The division was sent to North Africa
at the end of 1942, and during the
Allied invasion of Sicily undertook two
brigade sized landings. The first,
Operation Ladbroke, carried out by a
glider brigade, and the second,
Operation Fustian, by a parachute
brigade, were far from successful. The
division then took part in a mostly
diversionary amphibious landing,
Operation Slapstick, part of the Allied
invasion of Italy.
