54th (City of London) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery

Last updated
54th (City of London) HAA Regiment, RA
454 (City of London) HAA Regiment, RA
Koning Soldaat., item 60.jpg
Cap Badge of the Royal Artillery (pre-1953)
ActiveJuly 1923–1 January 1954
CountryFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
Branch Flag of the British Army.svg Territorial Army
RoleAir Defence
SizeRegiment
Garrison/HQ Putney
Engagements The Blitz

54th (City of London) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment was a volunteer air defence unit of Britain's Territorial Army from 1922 until 1954. In World War II it defended London during The Blitz and later served in the Middle East.

Contents

Origin

German air raids by Zeppelin airships and Gotha bombers on London and other British cities during World War I had shown the need for strong anti-aircraft (AA) defences in any future war. When the Territorial Army (TA) was reformed in 1922 it included a number of dedicated AA units of the Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA). The fourth of these was 54th (London) Anti-Aircraft Brigade, RGA, (TA), comprising 160th, 161st and 162nd (City of London) AA Batteries, formed in July 1923 and headquartered in Putney. [1] [2] [3] It was assigned to 27th (London) Air Defence Brigade. [4]

As Britain's AA defences expanded during the 1930s, higher formations became necessary. 1st AA Division was formed to cover London and the Home Counties in 1935, and the 54th AA Brigade was reassigned to 26th (London) AA Group within the division. The Royal Garrison Artillery had been absorbed into the Royal Artillery (RA) in 1924; on 1 January 1939 the RA replaced its traditional unit designation 'Brigade' by the modern 'Regiment', which allowed the 'AA Groups' to take the more usual formation title of 'Brigades'. [1] [2] [3] [5]

World War II

Edward Ardizzone recorded the early days of mobilisation at 54th HAA Regiment's drill hall at Putney At the start of the war, Ardizzone was recalled to his Territorial unit, the 54th Regiment, Royal Artillery. This work shows the unit in a drill hall in Putney. Soon after, the unit was sent to Dartford for training and Art.IWMARTLD345.jpg
Edward Ardizzone recorded the early days of mobilisation at 54th HAA Regiment's drill hall at Putney

Mobilisation

The TA's AA units were mobilised on 23 September 1938 during the Munich Crisis, with units manning their emergency positions within 24 hours, even though many did not yet have their full complement of men or equipment. The emergency lasted three weeks, and they were stood down on 13 October. [6] 54th AA Regiment formed an additional battery, No 312, at Putney on 1 April 1939, as part of the expandion of the TA following the Munich Crisis. [1] [7]

In February 1939 the existing AA defences came under the control of a new Anti-Aircraft Command. In June, as the international situation worsened, a partial mobilisation of the TA was begun in a process known as 'couverture', whereby each AA unit did a month's tour of duty in rotation to man selected AA gun and searchlight positions. On 24 August, ahead of the declaration of war, AA Command was fully mobilised at its war stations. [8]

After mobilisation, a new 48th AA Bde was formed in South London on 28 August 1939, to which 54 (CoL) AA Regt was assigned. [9] [10]

Battle of Britain and Blitz

Mobile 3.7-inch AA guns in London's Hyde Park, 1939 Hyde Park Anti-aircraft guns H 993.jpg
Mobile 3.7-inch AA guns in London's Hyde Park, 1939

In May 1940 the regiment was deployed manning 4.5-inch guns at sites in South East London: [11]

On 1 May 1940, detachments of the newly-formed 318 AA Bty of 99th (London Welsh) AA Rgt were sent to these sites for training on 4.5-inch guns, and then on 15 May, 318 AA Bty took over BHQ and sites ZS14 and ZS16 from 312 AA Bty. At the same time 162 AA Bty concentrated at Eltham (ZS7). [11]

An AA command post in action, by Ardizzone A.a. Command Post in Action Art.IWMARTLD896.jpg
An AA command post in action, by Ardizzone

On 1 June 1940, along with other AA units equipped with 3-inch, 3.7-inch or 4.5-inch AA guns, the 54th was designated a Heavy AA Regiment. [1] [2] It continued to serve with 48 AA Bde in 1 AA Division defending London during the Blitz [12] [13] [14]

The regiment sent a cadre to 205th Training Regiment at Aborfield to provide the basis for a new 428 Bty; this was formed on 8 May 1941 and joined the regiment on 6 August 1941. [1] [15] It replaced 162 Bty, which had left to join a new 127th HAA Rgt forming at Cobham, Surrey. On 29 December 1941 428 Bty transferred to 131st HAA Rgt. [1] [16]

