The Parachute Regimental Association - Regimental Headquarters

30/09/2026

Some copyright scammers and IRA sympathisers bit off more than they could chew when they threatened the PRA. Hermes’ Alf Tupper tells the story.

It is people like this who not only emboldened and funded Fenian murderers and torturers but are still going so.

The founders of Magnum Photos would be not have approved of the once irreproachable Agencys new ways of monetising their members’ images.

When PRA HQ received a threatening demand on Saint Patrick’s Day 2026 for money in relation to the use in an article by Hermes History Editor Geoff Butler of a photograph of a victim of the Donegall Street bombing in March 1972 by Official IRA renegades who would later form the Provisional IRA, th...

28/09/2026

A couple of years after Hermes published this article on the Donegall Street bombing of March 1972, Magnum Photos demanded exorbitant fees and damages from the PRA with menaces of legal action.

The fact that the demand was made on Saint Patrick's Day, which some Americans celebrate as IRA Day, was not lost on observers at PRA HQ and RHQ PARA.

The matter was passed by PRA HQ to the Hermes editorial team, who sent Magnum CEO Caitlin Hughes a draft article for her comments on her firm's attempt at extortion and its proven history of publishing pro-IRA/Sinn Fein editorials on its website. Magnum rapidly withdrew its demands with menaces.

https://hermesjournal.substack.com/p/the-donegal-street-bombing-march?r=8titaw&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

23/09/2026

The only Nord Noratlas still flying just droned over our house in Brittany. More than a few British Paras earned French wings jumping from these.

20/09/2026

As the Government betrayal of Northern Ireland veterans continues unabated, Hermes History Editor Geoff Butler recalls 2 PARA's 1973 South Armagh tour, when the Battalion lost seven members.

Hermes History Editor Geoff Butler remembers 2 PARA’s South Armagh tour in 1973 in the context of the ongoing betrayal of Operation Banner veterans by Government. Click here to read the article: ttps://hermesjournal.substack.com/p/xmg-1973

16/09/2026

Gentlemen,

There are only 58 people that have registered to march at the Cenotaph in London this year. 12 more have had their details passed to the RBL but have not submitted their details to them by responding to their email.

If you would like to register to march please click on the link for details:

The Remembrance Day Parade at the Cenotaph will take place on Sunday 8 November 2026. The parade will be led by: TBC The Association has been allocated 105 places to march this year, so please register early to guarantee your place in 2026. How to register your interest If you would like to register...

10/09/2026

On the eve of the 52nd anniversary of the Kiel Canal disaster, Hermes republishes survivor Geoff Butler’s two articles about the tragedy.

The first addresses the causes whilst the second focuses more on the official cover-up. See Comments for the link to the second part.

We remember the Airborne Brothers who died as well as West German army officer Siegfried Mattern who, wrongly blaming himself despite assurances from his superiors that he was in no way to blame, committed su***de. Requiescant in Pacem.

None of the Royal Air Office and Army officers responsible ever faced justice although the West German authorities wanted them prosecuted.

By Hermes History Editor Geoff Butler In this first of two articles, Kiel Canal survivor Geoff Butler discusses the 1974 disaster. Originally published by Hermes on the 50th anniversary in 2024, Hermes republishes Parts 1 and 2 on the eve of the 52nd anniversary in memory of the Airborne Brothers wh...

06/09/2026

Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant says, to be absolutely clear, I have veterans’ backs in this.

Sir Chris Bryant says he does not believe any British soldier will face prosecution under Labour legislation

04/09/2026

The Elysium Memorial
This is to inform our members with the good news that the Elysium Memorial Foundation and its mission to build the UK’s first memorial solely dedicated to veteran and the serving personnel of all three-armed forces who have lost their lives to su***de is nearing completion.

The official opening ceremony will be on Sunday 13th September starting at 11am.

There has been considerable media coverage of the recent move of the memorial from its home in Leyburn to the National Memorial Arboretum.

