History of 562 Parachute Squadron Workshop REME (V)
Until 1965, when the Royal Army Service Corps became the Royal Corps of Transport, the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers element within 562 Parachute Company comprised a Light Aid Detachment, located in the Workshop area of the Drill Hall at Southall Middlesex. This unit had responsibility for first line recovery/repairs only and was manned accordingly. In 1965 the establishment and scale of equipment for 562 Workshop element was increased with responsibility given for second line repairs.
This gave rise to the change of title from Light Aid Detachment to Workshop, still based at Southall. Because 16 Para Brigade retained its full Workshop within 1 Para Log Regiment, 562 became the only Parachute Squadron Workshop in the British Army with a unique establishment and role. The only other REME formation in 44 Brigade was a Parachute Platoon of 133 Field Workshop (V) based in Coventry. Other REME personnel in the Brigade comprised attached personnel.
The workshop was established with a Captain commanding, WO2 AQMS as 2I/C with six other senior ranks including a Sergeant Storeman. The Permanent Staff Instructor was a Regular Para trained WO2 Artificer until 1975 when a Para trained SSGT Artisan was posted in.
During the 1970s, the Workshop regularly took part in Exercise Southern Craftsman (the annual REME fitness for role/field engineering competition) and won on three occasions. Workshop personnel also took part in a number of Competitions, representing 562 Squadron including Nijmegen Marches, Courage Trophy, AESOR and Chichester March.
Major Units of 44 Para Brigade were:
- 4th (Volunteer) Battalion, The Parachute Regiment - HQ Pudsey with Companies in Liverpool, Oldham, Gateshead and Norton
- 10th (Volunteer) Battalion, The Parachute Regiment - HQ White City, London with Companies in White City, Finchley, Croydon and Aldershot
- 15th (Scottish Volunteer) Battalion, The Parachute Regiment - HQ Glasgow with Companies in Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh
Other Minor Units of 44 Para Brigade were:
- 289 Parachute Battery, Royal Horse Artillery (V) - East Ham (this unit left the Brigade in 1977 when it converted to 289 Commando Battery (V), Royal Artillery)
- 131 Independent Parachute Squadron, Royal Engineers (V - HQ London with Troops in Birmingham, Hull and Grangemouth (In 1978 this became 131 Independent Commando Squadron (V) Royal Engineers)
- 44 Parachute Brigade Signal Troop, Royal Signals (V) - Chelsea
- 16th (Volunteer) Independent Company, The Parachute Regiment - Lincoln
- 144 Parachute Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps (V) - HQ London with detachments in Nottingham, Glasgow and Cardiff
- 44 Parachute Ordnance Field Park, Royal Army Ordnance Corps (V) - Heston
- 1 Parachute Provost Platoon, Royal Military Police (V) - Tulse Hill
Read more about this topic: 562 Parachute Squadron Royal Corps Of Transport (Volunteers)
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