162nd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery, R.A.
The 162nd (City of London) Anti-Aircraft Battery, R.A. (T.A.) was formed in August 1922, regimented with the 54th (City of London) A.A. Regiment, R.A. (T.A.). It became "(London)" in February 1925. From 1st June 1940, the Battery was designated as a heavy anti-aircraft battery. The Battery left the 54th H.A.A. Regiment, R.A. to join the 127th H.A.A. Regiment, R.A. on 6th August 1941. On 20th March 1942, the Battery became independent prior to being despatched overseas. The Commanding Officer was Major N.F. Godfrey.[1]
The Battery sailed to East Africa with Convoy WS18 which left off Gourock on 15th April 1942. Arriving at Durban on 18th May, the Battery transhipped to board the Empire Woodlark which left Durban on 23rd May to reach Mombasa on 31st May. The Battery disembarked that same day and moved to Nyali Transit Camp. It is presumed to have come under the command of the Headquarters, Mombasa Fortress.[2]
On 28th June 1942, two sections moved to the gun site at Shimanzi, Mombasa. ‘B’ and ‘C’ Sections moved to Kipevu and Battery H.Q. move to Simanzi on 11th July.[3]
On 15th July 1942, the Battery was regimented with the 'F' A.A. Regiment, R.A. in Kenya. The 162nd H.A.A. Battery moved to the junction of Makindi and Makupa roads on 1st August. Training and practice firing began and the first detachment left for the Anti-Aircraft Training Centre at Shimo-La-Tewa on 22nd August.[4]
The first stage of the ‘Africanisation’ of ‘F’ Regiment began on 19th September 1942, by which date the 162nd H.A.A. Battery had formed two cadres. The first detachment moved to the A.A.T.C. that day, being drawn from the 2nd Cadre, 162nd H.A.A. Battery. On 14th October, the first cadre of personnel for the 151st (E.A.) H.A.A. Battery, East African Artillery was posted from the 162nd H.A.A. Battery.[5]
The Battery was effectively disbanded on 14th November 1942. On 15th November 1942, the "1/162 Cadre Battery, R.A.", in fact 'B' Troop of the Battery, at site H.6, Mombasa, was relieved by the 151st (E.A.) H.A.A. Battery, E.A.A. and moved to the A.A.T.C. at Shimo-la-Tewa. The personnel now formed the British component of the new 152nd (E.A.) H.A.A. Battery, E.A.A. and surplus personnel were attached to the 123rd H.A.A. Regiment, R.A. [6]
Summary history of the 57th (East Africa) Field Battery, E.A.A.
© Steve Rothwell
28 January 2025
[1] "Lineage Book of the British Army; Mounted Corps and Infantry, 1660-1968", Frederick J.B.M., Hope Farm Press (1969); War diary 162nd H.A.A. Battery, R.A., WO 166/7556; War diary 162nd H.A.A. Battery, R.A., WO 169/7015
[2] WS Convoys, WO 193/55; https://www.naval-history.net/xAH-WSConvoys05-1942A.htm (accessed 9th April 2024); WO 169/7015
[3] WO 169/7015
[4] War diary ‘F’ A.A. Regiment, R.A., WO 169/7010
[5] WO 169/7010; War diary 19th A.A. Brigade, WO 169/7009
[6] WO 169/7009; Frederick