120 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA (TA)

120 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA (TA) was converted in January 1942 from 86 Searchlight Regiment. The Regiment served in Anti-Aircraft Command until going to War Office Control in March 1943. When not training it was on loan to 76 AA Brigade with whom it eventually went to France. The Regiment took part in D Day landing on Gold Beach and moved with 76 AA Brigade through France to Belgium by November 1944. It stayed there for the rest of the war protecting the approaches to Amsterdam. 120 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA (TA) was disbanded in January 1946 in North West Europe.

Illustrations of the formation badges under which a unit served or supported are given. This is no guarantee that the unit used this formations badge.

Jan 42   Formed from 86 Searchlight Regiment  
Jan 42 12 AA Div 12 Anti-Aircraft Division, 63 Anti-Aircraft Brigade Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, UK
Feb 42   Training Holywood, Co Down, UK
Apr 42 12 AA Div 120 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA (TA) 12 Anti-Aircraft Division, 63 Anti-Aircraft Brigade West Kilbride, Ayrshire, UK
Aug 42 2 AA Div 120 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA (TA) 2 Anti-Aircraft Division, 32 Anti-Aircraft Brigade Stamford, Lincolnshire, UK
Nov 42 2 AA Div 120 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA (TA) 2 Anti-Aircraft Division, 50 Anti-Aircraft Brigade South Collingham, Nottinghamshire, UK
Mar 43 War Office 120 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA (TA) War Office Control on loan to 73 AA Brigade Southampton, Hampshire, UK
Jun 43 War Office 120 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA (TA) War Office Control on loan to 76 AA Brigade Cheshire, UK
Sep 43 War Office War Office Control, 76 AA Brigade Saffron Walden, Essex, UK
Dec 43 War Office War Office Control, 76 AA Brigade Bournemouth, Dorset, UK
Feb 44 War Office War Office Control, 76 AA Brigade Southend, Essex, UK
Mar 44 2army 2 Army, 76 AA Brigade Southampton, Hampshire, UK
6 Jun 44 2army 2 Army, 76 AA Brigade Gold Beach, Normandy, France
Sep 44 2army 2 Army, 76 AA Brigade Boulogne, France
Nov 44 2army 2 Army, 76 AA Brigade North Scheldt, Belgium
Jan 46   Disbanded  

 

Batteries

Jan 42 393, 394, 395
Apr 42 393, 394, 395, 448
Jul 42 11, 393, 394, 395
Oct 42 393, 394, 395

 

Equipment

Jan 42 Fixed guns at static sites
Mar 43 54 x Towed 40mm Bofors
Sep 43 18 x Bofors 40 mm SP, 36 x Towed Bofors 40 mm
Mar 44 9 x Crusader AA Mk 1
Aug 44 Crusaders replaced by towed Bofors
Oct 44 SP Bofors handed in. Regiment all towed

 

The Royal Artillery 1939-45