57th Light Anti Aircraft Regiment (T.K.O York Lt Inf) R.A (T.A)

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by DavidW, Nov 27, 2012.

  1. DavidW

    DavidW Well-Known Member

    Does anyone have a date of arrival for this unit in North Africa please?
    I have conflicting information at the moment!
     
  2. RemeDesertRat

    RemeDesertRat Very Senior Member

    According to: RA 1939-45 57 LAA it was Sept 42, but was sent to Palestine before then.
     
  3. Andreas

    Andreas Working on two books

    I have them participate in Operation CRUSADER in November 41.

    All the best

    Andreas
     
  4. DavidW

    DavidW Well-Known Member

    Now you see what I mean by conflicting information!
     
  5. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    Here is a summary for 57th LAA Regiment for the Desert Campaign period:


    57th (King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, R.A. (T.A.)
    HQ, 169th-171st Btys: Doncaster

    The regiment was retitled 57th Light AA Regiment, R.A. (King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry) T.A. on 17 February 1942. It was ready for active service by 10 June 1940, HQ and 170th Battery landed in France at St. Malo and Cherbourg, but returned to Plymouth on 19 June due to the decline in the situation in France. 171st Battery was sent to Jersey and Guernsey but only for 48 hours, while 179th Battery was ordered to the Scilly Isles, but never went. After that, it assembled at Blackdown and then spent nearly a year in the south of England.
    It was sent to the Middle East and arrived at Suez on 6 May 1941. On arrival it moved to Palestine and came under I Australian Corps. It served under Troops Palestine and Transjordan and Cyprus. 169th Battery served in the brief Iraq Campaign in May 1941 then returned to the regiment in Syria. The regiment served in the Syrian campaign in June and July 1941 then came under command of 1st Australian AA Brigade at Tripoli, Lebanon in July 1941 after the campaign. On 8 September 1941, 169th Battery came under command of 51st Heavy AA Regiment at Haifa. The regiment remained in Palestine until October 1941, when it moved to the Delta and was assigned to 4th Indian Infantry Division during the Crusader battles. It remained with the division during the battle and subsequent retreat to Gazala in January 1942. It moved to Egypt after the campaign and then to Cyprus with the division from April to August 1942. It was attached to the division until it came under command on 17 March 1943. In January 1943, it was briefly detached to 1st AA Brigade at Benghazi.
     
  6. DavidW

    DavidW Well-Known Member

    Thank you so much
     
  7. louisefi

    louisefi Member

    Hi,

    I am researching my partners family tree and one of his family members (Ernest Park) was in the 57th light anti- aircraft regiment in the 171 Battalion. He sadly died during action aged 22 and we have no other information about him. I wondered if anyone had any information about his regiment or anyone has any other relatives in the same Battalion? He was originally from Dorset. I am not sure if this it the right thread to post this on but if not can someone direct me?

    Thanks

    Best Wishes

    Louise
     
  8. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    The summary I posted above covers the moves of 171st Light AA Battery (not Battalion). It was an integral part of the 57th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA.
     
  9. louisefi

    louisefi Member

    Sorry I think thats what I mean? The only information I have for him is:

    Name: Ernest Park
    Rank: Gunner
    Service No:1778545
    Date of Death: 07/03/1943
    Age: 22
    Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery 171 Bty., 57 Lt. A.A. Regt.
    Grave Reference 7. D. 15.
    Cemetery:TRIPOLI WAR CEMETERY

    Additional Information:
    Son of Arthur and Kate Park, of Briantspuddle, Dorchester, Dorsetshire.
     
  10. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    Since the 57th LAA Regiment, RA was under the command of the 4th Indian Infantry Division for much of the war, you might try locating one of the two divisional histories of the division to find the moves of the regiment.

    Praval, K.C. The Red Eagles: A History of Fourth Division of India. New Delhi: Vision Books, 1982. (Cornell)

    Stevens, Lt. Col. G.R. Fourth Indian Division. Toronto: McLaren, 1948. (NYPL)

    I found the first at Cornell University library in Ithaca, New York and the second at the New York Public Library in Manhattan (5th Ave and 42nd St).

    Check Abebooks.com and you may find a copy available.
     
  11. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  12. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

  13. DavidW

    DavidW Well-Known Member

    Do we have a date in October of 1941 for the move from Palestine to Egypt?
     
  14. Tom OBrien

    Tom OBrien Senior Member

    Hi,

    The war diary doesn't contain the October section, I'll have a look tomorrow and see if there are any other clues.

    Cheers

    Tom
     
  15. Andreas

    Andreas Working on two books

    13 Corps war diary states that 57 lt. AA Rgt. arrived Wadi Halazin (wherever that might be) on 25 October.

    All the best

    Andreas
     
  16. DavidW

    DavidW Well-Known Member

    Thanks for that.

    I assume that would be near Bir Halazin which is about 75Km West of Bardia. Being inland it can't however be their point of arrival.
     
  17. Andreas

    Andreas Working on two books

    The regiment certainly wasn't 75 klicks west of Bardia on 25 October 41. ;)

    I take your point that that isn't their arrival date for Egypt, but it gives you a clue at least, in the absence of their war diary.

    All the best

    Andreas
     
  18. DavidW

    DavidW Well-Known Member

    OK so Wadi Halazin is nowhere near Bir Halazin!
     
  19. Andreas

    Andreas Working on two books

    It's a few clicks west of Matruh.



    All the best

    Andreas
     

    Attached Files:

  20. DavidW

    DavidW Well-Known Member

    Nice one, thanks.
     

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