73rd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
The 73rd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (73rd LAA Rgt), was an air defence unit of the British Army's Royal Artillery during World War II. It served during the London Blitz, landed on D-Day, seeing action throughout the campaign in North West Europe and defending the cities of Belgium against V-1 flying bombs. Origin The regiment was formed on 27 February 1941 as part of the rapid expansion of Britain's Anti-Aircraft (AA) defences. It was organised as follows: 218 LAA Battery formed at 208th LAA Training Rgt at Yeovil from a cadre supplied by 34th LAA Rgt 220 LAA Battery formed at 212th LAA Training Rgt at Saighton Camp from a cadre supplied by 17th LAA Rgt 221 LAA Battery formed at 212th LAA Training Rgt at Saighton from a cadre supplied by 45th LAA RgtThe three batteries were all formed on 12 December 1940 and regimented on 10 March 1941. The regiment was assigned to 49th AA Brigade in 1st AA Division. This formed part of the London Inner Artillery Zone defending against the continuing Blitz. A number of officers, including the Commanding Officer (CO), Lieutenant-Colonel John Anderson Armstrong, and the adjutant, Captain Sir Charles Shuckburgh, Bt, came to the regiment