Guys, Usual request regarding movement and batteries of 56th Light A.A Regiment R.A (T.A) during 1940 - 1942. Thanks, David.
56th (East Lancashire) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, R.A. (T.A.) HQ, 166th-168th Btys: Oswaldtwistle 167th Battery of the regiment served at Tromso and Sorreisa, Norway while 168th Battery served at Aandalsnes in Norway from 12 April to 8 June 1940 under 6th Anti-Aircraft Brigade. Upon return from Norway the regiment assembled at Dunfermline. The regiment was redesignated 56th Light AA Regiment, R.A. (East Lancashire) T.A. on 17 February 1942. It then served under 8th Support Group from 24 January 1941 until 22 July 1942 and under 8th Armoured Division from 23 July to 6 November 1942. It left the United Kingdom on 7 May 1942 and arrived in Egypt by sea on 18 July 1942. The regiment then became the Light AA Regiment of X Corps and served with the corps from November 1942 until May 1943 in North Africa. The regiment then served in Italy from September 1943 until April 1944 as the Light AA Regiment of X Corps. It joined 62nd AA Brigade in April 1944 and served with it until placed into suspended animation on 6 March 1945. It was detached to 8th AA Brigade at Citavecchio for a short time from July 1944.
My father Lewis Renshaw was 166 Battery 56th LAA regiment and is still alive. He was blown up at Monte Casino after Norway, Africa through Salerno. He lost all photos and memorabilia he acquired along the way. We are going to Monte Casino next month I am trying to get information on his exploits. If anyone has any information or pictures please help me create a history book for my father. Thanks
There's quite a few war diaries at the National Archives covering WW2 for his unit: WO 166/2899 166 Light Anti-Aircraft Battery (LAA). 1939 Dec.- 1940 Mar., Nov.- 1941 Apr. WO 168/48 Royal Artillery: 166 Light Anti-Aircraft Battery (LAA Bty) 1940 Apr., May WO 169/4959 166 Light Anti-Aircraft (LAA) Battery 1942 Sept.- Dec. WO 169/10084 166 Light Anti-Aircraft (LAA) Battery 1943 Jan.- Dec. WO 170/1279 Light Anti-Aircraft Batteries: 166 Battery 1944 Jan.- Dec. WO 170/4910 Light Anti-Aircraft Batteries: 166 Battery 1945 Jan. WO 168/41 56 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (LAA Regt) 1940 May WO 166/7648 56 Regiment 1942 Jan.- Mar. WO 169/4895 56 Light Anti-Aircraft (LAA) Regiment 1942 Apr.- Dec. WO 169/9996 56 Light Anti-Aircraft (LAA) Regiment 1943 Jan.- Dec. WO 170/1234 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiments: 56 Regiment 1944 Jan.- Dec. WO 170/4890 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiments: 56 Regiment 1945 Jan.- Mar.
my father Bill Warburton was in the 56th LAA from 31/01/44 to 1945 then he was transferred to London irish rifles in february. im trying to trace his movements
Hi Everyone, I am researching Joseph LAVENDER: - Commonwealth War Graves Commission Gunner LAVENDER, JOSEPH Service Number 1825764 Died 20/04/1943 Aged 36 166 Bty., 56 Lt. A.A. Regt. Royal Artillery Son of Charles and Sarah Lavender, husband of Doris Evelyn Lavender, of Saltney, Flintshire. INSCRIPTION - THY WAY, NOT MY WAY, O LORD Buried at ENFIDAVILLE WAR CEMETERY Location: Tunisia Number of casualties: 1466 Cemetery/memorial reference: VII. C. 14. I just cannot find any information on the 166 Bty., 56 Lt. A.A. Regt. Royal Artillery, no matter how hard I Google. Any information on what their role was in the war and perhaps how Joseph died would be much appreciated. Kindest regards, Mavis Williams
Does this help? The Regiment was not assigned to any particular Infantry or Armoured Division - each Division normally had one, so it was likely to have been allocated to protect specific key points - ports, railway terminals, Corps or Army Headquarters. It lasted longer than most LAA Regts in Italy - most were culled in Sep 44 as the need to replace infantry casualties increased to desperate levels. Regards Frank
Thank you, both Frank & Owen, that is a great help, at last I can add something to Joseph's story. Much appreciated. Mavis
Thanks Owen. The thread mentions that 56 LAA Regt RA was allocated to X (BR) Corps from Sep 43 to Apr 44. That would place them at the Salerno Landings in Sep 43, the crossing of the River Volturno in Oct 43, the Battles of Monte Camino in Nov-Dec 43, the crossing of the River Garigliano in Jan 44 and the stalemate in the mountains around Monte Faito until Apr 44. I suspect that they would have protected X (BR) Corps Gun Lines, Supply Dumps and the Corps HQ itself. Regards Frank
Hi I have my grandfathers army record book which says Royal artillery and the following regts… I have worked out (or think I have) that he was in 56th regt 166 battery Then seems to move to 185/87, then to 170/209… There are names next to the regt… I think of where posted but I can’t make them out can anyone here assist me? I know he served in Norway. He was in from October 1939 until 1946 august. Any help gratefully received.
Hello Chris, My interpretation: 166 LAA Bty, 56 (East Lancashire) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA (TA) 209 LAA Bty, 70 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA (TA) 185 LAA Bty, 87 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA (TA) 16 Holding Regiment RA (formerly 16 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA (TA). Suspended animation November 1944.
Thank you for the swift reply…. Really appreciate that. Now I can work out where he was deployed etc from this…. Really appreciate it Thanks again
