1st Street, Los Angeles
For over a mile between Hoover Street and Glendale Boulevard, 1st Street is synonymous with Beverly Boulevard.


1st Street, Los Angeles, Transportation
The L Line runs on east 1st Street between Alameda and Indiana Streets; it operates the Little Tokyo/Arts District, Pico/Aliso, Mariachi Plaza, Soto and Indiana stations. Metro Local line 14 runs through west 1st Street and Metro Local line 30 through East 1st Street. The under construction Metro Regional Connector will have a new light rail subway station on the intersection of 1st Street and Central Avenue.


1st Street, Los Angeles, Film history
First Street was a location background filmed during the Blood In Blood Out movie.


1st Street, Los Angeles, Downtown bridges
Walking through these historic bridges in Downtown Los Angeles since 1910 to the 1930s had been a leisure and pastime for some people. In the book Down By The Los Angeles River written by Joe Linton he narrates the readers on a walking path starting from First Street Bridge. LA voters in 1924 passed the Viaduct Bond Act that would allocate 2 million dollars through a tax, the funds allocated would go towards revitalizing the Downtown Los Angeles Bridges.


1st Street, Los Angeles, Downtown bridges
The friends of the Los Angeles River mobilized the La Gran Limpieza to clean up the Los Angeles River with an educational feature where they invited elementary, middle, and high school students. A collaboration the friends of the Los Angeles had was with the Los Angeles Conservation Corps’ Clean & Green program that monitored the water quality at the rivers monthly. Under their collaborated event efforts activities included cleaning up trash, science experiments, educational workshop, and familiarize participants with the L.A river bridges themselves since events would be facilitated there to create community identity.


1st String Teenage High
Tullycraft released the 1st String Teenage High 7" EP on the German label Little Teddy Recordings in 1996. The four songs were exclusive, but reappeared on The Singles CD released in 1999. The songs were recorded and mixed at Yoyo Studios in Olympia, Washington.


1st Submarine Flotilla (Sweden)
The 1st Submarine Flotilla (Swedish: Första ubåtsflottiljen, 1. ubflj) is a unit of the Swedish Fleet which has operated in various forms since 1904. Its unit staff is located at Karlskrona naval base, Blekinge in Karlskrona Garrison.


1st Submarine Flotilla (Sweden), History
The embryo of the 1st Submarine Flotilla was formed in 1904, when the Swedish Navy was supplied with its first submarine, Hajen, and the submarine force was formed. In 1918 the submarine force was included as the 1st Submarine Division (1.  undervattensbåtsdivisionen) in the Coastal Fleet. In 1934, the submarine force had been organized as the Submarine Department (Ubåtsavdelningen) with three included divisions. In 1951, the unit was assigned its current name, and was part of the Coastal Fleet as the 1st Submarine Flotilla. During the 1970s, the Navy Diving School (Flottans dykarskola) was added to the flotilla, which later formed the Diving Division (Dykdivisionen), which included submarine rescue ships.


1st Submarine Flotilla (Sweden), History
On 1 July 1994, the flotilla was organized as the First Submarine Department (Första ubåtsavdelningen, 1. UbA). This because all units within the Swedish Armed Forces were cadre organized, and got a permanent organisation. On 1 January 1998, the flotilla received its current name 1st Submarine Flotilla (Första ubåtsflottiljen, 1.  ubflj), and by the Defence Act of 2004 it was decided that the flotilla with its staff would be relocated from Hårsfjärden to Karlskrona. From 1 January 2005, the flotilla came to serve from Karlskrona naval base.


1st Submarine Flotilla (Sweden), Organisation
Between the years 1904-1998, the submarine force was included in the Coastal Fleet. See below the composite of the submarine force at different time points. During the 1930s, the submarine force was included in the Winter Squadron (Vintereskadern), which was the equipped part of the Swedish Navy during winter time. Parts of the submarine force were included in the Gothenburg Squadron and the Karlskrona Department (Karlskronaavdelningen) during World War II.


1st Submarine Flotilla (Sweden), Heraldry and traditions, Coat of arms
The coat of arms of the 1st Submarine Division (Första ubåtsavdelningen) 1994–1998 and the 1st Submarine Flotilla since 1998. Blazon: "Or, from a wavy base azure a trident issuant sable".


1st Submarine Flotilla (Sweden), Heraldry and traditions, Flag
The flag is a double swallow-tailed Swedish flag. It was presented to the then 1st Submarine by the Supreme Commander Owe Wiktorin at the Artillery Yard in Stockholm on 30 April 1996.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps
The 1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteers was a unit of Britain's Volunteer Force and Territorial Army from 1860 until 1955. Raised at Lowestoft in Suffolk, it served under various designations, as field artillery in Palestine during World War I and as heavy anti-aircraft artillery defending the UK during World War II.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, Origin
The enthusiasm for the Volunteer movement following an invasion scare in 1859 saw the creation of many units composed of part-time soldiers eager to supplement the Regular British Army in time of need. The 1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps (AVC) was formed at Lowestoft on 19 July 1860 and from 31 May 1861 it was attached to the 3rd Administrative Battalion of Suffolk Rifle Volunteers at Bury St Edmunds.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, Origin
In January 1864, together with other AVCs from Suffolk and Essex, the unit was attached to the 1st Norfolk AVC for administration, and in November that year the 1st Administrative Brigade of Norfolk Artillery Volunteers was formed with four batteries from Norfolk, one from Essex and four from Suffolk. The 1st Suffolk AVC built its drill hall at Arnold Street, Lowestoft, in about 1872.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, Origin
A major reorganisation of the Volunteer Force in 1880 saw the 1st Norfolk Admin Bde consolidated into a single unit, with the 1st Suffolk AVC due to become No 6 Battery. However, the Essex volunteers were unhappy with the arrangements and left, so the Suffolk batteries were renumbered, the 1st Suffolk becoming No 5 Battery in the 1st Norfolk (Norfolk & Suffolk) AVC, which was attached to the Eastern Division of the Royal Artillery in 1886. The Artillery Volunteers were transferred to the Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA) in 1899, and the unit was redesignated the 1st Norfolk RGA (Volunteers) in 1902.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, Territorial Force
When the Volunteers were subsumed into the Territorial Force (TF) under the Haldane Reforms in 1908, the two Suffolk batteries were separated from the 1st Norfolk RGA to form the IV (4th) (renumbered III (3rd) by October 1908) East Anglian (Howitzer) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (RFA), in which the Lowestoft battery provided both the 1st  Suffolk (Howitzer) Battery, RFA and the 3rd East Anglian Brigade Ammunition Column.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, Territorial Force
The Arnold Street Drill Hall was now used by the 3rd East Anglian Ammunition Column, while the headquarters of the 1st Suffolk (H) Battery was at a Drill Hall in Beccles Road shared with detachments of the Suffolk Yeomanry, the 6th (Cyclist) Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment and the 2nd East Anglian Field Ambulance of the Royal Army Medical Corps. The battery also had an outlying drill station at Peddars Road, Beccles shared with the Suffolk Yeomanry and the 5th and 6th (Cyclist) Bns, Suffolk Regiment.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, Territorial Force
The new brigade formed part of the East Anglian Division of the TF. By 1914 the howitzer batteries were each equipped with four 5-inch howitzers. It was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel The Earl of Stradbroke.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, World War I, Mobilisation
The East Anglian Division began its annual training on 27 July 1914 and by 3 August the divisional artillery had concentrated at the Redesdale training area in Northumberland. When the order to mobilise was given on 4 August, the units returned to their headquarters and then moved to their war stations. By 10 August the division had concentrated around Brentwood, Essex, and on 20 August it moved to Chelmsford and formed part of the coast defences.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, World War I, Mobilisation
Meanwhile, the formation of duplicate or 2nd Line TF units from Home Service men and recruits had been authorised, and towards the end of 1914 the 2nd East Anglian Division came into existence at Peterborough. The original (1st Line) battery became the 1/1st and its 2nd Line became the 2/1st Suffolk (H) Battery.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, World War I, 1/1st Suffolk Battery
The 1st East Anglian Division was employed on coast defence until May 1915, when it was concentrated at St Albans preparatory to going overseas as the 54th (1st East Anglian) Division. However, when the infantry departed for the Gallipoli Campaign, the divisional artillery was left behind. In August it joined the 2nd Line at Thetford and Brandon, Suffolk, the howitzer batteries were rearmed with modern 4.5-inch howitzers and handed over their obsolete 5-inch howitzers to the 2nd Line batteries.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, World War I, 1/1st Suffolk Battery, France and Egypt
On 17 November 1915 the 54th Divisional Artillery embarked for France, where it joined 33rd Division, a 'Kitchener's Army' division whose artillery were still under training.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, World War I, 1/1st Suffolk Battery, France and Egypt
After a month on the Western Front, during which parties of officers and men were attached for training to other divisions in the Front Line, 54th Divisional Artillery was warned that it was to be transferred to Egypt to rejoin its parent division, which had been withdrawn from Gallipoli. Embarkation began at Marseille on 30 January 1916 and disembarkation was completed at Alexandria by 14 February. The divisional artillery rejoined 54th Division at Mena Camp near Cairo and in April moved into No 1 (Southern) Section of the Suez Canal defences.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, World War I, 1/1st Suffolk Battery, France and Egypt
On 28 May 1916 the 1/III East Anglian (H) Brigade was renumbered CCLXXII (272) (H) Brigade RFA and 1/1st Suffolk (H) Bty became A (H) Battery. On 21 December the brigade was broken up, and A (H) Bty became C (H) Bty in CCLXXI (1/II East Anglian) Brigade (originally the Essex batteries, see above), while the Brigade Ammunition Column was split up between CCLXX and CCLXXI brigades.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, World War I, 1/1st Suffolk Battery, Gaza
The infantry battalions of 54th Division were slowly brought back up to strength with drafts from home during 1916, and by mid-January 1917 the whole division had assembled at Moascar in preparation for the British invasion of Sinai. After crossing the Wilderness, the division took part in the First (26–7 March) and Second Battle of Gaza (17–9 April)


