Would anyone know what AA Brigade (if at all) that the 39th LAA Regiment was under in mid 1942. I believe they may have been stationed at that time near Lewis in Sussex. Thanks
Here is what I have. Unfortunately it does not include mid-1942: 39th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, R.A. (T.A.) HQ: Lincoln 110th Bty: Scunthorpe 111th Bty (307th Tp: Cleethorpes; 308th Tp: Binbrook; 309th Tp: Scampton) The regiment was forming in September 1939. It served under 39th AA Brigade at Humber and Scunthorpe in February 1941. 240th Battery was added on 8 July 1941. The fourth troops of all batteries were detached on 1 December 1941 to form 363rd Battery of 111th Light AA Regiment. It was sent to North Africa and arrived after January 1943. It formed part of 62nd AA Brigade on arrival at Bougie and Setif. Just before the end of the campaign in May 1943, the regiment was placed into reserve under the brigade. The regiment moved to Italy in October 1943 under 62nd AA Brigade and served with the brigade in the Bari area until the regiment was placed on suspended animation on 1 March 1945.
HI Nothing mentioned here sorry - http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/laa/page33.html Here are the war diaries which would help - http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/s/res?_aq=39+Light+Anti+Aircraft+Regiment+&_ep=&_or1=&_or2=&_or3=&_nq1=&_nq2=&_nq3=&_sd=1940&_ed=1945&_col=0&_sw=ref&_cr1=wo&_cr2=&_cr3=&_ps=15&_ro=any&_rd=&_rsd=&_red=&_fr=&_st=adv regards Robert
Have you checked the local angle (World War Two in Sussex – East Sussex County Council) ? :twocents: Steve
Thanks for each of the replies. There is a chance I may be able to get to Kew at Easter and will try and look at the one diary that seems to cover 1942 and I'll post any location information on this thread. There is only a very brief period when my fathers RASC unit may have been 'linked' to the 39th LAA before they joined the 11th LAA Regiment in Scotland in Mid July. Hopefully the diary will make a reference and if not, a Brigade diary may give movement details for all sub units for that period. Thanks to Red Goblin for the tip on county library sources. These have been on my long term research list but will have to wait till I retire. So far I would need to get to Haslemere in Surrey, Lewis in Sussex, Aveley in Essex, Sudbury / Harrow Middlesex and Dundee so its going to take abit of planning and eventual retirement I think! Having said that your link has shown a potentially very interesting book on the war in East Sussex. My Mothers family comes from the county and I think she would be interested if I can get hold of it.
Having made a trip to Kew on Tuesday, I can now answer my own post! It looks like 39th LAA were part of 62nd AA Brigade during 1942. They were based in Altrincham Cheshire before travelling south to Hove, Sussex in May via Lutterworth on the 23rd / 24th. Unfortunately there is no reference that mentions the RASC until September 42 by which time it would have been a different platoon to the one I am interested in as by then they would have been in Scotland on the Dryshod exercises.
