113th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
The 113th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (113th HAA Rgt) was an air defence unit of the British Army's Royal Artillery during World War II. It saw action during The Blitz, landed in Normandy on D-Day and served throughout the subsequent campaign in North West Europe, operating as medium artillery in the Battle of the Scheldt, Unusually, its AA guns were successfully used to destroy enemy submarines in the closing stages of the war. Origin 113th Heavy AA Regiment was raised as part of the rapid expansion of Anti-Aircraft Command in late 1940. Regimental Headquarters (RHQ) was formed on 25 November 1940 at No 3 AA Practice Camp at Tŷ Croes on Anglesey to take command of 359, 362 and 366 HAA Batteries, which had been raised on 21 September 1940. On 10 December, RHQ moved to Nottingham, where it came under the operational control of 50th AA Brigade in 2nd AA Division. As the batteries arrived they occupied gun sites around Nottingham. Lieutenant-Colonel E.A. Goodwin was appointed commanding officer (CO) on 17 December. The newly formed 391 HAA Bty joined the regiment from No 2 AA Practice Camp at Burrow Head and took over sites round Derby in February. This battery had been formed at 211th HAA Training Rgt at Oswestry on 14 November 1940 based on a cadre supplied by 78th (1st East Anglian) HAA Regiment. The Blitz The regiment's gun sites were initially split between 50th AA Bde protecting Nottingham and Derby, and 32nd (Midland) AA Bde guarding the East Midlands of England. When a new 66th AA Bde was formed in 2nd AA Division at Derby, 113th HAA Rgt transferred to it on 4 March 1941. The North and East Midlands had escaped the worst of the bombing during the early part of The Blitz, but Nottingham and Derby were heavily attacked on the night of 8/9 May 1941 (the Nottingham Blitz). The regiment sent a cadre of experienced officers and men to 206th Training Regiment at Arborfield for a new 439 Bty; this was formed on 12 June 1941 and joined the regiment on 4 September 1941, replacing 359 Bty, which transferred to 60th (City of London) HAA Rgt, and later became an independent battery in the Falkland Islands garrison. Other cadres from the regiment formed: On 7 August the regiment sent another cadre of experienced officers to 206th HAA Training Rgt to form a new 469 (Mixed) HAA Bty composed largely of women members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service. This joined 132nd (Mixed) HAA Rgt. The regiment supplied further cadres as follows: 512 HAA Bty formed on 19 January 1942 at 206th HAA Training Rgt, Arborfield, which joined 149th HAA Rgt 545 HAA Bty formed on 12 March 1942 at 207th HAA Training Rgt, Oswestry, but this battery was cancelled 557th HAA Bty formed on 3 June 1942 at 205th HAA Training Rgt at Arborfield, which joined 168th HAA Rgt 559th HAA Bty formed on 30 April 1942 at 205th HAA Training Rgt at Arborfield, but