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, World War I, 1/1st Suffolk Battery, Gaza
On 29 June 1917 the divisional artillery was reorganised again, with C/272 (H) Bty  joining CCLXX (1/I East Anglian) Bde (originally the Norfolk batteries see above) as C/270 (H) Bty. On 14/15 and 20/21 July, the brigade gave covering fire for major raids on the Turkish lines.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, World War I, 1/1st Suffolk Battery, Gaza
A six-day preliminary bombardment for the Third Battle of Gaza began on 27 October, with C/270 (H) Bty in No 2 Group supporting 163rd (Norfolk and Suffolk) Brigade. On X-Day (2 November), 163rd Bde attacked at 03.00 behind a creeping barrage laid down by No 2 Group. The brigade was checked by heavy Turkish defensive fire and some confusion because of the dark night, and the Norfolks were unable to reach their third objective, but on the right flank the 5th Bn Suffolk Regiment kept close behind No 2 Group's barrage and overran El Arish Redoubt with few losses. A new fire programme on 7 November began two hours before dawn and led to the Turkish evacuation of the town.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, World War I, 1/1st Suffolk Battery, Nahr el Auja
During the night of 23/24 November the pursuing ANZAC Mounted Division was ordered to seize a bridgehead across the Nahr el Auja supported by A and C/270 Btys. The two batteries moved up rapidly and began bombarding the bridge while the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade forded the river and attacked from the far side 'in a most spectacular charge over a little hill behind the bridge. It was a capital battle' in the words of an officer at 270 Bde HQ.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, World War I, 1/1st Suffolk Battery, Nahr el Auja
The Turks counter-attacked the following day and 270 Bde  was recalled from its bivouacs to re-occupy its positions of the previous day, which A and C/270 managed in 70 minutes from the first alarm. From an observation point known as Z30, effective fire was brought down on the Turks. Thereafter, 270 Bde became the basis of an artillery group positioned to support ANZAC Mtd Division along the river.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, World War I, 1/1st Suffolk Battery, Nahr el Auja
The Turks made a second serious attack on 27 November, where at Z30, C/270 Bty had one section of howitzers firing in one direction, the other at 180 degrees to it, and both targets had got within 3000 yards of the position. The brigade remained in support of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade until the Surrender of Jerusalem on 9 December.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, World War I, 1/1st Suffolk Battery, Nahr el Auja
During the Battle of Jaffa (21–22 December), 270 Bde supported 162nd (East Midland) Brigade's attack on 'Bald Hill' with a pre-dawn bombardment, followed by a barrage on the enemy communication trenches. 162nd Brigade successfully took the hill, and when 54th Division pushed on at dawn there was no serious resistance.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, World War I, 1/1st Suffolk Battery, Majdal Yaba
During the night of 11/12 March 1918 the 54th Division formed up for an attack on Majdal Yaba. There was no preliminary bombardment: after moving into position in No man's land, the batteries opened fire as the infantry attack went in, and then followed the advance of 162nd Bde, 'leap-frogging' forward by sections to ensure that some guns were always available. 54th Division then took up defensive positions on the height of Majdal Yaba. On 9 April, 270 Bde's guns supported 75th Division's attack against German troops on Three Bushes Hill (the Battle of Berukin).


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, World War I, 1/1st Suffolk Battery, Majdal Yaba
The German spring offensive on the Western Front led to a prolonged lull in operations in Palestine. In June, 54th Division was warned of a move to France that was later cancelled. In August, preparations began for the Battle of Megiddo. 270 Brigade HQ commanded No. 1 RA Group, including C/270 (H) Bty, while a series of battery positions were prepared and ammunition dumped (800 rounds per gun for 4.5-inch howitzers).


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, World War I, 1/1st Suffolk Battery, Megiddo
When the offensive opened on 19 September with the Battle of Sharon, there was no preliminary bombardment: the guns moved up close to the line during darkness, and then their opening fire at 04.30 was the signal for the infantry to advance. The field guns bombarded the enemy line until the infantry arrived, then while the 18-pounders fired a creeping barrage for the continued advance, the howitzers switched to firing on specific targets. C/270 (H) Bty was now in Left RA Group of 4.5-inch howitzer batteries supporting 161st (Essex) Brigade. After the timed barrage programme, the guns moved forward again under fire. By about 14.00, 161st Bde had secured all its objectives and 162nd Bde had passed through towards the final objectives. Despite the retaliatory fire, 270 Bde suffered no casualties in this final action.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, World War I, 1/1st Suffolk Battery, Megiddo
The division was then taken out of the line and concentrated at Haifa, where it was engaged in repairing communications for the rapidly advancing army. It next moved to Beirut, where it was concentrating when the Armistice of Mudros was signed with Turkey and hostilities ended on 31 October.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, World War I, 1/1st Suffolk Battery, Megiddo
In late November 1918 the division was ordered to return to Egypt, the artillery proceeding by sea and arriving in mid-December. Demobilisation began in January 1919, but in March, after its guns had been handed in and about one-third of its men had left, 54th Divisional Artillery was converted into an ad hoc cavalry regiment to act as mounted police during disturbances in Cairo. Demobilisation recommenced in May and was completed in June.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, World War I, 2/1st Suffolk Battery
Training for the 2nd Line artillery was hindered by the shortage of equipment, and several months passed before guns, horses and harness were received. Even then, only obsolete French De Bange 90 mm cannon were available for training. Early in 1915 the 2nd East Anglian Division (which was numbered 69th in August 1915) concentrated round Thetford, where it formed part of First Army in Central Force. The divisional artillery was distributed around Brandon, Cambridge and Tuddenham. In November the 2/III East Anglian Brigade took over the 5-inch howitzers released by its 1st Line (see above).


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, World War I, 2/1st Suffolk Battery
In May 1916, the 2/III East Anglian Brigade was numbered CCCXLVII (347) (H) Bde and 2/1st Suffolk (Howitzer) Bty became A (H) Bty. Later in the year the brigade was broken up and it became D (H) Bty in CCCXLV (345) Bde. In June 69th Division was transferred to Northern Command and moved to Harrogate in North Yorkshire.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, World War I, 2/1st Suffolk Battery
In October the battery swapped places with 536 (H) Battery at Cowshott near Aldershot. This was one of a number of new howitzer batteries formed at the TF Reserve Brigades on 30 June 1916; 536 (H) Battery had been formed at No 5 Reserve Brigade at Glasgow. The two batteries swapped equipment and changed identities: D (H) CCCXLV became 536 (2/1st Suffolk) (H) Bty, while the original 536 (H) Bty was renumbered 544 (H) Bty and continued to be administered by the Glasgow TF Association, but became D (H)/CCCXLV with 69th Division.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, World War I, 2/1st Suffolk Battery, 32nd Division
536 (2/1st Suffolk) (H) Bty went to France equipped with four 4.5-inch howitzers and on 10 October it joined CLV (West Yorkshire) Bde in 32nd Divisional Artillery (32nd DA), a New Army formation, becoming C (H)/CLV Bty.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, World War I, 2/1st Suffolk Battery, 32nd Division
Shortly afterwards 32nd Division was engaged in the Battle of the Ancre, the final phase of the Somme Offensive. A mass of artillery was assembled, including 32nd Division's, to support an attack by V Corps. CLV Brigade was deployed around the position known as 'White City', where it suffered casualties from counter-battery fire. Seven days of bombardment and wire-cutting preceded the attack, which employed a full creeping barrage. The initial pre-dawn attack was a partial success, and attacks continued over succeeding days.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, World War I, 2/1st Suffolk Battery, 32nd Division
32nd Division's infantry came into the line on 17 November and attacked 'Munich Trench' the following day, though they were quickly stopped by machine gun fire. The battle ended on 18 November, with minor operations continuing through the winter. CLV Brigade was pulled out of White City to safer positions by 21 November, and the divisional artillery was relieved on 6 December. It moved to the St Ouen area, with CLV Bde billeted in nearby village of St Léger


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, World War I, 2/1st Suffolk Battery, 32nd Division
CLV Brigade left 32nd Division and became an Army Field Artillery (AFA) brigade on 16 January 1917. However, C (H) Bty (formerly 536 (2/1st Suffolk) Bty) remained behind and was split up to bring the howitzer batteries of the remaining 32nd DA brigades (CLXI (Yorkshire) and CLXVIII (Huddersfield)) up to six guns each. The former 2nd Line TF gunners fought with these New Army batteries for the rest of the war, including following up the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line, the Battle of Messines, the Defence of Nieuport, the German spring offensive and the final Hundred Days Offensive. The units were disbanded in 1919.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, World War I, 3/1st Suffolk Battery
The 3rd Line Depot brigade (3/III East Anglian Brigade) was formed early in March 1915. At first, training had to be carried out without any guns, harness or horses. In May the unit was affiliated to No 4 TF Artillery School at High Wycombe. The Artillery School took over training while the 3/IIIrd became a holding and draft-finding unit. The 3rd Line East Anglian brigades were merged into the school in August 1916, when it became 4th Reserve Brigade, RFA (TF).


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, Interwar
When the TF was reconstituted as the Territorial Army (TA) in 1921, the former III East Anglian Brigade was amalgamated with the Suffolk Yeomanry to form 103rd (Suffolk) Brigade RFA in 54th (East Anglian) Division. However, this was broken up again in 1923, the Yeomanry batteries moving to 108th (Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry) Bde RFA, leaving 103rd Bde as an 'Army' unit of the Royal Artillery (RA) in 54th Divisional Area, with the following composition:


