Does anyone know where the A.A. School in India was based in 1942? There is nothing on the photograph that indicates a specific location. Clearly Officers' courses were held there on a regular basis as this photograph is entitled Course Serial No, 18 Officers' Light A.A. The majority of officers in the photograph seem to be wearing '11th Sikhs' shoulder titles and I remember that at least one battalion of the 11th Sikhs converted to a Light A.A. unit. Other officers are wearing R.A. shoulder titles.
I have a copy of "The Sikh Regiment in the Second World War" by F.T. Birdwood. Both the 8th and 9th Battalions, 11th Sikhs were converted to be A.A. regiments, both from the end of March 1942. It seems the officers of the 8th who underwent "instruction" did so at Karachi. For the 9th it seems Officers and N.C.O.s attended the "Artillery schools at Deolali and Karachi". It is a frustrating book as it has no index. Rothy
Rothy, thank you for the update. I will try and determine which of the two battalions these officers served with. Do you know if the 8th and 9th battalions were re-designated after conversion to A.A. units and if so what were they called? Simon.
Hi Simon The same book gives the following: 8th Battalion becomes the 8th (Sikh) LAA Regiment, IA 9th Battalion becomes the 7th (Sikh) LAA Regiment, IA. These titles are confirmed in "The Sons of John Company" by John Gaylor. It seems the 9th was renumbered to the 7th as the number 9 was given to the 9th Battalion, 6th Rajputana Rifles when this too was redesignated a LAA Regiment. Rothy
In case it helps, here's the Indian Army's official History of AAD Centre (where AAD = Army Air Defence). Its WW2 beginnings (quoted below) basically place LAA instruction at Deolali from Jan-Dec '42 - thus apparently including this course #18: Steve
