Patch of the 20th Queens Own London Regiment |
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InterWar
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The London Regiment had ceased to function in 1920, the battalions reverting to the administrative control of their pre-1908 affiliated Regular regiments (the QORWK in the case of the 20th Londons). On 16 February 1920, the 47th Division began to reform in the new Territorial Army, and by 1922 the battalion had fully reformed as the 20th London Regiment (The Queen's Own) in 141 (5th London) Bde.
In 1935, 47th Division became 1st Anti-Aircraft Division, and a number of its battalions were converted to Anti-Aircraft (AA) roles. The 20th Londons was one of these, becoming a searchlight unit on 15 December 1935 as 34th (The Queen's Own Royal West Kent) Anti-Aircraft Battalion (later amended to '34th (Queen's Own)')of the Royal Engineers (RE) with four AA Companies numbered 336–339. It formed part of 27th (Home Counties) Anti-Aircraft Group in 1 AA Division. By 1938, the battalion had transferred 339 Company to the 26th AA Battalion in exchange for the experienced 302 Company, giving the battalion the following organisation.
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World War 2
Mobilisation
The TA's AA units were mobilised on 23 September 1938 during the Munich Crisis, with units manning their emergency positions within 24 hours, even though many did not yet have their full complement of men or equipment. The emergency lasted three weeks, and they were stood down on 13 October. In February 1939 the existing AA defences came under the control of a new Anti-Aircraft Command. In June a partial mobilisation of the TA was begun in a process known as 'couverture', whereby each AA unit did a month's tour of duty in rotation to man selected gun and searchlight positions. On 24 August, ahead of the declaration of war, AA Command was fully mobilised at its war stations.
On the outbreak of war, 34 AA Bn was still part of 27th AA Bde, but was now in 6 AA Division, responsible for guarding the Thames Estuary.
The TA's AA units were mobilised on 23 September 1938 during the Munich Crisis, with units manning their emergency positions within 24 hours, even though many did not yet have their full complement of men or equipment. The emergency lasted three weeks, and they were stood down on 13 October. In February 1939 the existing AA defences came under the control of a new Anti-Aircraft Command. In June a partial mobilisation of the TA was begun in a process known as 'couverture', whereby each AA unit did a month's tour of duty in rotation to man selected gun and searchlight positions. On 24 August, ahead of the declaration of war, AA Command was fully mobilised at its war stations.
On the outbreak of war, 34 AA Bn was still part of 27th AA Bde, but was now in 6 AA Division, responsible for guarding the Thames Estuary.
Dunkirk
Early in 1940, 34 AA Bn supplied searchlight detachments for the Thames Defence Flotilla, three paddle steamers converted as Auxiliary AA ships: HMS Royal Eagle, Crested Eagle and Golden Eagle. On 29 May the Flotilla was ordered to France to assist in the evacuation from Dunkirk (Operation Dynamo). Between the three ships over 3500 men were rescued, often at great risk to the crews. Crested Eagle was bombed and sunk by Luftwaffe aircraft off Dunkirk on 29 May.
Great bravery was shown by the searchlight detachments on these ships. Corporal Lew Goddard on the Crested Eagle was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and Lance-Corporal Gordon Vane on the Royal Eagle was awarded the Military Medal, both for actions during the evacuation.
Home Front
During 1940 the RE's AA units were transferred to the Royal Artillery (RA) and in August the battalion became 34th (The Queen's Own Royal West Kent) Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery. It remained part of Home Forces until January 1945, defending the UK against air attack by the Luftwaffe.
The regiment supplied a cadre of experienced officers and men to 236th S/L Training Rgt at Oswestry where it provided the basis for a new 532 S/L Bty formed on 14 November 1940. This battery later joined 87th S/L Rgt. By early 1944, With the lower threat of attack by the weakened Luftwaffe, AA Command was being forced to release manpower for the planned invasion of Normandy (Operation Overlord). All Home Defense searchlight regiments were reduced, 34th S/L losing 338 Bty, which began disbandment on 6 March, competed by 3 April.
Infantry Role
At the end of 1944, 21st Army Group fighting in North West Europe was suffering a severe manpower shortage, particularly among the infantry. At the same time the Luftwaffe was so short of pilots, aircraft and fuel that serious aerial attacks on the United Kingdom could be discounted. In January 1945 the War Office began to reorganize surplus AA regiments in the UK into infantry battalions, primarily for line of communication and occupation duties in North West Europe, thereby releasing trained infantry for frontline service. The 34th was one of the units selected for conversion to the infantry role, becoming 633rd (Queen's Own Royal West Kent) Infantry Regiment, Royal Artillery. It formed part of 308th Infantry Brigade (converted from 61 AA Bde).
After infantry training, including a short period attached to 38th (Welsh) Infantry Division, 308 Bde came under the orders of 21st Army Group on 27 April 1945 and landed on the Continent two days later. It came under the control of Maasforce (4–22 May) and then I Canadian Corps, serving in North West Europe until the end of the war. The regiment was placed in suspended animation on 31 October 1945.
Postwar
AA Command's formation sign. When the TA was reconstituted on 1 January 1947, the regiment reformed at Blackheath as 569 (The Queen's Own) Searchlight Regiment, as part of 75 AA Bde (the old 49 AA Bde based in London). In March 1949 it was redesignated 569 (The Queen's Own) (Mixed) Light Anti-Aircraft/Searchlight Regiment, reflecting a partially changed role and the inclusion of members of the Women's Royal Army Corps (hence the designation 'Mixed').
