Royal Marine Aniti-Aircaft in North Africa . Italy . and NWE 3 HAA Rgt 4 AA Rgt

I am asking for help for a friend of mine.
This is the info from his son, he had from the mod, he is looking for any info on his dad or any unit history in the time he was in them. Leslie Nicholson Young who was a Royal Marine. number EX5301.
He was in North Africa, Italy and NWE as a Anti-Aircraft Gunner.
Some of the AA units he was in. 4 AA C batttery, HBLO ? 3 HAA Rgt, 2 AA Regt, 5th AA Bde and HQ, 21st AG [ army group ?] and No 4 FFS ?.

Thanks for any help you can give.
Keith

 

I would recommend the following book: Ladd, D. The Royal Marines 1919-1980. London: Jane’s, 1980. It is quite comprehensive and covers the Royal Marine Artillery. It is available here:

The Royal Marines, 1919-1980 - An Authorised History. by Ladd, James D.: 9780710600110 - Articles of War Ltd

Other copies are also listed for sale on this page.

 

He had 1939-45 star.
Defence Medal.
Africa Star.
Italy Star.
France and Germany Star .
War Medal

 

He went here first No 4 FFS and then hospital on the same day, what was number 4 FFS ?

 

Found these on his record any one know what they are for.
EX=Exton
MNBDO
HBL .

 

just thought i would give this a bump up. i still have no more info on him. his son is now in his mid 70s so would like to find any more info for him.
Keith

 

MNBDO is Mobile Navy Base Defence Organisation. For information on the Royal Marine Artillery regiments see my site.
Derek

 

Your Post 5 has two if not three HBL, each followed by a named formation.

An August 2023 post by Richard Lewis states:

From: 752 Recruit Squad, RM Depot, Lympstone 1944

There are many hits here for MNBDO, which may help provide more information.

For Exton. From a January 2023 thread (there are a couple of others too):

From:New member researching CH/X101311 Leonard CHORLEY, RM service and boxing record

 

Hi Keith,

Here is a summary of at least parts of the record.

Steve

A Home Based Ledger was an accounting/administrative function created for a number of units/formations to administer the pay, allowances and other details of all personnel posted to the unit or formation.

Exton was a Royal Marines recruit training depot.

M.N.B.D.O. stands for Mobile Naval Base Defence Organisation. There were two such formations – M.N.B.D.O. I and II. The Royal Marines component of each formation was large – over 4,000 officers and men. Each was formed of: two anti-aircraft regiments; a coast defence artillery regiment; a searchlight regiment; an infantry battalion; a landing and maintenance unit; a R.N. boat unit; a R.N. tented hospital. The purpose of these formations was to defend an advanced naval base.

Marine Nicholson was posted to ‘C’ Battery, 2nd Anti-Aircraft Regiment, M.N.B.D.O. I on 15th April 1940.

On 31st October 1940, he was posted to the 4th Anti-Aircraft Regiment, R.M. at Derby. He joined ‘G’ Battery (heavy anti-aircraft) of the 4th A.A. Regiment on 1st January 1941, at the time the Regiment was being formed. This Regiment formed part of the M.N.B.D.O. II. The 4th A.A. Regiment became the 4th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, R.M. on 3rd August 1942,

Marine Nicholson was posted from the 4th L.A.A. Regiment to the 3rd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, R.M. on 3rd August 1942. The 3rd Regiment was formed on 3rd August 1942 with ‘E’ and ‘F’ Batteries, joined by ‘G’ and ‘H’ Batteries from the 4th Regiment.

He travelled to Egypt with the M.N.B.D.O. II during March 1943. Between 21st and 30th April 1943, he was on detached duties at Port Said. He was in (and out?) of hospital at the end of August 1943, at which time he was serving with the 3rd H.A.A. Regiment, R.M. in Sicily.

The M.N.B.D.O. II returned to the United Kingdom, arriving in February 1944. On 24th April 1944, Marine Nicholson was posted from ‘G’ Battery to the 5th R.M. A.A. Brigade as a reinforcement, and was posted to ‘E’ Battery on 8th June 1944.

He left the United Kingdom with the 5th R.M. A.A. Brigade on 31st August 1944, disembarking in North West Europe (Arromanches) the next day and moved to Cherbourg where the Brigade took up the air defence of the port. At this time, the Brigade was under the command of the 21st Army Group. The Brigade moved to Antwerp in October 1945 to provide air defence of the Scheldt Estuary. The Brigade also participated in anti-V1 duty.

Marine Nicholson left Europe on 27th May 1945, disembarking in the United Kingdom the next day.

 

Interesting, I like it. A relative of mine was in Normandy ( AA crew)

 

The brigade is recorded as returning to the United Kingdom 28 May 45

5th Royal Marine Anti-Aircraft Brigade

21st Army Group later British Army of the Rhine (under construction)