153rd (East Africa) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery, E.A.A.

The 153rd (East Africa) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery, East African Artillery was formed at the A.A.T.C.,  Shimo-la-Tewa on 23rd January 1943.  The letter authorising the formation of the Battery (dated 17th May 1942) was received by the H.Q. 19th A.A. Brigade on 15th January.  The British element of the Battery moved to the A.A.T.C. the next day, having been provided by the 123rd H.A.A. Regiment, R.A. and concentrated at site H.3 since 19th January.  The African element of the Battery was already undergoing basic training at the Infantry Training Centre at Jinja.[1] 

The 152nd and 153rd H.A.A. Batteries, E.A.A. were to be regimented with the 15th (E.A.) H.A.A. Regiment, E.A.A. upon completion of training.[2]

However, the 15th Regiment went to Madagascar and the 153rd Battery remained in Kenya to complete its training.  On 23rd March 1943, the Battery, until then attached to the A.A.T.C. at Shimo-la-Tewa, became permanently attached to the 123rd H.A.A. Regiment, R.A.  During 28th/29th March, the Battery moved to Mombasa where it took over sites H.4 (‘A’ Troop) and H.5 (‘B’ Troop).  At this time, the Commanding Officer of the Battery was Major J.N. Lindop, R.A.  On 13th June 1943, the 123rd H.A.A. Regiment, R.A., was re-designated to become the 16th (E.A.) H.A.A. Regiment, E.A.A., with effect from 1st June.  The 153rd Battery remained at Mombasa throughout 1943.[3]

On 22nd March 1944, the 157th (E.A.) H.A.A. Battery, E.A.A., having completed its training at Athi River, relieved the 153rd Battery at gun sites H.5 and L.9A.  ‘B’ Troop, 153rd Battery moved to join the rest of the Battery at site H.4.  The Battery moved from H.4 to H.5 and L.9A on 5th May 1944 and then on 22nd June, moved to sites H.5A and L.5.[4]

The Regimental H.Q. 15th Regiment returned from Madagascar and disembarked at Mombasa on 22nd June.  On 23rd June 1944, at Mombasa, the 153rd, 154th and 155th H.A.A. Batteries, E.A.A. ceased to be regimented with the 16th H.A.A. Regiment, E.A.A. and became regimented with the 15th Regiment.[5]

Both 154th and 155th Batteries began training with mobile guns from the middle of July 1944, followed by the 153rd Battery at the end of July.  Training continued until the end of September and on 27th September the engagement of ground targets with mobile guns was practiced.  Final fitness (route marches) and jungle training was undertaken during October. [6]

The 15th H.A.A. Regiment, E.A.A., with the 153rd, 154th and 155th Batteries, embarked at Mombasa, Kenya, on 6th November 1944, on board the transport Salween for service overseas with South-East Asia Command (S.E.A.C.).  The transport sailed the next day and arrived at Chittagong on 2nd December.  The Regiment and batteries disembarked, and the Regimental H.Q. was opened, coming under command of the 13th A.A. Brigade.  The Batteries went to Punjab Lines, Chittagong.  ‘B’ Troop, 153rd Battery went to ‘V’ site at Hathazari on 6th December where it deployed.  Two days later, Battery H.Q. and ‘A’ Troop went to Comilla and deployed upon arrival.[7]

On 21st January 1945, the advance party of the 153rd Battery left for Charinga, arriving the next day.  The 153rd Battery, less ‘B’ Troop, left Comilla for Charinga on 26th January, where it arrived the following day to relieve the 35th Battery, 6th H.A.A. Regiment, I.A.  ‘B’ Troop, 153rd Battery, was in turn relieved by the Indian 35th Battery at Hathazari on 28th January.  The Troop then joined the Battery at Charinga later that day.  The Battery Commander, Major J.N. Lindop, was appointed A.A.D.C. Charinga that day, taking over from the Battery Commander, 48th Battery, 15th L.A.A. Regiment, I.A.[8]

Four mobile 3.7-inch anti-aircraft guns arrived at Charinga from Chittagong on 5th February 1945, making the position at Charinga an eight-gun position.  All guns were in action by 7th February.  At Charinga, on 23rd February, a Beaufighter crashed 200 yards from a 153rd Battery gun site.  ‘B’ Troop, 153rd Battery left Charinga and moved to Chittagong on 13th March.  They were joined by Battery H.Q. and ‘A’ Troop the next day.  The 153rd Battery went to Feni on 15th March, where it relieved the 155th Battery which returned to Chittagong later that day.[9]

The 153rd Battery left Feni on 8th April 1945 and went to the River Ghat Camp, Chittagong.  However, on 12th April, the Battery was forced out of the camp due to flooding.  The ‘A’ Troop deployed to a gun site in Chittagong on 24th April.  The Regiment came under the command of the 3rd Indian A.A. Brigade on 29th April, in a non-operational role, under training.  ‘A’ Troop, 153rd Battery moved from Chittagong to Feni on 30th April where they were joined by Battery H.Q. and ‘B’ Troop the next day.  Three African chiefs visited the troops at Feni on 24th July.  Eight 3.7-inch guns left Feni for Ferozepore (Firozpur) on 8th August.  A further reinforcement draft arrived at Feni on 16th August.  However, instructions for the return of the Regiment to East Africa for disbandment were received on 19th August.[10]

The Regiment, however, did not return to East Africa immediately.  It remained at Feni until 4th October 1945, when it entrained for Calcutta for repatriation.  The personnel of the Regiment reached the R.A. Depot & Training Centre at Athi River, Kenya on 21st October 1945.[11]

The Regiment, together with the 153rd, 154th and 155th Batteries, disbanded on 1st January 1946.[12]

06 April 2025