Country United Kingdom Type Anti-Aircraft Brigade | Branch Territorial Army Role Air Defence | |
Active 1 April 1938–1 June 1948 Part of 5th AA Division2 AA Group | ||
35th Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an air defence formation of Anti-Aircraft Command in the British Territorial Army (TA) formed shortly before the outbreak of World War II. It defended the important naval base of Portsmouth during The Blitz.
Contents
Origins
35th Anti-Aircraft (AA) Brigade was formed on 1 April 1938 at Fort Fareham in Hampshire, and was assigned to 5th AA Division from its formation on 1 September that year.
Order of Battle
On the outbreak of World War II, 35 AA Brigade comprised the following units of the Royal Artillery (RA) and Royal Engineers (RE):
In September 1939, the brigade had 29 heavy AA guns round Portsmouth.
World War II
During 1940 the AA regiments of the RA were designated 'Heavy AA', and the RE units transferred to the RA as 'Searchlight Regiments'. By July 1940 there were 44 HAA guns deployed round Portsmouth.
Battle of Britain
The brigade was heavily engaged throughout the Battle of Britain. On 18 August, for example, German air raids crossed Southern England and appeared over RAF airfields at West Malling, Manston, Kenley, Biggin Hill, Gravesend and the town of Sevenoaks, all within four and a half hours in the afternoon. The guns of 35 AA Bde and its neighbours were in action and accounted for 23 enemy aircraft.
Blitz
After 15 September, the intensity of Luftwaffe daylight attacks fell, and the emphasis switched to night bombing of industrial towsn (the Blitz). Portsmouth was a major target: during a succession of attacks, two bombs fell on a gun position of 35 AA Bde, killing an officer and 10 men, wrecking the command post and one gun. Two of the remaining guns continued to fire by improvised methods.
During the Blitz, 35 AA Bde had the following composition:
Together with the searchlights of 27th (Home Counties) Anti-Aircraft Brigade, 35 AA Bde was responsible for the air defence of the city and naval base of Portsmouth. It remained part of 5 AA Division until AA Command was reorganised and the divisions were scrapped in September 1942, after which it became part of 2 AA Group.
Postwar
When the TA was reconstituted on 1 January 1947, 35 AA Bde was reformed at Fareham as 61 AA Brigade (TA). Still forming part of 2 AA Group, it comprised the following units:
However, the brigade was disbanded on 1 June 1948.