100th Anti-Aircraft Brigade (United Kingdom)

The brigade formed in April 1943, initially sharing 74th AA BDE headquarters in Cliftonville, near Margate in Kent. It was to be commanded by new Brigadier Edward Neufville Crosse MC, a veteran of the First World War who had served with the Royal Artillery since 1915. Its initial strength consisted of 90th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (90th HAA Rgt), 107th HAA Rgt, 113th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (113th LAA Rgt), and 123rd LAA Rgt. In May 1943 the brigade relocated to Blandford Camp, near Blandford Forum in Dorset, where it remained until November for training in gunnery, searchlight operation and in radar operation. Trials were conducted with different types of Window to establish their respective effectiveness as a countermeasure against the radars in use by the brigade. The 1943 war diaries show that the brigade's regiments were occasionally involved in active air defence duties, but these were typically conducted under the command of other brigades. In October 1943, the brigade conducted "Exercise Lobster" to rehearse the processes of embarkation, disembarkation and deployment, followed by "Exercise Shrimp" in January 1944 rehearsing the breakout from a beachhead. During this period brigade headquarters relocated again to The Lindens in Cliftonville, Northamptonshire, where its HQ remained until its deployment in June 1944. == Operation Overlord ==

The first units of the brigade to land in Normandy did so on D-Day +8, 14 June. The 405th and 409th batteries of 123rd LAA Rgt came under the operational command of 80th AA Brigade, which had landed with the Juno beach assault waves on 6 June and taken up positions on the beachhead, prior to 100th AA Bde landing its HQ. The batteries were attacked from the air while unloading men and equipment onto two rhino ferries, with one man killed, 37 wounded and several guns and tractors destroyed. Lance Bombardier Henry Witts and Sergeant William Vernon were both awarded the Military Medal for their actions in the aftermath of this attack. The 100th AA Bde HQ landed a few days later, on 17 and 18 June, and established itself in Colombiers-sur-Seulles. which had been captured a few days prior after an unexpectedly protracted battle. The deployment was uneventful, as air attacks were light after the front line moved eastwards and concentrated around Falaise. 1st Canadian Army took over defence of the city on 12 August. The allied break-out following the closing of the Falaise Pocket on 21 August led to a rapid succession of short-lived deployments for the brigade, by which point it had expanded to include 107th HAA Rgt and 71st LAA Rgt. On 8 September, while in harbour near Diest after being relieved at Antwerp, 71st LAA Rgt shot down an Me262 jet while it was carrying out a low level bombing raid. This was one of the earliest ground-to-air kills of a jet aircraft. == Advance into the Low Countries ==

Operation Crosseforce The 100th Anti-Aircraft Brigade had been operating in a dual anti-air and anti-tank ground role throughout the advance, in common with the other leading anti-aircraft brigades, but the ground element of their role was significantly expanded on 9 September. The divergence of the advances of British XXX Corps and US XIX Corps had left a 25-mile gap on the right flank of 11th Armoured Division, leaving the lines of communication vulnerable to German counterattack which, based on intelligence reports, was being threatened by a large German armoured concentration believed at the time to comprise elements of II SS Panzer Corps. Operation Crosseforce was established, under operational instruction number 4. To 123rd LAA Rgt and 165 HAA Rgt were added 86th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, 73rd Anti-Tank Regiment, the Royal Netherlands Brigade, one troop of the 13th/18th Royal Hussars and a company of the King's Royal Rifle Corps, forming a composite force for anti-tank and ground defence. Defensive positions were established on a line centred at Beringen, with positions as far west as Geel and as far east as Helchteren. Brigade HQ itself was established at Leopoldsburg. In the event, no counterattack materialised and after six days the situation improved sufficiently for the brigade to be returned to regular duties. == Operation Market Garden ==

