Maritime Royal Artillery

During the second world war the Headquarters of the 1st Regiment Maritime Royal Artillery was stationed in Lochwinnoch from 1941 to 1946. Men from the Royal Navy and Royal Artillery were trained as Gunners to serve on Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships (DEMS). The ships had to be strengthened in readiness for the fitting of guns. In the first 6 months of WW2 around 1900 ships had been fitted out and by the end of 1940 3400, although this was behind the target of 5500. A variety of armaments were fitted, typically a 4” deck gun at the stern, sometimes a 12 pounder (3 inch shell) usually at the bow. Mounted as either LA (low angle) or HA (high angle). LA weapons for use against surfaced U-boats or surface raiders and HA weapons for anti-aircraft use.

These weapons required specialist personnel to maintain, load and fire them and they came from a number of sources. Initially the light machine guns (either Lewis or Bren guns) were manned by the Army’s Royal Artillery. The Admiralty requested 500 men of the Light Machine Gun section in two-man teams, who were taken on and off vessels as they arrived and departed from British ports. The effectiveness of these army gunners was quickly realised and the Maritime Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery was formed in 1941, renamed the Maritime Royal Artillery (MRA) in January 1943. By 1943 the MRA numbered over 14,000 and was organised into 6 regiments and 24 detachments located so as to serve the 6 main shipping areas:

Clyde, Forth, Tyne & Tees, Mersey, Thames and Bristol Channel:-

1st Regiment – Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire

2nd Regiment – Leslie, Fife

3rd Regiment – North Shields, Tyne & Wear

4th Regiment – Southport, Lancashire

5th Regiment – Shoeburyness, Essex

6th Regiment – Thornbury, Gloucestershire

Each Regimental Head Quarters was responsible for administrating and training its personnel. For training purposes they had at least one of each gun in use and a dome trainer. They also had use of the naval gunnery schools and firing ranges in their area. For Lochwinnoch this was HMS Carrick at Greenock.

Port Detachments

Port detachments allocated men to ships, arranged leave and refresher training for disembarking crews, made up any kit deficiencies and dealt with their pay and any welfare matters.

The Crews

All members of the armed forces that served on board a DEMS ship were required to sign on as members of the crew, i.e. as merchant seamen and were therefore under the authority of the ship’s master. As merchant seamen, military personnel could visit neutral countries without being interned. Therefore, DEMS Gunners will be listed on crew lists. Men were issued with their normal service equipment,  naval sea kit, tropical kit and a set of civilian clothes for use in neutral ports.  Personnel aboard ships on the North Russia convoys were also issued with a special arctic kit.

The numbers on board any individual ship varied from up to 30 on the large vessels down to 2 men in a small coaster. The average detachment on a Liberty ship was 7. The gun crews could be a mix of Maritime RA, Royal Navy or Royal Marine personnel but the Bofors guns were always a solely MRA responsibility. As the number of men on any one ship was small, they all had to be capable of handling every weapon on board. This could range from a 6-inch Naval Anti-Aircraft gun down to balloons and rockets.

The Regiment was disbanded on 15th July 1946. The letter below was contributed by Stephen Atherton.

The footballers in the photograph below played a "friendly" England vs Scotland match in 1946 just before being demobbed. It wasn't a good scoreline at the whistle. Gnr Arthur "Yorkie" Cusworth is in the front row on the left. He told his grandson 90% of the Maritime Regiment never came back and the remaining 10% were captured by the women of Lochwinnoch. Both parts of that statement have elements of truth, the Regimental photograph below has lots of surnames that became well known Lochwinnoch families and the Regimental plaque referred to in the letter above is also shown below with the names of 159 service men who lost their lives while serving with the 1st Regiment. Larger images of each section of the plaque can be viewed here. It is estimated around 1300 service men lost their lives over the 6 regiments. The regimental photographs are of the Serjeants and Officers stationed at the camp. Not everyone who served at these ranks is in these photographs. Some were on duty elsewhere, one such person is Captain Tharme, the father of Adrian Tharme who served but is missing from these photographs.

One of the service men captured by a local lass is shown opposite. Bombardier William George Sully served on convoys to and from Canada, Bermuda and West Africa and gained the Atlantic Star. He also gained recognition for his aircraft spotting skills and was stationed near Henley for part of his service. He was on HMS Empire Crossbow at D-Day.

The barracks were located behind the Parish Church. The first two photographs are contemporary images and although they look very similar they were taken are different times, one in the summer and the other in the winter. For those who know the village you will notice that Crookhill Gardens are still green fields.

The following three photographs show the site of the barracks as it is now. The first photograph looks more directly down towards where the guardsman is standing. The second is more representative of the two photographs above. The third is the inevitable drone shot which is necessary due to both the undergrowth and the new housing estate making a view into the distance otherwise impossible.

On the 14th-15th September 1945 the Regiment organised a programme of events to raise funds for the RAA Benevolent Fund and Lochwinnoch Welcome Home Fund. This was just two weeks after the end of WW2. It looks a fun packed full day show with something for everyone, young and old. The programme leaflet below includes a sketch of the barracks layout. It shows the location of the dome trainer which was mentioned right at the start of this article and it can be seen in the contemporary photographs above.

And last but not least is a copy of a certificate issued by the commanding officer to each of the service men to mark VE day. A similar certificate was issued by each of the Regiments commanding officers. Again thanks to Stephen Atherton who sent it to pbthecairn..