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38th Light Anti-Aircraft Brigade (United Kingdom)

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38th Light Anti-Aircraft Brigade
Active 1938–1957
Country Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Flag of the British Army Territorial Army
Type Anti-Aircraft Brigade
Role Air Defence
Part of 1st AA Division
2 AA Group
Garrison/HQ Duke of York's Headquarters
Engagements The Blitz

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.[1]

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:[1][2]

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,[5] and had been exchanged with 35th (1st Surrey Rifles) Searchlight Regiment, Royal Arillery.[6][7][8][9] In October, 38 AA Bde was joined by the newly-raised 79th Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery.[10][11]

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.[11][12]

75 (Middlesex) S/L Regt converted to the LAA role in Home Forces in February 1941 and was later sent to Middle East Command.[3][4][11][13] 35 (1st Surrey Rifle) S/L Regt also converted to LAA in Home Forces in March 1942,[6][8][11][14] while 79 S/L Regt disbanded in December 1944.[10][11]

In 1942 AA Command abolished its hierarchy of divisions and corps, and established a single tier of AA Groups;[15] 38 AA Bde was assigned to 2 AA Group covering South East England.[16]

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.[17] 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.[18][19]

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:[16][20]

After infantry training, the brigade went to Norway in June 1945 to help oversee the surrender of the German occupying forces there.[1][16][20]

Postwar[]

When the TA was reformed in 1947, 38 AA Bde was renumbered 64 AA Brigade, with the following order of battle:[29][30]

When AA Command was disbanded in 1955 the brigade was placed into suspended animation, and formally disbanded at the end of 1957.[30]

Notes[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1 AA Division 1939 at British Military History
  2. ↑ AA Command 3 September 1939 at Patriot Files
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 75 SL Rgt at RA 39–45
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Litchfield, p. 180.
  5. ↑ 27 S/L Rgt at RA 39–45
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 35 S/L Rgt at RA 39–45
  7. ↑ 5 AA Division 1939 at British Military History
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Litchfield, p. 173.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 1st Surrey Rifles at Regiments.org
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 79 S/L Rgt at RA 39–45
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 1 AA Division 1940 at British Military History
  12. ↑ 1 AA Division at RA 39–45
  13. ↑ 75 LAA Rgt at RA 39–45
  14. ↑ 129 LAA at RA 39–45
  15. ↑ AA Command 1940 at British Military History
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Joslen, p. 400.
  17. ↑ Ellis, pp. 141–2.
  18. ↑ Ellis, pp. 369, 380.
  19. ↑ Infantry Regiments RA at RA 39–45
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 304 Infantry Brigade at RA 39–45
  21. ↑ 630 Infantry Rgt at RA 39–45
  22. ↑ 28 SL Rgt at RA 39–45
  23. ↑ 637 Infantry Rgt at RA 39–45
  24. ↑ 50 SL Rgt at RA 39–45
  25. ↑ Northamptonshire Volunteers at Regiments.org
  26. ↑ 638 Infantry Rgt at RA 39–45
  27. ↑ 53 SL Rgt at RA 39–45
  28. ↑ BBC – WW2 People's War
  29. ↑ Territorial Army 1947 at Orbat.com
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 AA Bdes at British Army units 1945 on
  31. ↑ Litchfield, p. 163.
  32. ↑ 444–573 Regiments at British Army units 1945 on
  33. ↑ Litchfield, p. 166.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 474–519 Regiments at British Army units 1945 on
  35. ↑ Litchfield, p. 168.
  36. ↑ Litchfield, p. 169.
  37. ↑ 520–563 Regiments at British Army units 1945 on
  38. ↑ 564–591 Regiments at British Army units 1945 on

References[]

  • Major L.F. Ellis, History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series: Victory in the West, Vol II: The Defeat of Germany, London: HM Stationery Office, 1968/Uckfield: Naval & Military, 2004, ISBN 1-845740-59-9.
  • Lt-Col H.F. Joslen, Orders of Battle, United Kingdom and Colonial Formations and Units in the Second World War, 1939–1945, London: HM Stationery Office, 1960/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2003, ISBN 1843424746.
  • Norman E.H. Litchfield, The Territorial Artillery 1908–1988 (Their Lineage, Uniforms and Badges), Nottingham: Sherwood Press, 1992, ISBN 0-9508205-2-0.

External sources[]

All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at 38th Light Anti-Aircraft Brigade (United Kingdom) and the edit history here.
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