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

Last updated
74th (City of Glasgow) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
474 (City of Glasgow) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
Koning Soldaat., item 60.jpg
Cap Badge of the Royal Artillery (pre-1953)
Active1 November 1938–14 November 1944
1 January 1947–10 March 1955
CountryFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
Branch Flag of the British Army.svg Territorial Army
RoleAir defence
SizeRegiment
Part of Anti-Aircraft Command
Middle East Forces
Ninth Army
Garrison/HQ Glasgow
Engagements World War II
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 Brevet Colonel John Muirhead, DSO, MC, TD

74th (City of Glasgow) 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.

Contents

Origin

During the period of international tension following the Munich Crisis of 1938, the War Office rapidly increased the size of Britain's anti-aircraft (AA) defences manned by part-time members of the Territorial Army (TA). A new regiment based in Glasgow was raised and commanded by Brevet Colonel John Muirhead, DSO, MC, TD, a Glasgow solicitor who had served in the signal service on the Western Front during World War I and later commanded Glasgow University Officers Training Corps (an artillery battery). [1] [2] [3] [4]

74th AA Brigade consisted of 230, 231 and 232 AA Batteries and the first officers' commissions (its official date of creation) were dated 1 November 1938. On 1 January 1939, in common with all other AA brigades, it was redesignated a regiment, and in September 1939 it gained its subtitle, becoming 74th (City of Glasgow) AA Regiment. Its regimental headquarters (RHQ) was at 34 West George Street, Glasgow. [3] [5] [6] It formed part of 42nd Anti-Aircraft Brigade, newly-formed to take responsibility for the AA defence of Glasgow and the Clyde estuary. [7] [8]

Mobilisation

In June 1939, as the international situation worsened, a partial mobilisation of TA units 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 and searchlight positions. On 24 August, ahead of the declaration of war, Anti-Aircraft Command was fully mobilised at its war stations. [9]

On 1 June 1940 those AA regiments like 74th equipped with 3-inch or the newer 3.7-inch guns were termed Heavy Anti-Aircraft (HAA) to distinguish them from the new Light Anti-Aircraft (LAA) units being formed. [5] [6]

Although Glasgow like other British cities was soon to be heavily bombed during The Blitz, there as an urgent need to reinforce the AA defences of the British bases in Egypt after the entry of Italy into the war. 74th HAARegiment sailed round the Cape of Good Hope and landed at Port Tewfik in Egypt on 16 November 1940. [10] [11] [12]

Middle East

A 3.7-inch HAA gun in North Africa, 1941. The British Army in North Africa 1941 E3870.jpg
A 3.7-inch HAA gun in North Africa, 1941.

On 8 January 1941 the regiment came under the command of 2 AA Bde, newly arrived in Cairo. By the end of January 1941 the regiment under Col Muirhead was stationed in the Suez Canal Line of Communication Area under British Troops in Egypt, with 230 HAA Bty under Major L.C. Dunn detached to Port Said and 232 HAA Bty defending the Canal and Alexandria. [13] [14] [15] [16] [17]

After the fall of Greece and Crete in the first part of 1941, bombers of the Luftwaffe 's Fliegerkorps X based there began raids against shipping at Suez, British bases in the Canal Zone, and the Canal itself (390 sorties in 34 night attacks from July to October). The naval base at Alexandria was also raided (274 sorties from mid-June to October). The AA defences were still comparatively weak and radar cover was poor, but the raids did not cause serious disruption. [18] 74th HAA Regiment remained under 2 AA Bde during this period, with all 24 of its 3.7-inch guns deployed to defend Port Said and Port Fuad. Colonel Muirhead was promoted to command 2 AA Bde on 23 August 1941 but on 3 September he was transferred to command 4 AA Bde in Tobruk. [13] [4] [17] [19] [20] [21]

