Gunner John Wilson

John Wilson was born on the 19 April 1921 in Liverpool, where he was working as a Docker, when he enlisted.

He enlisted into the Royal Regiment of Artillery on the 19 June 1941, and was sent to the 227th Anti-Aircraft Driver Training Regiment, RA at Blackpool.

Upon completion of his training he was posted to the 21st Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA on the 10 September 1941, as a Driver with the rank of Gunner.

Then, on the 14 October 1941, he was posted to the 83rd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA then based at Blandford. Here he was assigned to the 136th Battery, which became an Independent Battery on the 9th March 1942, and moved to Dawlish. Its Independent status did not last very long, as on the 3rd October 1942, it was posted to the 85th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA.

However, a big change took place on the 22 May 1943, when the 136th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, RA was converted to the 2nd Air Landing Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, RA (TA), under the command of Major. WAH Rowat, RA. The Battery’s primary function was to provide anti-aircraft defence to the 6th Airborne Division.

On the 20 August 1943, Gunner Wilson attended a Driver/Mechanics Course at the Southampton Technical Training Group, and upon completion (30 September 1943), he was considered to be trade tested and classified as a Dvr/Mech Group ‘D’.

On the 29 July 1944, Major. Rowat took the entire Battery to RAF Ringway, as the unit had been selected to be converted from a purely glider-borne role to a parachute trained role. During the first few days the RAF Parachute Instructors carried out a selection process and Gnr. Wilson was one of 37 that “were returned to their unit at their own request on 1 August 1944”. [1]

On the 26 September 1944 he emplaned in the UK at Saltby aerodrome for the Continent, as part of Operation ‘Market-Garden’. They landed on an airstrip near Grave at 11.15 hrs. On the 30 September, six of the Battery’s guns were pulled out from the defensive task at Grave, and moved to defend the British 1st Airborne Corps HQ at Nijmegen. All personnel surplus to gun detachments moved to a harbour at Wijchen.

The defence task they were employed upon took until the 9 October, when they moved to the docks at Ostend in Belgium and embarked for return to the U.K on the 13 October, which they reached the next day. After disembarking at Tilbury Docks they returned to Bulford.

On the 24 November 1944 the Battery vacated Marlborough Barracks in Bulford and moved to new quarters at Monkton Farleigh, Corsham Garrison, in Wiltshire.

In December 1944 it was decided that there was no longer any need for an Air landing Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, and the it was used to provide the nucleus for two Air Landing Anti-Tank Batteries, the 5th and the 6th. Accordingly Gnr. Wilson was officially posted to the 5th Air Landing Anti-Tank Battery, RA on the 19 February 1945, which was commanded by Major. HJN Gillam, RA. This Battery, along with the 1st and the 2nd Air Landing Anti-Tank Batteries would make up the 1st Air Landing Anti-Tank Regiment, RA.

With this unit Gnr. Wilson went to Norway, as part of the Advance Party, on the 7 May 1945, landing at Sola airfield. He would remain at this location until the 18 May, when the Advance Party moved to Stavanger. Then at the end of the month the Regiment, less the 1st Battery (who would follow later), moved to the Christiansand area, and the 5th Battery went to Valle. Here they were made responsible for patrolling the area of Mandal, and west to Lister.

He returned from Norway at the end of August 1945, and in November the decision was made to disband the 1st Airborne Division, and therefore the 1st Air Landing Anti-Tank Regiment, RA and on the 27 November he was officially posted to the Draft RA 3 Group, having set sail from the UK for the Middle East the day before!

He arrived in Palestine on the 11 December 1945, and was based at Mount Carmel, Haifa, where he served on the Staff of No 1 Command Education College Wing, (Modern Studies), MEF. On the 8 March 1946 he was promoted to Lance Bombardier, and was then promoted to Bombardier on the 7 June 1946.

He was released to the ‘Y’ Reserve List on the 4 September 1946, and then released to the Class ‘Z’ (T) Royal Army Reserve List on the 9 November 1946.

NOTES:
[1] Parachute Course Report, No 127, August 1944.