Created in 2010
By Tomo Page 1
Web Address: guardsparathepathfinders.co.uk
"The Pathfinders"
(1948-1975)
Formed in 1948 after WW2 and the reorganisation of the Parachute Division into the
New 16th Parachute Brigade.
Only eighty eight men were retained from the now disbanded
Guards Parachute Battalion to form this elite "Pathfinder" unit.
The Guards Parachute Company were soon to change their name again to to an Independent Parachute Company and were re-named
No1 (GUARDS) INDEPENDENT PARACHUTE COMPANY
THE PARACHUTE REGIMENT
"The Original"Pathfinders"
of the Parachute Brigade
The Guards Para Company's Initial Role was that of "Pathfinding" but were also the forward armoured recce company of The Parachute Brigade using Ferrett Scout cars and fast stripped down Land-Rovers which were dropped from the second batch of aircraft after the personnel drop had reached the ground.
Earlier in the late 1950's and early 1960's the Para Company used Champs and short based Land-Rovers equiped with .30Browning's and Vickers machine guns mounted on the Passengers side.
Maintaining the roll of a roving recce shoot & scoot snatch squad unit
These guns were later replaced by the lighter GPMG's
The Guards Parachute Company structure was made of volunteers from the Seven Regiments of the Brigade of Guards
(Now called a Division)
These men were selected from the two Household Cavalry Regiments of
The Life Guards & The Royal Horse Guards, known today as
"The Blues & Royals"
together with their brothers from the Five Regiments of Foot Guards
The Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards, Scots Guards,
Irish Guards and Welsh Guards they made up a Company strength of around one hundred men men including One Major Commanding Four Captains and a Quartermaster
The Captain's role's were as one Air Adjutant and three Troop Leaders.