3rd (Ulster) Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery

The 3rd (Ulster) Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery was a searchlight regiment of the Royal Artillery, itself within the British Army's supplementary reserve. The regiment was one of the first TA artillery regiments based within Northern Ireland.

World War II
In 1939 the 3rd Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery (Supplementary Reserve) was formed as one of the first Territorial Army regiments in Northern Ireland along with the 188th (Antrim) Heavy Battery, Royal Artillery formed two years before in 1937. The regiment had the following structure following their formations;


 * Regimental Headquarters & HQ Battery, Belfast
 * Regimental Band
 * Regimental Pipes and Drums
 * 9th Searchlight Battery, Clonavar and Strandtown
 * 10th Searchlight Battery, Belfast
 * 11th Searchlight Battery, Belfast
 * 12th Searchlight Battery, Lurgan

In September 1939 following the announcement for general mobilisation, the regiment was assigned to the 3rd Anti-Aircraft Brigade and consolidated in Belfast. In November the regiment was assigned to the Home Forces Command and moved to Bordon near Aldershot Garrison. In December the regiment moved to France where they were assigned to the British Expeditionary Force unassigned for a short while.

In May 1940 the regiment was assigned to the 5th Anti-Aircraft (Searchlight) Brigade and concurrently renamed to become the 3rd (Ulster) Searchlight Regiment, RA (SR). During this period the regiment participated in the Battle of France where they provided searchlight support to the BEF. During this invasion, the regiment retreated to the town of Dunkirk where they participated in the Evacuation from Dunkirk. By June, the regiment was separated with each battery moving two one of the major south west RAF airbases in England. During this time, the Anti-Aircraft Command was reorganised and the regiment moved under command of the 64th Anti-Aircraft Brigade.

In 1942 the regiment was reorganised and redesignated as the 4th (Ulster) LAA Regiment, RA (SR) and reequipped accordingly. In February the regiment was relived from their RAF base duties and assigned to Home Forces Command as a mobile AA support regiment. In March 1944 the regiment was assigned to the Second Army under an unknown sub-command where it participated in the Invasion of Normandy one month later. The regiment then continued to fight during the North-West Europe campaign where it finished in West Germany during 1945.

Postwar
Following the end of the war, the regiment like all other TA and SR regiments were demobilised and concurrently placed into "suspended animation" which effectively disbanded them, but able to reform. In 1947 the Territorial Army was reformed and most, but not all, TA regiments were reformed. As a result of this reformation, the regiment was reformed into two regiments; 247th (Ulster) LAA Regiment, RA based in Belfast and 248th (Ulster) LAA Regiment, RA based in North Belfast commanded by the 51st Heavy Anti-Aircraft Brigade. In 1949 the regiment was renamed and redesignated as 247th (Ulster) Light AA/SL Regiment RA gaining their prewar role and guns.

Finally, in 1955 following the disbandment of Anti-Aircraft Command the regiment amalgamated with the following regiments; 245th (Belfast) (M) HAA Regt, 246th (Derry) (M) HAA Regt, 248th (Ulster) LAA Regt, and 502nd (Ulster) (M) HAA Regt to form the 245th (Ulster) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery. This regiment was later amalgamated with the 445th (Lowland) LAD Regiment to form the new larger 102nd (Ulster & Scottish) Light Air Defence Regiment, Royal Artillery (V). ''(see: 206 (Ulster) Battery, Royal Artillery). ''

Uniform Note
During Second World War the Red Hand of Ulster on a khaki rectangle was worn by 3rd SL Regt.