Hi Noviatiate member here from Bangor NI. My Father served with the 3rd (Ulster) Searchlight Regiment, LAA, RA in 1940 in France. Visited Dunkirk and environs for the first time in May this year. I'm trying to put together some missing pieces of information. I'd like to access the Regiments War Diary and I presume that will be held in The National Archive in Kew? Thanks for your fascinating and informative site. Regards Roy
Hello Roy, Welcome to the forum. Can't help you with Kew query, I've only ever been there once. I just don't get time to go there. Nice to have yet another member with a 1940 interest. Just having a Google, found an extract that would make Rich Payne the bike-nut weep. New Page 1 When 3rd (Ulster) Searchlight Regiment reached Dunkirk, orders were issued for the destruction of all equipment and vehicles. Searchlights were destroyed, lorries sabotaged and "I had to take a sledge-hammer to my motorbike", recalls Bert, who lives at Newtownabbey. His machine was a 500cc side-valve Norton which, as a keen motorcyclist, he hated having to destroy.
My Father served with the 3rd (Ulster) Searchlight Regiment, LAA, RA in 1940 in France. Hi Roy and welcome aboard. Do you know which battery your dad was in? The War Diary for 10 S/L battery is in WO167/689, 11 S/L Battery is WO167/690 (but missing May 1940) and 12 S/L Battery is in WO167/691 (all at Kew). These were all componant parts of 3 S/L Regiment which (in May 1940) was part of the 5th SL Brigade which in turn came under HQ RA (GHQ troops - ie. they were allocated, temporarily or permanently, by the GHQ to corps, divisions, or other formations, or were used for special purposes rather than serving under a "set" formation). Dave
Hello I think that my father served in 12th Battery 3rd (Ulster) Searchlight Regiment as well. His name was David Mitchell Lindsay and I think he was a Sgt at that time, or shortly after. I think from the little he said about the experience either his battery or others from this regiment were attached to User Force to defend the canal line as infantry for some time. I will be going to Dunkirk for the first time on the 80th Anniversary and any information or advice on the best way to get this information would be much appreciate. Thanks in advance for any help, Dave
Hi, Welcome to the forum. If you haven’t already obtained your Dad’s service file from MOD it would be the best place to start. You can download the application forms via this link - Requests for personal data and service records: a detailed guide Once you submit the forms it may take 4+ months to get the papers but you’ll get an acknowledgement within a month. You may need to return for help in interpretation. I’ll ask a MOD to move your post to a stand alone topic as that may attract more interest. Good Luck Steve
