The 1st Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery RA originated from a pre-war territorial army unit, the 4th Battalion Kings own Royal Regiment (Lancaster), which was converted into the 56th Anti-tank Regiment in 1938. The regiment served in France in 1939-40 with the BEF during which time the battery was detached as part of “Macforce” when it knocked out about 25 German AFV’s. It was evacuated from Dunkirk in June 1940 after which it became the 223rd (Independent) Anti-Tank Battery within the 31st Independent Brigade Group. In December 1941 it was transferred to the Airborne Division with the rest of the Brigade Group and was renamed the 1st Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery.
The Battery took part in the invasion of Sicily with the 1st Parachute Brigade in July 1943 when it created history by this being the first time that British guns had been taken into battle by air. Subsequently the Battery took part in the invasion of the Italian mainland, then came home to the UK with the rest of the Division at the end of 1943 to be based at Hecklington and Helpringham. Before the Arnhem operation the Battery was reorganized into six troops. Four troops were equipped with four 6-pounder guns each and two were each equipped with the newly developed and heavier 17-pounder guns.

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