12th (Yorkshire) Parachute Battalion

12th (Yorkshire) Parachute Battalion
Cap badge of the Parachute Regiment.
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Type	Airborne forces
Role	Parachute infantry
Size	Battalion
Part of	5th Parachute Brigade
Nickname(s)	Red Devils[1]
Motto(s)	Bash On & Utrinque Paratus (Latin "Ready for Anything")
Engagements	Operation Tonga Bréville Seine Offensive Ardennes Operation Varsity Operation Tiderace
Commanders
Notable commanders	Johnny Johnson Sir Kenneth Darling
Insignia
Emblem of the British Airborne Forces

The 12th (Yorkshire) Parachute Battalion was an airborne infantry battalion of the Parachute Regiment, raised by the British Army during the Second World War. The battalion was formed by the conversion of the 10th (East Riding Yeomanry) Battalion, Green Howards to parachute duties in May 1943. They were then assigned to the 5th Parachute Brigade, alongside the 7th and 13th Parachute battalions, which was part of the 6th Airborne Division.

The battalion took part in Operation Tonga during the D-Day landings, capturing Ranville and held it against several German counter-attacks. It later fought in the Battle of Breville, and played a part in the 6th Airborne Division advance to the River Seine, after which it was returned to England in September 1944. The battalion was deployed to the River Meuse with the 5th Parachute Brigade during the German Ardennes offensive in December. Its final mission in Europe was Operation Varsity, the River Rhine crossing in March 1945. They then advanced further into Germany, and had reached the Baltic Sea, when Germany surrendered.

After the war in Europe the battalion was sent to the Far East, taking part in operations in Malaya and Java. In 1946 the battalion rejoined the 6th Airborne Division in Palestine, where it was disbanded. In 1947 a new 12th Battalion was raised as part of the 16th Airborne Division in the reformed Territorial Army.