Su***de is an extremely sensitive subject but by making more people aware of the memorial it is hoped that they will find some comfort and also bring the subject out of the shadows.
The charity’s aim is to make the subject easier to talk about for both those who have suffered a loss and those who are struggling with su***de ideation. By making people aware of the memorial it is hoped that they will find some comfort and also bring the subject out of the shadows.

Unveiling date: Sunday 13 September 2026.
Location: National Memorial Arboretum.

This event is free to attend you do not need to book NMA tickets, however if you are travelling by car you will need to pay car park, which you can do online in advance for £5.

For more information please visit their website at: https://www.elysiummemorial.co.uk/ or Email - Edward Mackenzie [email protected]

We are building the UK’s first memorial solely dedicated to veterans and members of the armed forces who have died by su***de.

31/08/2026

New details for the International Commando Speed March for anyone looking to take part.

We are delighted to welcome you to the new International Commando Speed March. The ICSM retains all the original members of the Commando Speed March committee without Mr Graeme Taylor who resigned in March 2026 and was subsequently also voted off the committee due to financial irregularities being found.

We are aware of his continued attempts to run his own event, so we ask you not to support or take part in his separate ‘unofficial;’ event.

We are the only Commando Speed March event officially endorsed by the

International Commando Heritage Trust.

Commando Association.

Royal Marines Association (Scotland and N. Ireland).

Parachute Regiment Association.

The next Annual International Commando Speed March Competition – will be held at Spean Bridge on Saturday 6th March 2027.

The new contact email for the ICSM is

[email protected]

We are in the process of setting up the International Commando Speed March as an independent Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) to ensure the longevity of the event, its continued support to military charities and the local community.

Our accounts will be open and visible to all.
In recognising the cost-of-living crisis and ever scrutinised budgets we are reducing the race entry fee for all, but we will see an increase in the percentage of funds going to Charities with our new committee.

To ensure financial and Charitable compliance our new committee is made up of

Committee President. Brian Hume.
Chairman. Damien Isherwood. FRGS. Co CEO Curtis Palmer Program.
Committee Members.
Lt Col Steven Sutherland.
WO2 Billy Rodgers.
Lt Col Barry Barnwell. OBE RD*. Chair of the International Commando Heritage Trust.
Peter Oxley. National Secretary of the Commando Association.
Paul Wilson. Regional Chairman of RMA Scotland and N.Ireland. Chairman Highland Branch RMA.

The committee aim is to build upon our original Commando Speed March but professionalise the race and making it more open and inclusive to all, hence the rebrand to the International Commando Speed March.

We will do this with the support, over-sight and endorsement from the above recognised Charities and new committee members.
We intend to reduce the considerable overhead costs the previous event incurred and ensure a greater percentage of funding goes directly to service users/good causes.

We have reduced the race registration fees for all participants, and we will publish the race accounts annually. All information will be shared on social media and the new ICSM Website funded by the committee.

MISSION
The primary race objective is to keep the memory of all Commando’s alive and raise funds for military Charities, military veterans in need and the local community that supports us so well.

Background
The International Commando Speed March is an annual charitable near 7-mile race with the intention of raising funds for military charities, military veterans in need and for the benefit of the local community and those that support the race (For example the local mountain rescue team and the Clan Cameron Museum).

The race closely follows the original route used as the first ‘challenge’ to select personnel for Commando training who, if successful, were trained in and around the grounds of Achnacarry House -the seat of Clan Cameron.

Achnacarry House became the Commando Basic Training Centre (CBTC) between 1942 and 1946, during which time some 26,000 UK and Allied commandos were trained.

The Route

Conducted over a near 7- miles of undulated route, starting at the Spean Bridge rail station and finishing at the gates to Achnacarry House. See Appendix A.

Entry Requirements

The competition is open to the following:

1. Regular and Reserve personnel from HM Forces.

Staff and Cadets; both CCF & ACF

Members of the UOTC.

Veterans of HM Forces.

Serving members and Veterans of foreign military units.

Civilian entrants.

