5th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, W.A.A.

The 5th L.A.A. Battery, W.A.A. was formed at Takoradi, Gold Coast on 10th July 1942.  The Battery converted to become the 5th L.A.A./Anti-Tank Battery, W.A.A. on 1st July 1943.  It then reverted to being an L.A.A. battery in January 1944, before moving to India where in July 1944 it was given the new title of 83rd L.A.A. Battery, W.A.A.  This battery became an anti-tank battery before being redesignated as the 66th Anti-Tank Battery, W.A.A. in October 1944.  Here is a summary:

5th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, W.A.A.

10th July 1942             formed at Takoradi, Gold Coast
1st July 1943               reorganised as the 5th L.A.A./Anti-Tank Battery, W.A.A.

5th L.A.A./Anti-Tank Battery, W.A.A.

1st July 1943               by reorganisation of the 5th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, W.A.A.
22nd January 1944       reorganised and re-designated as the 5th L.A.A. Battery, W.A.A.

5th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, W.A.A.

22nd January 1944       reorganised and re-titled as the 5th L.A.A. Battery, W.A.A.
July 1944                    retitled as the 83rd L.A.A. Battery, W.A.A.

83rd Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, W.A.A.

July 1944                    by reorganisation of the 5th L.A.A./Anti-Tank Battery, W.A.A.
24th July 1944             reorganised and re-designated as the 83rd Anti-Tank Battery, W.A.A.

83rd Anti-Tank Battery, W.A.A.

24th July 1944             by reorganisation of the 83rd L.A.A. Battery, W.A.A.
21st October1944        re-designated as the 66th Anti-Tank Battery, W.A.A.

66th Anti-Tank Battery, W.A.A.

21st October 1944        by redesignation of the 83rd Anti-Tank Battery, W.A.A.
1946                            disbanded in West Africa.

5th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, W.A.A.

The 5th L.A.A. Battery, W.A.A. was formed at Takoradi, Gold Coast on 10th July 1942.  The British personnel of eight Officers and ninety-four B.O.R.s had travelled from the United Kingdom as reinforcement draft RFGZA, with Convoy WS 20 which arrived at Freetown on 2nd July.  The nucleus of the Battery disembarked at Takoradi from the M.V. Batory on 10th July.  The new Battery is presumed to have been regimented initially with the 3rd H.A.A. Regiment, W.A.A.  The 5th L.A.A. Battery entrained for Accra on 19th October and arrived the next day.  The 5th Battery at Accra took over the equipment of ‘A’ Troop, 2nd L.A.A. Battery on 26th October and became operational.  On 6th November 1942, it was regimented with the newly formed 6th H.A.A. Regiment, W.A.A.  The Commanding Officer, Major E.W.B. Jones left on leave for the United Kingdom on 29th December 1942, his post was taken by Major W.T. Anderson.[1]

During January 1943, the Battery received four new 40mm Bofors Mk I (Canadian build).  The Battery undertook practice firing in both the anti-aircraft and anti-tank roles.  Trials were undertaken in the transport of a Bofors gun carried by bearers.  Major Jones returned from leave in the United Kingdom on 8th June 1943.[2]

When on 1st July 1943, at Accra the 6th H.A.A. Regiment converted to become the 2nd Light Anti-Aircraft/Anti-Tank Regiment, W.A.A., the 5th L.A.A. Battery also converted, to become the 5th L.A.A./Anti-Tank Battery, W.A.A.[3]

The 5th L.A.A. Battery, W.A.A., re-appeared when on 22nd January 1944, the 2nd L.A.A./Anti-Tank 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.

The Regiment remained at Ede throughout February 1944.  It travelled to India with the Regiment, arriving at Karachi on 9th July 1944 and moving to Chas.[4]

The 5th L.A.A. Battery, W.A.A. appears to have been re-designated to become the 83rd L.A.A. Battery, W.A.A. by or during July 1944.

28 July 2025