Help needed with 35th and 21st Lt. AA Regts?

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by jjrc1991, Aug 29, 2013.

  1. jjrc1991

    jjrc1991 Junior Member

    Hi,

    A long shot I know but this forum has been so useful that I have to ask. I am in the process of researching the men on my local war memorial who lost their lives in WW2. Two of those named served in the Royal Artillery, the first with the 21st Lt. AA Regt. (he was captured in Java and died in a Japanese POW camp in 1942) and the second man served with the 35th Lt. AA Regt. and shared a similar fate - being remembered on the Singapore memorial.
    I would be extremely grateful for any information that I can find on these units.

    Regards

    Jeff
     
  2. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    Here are some summaries of the two units which may provide a start for your research:



    35th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, R.A. (T.A.)
    HQ: Oxford
    144th Bty (From 23.9.39): Brize Norton, Abington, Benson

    On the outbreak of war, the regiment was serving under 55th AA Brigade. In February 1941 it formed part of 64th AA Brigade. 89th Battery joined on 5 September 1941 and 78th Battery joined before the regiment left for Malaya on 9 November 1941. It arrived in Singapore on 13 January 1942. One and a half batteries moved to III Corps after the fall of Kuala Lumpur and included 144th and 89th Batteries. In mid-January 1942, the regiment had 78th Battery at Keppel Harbour and Blakang Mati, 89th Battery at Kallang and 144th Battery under III Indian Corps in Johore State. Both 144th and 89th Batteries were used to cover the withdrawal over the causeway. 144th Battery was lost in Johore. The regiment was captured in Singapore on 15 February 1942. It was placed in suspended animation on that date. 78th Battery and one troop of 89th Battery served in the defence of Java at Palembang.

    21st Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, R.A. (T.A.)
    HQ: Liverpool
    67th Bty: Bromborough
    68th Bty: Ellesmore Port
    69th Bty: Northwich
    80th Bty: Kearsley, Manchester
    136th Bty (393rd Tp: Tern Hill; 394th Tp: Shawbury; 395th-396th Tps: Crew Jct.)

    The regiment formed part of 53rd AA Brigade at the outbreak of war. 143rd Battery joined on 23 September 1939 but left on 10 November 1939. 67th and 68th Battery left in October 1940. 79th Battery joined on 30 September and 48th Battery on 14 October 1941. 136th and 80th Batteries left on 14 October 1941. The regiment left the United Kingdom on 6 December 1941 and was diverted to Java on 9 January. It arrived there on 3 February 1942 and came under command of GOC Dutch Troops in Sourabaya. It was captured by the Japanese on 12 March 1942 and placed into suspended animation on that date. 79th Battery of the regiment was lost on Timor on 21 February 1942.
     
  3. jjrc1991

    jjrc1991 Junior Member

    Much appreciated.
     
  4. Patwalker

    Patwalker Junior Member

    two books which might give you an insight into some of what they did are included in these books.
    6th Heavy Anti Aircraft Regt RA (history of Sumatra and Java campaigns) by Patrick Walker ( Choir press)
    The Fall of Java by PC Boer

    Patrick Walker
     
  5. TijgerB

    TijgerB Member

    I am not 100% but i think they made part of Group Bandung. Which means they may be mentioed in the book "De Japanse aanval op Java" chaptor 5. Well it is a Dutch book as the title may suggest. BUT since Warlord is trying to deciffer a Wardiary for me. I have just started the translation work to bring this chaptor into English. It is 54 pages plus but in a couple of months you might be lucky that I can deliver a copy :)

    Meanwhile you can check out the ABDA-CBI-SEAC. Book thread since I just uploaded chaptor 4 there. Thou it deal with Australian and Dutch units it may give a hint on what to expect.

    Cheers
    TijgerB
     
  6. jjrc1991

    jjrc1991 Junior Member

    Thanks again to all who have replied. If anything further comes to light I would really appreciate your continued help.

    Regards

    Jeff
     

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