I actually visited this memorial last year on a journey back from Shrewsbury but only just found the photos on my phone.
Tatton Park in Cheshire was the original drop zone for parachute drops from nearby Ringway Airfield (the home of No.1 Parachute Training School [No.1 PTS] of the Central Landing School) which later became Manchester Airport we know today. Between 1940 and 1946 Ringway provided training to 60,000 allied paratroops including Americans, Belgians, Canadians, Czechs, Dutch, French, Norwegian and Poles.
The memorial sits in the grounds of Tatton Park and overlooks the surrounding countryside, a very nice spot indeed.
The inscription reads:
Throughout most of the Second World War
Tatton Park was the dropping zone for
No.1 Parachute Training School, Ringway.
This stone was set in honour of
those thousands, from many lands
who descended here in the course of
training, given or received, for
Parachute service with the Allied Forces
in every theatre of war
As the men of the Glider Pilot Regiment were known as Total Soldiers there were even plans for pilots to attend No.1 PTS and become qualified parachutists! As far as I can find out this scheme was short lived although certain individuals may have completed the course - if anyone has any details or information please get in touch with us.
Please note: the image of a parachute drop over Tatton Park was taken from the website: www.591-antrim-parachute.info
