What was life like in a Light Ack Ack unit ?

Discussion in 'Veteran Accounts' started by robcod, Feb 12, 2009.

  1. robcod

    robcod Junior Member

    Serving in a LAA unit all the way from north africa and up through italy during WW2 covered a long period of time. Can anyone shed any light on what life was like, procedures, duties carried out, experiences, whilst serving in a LAA unit? From what I have read LAA 40mm Bofor guns were on occasions also used in direct fire at targets on the ground, can anyone expand on this?

    Many Thanks

    Rob
     
  2. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Robcod -
    Ron Goldstein;s your man - he did all that until near the end when they made an honest soldier out of him and trained him in Tanks ....Topless they were as well !

    Cheers
     
  3. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Hi Rob

    Firstly, an official Welcome aboard this fascinating forum.

    I do hope that we will be able to help you along with your research because, at the end of the day, that's what a good forum is all about.

    I was pleased to get your pm (in which you mentioned your Grandad who served in the 100th LAA, attached to 56th London Div) and am glad that you have decided to open this thread so that others may also contribute to the general sum of knowledge.

    I start myself with an explanation regarding my own role in Light Ack Ack.

    Although my first rank was that of "Gunner" I never had any training whatsoever on Bofors and was always a lowly Wireless Operator working at BHQ and, for a while, at RHQ.

    This doesn't mean that we were necessarily based miles behind the line, far from it, in order to get maximum reception we were usually placed well to the centre of activity, but I want you to appreciate from the outset that if you want a glimpse of what life was like on a Bofor gunsite you won't be getting it from yours truly. What we can hope is that other members will be able to provide this.

    You need two immediate links, namely:
    http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/unit-documents/13571-49th-light-ack-ack-rgt-r-regimental-diary-extracts.html
    and
    http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/veteran-accounts/9730-me-my-army-album.html

    The first link will take you to the 49th LAA War Diaries that are already permanently placed on this site. Be aware that it is a curtailed version that only starts in April 1943 when I first joined them.
    The second link is one that will take you to an earlier posting I made on this site and, like Pandora's box this has links to many other stories.

    Asking you to read all my previous postings might be considered a bit of a cop-out but I ask you to persevere, skim through the articles making notes of items on which you would like further details and then come back to this thread with further questions.

    Enough to be geting on with !

    Enjoy your stay and good luck with your research

    Cheers

    Ron
     
  4. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Rob et al

    By sheer coincidence I had an e-mail today from someone by the name of Ashley Woods with whom I had previously corresponded on the BBC WW2 Archives.

    Ashley's grandfather, a Sgt.Woods, had served in 90 Bty of the 49th LAA (my old mob) and Ashley had recently come across some photos that he thinks were printed in a British newspaper.

    The area, he thinks, was San Salvo in Italy and his Grandad is the Sergeant you can see.

    I would love to say that I knew him......... unfortunately, not in this case, although I think the photos are super. Note that the Div signs were erased before publication.
     

    Attached Files:

  5. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    Rob & Ron

    I am meeting up with an old acqaintance in a month's time to help him research his Father's regiment. There are 2 boxes of goodies to look at with medals, paybook etc.

    His Father was a Battery Sergeant of an LAA Regiment and served in North Africa and Cassino amongst other places. He gave his son quite a lot of info, so I'm looking forward to doing this.

    Hopefully with his permission I will be able to post some of the details.

    Robert.
     
  6. Bodston

    Bodston Little Willy

    Rob & Ron

    I am meeting up with an old acqaintance in a month's time to help him research his Father's regiment. There are 2 boxes of goodies to look at with medals, paybook etc.

    His Father was a Battery Sergeant of an LAA Regiment and served in North Africa and Cassino amongst other places. He gave his son quite a lot of info, so I'm looking forward to doing this.

    Hopefully with his permission I will be able to post some of the details.

    Robert.

    Sounds like a great opportunity, I hope you get permission. I would love to see it.

