Grimsthorpe Castle
6 Platoon, S-Company, 1st Parachute Battalion at Grimsthorpe Castle, 15th September 1944. (Paradata/Airborne Assault Museum)
Magnificent Grimsthorpe Castle played an important role in World War II as the Headquarters of the 1st Parachute Battalion of the British 1st Airborne Division.
The first paratroopers arrived at the majestic house with its rolling parkland in December 1943, fresh from fighting in North Africa. Huge marquees in the Castle grounds were their home until they joined the Allied assault on the bridges near Arnhem in September’s Operation MARKET GARDEN.
Grimsthorpe’s parkland was a welcome contrast to the sun hot sands of North Africa during a relentless summer of training, practice parachute drops and village assaults.
Their social life centred on Bourne, many ‘borrowing’ a bike from town to cycle home – some 350 bicycles were recovered when the Castle’s Lake was drained after the war!
After the battle at Arnhem, survivors of the decimated 156 Parachute Battalion were amalgamated in the with the 1st Parachute Battalion at Grimsthorpe Castle. In his book about 156 Parachute Battalion, John O'Reilly stated:
The 156 Battalion suffered around 20 per cent fatal casualties at Arnhem, the highest percentage loss of all nine battalions in the 1st Airborne Division. Fewer than a hundred men from the Battalion remained fit for active service. As a result, 156 Battalion was disbanded at the end of October 1944 and the survivors were amalgamated with 1st Parachute Battalion.1
The amalgamated 1st Parachute Battalion would next see operational service with the 1st Airborne Division during Operation ECLIPSE in May 1945.
- 1
John O’Reilly, 156 Parachute Battalion from Delhi to Arnhem (Thoroton, 2009), 364.
Who chopped the main doors in half?
Many had pondered how the main doors to the Castle had been 'cut' approximately four feet from the top during the war but did not know why.
The reason is a legacy of the paratroopers. The doors were sawn approximately 4 feet from the top by the 1st Parachute Battalion, who had established their Orderly Room in the entrance area of the house. Every time both doors were opened, the incoming draft or wind would cause havoc.
The doors were cut down in size, and an order was issued that only one half was to be opened at a time!
Grimsthorpe Castle
The Castle, park and gardens are open between May and September. For more details, click here:
Read the stories of someone who was there:
Credit 'WW2 - People's War' is an online archive of wartime memories contributed by members of the public and gathered by the BBC. Click here to visit it:
BBC - WW2 People's War
Where to stay?
The Woodhouse Arms in Corby Glen offers accommodation and is also on the way to RAF North Witham - site of the eve of D-Day mission by US Pathfinder paratroopers.