201st (East Africa) Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, East African Artillery

The 201st (E.A.) Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, E.A.A. was formed on 8th August 1942 at the A.A.T.C. Shimo-la-Tewa.  As part of the Africanisation programme, the 76th L.A.A. Battery, R.A. formed two Cadre Batteries in late September/early October, known as “1/76” and “2/76” L.A.A. Batteries, surplus personnel being transferred to the 96th L.A.A. Regiment, R.A.  On 5th October, the Battery H.Q. staff of the “2/76” L.A.A. Battery transferred to the Nyali Transit Camp, near Mombasa, and on 15th October, the personnel of the “2/76” L.A.A. Battery were posted to the 201st (E.A.) L.A.A. Battery.[1]

At Shimo-la-Tewa, training began and on 17th October 1942, a military war correspondent filmed the Battery in training.  On 24th October, the Battery moved to Nyali Transit Camp.  Pending final regimentation, the Battery was attached to ‘F’ Regiment, R.A. for all purposes.  This regiment became the 15th (E.A.) H.A.A. Regiment, E.A.A. on 14th November 1942.[2]

The 201st Battery was to remain attached to the 15th (E.A.) H.A.A. Regiment, E.A.A. by order of the 19th A.A. Brigade, dated 12th December 1942.  However, this was rescinded from 20th December and the Battery was attached for all purposes to the 96th L.A.A. Regiment, R.A. on 21st December 1942.  The Commanding Officer was Major S.T. Lyle, R.A.[3]

On 21st January the Battery embarked at Kilindini on board the H.M.T. Dunera.  It disembarked at Diego Suarez on 27th January and relieved the 238th L.A.A. Battery, R.A. at gun sites L.7-L.12.  The Battery H.Q. opened at Pyrotechnie (La Pyro).  The Battery was now in an independent role, under the direct command of the H.Q. R.A. Islands Area.[4]

On 14th January 1943, the 201st L.A.A. Battery, E.A.A. was provisionally regimented with the 15th Regiment.  The Battery was deployed at La Pyro by 18th February (gun sites L.10. – L.12 and L.14).  The R.H.Q. 15th Regiment disembarked at Antsirane, Madagascar on 27th February 1943.  The 201st L.A.A. Battery appears to have been regimented (re-regimented?) with the Regiment upon the latter’s arrival on the island.  By July 1943, the 201st L.A.A. Battery was manning sites L.7 – L.9 at Cap Diego.  During September, the 201st L.A.A. Battery formed a mobile troop, with four Bofors withdrawn from La Pyro.  On 18th September, the Mobile Troop came under the command of the 27th (North Rhodesia) Infantry Brigade and moved to Sakaramy.  The Troop returned to the 201st L.A.A. Battery at La Pyro on 3rd October and relieved detachments there for mobile training.  The 201st L.A.A. Battery redeployed on 14th November, with ‘A’ Troop at sites L.7 – L.9; ‘B’ Troop at sites L.10 – 12 and L.14; ‘C’ Troop at La Pyro, but non -operational.  On 9th December, ‘B’ Troop, 201st L.A.A. Battery was incorporated with 152nd H.A.A. Battery as ‘C’ Troop, and the H.A.A. battery was re-designated to become the 152nd (Composite) A.A. Battery, E.A.A.[5]

‘C’ Troop, 201st L.A.A. Battery moved from La Pyro to the Artillery Barracks at Antsirane on 7th January 1944.  A warning order for the return to Kenya of the Regimental H.Q., with the 151st and 201st Batteries was received from the H.Q. Islands Area on 28th April.  The Battery H.Q., 201st Battery moved to Orangea on 24th May.[6]

The 201st L.A.A. Battery ceased to be regimented with the Regiment on 14th June 1944. The Battery embarked for Kenya on board the H.M.T. Duchess of Richmond on 29th June 1944, arriving at Athi River on 2nd July.  ‘B’ Troop, which had been incorporated into the 152nd (Composite) Battery as ‘C’ Troop, remained at Diego Suarez as part of that battery.  During June, together with ‘A’ (H.A.A.) Troop of the 152nd Battery, this troop became non-operational and by 21st July the personnel of these units were lodged at the Old French Camp, Sakaramy.  On 31st July, ‘A’ and ‘C’ Troops of the 152nd Battery embarked for Kenya, moving to the East African Anti-Aircraft Artillery Depot and Training Centre.[7]

All personnel of the 201st Battery were posted away during the month and it was disbanded with effect from 2nd August 1944.[8]

27 March 2025