Composition of an LAD

Discussion in 'REME/RAOC' started by Richie407, Dec 11, 2012.

  1. Richie407

    Richie407 Junior Member

    Hi
    I am researching my late grandad who was part of an LAD attatched to 106LAA Regt RA. He was a staff sergeant in the RAOC and was killed in action in 1941. I have checked the CWGC site and found 15 other RAOC men all attatched to 106 LAA who were killed at the same time and commemerated at the same location. So I was wondering if any one could tell me how the LAD was organised and staffed etc.


    Thanks in advance Richie407
     
  2. Aixman

    Aixman War Establishment addict Patron

  3. Gary Kennedy

    Gary Kennedy Member

    Richie,

    The 1941 establishment for an LAD depended on the type of unit it was serving. The Type "B" of May 1941 consisted of an officer (captain or subaltern), one Warrant Officer I, one Serjeant artizan and eight rank and file artizans, plus two storemen and a batman-driver, total 14 all ranks.

    An LAD didn't normally work with a LAA Regt though, in 1941 they were served by an LAA Ordnance Workshop Sub-section, attached one per LAA Bty. A Sub-section had a Staff-serjeant armament-artificer and six rank and file artizans.

    The RAOC was undergoing some major organisational changes in 1941, and I don't know when units fully changed over to the LAA Sub-secs, which were only introduced from the middle of the year. Checking over on the RA1939-45 website, 106 LAA Regt is noted as being effectively lost on Crete in May 1941, so their workshop unit was probably on the older scales, which I don't have the details for. Or possibly your grandfather's unit was attached to 106 Regt as a temporary measure during the evacuation from Greece to Crete, if this was the campaign he was lost in?

    Gary
     
  4. Aixman

    Aixman War Establishment addict Patron

    I should add that LADs belonged to the RAOC until the creation of REME (01-10-1942). The 1941 War Establishment did not differ except for minor details (e.g. 14 all ranks).
     
  5. Aixman

    Aixman War Establishment addict Patron

    Gary
    too fast for me -
    :)

    ... as I had trouble with my browser.

    Thank you, as I was not sure enough, if Type B was correct or if there was an own type for AA units.
     
  6. Richie407

    Richie407 Junior Member

    Aixmzn and Gary

    Thanks very much for the info it was really helpful. I believe Grandad was seving with the 106 when they were RHA anit tank regiment. Is there a website or link to enable me to request his service record ?

    Cheers Richie
     
  7. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

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