Hi ChrisW, Here is a summary of my understanding of the record above, together with summaries of the units with which he served in India. Unfortunately I only have the 1942 war diaries, the lockdown having prevented my from getting the rest. Steve
I've just spotted that there are a couple of members of 28 LAA Regt buried in Kohima War Cemetery, with dates of death 05/04/44 and 10/04/44 (i.e the beginning of the siege). They include Maj Browning who, though identified as 28 LAA Regt, was in fact transferred from the reinforcement camp to the Kohima Garrison and KIA on 05/04/44. In addition there are a further three BORs listed on the Rangoon Memorial (i.e. they have no known grave) with dates of death 06/04/44 and 10/04/44. Also two members of 106 LAA Bty died 06/04/44 on the Rangoon Memorial, a member of 112 LAA Bty died 05/04/44 at Kohima War Cemetery and one member of 250 LAA Bty died 14/04/44 also in Kohima War Cemetery. These were all batteries of 28 LAA Regt. The short answer is that there were members of 28 LAA Regt at Kohima during the siege. What they were doing there is a more difficult question. Maj Browning was with the reinforcement camp; were the others? The other point to bear in mind is that your Grandfather only seems to have joined the regiment 08/04/44. So, some progress, but not yet a complete answer.
Thanks Steve, really great info. Would I accept that he would have been part of the 143 battery all the way through the war regardless of being attached to the 78th Reg or 28th Reg? Note that when it mentions the 28th Reg it does not show the battery. Thanks Jitter, again great info. If the 28th was not officially involved according to the history books I guess where was the 28th at this stage. As above elements seem to have been caught up in the fighting. Talking to my Dad today he recalls his uncle mentioning my Grandfather being cut off for months, no sleep, no food and announcements by the Japs encouraging them to surrender. Again thank you for this info. My Dad was 10 when he lost my Grandfather due to a work accident. So its encouraging to give him some info about his life during this period.
After digging a bit further I can confirm that at least four, possibly five, of the men mentioned in my previous post were indeed missing during the initial Japanese attack on Kohima. It seems that they were with 21 Indian Convalescent Depot and were, in theory, then posted to 24 Indian Reinforcement Camp and from there to the hastily formed Kohima Garrison, at the height of the panic brought on by the impending Japanese attack. In reality it seems they were posted directly from the convalescent depot to the front line on Kohima ridge, where they died. As you can appreciate, record keeping was not a priority at the time and things were never really sorted out. These men, and many others like them, have no known grave and are officially recorded under their parent units, with no acknowledgement of the vital task they carried out. Undoubtedly other members of the regiment were in the same situation, but survived.
Hi Chris, The 143rd Battery was a permanent part of the 78th L.A.A. Regiment, along with the 236th and 241st Batteries, which all served with the Regiment in India. When the Regiment disbanded, the batteries were also disbanded. An artillery regiment is made up of a headquarters and a number of batteries. In British service, the batteries are 'regimented' with a Regiment on a near-permanent basis. The batteries sometime serve away from their 'parent' regiment and sometimes move to become part of other regiments. The 28th L.A.A. Regiment in India had the 106th, 112th and 250th L.A.A. Batteries 'regimented' with it. The Regiment returned to the U.K. after the war and began disbandment (entering suspended animation) at Charlton Camp, near Malmesbury, Wiltshire on 10th December 1945. Steve
Hi I've just rediscovered my Granddad's service records and I am trying to find more information if anyone can help? Does anyone have any information about the 69th Anti-Tank Battery? And which Regiment it was attached to? I can't seem to find it in any Orders of Battle His record states Royal Artillery - Posted to 55th Anti-Tank Battery 18th Feb 1941 Attached to 69th Anti-Tank Battery 27th Oct 1941 Transferred to the 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment 14th Oct 1944 Overseas Service India 19th Mar 1942 - 12th Nov 1945 Any information greatly appreciated Tom
Hi Tom, I can't find anything to confirm either the 55th or 69th Anti-Tank Batteries in the usual sources. Perhaps you could post a photo of the record in this thread? Steve
I agree with Steve. I am unable to find any reference to a 55th or 69th Anti-Tank Battery. You definitely should post a picture of the service record so it can be interpreted. David
Thanks for looking Steve and David, here is the full service record attached, hopefully this will help shed some light on it Thanks Tom
Not really a full service record, but one of the older-style precis type. They can be quite inaccurate. If I were to guess, and it is a guess, 69 ATk Bty may be an error for 69 ATk Regt, which arrived in India 05/42. That regiment, after various consolidations/amalgamations, became a Chindit battalion as 51/69 Regt RA. It was disbanded in 10/44, just about the time our man was transferred to 1 Essex, another Chindit battalion. That would, of course, leave another problem; he doesn't seem to have a Burma Star.
