British Army Airborne Patch b 44 Parachute Brigade a Gp Signal

British Army Airborne Patch 44 Parachute Brigade Group Signal Squadron DZ Patch 1956 embroidered on wool cream gauze fabric back 81mm by 82mm three and three sixteenth inches by three and one quarter inches.

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History

16 Airborne Division Territorial Army was activated in 1947 to continue a divisional airborne capability albeit as a TA unit following the loss of the wartime 1 Airborne Division disbanded in 1945 and 6 Airborne Division which was scheduled for disbandment in 1948. The new Divisions number 16 was chosen to recognize its two predecessor Divisions.

The Division comprised 4 5 and 6 Parachute Brigades made up of parachute infantry Battalions with specialist airborne artillery medical signals armour supply and workshop support regiments companys and sections as well as 21 Special Air Service Regiment TA based at various TA centres around England Wales and Scotland.  

4 5 and 6 Parachute Brigades were renumbered the 44 45 and 46 in 1950. Following a review to reduce TA forces 16 Airborne Division TA was disbanded in 1956 with only 44 Parachute Brigade being retained comprising 10 County of London 12 Yorkshire 13 Lancashire 15 Scottish and 17 Durham Light Infantry battalions of the Parachute Regiment together with specialist airborne artillery medical signals armour supply and workshop support elements and redesignated 44 Independent Parachute Brigade Group TA the only remaining British reserve parachute formation. The 12 and 13 Battalions were amalgamated to become 12/13 Yorkshire and Lancashire Battalion in October 1956. 

44 Independent Parachute Brigade Group TA was reduced to three infantry battalions with the amalgamation of the 12/13 and 17 Battalions reformed as 4 Battalion in 1967 and was redesignated 44 Parachute Brigade Volunteers V in 1968 with 4 V Battalion with at Pudsey 10 V in London 15 Scottish V Battalion with HQ Glasgow and companies around Scotland pathfinders remained 16 Lincoln Independent Company The Parachute Regiment V in Lincoln and supported by its own integral Airborne Supporting Arms and Services.

44 Parachute Brigade Volunteers was disbanded as part of TA reductions and broken up into three separate volunteer Parachute battalions 4 10 and 15 Scottish in 1978. 

16 Airborne Division Royal Signal Regiment Middlesex Yeomanry TA based at Duke of Yorks HQ Chelsea activated in 1947 provided signal support to 16 Airborne Division. When the Division was disbanded in 1956 with only 44 Parachute Brigade being retained as 44 Independent Parachute Brigade Group TA Middlesex Yeomanry provided a Squadron to become 44 Brigades signal squadron as 44 Independent Parachute Brigade Group Signal Squadron. In 1959 44 Independent Parachute Brigade Group Signal Squadrons Regiment the Middlesex Yeomanry was renamed 40 Signals Regiment Middlesex Yeomanry.  

In 1961 44 Independent Parachute Brigade Group Signal Squadron was re-designated 305 Parachute Brigade Signal Squadron Middlesex Yeomanry TA. In 1967 305 Parachute Brigade Signal Squadron Middlesex Yeomanry TA was split with members assigned to either 31 Signals Regiment or to 55 Mersey And Thames Signal Squadron V. The London based element of the new 55 Mersey And Thames Signal Squadron V was designated Airhead Signal Troop for 44 Parachute Brigade which in 1970 left 55 Signal Squadron to become 44 Parachute Brigade Volunteers Signal Troop. 44 Parachute Brigade Volunteers Signal Troop was disbanded in 1978 at the same time as 44 Parachute Brigade was broken up into three separate volunteer Parachute battalions 4 10 and 15 Scottish. 

This patch dates from 1956.