The King's Visit to the British 1st Airborne Division, 16 March 1944
1st Airborne Division locations visited by King George VI on 16 March 1944. (Bob Hilton)
On 16 March 1944, HM King George VI visited units of the 1st Airborne Division in Leicestershire and Lincolnshire.
The King alighted from on the Royal Train at Oakham station at 9.45am and departed in the Royal Train from Woodhall Spa at 5.30pm, being driven by car during the day between the various units.
It was a whistle-stop tour, with very limited time available at each location for the King to meet personnel and view equipment on display.
Programme of Visit
0945 Leave train at OAKHAM
0950 OAKHAM Football Ground
- 4 Parachute Brigade Headquarters, Signal Section, Defence Platoon
- 4 Parachute Squadron, Royal Engineers
- 10 Parachute Battalion
- 11 Parachute Battalion
- Light Aid Detachment
1012 Arrive BARLEYTHORPE
- No 2 Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery
- 133 Parachute Field Ambulance
1030 Leave for MELTON MOWBRAY
1035 Arrive MELTON MOWBRAY
- 156 Parachute Battalion
1045 Leave MELTON MOWBRAY
1110 Arrive HARLAXTON
- RASC Supply Dropping Course
- 250 Light Company
- 93 Composite Company
- 253 Composite Company
1120 Leave for 1st Parachute Brigade
1145 Arrive HACEBY
NB. The 1st Parachute Brigade Exercise WILLIAM was paused for the King's visit, and the following units were lined up for inspection along the A152 (now the A52) road north of HACEBY:
- Brigade Headquarters
- Signals and Defence Platoon
- Airlanding Reconnaissance Squadron
- No 3 Battery, No 1 Airlanding Light Regiment
- No 1 Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery
- 1 Parachute Battalion
- 2 Parachute Battalion
- 3 Parachute Battalion
1235 Leave for ‘A’ Mess CAYTHORPE COURT
1300 Road outside CAYTHORPE COURT
- HQ 1 Airborne Division. Meet senior officers and commanders.
1315 Arrive ‘A’ Mess
Guard – Divisional Defence Platoon
- Lunch with senior officers
1430 Leave for TATTERSHALL
1505 Arrive TATTERSHALL
Royal Engineers:
- 9 Field Company
- 1 Parachute Squadron
- 261 Field Park Company
1515 Leave for WOODHALL SPA
1540 Arrive WOODHALL SPA CAMP
- Meet Commander, 1st Airlanding Brigade
1545 WOODHALL SPA CAMP
- 1 Airlanding Brigade Defence Platoon
- 7 Bn, King's Own Scottish Borderers
- No 1 Battery, No 1 Airlanding Light Regiment, Royal Artillery
1605 WOODHALL SPA CAMP
- 2nd Bn, South Staffordshire Regt
- 21 Independent Parachute Company
1625 WOODHALL SPA CAMP
- 1st Bn, Border Regt
- 181 Field Ambulance
1645 Officer’s Mess 1st Bn, Border Regt
- Tea
1715 Leave for WOODHALL SPA Station
1720 Arrive WOODHALL SPA Station
1730 Depart by train
The King inspects members of the 10th Parachute Battalion at Oakham football ground. (Sgt Rooke, Army Film & Photographic Unit, via Bob Hilton)
The King inspects the 2nd (Oban) Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery, Royal Artillery, in the stables/coach house area of Lonsdale House, Barleythorpe, near Oakham, Leicestershire.
The King is shown parachute containers by members of 250th (Airborne) Light Composite Company, Royal Army Service Corps, at Harlaxton Manor. (Sgt Rooke, Army Film & Photographic Unit, via Bob Hilton)
King George VI arrives at a spot on the Grantham to Donington Road (now the A52), between Dembleby and Newton, where the 1st Parachute Brigade Group are on Exercise WILLIAM. Here he is met by Regimental Sergeant Major J C Lord of the 3rd Parachute Battalion. (Sgt Rooke, Army Film & Photographic Unit, via Bob Hilton)
The King inspecting troops of 9th (Airborne) Field Company, Royal Engineers, at Tattershall Bridge, Lincolnshire. The King asked for a demonstration of the folding bicycle carried by Airborne troops and it was shown to him by Sapper J Peden of Glasgow. (Sgt Rooke, Army Film & Photographic Unit, via Bob Hilton)
The King inspects the Guard of Honour of the 7th (Airborne) Battalion, The King’s Own Scottish Borderers at Kirkby Moor Camp, Woodhall Spa. (Sgt Rooke, Army Film & Photographic Unit, via Bob Hilton)
Still in the area of Kirkby Moor Camp, H.M. The King moves on to inspect No 1 Battery, 1st Airlanding Light Regiment, Royal Artillery, in the area of Kirkby Moor Camp. The Battery Commander is standing in front of the King, who is observing a gun crew manning their 75mm Pack Howitzer. (Sgt Rooke, Army Film & Photographic Unit, via Bob Hilton)