408th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery, Royal Artillery

The 408th H.A.A. Battery, R.A. came into being on 16th January 1941 at Arborfield, under the 206th Training Regiment, R.A., from a cadre provided by the 106th H.A.A. Regiment, R.A. (T.A.).  Major T.M. Dooley was in command.  It was regimented with the 106th H.A.A. Regiment on 10th April 1941.  On 12th October 1941, the Battery was split to form the 408th H.A.A. Battery and ‘D’ H.A.A. Battery prior to leaving for service in West Africa.[1]

The 408th H.A.A. Battery embarked for overseas service at Liverpool on board the H.M.T. Rangitata on 20th November 1941.  The ship sailed independently the next day, reaching Gibraltar on 1st December, from where it sailed on 10th December for West Africa.  The ship appears to have arrived at Freetown on or just before 13th December.[2] 

The personnel of the Battery disembarked at Freetown on 13th December and appears to have come under the command of the 2nd H.A.A. Regiment, W.A.A.  The Left Troop with the British N.C.O.s from Right Troop went to Murraytown where it took over two 3.7-inch guns from the H.A.A. Training Centre.  The Battery H.Q. and the balance of Right Troop went to the Annie Walsh School.[3]

On 26th December 1941, the 408th H.A.A. Battery, R.A. was re-designated to become the 5th H.A.A. Battery, W.A.A., regimented with the 2nd H.A.A. Regiment, W.A.A. [4]

The ‘D’ H.A.A. Battery sailed with Convoy WS 14, which left the United Kingdom off Oversay on 9th December 1941 and arrived in Freetown Harbour on 21st December.  The Battery disembarked the following day and on 26th December it was re-designated to become the 6th H.A.A. Battery, W.A.A., also regimented with the 2nd H.A.A. Regiment, W.A.A.[5]

19 August 2025