Overall: 81cm (32in) x 104cm (41in)
Green ground, cotton sewn flag with Roman numeral III in the canton, the hoist retaining line and brass clips, the field applied with large C over regimental badge with pre 1952 King’s Crown. Flag: 60cm (23.5in) x 93cm (36.2in). Framed and glazed.
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The 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (3 PARA) was was formed in September 1941 from volunteers from across the Army at Hardwick in Derbyshire and commanded by Lt Col GW Lathbury. From 500 interviewed by one company only 100 were accepted for training. Before leaving for North Africa with the 1st Parachute Brigade intense parachute and field exercises were conducted to prepare the new battalion for combat. On the 12 November 1942 the 3rd Battalion captured the German airfield at Bone in Tunisia, the first British Army battalion level parachute operation. They were relieved by 1st Army; thereafter the battalion fought as line infantry for the rest of the campaign. The parachute battle cry "Waho Mohammed" allegedly began with the 3rd Battalion, stemming from this period in North Africa. It was used as a recognition cry when operating in close country and was adopted by the 1st Brigade and the other parachute battalions.
During the parachute assault on the Primosole Bridge in Sicily on 13 July 1943 the 3rd Battalion drop was scattered alongside that of the 1st and 2nd Battalions. A two-day hard fought action developed at the bridge until they were relieved by the sea-landed Durham light Infantry. The Battalion lost 250 all ranks killed, wounded and missing, one man in two. On 9 September the Battalion landed by sea at Taranto Harbour Italy and moved north up the east coast to Barletta, with little opposition. By early December they returned to the UK to prepare for the invasion of Europe. After 15 cancelled operations following D-Day the 3rd Battalion dropped at Arnhem on 17 September during the MARKET-GARDEN airborne offensive mounted in Southern Holland. Part of C Company reached the Arnhem Bridge and joined Lt Col Frost’s 2nd Battalion. The rest were blocked with heavy casualties and fell back to Oosterbeek where the 1st British Airborne Division was destroyed in an epic nine day stand. Ground forces from XXX Corps failed to link up. The remnants of the battalion were withdrawn to England.
During the first post-war deployment in Palestine beginning in 1945 the remnants of 2 and 3 PARA were combined to form the 2/3rd Parachute Battalion, which was disbanded in June 1948. A new 3 PARA was resurrected in July 1948, formed from the 7th (light Infantry) Parachute Battalion. The new 3 Para conducted internal security operations in the Egypt Canal Zone from 1951 until 1954.