War Diary of 15th (Isle Of Man) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery 1945

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

1945

January 1945 Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. E.C.J. Chaytor
Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
IN THE FIELD	1		Regimental Guns engage Night Bombers — 914 Rounds fired and claim 3 Enemy destroyed and 6 damaged.
	2		Leave to U.K. commences.
	4		41 Bty and 1 Bty on enemy occupied positions and trenches.
	7		1 & 42 Btys at SUSTEREN and HAVERT Areas.
	8		41 Bty on Ground shoot in support of 131 Brigade. 900 rounds fired in 10 minutes.
	10		Regiment commences reorganisation of Btys on an all S.P. basis. 1st and 42 Btys hand over 6 Towed Guns each and receive 6 S.P. Guns each.
	11		C.O. attends conference H.Q. 7 Armd Div.
	16		Commencement operation ‘Blackcock’ 1st Bty firing guiding rounds for Infantry and Flail Tanks.
	21		Regt. allotted 10 vacancies for Paris leave 2 officers and 8 O.R.’s on 60 hours.
	24		One S.P. Gun and one 15 cwt truck brewed up in 1st Bty— result of enemy shelling one N.C.O. killed
	29		Earl Granville — Lt. Governor of Isle of Man — Honorary Colonel 15 IOM Regt. and President of IOM Territorial Association accompanied by Lt. Col. MacClellan visit Regt. for 2 days to see officers and men.

February 1945 Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. E.C.J. Chaytor
Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	6		7 Armd Div. under command 16 U.S. Corps.
	14		Regimental Guns engage M.E. 262 on recce over Div area.
	18		1st Bty ground shoot against enemy occupied woods.
	19		Regt at WEERT

March 1945 Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. E.C.J. Chaytor
Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	1		Regt at WEERT
	24		R.H.Q. (TAC) under Major Kelly in charge of all P.0.W. cages at HEEZE
	27		Regiment crosses Rhine
	28		R.H.Q. at BRUNEN.
			Regiment less Bty and a half detailed for P.0.W. and provost duties. On crossing the Border into Germany — Regt reverted to life under canvas — weather rainy and soft going made things difficult. 41 Bty fired guiding rounds in support of 1 CDO Brigade in Rhine assault crossing.

April 1945 Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. Kelly
Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	3		C Troop 41 Bty engaged enemy Infantry and enemy occupied house over open sights – Dortmund-Ems Canal during enemy counter attack.
	5		Regt hand over P.O.W. duties to 65 Anti-Tank and revert to full A.A. role due to large scale Luftwaffe activities.
	10		Regt reorganises on basis of 4 S.P. 40mm Guns and 2 Multiple .5 half tracks per troop.
	14		Major Kelly awarded Croix de Guerre (Gilt Star)
			Bdr. Stewart (42 Bty) awarded Croix de Guerre (Bronze Star). Lt. Col. Chaytor relinquishes command of Regt. on promotion to Brigadier and command of 76 A.A. Bde.
			Major Kelly assumes command of Regt.
	21		7 Armd Div south of Hamburg
	22		Air attacks continue D Troop destroy 1 F.W. 190
	28		Major Balls assumes 2 I/C Regt — Capt. Lay promoted Major and assumes command 42 Bty.
			Major Kelly to Lt/Col.
			This month has been one of movement taking the Regt from Holland over the Rhine — the Dortmund—Ems canal to Bremen and then to Hamburg — increase in Luftwaffe activity has caused the Regt to return to a really active A.A. role. The Regt. Bag since 6 June 1944: 11 Destroyed 11 Probables 54 Damaged The ways of advance has resembled those days in the Desert — The axis of advance a width of a road and sundry brushes with small enemy pockets and air activity.

May 1945 Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. Kelly
Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	1		Preparations make for entry in HAMBURG. Official announcement of Unconditional Surrender and capitulation of all enemy forces in N. Holland — N.W. Germany and Denmark
	2		R.H.Q. to EIDESTADT.
			Lt. Col. G. Ayres shot dead and Lt. S. Southworth seriously wounded by German Marine officer who then committed suicide. R.H.Q. moves to KREMPE.
			Regiment given Area for which it will be responsible — work includes enforcing Law and Order — collection of weapons — Housing and feeding D.P.’s and subsequent evacuation — rounding up S.S. and personnel — Armed patrols after hour of Curfew.
	14-28		General smartening up in Turn-Out — Guns cleaned and painted made best of facilities for sport in Area — swimming — Boating — Yachting — Horse riding — shooting — Golf.

June 1945

Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. Kelly

Place

Date

Hour

Summary of Events and Information

References to Appendices

1-30

The month has been devoted to Military Government Duties

July 1945 Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. Kelly
Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	5		Regiment celebrates Tynwald Day — Beer and Sideshows in Jerboa Beer Garden ITZEHOE.
			Regt has not been fortunate enough to be included in part of 7th Armd Div in BERLIN and has continued Military Government Duties in same Area as in June. Leave in U.K. and PYTH0N and LILOP Schemes have begun.

August 1945 Commanding Officer: Major H. S. Balls
Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
			Lt. Col Kelly relinquishes command of Regt. and Major H. S. Balls assumes command.
	15		End of war with JAPAN.

September 1945 Commanding Officer: Lt. Col. Kelly
Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	7		Release of Major Cain O.C. 41 Bty
			Major Mullett assumes command of 41 Bty.
	13		Lt. Col. Kelly re-assumes command of Regt.

October 1945 Commanding Officer:
Place	Date	Hour	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
			Lt. Col. Kelly released — Major Mylchreest assumes command of Regt.
			Capt. Catesby (ADT) promoted Major and assumes command of 42 Bty.
			Capt. Cowley promoted Major and assumes command of 42 Bty. Major Mylchreest to command 133 Regt.
			Latter half of month reorganisation — very few old members of Regt. remain. All except 59 0.B.’s have been posted out — Reinforcements approx 800

Courtesy of The Museum of the Manx Regiment.