Royal Artillery 162 (M) H.A.A. Regt.

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by Ramiles, May 7, 2015.

  1. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    Hi all,

    My nan's brother died as a "gunner" very late in the war and as far as we know it was in a training accident of some kind.
    Whether he was training or being trained not quite sure!

    http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2716764/MERCHANT,%20LESLIE%20STUART

    Does anyone happen to know if Royal Artillery 162 (M) H.A.A. Regt. was a part of either/or:

    53rd (City of London) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/53rd_%28City_of_London%29_Heavy_Anti-Aircraft_Regiment,_Royal_Artillery

    54th (City of London) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/54th_%28City_of_London%29_Heavy_Anti-Aircraft_Regiment,_Royal_Artillery

    And if training on (or just before) 30/05/1945 what they might have been training for?

    A partial understanding of this on our part was that it might have been for something in the Far East? But not knowing as yet exactly what Royal Artillery 162 (M) H.A.A. Regt. was/is I thought I'd ask here. If someone can unpick this code?

    There's some detail of this kind of thing in the wiki above that came up first from a google search with "Royal Artillery 162 (M) H.A.A. Regt." but it might just be a tenuous google link - (as there's one or two "162"'s in there) so I thought it best to ask first here just to be sure and try to get some clarity there!

    All the best,

    Rm.
     
  2. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    It was a regiment in it's own right. (M) in the title mean't it was was mixed, male and female serving in the same unit. UK based, so more likely an accident of some type. It may be listed in the war diary, but you have to look yourself or pay someone to do it.
     
    Ramiles likes this.
  3. DianeE

    DianeE Member

    There is a diary at Kew which might be the right one.

    WO 166/16739 Home forces war diaries Royal Artillery Heavy Anti Aircraft Regiments 162 Reg-1945

    Diane
     
    Ramiles likes this.
  4. 379/101 HAA

    379/101 HAA Ubique

    I had a look at his casualty card on "Find My Past" and interestingly there is no entry in the box for either "place of death" or "cause of death". This is the first one I`ve seen like that.

    Under the section headed "Theatre or country where fatal wound or where death occured" the entry looks like UR or perhaps VR? I`m guessing you may have already seen this?

    Obtaining his service record or perhaps a copy of his death certificate might give more details as to the cause.

    John
     
    Ramiles likes this.
  5. hutt

    hutt Member

    While 162 (M) HAA would seem to most likely to indicate the regiment, there was indeed a 162 Bty as part of 54 HAA Regiment. Probably best to get a copy of the service record to eliminate any possible confusion.

    Attached is a page from a 1st AA Division diary from August 1941
     

    Attached Files:

    Ramiles likes this.
  6. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    Ramiles likes this.
  7. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    Last edited: Oct 16, 2016
    Guy Hudson likes this.
  8. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    The picture above was possibly taken soon after he joined the army, the one below was taken almost at the end of the war...

    20220423_182142.jpg

    Gunner Leslie Stuart Merchant | War Casualty Details | CWGC

    GUNNER LESLIE STUART MERCHANT
    Service Number: 11420816
    Regiment & Unit/Ship
    Royal Artillery
    162 (M) H.A.A. Regt.
    Date of Death - Died 30 May 1945
    Age 34 years old
    Buried or commemorated at CAERPHILLY (PENYRHEOL) CEMETERY
    Plot E. Cons. Row T. Grave 199.
    United Kingdom
    Country of Service - United Kingdom
    Additional Info - Son of Frederick George and Ethel Jane Merchant, of Caerphilly; husband of Winifred Merchant, of Caerphilly.
    Personal Inscription - IN MEMORY'S GARDEN WE MEET EVERY DAY

    Gunner Leslie Stuart Merchant (unknown-1945) -...


    20220422_105005_1.jpg

    20220422_105014.jpg
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Apr 24, 2022

Share This Page