I think Jitter Party has it - the story holds together better if we take the 69th to be the 69th Atk Regiment. If you would like more details of the moves and re-organisations/amalgamations of the 69th Regiment please let us Know and I'll list them. Steve
I agree Jitter Party. I would think the actual record would reflect 55th Anti-Tank Regiment and 69th Anti-Tank Regiment. The 55th Anti-Tank Regiment was located in England under the 54th (East Anglia) Infantry Division in February 1941, when his posting occurred. In October 1941 on transfer to the 69th, the 69th Anti-Tank Regiment was located in England under the 45th Infantry Division. This regiment was sent to India, where it arrived on May 23, 1942. It served under 19th Indian Division until it came under 70th British Division in Bangalore in August 1943. This regiment then served with the Chindits as you mentioned. The transfer to 1st Essex Regiment makes sense since the 69th Anti-Tank Regiment lapsed in suspended animation on October 14, 1944. The 1st Essex were also Chindits and were reforming at Bangalore at the time and would have taken reinforcements from the disbanding 69th Anti-Tank Regiment (currently 69th Column). I agree about the Burma Star. Maybe a member with expertise in this area can help.
Thanks Jitter, Steve and David, very useful information - I agree the story and dates make sense as 69th Atk Regiment. His service record states Overseas service started 19th Mar 1942 and if 69th arrived India May 23rd 1942 that seems to makes sense, roughly 2 months sailing time to India? My Dad seems to think they sailed from Liverpool... Thanks for the Timeline David Steve if you do have anymore information and details I would love to know, thanks Would everyone suggest that the next step in getting more detailed info to be a trip to Kew and read the War Diaries for 69th Atk Reg? Also regarding the Burma Star would that normally be detailed on the service record? The service record states " War Medal 1939/45 " Have included a photo of George pre Overseas posting Thanks again
Well David has pretty much covered the story of the 69th Atk Regiment in India. For the record, here are a few additional details: On 6th August 1943, the 69th Atk Regt formed the 69th LAA/Atk Regiment by swapping batteries with the 33rd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment. On 30th September 1943, this 'new' regiment disbanded and was formed into an infantry group, as part of the reorganisation of the 70th Division into the Chindits. This Group combined with the 51st Field Regiment to form numbers 51 and 69 Columns within the 16th Infantry Brigade. These columns served as infantry until October 1944. As David has pointed out, the 69th Regiment then passed into suspended animation and at least some of the men posted ot the 1st Essex. Steve
Managed to come across this picture from India 1942. My grandfather is top middle Leonard Watson. So LAA battery 143 - 78th Reg RA.
Fabulous photo, Chris. And yes, 143rd Battery, 78th LAA Regiment...... sometimes written as 143/78th LAA Battery.
I was wondering if anyone can shed a little light on the 28th Punjab Para L.A.A R.A Rgt ,I Have my father's letter of recommendation on his demob in April 47 , I can see descriptions of the 28th L.A.A ,is this same Unit ,I have seen photos of my father in gliders ,and have always been intrigued
Yes, it is the same regiment. It was redesignated from 6 (1 Punjab) LAA Regt, probably in 1947. It had been part of 2 Ind AB Div since 1946. No idea why they needed to redesignate it.
In January 1947, the regiments of what by then had become the Royal Indian Artillery were re-numbered/redesignated. The idea was that regiments of the R.I.A. might be reorganised/re-rolled at a future date without having to re-number. The 6th (Punjab) L.A.A. Regiment, R.I.A did indeed become the 28th (Punjab) Parachute L.A.A. Regiment, R.I.A. The Regiment retained the title "Punjab" to indicate its origin as having been converted from an Infantry battalion. The 28th appears to have been disbanded prior to independence. Steve