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, Interwar, Anti-Aircraft role
However, the 103rd Fd Bde was itself broken up on 1 October 1932. The HQ was disbanded and the howitzer battery joined 58th (Suffolk) Medium Brigade (formerly the 6th (Cyclist) Bn Suffolk Regiment) at Ipswich. The senior battery returned to Lowestoft and converted to the Anti- Aircraft (AA) role as an independent 175th Battery, shortly redesignated 409th (Suffolk) Anti - Aircraft Battery, RA. The Earl of Stradbroke became Honorary Colonel of the battery.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, Interwar, Anti-Aircraft role
On 1 November 1938, the 84th (1st East Anglian) Field Bde (formerly the 1st Norfolk AVC, see above) was also converted to the AA role as 78th (1st East Anglian) Anti - Aircraft Regiment, RA, and 409th (Suffolk) Independent AA Bty was regimented with it.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, Interwar, Anti-Aircraft role
The regiment was assigned to 41st (London) Anti - Aircraft Brigade in 2nd AA Division.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, World War II, Mobilisation
In February 1939 the TA's AA defences came under the control of a new Anti- Aircraft Command. In June, as the international situation worsened, a partial mobilisation of the TA was begun in a process known as 'couverture', whereby each AA unit did a month's tour of duty in rotation to man selected AA gun positions. On 24 August, ahead of the declaration of war, AA Command was fully mobilised at its war stations, which in the case of 41st (London) AA Bde was in East Anglia.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, World War II, Blitz
In 1940 the AA regiments equipped with 3-inch or newer 3.7-inch guns were redesignated 'Heavy AA' regiments. During The Blitz, from Autumn 1940 to February 1941, 78th HAA Rgt was split up into detachments between 32nd (Midland), 40th and 41st (London) AA Bdes, covering airfields in East Anglia and the East Midlands under 2nd AA Division. By May 1941 the regiment was concentrated in 40th AA Bde.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, World War II, Mid-War
On 6 October 1941, 409 (Suffolk) HAA Bty left to join a newly formed 136th HAA Rgt in 32nd AA Bde.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, World War II, Mid-War
At the beginning of April 1942, 136th HAA Rgt moved to 30th (Northumbrian) AA Bde in 7th AA Division covering North East England, but by the end of June it was back in the East Midlands with 32nd AA Bde.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, World War II, Mid-War
In early 1943, 409 HAA Bty was detached from the regiment and attached to 50th AA Bde covering Derby and Nottingham. In May, the whole of 136th HAA Rgt moved south to join 37th AA Bde along the north side of the Thames Estuary.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, World War II, Baby Blitz and Operation Diver
In August 1943 the regiment moved to 71st AA Bde. This was part of 2nd AA Group responsible for defending South East England and the approaches to London. Between 21 January and 14 March 1944 the Luftwaffe carried out 11 night raids on London in the so-called 'Baby Blitz'. From April 1944, 2 AA Group had the additional responsibility of defending the ports at which the shipping for the invasion of Europe (Operation Overlord) was being gathered. By now, 136th HAA Rgt formed part of a new 102nd AA Bde in 2 AA Group.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, World War II, Baby Blitz and Operation Diver
No sooner had the Overlord fleet sailed on D-Day than the long-anticipated V-1 flying bomb campaign began against London. Large numbers of HAA guns under 2 AA Group were deployed in depth across the line of flight of the V-1s as part of Operation Diver, but it was not until most of the HAA batteries were moved out to the coast and given the latest Radar No 3 Mark V (the SCR-584 radar set) and No 10 Predictors (the all-electric Bell Labs AAA Computer) that their rate of success against these small fast-moving targets began to improve. Once 21st Army Group had overrun the V-1 launching sites in Northern France, the Luftwaffe switched to air-launching V-1s over the North Sea, and many of the 'anti-Diver' batteries had to be relocated to the East Coast during the autumn and winter of 1944–45.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, Postwar
After the war ended, 136th HAA Rgt briefly served in Scotland with 40th AA Bde, which had moved to Kincardine. On 1 April 1946, the war-formed 136th HAA Rgt was disbanded at King's Park, Glasgow, and its personnel were used to resuscitate the Regular 5th HAA Rgt, with the TA 409 Bty placed in suspended animation to reform 8 HAA Bty of that regiment.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, Postwar
(The original 5th HAA Rgt had been captured at the Fall of Hong Kong on 25 December 1941, but 8 HAA Bty had been operating independently in India and survived, fighting in the retreat through Burma in 1942; it was placed in suspended animation on 28 February 1945.) The reformed 5th HAA Rgt went on to become 69 HAA Rgt in the postwar Regular Army.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, Postwar, 660 Heavy AA Regiment
When the TA was reconstituted on 1947, 409th (Suffolk) HAA Bty reformed at Lowestoft as a full regiment, designated 660 HAA Rgt, becoming a 'Mixed' unit (indicating that members of the Women's Royal Army Corps were integrated into the regiment) in 1950. The regiment initially formed part of 66th AA Bde (the old 40th AA Bde), though that was disbanded the following year. When AA Command was disbanded on 10 March 1955, 660 HAA Rgt was initially ordered to amalgamate with 4th Bn Suffolk Regiment, but on 22 April this was changed to complete disbandment.


1st Suffolk Artillery Volunteer Corps, Honorary Colonel
Colonel The Earl of Stradbroke, KCMG, CB, CVO, CBE, VD, TD, commanded III East Anglian Brigade and 272 Brigade RFA in France, Egypt and Palestine during World War I. He became Honorary Colonel of the 103rd (Suffolk) Bde in 1927 and then of 409th Independent AA Bty from 1932 until its merger with 78th HAA Regiment in 1938.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery
The 1st Suffolk & Harwich Volunteer Artillery, later the Essex & Suffolk Royal Garrison Artillery was an auxiliary coastal artillery unit of the British Army first raised in 1899. It defended the ports and naval bases (the Haven ports) around the estuaries of the Rivers Orwell and Stour. Although the unit saw no active service, it supplied trained gunners to siege batteries engaged on the Western Front during World War I. It was greatly expanded in World War II to defend the invasion-threatened East Anglian Coast from Harwich to Great Yarmouth. Postwar it continued in the coast and air defence roles until it disappeared in a series of amalgamations from the 1950s.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, Volunteer Force
The rise of the Volunteer movement following an invasion scare in 1859 saw the creation of many Rifle, Artillery and Engineer Volunteer Corps composed of part-time soldiers eager to supplement the Regular British Army in time of need. These developed into permanent auxiliary units in the later 19th Century. On 1 April 1899 two companies of the 1st Essex Artillery Volunteers based in the port of Harwich became the basis of a new unit recruited among the Haven ports straddling the Essex–Suffolk border, with one new battery at Ipswich and three at Felixstowe.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, Volunteer Force
Initially designated the 2nd Essex (Harwich) Volunteer Artillery it was soon renamed the 1st Suffolk & Harwich Volunteer Artillery in Eastern Division, Royal Artillery. From 1 June 1899 all volunteer artillery units were part of the Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA) and on 1 January 1902 they were redesignated, the Harwich unit becoming the 1st Suffolk & Harwich RGA (Volunteers). It now had eight companies, with its headquarters (HQ) at 6 Church Street in Harwich and No 3 Company detached at Felixstowe. From 1 July 1905 the unit was commanded by Lt-Col Arthur Churchman (later Lord Woodbridge) of the Ipswich-based W.A. & A.C. Churchman tobacco company and a former Mayor of Ipswich.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, Territorial Force
When the Volunteer Force was subsumed into the Territorial Force under the Haldane Reforms in 1908, the unit became the Essex and Suffolk Brigade, RGA, as a defended ports unit, with a new headquarters built at Dovercourt in 1911. By 1914 it was organised as follows:


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, Territorial Force
The responsibilities of the unit were split between the Defended Ports of Medway and Thames (two companies) and the Defended Port of Harwich (two companies), where in wartime they would man the guns alongside Regular RGA companies:


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War I, Mobilisation
The Essex & Suffolk RGA mobilised in August 1914 on the outbreak of war. Shortly afterwards TF units were invited to volunteer for Overseas Service and on 15 August 1914, the War Office (WO) issued instructions to separate those men who had signed up for Home Service only, and form these into reserve units. On 31 August, the formation of a reserve or 2nd Line unit was authorised for each 1st Line unit where 60 per cent or more of the men had volunteered for Overseas Service. The titles of these 2nd Line units would be the same as the original, but distinguished by a '2/' prefix.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War I, Mobilisation
By October 1914, the campaign on the Western Front was bogging down into Trench warfare and there was an urgent need for batteries of Siege artillery to be sent to France. The WO decided that the TF coastal gunners were well enough trained to take over many of the duties in the coastal defences, releasing Regular RGA gunners for service in the field, and 1st line RGA companies that had volunteered for overseas service had been authorised to increase their strength by 50 per cent.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War I, Mobilisation
Although complete defended ports units never went overseas, they did supply trained gunners to RGA units serving overseas. They also provided cadres to form complete new units for front line service, thus the siege batteries formed in late 1915–early 1916 were a mixture of Regular and TF gunners from the RGA coast establishments with new recruits. In August 1915 Harwich was chosen as one of the depots for forming these units, under the command of Major G.W. Horsfield, officer commanding (OC) No 1 Company Essex & Suffolk RGA.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War I, Mobilisation
The selected Territorials were sent to Beacon Hill Battery under Capt F.A.W. Cobbold (a member of Ipswich's Cobbold brewing family) of No 4 Company to begin their training. The first battery to be formed at Harwich, 76th Siege Battery, consisted of a half battery of men from the Essex & Suffolk RGA, drawn from all four companies, the remainder being returning wounded Regulars, men of the Special Reserve, and 'Kitchener's Army' volunteers. 90th Siege Battery, RGA was formed at Harwich on 1 December 1915.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War I, Mobilisation
Although the relevant WO Instruction does not specifically mention this, it is recorded that half the men of the new battery were Essex Territorials, and the remainder Durham miners (presumably Kitchener volunteers). Thereafter four more siege batteries ordered to be formed at Harwich had cadres of four officers and 78 other ranks (ORs) drawn from the Essex & Suffolk RGA: 148, 220, 245 and 356 (see below). A large number of other siege batteries were formed at Harwich during the war (34, 119, 139, 166, 189, 229, 252, 264, 294, 300, 312) and although no TF cadres are specified, it is likely that the Essex & Suffolk RGA would have assisted in their organisation.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War I, Home defence
This process meant a continual drain on the manpower of the defended ports units and under Army Council Instruction 686 of April 1917, the coastal defence companies of the RGA (TF) were reorganised. The Essex & Suffolk RGA serving in the Harwich and Shoeburyness Garrison was reduced from five remaining companies (1/1st, 1/4th, 2/1st, 2/3rd, 2/4th) to just three numbered 1–3. The 1st and 2nd Line TF distinction was dropped and they were to be kept up to strength with non-TF recruits. In April 1918 the Harwich Garrison comprised the following batteries under the control of No 14 (Essex & Suffolk) Coastal Fire Command based at Landguard Fort:


