Not sure where to cast my net, so to speak.

I recently found out my Grandad was a PSi of a TA unit 1946/1958 (approx) now the unit was in the town of Porthmadog (it's now an Aldi) and was Royal Welch Fusiliers, however it was also a Light AA unit possibly ___ Regt RA(RWF).
Must've specialised in Bofors 40mm as my Mam remembers Taid(Grandad) taking her for a ride on the Bofors (that's NOT a euphamism) to spice things up it was an Airborne unit.


Now Google isn't being my friend, does anyone know which way to point me? Much appreciated ta.

Just done a quick Google for you. Hopefully this might help.

Territorial Army (TA) battalions

The four Territorial Force battalions were disbanded in 1919 but were re-formed in 1921 as part of the new Territorial Army, with the same designations as before, but with ‘TA’ in brackets after their title. The four battalions made up 158th (Royal Welch) Infantry Brigade. [The title was changed from (North Wales) to (Royal Welch) in 1924]. It was a difficult beginning for all Territorial battalions as post-war cutbacks in defence spending led to a dearth of up-to-date equipment. Units were kept going almost by enthusiasm alone.

In the 1930s the situation eased and change took place. In 1938 the 5th (Flintshire) Battalion was converted to artillery and became the 60th (Royal Welch Fusiliers) Anti-tank Regiment Royal Artillery (TA). It survived, with various changes in title but always with ‘RWF’ included, until 1956. In 1939, with war with Germany inevitable, the size of the Territorial Army was doubled and the 4th, 6th and 7th RWF formed duplicate battalions, the 8th, 9th and 10th respectively.

Or, alternatively (and further to the above).

635 and 636 (Royal Welch) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiments were amalgamated in 1955 to become

446 (Royal Welch) Airborne Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery (TA).

Like its counterpart, 629 Airborne Light Regiment RA TA, its airborne service was short-lived and in 1956 it reverted to an infantry role, re-designated the 6th/7th Battalion The Royal Welch Fusiliers (TA).

Source: 446 (Royal Welch) Airborne Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA (TA) | ParaData

They certainly had some epic regimental titles in those days!

Reminds me of the anecdotes about the problems encountered when the Allied staffs were formed for the planning of D Day: the US staff found it near impossible to understand or remember the complex titles and acronyms of some Commonwealth regiments.

Originally Posted by Rotta

Just done a quick Google for you. Hopefully this might help.

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Outstanding, thanks. Wonder where I was going wrong? What animal were they then Para,RWF or RA? No wonder they disbanded!

Originally Posted by llech

Outstanding, thanks. Wonder where I was going wrong? What animal were they then Para,RWF or RA? No wonder they disbanded!

I think the second result is the more likely one, so I imagine they were mostly RWF-RA, with the Para side only coming in in their last years.

Originally Posted by Rotta

I think the second result is the more likely one, so I imagine they were mostly RWF-RA, with the Para side only coming in in their last years.

Again many thanks. I wonder how many other obscure long forgotten units were pepperd accros the UK?

I believe they were badged RA but retained some RWF dress distinctions: flash, hackle etc. There's a scouse TA battery that still retains its Liverpool Irish dress distinctions. I was very much WTF? when I first encountered them several years ago: caubeen, wierd hackle and RA capbadge.

I've got a Book on TA Gunner units by Norman Litchfield. I'll have a look tomorrow and see what I can come up with.

OK, couldn't wait until tomorrow, your Grandad was in either 635 Light Anti-Aircraft Regt RA (Royal welch) (TA) or 636 Light Anti-Aircraft Regt RA (Royal welch) (TA). Both came into existence in 1947 and amalgametd in 1955 to form 446 (Royal Welch) Airborne) LAA Regt RA (TA). both Regts wore the Royal Welch Fusiliers black five ribboned flash on No. 1 Dress and Battledress. They also wore RWF cap badges and buttons. 446 converted to Infantry in 1956.

Phil