562 Parachute Squadron Royal Corps of Transport (Volunteers) was a minor unit that supported 44th Parachute Brigade (V).
Organisation and history
1947
When the Territorial Army (TA) was reformed in the UK, the order of battle included the 16th Airborne Division (TA), which had its divisional headquarters in Chelsea, South-West London. The division included a Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) column, which came into existence on 1 January, though recruiting did not open until 1 May.
The headquarters of 16th Airborne Divisional Column, RASC (TA) was initially at The Duke of York's headquarters in Chelsea; but, in 1949, it was relocated to the TA Centre at Hayes Bridge, Southall, Middlesex. The column comprised three companies:
1560th Company (Airborne Divisional Composite), RASC (TA), at Park Lane, Tottenham, N17. 1561st Company (Airborne Divisional Composite), RASC (TA), at Vine Street, Uxbridge. 1562nd Company (Airborne Divisional Composite), RASC (TA), at Hayes Bridge, Southall.
The four-figure numbers allocated to the companies denoted that they were newly raised units of the TA, having not existed prior to the Second World War.
The commanding officer and adjutant were regular officers: the regimental sergeant major, permanent staff instructors (PSI) and a small cadre of drivers were regular soldiers. All other posts were filled by TA volunteer soldiers. The organisation of these companies was similar to the regular army RASC company, except that they were on war establishment and had a smaller composite platoon. The Parachute course for the TA was compressed into two weeks to meet their limited training availability, but included the eight qualifying jumps.
1951
A new numbering system for RASC (TA) units was adopted, whereby all Companies were given a three-figure number. As a result, the "1" prefix, was dropped and the Companies became known as 560th, 561st and 562nd Companies (Parachute Brigade Transport), RASC (Middlesex) (TA).
1952
Each Company was allocated its own integral Light Aid Detachments (LAD) of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME).
1955
The LADs were upgraded to company workshops. 560th Coy relocated to the TA Centre in Tottenham High Road, N17 and 561st Company relocated to the TA Centre at Cowley. The War Office announced that 16th Abn Div (TA) would disband the following year and be replaced by a single parachute brigade. The RASC unit required for the brigade would be reduced to a single company.
1956
In October, 44th Independent Parachute Brigade Group (TA) was created, with headquarters at The Duke of York's HQ, Chelsea, London SW3. The 16th Airborne Divisional Column was temporarily placed under command of this brigade as it underwent the process of disbandment and reorganisation into one company.
1957
In February, 16 Airborne Divisional Column, RASC (TA) was disbanded and 562nd Company (Independent Parachute Brigade Transport), RASC (Middlesex) (TA) became the sole RASC unit in the brigade. It remained at Hayes Bridge along with its REME Workshops.
1965
There was a general re-organisation of the British Army Corps structure, which led to the RASC transport and supply functions being separated and the corps disbanded. The new military transport organisation formed from this restructuring was the Royal Corps of Transport (RCT). The supply function was transferred to an enlarged Royal Army Ordnance Corps (RAOC). As a result of these changes, and the formation of the new corps, 562nd Coy was redesignated as 562nd (Middlesex) Independent Parachute Squadron, RCT (TA).
1967
The year saw a transformation of the Reserve Forces (Army), and the Territorial Army became the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve (TAVR). 562 Independent Parachute Squadron, RCT (Volunteers) was formed on 1 April 1967 as a successor unit to the old 562 Para Sqn RCT (TA). The Squadron HQ and HQ Troop remained at Hayes Bridge, Southall, along with "C" Troop, whilst "A" Troop was formed at the Cedars TA Centre, Portway, West Ham, London E15 and "B" Troop at Lordship Lane, Dulwich, London SE22. The squadron continued to support 44 Parachute Brigade (Volunteers) as its integral RCT unit.
A new unit, 395 Air Despatch Troop, RCT (Volunteers), had been formed in 1967 at Coulsdon, Surrey. This was the first Air Despatch unit to be raised outside of the Regular Army and, in 1971, the troop was relocated to Bristol and then, subsequently, to Chippenham in Wiltshire, so as to be near to its Regular Army counterpart, 47 Air Despatch Squadron, RCT. Some personnel from the troop at Coulsdon transferred to the squadron's "B" Troop at Dulwich.