I always struggle to find info on the Indian LAA & HAA Regts! Does anyone have any info on the movements (in India I believe) of the 17th Indian LAA Regt.? In particular 11th battery would be a bonus.... Regards Pete
Hello Pete I dont know if you have had a look at the Indian army web site .There is a little info on there. In Jul 1940, AA and Coast Defence Wings were established at Karachi for training of Indian Officers, JCOs and NCOs in the AA techniques. In Aug 1940, an important decision was taken by the British War Office to create an AA branch of Indian Artillery on the concept of TA. On 14 Sep 1940, one Indian AA Technical Training Battery was raised at Colaba, Bombay. It included nucleus of the first AA unit of Indian Artillery - the ‘R’ (Royal) HAA Regiment. In Jan 1941, Light AA unit called the ‘U’ LAA Regiment was raised at Malir Cantt (Now in Pakistan) and was equipped with L/60 guns. In Apr 1941, both of these units were re-named and thus ‘R’ HAA became 1 Indian HAA Regiment IA and ‘U’ LAA became 1 Indian LAA Regiment IA. By 1942, when two AA training centers (AATC) were raised, there were eighteen AA regiments (ie nine HAA Regiments and nine LAA Regiments), four HQ AA Brigades, two Independent LAA Batteries and one Independent HAA Battery. By the year 1944, there were a total of 33 AD Artillery units. However, immediately after the Second World War, a large number of these units were disbanded. At the time of partition in 1947, only two AD Artillery units i.e. 26 LAA and 27 LAA Regiments came to India. Neither of the two oldest AA Establishment in India, i.e. I Training Battery and ‘R’ HAA Regiment survived into Independent India. During the Second World War, the heaviest concentration of AA Artillery in the British Army outside Britain, was in ‘India Command’. The performances of the Indian LAA Regiments were noted for their dedication and acts of valour in the face of the enemy. Three Indian LAA Regiments were awarded with Mention-in-Dispatches during their employment in East Bengal, Assam and Rangoon. A total of three MC, one MBE and seven IDSM were awarded to AA Artillery during the Second World War. regards Clive
Thanks for the efforts. looking at the service history it looks like: Attached 11/17 Ind. LAA Rgt. I.A Which i have read as 11th Battery 17th Independent Regt Indian Army He was only there 3 weeks so i'm not overly stressed if I cant find them! regards Pete
Pete, nothing listed for either the 11th or 17th as a LAA Indian Field Artillery in World War 2 SOUTH-EAST ASIA COMMAND
Their only mention in Routledge's book, the 'History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery, Anti-Aircraft Artillery, 1914-55' is in the preamble to an Order of Battle dated April 1943 by which time they had already been disbanded.
hello Pete dont know if there is anything in the link below a bit ancient but could have other links Internet Archive Search: subject:"India -- History, Military" regards Clive
I think this is going into the 'too hard for limited reward' pile! Thanks for the help though, much appreciated. Pete
Hi, Looking at my Grandad's War service record, he was with 11th Independent Bty on the 30th March 1943 until he was moved to the reserve on the 31 January 1946, I take it this is the same Bty? Thanks, Vern.
His overseas service shows India 15.12.42 - 29.10.45. He got around quite a bit during the war, 208th LAA Regt 218 Bty (No Regt Specified) 73rd LAA Regt 141st LAA Regt 36th Bty (No Regt specified) 11th Independent Bty (No Regt Specified, until I found out about 20 mins ago possibly?) 240th Training Regt 533 LAA Search light Regt 11 Bty is currently in service at North Luffenham with 16 Regt RA where I will be going on course to next year, I plan on doing some research whilst I am there (6 weekson course in total). 36 Bty is currently in service with 40 Regt RA in Northern Ireland. Many thanks for your help. Vern.
Vern The Indian Army had its own artillery/AA , so you would expect to see RIA listed, the other units you mention all look like RA. The batteries named are traceable with a little research, I use this site: Royal Artillery 1939-45 Regards Pete
Here is a brief summary of 17th Indian LAA Regiment: 17th Indian Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, IA Raised 1 April 1943 Batteries 11th, 101st, 103rd (Madrassi) Light AA Batteries The regiment served in Colombo, Ceylon under 24th British AA Brigade. The regiment was placed in suspended animation on 4 June 1945.
New to this, but I have found this photo, with names on reverse. My dad's letters stated H2,28 LAA Regiment, India Command but this photo was take 1945 Rangoon and may not be the same time as the letters he wrote. Please advise if I should attach this to another thread!!
