Aberdeen Fortress Royal Engineers
| City of Aberdeen Fortress Engineers 319th (City of Aberdeen) Searchlight Battery | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1908–1945 |
| Country |
 United Kingdom |
| Branch |
 Territorial Army |
| Role |
Coast Defence Field Engineering Air Defence |
| Garrison/HQ | Aberdeen |
| Engagements |
Western Front (World War I) The Blitz Normandy North West Europe |
The Aberdeen Fortress Royal Engineers was a Scottish volunteer unit of the British Army formed in 1908. Its main role was defence of the Scottish coast, but it served on the Western Front during World War I. In the 1930s it was converted into an air defence unit, in which role it served in World War II.
Origin
The unit was formed in 1908 when the Territorial Force (TF) was created from the former Volunteers under the Haldane Reforms. The 1st Aberdeenshire Engineer Volunteers, which had existed since 1878, was split to form the 1st Highland Feld Company and Highland Divisional Telegraph Company of the Highland Division, and the City of Aberdeen (Fortress) Royal Engineers.[1][2][3][4] The latter unit consisted of a single Works Company, which continued to share its headquarters at 80 Hardgate, Aberdeen, with the Highland Field and Telegraph companies.[5]
World War I
The TF was mobilised on the outbreak of war in August 1914 and the City of Aberdeen Fortress Engineers took their place in the Scottish Coast defences.[6][7]
It landed in France on 26 April 1915 as an Army Troops Company, RE, with the British Expeditionary Force. When the TF's RE companies were numbered in February 1917, it became 552nd (Aberdeen) Army Troops Company, RE.[8] Little is known of its service, other than it was on the Lies of Communication in January 1917, with IX Corps in September 1918, and Fifth Army at the time of the Armistice.[7][9]
The unit was demobilised in January 1920.[10]
Interwar
When the TF was reconstituted as the Territorial Army (TA) in the 1920s, the City of Aberdeen Fortress Engineers reformed at Fonthill Barracks, Aberdeen, consisting of No 1 (Works) Company, listed as Coast Defence Troops in 51st (Highland) Divisional Area.[11][12]
With the recognition of the increased threat of aerial bombing in any future war, the company was converted into an Independent Anti-Aircraft (AA) Searchlight Company in 1934 as 319th (City of Aberdeen) AA Company, RE. It gained a Regular RE officer as Adjutant, who was shared with 320th (City of Dundee) AA Company (converted at the same time from the Dundee Fortress Royal Engineers).[13]
World War II
- See main article: 51st (Highland) Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery
With the continued expansion of the TA's air defences, 319th (Aberdeen) Company and 320th (Dundee) Company combined with a newly raised battery at Cowdenbeath in 1938 to form 51st (Highland) AA Battalion, RE.[14][15][16] In August 1939, Anti-Aircraft Command was mobilised and 51st AA Bn took its place in the air defences of Scotland. A year later the RE searchlight battalions were transferred to the Royal Artillery (RA), and the unit became 51st (Highland) Searchlight Regiment, RA (TA), serving throughout the Battle of Britain and The Blitz.[15][17][18][19]
In February 1942, the regiment was converted to the Light Anti-Aircraft (LAA) artillery role as 124 (Highland) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA (TA) and it served with Second Army in Normandy and North West Europe.[15][17][20][21][22]
Postwar
When the TA was reconstituted in 1947, the regiment was reformed as 586 (Highland) LAA Regiment, RA (later 586 (Highland) LAA/Searchlight Regiment), based at Dundee, and the link with Aberdeen was severed.[17][23][24][25][26]
Notes
- ↑ Beckett, Appendix IX, p. 320.
- ↑ Westlake, p. 4.
- ↑ London Gazette, 20 March 1908.
- ↑ Aberdeen Fortress Engineers at Regiments.org
- ↑ Monthly Army List, August 1914.
- ↑ Conrad.
- 1 2 Rinaldi.
- ↑ Fortress Companies RE at Long, Long Trail.
- ↑ Question at Great War Forum
- ↑ The War Diary in The National Archives, Kew, runs from February 1917 (when the unit was numbered) to January 1920.
- ↑ Monthly Army List, January 1923.
- ↑ Titles and Designations, 1927.
- ↑ Monthly Army Lists 1934–35.
- ↑ Army List.
- 1 2 3 3 AA Division 1939 at British Military History
- ↑ Glasgow Herald 13 January 1938.
- 1 2 3 Litchfield, pp. 274–5.
- ↑ 51 S/L Rgt at RA 39–45
- ↑ 3 AA Division 1940 at British Military History
- ↑ 124 LAA Rgt at RA 39–45
- ↑ Joslen, p. 463.
- ↑ Routledge, pp. 314–5, 319, 326, 366
- ↑ Watson, TA 1947 Archived December 5, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ 564–591 Rgts at British Army 1945 on Archived January 10, 2016, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ 67–106 AA Bdes at British Army 1945 on
- ↑ Litchfield, Appendix 5.
References
- Ian F.W. Beckett, Riflemen Form: A study of the Rifle Volunteer Movement 1859–1908, Aldershot: Ogilby Trusts, 1982, ISBN 0 85936 271 X.
- Lt-Col H.F. Joslen, Orders of Battle, United Kingdom and Colonial Formations and Units in the Second World War, 1939–1945, London: HM Stationery Office, 1960/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2003, ISBN 1-843424-74-6.
- Norman E.H. Litchfield, The Territorial Artillery 1908–1988 (Their Lineage, Uniforms and Badges), Nottingham: Sherwood Press, 1992, ISBN 0-9508205-2-0.
- Brig N.W. Routledge, History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery: Anti-Aircraft Artillery 1914–55, London: Royal Artillery Institution/Brassey's, 1994, ISBN OCLC 852069247.
- Titles and Designations of Formations and Units of the Territorial Army, London: War Office, 7 November 1927.
- R.A. Westlake, Royal Engineers (Volunteers) 1859–1908, Wembley: R.A. Westlake, 1983, ISBN 0-9508530-0-3.
Online sources
- British Military History
- Mark Conrad, The British Army 1914.
- Great War Forum
- London Gazette
- The Long, Long Trail
- Land Forces of Britain, the Empire and Commonwealth (Regiments.org)
- The Royal Artillery 1939–45
- Richard A. Rinaldi, Royal Engineers, World War I at Orbat.com