S.Sgt James Albert Partington GPR

Via the excellent Facebook page for the Glider Pilot Regiment I came across these photographs of  S.Sgt Partington formerly of 'H' and 'N' Squadron's of GPR.


Link: The Glider Pilot Regiment - Facebook

His son, Brian Partington posted the following on the FB page:

"Now I am confused! My brother tells me that the flight log book up to 1945 shows he was with flight 27 of 'H' Squadron of the Glider Pilot Regiment. But, in September 1946 he was with 'N' Squadron. I also know he was involved with the repatriation of German POW's after the war. Any help would be appreciated"

Of interest here is his flying helmet with earphones but no Oxygen Mask, only the microphone element.

Thanks to Brian Partington for allowing us to show these photos and information.

A Couple More Pics From Duxford

So, its only a week later... and I've finally managed to add a couple more photos of our display (plus one of the B17, taken early on Sunday morning, I couldn't resist).

Along with the photos is a copy of our thank you letter from the Staff and Trustees of the Airborne Assault Museum, we're as proud of this letter as we are to have taken part in such a worthwhile weekend, and we are indeed looking forward to next year!

Cheers. Matt.

The GPR and PPA - Weblink and Story

Another interesting website I came across whilst 'Googling' one lunchtime is that of Friends of Popski's Private Army. This is an excellent site with History of PPA, News, Reference and much more, including the intriguing story of Lt. John Mockridge who alongside a number of GP colleagues was incorporated into PPA with a view to being used in future glider operations! 

Link: Lt. John Mockridge GPR/PPA

It never ceases to amaze me at just how much information there is out there on the Glider Pilot Regiment, all you have to do is snoop around a bit and you're sure to find something.

I contacted foPPA to ask if I could add a link to their site (I always ask permission first), and was instantly given the go ahead by their secretary Roy Paterson. Roy also requests any information any of you might have on the other 12 members of the GPR who were attached to PPA with John Mockridge at this time? If anybody can help please contact me in the first instance and I'll let Roy know.

Secondly Roy also mentioned his interest in 1st Airborne Divisions landing ground near Kairouan in Tunisia (see link below), again if anyone can forward further information please do so.

Link: 1st Airborne Div in Tunisa

And finally, Roy would also like to know more about the move from Bizerta to Taranto on USS Boise on 9/10 September 1943, particularly photographs if anyone has any?

Please visit the foPPA website links above, its well worth it, very interesting stuff. It would also be great to help out a fellow enthusiast so let's see what we can do.

Imperial War Museum, Duxford - Airborne Forces Weekend 2012

At last! We were able to display at IWM, Duxford. I've been trying to get us in there for years and was finally able to succeed when we were asked to participate in their Airborne Forces Weekend, June 16 - 17 2012. The four of us from Chalk joined forces with Just Ordinary Men and 89 FFS among others to put on a display of WW2 British Airborne related items of uniforms, weapons and kit. On the Sunday we were joined by serving members of 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment, 16th Air Assault Brigade. Although torrential rain had been forecast we actually experienced fine weather, a tad windy (all small items had to tied down with wire!), but fine non the less. Crowd numbers on Saturday were quite low with groups of boy scouts breaking up the quieter spells. However Sunday proved to be extremely busy all day as the site also held an Military Vehicle Rally and Military book fair! We didn't have a moment to ourselves from early 'till late and the display received many positive comments from visitors and organisers alike - so we must be doing something right?

Here are a couple of photo's taken by the Airborne Assault Museum staff and posted on their Facebook page after the event. I'll post our photo's once I've sorted through them.

Many thanks to everyone for taking part and to the organisers for inviting us to attend. Here's to next year!

Link: Airborne Forces Weekend

Stanley Galland Cairns - Glider Pilot - Website

I'd like to direct you to a website I was made aware of recently on the WW2Talk forum. It concerns Major Stanley Cairns GPR from his early days in the Royal Artillery, serving as part of the BEF in France and its subsequent evacuation from Dunkirk, to volunteering for the GPR and taking part in the Italian campaign, the invasion of France and the ill fated Operation Market Garden in September 1944.  


This is an extremely interesting and well put together website and Stanley Cairns story is a mighty interesting read, but what makes this website truly stand out is the inclusion of a photograph album (or images of) sent to Stanley after the war by Mrs A.L.A. Kremer-Kingma, the lady owner of the house he and his men held in Oosterbeek during the battle. There are also some marvellous photo's taken from the Glider Pilot Training Manual along with some interesting miscellaneous photo's of Horsas etc.

Stanley's sons have developed and published the website and have been kind enough to allow us to add a link to it (see below). I'd like to offer my thanks to them and also congratulate them on very fitting tribute to their father.

Link: Stanley Galland Cairns