1 AL LAA Bty RA

[Mike Jackson]

Could an RA expert give me chapter and verse on the manner in which 283 LAA Bty RA (later 1 AL LAA Bty RA) came to join 1 AB Div and what regiment it was a component of before the move to Airborne. One source suggests that 283 LAA Bty had its roots in the White City-based 88 HAA Regt RA(TA). Others suggest that it might have sprung from 43 LAA Bty of 11 (CLY) LAA Regt RA (TA). Can anybody confirm or deny any of the above? Thanks. Mike

[fougasse1940]

The City of London Yeomanry (The Rough Riders) were a Yeomanry Cavalry Regiment which in 1921 converted to form one Battery of the 11th (HAC & City of London Yeomanry) Brigade, RHA (TA). In 1938 the Rough Riders Battery was withdrawn from this Brigade and formed into 11th (City of London Yeomanry) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA (TA).

In June 1942 283rd (COLY) AA Battery of 11th LAA Regt were re-roled and redesignated No.1 Air-Landing Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, RA (The Rough Riders, COLY) and were placed under command of The Airborne Division. This title was changed to "1st Air Landing Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, RA (The Rough Riders) in March 1943.

The Battery served with 1st Airborne Division in North Africa and Italy, returning to UK in January 1944. On February 22nd 1944 it lost its airborne role and status as an independent Battery and became 283rd (COLY) LAA Battery, 149th LAA Regiment, RA. The Battery Commander throughout its 2 years as an airborne unit was Major The Earl of Hardwicke. Amongst the Officers serving in the Battery was Lieutenant Graham Chatfield-Roberts, a pre-war Rough Rider, who as a Captain became ADC to Roy Urquhart and served at Arnhem. Post-war he commanded the reformed City of London Yeomanry (Rough Riders) (TA) when it was an Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment in 56th (London) and later 54th (East Anglian) Infantry Divisions (TA). In 1956 the Rough Riders became an Infantry Battalion of the Rifle Brigade (TA) then returned to armour in 1961 when the Rough Riders amalgamated with the Inns of Court Regiment to form The Inns of Court & City Yeomanry, RAC (TA). In 1967 this became 69th (ICCY) Signal Squadron, 71st (Yeomanry) Signal Regiment (V).

Rgds, Thomas.

[tynesideirish]

Hi Mike, Thomas seems to have copied a detailed history from somewhere. I can't despute it as I don't know the source, but my notes from ABN Forces Museum state:

283 Bty was part of 17th LAA Regt RA (TA) Which was Regimented as Rough Riders in Sept 41. Joining 1st ABN Div in July 42 as 1 AL LAA Bty RA (City of London Yeomanry) (TA)

[Mike Jackson]

Thank you both very much. May I use this information in an article we are writing on the CLY in WW2 (11 (CLY) LAA Regt RA(TA)) and the Air Landing LAA Battery for Militaria magazine? Mike

[badjez]

Mike,

Here are my notes, gleaned from a number of sources, including Joslen & JBM Frederick

