Anti-Aircraft Training Centre, W.A.A.
The Light Anti-Aircraft Training Centre for African Other Ranks moved from Murraytown to the Annie Walsh School on 11th August 1941. It operated for all purposes under the 71st L.A.A. Battery, R.A. At that time, there were 193 African recruits in training at this centre. A draft of fifty African recruits arrived from Makeni on 4th September and were joined on 15th September by 102 Nigerian recruits. The Centre stopped being administered by the 71st L.A.A. Battery, R.A. on 1st September.[1]
Anti-aircraft training became the responsibility of the H.Q. 14th A.A. Brigade upon that formation’s arrival from the United Kingdom on 14th October 1941.[2]
During October 1941, it became apparent that an authorized establishment was needed for the Centre, given that the batteries of the 1st L.A.A. Regiment, W.A.A. had lost men to the Centre as instructors. The number of African recruits at the Centre reached 513 during this month. The 1st L.A.A. Regiment provided four (out of fourteen then available) Bofors guns for training. 47 Nigerian recruits arrived from Nigeria on 8th November. Four detachments of recruits took part in firing practice at Lumley Beach on 21st November. This was followed by eight detachments on 28th November. Fifty-nine Nigerian recruits arrived on 27th November, temporarily being attached to the Heavy A.A. Training Centre for accommodation purposes.[3]
On 9th December 1941, the L.A.A. Wing of the A.A.T.C. moved to Murraytown, thereby combining both wings of the A.A. Training School in the one camp.[4]
With the re-organisation of H.Q. 14th A.A. Brigade to become H.Q. R.A. Freetown Fortress on 21st September 1942, the A.A.T.C. came under command of the new headquarters.[5]
With the disbandment of the H.Q. R.A. Freetown Fortress on 31st March 1943, the A.A.T.C. came under the direct command of H.Q. Sierra Leone Area, with effect from 1st May.[6]
The A.A.T.C. embarked at Freetown on 16th June 1943, to join the School of Artillery West Africa in the Gold Coast.[7]
17 September 2025