The regiment remained with Middle East Forces (MEF) in Egypt until the summer of 1942, when it moved to Ninth Army in Palestine. [13] [22] [23] Here it came under the command of 20 AA Bde, which was responsible for the defence of ports and oil facilities at Haifa, Beirut, Lydda, Tripoli and for Cyprus. In January 1943 the regiment had 230 and 232 HAA Btys (16 x 3.7-inch guns) and 103 LAA Bty of 26th LAA Rgt (4 x 20 mm guns and 15 x Bofors 40 mm guns) under command, while 231 HAA Bty was detached under the command of 89th HAA Rgt advancing through Libya behind Eighth Army. [24] On 1 April 1943, 231 HAA Bty transferred to 88th HAA Rgt and was replaced by 683 HAA Bty; [5] this was the last new HAA battery formed during the war. [25] In May 1943 the regiment was stationed on Cyprus, but at the end of the year it was back in Palestine under 1 AA Bde. [22] [26] [27]

During 1944 the Eastern Mediterranean AA Group began to be run down: the air threat had diminished and the need to provide manpower for combat tasks elsewhere had become urgent. Surplus AA units in the region began to be disbanded. In June 1944, 74th HAA Rgt was in Alexandria under 17 AA Bde, but the following month that brigade was disbanded and 74th (City of Glasgow) HAA Regiment with 230, 232 and 683 HAA Btys passed into suspended animation on 14 November. [5] [13] [22] [27] [28]

Postwar

When the TA was reconstituted on 1 January 1947, the regiment reformed as 474 (City of Glasgow) HAA Regiment, with its RHQ at Yorkhill Parade drill hall, Glasgow. It formed part of 77 AA Bde (the wartime 51 AA Bde, based in Glasgow). [5] [6] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33]

On 2 May 1950 the regiment absorbed 592 (Glasgow) LAA Rgt, without change of title or role. AA Command was disbanded on 10 March 1955 and there were wholesale amalgamations amongst its units. 474 HAA Regiment was amalgamated with the remaining units of 77 AA Bde, 483 (Blythswood) HAA Rgt and 591 (Cameronians) LAA Rgt. The combined unit was designated 445 (Cameronians) LAA Rgt, in which 474 Rgt formed R (Glasgow) Bty. [6] [29] [30] [34]

Honorary Colonel

Alan Burns, 4th Baron Inverclyde, was appointed Honorary Colonel of the regiment on 11 January 1939. [3] [35]

Notes

  1. ↑ Obituary, The Times , 19 February 1972.
  2. ↑ Who was Who 1917–1980.
  3. 1 2 3 Army List, various dates.
  4. 1 2 Muirhead at Generals of WWII.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Frederick, pp. 755, 774.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Litchfield, p. 290.
  7. ↑ Routledge, Table LX, p. 378.
  8. ↑ AA Command 3 September 1939 at Patriot Files.
  9. ↑ Routledge, pp. 65–6, 371.
  10. ↑ Farndale, p. 130.
  11. ↑ Playfair, Vol I, pp. 213–4.
  12. ↑ Routledge, pp. 127–8.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "74 HAA Rgt at RA 39–45".
  14. ↑ Farndale, p. 119.
  15. ↑ Joslen, p. 479.
  16. ↑ Routledge, p. 129; Table XIX, p. 141.
  17. 1 2 2 AA Bde War Diary, Middle East, 1941, The National Archives (TNA), Kew, file WO 169/1560.
  18. ↑ Playfair, Vol II, pp. 298–301.
  19. ↑ Farndale, Annex J.
  20. ↑ Joslen, p. 482.
  21. ↑ Routledge, Table XXII, p. 143.
  22. 1 2 3 Joslen, pp. 484–5.
  23. ↑ Joslen, p. 487.
  24. ↑ Routledge, Table XXIV, p. 162.
  25. ↑ Frederick, p.763.
  26. ↑ Routledge, Table XXV, p. 164.
  27. 1 2 Routledge, Table XXVI, p. 165.
  28. ↑ Routledge, pp. 160–1.
  29. 1 2 Frederick, pp. 1017.
  30. 1 2 474–519 Rgts RA at British Army 1945 onwards.
  31. ↑ Farndale, Annex M.
  32. ↑ Litchfield, Appendix 5.
  33. ↑ Watson, TA 1947.
  34. ↑ Frederick, p. 1014, 1025.
  35. ↑ Burke's.

