265th Bty/45th LAA Regt RA North Africa & Italy 1942 -1945

I have just bought the War Diaries of 265th Bty/45 LAA Regt [ Duplicate copy ] Nov 1942 to Oct 1945 and would like to know what a LAA Bty would have used . AA Bofors ?.
265th Bty CO Major N.C.Napier. some of the places named La Goulette, Tunis, Ahras, + Italy
I have put a few pages that the seller put up. I will scan some more.

 

Hi

Yes they would have had 40mm Bofors, my Dad was in 14th LAA
http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/guns/page9.html
The picture you have is a bofors
http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/laa/page39.html

regards

Robert

 

Thanks Robert. on the back of the 1st photo i put up on list 1 it says Secret. Photo might have been taken before the war ? We lost a lot at Dunkirk. Orignal Photos from my collection.
Keith

 

Here are some pages from the War Diary of 265th LAA Bty . From Nov 1942/43. Other place names in the Diary from Italy 1944 , i have yet to scan are Salerno, Castell-Mare, Anzio, Civitavecchia Port, San Vincinzo, Leghorn. There my be a part left out as my scanner can not do the whole page, if so i will do 2 scans of the same page. if you use any of them can you put the source these came from ww2talk Keith Brooker.
Keith

 

Some more. I just need to get some ww2 maps of the areas so i can look up the grid ref in the War Diary.
Keith

 

Keith.

Terrific stuff. Keep it coming. Very interested in their role at Anzio.

Regards

FdeP

 

Some more.
Keith

 

Are there any photos of this unit or any more info.
Keith

 

Some more to add later. Start from the bottom.
Keith

 

Some more.
Keith

 

Keith since you posted the diary of 265 Bty up to March 28th 1943 have you found any info from then to Sept 1943. My interest is with 142 Bty but their info dries up around the same time as yours. Thank you for sharing as 142 mentioned often.
Regards,
Tomed1

 

Keith - I have just come across your post as I was searching for records of my fathers battery 265. I hope to download the diary you have posted as it is what I am looking for. My father joined the battery as it was being formed in 1942 and was with it until it started to disband in 1944, the need for L.A.A. resource having diminished because of allied air superiority - he was seconded to the administration section of the Italian military government until he was demobilised in 1946. I have a copy of the diary of Gunner William Carmen of 265 Battery during 1943 and 1944 which was circulated amongst his colleagues after he died in the 1950's - it was against the rules to keep a diary of course. I also have a lot of photo's of the battery in England,Tunisia and Italy. I will try and scan these onto this web site if you are still interested. I would also refer you to the BBC's Peoples War Project on the BBC Web site and the recollections of Percy Gregg, who was the sergeant in the newly formed 265 Bty in 1941. The posting is titled Adventures with the Royal Artillery Part 1 and Part 2 and covers the whole period of the Bty's existence. I will be interested if you are still following this story and have additional information.
Regards

Peter B.

 

Hi Peter,
I have a few more pages to put up.
The last entry for 265/45 Lt AA Regt RA is in Oct 44, then it is just 45 Garrison Regt , they end on 1st Nov 45 as HQ 603 Regt RA.
I would like to see your photos. What was your dads name and rank as i will have a look in the other pages.
Keith

 

Hi Keith,
Your diaries are very interesting and I will be setting down their record alongside Gunner William Carmens Diaries and Sergeant Percy Gregg's recollections to help me research my father's war service. His name was Cecil Bellinger and he ended up with three stripes i.e. Bombardier. He served with 265 Battery from 27/8/41 to 16/11/44 which covered most of 265 Bty's existence. He was with them in England,Tunisia and Italy. In November 1944 he was transferred to GHQ where he worked in the archive section of the Military Government until 1946. I have attached a sample of his photos showing members of 265 Bty. I will add more if it is of interest.

Regards

Peter

 

This from Oct 1944, then change from 265/45 to HQ 45 Garrison Regt RA then change to HQ 603 Regt RA.

 

last lot, and a original photo from my collection of a LAA unit 24 B2 on sign, in Italy taken by a US service man.
Keith

 

Ammo box. dunkirk 40mm bofors ammo left on the beach. Photo from my collection.
Keith