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* [[Staffordshire Rangers|41st (The North Staffordshire Regiment) Anti-Aircraft Battalion, RE (TA)]] – ''Searchlight unit formed at [[Stoke-on-Trent]] in 1936 by conversion of [[Staffordshire Rangers|5th Battalion]], [[North Staffordshire Regiment]]''
* [[Staffordshire Rangers|41st (The North Staffordshire Regiment) Anti-Aircraft Battalion, RE (TA)]] – ''Searchlight unit formed at [[Stoke-on-Trent]] in 1936 by conversion of [[Staffordshire Rangers|5th Battalion]], [[North Staffordshire Regiment]]''
** 362, 363, 363, 365 AA Companies
** 362, 363, 363, 365 AA Companies
* [[Preston Rifles|62nd (4th Bn The Loyal (North Lancashire) Regiment) Searchlight Regiment]] – ''Searchlight unit formed at [[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]] in 1938 by conversion of 4th Battalion [[Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire)]]''<ref name = BMH39>[http://www.britishmilitaryhistory.co.uk/webeasycms/hold/uploads/bmh_document_pdf/4-Anti-Aircraft-Division-1939-.pdf 4 AA Division 1939 at British Military History]</ref><ref>[http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/sl/page42.html 62 S/L at RA 39–45]</ref><ref>Litchfield, p. 134.</ref>
* [[Preston Rifles|62nd (4th Bn The Loyal (North Lancashire) Regiment) Searchlight Regiment]] – ''Searchlight unit formed at [[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]] in 1938 by conversion of 4th Battalion [[Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire)]]''<ref name = BMH39>[http://www.britishmilitaryhistory.co.uk/webeasycms/hold/uploads/bmh_document_pdf/4-Anti-Aircraft-Division-1939-.pdf 4 AA Division 1939 at British Military History]</ref><ref>[http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/sl/page42.html 62 S/L at RA 39–45] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304113133/http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/sl/page42.html |date=2016-03-04 }}</ref><ref>Litchfield, p. 134.</ref>
** 435, 436, 437, S/L Batteries
** 435, 436, 437, S/L Batteries


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===The Blitz===
===The Blitz===
During the early part of the war the brigade's searchlight regiments were transferred to other formations and were replaced by new HAA and Light Anti-Aircraft (LAA) regiments. By the time of the [[Liverpool Blitz]] of 1940–41, 33 AA Bde had its headquarters at Liverpool in 4 AA Division, with the following units under command:<ref>[http://www.britishmilitaryhistory.co.uk/webeasycms/hold/uploads/bmh_document_pdf/4-Anti-Aircraft-Division-1940-.pdf 4 AA Div 1940 at British Military History]</ref><ref>[http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/home/page51.html 4 AA Div at RA 39–45]</ref><ref>Routledge, Table LXV, p. 396.</ref><ref>Farndale, Annex D, p. 258.</ref>
During the early part of the war the brigade's searchlight regiments were transferred to other formations and were replaced by new HAA and Light Anti-Aircraft (LAA) regiments. By the time of the [[Liverpool Blitz]] of 1940–41, 33 AA Bde had its headquarters at Liverpool in 4 AA Division, with the following units under command:<ref>[http://www.britishmilitaryhistory.co.uk/webeasycms/hold/uploads/bmh_document_pdf/4-Anti-Aircraft-Division-1940-.pdf 4 AA Div 1940 at British Military History]</ref><ref>[http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/home/page51.html 4 AA Div at RA 39–45] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924110511/http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/home/page51.html |date=2015-09-24 }}</ref><ref>Routledge, Table LXV, p. 396.</ref><ref>Farndale, Annex D, p. 258.</ref>