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War I, Home defence
No 1 Company was based at Beacon Hill, No 2 at Brackenbury. These defences never saw action during the war. The TF was demobilised in 1919 after the Armistice with Germany and the Essex & Suffolk RGA entered suspended animation.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War I, Western Front, 76th Siege Battery, RGA
In the words of the battery's historian, 'the history of No 76 Siege Battery is to a large extent bound up with that of the Essex and Suffolk R.G.A.'. On 3 November 1915 the half battery from Harwich travelled to Roffey Camp, Horsham, to join the other personnel from Clarence Barracks, Portsmouth under the command of Maj W.H. Brent Clark. Clark had been the Regular Army adjutant of the Essex & Suffolk before the war and had applied to transfer to the battery from command of 67th Siege Bty. After training at Lydd, the battery embarked for the Western Front equipped with four 9.2-inch howitzers.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War I, Western Front, 76th Siege Battery, RGA
The battery joined 25th Heavy Artillery Group (HAG) with Fourth Army, which was preparing for that year's 'Big Push' (the Battle of the Somme). 25th HAG supported 32nd and 36th (Ulster) Divisions, which were to attack Thiepval. The infantry went 'over the top' at 07.30 and the heavy artillery bombardment proceeded through its planned phases, lifting from one objective to the next. However, although one brigade of 36th (Ulster) Division had swept through the German positions opposite, the rest of the attack on Thiepval was held up. The guns were ordered to repeat part of the bombardment, but the advance could not be restarted, and counter-attacks drove the Ulstermen out of most of their gains.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War I, Western Front, 76th Siege Battery, RGA
The Somme Offensive continued through the summer and autumn, with 76th Siege Bty supporting the attacks on Pozières and Contalmaison. In September the battery was able to move one of its sections forward to support the attacks on Mouquet Farm ('Mucky Farm') and the Schwaben Redoubt. On 13 November the battery swung its howitzers round to fire on Beaumont-Hamel (the Battle of the Ancre), the capture of which ended the offensive.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War I, Western Front, 76th Siege Battery, RGA
There were minor operations on the Ancre Heights during January 1917, then in March the battery moved to the Arras sector where it supported Canadian Corps' successful attack on Vimy Ridge (9 April). The battery was then engaged during the Arras Offensive until it was moved to the Ypres Salient at the end of May. It played a minor role in the Battle of Messines, then joined 90th HAG for the opening of the Third Battle of Ypres.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War I, Western Front, 76th Siege Battery, RGA
At the end of June the battery was brought up to a strength of six howitzers when it was joined by a section (2 officers and 32 ORs) from 356th Siege Bty, which had also been formed with a cadre from the Essex & Suffolk RGA (see below). But it also suffered serious casualties in the Salient, Maj Cobbold (who had succeeded to the command) being among those wounded).


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War I, Western Front, 76th Siege Battery, RGA
The Ypres offensive opened with the Battle of Pilckem Ridge) on 31 July, but after initial successes the attack bogged down before the end of the day. The follow-up attack (the Battle of Langemarck) on 16 August was a failure. The Battles of the Menin Road (20 September) and Polygon Wood (26 September) were highly successful because of the weight of artillery brought to bear on German positions.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War I, Western Front, 76th Siege Battery, RGA
But as the offensive continued the tables were turned: British batteries were clearly observable from the Passchendaele Ridge and were subjected to counter-battery CB fire, while their own guns sank into the mud and became difficult to aim and fire. 76th Siege Bty suffered serious casualties before it was finally rested in December.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War I, Western Front, 76th Siege Battery, RGA
76th Siege Bty joined 62nd HAG on 22 December. By now HAG allocations were becoming more fixed, and on 1 February 1918 they were converted into permanent RGA brigades. 62nd Brigade was defined as a Mixed Brigade, with guns and howitzers of several sizes. Apart from short periods of detachment, 76th Siege Bty remained with this brigade until the Armistice.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War I, Western Front, 76th Siege Battery, RGA
Early in 1918 62nd Bde moved south to join Third Army where its guns were hidden and remained silent until the launch of the German Spring Offensive on 21 March, when they immediately began firing pre-arranged 'SOS' barrages. German retaliation was heavy: the gun positions came under heavy fire of gas, shrapnel and High explosive shells, 76th battery commander was 's and the battery was ordered to pull out just ahead of the advancing Germans. It halted on 26 March after difficult 40 miles (64 km) retreat along roads crowded with retreating troops and civilians, and periodically under fire.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War I, Western Front, 76th Siege Battery, RGA
From April to July this part of the front was relatively quiet. Then Third Army entered the Allied Hundred Days Offensive. 76th Siege Bty caught up with 62nd Bde in time for the Battle of the Drocourt-Quéant Switch Line (2 September). Afterwards, the battery took up a very exposed position at Pronville-en-Artois, near Quéant, and after being heavily shelled and suffering numerous casualties had to move into the valley behind.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War I, Western Front, 76th Siege Battery, RGA
It supported the attacks at the Battle of the Canal du Nord (27 September) and the Second Battle of Cambrai (8 October), at the end of which it had to cease fire because the enemy had retreated out of range. By now the offensive had turned into a pursuit, and many of the heavy batteries had to be left behind. 76th Siege Bty was billeted on the outskirts of Cambrai when hostilities were ended on 11 November by the Armistice with Germany.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War I, Western Front, 76th Siege Battery, RGA
As 1919 progressed 76th was reduced to a skeleton battery of officers and men who escorted the guns back to England in May. Although the battery was designated 104th Bty in 26th Bde RGA in the interim order of battle published on 21 May 1919, this was scrapped after the signature of the Treaty of Versailles  in June and the battery was officially disbanded.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War I, Western Front, 148th Siege Battery, RGA
148th Siege Battery, RGA, was raised at Harwich under Army Council Instruction 1091 of 29 May 1916 with a cadre of 4 officers and 78 ORs – approximately a TF RGA company – from the Essex & Suffolk RGA. It went out to the Western Front in August 1916, manning four 9.2-inch howitzers, and joined Fourth Army, which was engaged in the continuing Somme Offensive. The battery was commanded for a period by Major George Hugh-Jones, who had first been commissioned into the 1st Suffolk & Harwich RGA in 1900. He was wounded in November 1916.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War I, Western Front, 148th Siege Battery, RGA
In March 1917 148th Siege Bty moved north to join the artillery supporting Canadian Corps at Vimy Ridge, and then the continuing Arras offensive. In May it went to Second Army for the Battle of Messines and afterwards to Fifth Army for the Ypres Offensive. In June it replaced its old guns by taking over the new Mark II howitzers that 356th Siege Bty had brought with them (see below). The battery supported II Corps at Pilckem Ridge, but the infantry were unable to reach their objectives. Like the other siege batteries at Ypres, 148th struggled to continue its CB work under appalling conditions.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War I, Western Front, 148th Siege Battery, RGA
During the winter 148th Siege Bty joined 28th HAG, later 28th Bde, and remained with it for the rest of the war. During the German Spring Offensive of 1918 the heavy howitzers of 148th Siege Bty were left behind when 28th Bde went south to reinforce the threatened front, but the brigade was reunited for the Hundred Days Offensive, taking part in Fifth Army's advance.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War I, Western Front, 148th Siege Battery, RGA
148th Siege Bty was designated 116th Bty in 29th Bde RGA in the 1919 interim order of battle, but was disbanded after this was scrapped.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War I, Western Front, 220th Siege Battery, RGA
220th Siege Battery, RGA, was formed at Harwich on 31 July 1916 from the Essex & Suffolk RGA under Army Council Instruction 1544 of 8 August 1916. It went out to the Western Front 25 December 1916, equipped with four 6-inch 26 cwt howitzers, and initially joined 72nd HAG with Fifth Army on 7 January 1917 during the winter operations on the Ancre Heights.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War I, Western Front, 220th Siege Battery, RGA
72nd HAG followed the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line (Operation Alberich), and then joined Third Army for the opening Battle of Arras. 220th Siege Bty served under several different HAGs during the continuing offensive and through the summer. It went to Ypres in the autumn to relieve exhausted units, and served through the grim battles of Passchendaele with 56th HAG. 56th HAG became 56th Brigade in December and 220th Siege Bty remained with it for the rest of the war.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War I, Western Front, 220th Siege Battery, RGA
56th Brigade was moved in to reinforce Third Army before the launch of the German Spring Offensive. After the German breakthrough 220th Siege Bty supported the retreating troops, finding ammunition where it could. Eventually the brigade rallied behind Amiens. It returned to the line with Third Army and took part in the Hundred Days advance at the Battles of Albert, Bapaume and Cambrai, followed by the crossing of the Sambre. Even 220th Siege Bty's lighter 6-inch howitzers could not keep up in the final days of the advance. The battery went to Germany as part of the British Army of the Rhine after the Armistice, where it was disbanded in 1919.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War I, Western Front, 245th Siege Battery, RGA
245th Siege Battery, RGA, was formed at Harwich on 29 August 1916 with a cadre of 3 officers and 78 ORs from the Essex & Suffolk RGA under Army Council Instruction 1739 of 7 September 1916. It went out to the Western Front on 29 January 1917, equipped with four 6-inch 26 cwt howitzers and joined Second Army in the Ypres sector. Its first major action was at the Battle of Messines, where it suffered numerous casualties under hostile CB fire, including its commander being wounded.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War I, Western Front, 245th Siege Battery, RGA
It moved to Ypres in the summer, supporting II Corps in its ill-fated attacks at Pilckem Ridge and Langemarck. It then fired in support of the more successful battles of the Menin Road, Polygon Wood and Broodseinde, and suffered like the other batteries in the mud of Passchendaele. It then went fr rest with 6th HAG, but was sent to help Third Army ward off the fierce German counter-attack following the Battle of Cambrai.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War I, Western Front, 245th Siege Battery, RGA
During the winter 6th HAG became 6th Bde, and 245th Siege Bty was brought up to a strength of six howitzers. One of the most serious breakthroughs of the German offensive of 21 March 1918 occurred in front of 245th Siege Bty, and it was forced to pull out hurriedly with the loss of half its guns. It took part in a rearguard action at Mont Saint-Quentin, where 16th (Irish) Division covered the Somme crossings. It got back with one gun, which it handed over to another battery and went to the rear to re-arm and refit. In April 6 Bde was supporting Australian Corps and III Corps when the Germans made a thrust at Villers-Bretonneux) All the guns were brought to bear and the attack was halted, then driven back by counter-attack.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War I, Western Front, 245th Siege Battery, RGA
6th Brigade was with Second Army south of Ypres during the summer when 245th Siege Bty was hit by a German bombardment and its commander was killed. The Ypres sector remained quiet during the first part of the Allied offensive of August 1918, but the Germans began withdrawing on Second Army's front and 6th Bde took part in the follow-up, back onto Messines Ridge, leading to the Fifth Battle of Ypres and the Battle of Courtrai. Casualties were still serious, but the battery supported Second Army's crossing of the Schelde. After the Armistice, 45th Siege Bt also served in the Rine Army before it was disbanded in 1919.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War I, Western Front, 356th Siege Battery, RGA
356th Siege Battery, RGA, was raised at Harwich on 19 January 1917 from a nucleus provided by details of the Essex & Suffolk RGA. It went out to the Western Front on 12 June, manning four 9.2-inch howitzers. It joined II Corps on 22 June where it exchanged its new Mark II howitzers for the older ones of 148th Siege Bty (see above). The battery was then broken up, one section going to reinforce 76th Siege Bty (see above), the other to 265th Siege Bty.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, Interwar
When the TF was reconstituted on 7 February 1920, the former Essex & Suffolk RGA was split into separate units. Nos 1–3 Companies were reorganised as the Essex RGA at Dovercourt with a single battery; this unit later took over some Kent batteries and became the Thames & Medway Coast Brigade.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, Interwar
Meanwhile, No 4 Company reformed at Harwich as the Suffolk RGA. When the TF was reorganised as the Territorial Army (TA) in 1921 this unit was redesignated the Suffolk Coast Brigade, RGA and the single company became 176 Coast Battery. When the Royal Garrison Artillery was subsumed into the Royal Artillery (RA) in 1924, the unit was redesignated again as the Suffolk Heavy Brigade, RA. It took over the Dovercourt drill hall after the Thames & Medway moved to Southend in 1924.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, Interwar
In 1926 it was decided that the coast defences of the UK would be manned by the TA alone. These defences reached their final form in 1932, and the brigade raised a new 166 Heavy Bty at Ipswich on 1 October that year. Together with the Suffolk Fortress Royal Engineers, TA, it became fully responsible for the Harwich defences. In 1938 the RA adopted the more conventional designation of 'regiment' instead of 'brigade' for a lieutenant-colonel's command, and the unit became the 'Suffolk Heavy Regiment on 1 November On the outbreak of World War II the regiment was responsible for the following armament at Harwich:


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War II, Home defence
With the danger of invasion after the British Expeditionary Force was evacuated from Dunkirk, a 'crash' programme began to instal additional guns at smaller ports, together with Emergency Beach Batteries at potential landing sites. The Royal Navy offered the necessary 6-inch guns, some of which were temporarily manned by naval gunners. The first batch, authorised on 22 May 1940, included the following Priority A sites on the East Anglian coast:


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War II, Home defence
A second batch was authorised on 12 June 1940, including:


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War II, Home defence
Other beach batteries were installed in the area later, including:


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War II, Home defence
In addition, 12-pounder and twin 6-pounder guns were installed to counter motor torpedo boats. At their height in the autumn of 1941, the following guns were installed at the East Anglian ports:


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War II, Home defence
During 1941, specially trained Coast Observer Detachments (CODs) began to be organised to man coast artillery radar, and in early 1942 the RA formed Defence Troops to defend exposed coast batteries against hostile raids.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War II, Home defence
Meanwhile, the RA coast artillery branch had been massively expanded to man the extra defences. With effect from 14 July 1940 the Suffolk Coast Rgt was divided into two separate units, designated 514th and 515th (Suffolk) Coast Regiments:


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War II, Home defence, 514th (Suffolk) Coast Regiment
Initially formed with A and B Btys, later organised as:


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War II, Home defence, 515th (Suffolk) Coast Regiment
Initially formed with A, B, C and D Btys, later organised as:


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War II, Mid-war
The coast defences of Suffolk were reorganised in early 1942. Firstly, Harwich Fire Command was split into North Bank and South Bank Fire Commands. 515th (Suffolk) Coast Rgt remained in North Bank FC under II Corps, while a new 572nd Coast Rgt was formed at Harwich in South Bank FC under XI Corps, taking over 281, 282 and 283 Btys from 515th. On 1 May 1942 RHQ of 544th Coast Regiment, previously in North East England, was brought in and established at Lowestoft in Lowestoft FC, taking over 177, 215, 225 and 326 Btys and 23 COD from 514th (Suffolk) Coast Rgt which retained Yarmouth FC; both were under XI Corps.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War II, Mid-war
By July 1942 Coastal Artillery Plotting Rooms (later known as Army Plotting Rooms) had been created to coordinate the 'coast watching' radar of the CODs, with No 11 plotting room assigned to Yarmouth FC under II Corps and No 12 to Harwich FC under XI Corps.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War II, Late War
By 1943 the threat from German attack had diminished and there was demand for trained gunners for the fighting fronts. A process of reducing the manpower in the coast defences began, but there were few organisational changes for the Suffolk defences closest to the enemy. In June 1943, 514th Coast Rgt and No 11 Plotting Room transferred from II Corps to Norfolk and Cambridge District Coast Artillery, while 515th, 572nd and No 2 Plotting Room left XI Corps and came under II Corps District. By March 1944 both district HQs had been disbanded and all the units came directly under HQ Coast Artillery, Eastern Command.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War II, Late War
The manpower requirements for the forthcoming Allied invasion of Normandy (Operation Overlord) led to further reductions in coast defences in April 1944. By this stage of the war many of the coast battery positions were manned by Home Guard detachments (such as Aldeburgh, Bawdsey and Southwold) or in the hands of care and maintenance parties, including the Beacon Hill, Brackenbury and North Denes batteries. Consequently, RHQ of 572nd Coast Rgt was disbanded on 1 April 1944, together with 110 Bty; as an established TA unit, 281 Bty passed into suspended animation; 282 Bty returned to 515th (Suffolk) Coast Rgt.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War II, Late War
The same disbandment included 546th Coast Rgt in Norfolk, its batteries (174, 197, 219, 228, 324, 353) being taken over by 514th (Suffolk) Coast Rgt, and 548th Coast Rgt in Essex, the batteries (330, 331, 372, 373) going to 515th (Suffolk) Coast Rgt. 23, 56 and 82 CODs were also disbanded at this time.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War II, Late War
After VE Day Britain's coast defences could be stood down. RHQ of 514th (Suffolk) Coast Rgt began entering suspended animation on 1 June 1945 together with 277 Bty; 191, 325 and 384 Btys began disbanding on the same day, while 427 Bty transferred to 515th (Suffolk) Coast Rgt. At the same time 544th Coast Rgt at Lowestoft was disbanded and its remaining batteries transferred to 515th. These procedures were completed by 26 June, and left 515th (Suffolk) Coast Rgt as the sole regimental HQ commanding coast artillery in Eastern Command from The Wash to the Thames, with the following organisation:


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, World War II, Late War
515th (Suffolk) Coast Rgt continued as a holding regiment for the remaining TA coast batteries in the Eastern Ports (215, 280, 282, 427) until 10 January 1946 when RHQ and the batteries commenced entering suspended animation, which was completed by 31 January.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, Postwar
When the TA was reconstituted on 1 January 1947, 514th and 515th (Suffolk) Coast Rgts were reformed as 418 (Norfolk) Coast Regiment at Great Yarmouth and 419 (Suffolk) Coast Regiment at Harwich respectively. Both were in 101 Coast Brigade, based at Dover.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, Postwar
However, it was soon afterwards decided to reduce the number of TA coast regiments, and so on 1 September 1948 the unit at Great Yarmouth was converted into 418 (Norfolk) (Mixed) Heavy Anti- Aircraft Regiment ('Mixed' indicating that members of the Women's Royal Army Corps were integrated into the regiment). On 1 August 1950 the regiment was amalgamated into 284 (1st East Anglian) HAA Rgt, which became a Mixed unit. Anti - Aircraft Command was disbanded on 10 March 1955 and there were wholesale mergers among its units: 284 HAA Rgt amalgamated with 389 (King's Own Royal Regiment, Norfolk Yeomanry) Light AA Rgt to form 284 (KORR, Norfolk Yeomanry) LAA Rgt.


1st Suffolk and Harwich Volunteer Artillery, Postwar
419 (Suffolk) Rgt continued in the coast defence role until the Coast Artillery Branch of the RA was abolished in 1956. The regiment was absorbed into 358 (Suffolk Yeomanry) Medium Rgt on 31 October 1956, forming a new battery within that regiment. A further round of TA reductions took place in 1961, and on 1 May 284 and 358 Rgts merged to form 308 (Suffolk & Norfolk) Yeomanry Field Rgt and links with the Suffolk coast artillery were effectively ended.


1st Summit of the Americas
The First Summit of the Americas was convened in Miami, Florida, United States, on December 9–11, 1994.


1st Summit of the Americas
This summit was the first of a series of events for leaders from countries of the Americas.


1st Summit of the Americas
From across North and South America thirty-four nations met in Miami and agreed to create Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). All countries were welcome to participate except for Cuba. Cuba was the only country not invited to participate in Miami.


1st Summit of the Americas
The Summit of the Americas accepted a Declaration of Principles to aid in the process of discussing a continent wide trade bloc. The declaration principles included: Partnership for Development and Prosperity which meant that the heads of all the states in the Americas were committed to promote democracy, its values, and various institutions. Another aspect of the agreement was that all of the Americas were to be joined together in pursuing prosperity for every nation through open markets.


1st Summit of the Americas
The summit adopted a procedure to preserve and strengthen the community of democracies of the Americas. It was agreed upon that all nations would promote democracy and that citizens have the right to participate in government. The thirty-four nations that met in Miami understood that democracy requires an attack on all corruption which is what the agreement stated. There was also a call to cooperation among the nations in eliminating trafficking of illegal drugs. Another outline in the summit was the procedure to promote prosperity through economic integration and free trade. This required a promotion for all nations there should be no subsidies and nations should not practice in unfair laws.


1st Summit of the Americas, Overview
The "Summits of the Americas" is the name for a continuing series of summits bringing together the leaders of North America and South America. The function of these summits is to foster discussion of a variety of issues affecting the western hemisphere. These high-level summit meetings have been organized by a number of multilateral bodies under the aegis of the Organization of American States. In the early 1990s, what were formerly ad hoc summits came to be institutionalized into a regular "Summits of the Americas" conference program.


1st Summit of the Americas, Protests and demonstrations
The summits which garnered most general public and media attention were the Quebec City and Mar del Plata events, both provoking very large anti-globalization and anti–Free Trade Area of the Americas protests. Police responses to protesters and demonstrations developed into independent news stories.


1st Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement
Summit Conference of Heads of State or Government of the Non-Aligned Movement (Serbo-Croatian: Конференција шефова држава или влада несврстаних земаља / Konferencija šefova država ili vlada nesvrstanih zemalja, Macedonian: Конференција на шефови на држави или влади на неврзани земји, Slovene: Konferenca voditeljev držav ali vlad neuvrščenih držav) on 1–6 September 1961 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia was the first conference of the Non-Aligned Movement. A major contributing factor to the organization of the conference was the process of decolonization of a number of African countries in the 1960s. Some therefore called it the ″Third World's Yalta″ in reference to 1945 Yalta Conference.


