116th Australian Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment
From Our Contribution
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Brief History
Formed in Mosman Park (WA) in May 1942 from existing units aand comprised three batteries, 171, 172 and 173 Light Anti-Aircraft Batteries. A high proportion of the men came from the disbanded 107th Anti-tank Battery. In July 1942 the unit concentrated at Naval Base training in the local area including teh Rockingham Artillery Range. In January 1943 they moved to a new camp at Bibra Lake, and in May detachments form the 171st Battery moved to Rottnest Island to provide protection for the coastal guns ahead of the res tof the Regiment which arrived there in June. 172 Battery moved to Cotteslo e and manned the LAA gun positions around Fremantle until August when they joined the rest of the Regiment at Melville.
In October 1943 most of the regiment moved to Moonyoonooka near Geraldton, with 173 Battery taking responsibility for defence of thee Guildford and Pearce airfields. In January 1944 the regiment concentrated at Northam Camp where in March 1944 172 Battery was brought up to strength and in April 1944 left for Merauke in Dutch New Guinea. 171 Battery resumed defence of Pearce and Guildford airfields before the Regiment underwent amphibious training at Point Walter in April and then moved to Bellevue in June. With the decrease in threat to Perth, the 116th Australian Light Ant-Aircraft Regiment was disbanded at bellevue in December 1944. Three men died while posted to thsi unit, two in accidemts and one by drowning.
Unit Personnel
- Edward Maurice Trew 26 May - 18 Sep 1942
Notes
Content has come from The Unit Guide - Volume 3 - The Australian Army 1939-1945, page 3.233 - Graham R McKenzie-Smith - Big Sky Publishing - 2018