7th Anti-Aircraft Regiment/Anti-Tank Regiment, I.A.

The 7th Anti-Tank Regiment, I.A. was raised at Kumbhargaon on 1st May 1942.  The batteries regimented were the 25th, 26th and 27th Batteries.  From early 1943, the Regiment served with the 25th Indian Infantry Division up until March 1944.  By this time, the Regiment was composed of a full complement of anti-tank batteries with the addition of the 39th Anti-Tank Battery.[1]  The Regiment was then sent to Madras where by April it began converting to become an A.A./Atk regiment.  The Commanding Officer at this time was Lt. Colonel P.G.P. Bradshaw.[2] 

(Note: the war diary for the period 1943-1944 covers only December 1944.) 

When Indian divisional anti-tank regiments were once again the subject of reorganisation, from August 1944, the Regiment converted to an anti-tank/mortar regiment (before October 1944 according to WO 33/2290).  It was now composed of three batteries, each equipped with twelve 6-pounder anti-tank guns and twelve 3-inch mortars.  The batteries regimented from this time were the 9th, 25th and 26th.[3]

In late 1944, the Regiment left Madras for the Arakan, via Calcutta and Chittagong.  Upon arrival at Razabil on 9th December 1944, the Regimental H.Q., 9th and 26th Batteries rejoined the 25th Indian Infantry Division.  The 25th Battery had arrived ahead of the main body of the Regiment and had left in support of the 53rd Indian Infantry Brigade in an operation in the east of the Mayu Range.[4]

25 July 2019