Related Research Articles

1st Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an Air Defence formation of the British Army in World War II that served in the Battle of France and The Blitz. It then transferred in the Middle East, where it defended Eighth Army's lines of communication in the final phases of the North African Campaign.

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).

29th Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an air defence formation of Britain's Territorial Army (TA) before and during World War II. It defended East Anglian airfields and ports during the Battle of Britain and The Blitz. It was reformed in the postwar TA.

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.

The 32nd (Midland) Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an air defence formation of Anti-Aircraft Command in Britain's Territorial Army (TA) from 1936 to 1955, charged with defending the East Midlands of England.

The 40th 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. Its initial role was to defend Royal Air Force (RAF) airfields in East Anglia. Later it commanded part of the searchlight belt protecting The Midlands. In 1944 the brigade was moved south to protect the embarkation ports for Operation Overlord and to defend against V-1 flying bombs in Operation Diver. It was briefly reformed in the postwar TA.

The 33rd (Western) Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an air defence formation of Anti-Aircraft Command of the Territorial Army, part of the British Army, formed shortly before the outbreak of World War II. It defended Merseyside and West Lancashire 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.

59th (Warwickshire) Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery

The 59th (Warwickshire) Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery was an air defence unit of the Territorial Army (TA), part of the British Army, and was raised in Birmingham in 1938 just before the Second World War. It later served as a light anti-aircraft gun unit and continued in the postwar TA.

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.

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.

89th (Cinque Ports) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery

The 89th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery was an air defence unit of Britain's Territorial Army (TA) raised in Kent just before the outbreak of World War II. It served during the Battle of Britain and defended the Suez Canal while batteries served in the Battle of Crete and the Siege of Tobruk. The regiment then fought through the North African and Italian campaigns.

88th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery

88th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery (TA) was a volunteer air defence unit of Britain's Territorial Army (TA) from 1939 until amalgamated in 1950. During World War II it defended South Wales and the Severn Valley during the Blitz and then took part in the North African and Italian campaigns, fighting in both the anti-aircraft (AA) and ground fire roles.

85th (Tees) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery

85th (Tees) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery was a part-time unit of Britain's Territorial Army (TA) formed from forces around the river Tees just before the outbreak of World War II. Its service during the war included the Battle of France and Dunkirk evacuation, the Battle of Britain and Blitz, and the North African and Italian campaigns. It continued to serve in the air defence role until 1961.

44th Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an air defence formation of Britain's Territorial Army (TA). Formed in 1938, it was responsible for protecting Manchester and later the Isle of Wight during World War II. It was reformed postwar under a new title, and continued until 1955.

2nd Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an air defence formation of the British Army during World War II, seeing active service in the Battle of France and the North African and Italian campaigns.

4th Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an air defence formation of the British Army during World War II. It was formed just before the Battle of France to protect the British Expeditionary Force's bases. After the Dunkirk evacuation it was reformed in Egypt as a mobile formation with the Western Desert Force. It played a distinguished part in the Defence of Tobruk in 1941, but its headquarters was captured in the Fall of Tobruk the following year. It was reconstituted as a training formation in Persia and Iraq Command for the rest of the war.

45th Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an air defence formation of Britain's Territorial Army (TA). Formed in 1938, it was responsible for protecting South Wales during World War II. It was reformed in the postwar TA under a new title, and continued until 1955.

52nd Light Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an air defence formation of Britain's Territorial Army (TA) during World War II. Formed on the outbreak of war to control static searchlight (S/L) sites in Scotland, it later operated as a headquarters (HQ) for mobile anti-aircraft (AA) gun units in the Allied invasion of North Africa and subsequent Italian Campaign.

References

External 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.