* [[103rd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery|103 HAA Regiment]] – ''formed May 1940''<ref>[http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/haa/page65.html 103 HAA Rgt at RA 39–45]</ref>
* [[103rd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery|103 HAA Regiment]] – ''formed May 1940''<ref>[http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/haa/page65.html 103 HAA Rgt at RA 39–45] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218083958/http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/haa/page65.html |date=2011-02-18 }}</ref>
* [[106th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery|106 HAA Regiment]] – ''formed August 1940''<ref>[http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/haa/page68.html 106 HAA Rgt at RA 39–45]</ref>
* [[106th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery|106 HAA Regiment]] – ''formed August 1940''<ref>[http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/haa/page68.html 106 HAA Rgt at RA 39–45] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022191855/http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/haa/page68.html |date=2013-10-22 }}</ref>
* [[33rd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery|33 LAA Regiment]] (132 LAA Battery) – ''from [[Western Command (United Kingdom)|Western Command]] at Liverpool''<ref>[http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/laa/page27.html 33 LAA Rgt at RA 39–45]</ref>
* [[33rd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery|33 LAA Regiment]] (132 LAA Battery) – ''from [[Western Command (United Kingdom)|Western Command]] at Liverpool''<ref>[http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/laa/page27.html 33 LAA Rgt at RA 39–45]</ref>
* [[42nd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery|42 LAA Regiment]] – ''formed September 1939 from batteries of 17 and 36 LAA Regts''<ref>[http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/laa/page36.html 42 LAA Rgt at RA 39–45]</ref>
* [[42nd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery|42 LAA Regiment]] – ''formed September 1939 from batteries of 17 and 36 LAA Regts''<ref>[http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/laa/page36.html 42 LAA Rgt at RA 39–45] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020035505/http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/laa/page36.html |date=2013-10-20 }}</ref>
* Part of [[65th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery|65 LAA Regiment]] – ''formed November 1940''<ref>[http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/laa/page59.html 65 LAA Rgt at RA 39–45]</ref>
* Part of [[65th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery|65 LAA Regiment]] – ''formed November 1940''<ref>[http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/laa/page59.html 65 LAA Rgt at RA 39–45]</ref>


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==Online sources==
==Online sources==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150829181242/http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk:80/ British Army units from 1945 on]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150829181242/http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/ British Army units from 1945 on]
* [http://www.britishmilitaryhistory.co.uk British Military History]
* [http://www.britishmilitaryhistory.co.uk British Military History]
* [http://www.patriotfiles.com/index.php?name=Sections&req=listarticles&secid=17 Orders of Battle at Patriot Files]
* [http://www.patriotfiles.com/index.php?name=Sections&req=listarticles&secid=17 Orders of Battle at Patriot Files]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140806195614/http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk:80/index.html The Royal Artillery 1939–45]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140806195614/http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/index.html The Royal Artillery 1939–45]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160303170054/http://www.orbat.com/site/history/library-new/1946-1990/britishempire/ta47.html Graham Watson, ''The Territorial Army 1947'']
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160303170054/http://www.orbat.com/site/history/library-new/1946-1990/britishempire/ta47.html Graham Watson, ''The Territorial Army 1947'']


Revision as of 17:27, 22 June 2017

"33rd Anti-Aircraft Brigade" redirects here. For the post-war brigade of the same name, see 37th Anti-Aircraft Brigade (United Kingdom).
33rd (Western) Anti-Aircraft Brigade
Active1936–1955
Country United Kingdom
Branch Territorial Army
TypeAnti-Aircraft Brigade
RoleAir Defence
Part of2nd AA Division
4th AA Division
4 AA Group
Garrison/HQChester
Liverpool
Warrington
EngagementsThe Blitz

The 33rd (Western) Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an air defence formation of Anti-Aircraft Command of the Territorial Army, part of the British Army, formed shortly before the outbreak of World War II. It defended Merseyside and West Lancashire during The Blitz.

Origin

The 33rd (Western) Anti-Aircraft Group (later Brigade) was formed on 1 November 1936 at the Drill Hall, Chester, as part of 2nd AA Division, with the following AA units of the Royal Artillery (RA) and Royal Engineers (RE) under command:[1]

The 33rd AA Brigade was reassigned to 4th AA Division when that formation was created in Western Command on 1 September 1938. AA Command took over all TA air defences in 1939.[1][2]

World War II

Mobilisation

AA Command mobilised in August 1939, and its units were already at their war stations on the outbreak of war on 3 September 1939. 33rd AA Brigade was responsible for the air defence of Liverpool and West Lancashire, controlling the following units:[2][5][6]