The regiment still wore its 20th London's cap badge, together with RA collar badges. About 1951 its personnel adopted a supplementary shoulder title of 'THE QUEEN'S OWN' in grey on black beneath the RA shoulder title and above the AA Command arm badge.
AA Command was disbanded on 10 March 1955, and as part of the reduction the regiment was merged into 265 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, becoming Q Battery (The Queens Own), based at Lewisham. Further reductions in 1961 saw the whole regiment become Q (London) Battery at Grove Park.
Successor units still occupy Grove Park and Bexleyheath drill-halls, as 265 (Home Counties) Battery, 106th (Yeomanry) Regiment, Royal Artillery and 265 (Kent and County of London Yeomanry) Support Squadron, Royal Corps of Signals. Both units strive to continue and maintain the traditions and history of their predecessor Regiments.
Regimental memorial plaques and Regimental silver are displayed within The Army Reserve Centre, Baring Road, Grove Park, London SE12 0BH. These can be viewed at by prior appointment.
Past members from the Regiment within The Royal Artillery Association still attend the annual Jerusalem dinner held at The Grove Park Army Reserve Centre.
Early in 1940, 34 AA Bn supplied searchlight detachments for the Thames Defence Flotilla, three paddle steamers converted as Auxiliary AA ships: HMS Royal Eagle, Crested Eagle and Golden Eagle. On 29 May the Flotilla was ordered to France to assist in the evacuation from Dunkirk (Operation Dynamo). Between the three ships over 3500 men were rescued, often at great risk to the crews. Crested Eagle was bombed and sunk by Luftwaffe aircraft off Dunkirk on 29 May.
Great bravery was shown by the searchlight detachments on these ships. Corporal Lew Goddard on the Crested Eagle was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and Lance-Corporal Gordon Vane on the Royal Eagle was awarded the Military Medal, both for actions during the evacuation.
Home Front
During 1940 the RE's AA units were transferred to the Royal Artillery (RA) and in August the battalion became 34th (The Queen's Own Royal West Kent) Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery. It remained part of Home Forces until January 1945, defending the UK against air attack by the Luftwaffe.
The regiment supplied a cadre of experienced officers and men to 236th S/L Training Rgt at Oswestry where it provided the basis for a new 532 S/L Bty formed on 14 November 1940. This battery later joined 87th S/L Rgt. By early 1944, With the lower threat of attack by the weakened Luftwaffe, AA Command was being forced to release manpower for the planned invasion of Normandy (Operation Overlord). All Home Defense searchlight regiments were reduced, 34th S/L losing 338 Bty, which began disbandment on 6 March, competed by 3 April.
Infantry Role
At the end of 1944, 21st Army Group fighting in North West Europe was suffering a severe manpower shortage, particularly among the infantry. At the same time the Luftwaffe was so short of pilots, aircraft and fuel that serious aerial attacks on the United Kingdom could be discounted. In January 1945 the War Office began to reorganize surplus AA regiments in the UK into infantry battalions, primarily for line of communication and occupation duties in North West Europe, thereby releasing trained infantry for frontline service. The 34th was one of the units selected for conversion to the infantry role, becoming 633rd (Queen's Own Royal West Kent) Infantry Regiment, Royal Artillery. It formed part of 308th Infantry Brigade (converted from 61 AA Bde).
After infantry training, including a short period attached to 38th (Welsh) Infantry Division, 308 Bde came under the orders of 21st Army Group on 27 April 1945 and landed on the Continent two days later. It came under the control of Maasforce (4–22 May) and then I Canadian Corps, serving in North West Europe until the end of the war. The regiment was placed in suspended animation on 31 October 1945.
Postwar
AA Command's formation sign. When the TA was reconstituted on 1 January 1947, the regiment reformed at Blackheath as 569 (The Queen's Own) Searchlight Regiment, as part of 75 AA Bde (the old 49 AA Bde based in London). In March 1949 it was redesignated 569 (The Queen's Own) (Mixed) Light Anti-Aircraft/Searchlight Regiment, reflecting a partially changed role and the inclusion of members of the Women's Royal Army Corps (hence the designation 'Mixed').
The regiment still wore its 20th London's cap badge, together with RA collar badges. About 1951 its personnel adopted a supplementary shoulder title of 'THE QUEEN'S OWN' in grey on black beneath the RA shoulder title and above the AA Command arm badge.
AA Command was disbanded on 10 March 1955, and as part of the reduction the regiment was merged into 265 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, becoming Q Battery (The Queens Own), based at Lewisham. Further reductions in 1961 saw the whole regiment become Q (London) Battery at Grove Park.
Successor units still occupy Grove Park and Bexleyheath drill-halls, as 265 (Home Counties) Battery, 106th (Yeomanry) Regiment, Royal Artillery and 265 (Kent and County of London Yeomanry) Support Squadron, Royal Corps of Signals. Both units strive to continue and maintain the traditions and history of their predecessor Regiments.
Regimental memorial plaques and Regimental silver are displayed within The Army Reserve Centre, Baring Road, Grove Park, London SE12 0BH. These can be viewed at by prior appointment.
Past members from the Regiment within The Royal Artillery Association still attend the annual Jerusalem dinner held at The Grove Park Army Reserve Centre.
