114TH LIGHT ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY REGIMENT
IN AUSTRALIA DURING WW2

visits since 11 June 2005

The 114 Light Anti Aircraft Artillery Regiment comprised:-

• 165 Battery (18 only 40mm Bofors guns)

• 166 Battery (18 only 40mm Bofors guns)

• 167 Battery (18 only 40mm Bofors guns)

Each Battery comprised three Troops. 165 Battery for instance comprised:-

• 605 Troop (6 only 40mm Bofors guns)

• 606 Troop (6 only 40mm Bofors guns)

• 607 Troop (6 only 40mm Bofors guns)

Each Troop comprised:-

• Gun Sergeant

• Bombardier (2 I/C)

• 10 gunners

In October 1942, the 46th Battalion moved back to the Brisbane area from Tinana and camped at Camp Chermside where it was disbanded.  Some ex members of the 46th Battalion were allocated to the 114th Light Anti-aircraft Regiment and commenced training with the unit in November 1942 in Camp Chermside (now Marchant Park) using 40mm Bofors Anti Aircraft Guns.

Photo supplied by Graham Roberts

A 40 mm Bofor's anti-aircraft gun on The Strand in Townsville.

After some initial training the gun crews were eventually allowed to use live ammunition. Early one morning Gun Sergeant Ken Ross heard two live rounds go off. He subsequent learnt that this was from Gun Sergeant Phil Carne's gun crew. They were always instructed to have their guns at high elevation level which meant that the high explosive round would detonate at 10,500 feet above the suburb of Kedron, thus causing no problem.

40mm Bofors at RAAF Townsville Museum

In June/July 1943, 605 Troop (6 guns) of the 165 Battery, 114 LAA Regiment took up defence positions along the Brisbane River as follows:-

In June 2000, Ken Ross indicated that Gun Crew member Eric Fettes remembered a farewell organised by the Red Cross at Fairy Meadows Hall after the gun site at Bulimba was vacated.

In September/October 1943, 605 Troop departed from its Brisbane River locations and moved by barges to Milne Bay and later to Lae in Papua New Guinea. Gun Sergeant Ken Ross was at Artillery School at Randwick in New South Wales from 6 August 1943 until 2 October 1943 when this move took place.

After his training, Gun Sergeant Ken Ross moved to Townsville where he took up a gun position on the breakwater near the Townsville Harbour as part of 607 Troop of 165 Battery. His bombardier was George McKenzie. 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Russell Miller and Ken Ross for their assistance with this home page. Ken joined the 46th Battalion in August 1941 and went on to transfer to the 114 Light Anti Aircraft Regiment in about October 1942. 

Heaps of WW2 books available at Amazon.com

"Australia @ War"

This page first produced 12 June 2005

This page last updated 05 August 2006