3rd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Indian Artillery

The 3rd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Indian Artillery, was formed as a static unit at Malir, near Karachi, on 1st February 1942. It was equipped with 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns. Regimented under the regiment were the 10th and 11th Light Anti-Aircraft Batteries. Personnel training was carried out at No. 2 Anti-Aircraft (L.A.A.) Training Centre at Deolali. In May 1942 it was decided to reform the Regiment to be manned entirely by Madrassis, and in August and September 1942, three new replacement batteries arrived; the 12th, 13th and 14th Light Anti-Aircraft Batteries. The Regiment remained at Malir undergoing equipment and tactical training until early 1943 when it moved to Mehgaon, coming under command of the 3rd Indian Anti-Aircraft Brigade. In early March 1943, the Regiment moved to Calcutta to take up an operational role under the 1st Indian Anti-Aircraft Brigade. After a short stay in Calcutta, the Regiment moved to the Chittagong area where it came under the command of the 13th Anti-Aircraft Brigade, Royal Artillery. It remained in the Chittagong area under the command of this brigade until July 1945. As the war with Japan neared its end, the Regiment became non-operational and moved to Vizagapatam, arriving on 27th July 1945.

I am very grateful to Chris Mabbott for permission to publish the 3rd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment’s Christmas card for 1944 and for the photographs of his grandfather, Sergeant H. Law. As can be just made out on the cover of the card, Sergeant Law served with the 13th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery. The battery was formed in September 1942, possibly as part of the newly raised 4th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Indian Artillery, and was then regimented with the 3rd Regiment. The battery remained under command of the 3rd Regiment for the duration of the war. At the time Sergeant Law wrote his Christmas card on 15th November 1944, presumably completed in time to reach family at home in the United Kingdom, the 13th Battery was in the Chittagong area.