Short history of the 7th Bn. 

Lt. Colonel Pine-Coffin is directly behind the tip of the Kings Crown.

The 7th Parachute Battalion (L.I.) was commanded by Lt. Colonel Geoffrey Pine Coffin. The 7th was originally the 10th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry but was changed over to the airborne role for future operations. 

The 7th Battalion, as part of the 6th Airborne Division, stayed in the line continually from 6 June 1944 until 26 August 1944. They then saw action in the Ardennes to push back the Germans in the "Battle of the Bulge" until the 3rd week of February 1945. They then returned to England to prepare for Operation Varsity which began on 24 March 1945. 

The war in Europe ended and the 7th Bn, along with the rest of the 5th Brigade was sent to South East Asia to prepare for possible action. After that the 6th Airborne Division arrived in Gaza, Egypt during September 1945 to become a part of the Imperial Strategic Reserve as a security force in Palestine.

The most famous member of the battalion was the British actor, Richard Todd. Lieutenant Todd was one of the first members of the battalion to land in Normandy on 6 June 1944. 

Veterans Richard Todd (left, and center above) and John Butler (right)
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The mission of the 7th Battalion and Lieutenant Todd was to move off of their drop zones, heading towards the Orne River bridges. There they would relieve, assume command, and take responsibility for the defence of the bridges from the glider troops of Major John Howards D coy, 2nd Bn Oxf & Bucks (L.I.) holding the Orne River bridges who were then placed in reserve. 

Ironically, some 20 years later, Richard Todd portrayed Major John Howard in the film "The Longest Day".