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

Halazin may just be Arabic for 'Newmarket'. One of those everywhere too! :biggrin:

All the best

Andreas

 

Hi,

I checked in the diary of GHQ ME AA Branch for October 1941, and it says that 57 LAA Regt left Palestine on 16 Oct and arrived in Tahag, Egypt on 19 Oct. The 57 LAA Regt diary gives its location on 1 Nov as Wadi Faturi, wherever that might be!

Cheers

Tom

 

Thanks guys.

 

I was taking some photographs today and in an old Cemetery I found the grave of :-

William H. Murphy
170 Battery,
57 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment
Royal Artillery.

He died on 12th August 1940.

On looking at the record above I guess he may have been killed in some sort of Accident.

He is buried in Killysuggan Graveyard, Newtownards.

 

Request for assistance please:

Does anyone have information on the whereabouts of the 57th LAA Regiment, RA, between the 20 and 22 March 1942?

Although divisional toops of 4th Indian Division, I believe that at least two Batteries - 170 and 171 - were attached to 50th ( Northumbrian) Division for the duration of Operation Full-size, column attacks on the Martuba and Timimi airfields.

Any assistance greatfully received.

Best,

Steve.

 

Are you still chasing these facts?

I have the official unit history and can check if required.

 

Yes please, CF!

Best,

Steve.

 

Steve - found this - Search Our Collections | Imperial War Museums not sure if its of any use??

TD

 

Yeah, I have that on my shelf--currently wrapped up in bed, but will post details tomorrow.

 

The whole regiment was attached: 169, 170, 171-btys. There's also a good little account:



In general, Steve, I can probably come up with material for anything that concerns 4th Indian Division from 1942-46--don't hesitate to ask if your own field of interest overlaps with mine.

 

Many thanks, CF. That is very good reading!

Best,

Steve.

 

Hi Steve, I would be grateful for your advice in regard to 169 Battery LAA. I have been tracing my father's War Service from his Army Personnel Records and War Diaries. He was a Bombardier in 5 Battery 2nd Searchlight Regiment in France in April 1940. Two Troops from 5/2 SL were attached to 169 Battery as they fought a rearguard action in the retreat to Dunkirk. He was evacuated on the 31st of May. Does the history of 169 Battery cover this period? If so is there any mention of the searchlights? Any information would be very much appreciated. Thanks.

 

hi gunnerson can you check the battery number please 169 laa were not at dunkirk. 159 battery 53 regiment laa koyli were i have info on 159 battery if you need it let me know

 

Hello CF. I was stunned and delighted to come across your post while researching my Grandfather who's actually mentioned in these pages. (So my very specific field of interest certainly appears to overlap with yours.)

If you have any other interesting books, leads, references, photos on your shelf relating to the adventures of the 171 bty / 57 LAA Reg they would be GREATLY appreciated!

 

I'm happy to help, but i'll need speciics. Is there a particular place, date or action you want to find out about.

What I don't have yet is 57 LAA's War Diaries. That is without a doubt the best place to start. I'm on my phone now, but I'll post the reference numbers later.

 

Amazing. Thank you so much Charley. Right then...those War Diaries will be the next thing on my to track down list. I've managed to get a hold of the Short History of the 57 LAA that you featured and will see if that throws up any interesting 'specifics' too...
THANK YOU!!!!

 

I visited that graveyard today and wondered what his history might have been too. His unit was serving in Sussex at the time of his death. On the 12 August 1940 the Luftwaffe bombed forward airfields and radar stations in that area so was wondering if that was how he died......