Orders and initial movements On the same day Operation Crosseforce concluded, the brigade received its orders for Operation Market Garden. It was to provide anti-aircraft defence for the advance of XXX Corps and the bridges over the River Waal once captured, and anti-motor torpedo boat defence. The 165th HAA Rgt and 123rd LAA Rgt would cover Nijmegen, 113th LAA Rgt would cover Arnhem, and 27th LAA Rgt, under operational command of 100th AA Bde for the operation, would cover Grave, each with an accompanying searchlight battery. Detachments from the 27th LAA Rgt would also cover Veghel and Son. The brigade was divided into four elements for the advance. Two sections each of the 165th HAA Rgt and 123rd LAA Rgt, along with searchlights, would advance first behind 32nd Guards Infantry Brigade, with a recce party from brigade HQ. This group began their advance on 18 September 1944. The main body, consisting of the remainder of the 165th HAA Rgt and 123rd LAA Rgt, as well as brigade HQ and 151st AAOR, followed on two days later. The third group of the 113th LAA Rgt moved on 21 September, and the final group consisting of regimental support vehicles followed them. At the same time, the main body had continued its advance up "Hell's Highway" and reached Eindhoven on 21 September. The column was frozen several times with nose-to-tail traffic and having to allow other units to pass. The 100th AA Bde alone had nearly 700 vehicles in its convoy, with 255 of those travelling with the main body. The 113th LAA Rgt spent the night at Valkenswaard, only a few miles behind. In the early hours of the following morning, 22 September, the brigade's main body reached Veghel and was ordered to halt to allow 69th Infantry Brigade to pass. The 123rd LAA Rgt was in front, half a mile north of the town, with brigade HQ following and 165th HAA Rgt in the rear, within and to the south of the town. Black Friday, 22 September Veghel had been a primary objective of the US 101st Airborne Division, as a key point on the main supply route of XXX Corps. The 2nd Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment (2/501 PIR) was holding Veghel, and General McAuliffe was in the town that morning. American paratroopers were positioned on the road adjacent to the 123rd LAA Rgt. Mid-morning, information was received of a concentration of enemy tanks and infantry on the right flank, later known to be Kampfgruppe Walther with tanks from the 107th Panzer Brigade and an SS panzergrenadier battalion. The brigade was not, and could not have been, aware that it was about to become heavily engaged in what has since become known as "Black Friday" — the third, and according to Saunders probably the most significant, interruption of XXX Corps' supply line during Operation Market Garden. Initial Engagement: 123rd LAA Regiment At 1130 sustained small arms fire began, along with shelling of the town. The 123rd LAA Rgt enacted plans that it had drawn up earlier in the case of engagement, The column came under fire, and tanks were heard in the woods. US airborne troops withdrew through the regimental HQ position to an anti-tank screen on the edge of town, and due to the "smallness of numbers and equipment available" the British position became untenable. Isolation of E Troop At the head of the column, the detachment from E Troop had also been heavily engaged. A combination of fire from Bofors 40mm and PIAT left one attacking tank burning, but heavy machine gun fire and close infantry engagement caused many casualties amongst the detachment closest to town, where the German forces had broken through. Now obviously cut off, the remainder of E Troop attempted to withdraw to the north, but on rounding a bend came face-to-face with three more Panzer IV tanks. Surrounded, Lt Milum and Sergeant Brunning attempted to effect a retreat to Veghel. 165th HAA Regiment and allied response At around the same time that the 123rd LAA Rgt was engaged at the head of the column, brigade HQ was liaising with 101st Airborne commanders. 165th HAA Rgt received orders to deploy two of its guns from 198th Battery in an anti-tank role, and two further guns from 275th Battery for anticipated fire support to the east of Veghel. Personnel from brigade HQ and 151st Anti-Air Operations Room formed up as infantry into defensive positions. Troops from 275th and 317th batteries of the 165th HAA Rgt were given orders to move as infantry support for four tanks of the 44th Royal Tank Regiment, which had speedily redeployed from Schijndel, to do a slow sweep of the area, despite the misgivings of Lieutenant Hudson from the 275th, who was to lead one group: I was ordered by Captain Balkwill to hold his right flank in an attack upon the enemy...The order for this attack came from a Major of the Recce Corps (Royal Dragoons) whose 2 I/C for the operation was an American Captain. I spoke to this USA officer and pointed out to him that we were an HAA unit improperly equipped for infantry commands. He was already aware of this and stated every available man was required until the main US forces arrived. The four tanks began their sweep at 1230, with the infantry moving up in support. While the tanks moved into a nearby village, the infantry — in open ground adjacent to the village — came under sustained heavy machine gun fire from a large German patrol. Under covering fire, Lt Hudson moved left into the village to seek the assistance of one of the tanks and Captain Balkwill. The commander of one tank agreed to come to the infantry's aid but had to undertake a large detour in order to do so, and Hudson returned with Lieutenant Lymer and men of the 317th in support. They became engaged in a running battle with German infantry crossing the position, delaying their return. By the time Hudson returned to his section's position, the troops had withdrawn to the road. In a little over two hours six men had been killed and eight were missing, and German accounts reported the delaying impact of this fire on their infantry. L/Sgt Leaver was awarded a Military Medal for his actions. This action continued throughout the afternoon, as reinforcements arrived from American airborne units in the area. A battery from 81st Airborne Anti-Aircraft Battalion, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment and 3rd Battalion, 327th Glider Infantry Regiment redeployed to defend the town, and combined with significant additional artillery support and rocket fire from RAF Hawker Typhoons, the attack was slowed and halted only 1,000 metres from the target bridges. The final action of the brigade came in the early hours of the 23 September, when a Bren gun detachment of the 198th Battery captured two German soldiers carrying demolition charges in an attempt to destroy one of the Veghel bridges. The brigade had been heavily involved in the fighting at Veghel, but paid a heavy price. 15 men had been killed and a further 34 wounded, == Defence of the Nijmegen bridgehead ==

