89th LAA Regt RA

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by Hussar170, Oct 13, 2010.

  1. Hussar170

    Hussar170 Junior Member

    My late Grandfather, Gnr Gaston DeHaes served with 89 LAA Regt RA during the war from 1942 through to the end of the war. A Belgian, he was employed as a Driver Mech in the unit (I have his Pay Book etc) but I have no idea which Troop he served in.

    Can anyone help identify his sub-unit or know where I can find this out? I am hoping to trace his steps next year....

    Thank you if you can help.

    Andrew DeHaes-White
     
  2. Buteman

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

    If you apply for his service records, you'll probably find his battery details, but not likely the troop.

    Shame you did not post a couple of days ago, as I've been looking at 89 LAA at the National Archives yesterday (October 1944).

    I have to say also, that their war diaries in comparison to some other LAA units are not particularly big on detail.
     
  3. Buteman

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

    Andrew

    I have a Belgian Historian friend who has given me a lot of info about my Dad's unit who fought alongside 89 LAA in your late Grandfather's country. Would you like me to get him to contact you. It only covers a short period in late 1944, but you could find out a lot.

    Regards - Rob
     
  4. Buteman

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

  5. Hussar170

    Hussar170 Junior Member

    Rob,

    Thank you so much for what you have sent over to me and the research you have conducted to date. Your efforts are very much appreciated by rank amateurs such as myself.

    I contacted the Medal Office many years ago and subsequently received a list of his details from his service record. Unfortunately there is no mention of a particular Battery/Troop which would be ideal to get a better understanding of his movements. As stated previously I do have his service record and Pay Book plus Discharge Papers.

    I contacted the Army medal Office in the first instance to claim his medals as he never did this post war as he repatriated to Belgium (Bruxelles) in 1946 after de-mob. His story is unusual in that he was born in Wales when my Great Grandparents fled WW1. He took a British Passport in his youth despite returning to Belgium in 1920 with his parents. He married my Grandmother in 1939 and was told to leave Belgium in 1940 when the Germans arrived. I still have the train ticket he used from Brussels to Ostende.

    He returned to family friends in Wales and joined the RA embodied TA at Newport then went on to 89th Regt LAA RA based in Edinburgh. He eventually met up with my Grandmother in Bruxelles after 4 years of separation and was given 'special leave' of 3 days given his unusual circumstances...needless to say that my mother was conceived in that time.

    So, I would certainly be interested in contacting your Belgian friend as I am very keen to find out more about their movements and his part in the war. I know he went on to join 62 LAA in Oct 1945 but this may be due to their proximity to Belgium?

    Thanks again for your assistance Rob and I hope to hear from you again soon.

    Best

    Andrew DeHaes-White
     
  6. Buteman

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

    Hi Andrew,

    Thanks for your kind comments. I am only an amateur myself.

    I would suggest you ask whether your Mum would sign papers to apply for his service records. If she is happy, we can point you in the right direction and how to do this. At least you find out which battery he served.

    I have sent an e-mail to my friend and await his reply.

    Regards - Rob
     
  7. frank leech

    frank leech Junior Member

    Hello I am a new member, frank leech, my son and I are researching my fathers unit. 308C troop 89LAA,I have been lucky and got in touch with a veteran who has kindly sent me ww2 photos of the 89LAA by email. if you are still not able to find your info I may be able to ask him if he knows anything, we have been lucky and got a lot of details,I have joined the polar bear association and that has been a help also we have been on trips to Begium and France with veterans
     
  8. Hussar170

    Hussar170 Junior Member

    Hi Frank,

    Thank you for getting in touch and please accept my apologiies for such a late reply. My late Grandfather, Gaston Dehaes will no doubt have been known to your father and the veteran you mentioned previously. He was a Belgian who enlisted with the Army in 1940 and spent most of the war, certainly in Europe with 89 LAA. Perhaps you could ask your contact if he has any recollection of my grandfather? At the moment I don't know what sub-unit he was in however I do know that he was a Driver Mechanic in the unit. I would also be interested to see the pictures that you may have of the unit?

    I hope to trace the unit's early positions in Normandy in July when I go to France for 10 days so it will be wonderful if I can gather any additional information before my trip.

    My personal email address is: andrew.dehaeswhite@gmail.com

    Thanks again Frank and I hope to hear from you again soon.
     
  9. Bala

    Bala Member

    Frank
    Please could you share the photos of 89 LAA that you have?
    Do you have any details of LAA supporting 49 Division Infantry in a defensive roll

    Many thanks - Bill
     
  10. Bala

    Bala Member

    Rob
    Please could you let me have copies of 89 LAA War Diary - the link above failed.
    Thank you
    Bill
     
  11. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Drop him a pm

    he has not been on the forum for 11 years and only posted once in total
     

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