1st Lt A/A Regiment R.A.

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by DavidW, Jan 3, 2013.

  1. DavidW

    DavidW Well-Known Member

    I have this Regiment arriving in north Africa on or about the 9th of May 1941.
    With either three or four batteries (which ones?)
    With a total of either 36 or 48 40mm Bofors.
    Can anyone confirm?

    Thanks, David.
     
  2. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    1st Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, R.A.
    RHQ, 1st, 2nd, 4th
    Raised: 27 May 1940 at R.A. Depot, Woolwich

    The regiment was formed at Woolwich from three regular batteries which had formed part of Heavy AA Regiments in France. 1st Battery left on 5 October 1940 and it was replaced by 3rd Battery on 27 November 1940. The regiment mobilized at Glasgow for service overseas.
    The regiment arrived in Egypt on 9 May 1941 and moved straight to the Western Desert. It served under 7th Support Group from 13 May 1941 to 19 January 1942. 4th Battery (less one troop) served under 7th Armoured Brigade, 3rd Battery (less one troop) served under 22nd Armoured Brigade, and 2nd Battery and ā€˜Dā€™ Troop, 3rd Battery served under 7th Support Group during the Crusader battles. It was located in Egypt until 17 November 1941 and then in Libya. It remained attached to 7th Armoured Division until its return to El Alamein in August 1942. The regiment then served under 21st AA Brigade at Port Said, Suez Canal, and Cairo area until September 1943.
     
  3. DavidW

    DavidW Well-Known Member

    Thanks David.

    So it looks like three batteries. Would that be 12 or 16 guns each?
     
  4. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    In October 1941:

    1st LAA Bty (less Troop) - 8x40mm Bofors - On the Canal. Not part of the 1st LAA Regiment at the time though.

    Given three troops, it looks like 12 to a battery.

    I can't find any mention of equipment for the 2nd-4th Btys in the RA histories.
     
  5. DavidW

    DavidW Well-Known Member

    Thanks as ever David.
     
  6. Gary Kennedy

    Gary Kennedy Member

    Three Tps of four 40-mm guns apiece was the official WE for Div LAA Btys for 1941, with three Btys for the LAA Regt of an Armd Div (total 36 guns). When they shifted to Armd Bde Gps in early 1942, Joslen shows the Bde Gp with 18 x 40-mm guns. I've got a hunch they reorganised the LAA Regt into two Btys of 18 instead of three Btys of 12 guns each, but sadly the relevant ME Theatre WE isn't around to check against.

    Gary
     
  7. Wolfclaw

    Wolfclaw Junior Member

    Hello,
    I'm doing family research on a relative that was killed in North Africa.

    My relative is Erik Moller, who was a serjeant with 2 Bty., 1 Lt. A.A.Regt., and killed on 06/06/1942. See CWGC - Casualty Details

    Erik was a son of a Swede who emigrated to South Africa,. Erik's mother was British, which might explain why he was a British soldier.

    I'm writing a book on my family history, and I would like to be as precise as possible on what battle he might be the casualty of, and what happened to his regiment that very day (assuming he did not spend a long time in hospital before his death).

    I see through google that this thread deals with his regiment, so any info would be appreciated, incl what role in the regiment a serjeant would typically have.

    Kind regards,
    Carl Farberger
    Sigtuna, Sweden
     

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