after the battle. 28 September 1944. Significant aerial activity was recorded over and around the bridges in the following days and weeks, as Operation Market Garden transitioned into the Battle of the Nijmegen salient. The Luftwaffe had been ordered to target the bridges with every available bomber, and Hitler demanded that his headquarters be called immediately after attacks to inform them of success or failure. 117 German aircraft attacked the area around the bridges on the 25 September, including a single raid of 100 aircraft, and further large-scale raids followed on 27 and 28 September. As well as conventional and jet aircraft, the Germans also employed 'composite' or 'piggyback' bombers, though these were inaccurate and never hit the bridges. Reinforcements arrived on 27 September in the form of 107th HAA Rgt and the remainder of 113th LAA Rgt. Continuous action over 10 days resulted in 17 aircraft destroyed, with only slight damage to the bridges from the air. While these raids failed to do significant damage to the bridges, German shelling continued to cause casualties amongst the deployed troops. Lieutenant Hugo O'Neill of the 165th HAA Rgt was awarded a Military Cross for his actions on 25 and 26 September, relocating his battery's guns by day, despite being under observation and constant attack, after shell fire killed five men and wounded four others. s transport supplies across the River Waal at Nijmegen, below the railway bridge whose central span was broken by German frogmen using floating mines, 28 September 1944 The most successful attacks against the bridges were riverborne. An attack by 12 frogmen on 28 September succeeded in destroying the railway bridge and damaging the road bridge, but a spirited defence and difficulty in handling the unwieldy explosives kept the road bridge operational. Ten of the twelve were captured, three of whom died from wounds. The threat of frogmen was a recurring one, with several killed or captured over the next two months of action. Floating mines were also a threat, launched up-river in groups of up to twelve to drift downstream with the intent of detonating on contact with the bridges. To protect against this, a boom was laid across the river with searchlights mounted on it to continuously illuminate the surface of the water. No further damage was recorded to the bridges, but to bolster the defences further reinforcements were added to the roster of the 100th AA Bde in the shape of 90th HAA Rgt, 112th LAA Rgt, 321st LAA Bty of the 93rd LAA Rgt, as well as anti-tank guns, mortars and two infantry companies. Ten further aircraft were shot down during October, and the brigade was kept busy with further defence against swimmers and mines, fire support missions, laying of smoke screens and provision of artificial moonlight. == Winter in the Netherlands ==

