Having traced my father through his time in the 78/35 LAA and as an FEPOW, I started on the 35 Regt. I have accumulated quite a bit of info but am stuck on a couple of things which I cannot find anywhere so far. Composition of 35 Regt was RHQ and 3 Batteries (78, 89 and 144). There were 31 Officers split probably, from the records, as 7 to RHQ and 8 to each Battery. What were the positions in RHQ (apart from CO, Adjutant and Lt(QM)) and the Batteries (apart from the Major i/c Battery and 3 Troop COs)? Second question. 78 Battery and 'B' Troop 89 Battery went from Singapore to Sumatra to defend the airfields P1 and P2 and the oil refineries. Does anyone know which Troops went where? The War Diary ends on 30 Jan 42 so is not much help. Tim
Hi Graham, 78 Battery and B Troop 89 Battery 35th Regt LAA arrived in Sumatra with their guns (16x 40mm Bofors) and transport on an unknown (to me) ship. The ship (again unknown) carrying much of the ammunition was sunk. So initially they were very short of ammunition but managed to obtain some from the Dutch. Ammunition seems to have arrived at a later date. 6th Regt HAA arrived in Sumatra on 30 Jan with only 6 guns (3.7") and only a few rounds of shrapnel. SS Subadar arrived about 11 Feb bringing the rest of their 3.7" guns and ammunition. Subadar may well have brought some 40mm ammunition but I can't be sure. A & C Troops 89 Battery who had been deployed in Malaya were sent to rejoin B Troop and they, together with their guns and transport, were on board the SS Anting. This was sunk en-route all equipment being lost. The personnel were saved, except for L/Bdr Spencer. The majority were taken to Oosthaven although a few, probably a couple of dozen, were taken to Palembang. Tim
Tim, Very busy at the moment, I have found something which you might find useful.concerning the above post I will post it latter, Graham.
Brilliant Graham. Thanks very much. It very much confirms what I have worked out so far. Apart from the date which should read 1942 not 1943 it seems an accurate assessment. Tim