Indian Ocean and Middle East

In 1942 the regiment sailed to the Indian Ocean. 162 (City of London) Battery went to East Africa Command, where it later formed part of a composite 'F' Regiment. [17] The rest of the regiment went to Ceylon, where by September 1942, 160 and 161 (City of London) Batteries had been joined by 159 (Lloyd's, City of London) Battery from 53 (City of London) HAA Regiment. [14] [18] [19] 159 Battery later moved on to 52 (London) HAA Regiment and took part in the Burma Campaign 1944–45. [19] [20] [21] [22]

In May 1943, 54 HAA Regiment moved to Egypt, where it came under the non-operational 8th AA Bde in Middle East Forces. 312 Battery moved up and came under 89th HAA Rgt/AA Defence Command at Benghazi [23] but the rest of the regiment remained in Egypt until it was placed in suspended animation on 27 February 1945. [1] [2] [13] [14] [24] [25]

Postwar

When the TA was reformed in 1947, the regiment was reconstituted as 454 HAA Regiment (City of London), RA, TA based at Lytton Grove, Putney, as part of 67 AA Bde. [1] [2] [13] [26] [27]

On 1 January 1954 the regiment was merged into 452 (London) HAA based at Acton. [26] [2] [27]

Honorary Colonel

The following officer served as Honorary Colonel of the regiment:

Prominent members

On 1 September 1939 the artist Edward Ardizzone was mobilised at Putney with 54th HAA Regiment. By December he was a Bombardier with F Troop of 162 Bty. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on 23 December, leaving the artillery and becoming an official war artist in February 1940. [32]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Frederick, pp. 754, 767.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Litchfield, p. 164.
  3. 1 2 "1 AA Division 1936–39 at British Military History" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2014-08-01.
  4. ↑ Titles and Designations.
  5. ↑ "AA Command at British Military History". Archived from the original on 2013-10-04. Retrieved 2014-08-01.
  6. ↑ Routledge, pp. 62–3.
  7. ↑ Army List, May 1939.
  8. ↑ Routledge, pp. 65–6, 371.
  9. ↑ "1 AA Division 1939 at British Military History" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2014-08-01.
  10. ↑ AA Command 3 September 1939 at Patriot Files
  11. 1 2 Operation Order No 15, in 99 HAA Rgt War Diary, 19 August 1939–31 December 1940, The National Archives (TNA), Kew, file WO 166/2389.
  12. ↑ 1 AA Div at RA 39–45
  13. 1 2 3 "1 AA Division 1940 at British Military History" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2014-08-01.
  14. 1 2 3 54 HAA Rgt at RA 39–45
  15. ↑ Frederick, p. 758.
  16. ↑ Frederick, p. 784.
  17. ↑ Joslen, p. 491.
  18. ↑ Routledge, Table XXXVIII, p. 253.
  19. 1 2 Joslen, p. 519.
  20. ↑ "53 HAA Rgt at RA 39–45".
  21. ↑ 52 HAA Rgt at RA 39–45
  22. ↑ Farndale, Far East, p. 357.
  23. ↑ 89 HAA Rgt War Diary, 1943, TNA file WO 169/9547.
  24. ↑ Joslen, pp. 484–5.
  25. ↑ Routledge, Table XXV, p. 164.
  26. 1 2 Frederick, p. 1015.
  27. 1 2 444–473 Regiments at British Army 1945 on
  28. ↑ Army List 1924–39.
  29. ↑ Burkes 1953.
  30. ↑ Geni.com
  31. ↑ Krotman
  32. ↑ Edward Ardizzone website

Related Research Articles

27th Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an Air Defence formation of the British Army in World War II that served in The Blitz and later converted to infantry.

26th (London) Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an Air Defence formation of the British Army during World War II. It defended London during the Blitz.

28th Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an air defence formation of the British Territorial Army created in 1925 to command anti-aircraft units in Kent and around the militarily important Medway Towns, which it defended during the Second World War. In 1940 the brigade was responsible for the defences on the south side of the Thames Estuary including the Royal Naval Dockyard at Chatham and the Port of Dover. The brigade was heavily engaged throughout the Battle of Britain, in the summer of 1940, and The Blitz, from autumn 1940 to spring 1941, operating a total of 70 heavy anti-aircraft (HAA) guns controlled from a gun operations room (GOR) at Chatham. During 1942 many of the brigade's experienced units were transferred to active theatres overseas. Increasingly the brigade included women of the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS).

