During the Second World War, over one million service personnel served in the Royal Artillery. There were 960 regiments in action worldwide between 1939-1945.
British Army
27th Searchlight Regiment
2nd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment formed in England in 1940. By 1941, the regiment was part of the Tobruk garrison, serving in North Africa until disbandment.
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Gunner George Pentland from Portadown, Co. Armagh died on 20th September 1942 as a result of an accident while serving in wartime England.
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Captain John Eyre Gisborne Gordon of Delamont House, Killyleagh, Co. Down died on 1st April 1941 serving in an administrative role with the Royal Artillery.
By 1939, warfare had become more mechanised. Still, the British Army's Royal Horse Artillery served throughout several theatres during the Second World War.
Royal Artillery
During 1940 3rd (Ulster) Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery was deployed to four locations in France; Lens, Carvin, Richarderie, and 12th Battery at Dunkirk.
Soldiers with connections to Northern Ireland served in 3rd Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery who saw action in the Far East during the Second World War.
4th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery formed in February 1942 from elements of 3rd (Ulster) Searchlight Regiment. The regiment served in Normandy.
In 1942, 8th (Belfast) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment joined XV Corps in Burma. Their long-range firing prowess earned them the nickname 'The 12-Mile Snipers'.
9th (Londonderry) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery formed as an air defence unit in Northern Ireland in 1939 and continued to operate until 1955.
9th Coast Regiment, Royal Artillery formed in December 1940- and served in Singapore until its capture during the Fall of Singapore on 15th February 1942.
27th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, sometimes known as "The Hampshire Gunners" saw action during the Second World War in both Europe and the Far East.
30th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, formed part of the B.E.F. in France in 1939-1940 before going on to fight in North Africa and the Italian campaign on 1944
43rd (5th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment) Searchlight Regiment was a Royal Artillery unit operating in an anti-aircraft capacity throughout England in wartime.
92nd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery served in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East during the Second World War, having seen action at Dunkirk in May 1940.
102nd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery saw action in Belfast as the Luftwaffe attacked in April 1941 with the loss of Scottish gunner Peter Jones.
107th Field Regiment (South Nottinghamshire Hussars Yeomanry) took part in the Battle of Knightsbridge during May 1942 when the unit sustained heavy losses.
On 17th October 1941, 208th Anti-Tank Battery, Royal Artillery undertook an exercise near Lislap House, Co. Tyrone watched by Lieutenant General Franklyn.
965th Defence Battery, Royal Artillery fell into Japanese hands on 25th December 1941 with the fall of Hong Kong. The battery was part of mobile coast defences.
