey |
| Nickname(s) | The Paras |
| Motto(s) | "Utrinque Paratus" (Latin) "Ready for Anything" |
| March | Quick—Ride of the Valkyries Slow—Pomp and Circumstance No 4 |
| Mascot(s) | Shetland Pony (Pegasus) |
| Commanders | |
| Colonel-in-Chief | HRH Prince of Wales |
| Colonel Commandant | Lieutenant General Sir John Gordon Lorimer DSO MBE |
| Notable commanders |
General Anthony Farrar-Hockley GBE KCB DSO MC ADC Gen General Roland Gibbs GCB CBE DSO MC ADC Gen General Mike Jackson KCB CBE DSO ADC Gen General Rupert Smith KCB DSO OBE QGM |
| Insignia | |
| Parachute Wings |  |
| Drop zone flashes |  |
The Parachute Regiment, colloquially known as the Paras, is an elite airborne infantry regiment of the British Army. The first battalion is permanently under the command of the Director Special Forces in the Special Forces Support Group. The other battalions are the parachute infantry component of the British Army's rapid response formation, 16 Air Assault Brigade. The Paras are the only line infantry regiment of the British Army that has not been amalgamated with another unit since the end of the Second World War.
The Parachute Regiment was formed on 22 June 1940 during the Second World War and eventually raised 17 battalions. In Europe, these battalions formed part of the 1st Airborne Division, the 6th Airborne Division and the 2nd Independent Parachute Brigade Group. Another three battalions served with the British Indian Army in India and Burma. The regiment took part in six major parachute assault operations in North Africa, Italy, Greece, France, the Netherlands and Germany, often landing ahead of all other troops.
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Wikipedia