The Parachute Regimental Association
"What manner of men are these who wear the red beret?
They are firstly, all volunteers and are then toughened by hard physical training. As a result they have that infectious optimism and that offensive eagerness which comes from physical well being. They have jumped from the air and by doing so have conquered fear.
Their duty lies in the van of battle; they are proud of their honour and have never failed in any task. They have the highest standards in all things whether it be skills in battle or smartness in execution of all peacetime duties.
They have shown themselves to be as tenacious and determined in defence as they are courageous in attack. They are in fact, men apart.
Every Man an Emperor."
Field Marshall the Viscount Montgomery of Alamein.
Click here to hear Field Marshall the Viscount Montgomery of Alamein's message the night before D-Day
The Emblem of the airborne forces is Bellerophon mounted on the winged horse Pegasus. The first recorded instance of an airborne warrior, his exploits are recounted in Greek Mythology, where he is chiefly famous for slaying the fire-breathing monster Chimaera. Mounted on Pegasus, with spear in hand, Bellerophon rode into the air, swooped down upon the monster and destroyed it.
This emblem was chosen for the British Airborne Forces by the late Lieutenant General Sir Frederick("Boy") Browning GCVO, KBE, CB, DSO, DL, when he was appointed to raise Airborne Forces in 1941. The embelm was designed in May,1942, by Major Edward Seago, to be worn on the arms of all Airborne soldiers.
In 1946 a beautiful statuette, the work of the sculptress, Mrs. A.R.Oxenford, was accepted by the Royal Academy. It was commissioned by the trustees of the Airborne Forces Security Fund and presented by them to the museum of the Airborne Forces in Aldershot on the 1st October 1968.
The Airborne Prayer
May the defence of the most high be above and beneath, around and within us, in our going out and our coming in, in our rising up and in our going down, all our days and all our nights, until the dawn when the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in his wings for the peoples of the world. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Regimental Quick March - The Ride of the Valkyries
Regimental Slow March - Pomp and Circumstance No 4
Regimental Motto - Utrinque Paratus (Ready for Anything)
Airborne Motto - Ad Unum Omnes (All for one, one for all)
"Whenever the maroon beret is seen on the battlefield, it at once inspires confidence, for its wearers are known to be good men and true"
Field Marshall Lord Montgomery
Click to hear Sir Winston Churchill's Speech to the nation where he mentions the use of Airborne Forces
The Constitution Objective is:
To promote the efficiency of the Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces by fostering espirit de corps and maintaining contact between past and present members thereof. To relieve either generally or individually persons who are serving or who have served in The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces or the dependents of such persons who are in conditions of need hardship or distress.
The Past
An Arnhem Veterans Story
Click here to watch a 1954 Parachute Training Video. Courtesy of Google Video.
The Parachute Regimental Association was formed at the end of WW2 for the purpose of furthering the interests of the Parachute Regiment and to organise functions and activities to enable members to continue associations formed during their service with the Regiment and Airborne Forces.
The Present
The Association’s membership covers all age groups and many cap badges. There are currently 113 Association branches nation wide including Northern Ireland. There may be one in your home town or nearby, membership of a branch is optional. but is strongly encouraged. All new members are advised to join their local branch and upon joining are provided with a map and details of their local branch meeting place. Branch meetings are generally held monthly to organise social functions, visits, reunions, pilgrimages, battlefield tours and of course to catch up on the latest Regimental news and gossip over a drink or two. If you are a member of the association and do not belong to a branch, please contact the office in Colchester at the address below.
All of the branches are keen to recruit those who have recently left the service. Branch members welcome visits from serving soldiers and are particularly keen to hear about your experiences in today’s Army.
THE PARACHUTE REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATION (PRA)
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION 2006
1. ELIGIBILITY FOR MEMBERSHIP. All past and present members of Airborne Forces are welcome to join the PRA. This unique Association has over 13,000 members worldwide with over 100 branches in the UK alone.
Normal Membership Normal Membership of the Association is available to: -
a. Whosoever has served as a qualified military parachutist in The Parachute Regiment is entitled to full membership. Members of the Association will have the right to vote, hold office and wear the insignia of the Association.
b. It is also available for any officer or other rank who has served on the War Establishment of a Parachute Battalion or Parachute Brigade Headquarters during the Second World War prior to 6th September 1945.
c. It is also available to any person who, in the opinion of the Committee, has rendered special service to the Regiment.
Associate Membership Associate Membership of the Association is available to: -
a. Whosoever has qualified as a military parachutist and served in a British airborne/air assault or Special Forces unit may be considered for associate membership of the Association. Associate Members of the Association will have the right to vote, hold office and wear the insignia of the Association.
Affiliate Membership Affiliate Membership of the Association is available to: -
a. Those who have served as a qualified military parachutist in foreign airborne units may be considered for affiliate membership of the Association so long as they are able to prove their airborne credentials to the full satisfaction of the Regional Secretary.
b. The normal subscription shall be payable by Affiliate members. Affiliate Members of the Association will not have the right to vote, hold office and wear the insignia of the Association with the exception of a Branch Tie should there be one.
MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTION RATE - LIFE Membership £7.50 (O.A.P. Rate £5.00).
2. PROOF OF ELIGIBILITY. Documentary proof of service must accompany this application. A photocopy is sufficient. If applicants do not still have documentary proof, they must write to the Army Records Centre to obtain the relevant parts of their Record of Service. The address is: Army Personnel Centre, Historic Disclosures, Mailpoint 400, Kentigern House, 65 Brown Street, Glasgow G2 8EX.
TO BE A WORTHWHILE MEMBER YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO JOIN YOUR LOCAL BRANCH.
Being a member of a branch will enable the local branch Secretary to pass Association information on to you. Details of your nearest branch will be supplied by return of post. Alternatively please advise us of the branch you wish to join in your local area. We will inform the branch Secretary who will in turn advise you of branch meetings and activities.
The Future
Our wide network of branches and extensive membership provides opportunities for you to make contacts which may ease your move to civilian life and could help you gain employment. Links to other ex airborne sites are available and any ex airborne site that would like to be included on this page should contact the Secretary at the address below. The Association in partnership with the Airborne Forces Security Fund and other ex-service organisations and charities are able to provide welfare support and advice to those in need or distress. The current fee for life membership is £7.50 and £5.00 for OAP's Further details are available from our office at the following address:
The Parachute Regimental Association
Regimental Headquarters
The Parachute Regiment
Flagstaff House
Napier Road
COLCHESTER
Essex CO2 7SW
Click here for a downloadable Membership Application Form.
Should you wish to make a donation please click on the downloadable donation form and send it in along with your donation to the address on the form. We would like to thank-you in advance of your donation and say that any money received is properly accounted for in the annual report and will benefit those that are in need, or perhaps have fallen on harder times.
FALKLANDS VETERANS FOUNDATION
The Falklands Veterans Foundation (FVF) is the first UK based charity for Falklands Veterans and their Families and is committed to providing a network of support both financially and through support work for all Veterans and their Families.
The FVF's aim is to work in partnership with all other charities and organisations providing assistance for Falklands Veterans and their Families and in co-operation with other Service charities in identifying, investigating and primarily giving financial support to eligible cases in "real need".
The Charity aims to help to direct and guide with advice on all welfare topics and to offer help and guidance when it comes to any help with any welfare or health problem. The aim is to help to direct through to those who can help and where possible to offer direct help.
The Charity will be establishing a base in Stanley Capital of the Falklands with an overall aim to provide a facility for Veterans and Families to visit and to spend time, laying to rest memories and helping to come to terms with emotions. This we aim to achieve through the purchase of a Property and to, where possible, subsidise flights to the Islands.
The charity will be establishing working offices with staff manning the phones during office hours. We also aim to find and train volunteers around the UK and even the World who wish to not only represent the charity but also to work on its behalf providing a caring service. If you want more info on this please e-mail us today. care@fvf.org.uk
http://www.exairborneforces.co.uk/ Click the link to the updated "ex para" website
The Assault Glider Trust links on this page go to other interesting associated sites.
The Airborne shop Located in Aldershot.
http://www.trebahgarden.co.uk/trebah_news.htm#MyStory Story of Major Tony Hibbert, Royal Cornwall Branch
The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces Museum Located in Aldershot.
Airborne Assault Duxford. To view future plans on the move of the Airborne Forces Museum click on this link.
www.ukforcesonline.com Chat/meet our UK Armed Forces all over the world. Join Free
www.flowersforthefallen.co.uk Flowers Delivered to military cemeteries in France, Belgium and Holland for those who have fallen in armed conflict
www.moddiscounts.com The online version of discounts for the Armed Forces, Motoring, Travel, holidays, shopping
The Army website The MoD's Official Army Website.
http://www.veteransagency.mod.uk/ The Veterans Agency.
www.servicepals.com
www.192.com
www.friendsreunited.co.uk Find a friend and chat room facilities.
www.forcesreunited.org.uk Find a friend and chat room facilities.
http://www.3para1945-48palestine.com/
http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/paras/ For those conducting research this site provides details or Parachute Regiment War Dead Buried in France.
http://www.ornebridgehead.org/frames.htm For those conducting research on the 6th Airborne Division - Normandy this is an excellent site.
www.marketgarden.com This site is an excellent example of the dedication of our Dutch Friends ( a digital monument)
www.wrvs.org.uk Supporting thousands of serving and ex service members of the armed forces.
www.blesma.org National Charity for limbless and ex service men and women, their dependents and widows www.ngvfa.com The National Gulf Veterans and familieas association.
http://www.nivets.org.uk/ The Northern Ireland Veterans Association, providing advice, support and assistance to veterans and families of those affected by the troubles.
Keith Hudson Media and PR Officer N.I.V.A 07880 535314.
Click the image for your copy of the Pegasus Journal
Disclaimer:
This site will contain links to third party Websites where relevant, but The Parachute Regiment or Regimental Association accepts no responsibility for the content on any site to which a hypertext link exists and listing should not be taken as an endorsement of any kind.
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