page_title: Leeds Rifles
section_title: 66th HAA Regiment
hierarchical_section_title: Leeds Rifles / World War II / 66th HAA Regiment
caption_attribution_description: English: The British Army in Burma 1944 A 4.5-inch anti-aircraft gun of 66th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery, at one of the main supply airstrips on the Ledo road, 24 July 1944.
context_page_description: The Leeds Rifles was a unit of the 19th century Volunteer Force of the British Army that went on to serve under several different guises in the World Wars of the 20th century. In World War I both battalions served as infantry on the Western Front and was later were converted into an anti-aircraft and tank unit, fighting in North Africa, Italy and Burma during World War II.
context_section_description: 66th (Leeds Rifles) AA Regiment served in 31st AA Brigade during the Phoney war. On 1 June 1940, along with other AA units equipped with the older 3-inch and newer 3.7-inch AA guns, the 66th was designated a Heavy AA Regiment. In September 1940 it was assigned to OSDEF (Orkneys and Shetland Defence Force), primarily guarding the great naval base at Scapa Flow in Orkney, but with 296 Bty detached to Shetland. During the winter 197 HAA Bty embarked for West Africa Command, where it joined 1st HAA Regiment, West African Artillery (WAA), formed on 1 May 1941, with one section joining 3 HAA Bty, 3rd HAA Rgt, WAA.
  In June 1941 66th (Leeds Rifles) HAA Rgt returned to England, joining 62nd AA Bde in 10th Anti-Aircraft Division covering Yorkshire. It had previously sent a cadre to 210th HAA Training Regiment at Oswestry to provide the basis for a new 421 HAA Bty; this was formed on 10 April and joined the regiment on 7 July. The regiment later sent a cadre to 205th HAA Training Regiment at Aborfield for a new 483 (Mixed) HAA Bty; this was formed on 25 September 1941 and later joined 139th (Mixed) HAA Rgt. ('Mixed' units were those into which women of the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) were integrated.) The regiment sent a further cadre to 205th HAA Training Regiment for 503 (Mixed) HAA Bty; this was formed on 17 December 1941 and later joined 144th (Mixed) HAA Rgt.
  In January 1942 66th (Leeds Rifles) HAA Rgt moved to 34th (South Midland) AA Bde in 11th Anti-Aircraft Division, covering Birmingham and Coventry, and on 10 February 296 HAA Bty returned from 96th HAA Rgt. However, that month the regiment left AA Command entirely. In March 1942 it was assigned to the War Office Reserve and prepared to go overseas, leaving 421 HAA Bty behind to join 108th HAA Rgt.
  In May 1942 the regiment (with 184, 185 and 296 HAA Btys) was sent to India, where it served in 1st and 2nd Indian AA Brigades before moving to Burma as part of 9th AA Brigade. During 1943 the regiment served in the Manipur Road sector, and in January 1944 it detached 296 Battery to the Ledo area of Assam, the start of the famous Ledo Road. During 1944 it remained in the same areas, as part of 3rd Indian AA Brigade. On 15 March 1945 it was placed in suspended animation and in May the men were awaiting return to the UK.
caption: A 4.5-inch gun of 66th HAA Regiment at one of the main supply airstrips on the Ledo road, 24 July 1944.
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