Hi I have just got my Dad's war records back from Glasgow and am having difficulty in deciphering them as they are all hand written. Does anybody have any history on the 123 LAA Royal Artillery. My Dad was from Manchester. Number 14560171 John Higgins. His rank was Gunner and he was a qualified Driver. He was sent to NW Europe on 12/06/1944 until 10/08/1945 . I know he was in the Netherlands and then Germany and as far my mother can remember was on Sword Beach, Nijmegen and near Belsen at some point. After the war he was shipped to MEF 15/11/1945 until 08/06/1947. We have old letters from A Troop RA 35 battery, and according to his records was in unit XL LAA. I know he was in Palestine and Egypt. Does anybody have any idea where to start looking for War Diaries as there seems very little on the National Archive website and I am a bit baffled by all the different regiments. Thank you.
Hi Cathy and welcome to the forum. There's quite a few chaps interested in the RA on here. It may take some time though for them to reply because of the holidays. Not sure what you have found on google but this may be of interest (Its a members (Philip R.) own site): Royal Artillery Units Netherlands 1944-1945 - 123 LAA Regiment Regards Andy
Hi Cathy and welcome His regiment did indeed serve in NW Europe and here are the war diary references you require for 1944 and 45. They had 405, 408 and 409 Batteries under command. WO171/1137 - 1944 WO171/4962 - 4962 There are also diaries for 405 and 409 Batteries for June 1944 and your Fathers papers should indicate which battery he served in (My Fathers papers did). These references are:- (405) WO171/1193 - June 1944 (409) WO171/1194 - June 1944 His regiment were part of an anti-aircraft brigade and you will need to read the diaries to find out more. My own Father served in 102 LAA, also in NW Europe and I found out a lot and continue to do so 5 years from first having read them. Regards - Robert