Stephen

11 LAA Regt, RA.
01.07.38. Proposals to raise new units for LAA defence include recruiting employees to defend their places of work; Territorial Army Reserve. This included forming new Btys upon City of London Yeomanry Bty, 11 Regt, RHA. (TA). New Btys to serve in 1 AA Division.
29.09.38. 33 LAA Bty (TA) raised in 11 LAA Regt, RA. (CoL Yeo) (Roughriders) (TA).
BHQ- 130 Bunhill Row, London, EC1.
Tps raised for defence of Tilbury Docks & Canvey Island.
31 & 32 Btys (TA) also raised. No details.
17.01.39. 43 LAA Bty (TAR) formed.
BHQ- 130 Bunhill Row, London, EC1.
103, 104 & 105 Tps raised for defence of Thames Haven Oil Depots and Stanford le Hope.
06.02.39. 43 Bty held its first parade at Bunhill Row.
01.04.39. RHQ formed?
26.10.39. 43 Bty relieved of its defence duties by 50 LAA Bty, 17 LAA Regt. 43 Bty reduced to a cadre by releasing TAR personnel.
15.02.40. 43 Bty transferred to 101 LAA/AT Regt.
11.10.40. Mention of 11 LAA Regt, RA:
Under command of HQ 56 AA Bde- Suttons Institution, Hornchurch.
RHQ- Weeld Hall, South Weald, nr Brentwood.
32 LAA Bty- Weeld Hall, South Weald, nr Brentwood.
33 LAA Bty- Weeld Hall, South Weald, nr Brentwood.
09.06.41. 283 Bty formed by grouping of 4th Tps from each Bty, together with those of 45, 46 & 83 Btys, 16 LAA Regt from Gillingham, Kent. New Bty regimented into 11 LAA Regt.
12.09.41. 283 Bty transferred to 17 LAA Regt.
02.07.42. 283 Bty rejoined 11 LAA Regt.
04.12.42. 283 Bty retitled as No1 A/L LAA Bty, RA. and transferred to 1 Airborne Division.
17.12.46. Redesignation of TA & SR units and formations remaining in the active army:
11 LAA Regt to be redesignated as 1011 LAA Regt.
01.01.47. RHQ & Btys placed in suspended animation. All personnel transferred to new 'war formed ' units bearing same titles.
TA Regt reformed as The City of London Yeomanry (Roughriders) RAC. (TA).
01.04.47. 'War formed' 11 LAA Regt retitled as 35 LAA Regt, RA.
31 Bty disbanded, to reform 13 Bty as 90 LAA Bty.
32 Bty disbanded, to reform 15 Bty as 92 LAA Bty.
33 Bty disbanded, to reform 7 Bty as 99 LAA Bty.

[Mike Jackson]

Stephen,
That's outstanding. Thank you very much. May we draw upon it for the article?
Mike

[Mike Jackson]

Originally Posted by fougasse1940

The City of London Yeomanry (The Rough Riders) were a Yeomanry Cavalry Regiment which in 1921 converted to form one Battery of the 11th (HAC & City of London Yeomanry) Brigade, RHA (TA). In 1938 the Rough Riders Battery was withdrawn from this Brigade and formed into 11th (City of London Yeomanry) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA (TA).

In June 1942 283rd (COLY) AA Battery of 11th LAA Regt were re-roled and redesignated No.1 Air-Landing Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, RA (The Rough Riders, COLY) and were placed under command of The Airborne Division. This title was changed to "1st Air Landing Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, RA (The Rough Riders) in March 1943.

The Battery served with 1st Airborne Division in North Africa and Italy, returning to UK in January 1944. On February 22nd 1944 it lost its airborne role and status as an independent Battery and became 283rd (COLY) LAA Battery, 149th LAA Regiment, RA. The Battery Commander throughout its 2 years as an airborne unit was Major The Earl of Hardwicke. Amongst the Officers serving in the Battery was Lieutenant Graham Chatfield-Roberts, a pre-war Rough Rider, who as a Captain became ADC to Roy Urquhart and served at Arnhem. Post-war he commanded the reformed City of London Yeomanry (Rough Riders) (TA) when it was an Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment in 56th (London) and later 54th (East Anglian) Infantry Divisions (TA). In 1956 the Rough Riders became an Infantry Battalion of the Rifle Brigade (TA) then returned to armour in 1961 when the Rough Riders amalgamated with the Inns of Court Regiment to form The Inns of Court & City Yeomanry, RAC (TA). In 1967 this became 69th (ICCY) Signal Squadron, 71st (Yeomanry) Signal Regiment (V).

Rgds, Thomas.

149 LAA Regt (Sherwood Foresters) was itself a war-formed LAA regiment formed in County Down, NI on 7 Jun 43 by the conversion of 40 (Sherwood Foresters) Searchlight Regiment RA. When placed in suspended animation in Germany on 13 Feb 46 one of 149 LAA Regt's batteries was was 283 (CLY) LAA Bty.

[fougasse1940]

Usually I note where my info comes from, in this rare case I didn't. I'd go with Badjez' info here.

Rgds, Thomas.