the 7th (light infantry) parachute battalion was formed, in november 1942, by the conversion of the 10th battalion, somerset light infantry, a war service battalion created two years earlier, to parachute duties. the battalion was assigned to the 3rd parachute brigade, originally part of the 1st airborne division but later transferred to the 6th airborne division. when the 1st canadian parachute battalion arrived in britain, it was assigned to the 3rd parachute brigade and the 7th parachute battalion was transferred to the 5th parachute brigade, which was also a part of the 6th airborne division.