Indian Light AA/Anti Tank Regiments

Discussion in 'British Indian Army' started by RobG64, Jan 5, 2016.

  1. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Here is George in the 1st Essex war diary to be Acting Sgt. CQMS:

    P4500435 copy.JPG
     
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  2. HarrisonAston

    HarrisonAston New Member

    Wow, my great grandfather is in these pictures, I can't put into words how grateful I am for these. I've sent them to my grandma, and she's ecstatic. So glad I came across this forum.
     
  3. daisy1942

    daisy1942 Junior Member


    Hi,

    Are all missing personnel lists available at Kew? How about lists of deserters?
    Daisy1942
     
  4. Rothy

    Rothy Well-Known Member


    I can't say as I haven't viewed these files, I came across them in the catalogue.

    Steve
     
  5. rfb

    rfb Member

    Hi Chris. I am starting to research my grandfathers WW2 History. I have a letter he wrote that was sent from India to his family back in Penrith in Dec 1942 and it states at the top Gnr. Blaylock (Robert Frederick) 143/78 LAA Regt RA.
    upload_2021-2-26_11-45-6.png

    We also have a photo album which contains alot of pictures from his time in India and he has written details on the back of each photo such as officers names and where they were. Its going to take a while to go through them, but once i have gone through them i can forward you a copy. I have seen your attached photo but without knowing what my grandfather looked like in his younger days, im unsure who on the photo he could be. You dont have any names linked to the photo at all? Im possibly thinking my grandfather could be top left?
     
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  6. rfb

    rfb Member

    Some photos from my Grandfathers Photo Album from his time in India. He was in 78th LAA Battery 143 RA

    Boys from 143 Battery
    Boys from 143 Battery BHQ .jpg
    Officers of 143 Battery
    officer 143 battery.jpg
     
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  7. rfb

    rfb Member

    Lt Dick Royal Artillery in India

    Lt Dick RA.jpg


    Unknown
    officer .jpg

    Sgt Pilkington, Secunderabad
    sgt pilkington.jpg


    Sgt Thorpe
    sgt thorpe.jpg
     

    Attached Files:

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  8. Rothy

    Rothy Well-Known Member

    rfb - thank you for the wonderful photos of men of the 143rd L.A.A. Battery.

    I've been working with the war diaries of the 78th L.A.A. Regiment, R.A. for another project and have pulled together this short summary of the 143rd Battery's time in India.

    Steve

    upload_2021-3-4_17-58-15.png

    upload_2021-3-4_17-58-51.png
     

    Attached Files:

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  9. rfb

    rfb Member

    Thank you so much Steve for the information on 78th LAA 143 Battery, it has been really useful in linking up the photos to the places he went to in his album. My grandfather was a gunner and from his release paper it appeared that he undertook a cooks training course, becoming cook in the officers mess too. Its seems from the Royal Artillery Attestation Document that my grandfather was originally in 41st LAA in 143rd Battery before going to India. You don't happen to know anything about that regiment etc? I'm in the process of obtaining his service record from the MOD but I understand it takes a while, so I don't have all his details as yet.
     
  10. DSowerby

    DSowerby Junior Member

    I've been reading this whole thread with interest; many times it's mentioned that the 5th (Mahratta) Anti Tank never converted to LAA/AT; which has been giving me a bit of a head-scratcher. I have the Burma Star Association application for one Captain Paul Charles Woodland Day, who states that the unit he qualified for the Star with was the "5th Ind LAA Regt RIA".

    Could anyone help me with some pointers/info on this?

    Thanks,

    David
     

    Attached Files:

    • day.jpg
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  11. Rothy

    Rothy Well-Known Member

    Hi David,

    It is correct that the 5th (Mahratta) Anti-Tank Regiment did not convert to become an LAA/Atk regiment. Please see my webpage for a history of this unit : 5th (Mahratta) Anti-Tank Regiment, I.A.

    Perhaps the confusion lies in thinking that the 5th L.A.A. Regiment, Indian Artillery was the same unit when it was not. The 5th (Mahratta) Atk Regiment and the 5th L.A.A. Regiment are completely different units. If you would like details of the 5th L.A.A. Regiment, I.A. perhaps if you would share the period in which you are interested and I will provide the details I have. If your Officer has noted that the regiment was 'RIA' (Royal Indian Artillery), the Indian Artillery did not become 'Royal' until after the war - an honour bestowed in recognition of distinguished service.

    Rothy
     
    Last edited: Jul 31, 2023
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  12. Rothy

    Rothy Well-Known Member

    More on Captain Paul Charles Woodland-Day.

    According to the London Gazette, he was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant, Royal Artillery on 6th February 1944.

    He appears in the 'Nominal Roll of Officers on Strength' for the 5th L.A.A. Regiment, Indian Artillery, dated 7th October 1944. He is listed as Lieutenant Woodland-Day, P.C. and was posted to the 18th Battery of the 5th L.A.A. Regiment, I.A. It would appear that his arrival with the Regiment had been relatively recent. The next earliest nominal roll return is dated 26th August 1944 and he does not appear in this listing.

    I'm afraid that is the only mention of him in the war diaries for 1944-1946.

    Rothy
     

    Attached Files:

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  13. DSowerby

    DSowerby Junior Member

    Hi Rothy,

    Many thanks for this; i did have a feeling it would be a different unit, but there just seems to be a dearth of information on them. I would be very keen to find out anything about them.

    Woodland-Day's medals include an Africa Star as well as a Burma - i don't know if the africa was earned with the unit. I should add that, as you say, Woodland-Day was only commissioned in Feb '44 so would probably have served as OR before that time, maybe with another unit.

    Thanks again, this is great info!