All Participants should acknowledge that the Event is physically strenuous. As such they must be medically fit to participate and take full responsibility for their own personal health and fitness. Participants are strongly advised to consult a doctor before undertaking any strenuous exercise or training programme or participating in the event. It is your responsibility to obtain any necessary personal insurance in connection with the event.

Entry / Registration Fee

The new entry fee is staggered

Serving Military and Reserves £25.

Veterans £25

International Runners £25

Cadets £20.

Non-Military fun runners/walkers £30

To be paid no later than 12th February 2027
BACs being the preferred method.

Until we are a registered Charity in our own right the funds for the race will be held and monitored by the International Commando Heritage Trust.

If you’d like joining instructions just pm us your email.

27/08/2026

A sad day in the history of The Parachute Regiment. We Will Remember Them

Today we remember the men of 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (2 PARA) and The Queen’s Own Highlanders who lost their lives or were wounded in a terrorist attack at Warrenpoint in Northern Ireland on 27 August 1979.

It resulted in the British Army’s greatest loss of life in a single incident in Northern Ireland with 18 men killed.

It occurred during a 20-month tour of duty in Northern Ireland for 2 PARA when a convoy carrying men of 3 Platoon, A-Company was travelling along the coastal road towards the company base at Newry.

As the convoy drew level with a lay-by close to Narrow Water Castle, Provisional IRA terrorists remotely triggered a bomb containing 700lb of explosives, which had been situated in a trailer parked in the lay-by.

The rear 4-ton truck of the convoy, which carried 9 men, took the full force of the explosion and of these, only 1 survived unhurt. The other vehicles in the convoy halted and their occupants ran back to help their comrades.

Further support and medical assistance was soon at the scene and an incident control point was set up next to a gate house by the side of the road.

Just before 1700hrs a second explosion occurred. This was a 1,000lb bomb, initiated by radio control and concealed inside the gate house lodge, demolishing the building and killing a further 12 men and seriously wounding 3 more.

Six men from 2 PARA were killed in the first explosion, with the second blast killing a further 10 from 2 PARA along with 2 from The Queen’s Own Highlanders, including Commanding Officer of the Highlanders, Lieutenant Colonel David Blair.

There was also a civilian casualty, with a young tourist named Michael Hudson unfortunately mistaken for a terrorist and shot after the second bomb explosion.

Men killed in the first bomb explosion: 2 PARA: Cpl JC Giles (3 Platoon, A-Company), L/Cpl CG Ireland (3 Platoon, A-Company), Pte GI Barnes (3 Platoon, A-Company), Pte JA Jones (3 Platoon, A-Company), Pte RDV Jones (3 Platoon, A-Company), Pte M Woods (3 Platoon, A-Company).

Men killed in the second bomb explosion: 2 PARA: Maj PJ Fursman (OC A-Company), L/Cpl DF Blair (OC’s Radio Op, A-Company), WOII W Beard (Drum Major, Medium Machine Gun Platoon), Sgt IA Rogers (Pl Sgt, Medium Machine Gun Platoon), Cpl NJ Andrews (Medium Machine Gun Platoon), Cpl L Jones (Medium Machine Gun Platoon), Pte R Dunn (Medium Machine Gun Platoon), Pte RN England (Medium Machine Gun Platoon), Pte TR Vance (Medium Machine Gun Platoon), Pte AG Wood (Medium Machine Gun Platoon). The Queen’s Own Highlanders: Lt-Col DNA Blair (CO: 1 QOHLDRS), L/Cpl V MacLeod (CO’s Radio Op, 1 QOHLDRS).

Men wounded at Warrenpoint: 2 PARA: Pte PM Burns (3 Platoon, A-Company), Pte T Caughey (3 Platoon, A-Company), Cpl NH Porter (3 Platoon, A-Company), Cpl SJ Webb (Medium Machine Gun Platoon), Pte MJ Furrow (Medium Machine Gun Platoon).
www.paradata.org.uk/content/4663972-warrenpoint-27-august-1979