38th Light Anti-Aircraft Brigade (United Kingdom)

38th Light Anti-Aircraft Brigade
Active 1938–1957
Country  United Kingdom
Branch 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 Artillery.[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

References

External sources