    Bod
     
  7. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    The guy I'm meeting has never used the internet or a computer in his life, so I think he'll be amazed at something like this Forum for example, where there are so many knowledgable people.
     
  8. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    Ron

    It's fantastic to have a photos like that of your family. I bet Ashley Woods is well chuffed.

    In the left hand photo, is that guy on the right what would be termed the Battery Sergeant and the one who gives the order to fire?

    As sapper said in a previous post about photos, it was probably posed and the Sarge may not normally appear so close to the Bofors.

    Robert.
     
  9. robcod

    robcod Junior Member

    Thanks Ron for the info. It definately looks like I need a visit to Kew, the regimental diaries look just the ticket.
    Ive managed to find that a book written about the the 56th (London) infantry exists which may contain further info on the LAA regiment attached to it. Just the small matter of finding one now!

    I look forward to any postings that may arise through roberts investigation. Sounds quite exciting!!

    Rob
     
  10. Larry

    Larry WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Hi Robcod

    Sorry about taking so long to get back to you.

    In my Battery (90 Bty) one of the Bofor gunners, a Sgt West, was with the unit in North Africa when he was attacked by two German planes and a cannon shell went right through him.

    The boys on the gun-site wanted to jump into the dug out, but although wounded and bleeding, he insisted that they keep on firing, and drove the planes off.

    When he returned a few months later, while sitting on the roof of a 3 tonner with a Bren gun, .it was attacked by a German plane and he was wounded again.

    I lost touch with him after that and would dearly like to hear from him again


    Best regards

    Larry
     
  11. handtohand22

    handtohand22 Senior Member

  12. robcod

    robcod Junior Member

    Hi Larry

    Stories like that never fail to amaze me. I sincerely hope you hear from him again, I know that my wifes grandad who was a landing craft operator on D-day is trying to trace some old colleagues. I guess forums like these are one place to do so, shame there isnt one big list you could select from.

    Thanks

    Rob
     
  13. i also want to know what life was like in a light ack ack unit
     
  14. Swiper

    Swiper Resident Sospan

    Just found this... and here's some of the digging I've done thats easily accessible.

    BBC - WW2 People's War - Frank Yates
    BBC - WW2 People's War - EM Shelley’s Wartime Experiences part 1: To Tipton and beyond

    116 LAA pioneered 'counter mortar' tactics that seem to have involved using Bofors fire to cut through trees/cover to hit enemy mortars or drive them to ground. They also pushed the Bofors SPs into action at s'Hertogenbosch to take out snipers harrassing the British forces. Also firing over canal crossings to assist armour by using tracer.


    So they did get often used in ground support roles, well.. .at least 116 was!
     
  15. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    My Dad's unit (102 LAA Regt) sent officers back to the School of Artillery at Larkhill specifically to train for Ground shoots as they were called.

    Here is a piece of film footage for you showing Self Propelled Bofors in that role at Goch.

    British Pathe - GOCH GRABBED!

    A very effective weapon against infantry.
     
    Owen likes this.
  16. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Love that Pathe footage.
    I remember asking who actually fired the Bofors, Ron said it was the loader with a foot pedal.
    You can see his foot going up & down in that video.
     
  17. Rob Dickers

    Rob Dickers 10th MEDIUM REGT RA

    Great footage
    Nice shot of the Tower+7.2, Don't often see that.
    Rob.
     
  18. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    Sadly, I have not tracked down any vets or found any personal accounts from my Dad's unit.
     
  19. op-ack

    op-ack Senior Member

    Excellent piece of film, appears to be Archer A/Tk guns in the opening scenes. First time I've seen them in action.

    Phil
     
  20. bofors

    bofors Senior Member

    Hi everyone

    Yes put me down for the original question as well. My Dad was in North Africa and Italy on a Bofors so any information would be great. I will post his details sometime and see if I can get some more answers. I wish I had asked him while he was alive!!!

    regards

    Robert
     

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