63 ANTI-AIRCRAFT SEARCHLIGHT COMPANY (63 AASL COY)
IN AUSTRALIA DURING WW2

63 Ant-aircraft Searchlight Company under the command of Captain R.J. Thompson was charged with the responsibility of Searchlight Defence of the Kembla and Wollongong areas of New South Wales. They initially worked with the 1 Aust AA Regt AIF and with 1 AA Bde RAA in defence exercises in the area on 8 April 1942, 23 June 1942 and 30 August 1942.

On 15 July 1942, 63 AASL Coy moved to War Stations in the Kembla area. They established their Company Headquarters at Kembla Grange Racecourse. CHQ was later relocated to a shop at 85 Wentworth Street Port Kembla and then to the Wollongong Showgrounds. 63 AASL Company Headquarters finally relocated to Acacia Street, Wollongong.

In September 1942, the Volunteer Defence Corps at Richmond, Kurrajong, Windsor, Riverstone and some coastal areas utilised the training facilities of the 63 AASL Coy at Acacia Street, Wollongong. The men of 63 AASL Coy remember the busloads of VDC men starting military exercises and manoeuvres as soon as they got off the bus.

REFERENCES

"Expose - A History of Searchlights in WWII"
by Noel F. Hill

Can anyone help me with more information?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 4 January 2004

This page last updated 23 January 2020