309th (East Africa) Field Regiment, E.A.A.

The Headquarters, 301st (E.A.) Field Regiment, E.A.A. was redesignated to become the H.Q. 309th (E.A.) Field Regiment, E.A.A. on 1st June 1944.  The 301st Regiment’s batteries, the 56th, 57th and 62nd, were redesignated to become the 72nd, 73rd and 74th Field Batteries respectively.  The 301st Regiment had lost most of its personnel when the ship transferring the Regiment to Ceylon was sunk by a Japanese submarine on 12th February 1944.[1]

The Advance Party of the 309th (E.A.) Field Regiment, E.A.A. moved from Athi River to Larkhill on 15th July 1944, followed by the Main Body on 24th July.  On 1st October, the Regiment converted to a new war establishment [details unknown].  Later that month, the Regiment began moving in stages from Larkhill to Gilgil: the Advance Party and the 74th Battery on 23rd October; the 73rd Battery on 25th October; the 72nd Battery on 26th October.  The move was completed on 27th October.  On 14th December, the Regiment despatched a reinforcement draft for S.E. Asia Command, which included replacements for British gunners being repatriated under the Python scheme.[2]

The commanding Officer, Lt. Colonel H.A. Ross was admitted to hospital briefly in early January 1945.  A further reinforcement draft left for S.E.A.C. on 15th February and another in April.  The Regiment undertook firing practice at the Naivasha ranges throughout 1945.  Lt. Colonel H.C. Withers succeeded Lt. Colonel Ross on 22nd June 1945 when the latter was posted.  A further reinforcement draft left for S.E.A.C. on 9th July.  On 12th July, the Regiment left Gilgil to join the 31st (E.A.) Infantry Brigade at the Brigade training camp at Yatta, arriving on 14th July.  After conducting several exercises with the Brigade, the Regiment, less the 74th Field Battery left Yatta for Gilgil on 20th August, arriving on 21st August.  The 74th Battery left Yatta on 28th August to reach Gilgil the next day.[3]

On 6th September 1945, preliminary instructions were received regarding the disbandment of the Regiment and the forming of the 309th Field Regiment General Transport Battery.  Guns and equipment began to be returned to the ordnance depot from 18th August.  Surplus African Other Ranks were posted to the E.A. (Athi River) Artillery Depot & Training Centre on 27th August, followed by the posting of surplus British personnel to that depot on 1st October.  The 309th (E.A.) Field Regiment General Transport Company moved to Ngong Camp on 1st October and was attached to the 31st (E.A.) General Transport Company, E.A.A.S.C.  The 309th (E.A.) Field Regiment, E.A.A. was disbanded on 15th October 1945.[4]

20 March 2025