RA training regiment information

Hello to all members, new here and researching my grandfathers service. He was part of the AA command and served in a number of units, including Z batteries and Mixed Heavy AA. I have been able to locate the war diaries for his postings but cannot seem to find anything on his training regiments. I was wondering if anyone could kindly point me in the direction of any war diaries etc for the training regiments.
Thanks in advance

 

David,

Welcome aboard.

Try this website, it is run by two members and is the "go to" reference guide: Royal Artillery in World War 2 - The Royal Artillery 1939-45

Hopefully this will have them: Schools & Training Establishments - The Royal Artillery 1939-45

So, for example 7 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Training Regiment. An online search with: "7 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Training" site:ww2talk.com may identify threads here and then using "7 HAA Training". Those searches may work online too, not just here.

War Diaries (WD) explained by one member here:

From: Tony56 in: War Diaries

I expect you have your grandfathers Service Record from MoD etc. If he was Other Rank he is unlikely to appear in a WD.

Good luck

 

Thank you for the prompt reply. I will check out the suggested website. Yes I have his service record and busy translating into something I can read!!! Yes he was other ranks but I had read that he probably won’t crop up in any documents but interested in where he was stationed and any action the batteries may have been involved in.

cheers

 

The two reference sites for abbreviations I use regularly are: WW2 Abbreviations and Acronyms | Researching the Lives and Records of WW2 Soldiers and https://ww2talk.com/index.php?threads/abbreviations-in-service-records-uk-army-wwii-for-ref.57233/

Timeline construction If you have Service records etc create a document with a table for the dates and events in chronological order first and where the information came from. This will enable you to identify the more important entries first (dates of wounding, promotions, embarkations and disembarkations). You will learn more if you do most of the research yourself, but don't be afraid to ask questions about service record entries and things you come across on this forum. Adapted from Post 4 in: Help researching relative - Ivo William (Bill) SMITH, 42nd Battalion AIF

Be aware by 1943 in Italy the British Army had a shortage of infantry and RA units were disbanded to fill the gaps. This got worse after D-Day and the decline of Luftwaffe capabilities. Some RA units were converted to garrison infantry.

 

Ah really interesting information thank you. I have a timeline and he was stationed solely in the Uk but he seemed to move around quite a bit. He was 34 when conscripted in 1941 so would have been one of the older gunners I imagine and was possibly moved around to fill gaps of younger guys being sent to other units as you have suggested.
He was first posted to 52 driver training regiment then onto a Z battery training regiment, then to a Z regiment then mixed heavy AA training
So I’m guessing he was trained as a driver?? But my mum didn’t know he could even drive as he never ever did in her recollection. He sadly passed away when I was four so had never had the opportunity to talk to him

 

I found these details of A.A. 'Z' Training units in Frederick's "Lineage Book of British Land Forces, 1660-1978"

 

fantastic, thank you so much

 

Just had a quick look and he was at 240 Z trg reg in September 1941, at mablethorpe and this ties into a post card of his we have - another piece in the puzzle. Thank tou

 

David,

Did he marry during WW2? Due to manpower shortages women - from the ATS - were posted to AA units, mainly in the UK and some in Belgium. That would add an interesting angle.

 

No he was married before the war. But he was the oldest sibling in his family who were farmers in the north Pennines in Co Durham. His records show a period of unpaid leave for a couple of weeks each year in August where he must have gone home to help with the harvest!