222 S L Trng Regiment RA

[upton25]

Good Evening I am looking in to my Grandfather David William Piper war records. I know he is buried in a Commonwealth War Grave in Crookes Cemetery Sheffield after losing his life in a troop train
 crash in 1942, aged 42 The grave records give the unit as in the title of my enquiry. I have read that this may be Search Light Training Regiment Royal Artillery. As he was listed as a Gunner I am interested as to why he would have been in Yorkshire. He was from Edgware and I think quite old to sign up for duty.. I have applied for his records online in the hope I can learn more. But if anyone has knowledge about this Unit I'd be very grateful

[KGarrad]

From Wikipedia:

This list of regiments of the Royal Artillery covers the period from 1938, when the RA adopted the term 'regiment' rather than 'brigade' for a lieutenant-colonel's command comprising two or more batteries, to 1947 when all RA regiments were renumbered in a single sequence.

Searchlight Regiments
The following anti-aircraft searchlight (S/L) regiments served with the Royal Artillery during the period. Many of these units were transferred in August 1940 from the Royal Engineers (RE), in which they had been designated 'Anti-Aircraft Battalions'; most of these were converted infantry battalions, while other converted infantry battalions transferred directly to the RA.

Training regiments changed designation frequently as new roles and requirements appeared.

222nd Searchlight Training Regiment, Royal Artillery – formed by November 1940; became Mixed April 1942; disbanded October 1944

[upton25]

Thank you so much for this information
 I am intrigued as to why Grandad was in Yorkshire But I'm guessing, like a lot of people at the time he was on manoeuvres for training. At least I now can be certain he was in the Search Light Training Unit.

[markey1000]

Hello,

I live down the road from this cemetery and happened upon the grave of your grandfather yesterday. I was intrigued by his age and also by the fact he is buried next to Gunner George Chandler, died aged 40, who also served in the 222 Searchlight Training Regiment and died on the same date as your grandfather (and therefore presumably in the same incident?).

When searching the name of the regiment, this website and thread appeared, and I was just wondering if you had since found further information about your grandfather.

If you have since received further info and don’t wish to share with a stranger, I understand!

[upton25]

Hi I'm so sorry I have only just seen your message Strangely today is the Anniversary of my Granddad being killed in the troop train crash in 1942 I also received his war records from the National Archives this week by coincidence. It has always interested me that he joined up at his age and also I'm quite proud of him, I hope to visit his grave this year.  Hopefully when I've read more in to his records I can determine where he was and why
Kaz

[MaecW]

For a report of the crash and casualties see : /www.chrishobbs.com/1942Beightonupdate.htm

Maec

[upton25]

Thankyou so much for this link I appreciate your time and interest I read a number of entries that I was unaware of
Kaz

[upton25]

I have attached a newspaper cutting kept by my Grandmother then my Father who was 10 year old at the time as an evacuee in Australia

[upton25]

Since my original post regarding my Grandfather I have now received the records of his service from the National Archives. It reads he was sent to Norton Barracks near Taunton and was in service for 154 days before he was killed in the train accident. I am still to determine why he was in Sheffield. I'm sure it was operational reasons. I would be grateful if anyone could point me in the right direction to get some of the other papers deciphered