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- 2nd Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery during the Second World War -


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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

2nd Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery



   2nd Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery was made up of 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Battery. They saw action in France with the BEF in 1940 notably in the Defence of Calais. The Regimental Standard is housed at Cranborne Parish Church.

 

   5th Searchlight Battery was formed in July 1940 by the redesignation of B Battery, 2nd Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery. It served with the Regiment throughout the Second World War seeing action in Home Defence and across North Western Europe.

 

12th Jan 1940 On the Move

25th May 1940 Prisoners Taken

26th May 1940 Evacuation  location map

27th May 1940 In Action

21st Nov 1944 Flooding

22nd Nov 1944 Positions  location map


If you can provide any additional information, especially on actions and locations at specific dates, please add it here.



Those known to have served with

2nd Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery

during the Second World War 1939-1945.

  • 261635 Donald Herbert. Capt.
  • Asquith Wilfred. Dvr.
  • Baker Francis. Gnr. (d.23rd May 1940)
  • Bates George Charles. Gnr.
  • Bates George. Gunner
  • Bowers William Frederick. Gnr. (d.14th April 1941)
  • Bowers William Frederick. Gnr. (d.14th April 1941)
  • Campbell Charles S.. L/Sgt.
  • Christie John. LBdr. (d.18th May 1940)
  • Cooper Thomas Gary. Gnr.
  • Giddings Sidney Walter. Gnr.
  • Hennessy William. Gnr.
  • Johnson John Joseph. Gnr. (d.24th May 1940)
  • Lansley William. Driver
  • Lilly Philip George. L/Sgt. (d.23rd March 1941)
  • Loader Arthur. Gnr.
  • Penfold Edward Charles. Gnr. (d.19th October 1946)
  • Tansey William Alfred. Gnr.
  • Tansey William Alfred. Gnr.
  • Wilson Christopher Fegellan. Pte.
  • Wiltshire Kenneth Percival. W/Sgt.
  • Wright CdeG. Cecil Stanley. Sgt.
  • Yearing Frank. Gnr. (d.25th May 1940)

The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List

Records of 2nd Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery from other sources.



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Want to know more about 2nd Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery ?


There are:439 items tagged 2nd Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery available in our Library

  These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War.


Capt. Donald Herbert 261635 2nd Searchlight Regiment Royal Artillery

Donald Wells is my maternal grandfather. He survived the war, but never talked about his war time experience. I found out that he was a POW at Stalag 20b Marienburg. He served as a Lance Bombardier in the Royal Artillery, becoming 2nd Lieutenant and temporary Captain in 1944.

Rosemary Downs



Gnr. Edward Charles Penfold 6 Bty., 2nd Searchlight Regiment. Royal Artillery (d.19th October 1946)

Near my home in Wilton, I found Edward Penfold’s war grave at the cemetery in Barford St Martin, near Wilton, Salisbury. He lies in a forgotten corner, the grave looking somewhat forlorn and a tad neglected. I checked on the CWGC website and found his grave records and who was his family. I shall shortly check to see if his family are still in the area, and offer to maintain his grave, as the site is listed as being cared for by relatives.

Today, 10th November, Remembrance Sunday, I commemorated his service with my own Act of Remembrance. RIP Gunner Edward Charles Penfold RA.

David Weiss Haynes



Gnr. William Frederick Bowers 2nd Search Light Regiment, 475th Bty. Royal Artillery (d.14th April 1941)

Bill Bowers was killed 'Due to War Operations' on Portland - he was manning a Heavy Weight Searchlight. His Commanding Officer was James Dykes whose name is shown on Bill's death certificate. He was stationed in Bincleaves Barracks in Weymouth. Apparently the Battery was hit by a bomb, a number of civilians were also killed in the same raid that night.

Terry Bowers



Gnr. William Hennessy 2nd Searchlight Regiment Royal Artillery

William Hennessy served with the 2nd Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery in WW2. He was a Prisoner of War in Stalag VIIIB.

Roger Hawkins



Gnr. William Frederick Bowers 475th Battery, 2nd Searchlight Regiment Royal Artillery (d.14th April 1941)

William Bowers was killed manning a heavy searchlight defending Portland Naval base on 14th April 1941.

Terry Bowers



Sgt. Cecil Stanley Wright CdeG. 2nd Searchlight Regiment Royal Artillery

Cecil Wright fought in the Battle of Antwerp.

Geoffrey



LBdr. John Christie 2nd Searchlight Regiment, 6th Battery Royal Artillery (d.18th May 1940)

My great uncle, John Christie, was killed on the 8th day of the German Blitzkrieg, west of Arras. Details are unclear but we know that his unit, which was not a front line battle formation, found itself faced by rapdly advancing German tanks: but the men were only armed with rifles. One story is that John (known as Jack) was killed trying to capture a tank but this is uncertain. He was 21 and two of his brothers served throughout the war in the RA and infantry, both survived.

Rob Harper



Gnr. Thomas Gary Cooper 2nd Searchlight Regiment, 5th Battery Royal Artillery

Tom was born 19th April 1913 in Penistone. Married Doris Wood in 1936. In 1939, Thomas Cooper was a miner below ground and lived in Barnsley, South Yorkshire with his wife, Doris, and son Brian aged 2.

He joined the Royal Artillery, 2nd Searchlight Regiment, 5th Battery and served in France 1940, 1945. He had 7 children with Doris and died 1983 in Barnsley, South Yorkshire.

Beverley Richards



L/Sgt. Philip George Lilly 2nd Searchlight Regt. 5 Bty. Royal Artillery (d.23rd March 1941)

Philip Lilly was my Great Uncle, he served with 5th Battery. 2nd Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery

Steve Gregory



Dvr. Wilfred Asquith 2nd Search Light Regiment, 5th Battery Royal Artillery

Wilfred Asquith was captured near Calais on 26th of May 1940, he was caught when an ambulance he and his mates had liberated hit a mine.

He was imprisoned in the following camps:

  • Stalag 21B from 08/06/1940 till 12/07/1940,
  • Stalag 21D from 12/07/1940 till 22/11/1940,
  • Stalag 344 from 22/11/1940 till 23/01/1945,
  • Stalag 7A from 12/04/1945 till 29/04/1945.

He was also at the work camp at Blechhammer from 22/11/1940 till 23/01/1945 as a Wireman

Liam Asquith









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