3rd Coast Regiment, West African Artillery

The 3rd Coast Regiment, W.A.A. was formed at Takoradi, the Gold Coast, with effect from 1st January 1943.  The Commanding Officer was Major D. Grant.  Regimented was the 6th Coast Battery (first mentioned in the war diary on 25th March 1943).  This battery had originally been intended to be known as the 3rd Coast Battery, W.A.A., manning C.A.S.L.s; however, from 1st May 1941, it was renamed as the 6th Coast Battery, W.A.A. Some elements of the Regiment manned 4.5-inch coast defence/anti-aircraft guns.[1]

[A 4-inch gun, salvaged, had been manned at Takoradi by African infantry of the 5th Battalion, Gold Coast Regiment as early as 1940.  It was originally intended to send two 6-inch guns to Takoradi from the damaged H.M.S. Corfu, an armed merchant cruiser, but these could not be removed.  By November 1940, it had been decided to provide two dual purpose 4.5-inch C.D./A.A. guns in their place.  A 12-pounder gun was allocated at the same time.][2]

The Coast R.D.F. (C.D. Mk V) radar set was in operation from 16th February 1943.  The 6th Battery undertook practice firing from the main breakwater on 25th March, using 12-pounder 12-cwt guns. [3]

The 3rd H.A.A. Battery, W.A.A. left the 3rd H.A.A. Regiment, W.A.A. at Takoradi on 20th April 1943, to be attached to the 3rd Coast Regiment, W.A.A. for all purposes pending absorption.  The 3rd H.A.A. Battery, W.A.A. continued to be attached to the Regiment at least until 30th April 1943, where it is described as undertaking practice firing from ‘G’ and ‘E’ sites.[4]

An ‘X’ Battery is referred to on 26th May 1943.  The ‘F’ site undertook intensive training from 7th June 1943 as a 3.7-inch coast defence/anti-aircraft section.  The ‘H’ site was placed under care and maintenance on 20th June.[5]

Later the 8th and 9th Coast Batteries were formed and regimented, manning 4.5-inch guns.  The 9th Battery is first mentioned on 29th October 1943, undertaking practice firing of the 4.5-inch guns.  This battery is mentioned once again in November 1943, together with the 8th Coast Battery which also undertook practice firing with 4.5-inch guns.[6]

Three Coast batteries, the 6th, 8th and 9th are referred to in January 1944 and remained as part of the 3rd Coast Regiment at least until 31st August 1944, when the war diary ends.[7]

07 April 2025