77nd HAA REGT ROYAL ARTILLERY (TA)

The Regiment

The regiment was formed on 1 Nov 1928 as the 82nd (Welsh) Field Brigade, but was later redesignated the 77th (Welsh) AA Brigade. 

On 1 Jan 1939 it was redesignated as the 77th (Welsh) HAA Regiment. Before the war the regiment was headquartered at the Drill Hall, Dumfries Place, Cardiff. At the beginning of the war the regiment provided air defence for the city of Cardiff. 

n Aug 1941 the regiment moved to Blandford Camp in Dorset, then to Headingly, Leeds and in Oct 1941 the regimental HQ was at Winsford, 239th Battery at Crewe, 240th Battery at Harwarded and 241st Battery at Donnington, Shropshire. 

On 29 Oct 1941 the regiment was ordered to proceed to Glasgow for movement overseas. On 7th Dec 1941 the regiment sailed from Gourock, Glasgow. It was part of Convoy WS14 which was destined for the Middle east when in January 1942 it was diverted to Java to protect the airfields there. At that time it consisted of 239th, 240th and 241st HAA Batteries each armed with eight 3.7 inch guns. It was initially at Sourabaja less 239th HAA Battery which was at Batavia. 

On 1 March 1941 General Sitwell ordered Headquarters 77th HAA Regiment and 240th and 241st HAA Batteries to Tjilatjap. During this move  one troop was cutoff and lost at Sourabaya. The regiment went into captivity in Java in March 1942 and had 138 gunners killed in action or died as prisoners. 

I would highly recommend the book "The Sparrows" by Tony Paley which includes a Roll of Honour of the Regiment. 

Ed: With thanks to Ron Coward and Dick Flory for this information