417th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery, R.A.
The 417th H.A.A. Battery, R.A. was formed at Oswestry on 16th January 1941 under the 211th Training Regiment. It was regimented with the 123rd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, R.A. on 10th April 1941.[1]
By 26th May, the 123rd Regiment had embarked upon H.M.T. Warwick Castle at King George V Docks, Glasgow. The ship sailed on 1st June and joined convoy WS19P. The Warwick Castle arrived at Mombasa on 13th July 1942. The Regiment disembarked the next day.[2]
On 6th August 1942, the Regimental H.Q. moved from Nyali Transit Camp to Tudor House, Mombasa. The Batteries of the Regiment moved from the Transit Camp on 13th August:
- 402nd H.A.A. Battery, R.A. to gun site H.1,
- 404th H.A.A. Battery, R.A. to gun site H.3,
- 417th H.A.A. Battery, R.A. to gun site H.2.[3]
‘B’ Section, 417th Battery moved site H.2 on 26th August 1942.[4] The 153rd (E.A.) H.A.A. Battery, E.A.A. left the A.A.T.C. at Shimo-la-Tewa on 29th March and occupied gun sites H.4. and H.5. ‘B’ Troop, 417th H.A.A. Battery, R.A., at H.4 was relieved by the incoming East Africans and moved to H.1 where it relieved in turn the Battery H.Q. and ‘A’ Troop of the 402nd H.A.A. Battery, R.A.[5]
The British element of the 155th (E.A.) H.A.A. Battery, E.A.A., formed from the 404th H.A.A. Battery, R.A., on 12th June 1943 moved to gun site H5.A, Simanzi. The surplus personnel of the 404th Battery moved to sites H.1 and H.2, occupied by the 417th H.A.A. Battery, R.A.[6]
On 13th June 1943, with effect from 1st June, the 123rd H.A.A. Regiment, R.A., converted to become the 16th (East Africa) H.A.A. Regiment, E.A.A. The 417th and 153rd (E.A.) and 154th (E.A.) Batteries joined the new regiment.[7]
The 155th (E.A.) H.A.A. Battery, E.A.A., arrived in Mombasa on 12th September 1943 and relieved the 417th Battery at H.3 and H.6. The 417th Battery then left for Athi River and the next day had ceased to be regimented with the 16th (E.A.) H.A.A. Regiment. The Battery was disbanded on 20th November 1943.[8]
Summary history of the 417th H.A.A. Battery, R.A.
© Steve Rothwell
06 April 2025
[1] "Lineage Book of the British Army; Mounted Corps and Infantry, 1660-1968", Frederick J.B.M., Hope Farm Press (1969)
[2] War diary 123rd H.A.A. Regiment, R.A., WO 169/7011, WO 169/14094; War diary 19th A.A. Brigade, WO 169/7009; WS Convoys, WO 193/55; https://www.naval-history.net/xAH-WSConvoys05-1942A.htm (accessed 9th April 2024)
[3] War diary 19th A.A. Brigade, WO 169/7009
[4] War diary 19th A.A. Brigade, WO 169/7009
[5] WO 169/14094
[6] WO 169/14094; Frederick
[7] WO 169/14094; Frederick
[8] WO 169/14094; Frederick