Can anyone help me with this? I think that 8th (Belfast) Heavy AA Regiment RA formed a "Group" in the Arakan in December 1942 in the absence of an AA Brigade H.Q. Joslen mentions that both 77th & 78th Light AA Regiments were under command of the Group as well as a battery from 59th Light AA Regiment, RA. With the posting of H.Q. 13th AA Brigade, RA to Chittagong in early March 1943 the "Group" was disbanded. Does anyone have details of when this "Group" was formed and what units came under it's command? RobG
Hi Rob I have a few bits and pieces of data taken from the war diaries of the various A.A. Brigades but I don't (yet) have the diary for the 8th H.A.A. Regiment, R.A. Here goes: The 8th (Belfast) H.A.A. Regiment arrived at Calcutta and came under command of the 1st Indian A.A. Brigade in late September 1942. On 13th October 1942, the regiment (R.H.Q.) was ordered to Comilla with orders not to arrive before 26th October 1942. The 21st Battery went to Chittagong, the 22nd Battery to Fenny and the 23rd Battery to Agartala (to deploy by 16th October). The 8th (Belfast) H.A.A. Regiment(al) Group was established within the 1st Indian Anti-Aircraft Brigade at 1200 hours, 29th October 1942, under the command of Lt. Colonel J. Dearden, C.O. of the 8th HAA Regiment. On 27th October 1942, the war diary of the 1st Indian A.A. Brigade states that the Group was to deploy in the area of the 14th Indian Infantry Division and was to comprise all of the anti-aircraft artillery in the area operating in the static role. (1st Indian A.A. Brigade, WO 172/630) The 78th L.A.A. Regiment was still under command of the 9th A.A. Brigade, R.A. on 23rd December 1942. (WO 172/633) Under the 9th A.A. Brigade, R.A., R.H.Q. 78th L.A.A. Regiment and the 241st L.A.A. Battery, R.A. were at or near Rajyeswarpur and the 236th Battery was deployed near Tinsukia on 22nd January 1943. 236th Battery left for “IV Corps area” around and between 11th-18th March 1943. R.H.Q. 78th L.A.A. Regiment and 241st Battery appear to have left 9th A.A. Brigade by the end of January 1943. (WO 172/2140) R.H.Q. 78th L.A.A. Regiment left Kinnison Mill, Calcutta for Hailakandi on 13th January 1943. (1st Indian A.A. Brigade, WO 172/2135) The 13th A.A. Brigade, R.A. assumed command at Chittagong on 9th March 1943 with the following units under command: 8th (Belfast) H.A.A. Regiment, R.A. 77th L.A.A. Regiment, R.A. 184th Battery, 59th L.A.A. Regiment, R.A. 202nd Battery, 56th H.A.A. Regiment, R.A. 4th L.A.A. Battery, I.A. 14th Battery, 5th H.A.A. Regiment, I.A. (less B.H.Q. and 1 troop) 8th (Sikh) L.A.A. Regiment, I.A. (less R.H.Q., one battery and one troop) (13th A.A. Brigade, WO 172/2143) Hope this helps Steve
Hi Steve! Hope you are well? Great reply, thank you very much. I will update my records accordingly. Best regards RobG
Hi Rob. All good thanks. I see from this you are still plugging away. I'll add the 8th HAA diaries to my list when I shortly pick up the Indian AA project again. Best regards Steve
I have had the attached images for many years now, resting quietly in my documents file on the computer. I cannot even remember where I found them. Sadly, the resolution is not very large either, but I thought I'd put them here just in case they were of interest. They are photos of the 8HAA football team circa 1942 and the 23rd Battery Band in 1942-43 and some close ups of the same image:
Hi again Rob I've pieced together an order of battle for the 8th HAA Group based on the relevant command, formation and unit war diaries. Please see the link below. There are a few additional files to consult. I'll post an update when they've been viewed. Steve
Rob, no problem. I was at TNA getting a few more files to help with the other project. It's quite a jigsaw puzzle to put it together but fun. Steve
Rob , Here is a revised version of the OB, having now consulted the remaining war diaries (and having attempted to resolve the conflicts between them). Steve
