Now recruiting across the United Kingdom originally the Battalion covered the North of England, with its headquarters located in Pudsey, West Yorkshire.

[3] The original 4th Parachute Battalion was formed in 1942 and saw service in Algeria (as part of the British 1st Airborne Division during Operation Torch) and Tunisia (supporting American forces).

In 1943 Operation Avalanche (Invasion of Italy) was launched and the Battalion was in action at Taranto and Cassino.

In August 1944, the battalion was part of Operation Rugby in Southern France.

In October 1944 the Battalion seized by airborne assault (Operation Manna) the airfield at Megara near Athens in Greece as part of the 2nd Independent Parachute Brigade.