76th L.A.A. Battery, R.A. (T.A.) - 202nd (E.A.) L.A.A. Battery, E.A.A.

The 76th L.A.A. Regiment, R.A. was despatched to East Africa in April 1942, disembarking at Mombasa on 31st May.  While serving in the anti-aircraft defences of the port, the Battery began the process of ‘Africanisation’.  The Battery formed two cadres of British personnel, one of which was posted away as the 201st (East African) L.A.A. Battery, E.A.A.  The personnel of the second cadre went to form a new battery on 24th October 1942, being joined by African gunners on 9th November.  On 16th November 1942, the 76th L.A.A. Battery, R.A. was redesignated as the 202nd (East African) L.A.A. Battery, E.A.A.

76th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, R.A. (T.A.)

The 76th L.A.A. Battery, R.A. was formed at Fawley on 1st March 1939 and was regimented with the 24th L.A.A. Regiment, R.A. (T.A.).[1]

At Upton Castle, on 14th March 1942, the Battery received orders to move to East Africa on or after 1st April.  Major H. Fowles handed over command to Major H. Graham.  The Battery moved to Aldershot on 23rd March where Major J.E.N. Yates took command on 6th April.  Leaving Aldershot on 13th April, the Battery arrived that same day at Avonmouth Docks where it boarded the H.M.T. Highland Princess.  The ship sailed later that evening to join up with Convoy WS18 off Gourock on 15th April.  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]

Eight 40mm Bofors guns were unloaded at Mombasa from the S.S. Kioto on 13th June 1942.  Two days later, ‘C’ Troop deployed at Port Rietz airfield; ‘B’ Troop deployed at the Oil Tanks on 16th June.  ‘A’ Troop and the Battery H.Q. remained at Nyali Camp.  The Battery H.Q. went to Rassini Road on 11th July.  Following the arrival of the Regimental H.Q., ‘F’ A.A. Regiment, R.A., the 76th Battery was regimented with this headquarters on 18th July (with effect from 15th July).  ‘C’ Troop was relieved by the 299th Battery, 96th L.A.A. Regiment, R.A. on 22nd July and moved to join Battery H.Q.  Major Yates handed over command of the Battery to Major D.E. Winder on 14th September, on being appointed as Commander, 96th L.A.A. Regiment, R.A.[3]

On 1st October 1942, the Battery formed two cadres as the British component for two ‘Africanised’ batteries to be formed in the near future.  These were known as the 1/76th and 2/76th L.A.A. Batteries.  Thirty British Other Ranks were transferred from the 96th L.A.A. Regiment, R.A. as prospective N.C.O.s for the 1/76th Battery.  Personnel surplus to the 2/76th Battery were posted to the 96th L.A.A. Regiment, R.A. on 4th October.  The next day, the Battery H.Q. staff of the 2/76th Battery moved to Nyali Transit Camp.  On 15th October, the personnel of the 2/76th Battery were posted away as the 201st (East African) L.A.A. Battery, E.A.A.

The personnel of the 1/76th Battery moved to the A.A.T.C. Shimo-la-Tewa on 24th October 1942, to form a new ‘Africanised’ battery.  These men were joined by African gunners on 9th November.[4] 

On 16th November 1942, the 76th L.A.A. Battery, R.A. was redesignated as the 202nd (East African) L.A.A. Battery, E.A.A.[5]

 

202nd (East African) Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, E.A.A.

A formation letter, dated 13th November 1942, was received by the H.Q. 19th A.A. Brigade on 18th November, sanctioning the formation of the 152nd (E.A.) H.A.A. and the 202nd (E.A.) Light A.A. Batteries.  Personnel of the 1/76th Battery moved to the A.A.T.C. Simo-La-Tewa on 24th October 1942, to form the new ‘Africanised’ battery.  These men were joined by African gunners on 9th November.  On 16th November 1942, the 76th L.A.A. Battery, R.A. was redesignated as the 202nd (East African) L.A.A. Battery, E.A.A.  Major D.E. Winder was the Commanding Officer.[6]

During December 1942, the three Troops took it in turn to undertake practice firing at Ras Serani, on the coast at Mombasa.[7]

The 202nd (East African) Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, E.A.A. completed formation on 2nd January 1943 and moved to Nyali Transit Camp for further training.[8]

The Battery relieved the 299th Battery, 96th L.A.A. Regiment, R.A. at sites L.1-L.4 (Port Reitz Airfield) in Mombasa on 15th February 1943.  The remaining personnel of the 299th Battery redeployed to the remaining sites of the 96th Regiment.[9]

The 96th L.A.A. Regiment, R.A. was redesignated on 15th May 1943, to become the 20th (E.A.) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, E.A.A.  The 202nd Battery was regimented with this new regiment.

On 13th August 1943, a troop of the 206th (E.A.) L.A.A. Battery moved from Nyali to sites L.7-L.9 where it relieved a troop of the 202nd (E.A.) L.A.A. Battery which moved to its Battery H.Q.[10]

Major H. Middlehurst was posted to command the 202nd (E.A.) L.A.A. Battery, E.A.A. on 30th September 1943.[11]

In February 1944, the Battery exchanged locations with the 205th (E.A.) L.A.A. Battery, E.A.A.  On 28th February, the Battery left Port Reitz for Athi River, whilst the 205th Battery left Athi River for Port Reitz.[12]

The Headquarters, 20th (E.A.) L.A.A. Regiment, E.A.A. and the 202nd (E.A.) L.A.A. Battery, E.A.A. were disbanded on 30th September 1944.[13]

25 March 2025