1st Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement
Twenty-five countries in total participated in Belgrade Conference, while 3 countries, Bolivia, Brazil and Ecuador, were observers. The preparatory meeting of Non-Aligned Countries took place earlier that year in Cairo June 5–12, 1961. One of the issues was division of the newly independent countries over the Congo Crisis which led to a rift and creation of the conservative and anti-radical Brazzaville Group and radical nationalist Casablanca Group. All members of the Casablanca Group attended the conference, including Algeria, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Morocco and the United Arab Republic, while none of the Brazzaville Group was present. The summit was followed by the 2nd Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Cairo.


1st Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement, The Conference
Vladimir Popović was the head of the Yugoslav State Committee for the Preparation of the Conference. The conference brought together 25 independent states. In addition to them, there were three states that had observer status, eleven socialist parties, trade unions from Japan and four other organizations. Socio-economic differences between participants were great and from the beginning participating states often showed different interests. Yugoslavia attached special importance to Latin American countries participation. The participation of these countries, along with the representatives of Europe, should have given the conference the character of a gathering where all parts of the world are represented, and avoid reduction to Afro-Asian meeting as it was case with some meetings before.


1st Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement, The Conference
President Tito only partially succeeded bringing together all parts of the world to the conference. From Latin America, only Cuba was a full participant, while Bolivia, Brazil and Ecuador had observer status. The reason for that was the inability of these states to resist some pressure from the United States which wanted to preserve its role in the Western Hemisphere. The representatives of Yugoslavia were especially disappointed with Mexico's last minute cancelation. Of the European countries, only Cyprus and Yugoslavia as a host participated in the meeting.


1st Supply Battalion
The 1st Supply Battalion is a battalion of the United States Marine Corps that specializes in distributing and warehousing military goods and equipment. It is based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California and falls under the command of the 1st Marine Logistics Group.


1st Supply Battalion, Mission
The mission of Supply Battalion is to provide general support, ground supply support, less bulk fuel, and Navy funded stock/programs and Distribution system management for the sustainment of Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) operations.


1st Supply Battalion, Mission
Under the ongoing reorganization of the Corps, Combat Logistics Regiment 15 was disbanded, and the battalion joined the 1st Marine Logistics Group.


1st Support Group (Australia)
The 1st Support Group was a formation of the Australian Army during World War II. The brigade was formed in February 1942, at Victoria Barracks, Sydney and assigned to the 1st Armoured Division. Support Groups were brigade sized formations assigned to armoured divisions that commanded the infantry and artillery elements. The Support Group did not see any active service and was disbanded at Narrabri, New South Wales in November 1942.


1st Support Group (Australia), Brigade units
All units that served with the brigade during the war.


1st Supreme People's Assembly of Laos
The 1st Supreme People's Assembly of Laos was elected by the National Congress of People's Representatives on 2 December 1975. It was replaced by the 2nd Supreme People's Assembly on 1 June 1989.


1st Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea
The 1st Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) was elected on 25 August 1948 and convened for its first session on 2 September 1948. It was replaced on 18 September 1957 by the 2nd Supreme People's Assembly. It convened for its first meeting on 2–10 1948, which discussed and adopted the constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.


1st Surface to Air Missiles Brigade (Romania)
The 1st Surface to Air Missiles Brigade "General Nicolae Dăscălescu" (Brigada 1 Rachete Sol-Aer), is the main air defense unit of the Romanian Air Force. Its headquarters are located in Bucharest. The brigade was created on August 1, 1973, by gathering together the 18th and 19th SAM regiments. In 1995, it received the honorific name "General Nicolae Dăscălescu" (after Nicolae Dăscălescu 1884-1969) and a new battle flag. The main task of the 1st SAM Brigade is Bucharest's air defense.


1st Surface to Air Missiles Brigade (Romania)
The brigade's area of responsibility covers approximately 20,000 square km. in four counties (Giurgiu, Ialomiţa, Dâmboviţa and Călăraşi). The unit currently operates S-75 M3 "Volhov", S-125 missiles, and MIM-23 Hawk missile systems. Between 2007–08, the 3rd Battalion converted from ZSU-23-4 Shilka and SA-8 anti-aircraft systems to the US-made MIM-23 Hawk system.


1st Surrey Rifles
The 1st Surrey Rifles (often spelled out in full as First Surrey Rifles and abbreviated as FSR) was a volunteer unit of the British Army from 1859 until 1993. It saw considerable service on the Western Front, at Salonika and in Palestine during World War I. It served as a searchlight unit and as a light anti-aircraft regiment during World War II.


1st Surrey Rifles, Origins
An invasion scare in 1859 led to the creation of the Volunteer Force and huge enthusiasm for joining local Rifle Volunteer Corps (RVCs). The 1st Surrey RVC or South London Rifles was one of the first such units formed, being based on the existing Peckham Rifle Club and recruiting many other members from the Hanover Sports Club at Peckham. The first officers were commissioned into the unit on 14 June 1859, and the headquarters was established in Camberwell.


1st Surrey Rifles, Origins
The following year it absorbed the 3rd Surrey RVC (first commissions 26 August 1859), also based at Camberwell, which became No 2 Company. The 1st Surrey RVC was active in trying to take over other South London groups: in November 1859 it made an unsuccessful approach to a new sub-unit formed in Putney (which actually joined the 9th Surrey RVC in Richmond). By the end of 1860 the strength of the 1st Surrey (South London) RVC was eight companies, recruited across Camberwell, Peckham and Clapham, under the command of Lt-Col John Boucher, formerly of the 5th Dragoon Guards. In 1865 they opened a new headquarters and drill hall in Camberwell. The uniform was Rifle green with red facings. An affiliated Cadet Corps was formed at Dulwich College in 1878.


1st Surrey Rifles, Origins
Following the Childers Reforms the 1st Surrey RVC became the 1st Volunteer Battalion of the East Surrey Regiment on 1 July 1881, but without changing its title. Under the Stanhope Memorandum of December 1888 the battalion was assigned to the Surrey Volunteer Infantry Brigade, whose place of assembly in case of war was at Caterham to man the outer London Defence Positions. By 1907 the brigade had been split into separate East and West Surrey brigades, the 1st Surrey Rifles forming part of the East Surrey Brigade based at  Worplesdon. Volunteers from the unit served in the 2nd Boer War, earning the Battle honour South Africa 1900–02.