The 30th (Northumbrian) Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an air defence formation of Britain's Territorial Army from 1936 until 1955, which defended Tyneside and Sunderland during World War II.

52nd (London) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery Military unit

52nd (London) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment was a volunteer air defence unit of Britain's Territorial Army from 1922 until 1961. In World War II it defended London during The Blitz and later served in the Burma Campaign.

The 31st Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an air defence formation of Britain's Territorial Army from 1936 until 1948. During World War II it defended West Yorkshire and later participated in the North West Europe campaign.

53rd (City of London) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery Military unit

53rd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery was a volunteer air defence unit of Britain's Territorial Army from 1922 until 1961. During World War II it fought in the Battle of France and The Blitz, and later served in India, where it was converted to Medium Artillery. Postwar it reverted to the AA artillery role.

55th (Kent) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery Military unit

55th (Kent) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery was a volunteer air defence unit of Britain's Territorial Army from 1925 until 1955. In World War II it defended the Thames Estuary, Medway Towns and Dover during The Blitz and later served in Iraq and North Africa. It then supported British Eighth Army and US Fifth Army during the Sicily and Italian campaigns until the end of the war.

56th (Cornwall) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery Military unit

56th (Cornwall) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery was a volunteer air defence regiment of Britain's Territorial Army (TA). Originally raised in 1920 as a medium artillery regiment, it was converted to the anti-aircraft role in 1932. During the Second World War, it was employed in Home Defence, in Iceland and then in India, where it was temporarily converted back to medium artillery. Postwar, it reverted to air defence until disbandment in 1955.

The 34th Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an air defence formation of Anti-Aircraft Command in the British Territorial Army formed shortly before the outbreak of World War II. It defended the West Midlands of England during The Blitz.

35th Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an air defence formation of Anti-Aircraft Command in the British Territorial Army (TA) formed shortly before the outbreak of World War II. It defended the important naval base of Portsmouth during The Blitz.

71st (Forth) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery Military unit

The 71st (Forth) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery was an air defence unit of Britain's Territorial Army (TA) formed in Scotland just before World War II. It served in North Africa and Italy during the war. Its successors continue to serve in the Army Reserve as part of the Royal Logistic Corps.

36th (Scottish) Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an air defence formation of Britain's Territorial Army, created in the period of tension before the outbreak of World War II. It was responsible for defending eastern Scotland.

84th (Middlesex, London Transport) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery Military unit

The 84th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery was an air defence unit of Britain's Territorial Army raised from employees of the London Passenger Transport Board during the period of international tension that preceded the outbreak of World War II. During the war it served in the Norwegian Campaign and the London Blitz, and later in Tunisia and Italy.

The 37th Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an air defence formation of Britain's Territorial Army (TA) formed just before the outbreak of World War II. It was engaged in defending the Thames Estuary during the war, and continued to form part of Anti-Aircraft Command in the postwar era.

42nd Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an air defence formation of Britain's Territorial Army (TA). It was responsible for protecting the City of Glasgow and industry along the Firth of Clyde during World War II.

43rd Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an air defence formation of Britain's Territorial Army (TA). Formed in 1938, it was responsible for protecting Teesside in North East England during the early part of World War II, and later defended South East England from V-1 flying bombs. It was reformed postwar and survived under different titles until 1961.

73rd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery Military unit

73rd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery was a West Midlands-based volunteer air defence unit of Britain's Territorial Army (TA) raised in 1937. During World War II, it served in the Battle of France, The Blitz, Egypt, Sicily and Italy. Postwar, its successor regiments continued to serve until 1967, and a battery descended from the regiment forms part of today's Army Reserve

74th (City of Glasgow) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery Military unit

74th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery, was a Scottish air defence unit of Britain's Territorial Army raised in Glasgow just before World War II. During the war it served in Home Defence and in Middle East Command. It continued to serve in the postwar TA until 1955.

94th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery Military unit

94th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery, was a Scottish air defence unit of Britain's Territorial Army (TA) formed around Edinburgh during the period of international tension leading up to the outbreak of World War II. It defended Eastern Scotland during the early part of the war and then served in the North African Campaign. The regiment continued in the postwar TA until amalgamated in 1955

References

Online sources

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.