4th Parachute Brigade (United Kingdom)

4th Parachute Brigade (United Kingdom)

The 4th Parachute Brigade was an airborne brigade of the British Army during the Second World War. Formed in 1942 in the Middle East Theatre, the brigade was composed of three parachute infantry battalions.

The brigade was assigned to the 1st Airborne Division, just prior to the Allied invasion of Sicily, but played no part in that invasion. Instead the brigade first saw action in September 1943, during Operation Slapstick, an amphibious landing at the port of Taranto in Italy. Largely unopposed the brigade captured the ports of Brindisi and Bari before being withdrawn. By the end of the year, 4th Parachute Brigade was in England preparing for the Allied invasion of North-West Europe. The brigade did not see action in France, being instead placed on standby for an emergency during the initial landings. Between June and August 1944 the speed of the subsequent Allied advance obviated the need to deploy airborne forces.

In September 1944, the brigade formed part of the second day's parachute landings at the Battle of Arnhem. Problems reaching the bridges in Arnhem forced the divisional commander to divert one of the brigade's battalions to assist the 1st Parachute Brigade. After a short delay the brigade headed out for its objective. However, when only halfway there, the remaining two battalions were confronted by prepared German defences. The brigade, having suffered heavy losses, was eventually forced to withdraw. The next day, weakened by fighting at close quarters and now numbering around 150 men, the brigade eventually reached the divisional position at Oosterbeek.

After a week of being subjected to almost constant artillery, tank and infantry attacks, the remnants of the brigade were evacuated south of the River Rhine. During the battle of Arnhem, the brigade's total casualties amounted to seventy-eight per cent, and the brigade was disbanded rather than reformed.