1st Surrey Rifles, Territorial Force
Under the Haldane Reforms, the former Volunteers were subsumed into the Territorial Force (TF) in 1908. The newly created London Regiment consisted entirely of TF infantry battalions, with no Regular component. The 1st Surreys' recruiting area of South London had been incorporated into the new County of London since 1889, and so it became the 21st (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (1st Surrey Rifles) (TF) and formed part of 6th London Brigade in the 2nd London Division. Its headquarters and all eight companies were located at Flodden Road, off Camberwell New Road.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, Mobilisation
The battalion had just arrived at Perham Down on Salisbury Plain on 2 August 1914 for its annual training when the order to mobilise was received, and it immediately returned to Camberwell. Within four days sufficient volunteers had been recruited to bring it up to full strength, and the battalion marched to billets in St Albans for intensive training. A few officers were left at Flodden Road to form the nucleus of a reserve battalion, which was fully recruited before the end of September. The two battalions were later designated 1/21st and 2/21st Londons.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 1/21st Londons
The 2nd London Division (soon to be numbered 47th Division) was sent to reinforce the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front in March 1915. The 1/21st Bn disembarked at Le Havre on 16 March and first went into the trenches on the evening of 2 April near Béthune, the four companies being distributed among the four battalions of 1st (Guards) Brigade for initiation into trench warfare. Later that month the division took over its own section of line, the 1/21st being in front of Festubert.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 1/21st Londons, Festubert
The Battle of Festubert began on 15 May, and on 25 May the 47th Division extended the British offensive by launching an attack from Givenchy just north of the La Bassée Canal. 6th London Brigade (now entitled 142nd (1/6th London) Bde), was chosen to make the attack on a two-battalion front by the 1/23rd and 1/24th Londons, with the 1/21st in support. The brigade was harassed by artillery and machine-gun fire (during the Battle of Aubers) in the days before the attack, which went in at 18.30 on the 25th, against German trenches known as the 'S' Bend.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 1/21st Londons, Festubert
The leading battalions swept across No-Man's Land with comparatively small losses, but once in the German front-line trench came under fierce enfilading fire from German guns that had pre-registered their own trenches. The lead companies of the First Surreys (B and D), waiting in the British front trenches, were also heavily shelled, and then met with intense small-arms fire when they crossed No-Man's Land to support the attack.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 1/21st Londons, Festubert
They then had to put the captured trenches into a defensible state to ward off counter-attacks, while A and C companies brought up supplies, evacuated wounded, and dug a communication trench from the old front line during the night. Daybreak on 26 May revealed that the left flank of the battalion was 'in the air', with a party of Germans behind it still inflicting casualties. It took all day to fortify this flank and build up parapets that could be handed over to the relieving battalion that night. The First Surreys lost two officers and 32 NCOs and men killed in this action, and three officers and 120 NCOs wounded, and won the battle honour Festubert 1915.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 1/21st Londons, Loos
After rest and reorganisation, the First Surreys returned to frontline duty in June 1915, holding relatively quiet sectors for the next three months while mentoring the Kitchener's Army men of 15th (Scottish) Division. The First Surrey's Regular Army adjutant, Capt H.B.P.L. Kennedy, was promoted to command the battalion. In late September, preparations began for the Battle of Loos, in which 47th Division was to play a major part. 142 Brigade's role was to provide a firm flank to the division's attack, and distract the enemy's attention with dummy figures in No-Man's Land.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 1/21st Londons, Loos
The attack started on 25 September, and on the night of 28 September 142 Bde went up to relieve the division's leading brigade, the First Surreys taking up positions among the coal mine workings of Loos. For the rest of the winter, the battalion was rotated through the dangerous defences in the area around Lone Tree and the Hohenzollern redoubt.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 1/21st Londons, Vimy
In Spring 1916 the division was moved to the Vimy Ridge sector near Arras. This was quiet to begin with, but in April intensive mining operations were begun by both sides, and on 20 May the Germans attacked and took some ground from the division. The 1/21st and 1/24th Bns counter-attacked on the evening of 23 May. The 1/24th was held up, but A Company of the First Surreys went ahead and recaptured the old line, holding it for about an hour and causing heavy casualties to the enemy.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 1/21st Londons, Vimy
However, they were unsupported by flanking forces and were compelled to return: 'Nothing was left to show for this gallant and costly action beyond a few yards of our old front line'. To hold its position against German counter-attack at the end of the action, the battalion had to be reinforced by a company of the 1/22nd Londons, by the divisional engineers and pioneers and by the tunnelling companies. The First Surreys suffered 187 casualties of all ranks in this action.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 1/21st Londons, High Wood
The First Surreys were relieved on 27 July and marched south to take part in the Somme offensive. On arrival, the battalion underwent intense training, before going into the line near High Wood on 10 September. On 15 September, as part of the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, 47th Division attacked to complete the capture of High Wood, with 142 Bde in reserve. The First Surreys moved into Mametz Wood at 06.30 to be close to the fighting line, and at noon were released to 140 Bde.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 1/21st Londons, High Wood
At 15.30, the battalion was ordered to capture a length of enemy-held trench (the 'Starfish Line') that lay between 140 and 141 Bdes. All went well until the leading platoons topped the ridge east of High Wood, when they came within view of the enemy's guns. Whole platoons were wiped out by direct hits, but the  others carried on until they were able to make a determined assault on the trench.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 1/21st Londons, High Wood
The 'Starfish Redoubt' was carried and connection made with the remnants of 140 Bde, but the losses made it impossible to continue to take the second objective (the 'Cough Drop'). Of the 19 officers and 550 men who had gone into the attack, only 2 officers and 60 men remained, the rest being dead or wounded.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 1/21st Londons, High Wood
The battalion was pulled out the following morning and marched back to collect a draft of 300 inexperienced men from the 2/5th East Surreys (from 67th (2nd Home Counties) Division in England). By 27 September the First Surreys were back at High Wood in reserve. On 8 October they attacked again, in an attempt to capture 'Diagonal Trench' near Eaucourt l'Abbaye  and the Butte de Warlencourt.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 1/21st Londons, High Wood
The attack was meant to be a surprise after a 1-minute hurricane bombardment, but the troops could make only 2–300 yards, still some 200 yards short of the objective, before they were  compelled to dig in and form a chain of outposts. The exhausted 47th Division was relieved the following day and sent to the Ypres Salient for the winter.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 1/21st Londons, Messines
The First Surreys went into the line near the much fought-over Hill 60, now a quiet sector used by both sides to rest exhausted divisions. It was not until May 1917 that the battalion began training for a new attack at Messines. Assisted by a series of large mines (including one under Hill 60), the pre-dawn assault at Messines was highly successful. The First Surreys, in support for 142 Bde, moved forward and by 06.15 were in their jumping-off position in the newly captured trenches.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 1/21st Londons, Messines
A and C Companies advanced and took 'Oaf Line', the German support line, after which they were to seize the spoil bank thrown up from canal construction, then wheel right and cross the canal. B and D Companies jumped off towards the spoil bank at 07.30, but the unit to their left was held up in 'Battle Wood', from which enemy machine-guns enfiladed the battalion as it advanced.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 1/21st Londons, Messines
Only a foothold could be gained on the spoil bank, so the divisional commander withdrew the troops and ordered a fresh bombardment of the position from 14.00 to 19.00. Reinforced, the First Surreys were due to renew the assault when the Germans put down an intense barrage, rendering attack impossible. The following day the battalion had to fend off several German counter-attacks. At Messines – generally considered a successful battle – the battalion's casualties were seven officers and 237 other ranks killed and wounded.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 1/21st Londons, Messines
After rest, the battalion went back into the front line on 1 July, and held the line or was in support until 25 July. Although this was a quiet period, the First Surreys were among the first units to experience the new German Mustard gas, which caused significant casualties. Even in camp in July and August, the battalion suffered from long-range shelling and night bombing. losing a steady trickle of key personnel. The 47th Division next went to the Arras front, where it held the Gavrelle and Oppy Wood sectors until late November, when it was sent to take over ground captured during the recent Battle of Cambrai.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 1/21st Londons, Bourlon Wood
The division took over the Bourlon Wood sector on the night of 28/29 November, and was bombarded with mustard gas. On 30 November the Germans made a heavy counter-attack against the sketchy trenches. On the night of 1 December, the First Surreys moved out of divisional reserve to relieve the battered Civil Service Rifles (1/15th Londons) in their isolated forward trenches. Despite gas and high explosive shelling, the battalion held the position until the division was withdrawn from the dangerous salient four days later. However the Germans kept up the pressure on the new line, and on 9 December the First Surreys had to counter-attack to relieve a party of 1/23rd Bn in 'Durrant's Post', after which the line was withdrawn further.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 1/21st Londons, Spring 1918
The heavy casualties suffered by the BEF necessitated a major reorganisation in early 1918. On 1 February, 1/21st Bn was transferred within the division to 140 Bde, where it came under the command of its former CO, now Brig-Gen H.B.P.L. Kennedy. At the same time it received a draft from the disbanded 2/11th London Regiment (Finsbury Rifles) in 58th (2/1st London) Division.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 1/21st Londons, Spring 1918
The German spring offensive opened on 21 March. The First Surreys had just taken over the 'Welsh Ridge' section of the front at Villers-Plouich, with two companies holding a chain of outposts rather than a continuous trench. After a heavy bombardment and a day of skirmishing with German probes, the battalion was ordered to fall back to 'Highland Ridge' after dark. The following day the battalion's Lewis gun teams fought a delaying action from Welsh Ridge to Highland Ridge.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 1/21st Londons, Spring 1918
The main German breakthrough had been to the south, and over the next few days the whole division had to fall back because of pressure from this flank. The First Surreys now got separated, part retiring with the rest of the brigade, the remainder with battalion HQ and details of other battalions digging in at Four Winds aerodrome at Lechelle. Later, Brig-Gen Kennedy, organising a mixed force from 47th and 2nd Division had two FSR companies under his command, while battalion HQ and the other companies were part of another mixed force holding the brigade's front line.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 1/21st Londons, Spring 1918
These outposts were slowly pushed in as the enemy infiltrated between them, and it was not until the evening of 24 March that the battalion was once more concentrated, at Bazentin Wood on the old Somme battlefield. On 25 March the battalion occupied an old trench and caused heavy casualties to German troops pushing past in the direction of Pozieres. Towards evening the enemy infiltration forced the brigade back once more. On 26 March the battalion retired across the River Ancre past fresh troops and ceased to be in the front line. For the next few days the First Surreys were engaged in digging defences, coming under heavy bombardment on 4 April when the rest of 47th Division was attacked once more. The battalion was finally relieved on 8 April.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 1/21st Londons, Spring 1918
For the rest of the month, the First Surreys were able to rest, refit, and train, absorbing drafts from the UK. Duties in May and June were light, then in July the battalion began to carry out the usual tours of duty in the front line, including introducing US troops to the trenches.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 1/21st Londons, The Hundred Days
The Allies had begun a new offensive at Amiens on 8 August, and the First Surreys joined this at the Battle of Albert. 47th Division attacked on 22 August from the old Amiens defences towards an objective called the Green Line, on the high ground east of 'Happy Valley'. 140th Brigade was in support, intended to exploit any success in conjunction with Whippet tanks and the cavalry of the Northumberland Hussars. However, the division's leading brigades encountered stiffer than expected opposition, the tanks and cavalry were unable to get through, and the Green Line was not reached.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 1/21st Londons, The Hundred Days
140th Brigade therefore made a fresh attack on the night at 01.00 on 24 August. This surprise night attack was a complete success, the regimental historian reporting that 'In brilliant moonlight, and with a splendid barrage, we went over, and were almost immediately in the trenches which formed our objective'. However, the battalion's left-hand company was severely shot up by a German strongpoint that the neighbouring division had failed to capture. The following afternoon the strongpoint was finally suppressed by tanks. The following night the battalion renewed the advance behind a creeping barrage, gaining two miles with almost no opposition.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 1/21st Londons, The Hundred Days
After three days' refitting, the division rejoined what had now become a war of movement against German rearguards. The First Surreys had a tough fight to take Moislans trench on 2 September, even though they were officially following up in support, because the attacking forces were also badly thinned – 1/21st Bn itself could only put 100 men into the battle. By now, 47 Division was in need of reinforcements that were not forthcoming; after calling up detached working parties, the First Surreys provided a composite company of 150 men for the operations of 6–7 September, after which the division was pulled out of the offensive.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 1/21st Londons, The Hundred Days
The First Surreys were warned to prepare for a move to the Italian Front, but this never happened because of shortage of railway rolling stock. Instead, the battalion spent a period holding a quiet sector of the line, and then took part in 47th Division's ceremonial entry into the liberated city of Lille on 28 October. After a halt on the Scheldt, the battalion had advanced past the evacuated city of Tournai when the Armistice with Germany came into force on 11 November.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 1/21st Londons, Demobilisation
Immediately after the Armistice the First Surreys were engaged in repairing the Tournai–Ath railway, and then went into winter quarters in the mining village of Auchel, near Béthune to await demobilisation. Men began to be demobilised in January 1919, and by 4 May the remaining cadre of the battalion entrained for the UK, for an official welcome at Camberwell and a final march-past to Buckingham Palace by London troops on 5 July. The battalion was demobilised on 25 July.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 1/21st Londons, Commanding Officers
The following officers commanded the 1/21st Bn during World War I:


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 2/21st Londons
The 2/21st Battalion was formed on 31 August 1914 began its training in September at Flodden Road, at Ruskin Park and on Wimbledon Common, with a few rifles borrowed from the affiliated cadet corps at Dulwich College. Meanwhile, the men continued to live at home and wore civilian clothes until uniforms gradually became available. In January 1915 the battalion joined 2/6th London Brigade in billets at Redhill, Surrey, where training included digging trenches at Merstham Hill as part of the London Southern Defence Scheme. During February, .256-in Japanese Ariska rifles were issued.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 2/21st Londons
By March the 2/2nd London Division was sent to the St Albans area to replace 1/2nd London Division in Third Army, Central Force, and provided drafts to bring the 1st-Line units up to strength for overseas service. The men who had only signed up for Home Service became the nucleus of the 3/21st Bn forming at Flodden Road. The 2/21st was billeted first at St Albans, then at Sawbridgeworth. After camping during the summer, it spent the winter of 1915–16 billeted at Coggeshall.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 2/21st Londons
In November the division received .303 Lee–Enfield service rifles in place of the Japanese weapons, and towards the end of January 1916 (now officially the 60th (2/2nd London) Division) it moved to Sutton Veny on Salisbury Plain for final training before proceeding overseas. The 2/21st in 181st (2/6th London) Brigade was brought up to full strength with a draft of recruits (and some Home Service men now obliged by the Military Service Act 1916 to undertake overseas service) from the 3/21st. The battalion crossed to France on 24/25 June.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 2/21st Londons, Western Front
The 60th Division was due to relieve the 51st (Highland) Division in the line near Vimy, and the fresh troops of the 2/21st were introduced to their duties by the 4th Bn Seaforth Highlanders and 9th Bn Royal Scots. The battalion took over its own sector on 16 July. Mining, crater-fighting and trench-raiding were constant on this front, but the battalion's first disastrous trench raid on the night of 15 September dampened its enthusiasm.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 2/21st Londons, Salonika
60th Division was intended to join the Somme offensive in October 1916, but instead was switched to the Macedonian front. The 2/21st was relieved on 25 October and disembarked at Salonika on 8 December. On 17 January 1917, after a rough march up-country, it took over a section of the line at 'Dover Tepe' (Dova Tepe), which it held for six weeks, carrying out one night raid against Bulgarian outposts, but generally more concerned with the bad weather than the enemy. At the end of March, 181 Bde moved to join the rest of the division in the Vardar sector. This was a totally static area during the battalion's stay, apart from one patrol action. During 16–18 June the battalion re-embarked at Salonika for Egypt to join the Palestine Campaign.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 2/21st Londons, Palestine
After landing at Alexandria, 60th Division moved to the Suez Canal to join the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF), where its units were re-equipped and underwent training before crossing Sinai in early July 1917. Further intensive training followed until late October, when the division made its first full-scale attack of the war, at Beersheba. After a silent approach march during the night of 30/31 October, the division bombarded and then attacked Hill 1070, a prominent feature in front of the Turkish main defences.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 2/21st Londons, Palestine
181st Brigade advanced on the left at 08.30, with 2/21st in close support, and the position was taken at the double within 10 minutes. 2/21st Battalion lost a few casualties to enemy shellfire while waiting, but none in the attack. The guns then moved up to bombard the Turkish main line, and at 12.15, 181 Bde went forward again with 2/21st in the centre, capturing their objectives without a hitch and forming an outpost line. That evening the town of Beersheba fell to the Desert Mounted Corps.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 2/21st Londons, Palestine
On the night of 5/6 November, the 2/21st was ordered to send out two companies to get in touch with 74th (Yeomanry) Division who were due to attack Sheria; this entailed an advance in the dark with inadequate maps, but before dawn C & D Companies had established an outpost line at Wadi Sheria, from which they were able to enfilade the enemy when the attack began at dawn. A Turkish counter-attack was broken up with rifle and machine-gun fire, and later a cavalry brigade of the EEF passed through to complete the victory.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 2/21st Londons, Palestine
After the fall of Sheria, the division advanced to Nebi Samwil, a strong position in front of Jerusalem, against which the Turks sent a series of counter-attacks. Despite coming under sporadic bombardment, 2/21st Battalion was not seriously engaged during the days it spent in this position. On 9 December the battalion was marching towards Jerusalem, engaging the Turks in the western outskirts and suffering several casualties while clearing the last ridge with the bayonet. On 13 December B & D Companies made a surprise attack on a Turkish position known as 'Tower Hill', after which C Company came up and drove off a counter-attack.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 2/21st Londons, Palestine
After the surrender of Jerusalem, all the battalions of the 60th Division had a short spell in billets out of the foul weather, but on 24 December intelligence was received of a Turkish counter-attack from the Jericho direction and the division deployed outside the city on 26 December, with 2/21st  at Beit Hannina supporting 181 Bde. The following day the attack developed along the whole line, and 2/24th Londons were hard pressed, being relieved by the 2/21st during the afternoon. The attacks petered out at dusk and next day the British advance up the Nablus road was resumed. On 3 January, A, B and C Companies successfully attacked  Hill 2635 at dawn; two days later the 60th Division was relieved and went into defensive positions around Jerusalem.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 2/21st Londons, Palestine
On 31 January the battalion made a successful reconnaissance of Mukhmas, and on 14 February it attacked and seized the position, followed by 'Round Hill' This was a preliminary to the division's advance on Jericho, which began on the night of 18/19 February. The next night, 2/21st were leading 181 Bde on the right, advancing slowly through rugged ground and Turkish rearguards. By the morning of 21 February the division was on the heights overlooking Jericho, which was secured by the 3rd Australian Light Horse.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 2/21st Londons, Palestine
The 60th Division next took part in the First Transjordan Raid. Swimmers of the 2/21st attempted to cross the River Jordan on the night of 21 March, but failed; however the 2/19th succeeded upstream, the Turkish defenders retreated and Pontoon bridges were thrown over the river. The 2/21st crossed in daylight, and advanced towards the Moab hills. The following day a set-piece attack was made on the positions in these hills, and the route towards Es Salt and Amman cleared.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 2/21st Londons, Palestine
The attack on Amman began on 28 March, the 2/21st on the right advancing against the deep and difficult obstacle of Wadi Amman. The attack was made over 1,000 yards of open terrain and was held up by small arms and artillery fire. A further attack made at 02.00 on the night of 29/30 March failed at 'The Citadel', with heavy casualties. The troops were exhausted – at one scheduled 10-minute rest, the entire 2/21st fell asleep for an hour – and the raid was abandoned. The troops retired back over the Jordan by 2 April. The 2/21st had suffered 215 killed, wounded and missing in this operation, all the officers of B and C Companies becoming casualties.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 2/21st Londons, Disbandment
Although the 2/21st took part in the Second Transjordan Raid (30 April–4 May), it did not see any action. By now the battalion was very weak in numbers and no reinforcements were forthcoming from Europe; indeed, after the German Spring Offensive the BEF required reinforcements from the EEF. The 60th Division was reorganised as an Indian Army formation and sent most of its British troops to the Western Front. The 2/21st, however, was disbanded on 3 June 1918, and its men were drafted to the three remaining London battalions of the division: 2/13th,  2/19th and 2/22nd.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War I, 3/21st Londons
The 3/21st Bn was formed in March 1915 and went to Tadworth in Surrey for training, moving to Winchester in January 1916. The remaining Home Service men were transferred to a Provisional Battalion at Clacton. (probably 107 or 108 Provisional Bns in 7th Provisional Bde). On 8 April 1916 the 3/21st was redesignated 21st Reserve Bn as part of the 2nd London Reserve Group (later 2nd London Reserve Brigade). It absorbed the 23rd Reserve Bn (former 3/23rd) in September 1916. In November 1917 it moved to Chiseldon Camp in Wiltshire and then to Benacre Park in Suffolk in 1918. It was disbanded on 11 September 1919 at Hunstanton.


1st Surrey Rifles, Interwar
The TF reformed on 7 February 1920 and was reconstituted in 1921 as the Territorial Army (TA). The London Regiment had been abolished in 1916, so its battalions were designated as regiments in their own right, the FSR becoming 21st London Regiment (First Surrey Rifles), once again affiliated to the East Surreys and once again in 142nd (6th London) Brigade of 47th (2nd London) Division.


1st Surrey Rifles, Interwar, 35th (FSR) Anti-Aircraft Battalion
In 1935 the increasing need for anti-aircraft (AA) defence, particularly for London, was addressed by converting the 47th Division into the 1st Anti - Aircraft Division. A number of its infantry battalions were also converted to the AA role, the 21st Londons being transferred to the Royal Engineers (RE) as a searchlight unit on 15 December, becoming the 35th (1st Surrey Rifles) Anti Aircraft Battalion, RE (TA), with HQ and 340th–343rd AA Companies at Camberwell. Despite its transfer to the RE, the battalion continued to wear its First Surreys cap badge. The 35th AA Bn was initially assigned to 27th (Home Counties) Anti - Aircraft Brigade in 1 AA Division.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War II, 35th (FSR) Searchlight Regiment, Mobilisation
The TA's AA units were mobilised on 23 September 1938 during the Munich Crisis, with units manning their emergency positions within 24 hours, even though many did not yet have their full complement of men or equipment. The emergency lasted three weeks, and they were stood down on 13 October. In February 1939 the existing AA defences came under the control of a new Anti- Aircraft Command.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War II, 35th (FSR) Searchlight Regiment, Mobilisation
In June a partial mobilisation of TA units was begun in a process known as 'couverture', whereby each AA unit did a month's tour of duty in rotation to man selected AA and searchlight positions. On 24 August, ahead of the declaration of war, AA Command was fully mobilised at its war stations. By the outbreak of war in September 1939, the battalion was part of 47th AA Brigade in a new 5th AA Division formed to cover Southern England.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War II, 35th (FSR) Searchlight Regiment, Battle of Britain
In 1940 the battalion transferred again to 38th Light AA Brigade back in 1 AA Division, defending London. In early May 1940, 342 AA Coy came under the operational control of 29th (Kent) AA Bn to thicken up the S/L distribution in Kent (29th AA Bn was in process of transferring from 29 (East Anglian) AA Bde to 27 (Home Counties) AA Bde in 5 AA Division).


1st Surrey Rifles, World War II, 35th (FSR) Searchlight Regiment, Battle of Britain
On 1 August 1940 the RE's AA battalions were transferred to the Royal Artillery (RA) and were redesignated searchlight regiments, the FSR becoming 35th (First Surrey Rifles) Searchlight Regiment.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War II, 35th (FSR) Searchlight Regiment, The Blitz
The S/L layouts had been based on a spacing of 3500 yards (3200 m), but due to equipment shortages this had been extended to 6000 yards (5500 m) by September 1940. In November, during The Blitz, this was changed to clusters of three lights to improve illumination, but this meant that the clusters had to be spaced 10,400 yards (9500 m) apart. The cluster system was an attempt to improve the chances of picking up enemy bombers and keeping them illuminated for engagement by AA guns or Royal Air Force (RAF) Night fighters. Eventually, one light in each cluster was to be equipped with SLC radar and act as 'master light', but the radar equipment was still in short supply.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War II, 35th (FSR) Searchlight Regiment, The Blitz
The regiment supplied a cadre of experienced officers and men to 230th S/L Training Rgt at Blandford Camp where it provided the basis for a new 521 S/L Bty formed on 14 November 1940. This battery later joined 85th S/L Rgt. At the end of the Blitz in May 1941 342 S/L Bty returned to 35th S/L Rgt.


1st Surrey Rifles, World War II, 35th (FSR) Searchlight Regiment, The Blitz
By October 1941 the availability of SLC radar was sufficient to allow AA Command's S/Ls to be 'declustered' into single-light sites spaced at 10,400-yard intervals in 'Indicator Belts' along the coast and 'Killer Belts' at 6000-yard spacing inland to cooperate with the RAF's night fighters. By December 1941 the regiment was in  27 (Home Counties) AA Bde in 5 AA Division, covering Portsmouth. On 23 January 1942, 342 Bty transferred to 79th S/L Rgt.