Can anyone give me any information? - RA

my Great Grandfather Fred Bennett was a gunner in the royal artillery, he died of TB contracted during service in 1942. this is the only info i can find 88 Lt. A.A. Regt. Royal Artillery. I dont know what 88lt and A.A. means. Can anyone tell me where he could have been stationed at what 88lt and A.A means please.

 

error

 

Light = Lt
AA = Anti Aircraft
Probably Bofers guns but possibly HMGs (heavy machine guns)

 

thank you so much... can anyone tell me where he could have been stationed he died 03/04/1942

 

This is the reference to the 88 LAA war diary held at the National Archives for the year 1942:

WO 166/7676 88 Regt. 1942 Jan.- Dec.

The WO 166 part of the file reference means the unit where at home during this period, i.e. in the United Kingdom.

Lee

 

how can i look at that reference to the national archive

 

Would there be a way to find out where he was before january 1942

 

Three main ways:

- Make a visit to the archives in person at Kew, Surrey;
- Request the National Archives to copy it for you (expensive);
- Ask someone like myself or Drew to copy it for you (at 10p per page). I'm intending to visit tomorrow (Saturday) if all goes to plan.

Hard to say how large and detailed the war diary will be but as it's a home diary it'll probably be less than 300 pages at a guess.



Lee

 

thank you is there a way i can find out where he was before january 1942

 

did they ever go to gibraltar

 

There are diaries for the 88 LAA Regt from Nov '41 to Dec '43. All are home (UK) diaries.

To find out exactly where he was and with what units you'll need to apply for his service record. This can be obtained from the Ministry of Defence but can take up to a year to receive it and it costs £30.00. Details here: Ministry of Defence | About Defence | What we do | Personnel | Service Records | Making a Request for Information held on the Personnel Records of Deceased Service Personnel

Lee

 

thank you i wanted to get he servic details as a christmas present for my dad

 

Not sure if you have looked at the CWGC website, but the information may help some of the other chaps with their searches:

Name:BENNETT, FRED
Initials:F
Nationality:United Kingdom
Rank:Gunner
Regiment/Service:Royal Artillery
Unit Text:88 Lt. A.A. Regt.
Age:36
Date of Death:03/04/1942
Service No:1782570
Additional information:Son of Watson and Elizabeth Bennett, of Glossop, husband of Annie Bennett, of Glossop.
Casualty Type:Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference:C. of E. Sec. Grave 3889.
Cemetery:GLOSSOP CEMETERY

Looking at the Royal Artillery 1939-45 website, I found on RA 1939-45 88 LAA, that the Regiment was part of the Home Forces, and so it seems did not serve overseas.

But, as PsyWar.Org suggests the service records will help you with most if not all of the information you seek.

Mark