105th (East Africa) Anti-Tank Battery, E.A.A.

Independent

The 105th (E.A.) Anti-Tank Battery, E.A.A. was formed at Gilgil on 10th October 1943, with Major L.D. Drysdale as Battery Commander.  Amongst the African gunners posted to the Battery were sixty-four from the 103rd and 104th (E.A.) Anti-Tank Batteries.[1]

Major Drysdale was posted to the E.A. Artillery Depot and Training Centre on 13th December 1943 and was succeeded by Major E.G. Luke.[2]

305th (E.A.) Anti-Tank Regiment, E.A.A.

On 1st February 1944, the 304th (E.A.) Anti-Tank Regiment combined with the 305th (E.A.) L.A.A. Regiment, E.A.A. to form the 304th (E.A.) Anti-Tank/L.A.A. Regiment, E.A.A.[3] 

It appears that it was also intended to form the 305th (E.A.) Anti-Tank Regiment, E.A.A. at Gilgil on 1st February 1944.  The 103rd, 104th and 105th (E.A.) Anti-Tank Batteries appear to have been regimented with this short-lived regiment.[4] 

On 1st March 1944, the 105th Battery was de-regimented from the 305th Regiment to become an independent battery.  The 305th Regiment converted on 1st March 1944 to become the 308th (E.A.) Field Regiment, E.A.A.[5]

Independent

The 105th Battery held a full war establishment of stores and personnel plus 24 percent reinforcements for drafts to complete the 101st and 102nd Anti-Tank Batteries in Ceylon.  During March 1944, the Battery constructed ranges at Naivasha.  By now, the Battery was equipped with 6‑pounder anti-tank guns.  From 6th-12th May, the draft from the Battery intended for the 11th (E.A.) Division participated in Exercise ‘Tayari’, an exercise with the purpose of preparing all drafts for the 11th Division.  During July, ‘A’ and ‘B’ troops took part in Exercise ‘John Peel’, attached to the 29th and 30th (E.A.) Infantry Brigades respectively.  The Troops returned to Gilgil on 25th July.[6]

On 9th August 1944, information was received of the probability of the Battery becoming and anti-tank/mortar battery.  In addition to the twelve 6-pounder anti-tank guns, it would also be equipped with twelve 3-inch mortars to be operated in the indirect fire role.  Mortar training courses began on 14th August.  At the end of the month, the Battery received ‘portee’ trucks, previously used to carry the 2-pounder anti-tank gun and now modified to carry the 6-pounder gun and the 3-inch mortar.[7]

The 205th (E.A.) L.A.A. Battery arrived at Gilgil on 6th September 1944 for conversion and training as an anti-tank/mortar battery and for regimentation with the 105th Anti-Tank Battery with the yet-to-be-formed 311th (E.A.) Anti-Tank Regiment, E.A.A.  However, no date for the formation of this regiment had been received up to that date.  Throughout the month, the Battery assisted with the anti-tank training of the 205th Battery, while continuing to train itself with the 3-inch mortar.[8]

311th (E.A.) Anti-Tank Regiment, E.A.A.

On 25th September 1944, the 311th (E.A.) Anti-Tank Regiment, E.A.A. was formed at Gilgil.  Regimented were the 105th and the 106th Anti-Tank Batteries; the latter having been redesignated from the 205th (E.A.) L.A.A. Battery, E.A.A.[9]

Major W.L. Ashton took command of the Battery on 31st October 1944.[10]

The Battery, with the 309th (E.A.) Field Regiment, E.A.A., took part in exercises between 5th-11th August 1945 with the 31st (E.A.) Infantry Brigade at Yatta.  On 12th August, the Battery went to Nairobi for the V-J Day parade.  Having returned from Nairobi on 19th August, on 24th August the Battery joined with the 307th (E.A.) Field Regiment, E.A.A. and went to Naivasha for training with the 27th (E.A.) Infantry Brigade.[11]

The 105th (E.A.) Anti-Tank Battery, E.A.A. was disbanded on 15th November 1945.[12]

04 April 2025