65th Anti-Tank Battery, W.A.A.
The 65th Anti-Tank Battery, W.A.A. was first formed as the 1st
L.A.A.Battery, W.A.A. on 1st May 1941. This Battery was
then reorganised and redesignated to become the 1st L.A.A./Anti-Tank Battery, W.A.A.
1st Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, W.A.A.
1st May 1941
formed at Freetown, Sierra Leone
8th March 1943
reorganised as the 1st L.A.A./Anti-Tank Battery, W.A.A.
1st L.A.A./Anti-Tank Battery, W.A.A.
8th March 1943
by reorganisation of the 1st Light
Anti-Aircraft Battery, W.A.A.
2nd May 1944
reorganised and
re-designated as the 81st L.A.A. Battery, W.A.A.
2nd May 1944
by reorganisation of the 1st L.A.A./Anti-Tank Battery, W.A.A.
9th October 1944
redesignated as the 65th Anti-Tank Battery, W.A.A.
65th Anti-Tank Battery, W.A.A.
23rd October 1944
by redesignation of the 81st L.A.A. Battery, W.A.A.
1946
disbanded in West Africa.
65th Anti-Tank Battery, W.A.A.
The 65th Anti-Tank Battery, W.A.A. was formed by the
reorganisation and redesignation of the
81st L.A.A. Battery, W.A.A.
at Bandaraban on 9th October 1944. The Battery
was regimented with the
1st Anti-Tank Regiment, W.A.A.
On 23rd October 1944, the 1st Anti-Tank Regiment was
re-designated to become the 21st Anti-Tank Regiment, W.A.A.
The Commanding Officer was Major D.N. Isaac.[1]
At the time, the Battery was located at Bandarban, Burma,
operating in the infantry role under the command of the 6th (W.A.)
Infantry Brigade. On 25th October 1944, the
Battery left on sampans to Singpa via Thanchi. It
arrived at Thanchi on 30th October. Leaving on
1st November, it arrived at Singpa on 4th November.
On 7th November it left for Balaing, arriving on 9th
November, with ‘B’ Troop taking over positions of the ‘D’ Company,
4th Battalion, Nigeria Regiment at Satpaung. The
Battery moved to Kyile on 29th November and to Auklo on 1st
December. During the early part of the month, the
R.H.Q., 21st Anti-Tank Regiment, W.A.A. arrived from Chittagong, and
the Battery appears to have reverted to the command of the Regiment.
The Regiment came under the command of the 81st Division on
17th November. The 65th Battery left Auklo for
Moinwa on 3rd December and to Katainywa on 5th December.
The next day it was at Kalagya before moving to Kyingri on
9th December from where it launched a number of reconnaissance
patrols during the remainder of the month.[2]
In January, the 21st Regiment returned to Chiringa, leaving
Kyingri on 19th January to arrive at Chiringa on 26th January.
Here the Regiment remained, beginning training with the
6-pounder anti-tank gun. It left Chiringa on 5th
March to embark on the S.S. Ethiopia at Chittagong, from
where it sailed the next day to disembark at Madras on 10th
March. From Madras, the Regiment moved to
nearby Puttur. On arrival at Puttur, the Battery was equipped with 6-pounder anti-tank guns, in anticipation of the 81st (W.A.) Infantry Division returning to active operations. On 30th July 1945, however, the Battery was informed that the 81st (W.A.) Infantry Division would not be taking part in any future active operation and was to return to West Africa at the earliest possible date[3]
The Battery, less motor transport, moved to Ennur Leave Camp on 27th December 1945, to take up new duties as permanent staff.
Finally, on 28th January, the eagerly awaited warning order
was received for embarkation for West Africa.[4]
Summary history of the 65th Anti-Tank Battery, W.A.A.
© Steve Rothwell
05 July 2025