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

The 83rd L.A.A. Battery, W.A.A. traces its origins back to the 5th L.A.A. Battery, W.A.A., 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 to being an L.A.A. battery in January 1944, and then briefly acquired 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 and re-titled as the 5th L.A.A. 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.

 

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

The 5th L.A.A./Anti-Tank 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.  The 5th Battery had previously been re-organised as an L.A.A. battery on 22nd January, when the 2nd L.A.A./Atk Regiment, W.A.A. was re-organised.[1]

The Regiment arrived at Karachi on 9th July 1944.  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.[2] 

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.  The 83rd Battery became an anti-tank battery; retaining its number for the time being.  This re-organisation appears to have been completed by 1st August.  The 83rd Anti-Tank Battery, W.A.A. was re-numbered to become the 66th Anti-Tank Battery, W.A.A. from 21st October 1944, the date on which the 2nd L.A.A./Atk Regiment, W.A.A. was re-designated to become the 22nd Anti-Tank Regiment, W.A.A., with effect from 1st August 1944.[3]

10 July 2025