Help with info on Anti Aircraft Battery RA at Aldershot 1939 that went to france

Hi
Can anybody tell me which Anti Aircraft battery went to France from Aldershot in 1939.

I think its the 6th but not sure

Thanks

Keith

 

There is a war diary for 6 HAA Battery with the BEF from Sept 1939, but whether they went from Aldershot or not, I could not tell you. Maybe Drew5233 has the BEF diary for this one.

 

Thanks Ramacal

regards

Keith

 

As Rob said 6 HAA Bty went to France and have a seperate war diary. They were at Blackdown Barracks on the out break of war and arrived at Southampton on the 14th September to sail to France.

Do you have any further clues? A lot of units went through Aldershot-Mainly I Corps I think in the early stages of deploying to France.

 

As Rob said 6 HAA Bty went to France and have a seperate war diary. They were at Blackdown Barracks on the out break of war and arrived at Southampton on the 14th September to sail to France.

Do you have any further clues? A lot of units went through Aldershot-Mainly I Corps I think in the early stages of deploying to France.

Hi Drew

All i have is that an anti-aircraft battery was stationed at Aldershot and then went to France 10 days after war was declared.
The commander was Major Brazier MC

Thanks

regards

Keith

 

I'll look for Brazier, name rings a bell for some reason. Don't suppose you know if its LAA or HAA?

 

Andy, There was no LAA in 1939. The war diaries were - AA Regt, or - AA Battery. In 1940, when LAA started to be formed, you then got HAA & LAA Regt war diaries. An example is 6 AA Regt, became 6 HAA Regt.

Cheers - Rob

 

I'll look for Brazier, name rings a bell for some reason. Don't suppose you know if its LAA or HAA?

Thanks
No its just says Anti Aircraft battery.
Brazier got promoted while in France from the Anti Aircraft battery and took command of my granddads regiment the 53rd medium regiment.

 

Keith,

You probably have already checked, but is there anything in the 53 Medium war diary indicating where Brazier was posted from. Quite a few entries in the war diary of my Dad's unit often state where officers were posted from.

Cheers - Rob

 

Keith,

You probably have already checked, but is there anything in the 53 Medium war diary indicating where Brazier was posted from. Quite a few entries in the war diary of my Dad's unit often state where officers were posted from.

Cheers - Rob

HI

The Diarys before the 28th May were lost at sea in the evacuation of Dunkirk i'm afraid, so know go there.
I found the info about the anti aircraft battery from his Obitiuaries

 

Firstly are you aware of these diaries?

WO 167/555 209 Medium Battery Royal Artillery 1939 Sept.-1940 May

WO 167/556 210 Medium Battery Royal Artillery 1939 Oct.-1940 Apr.

Going to look for Brazier now-Watch this space

 

Firstly are you aware of these diaries?

WO 167/555 209 Medium Battery Royal Artillery 1939 Sept.-1940 May

WO 167/556 210 Medium Battery Royal Artillery 1939 Oct.-1940 Apr.

Going to look for Brazier now-Watch this space

Are these the ones that are at the Royal Armoury in Woolwich if so yes i have only recently found out about them, but have not been able to get up there to get them yet.

thanks for your help

 

I have checked the first Officers Field Return for Brazier in 29 AA Artillery diaries inc 2 Brigade files. I have all the RA regts but not all the batteries. There are over 30 LAA and HAA Battery diaries for me to copy yet.

Ref the 209 and 210 Bty diaries: I don't know what Woolwich have. I copy all mine from the National Archives.

 

What they have at the NA, they should have the same at Woolwich. I've seen the wd for my Dad's unit at both places. Unlike Kew, you can't photograph the files at Woolwich and the NA is much more user friendly when you go in person.

 

I have checked the first Officers Field Return for Brazier in 29 AA Artillery diaries inc 2 Brigade files. I have all the RA regts but not all the batteries. There are over 30 LAA and HAA Battery diaries for me to copy yet.

Ref the 209 and 210 Bty diaries: I don't know what Woolwich have. I copy all mine from the National Archives.

Thanks for this Drew

Would it be a possibility to receive a copy of the 209 and 210 diaries as this would be very useful for me to reference with, as i only have the 53rd medium regimental diary from the 28th May onwards .

 

I'm not sure what you have from the RA museum but I thought I'd just check my 53 Med Diary and I have Brazier as the Regiments CO on 6th Jan 1940. He has a substansive rank of Major but is Acting Lt. Colonel.

I'll try and find when he joined the Regt.

 

Looks like he joined the Regt as CO on the 4th Dec 1939

 

Make that the 5th !

 

I'm not sure what you have from the RA museum but I thought I'd just check my 53 Med Diary and I have Brazier as the Regiments CO on 6th Jan 1940. He has a substansive rank of Major but is Acting Lt. Colonel.

I'll try and find when he joined the Regt.

Hi Drew

Just found out from another friend of mine that he joined in Dec 1939 taking over from Lieut -Colonel Laws, and that he came from the 13th Anti tank Regt so he must of come from the Anti aircraft Battery to 13th Anti tank while in France.

 

Make that the 5th !



Thanks for the image and your help