    David
     
    Last edited: Aug 1, 2023
  14. Rothy

    Rothy Well-Known Member

    The 5th L.A.A. Regiment, I.A. served only in India and Burma.

    You could well be right about prior service as an OR.

    I'll post a summary of the 5th L.A.A. service from 1944 on.

    Have you considered applying for the service record?
     
  15. DSowerby

    DSowerby Junior Member

    It's on my FOI list for sure; he passed away in 1994 so i just need to get his death certificate. The IA is something i know little about; but i'm assuming some hard fighting for this period?

    Cheers,

    David
     
  16. Rothy

    Rothy Well-Known Member

    David. Here is the story of the 5th LAA Regiment, I.A. for 1944.

    During December 1943, the 5th Regiment, under Command of the 9th A.A. Brigade in Assam was deployed as follows:
    - R.H.Q., 5th L.A.A. Regiment, I.A. Jorhat
    - 18th Battery Moran airfield, less ‘A’ Troop at Chabua airfield
    - 31st Battery Roriya airfield, Jorhat
    - 32nd Battery Dergaon airfield.
    ‘A’ Troop left Chabua for Moran airfield on 16th January 1944. On 15th March 1944, the Regiment was reorganised on a new war establishment (WE 1/15-A/2). This placed the Regiment on a static (WO 203/1713) 54-gun establishment, having been previously on the 36-gun establishment. During March, the 18th Battery exchanged the American-made Bofors 40mm guns with which it had been equipped, for British Mk II guns which were exchanged with the 28th L.A.A. Regiment, R.A. The H.Q. 3rd Indian A.A. Brigade assumed the responsibilities of the 9th A.A. Brigade on 16th April 1944. Lt. Colonel C.E.S.P. Gaussen assumed command of the Regiment from Lt. Colonel F.J. Edelmann on 29th May 1944. It appears that there were no changes in the deployment of the 5th Regiment until October 1944.
    Between 2nd and 3rd October 1944, the 32nd Battery at Dergaon exchanged locations with the 18th Battery at Moran: ‘C’ and ‘G’ Troops exchanged locations on 2nd October; ‘B’ and H’ Troops and the respective Battery H.Q.s on 3rd October; ‘A’ and ‘I Troops on 5th October. Only a few days later, the H.Q. 3rd Indian A.A. Brigade issued further new orders for yet further repositioning of the 5th Regiment. The Regiment was ordered to relieve batteries of the 1st L.A.A. Regiment, I.A. as the 1st Regiment was due to undertake mobile training. On 12th October, all guns of the 5th Regiment were taken out of action, except for ‘C’ Troop at Dergaon, ‘E’ Troop at Jorhat and ‘I’ Troop at Moran. On 14th October, ‘B’ Troop, 18th Battery relieved ‘E’ Troop, 31st Battery at Jorhat. Three days later, the Battery H.Q., 31st Battery moved by road from Jorhat to Digboi. It was followed by ‘E’ and ‘F’ Troops on 19th October and these elements relieved the 6th Battery, 1st Regiment the following day. ‘D’ Troop arrived at Digboi from Jorhat on 21st October. ‘H’ Troop, 32nd Battery, moved from Moran to Tinsukia on 23rd October and relieved a troop of the 3rd Battery, 1st Regiment. The next day: the Battery H.Q. and ‘G’ Troop left Moran for Mohanbari; the Regimental H.Q. moved to Chabua; Battery H.Q. and ‘A’ Troop, 18th Battery moved by road to Jorhat from Dergaon. The dispositions of the 5th Regiment were then:
    - R.H.Q., 5th L.A.A. Regiment, I.A. Chabua airfield
    - 18th Battery Jorhat, ‘B’ Troop at Jorhat training, ‘C’ Troop at Dergaon
    - 31st Battery Digboi
    - 32nd Battery B.H.Q. and ‘G’ Troop at Mohanbari, ‘H’ Troop at Tinsukia, ‘I’ Troop at Moran.
    ‘G’ Troop relieved a troop of the 3rd Battery, 1st L.A.A. Regiment, I.A. at Chabua on 5th December 1944. ‘A’ Troop, 18th Battery, relieved ‘I’ Troop, 32nd Battery, at Moran on 11th December. On 13th December, ‘I’ Troop went to Dinjan. The H.Q. 3rd Indian A.A. Brigade issued orders for new deployments on 30th December and both ‘G’ and ‘I’ Troops at Chabua were withdrawn to Mohanbari, ready to move. The following day, all troops of the 18th Battery came out of action, also ready to move. On 2nd January 1945, the Battery H.Q., ‘G’ and ‘I’ Troops, 32nd Battery went to Jorhat for the night. On 3rd January, they set off together with 18th Battery by road for Tamu and Imphal respectively. The 32nd Battery with ‘G’ and ‘I’ Troops arrived at Tamu on 8th January, where the Battery H.Q. was established. The Battery now came under the command of the H.Q. Fourteenth Army. The 18th Battery arrived at Imphal on 6th January and two troops of the Battery went into action at Tulihal, Imphal, on 9th January; the third battery did the same at Sapam. The Battery was now under command of the 69th L.A.A. Battery, R.A., 14th (West African) A.A. Brigade. The Battery H.Q., 18th Battery was established at Tulihal on 9th January. The 31st Battery remained at Digboi but came out of action on 29th January, prepared to move to Tinsukia.
    On 29th January 1945, the 5th Regiment was allotted to the Fourteenth Army for the defence of forward airfields and ordered forward into Burma.
     
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  17. DSowerby

    DSowerby Junior Member

    This is absolutely WONDERFUL Rothy, thanks very much indeed!

    David
     

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