2nd Light Anti-Aircraft/Anti-Tank Regiment, W.A.A.

The 2nd L.A.A./Atk Regiment, W.A.A. began life by the redesignation of the 6th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, W.A.A. on 1st July 1943, before being redesignated first as the 2nd Anti-Tank Regiment, W.A.A. and then as the 22nd Anti-Tank Regiment, W.A.A.  Here is a summary:

6th H.A.A. Regiment, W.A.A.

6th November 1942       formed at Accra, Gold Coast
1st July 1943                 reorganised as the 2nd L.A.A./Anti-Tank Regiment, W.A.A.

2nd L.A.A./Anti-Tank Regiment, W.A.A.

1st July 1943                 by reorganisation of the 6th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, W.A.A.
1st August 1944             reorganised and re-designated as the 2nd Anti-Tank Regiment, W.A.A.

2nd Anti-Tank Regiment, W.A.A.

1st August 1944            by reorganisation of the 2nd L.A.A./Anti-Tank Regiment, W.A.A.
21st October 1944         redesignated as the 22nd Anti-Tank Regiment, W.A.A.

22nd Anti-Tank Regiment, W.A.A.

21st October 1944         by redesignation of the 2nd Anti-Tank Regiment, W.A.A.
June-August 1945          converted to become the 22nd Light Regiment, W.A.A.

2nd Light Anti-Aircraft/Anti-Tank Regiment, W.A.A.

On 1st July 1943, at Accra the 6th H.A.A. Regiment, W.A.A. converted to become the 2nd Light Anti-Aircraft/Anti-Tank Regiment, W.A.A.  The Commanding Officer was Lt. Colonel A. Hichins.  The Regiment was to form part of the 82nd (W.A.) Infantry Division.  The 5th L.A.A./Atk Battery, W.A.A. was regimented, having converted from the 5th L.A.A. Battery on 1st July.  The 109th L.A.A./Atk Battery disembarked at Takoradi, Gold Coast and was posted to the 2nd Regiment on 11th August.  The 109th L.A.A./Atk Battery, R.A. was formed by the conversion of the 109th L.A.A. Battery, R.A., by 1st July 1943.[1]

Lt. Colonel Hichens relinquished command of the Regiment on 9th September 1943 and was succeeded by Lt. Colonel E.W.B. Jones.  The 64th L.A.A./Atk Battery disembarked at Takoradi on 18th September and was posted to the Regiment.[2]

On 27th October 1943, orders were issued for the Regiment to leave the Gold Coast to continue training in Nigeria.  The Regiment left Accra by road for Nigeria on 1st November 1943.  It arrived at camp at Ede on 7th November.  Lt. Colonel H.R.E.C. Fraser assumed command of the Regiment on 14th January 1944.[3] 

On 22nd January 1944, the Regiment was reorganised to have two L.A.A. batteries and two anti-tank batteries:

- 5th and 109th L.A.A. Batteries
- 64th and ‘Z’ Anti-Tank Batteries.

From that date, the 64th Battery began forming into two anti-tank batteries.  The 64th Anti-Tank Battery emerged from the conversion and a new battery, ‘Z’ Anti-Tank Battery, W.A.A. was formed.[4]

The Regiment remained at Ede throughout February 1944.  The 2nd Regiment began mobilisation and moved to Abalti Barracks, Ilaro by rail and motor transport on 1st May 1944. The Regiment went by train to Apapa docks on 31st May and embarked on the S.S. Johann de Witt, which sailed on 2nd June to arrive at Karachi on 9th July.  The personnel disembarked the same day and moved to Chas.  By this time, it appears that the Regiment’s batteries had been re-numbered as:

- 83rd and 84th L.A.A. Batteries
- 63rd and 64th Anti-Tank Batteries.[5] 

The H.Q.R.A., 82nd (W.A.) Infantry Division received on 24th July 1944 advanced copies of new war establishments for Divisional Artillery Units.  Amongst these, the 2nd L.A.A./Atk Regiment was re-organised as an anti-tank unit of three batteries, known as the 2nd Anti-Tank Regiment, W.A.A.  Regimented were the 63rd, 64th and 83rd Anti-Tank Batteries.  The changes took effect from 1st August 1944.[6]

6 July 2025