36th (Scottish) Anti Aircraft Brigade

Origins

Large numbers of Territorial Army (TA) units were converted to anti-aircraft (AA) and searchlight roles in the Royal Artillery (RA) and Royal Engineers (RE) during the 1930s, and higher formations were required to control them. 36th (Scottish) Anti-Aircraft Brigade (36 AA Bde) was formed on 1 May 1938 at Edinburgh, to command the units responsible for the air defence of the City of Edinburgh and the Firth of Forth. Initially the brigade was formed within Scottish Command, later being subordinated to 3rd Anti-Aircraft Division when that formation was raised at Edinburgh on 1 September 1938 to command all the AA defences of Scotland and Northern Ireland. Subsequently, Anti-Aircraft Command was created on 1 April 1939 and took control of AA Defence throughout the United Kingdom.

Order of Battle

The composition of 36 AA Bde on the outbreak of war was as follows:

In September 1939, the brigade had 28 heavy AA guns deployed round the Forth, with one more out of action.

World War II

The AA regiments of the RA were designated 'Heavy AA' (HAA) from 1940 to distinguish them from the newer Light AA (LAA) units being formed. During the night bombing Blitz on industrial cities in the winter of 1940–41, 36 AA Bde had the following composition:

In October 1942 AA Command reorganised its structure, replacing the AA Divisions with AA Groups coinciding with RAF Fighter Command's Groups. 36 AA Bde came under 6 AA Group covering Scotland.

Postwar

When the TA was reformed in 1947, 36 AA Bde was reorganised as 62 AA Bde, with its HQ at South Queensferry and forming part of the Edinburgh-based 3 AA Group, with the following composition:

However, the reformed brigade was short-lived, being disbanded in September 1948.