Hi all I'm wondering if anyone could help me. I'm researching my late Grandfathers experiences in North Africa in WW2. His name was Gunner. B.A.Marley (No. 1529640) - he told mr that he worked on the "range finder & course predictor" on AA guns for 153 Bty 51 HAA. I've read through all of the posts, but I was wondering if anyone has any other pictures or information, be it about my Grandfather or about 153 Bty. Any help would be massively well received James
Hello, Moved your posted to own thread so hopefully it will be noticed more rather than it being in the Tobruk thread.
hello James do you have his service records if you could post a bit more info perhaps forum members could assist further. link below for service records Ministry of Defence | About Defence | What we do | Personnel | Service Records | Making a Request for Information held on the Personnel Records of Deceased Service Personnel
WO 166/2341 ANTI-AIRCRAFT COMMAND: HEAVY ANTI-AIRCRAFT REGIMENTS: 51 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (HAA). 1939 Aug.- 1940 July WO 168/39 Royal Artillery: 51 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (HAA Regt) 1940 May, June WO 169/304 Royal Artillery: 51 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (HAA Regt) 1940 Aug.- Dec. WO 169/505 Royal Army Service Corps: 51 Heavy Anti-Aircraft RASC Section (HAA) 1940 May - Dec. WO 169/1574 51 H.A.A. Regt. 1941 Jan.- Dec. WO 169/4794 51 H.A.A. Regt. 1942 Jan.- Dec. WO 169/6333 51 H.A.A. Regt. Wksp. 1942 Jan.- Dec. WO 169/9820 51 H.A.A. Regt. 1943 Jan.- Dec. WO 170/1129 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiments: 51 Regt 1944 Jan.- Dec. WO 170/2072 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiments: Sigs. Sec. att. 51 H.A.A. Regt. 1944 Jan.- May WO 170/2992 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Workshops: 51 Wksp. 1944 Jan.- Dec. WO 170/4923 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiments: 51 Regt. 1945 Jan.- Dec. WO 170/6485 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Workshops: 51 Wksp. 1945 Jan.- Dec. WO 170/7966 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiments: 51 H.A.A. Regt. 1946 Jan.- June And there appears to only be two Battery diaries: WO 166/2445 ANTI-AIRCRAFT COMMAND: HEAVY ANTI-AIRCRAFT BATTERIES: 153 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery (HAA). 1939 Aug.- 1940 Jan. WO 169/318 Royal Artillery: 153 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery (HAA Bty)1940 Oct.- Dec. Regards Andy
James According to the database at the National Archives, 153 HAA Bty kept it's own war diaries and was in the Middle East from Oct 1940 to Dec 1943 and then in the Central Med from Jan 1944 to it's disbandment in June 1946. Seems to tally with your info. Cheers - Rob
WO 166/2341 ANTI-AIRCRAFT COMMAND: HEAVY ANTI-AIRCRAFT REGIMENTS: 51 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (HAA). 1939 Aug.- 1940 July WO 168/39 Royal Artillery: 51 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (HAA Regt) 1940 May, June WO 169/304 Royal Artillery: 51 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (HAA Regt) 1940 Aug.- Dec. WO 169/505 Royal Army Service Corps: 51 Heavy Anti-Aircraft RASC Section (HAA) 1940 May - Dec. WO 169/1574 51 H.A.A. Regt. 1941 Jan.- Dec. WO 169/4794 51 H.A.A. Regt. 1942 Jan.- Dec. WO 169/6333 51 H.A.A. Regt. Wksp. 1942 Jan.- Dec. WO 169/9820 51 H.A.A. Regt. 1943 Jan.- Dec. WO 170/1129 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiments: 51 Regt 1944 Jan.- Dec. WO 170/2072 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiments: Sigs. Sec. att. 51 H.A.A. Regt. 1944 Jan.- May WO 170/2992 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Workshops: 51 Wksp. 1944 Jan.- Dec. WO 170/4923 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiments: 51 Regt. 1945 Jan.- Dec. WO 170/6485 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Workshops: 51 Wksp. 1945 Jan.- Dec. WO 170/7966 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiments: 51 H.A.A. Regt. 1946 Jan.- June And there appears to only be two Battery diaries: WO 166/2445 ANTI-AIRCRAFT COMMAND: HEAVY ANTI-AIRCRAFT BATTERIES: 153 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery (HAA). 1939 Aug.- 1940 Jan. WO 169/318 Royal Artillery: 153 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery (HAA Bty)1940 Oct.- Dec. Regards Andy Andy, I found 153 HAA Diaries for the entire war.
Thanks for all of the information guys - Its all very gratefully received! Ive read through the links, especially the one regarding my Grandfathers WW2 Service Records, and I'm unsure of something. The information there suggests that unless you are the person, or their immediate next-of-kin (ie Spouse) then the MOD will only release fairly vague details. As my Grandfather passed away recently, and my Grandma passed away years ago, would my Dad count as Immediate Next of Kin? Im keen to find out as much as possible about Bertie's war, so anyone with any Pictures of 153 Battery at Work or Play that they would be willing to share would be amazing. Thanks James
Anybody have any information on 152 Bty, 51 HAA. My Great-Uncle was killed in North Africa whilst serving with the unit. Just looking for anything else I can add before heading for Kew. The CWGC entry is; Lieutenant JAMES EDWARD MANSEY 232426, 152 Bty., 51 (L) H.A.A. Regt., Royal Artillery Age 28 Died on 03 January 1943 ALEXANDRIA (HADRA) WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY Thanks, Steve
Steve The War Diary reference you want for 152 HAA Bty is WO169/9875. If you've never been to Kew before, to get a readers ticket, don't forget to take 2 forms of ID. Passport/Driving Licence and a Utility Bill with your address.
Thanks for the reference. It'll be my first visit to Kew, there's a few things I intend to look at while I'm there.
Hi all I'm wondering if anyone could help me. I'm researching my late Grandfathers experiences in North Africa in WW2. His name was Gunner. B.A.Marley (No. 1529640) - he told mr that he worked on the "range finder & course predictor" on AA guns for 153 Bty 51 HAA. I've read through all of the posts, but I was wondering if anyone has any other pictures or information, be it about my Grandfather or about 153 Bty. I too am researching the war service of my late gradfather, Reg West, and have just discovered that he too was posted to 153 Bty 51 HAA. From some of his personal notes I know he was posted to the Battery on 22 March 1942 joining at Qassassin in Egypt. In early April his notes show a move to Haifa - he arrived at Peninsula Barracks on 10 April and then at a gun site on Mt Carmel on 13 Apr 1942. Any photos or further information on the battery's role and/or movements from 1942 on would be gratefully received. Cheers Andy
Mt Grandfather served with 153Bty from '40 till '45, i have a few photos that I have scanned, happy to share if you guys are still looking. He told me a few stories about their time in Haifa...
