41st (North Staffs) Anti-Aircraft Btn. R.E. (T.A.) 1940

Discussion in '1940' started by Guy Hudson, May 26, 2017.

  1. Guy Hudson

    Guy Hudson Looker-upper

    Royal Engineers (TA) Search Light unit formed by converting the 5th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment. Did the unit serve with the BEF?
    Many thanks in advance
     
  2. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    Here is what I have on the 41st Searchlight Regiment:


    41st (5th North Staffordshire Regiment) Anti-Aircraft Battalion, R.E. (T.A.)
    HQ, 362nd-365th Coys: Stoke-on-Trent

    The regiment formed part of 54th AA Brigade at the outbreak of war and under 32nd AA Brigade in February 1941. It transferred to the Royal Artillery on 1 August 1940 as 45th (5th Battalion, The North Staffordshire Regiment) Searchlight Regiment, R.A. (T.A.) with 362nd-65th Batteries. 365th Battery left on 23 January 1942 and the regiment was retitled 41st Searchlight Regiment, R.A. (5th North Staffordshire Regiment)(T.A.) on 18 February 1942. In June 1944 it was waiting in England under 31st AA Brigade for deployment in France. It moved to Normandy in July 1944 under command of 51st AA Defence HQ and under United States control. It moved to Brussels on 23 October 1944 as part of 101st Brigade and was later deployed in the South Scheldt under 105th AA Brigade. In April 1945, it was under 76th AA Brigade in the South Scheldt.
     
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  3. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    The BEF did not have a great deal of searchlight capacity. Perhaps not surprisingly, most of it was used for home defence. This site has more detail on their locations. They were not in France in 1940.

    Staffordshire Rangers
     
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  4. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Off the top of my head only the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 37th Searchlight Regiments went to France.
     
  5. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    Rich. Thanks for the link. It is unusual to find that much detail about a searchlight regiment.
     
  6. One little noted point is that some members of the original 41st Battalion 5th North Staffs were seconded to Special Forces and formed part of the Burma Campaign fighting behind Japanise Lines with Mad Mike Calverts Chindit unit. See www.anti-aircraft.co.uk/human_interest_JC.html see photo of men, Wingate, and Calvert
     
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