The brigade redeployed and took on a number of duties in defence of towns and airfields adjacent to Eindhoven - Weert, Helmond and Deurne. A busy autumn for the brigade was followed by a lower tempo winter. The brigade's December war diary recorded activities in support of VIII and XII Corps, including bridge and air defence duties, but for the first time since Normandy some days reported only the weather. Various elements of the brigade went on training courses, or leave. Despite this, during November and December nine aircraft were damaged by the brigade and two destroyed, including the shooting down of an Me 262 over Helmond airfield, a kill shared with the RAF Regiment. By the end of 1944, brigade records showed that, at its largest, twenty sub-units and more than 9,000 men came under its command. It had destroyed 68 enemy aircraft and damaged a further 46 during 550 engagements, firing 6,230 heavy anti-aircraft rounds and 65,220 light anti-aircraft rounds, for a recorded ratio of one aircraft destroyed for every 92 heavy and 959 light anti-aircraft rounds fired. In the ground role, the brigade fired 62,155 rounds of 3.7-inch ammunition, captured 92 prisoners, and destroyed two enemy tanks, with a possible third also credited, during the fighting at Veghel. These operations were conducted at a cost of 70 men killed, 262 wounded, and 21 missing. == Advance into Germany ==

The 100th AA Bde had limited involvement in the initial stages of February 1945's Operation Veritable and Operation Grenade, the British crossing of the River Maas and American crossing of the River Roer respectively. The 90th HAA Rgt conducted fire missions in support of both British and American troops, and 113th LAA Rgt moved one battery, 368th, to Gennep in defence of the crossing there. They were supported by elements of 474th SL Bty, 151st AAOR and 63rd Anti-Tank Rgt. In early March, the LAA regiments of the brigade took on a larger role in the latter stages of Operation Veritable, taking over the air defence of Venlo, Lottum, Well and Gennep along the banks of the Maas river. Operation Plunder Less than a week after the change in command, the brigade moved forwards to prepare for Operation Plunder and the crossing of the River Rhine. The 100th AA Bde was freed of its existing commitments to support XII Corps, while 106th AA Bde would do the same for XXX Corps. 100th AA Bde would command 90th HAA Rgt, 108th HAA Rgt, 113th LAA Rgt and 123rd LAA Rgt, 322nd Bty of 93rd LAA Rgt, as well as searchlights, radar and 151st AAOR, and once again it would provide air, river and ground defence. The brigade moved to the Xanten area, ready to defend the bridge and crossing points there. The brigade's war diary does not record involvement in this operation. The regiment, and other men of the 100th AA Bde, were moved enough by the experience to produce a booklet containing photos, facts and a timeline of the duties carried out, written by Captain Andrew Pares. A copy is contained within Brigadier Crosse's private papers, shared with him by 113th's CO, Lt Col Mather. On completion of its duties, 113th LAA Rgt joined the 103rd AA Brigade. On 24 April the brigade received orders that it was to support VIII and XII Corps in Operation Enterprise, the crossing of the River Elbe. With its regiments engaged on other tasks, 100th AA Bde was reinforced by units of the 106th AA Bde, taking onto strength 165th HAA Rgt, 71st LAA Rgt and 109th LAA Rgt, as well as elements of 121st LAA Rgt, 63rd Anti-Tank Regiment and searchlight units. Operation Enterprise launched on 29 April, with the Luftwaffe making significant attacks against the river crossings, with little success. The brigade claimed four aircraft destroyed, taking their total for April to seven. A further 3 were confirmed destroyed in early May, taking the brigade's total to 97 for the campaign. ==Post-war==

After the cessation of hostilities, 100th AA Bde reverted to occupational duties in the vicinity of Harburg, Hamburg, A long-desired brigade rest centre, "100 Club", opened at the beginning of July 1945 in the area of Cranz, Hamburg, after first being mentioned in January. With no guns to maintain, the REME workshops also closed, and as the structure of the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) became clearer, more regiments shuffled into other units. The brigade finally disbanded in February 1946. == Order of Battle ==

The brigade's composition varied throughout the campaign as regiments and batteries were attached or detached according to operational needs. The table below summarises the principal named units under command during selected key periods. • Units marked with an asterisk (*) were attached to or detached from the brigade during the period shown. ==Notes==