Memorial 1st Polish Parachute Brigade

"Rock House 1944-45
Headquarters of
General Stanislaw Sosabowski
1892-1967
and the Staff of
1st Independent Polish
Parachute Brigade
7 May 2004"

The 1st (Polish) Independent Parachute Brigade was formed in Scotland in September 1941 under the command of Major General Stanislaw Sosabowski. The Poles had begun experimenting with airborne forces in 1936, having been influenced by the Russians.
Many of these instructors escaped to England and were able to help the development of the British Airborne at Ringway airfield after June 1940. It had been intended that they would be deployed as part of the liberation of Poland. In May 1944, having completed their training the Brigade moved from Scotland to Stamford and it's surrounding area.
General Sosabowski's headquarters were established in Rock House Stamford, and its units billeted in the town and surrounding villages.
Eventually, it was assigned to take part in Operation-Market Garden in September 1944 where it suffered 23% casualties.

HQ Unit. Based Rock House. Went in 104 men plus 9 British Liasion officers: died:5: missing: 15; wounded: 16.
1st Battalion. Based at Easton-on-the Hill. Went in: 354 men; died: 11; missing: 4; wounded: 28.
2nd Battalion. Went in 351 men; died: 11; missing: 7; wounded 33.
3rd Battalion Based at Peterborough. Went: in 374 men: died :30; missing: 39: wounded: 48.
Anti-tank Battery. Based in Blatherwycke. Went in: 132 men; died: 20: missing: 29; wounded: 30.
Engineer Company. Based in Wansford. Went in: 133 men; died: 2; missing: 1; wounded: 20.
Signals Company. Based Easton-on-the Hill. Went in: 93 men; died: 7;missing: 10; wounded: 16.
Medical Company. Based in Stamford and Blatherwycke. Went in: 90 men; died: 2; missing: 7; wounded: 13.
Transport and Supply Company. Went in: 43 men; died: 8; missing: 8; wounded: 13.
Light Artillery Battery. Went in: 6 men; wounded: 2.

Do you have more information about this location? Inform us!

Source

• Text: Sharky Ward
• Photos: Anthony (Sharky) Ward (1, 2, 3), Alan Murray-Rust, via Wikimedia Commons (4), unknown-anonymous, via Wikimedia Commons (5)