Does anyone have any information or photos regarding the 75 S/L Regt. Formed in Cowley near Uxbridge in 1939. Looking for names of men that joined up and specific gun emplacements during The Blitz on London. Many Thanks in advance
Hi Dan, I don't know but suspect, if 75 (Middlesex) Searchlight Regiment RA(TA) were anything like nearby Southall-based 36 (Middlesex) Searchlight Regiment RA(TA), they'd have been deployed assisting & defending fighter bases north of London - my relations' 346/36 Bty, for example centred around Royston with reference to RAF Duxford since W London only really became prone to aerial attack once buzz-bombs began overflying their primary central London target. You could always start by asking LBH head historian* Carolynne Cotton at Uxbridge Library but, after finding out where, you'd probably do better to ask historians in the areas they defended. Very much doubt you'll find out much personal info though and I can tell you, from my 2 relations' examples, not to expect much detail in service records. * London Borough of Hillingdon - Local studies, archives and museum service And if, by guns, you mean AA artillery rather than a S/L crew's Bren gun (secondary duty of its 3-man sound locator detachment), please note that (AFAIK) S/L weren't responsible for them nor usually aware of their exact locations. Despite tactics naturally demanding S/L Bty mobility, each AA artillery emplacement was typically supported by 4 S/L crews deployed in time-varying formations around them. Any one S/L crew's job was merely to spotlight enemy a/c for the big guns and help the odd ally pilot find their way back to base. I've not had time to so carry out the necessary research for my limited sub-set but you'll no doubt find all such station info in the ORBs (war diaries) of the relevant units - your most economic bet, if unable to get there yourself, being to use one of the TNA digital-photocopying services offered by at least two of our members here. Steve
Thanks for the info Steve I have grandads leave books etc but notch mention of units. So will be sending off for his service records. Will they list the units of the Artillery in which he served? I know he served with 75 S/L Regt. And with 119 Regt. in Orkney (only know this through a telegram he sent my nan with his unit on it. Do you have an example of a service record which I could have a look at please? Kind Regards and Thanks, Dan
75th Searchlight Regiment, R.A. (Middlesex)(T.A.) HQ and 3 Btys: Cowley The regiment formed part of 38th AA Brigade in September 1939 and in February 1941. It was converted to 73rd Light AA Regiment, R.A. (Middlesex)(T.A.) on 15 February 1941 with 232nd-234th Batteries at Hangar Hill, Ealing. This was renumbered 75th on 26 February. 303rd Battery joined on 9 December 1941 to replace the departing 232nd Battery. 467th Battery served under command from 19 February to 10 July 1942. The regiment landed in Sicily by 15 July 1943 and on 7 August 1943 it had one battery at Cassible and two batteries at Pachino under 62nd AA Brigade. It was used to reinforce 8th AA Brigade in the Taranto-Brindisi area at the end of 1943. It remained there until it was placed in suspended animation on 8 September 1944. I am not sure about the 119th. There was a 19th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA that served with OSDEF. There was also a 119th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA that served in the UK but I do not have any indication that it served in the Orkneys, although it may have. There was also a 119th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, but it appears it only served within mainland UK and not in the Orkneys.
Here, more or less as requested, are the extracted timelines of my pair ( View attachment 2x searchlight service records.pdf ) demonstrating the general lack of posting detail of which I warned you lest you feel cheated of their £30 price tags. You have to remember these records weren't kept for biographical reasons but to keep tabs for basic accountability - pay, illness, death, etc.
Thanks Steve, Yes I realise they weren't intended as a story forming guide for the later generations but am just looking at units he was in to then track them through war diaries to locations within the UK as My Grandmother is wanting to go and see where he served. Thanks again
OK, Dan, so please ignore my £30 comment as your grandmother should qualify for a free set. As for actual locations, here's a sample to go with my timelines- #6 (presumed from rank) uncle leftmost & #9 (known) dad rightmost -just some anonymous muddy field probably requiring 4WD access for WW2 veterans.Good luck, Steve
Hi, Dan From one of the 1st AA Division diaries, here is a page referencing the 75th S/L Regiment. Actual sites are mentioned but I do not recall ever seeing anything that gives a corresponding grid reference. There are also numerous references to the 75th S/L in the 38th AA Brigade diaries. On the 10th June 1040, my fathers RASC company delivered '8 sound locators to 75 S/L, Uxbridge'. Your best bet would be to obtain the actual regiment diary from Kew, WO166/3095. 1939 - 1941
