War Diaries of 15th (Isle Of Man) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery - Summary

1944

 

Home 1939 1940
1941 1942 1943
1945 Roll of Honour

 

January 1944

Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. Eustace Smith.

Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information References to Appendices
  1-5   Regt. at Sea  
  6   Regt. disembarked in U.K.  

Morley Hall Wymondham

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

 

   Regt. deployed in Billets awaiting orders and proceed on Disembarkation Leave.
R.H.Q. Mor1ey Hall Wymondham.
1 Hargam Hall Attleborough
41 Uplands House Diss
42 Moss Manor Diss		  
  10-31   Regt. on leave.  

 

February 1944

Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. Eustace Smith.

Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information References to Appendices
Morley Hall Wymondham

1-28

 

  

Regt. in Billets.

 

  
  17  

Regt. parades with R.A. 7th Armd Div for Inspection by Montgomery

  
  24  

Regt. parades with R.A. 7th Armd Div for inspection by H.M. The King.

  
     

During the month – Mobilisation in progress – bringing strength of officers and men to W.E

  

 

March 1944

Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. E.C.J. Chaytor.

Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information References to Appendices
Morley Hall Wymondham

2

 

  

Lt. Col. Eustace Smith relinquishes command of Regt.

 

  
      Lt. Col. Falla relinquishes command and posted to 20 L.A.A. Regt. Major J.B. Mylchreest assumes command.  
  14   Major H. Kelly assumes command Regt.  
  17   Lt. Col. E.C.J. Chaytor appointed to command Regt.  
  22-28   Firing camp CLACTON  

 

April 1944

Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. E.C.J. Chaytor.

Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information References to Appendices

Morley Hall Wymondham

1-27

 

  

During the month the Regt has been made up to establishment in stores and equipment. Training continued in Firing – Gun Drill – waterproofing of vehicles – driving through water.

  

 

May 1944

Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. E.C.J. Chaytor.

Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information References to Appendices
Morley Hall Wymondham

1

 

   G.O.C. 7th Armd Div. inspects parade of 600 officers and men and equipment.  
 

8

 

   Major H. Kelly with 4 officers and 6 O.R.’s proceed to Marshalling Area to act as Regt. Advance Party for operation OVERLORD.
  
  1-31   Throughout the month of May – Training – Maintenance and preparations for OVERLORD.  

 

June 1944

Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. E.C.J. Chaytor.

Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information References to Appendices

Morley Hall Wymondham

2

 

  

Regt. to Marshalling points.

 

  
  11   Disembarkation at SUMMERVILLE (sp) under command Major H. Kelly.  
  12   Regt. around BAYEUX – Some Guns in Anti-tank Positions.  
  17   Regt. in action – 2 F.W. 190 claimed as damaged.  
  18-22   Intermittent action – 2 109’s claimed as destroyed.  
  29   One Troop under command 3 R.H.A. to fire on Ground Targets – Good results claimed.  

 

July 1944

Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. E.C.J. Chaytor.

Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information References to Appendices
  8   Crusader Tanks (20mm) under command manned by troop 41 Bty.  
  10   One F.W.190 destroyed by Regt. Guns.  
  19   Regt. on River ORNE – heavy rain and thunderstorms — continual shelling and night bombing.  
      Aircraft probably destroyed:
                 1 L.A.A. Bty   — Nil
                 41 L.A.A. Bty — One
                 42 L.A.A. Bty — One
                 R.H.Q. Guns   — Two
                 Total destroyed 6     Probables 4		  

 

August 1944

Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. E.C.J. Chaytor.

Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information References to Appendices
      Three 40 mm. Troops complete and three attached 20mm Troops posted taken off strength, leaving the Regt. with 3 Batteries of two 6 Gun Troops each.  
  31   R.H.Q. BARENCOURT  
      There has been little or no air activity this month.  

 

September 1944

Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. E.C.J. Chaytor.

Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information References to Appendices
  1   7 Armd Div to pass over SOMME on 2 Bridges — Regt deploy guns to cover these bridges.  
  9   R.H.Q. between BRUSSELLS and MALINES.  
      During this month no air activity and on several occasions Regt grounded due to petrol shortage  

 

October 1944

Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. E.C.J. Chaytor.

Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information References to Appendices
  1   R.H.Q. UDEN  
  29   41 Bty at TILBURG  
      During October the Regt has seen no air activity and shooting has been confined to Ground Target. One blow-up resulted.  

 

November 1944

Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. E.C.J. Chaytor.

Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information References to Appendices
  1-30   R.H.Q. BREE  
  16   Regt. loses 7 N.C.O’s and men under ‘PYTHON’ repatriation scheme.
This month has seen little or no Gun Firing.		  
      Isle of Man Comforts fund produced welcome warm clothing.  

 

December 1944

Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. E.C.J. Chaytor.

Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information References to Appendices
  1-31   R.H.Q. SITTARD.  
  14   Mr. G. Brown Editor of Isle of  Man Times visits Regt  
  20   Ratcliffe Editor of Isle of Man Examiner visits Regt.  
  21-31   All Btys on Enemy positions in Ground Role.  
      Some increase in Air Activity — in action against M.E. 262’s. The Regiment has been the first R.A. Regt. in 7 Armd Div to fire from positions in Germany.  

 

 

Home 1939 1940
1941 1942 1943
Previous Year 1945 Next Year
Roll of Honour

 

© 2018 Copyright www.desertrats.org.uk

Courtesy of The Museum of the Manx Regiment.