38th Light Anti-Aircraft Brigade (United Kingdom)

The 38th Light Anti-Aircraft Brigade (38 AA Bde) was an air defence formation of Britain's Territorial Army formed just before World War II, which protected London during The Blitz and later converted into an infantry formation for the liberation of Europe.

Origins
The brigade headquarters was formed on 28 September 1938 by duplicating the 26th (London) Anti-Aircraft Brigade at the Duke of York's Headquarters in Chelsea, London, as part of the expansion of Britain's Anti-Aircraft (AA) defences before World War II. It formed part of 1st AA Division, which came under Anti-Aircraft Command the following year.

The brigade was composed of searchlight units of the Royal Artillery (RA) and Royal Engineers (RE). By the outbreak of war on 3 September 1939, it had the following order of battle:


 * 26th (London) Anti-Aircraft Battalion (London Electrical Engineers), RE (TA) – from 26 AA Bde
 * HQ, 303, 321 and 339 AA Companies at Duke of York's HQ, Chelsea
 * 301 Company at Shepherd's Bush


 * 27th (London) Anti-Aircraft Battalion (London Electrical Engineers), RE (TA) – from 26 AA Bde
 * HQ at Streatham
 * 304, 305, 306 and 390 AA Companies at Westminster


 * 75th (Middlesex) Searchlight Regiment, RA (TA) – formed May 1939
 * HQ and three S/L Batteries at Cowley, London


 * 38th AA Brigade Company, Royal Army Service Corps

World War II
In August 1940, the Royal Engineers AA battalions were transferred to the Royal Artillery and were termed Searchlight Regiments. By now, the 27th (London Electrical Engineers) had been transferred to 47 AA Bde covering Southampton, and had been exchanged with 35th (1st Surrey Rifles) Searchlight Regiment, Royal Arillery. In October, 38 AA Bde was joined by the newly-raised 79th Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery.

During the Blitz of 1940–41, 38 Light AA Bde provided the searchlight component of 1 AA Division, directing the Heavy (HAA) and Light (LAA) anti-aircraft guns defending London.

75 (Middlesex) S/L Regt converted to the LAA role in Home Forces in February 1941 and was later sent to Middle East Command. 35 (1st Surrey Rifle) S/L Regt also converted to LAA in Home Forces in March 1942, while 79 S/L Regt disbanded in December 1944.

In 1942 AA Command abolished its hierarchy of divisions and corps, and established a single tier of AA Groups; 38 AA Bde was assigned to 2 AA Group covering South East England.

Conversion

 * See main article 304th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)

By the end of 1944, 21st Army Group was suffering a severe manpower shortage, particularly among the infantry. At the same time the German Luftwaffe was suffering from such shortages of pilots, aircraft and fuel that serious aerial attacks on the United Kingdom could be discounted. In January 1945 the War Office began to reorganise surplus AA and coastal artillery regiments in the UK into infantry battalions, primarily for line of communication and occupation duties in North West Europe, thereby releasing trained infantry for frontline service.

A number of AA Brigade HQs in 2 AA Group were also converted: on 22 January 1945, HQ 38 AA Bde was converted into 304th Infantry Brigade under Brigadier C.A.H. Chadwick with the following units under command:
 * 630th (Essex) Infantry Regiment, RA, formed by 28th (Essex) Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery.


 * 637th (Northamptonshire Regiment) Infantry Regiment, RA, formed by 50th (The Northamptonshire Regiment) Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery.


 * 638th (Royal Northumberland Fusiliers) Infantry Regiment, RA, formed by 53rd (Royal Northumberland Fusiliers) Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery.

After infantry training, the brigade went to Norway in June 1945 to help oversee the surrender of the German occupying forces there.

Postwar
When the TA was reformed in 1947, 38 AA Bde was renumbered 64 AA Brigade, with the following order of battle:


 * 451 (Chelsea) HAA Regiment
 * 497 (Hammersmith) HAA Regiment
 * 499 (Mixed) HAA Regiment (Kensington)
 * 562 Searchlight Regiment (formerly 27 (London Electrical Engineers) S/L Regt)
 * 570 LAA Regiment (1st Surrey Rifles) (formerly 35 (1st Surrey Rifles) S/L Regt)

When AA Command was disbanded in 1955 the brigade was placed into suspended animation, and formally disbanded at the end of 1957.

External sources

 * British Army units from 1945 on


 * British Military History


 * Orbat.com


 * Orders of Battle at Patriot Files


 * Land Forces of Britain, the Empire and Commonwealth (Regiments.org)


 * The Royal Artillery 1939–45