A panoramic view of bomb damage in Liverpool; Victoria Monument in foreground, the burned-out shell of the Custom House in middle distance
Another panoramic view, looking towards the River Mersey
  • 70th (3rd West Lancashire) AA Regiment, RA – HAA unit formed in 1937 by conversion of 89th (3rd West Lancashire) Field Brigade, RA
    • HQ at Tramway Road, Aigburth, Liverpool[7]
    • 211 (13th West Lancashire) AA Battery at Aigburth
    • 212 (27th West Lancashire) AA Battery at Aigburth
    • 216 (14th West Lancashire) AA Battery at Widnes
    • 309 AA Battery at Bootle, Liverpool
  • 81st AA Regiment, RA – HAA unit formed in 1938 by conversion of 60th (6th Cheshire & Shropshire) Medium Brigade, RA
  • 93rd AA Regiment, RA – New HAA unit raised in 1939
    • HQ, 288, 289 AA Batteries at Oxton, Birkenhead
    • 267 (Wirral) AA Battery at West Birkenhead
    • 290 AA Battery at Chester
  • 38th (The King's Regiment) AA Battalion, RE – As above
    • HQ, 350, 351, 352, 353 AA Companies at Liverpool
  • 4th Battalion, Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire) (62nd Searchlight Regiment, RA) – Converted 1938
    • HQ, 435, 436, 437 S/L Batteries at Preston
  • 33rd AA Brigade Company, Royal Army Service Corps

The Blitz

During the early part of the war the brigade's searchlight regiments were transferred to other formations and were replaced by new HAA and Light Anti-Aircraft (LAA) regiments. By the time of the Liverpool Blitz of 1940–41, 33 AA Bde had its headquarters at Liverpool in 4 AA Division, with the following units under command:[8][9][10][11]

Postwar

On 1 January 1947, 33 AA Bde was redesignated 59th Anti-Aircraft Brigade in the reformed TA, constituting part of 4 AA Group based at Warrington:[17][18]

AA Command was disbanded on 10 March 1955 and there was a series of reductions and mergers in the TA's AA units. 59 AA Brigade was itself placed in suspended animation on 31 October 1955 and formally disbanded on 31 December 1957.[18]

A new brigade

A new 33rd AA Bde was formed on 1 November 1955 at Shepherd's Bush, London, by redesignation of X AA Bde (formerly 63 AA Bde). It had no links with Western Command or Merseyside. This brigade was reorganised on 1 May 1961, becoming 33 Artillery Brigade in 56th (London) Division.[18]

Notes

  1. ^ a b 2 AA Division 1936 at British Military History
  2. ^ a b c 4 AA Division 1939 at British Military History
  3. ^ 62 S/L at RA 39–45 Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Litchfield, p. 134.
  5. ^ AA Command 3 September 1939 at Patriot Files
  6. ^ Routledge, Table LVIII, p. 376; Table LX, p. 378.
  7. ^ Monthly Army List, May 1939.
  8. ^ 4 AA Div 1940 at British Military History
  9. ^ 4 AA Div at RA 39–45 Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ Routledge, Table LXV, p. 396.
  11. ^ Farndale, Annex D, p. 258.
  12. ^ 103 HAA Rgt at RA 39–45 Archived 2011-02-18 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ 106 HAA Rgt at RA 39–45 Archived 2013-10-22 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ 33 LAA Rgt at RA 39–45
  15. ^ 42 LAA Rgt at RA 39–45 Archived 2013-10-20 at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ 65 LAA Rgt at RA 39–45
  17. ^ Litchfield, Appendix 5.
  18. ^ a b c AA Brigades 30–66 at British Army Units from 1945 on

References

  • Gen Sir Martin Farndale, History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery: The Years of Defeat: Europe and North Africa, 1939–1941, Woolwich: Royal Artillery Institution, 1988/London: Brasseys, 1996, ISBN 1-85753-080-2.
  • Monthly Army List.
  • Norman E.H. Litchfield, The Territorial Artillery 1908–1988 (Their Lineage, Uniforms and Badges), Nottingham: Sherwood Press, 1992, ISBN 0-9508205-2-0.
  • Brig N.W. Routledge, History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery: Anti-Aircraft Artillery 1914–55, London: Royal Artillery Institution/Brassey's, 1994, ISBN 978-1-85753-099-5.

Online sources

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