WWII Border Regiment Shoulder Title

A Border Regiment title in near mint un-issued condition. In the Second World War the 1st Battalion, The Border Regiment, as it was then known, formed part of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). Following the campaign in France and return to the UK, the battalion served as part of the 31st Independent Infantry Brigade which specialised in Mountain Warfare. In 1941 the brigade, and its constituent battalions, was selected to be re-rolled to undertake airborne assault by Glider as the 1st Air Landing Brigade with the battalion becoming 1st (Airborne) Battalion The Border Regiment. Later in 1943, the Battalion moved to North Africa as part of the 1st Airborne Division and in preparation for operations in Sicily and Italy. As part of the invasion of Sicily the Battalion took part in Operation Ladbrooke in July 1943, but suffered heavy casualties as many of the gliders were released too early and ended up landing in the sea with many soldiers drowned. Consequently the unit took the opportunity to reorganise and begin to refit in Italy. The battalion was then returned to the UK and was used operationally on Operation Market Garden, which despite a heroic stand ended with much of the battalion killed, wounded or captured. Only 9 officers and 241 other ranks returned to the UK at Roughton Moor Camp. Later they were moved to Well Camp, Lincs, and began to reform the battalion.