591 (Antrim) Parachute Squadron RE
In 1937 the first Territorial Army units to be raised in Northern Ireland were formed in County Antrim with the role of defending Belfast Lough. Alongside 188 (Antrim) Heavy Battery of the Royal Artillery (RA) was the Antrim (Fortress) Company of the Corps of Royal Engineers (RE). Both were recognised as successors to Militia units with the role of the Engineers being to maintain the fortifications at Greypoint and Kilroot.
Although the Royal Artillery remained static, the Antrim Fortress Company was given a new role in December 1940 when it became 591 (Antrim) Field Company RE. By now in England it was assigned to II Corps.
In May 1943 the company was again re-roled to become an airborne unit as 591 (Antrim) Parachute Squadron RE. Just over a year later this unit was one of the first to land in France as part of Operation OVERLORD. Shortly after midnight on 5/6 June elements of 6th Airborne Division parachuted into Normandy.
Nos 1 and 3 Troops dropped with 5 Parachute Brigade east of the Orne bridge to clear an area for gliders to land on at 3.30 am. The Antrim Engineers performed this task quickly as well as clearing mines, checking routes for the following troops and laying a minefield to strengthen 6th Airborne’s defences at Ranville.
Among the objectives taken was a bridge across the Caen canal at Bénouville. This was dubbed Antrim Bridge but was quickly renamed Pegasus Bridge, the name by which it has become known to history. The original name was a tribute to the Antrim Engineers. No. 2 Troop of the Squadron landed with 6 Parachute Brigade to take the heavy coastal gun battery at Merville.
Few of the engineers reached the objective as they had been dropped in the wrong place but the battery was taken eventually. The ‘lost’ engineers joined up with and fought as part of other units until they could rejoin their squadron. The Antrim Squadron remained in Normandy until August when 6th Airborne Division was withdrawn to Britain. It next saw action during the Battle of the Bulge in the winter of 1944–45 after which it again returned to England.
In March 1945 the Allies crossed the Rhine in Operation PLUNDER. Part of this operation was a massive air drop, known as Operation VARSITY. This was a successful operation in which the Antrim Squadron took part. They were then engaged in the rapid advance through Germany to the Baltic coast which they reached shortly before the war ended.
Although disbanded in 1946 the Squadron was brought back to life in 1947 when the TA was reformed.
In 1937 the first Territorial Army units to be raised in Northern Ireland were formed in County Antrim with the role of defending Belfast Lough. Alongside 188 (Antrim) Heavy Battery of the Royal Artillery (RA) was the Antrim (Fortress) Company of the Corps of Royal Engineers (RE). Both were recognised as successors to Militia units with the role of the Engineers being to maintain the fortifications at Greypoint and Kilroot.
Although the Royal Artillery remained static, the Antrim Fortress Company was given a new role in December 1940 when it became 591 (Antrim) Field Company RE. By now in England it was assigned to II Corps.
In May 1943 the company was again re-roled to become an airborne unit as 591 (Antrim) Parachute Squadron RE. Just over a year later this unit was one of the first to land in France as part of Operation OVERLORD. Shortly after midnight on 5/6 June elements of 6th Airborne Division parachuted into Normandy.
Nos 1 and 3 Troops dropped with 5 Parachute Brigade east of the Orne bridge to clear an area for gliders to land on at 3.30 am. The Antrim Engineers performed this task quickly as well as clearing mines, checking routes for the following troops and laying a minefield to strengthen 6th Airborne’s defences at Ranville.
Among the objectives taken was a bridge across the Caen canal at Bénouville. This was dubbed Antrim Bridge but was quickly renamed Pegasus Bridge, the name by which it has become known to history. The original name was a tribute to the Antrim Engineers. No. 2 Troop of the Squadron landed with 6 Parachute Brigade to take the heavy coastal gun battery at Merville.
Few of the engineers reached the objective as they had been dropped in the wrong place but the battery was taken eventually. The ‘lost’ engineers joined up with and fought as part of other units until they could rejoin their squadron. The Antrim Squadron remained in Normandy until August when 6th Airborne Division was withdrawn to Britain. It next saw action during the Battle of the Bulge in the winter of 1944–45 after which it again returned to England.
In March 1945 the Allies crossed the Rhine in Operation PLUNDER. Part of this operation was a massive air drop, known as Operation VARSITY. This was a successful operation in which the Antrim Squadron took part. They were then engaged in the rapid advance through Germany to the Baltic coast which they reached shortly before the war ended.
Although disbanded in 1946 the Squadron was brought back to life in 1947 when the TA was reformed.