102nd Australian Composite Anti-Aircraft Regiment (HE)
From Our Contribution
 24 Nov 1942 Lt Gen Bennett inspecting a parade of 109th LAA Regt. AWM 028865 | |
 Gunners of prediction detachment of 140th Heavy Anti Aircraft Battery working at Exmouth Gulf. Courtesy Australian Army Museum WA | |
Brief History
The regiment was raised during August 1942 at Woodman Point with 151 Light Anti Aircraft Battery and 152 Light Anti Aircraft Battery manned with 150 Light Anti Aircraft Battery formed in September. They trained for a mobile role and in June 1943 they moved to Naval Base with 152 Battery out posted to Geraldton and Pearce airfields. A new battery 'R' Light Anti Aircraft Battery was formed and moved to Exmouth to help protect the submarine base. In August 1942 the 150th Battery moved to Mosman Park, and the HQ unit of 109th Australian Light Anti Aircraft Regiment moved to Guildford.
On 18 Sep 1943 the unit was re-organised to form 102nd Australian Composite Anti-Aircraft Regiment (HE) based at Guildford but given the role of protecting RAAF airfields in the north west of the state in addition to the Perth area. In October they handed over Geraldton and Pearce airfields, and in November 1943 the Exmouth submarine base was closed freeing up the detachment there (140th Heavy Anti Aircraft Battery ) to move to Corunna Downs.
In December a Battery moved to Noonkanbah to defend the airfield being developed there. In January they were again responsible for Pearce and Guildford airfields and at this time the Forward HQ was at Corunna Downs and the Rear HQ at Pearce until it moved to Guildford in March joined by the 138th HAA Battery. However, in April 1944 the unit's War Diary lists the 140th Australian Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery with the 151st and 152nd Light Batteries.
By late 1944 the air threat to Perth was ended and the call for protection of forward airfields had declined, allowing the Army to reduce the number of AA batteries. In October 1944 the 102nd Australian Composite Anti-Aircraft Regiment (HE) and all its sub units gathered at Bellevue where they were disbanded in December 1944.
Unit Personnel
- Frank Lindsay Cornish 1 Mar - 15 Apr 1943 (detached from 7th Aust Army Troops Coy)
- John Raymond Little 15 Apr - 10 May 1943
- Arthur James Morfesse 16 Jul 1943 - 16 Oct 1944
- Donald Walter Cumming
- Leslie Charles Peters 26 Nov 1943 - 1 Mar 1945
Notes
Content has come from The Unit Guide - Volume 3 - The Australian Army 1939-1945, page 3.228 - Graham R McKenzie-Smith - Big Sky Publishing - 2018