GHQ Liaison Regiment ('PHANTOM') in Normandy

Discussion in 'British & Commonwealth' started by Pat Curran, Sep 7, 2025.

  1. Pat Curran

    Pat Curran Administrator
    Staff Member

    Oct 20, 2012
    2,634
    17
    Co. Kilkenny, Ireland
    Hi All,

    Whilst reading 'SAS - Daggers Drawn' by Damien Lewis recently, I came across a mention of a British Army unit called GHQ Liaison Regiment. Known as 'PHANTOM', the Unit's Wiki Page is here.

    Apparently, members of this unit were attached to the SAS whilst in a signaling capacity during their drive into Germany in the spring of 1945. The reference in the book is on page 284 if anyone has it. However, I see from some initial googling that not only did they come ashore on D+1 in Normandy to '... go around day and night to find all the British, Canadian and American units they could, marking their locations on a map, and passing the information to the main HQ', but some elements were parachuted into Normandy a number of days before the 6th June.

    The Phantom Living History Group seems especially well informed about this Unit per their page here.

    Another good source, which includes mention of the pre D-Day parachute insertions, is on the Traces of War site here, referencing a 1945 article titled 'Now It Can Be Told - Phantom Patrols: GHQ Liaison Regiment' from The War Illustrated magazine. It seems that Squadrons from this Unit were attached to each British, Canadian and American Army Corps.

    I would like to learn more of GHQ Liaison Regiment's time in France during 1944, including the possibility that it was elements of this Unit which were involved in the controversial story of Ray Welty in the American Airborne Sector.

    I have ordered a s/h copy of the book 'Phantom at War - The British Army's Secret Intelligence and Communication Regiment of WWII' by Andy and Sue Parlour to see if it sheds any further light on the unit's time in Normandy.

    If anyone has more information, I would appreciate any additions, corrections and feedback as always.

    Thanks,

    Pat
     

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