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2nd Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery
2nd Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery was made up of 5th, 6th,
7th and 8th Battery. They saw action in France with the BEF in 1940 notably in the Defence of Calais.
The Regimental Standard is housed at Cranborne Parish Church.
5th Searchlight Battery was formed in July 1940 by the redesignation of B Battery, 2nd Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery. It served with the Regiment throughout the Second World War seeing action in Home Defence and across North Western Europe.
12th Jan 1940 On the Move
23rd May 1940 Orders
24th May 1940 On the Move
25th May 1940 Prisoners Taken
25th May 1940 Defences 
26th May 1940 Evacuation
26th May 1940 On the Move
27th May 1940 In Action
27th May 1940 On the Move
29th May 1940 On the Move
6th Jun 1940 On the Move
21st Nov 1944 Flooding
22nd Nov 1944 Positions
If you can provide any additional information, especially on actions and locations at specific dates, please add it here.
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Those known to have served with 2nd Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery during the Second World War 1939-1945. - 261635 Donald Herbert. Capt.
- Asquith Wilfred. Dvr.
- Baker Francis. Gnr. (d.23rd May 1940)
- Bates George Charles. Gnr.
- Bates George. Gunner
- Bowers William Frederick. Gnr. (d.14th April 1941)
- Bowers William Frederick. Gnr. (d.14th April 1941)
- Campbell Charles S.. L/Sgt.
- Christie John. LBdr. (d.18th May 1940)
- Cooper Thomas Gary. Gnr.
- Giddings Sidney Walter. Gnr.
- Hennessy William. Gnr.
- Johnson John Joseph. Gnr. (d.24th May 1940)
- Lansley William. Driver
- Lilly Philip George. L/Sgt. (d.23rd March 1941)
- Loader Arthur. Gnr.
- Penfold Edward Charles. Gnr. (d.19th October 1946)
- Soanes James Arnold. Gnr.
- Tansey William Alfred. Gnr.
- Tansey William Alfred. Gnr.
- Wilson Christopher Fegellan. Pte.
- Wiltshire Kenneth Percival. W/Sgt.
- Wright CdeG. Cecil Stanley. Sgt.
- Yearing Frank. Gnr. (d.25th May 1940)
The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please
Add a Name to this List
Records of 2nd Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery from other sources.
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Want to know more about 2nd Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery ? There are:446 items tagged 2nd Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
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Gnr. James Arnold Soanes 8th Battery 2nd Searchlight Regiment   Jim Soanes was my grandad. He enlisted with the 19th Searchlight Militia Depot on 18th July 1939. He went to France with the BEF, as part of the 2nd Searchlight Regiment. He was evacuated from Dunkirk on the SS Canterbury. I have in my possession quite a lot of letters he wrote home. From these, I also know that he went to Sheffield as part of the operation to build a fake city.
Here is an account I wrote several years ago of the evacuation of Dunkirk from the Battalion's War Diary and extracts of personal letters.
My Grandad, James Arnold Soanes, was a Gunner with the 2nd Searchlight Regiment during the Second World War. He spent most of the war in Dorset, engaged in Home Defence, but saw brief action on the Continent as part of the British Expeditionary Force and later the British Liberation Army. His Battalion were among the last to be evacuated from Dunkirk in May 1940. Below is an account of the Battery's last days in France, and how they made it home. From my Grandad's letters home, it is clear that he must have returned to England aboard the SS Canterbury, of which I am lucky enough to have a photo.
An Extract from The War Diary of The 8th Searchlight Battery of The 2nd Searchlight Regiment
- Oost-Cappel (H.3771) 23rd May 1940, 18.00
Orders received for an early move on the 24th to assist A.A. defence of Dunkerque.
- 24th May 1940, 07.15 Battery moved off for Dunkerque, but were halted on the road about H.3175, on reports that enemy were already in possession of areas South-West of the Town, The Battery then moved to a rendezvous at Lefrinckoucke. H.3083 reached at 1130 hours to await for further orders.
17.30 Battery moved to billets at H.423835 where H.Q. 2nd S/L Regt.R.A., and portions of 6th S/L Battery were also billeted. This constituted first entry into Belgium. Moeres (H.4183) 25th May 1940
The Battery, now less two troops, whilst retaining S/L equipment prepared to reform to act as infantry in defence of road bridges, etc. Unit reverted to command of 5th S/L Bde.
- 26th May 1940 In billets. Battery reorganized as Battery H.Q. and 3 troops - two troops of 5 lights each and one troop of four lights. The latter was composed of personnel and equipment of 6 S/L Bty. This reorganization was however never used.
- 26th May 1940, 20.00 Immediate embarkation at Dunkerque ordered. Battery left billets at 15 mins. notice, abandoning all equipment which could not be carried on the person. By lorries to Dunkerque and then on foot to docks. One bombing raid whilst en route to Docks, but no casualties. Battery embarked on T.S.S.Canterbury. and T.S.S.Maid of Orleans, both ships sailing during the night and arriving at Dover without mishap. One bomb dropped astern of Maid of Orleans.
On arrival in England parties were despatched to Reception Depots, thence to centres for reorganization and reforming. The party Ex-S.S.Canterbury went to Camberley, then to Plymouth and on to Norton Manor Taunton where all S/L Regiments were being congregated.
The party ex-Maid of Orleans proceeded from Dover to a reception Depot at Tweasledown near Aldershot and from there to Woolwich on the 27th. On the 29th May they were re-despatched to Arborfield near Reading, and on June 6th went on to Taunton to link up with other party of 2nd S/L Regt.R.A. Strength of Battery on arrival at Taunton on June 6th was 5 officers and 206 O.R.s.
Extracts from Personal Letters Written by L/Bdr J.A.Soanes
Monday 27th May 1940
I'm actually in England stationed for today & maybe tomorrow at Bagshot, now that does make you feel very happy indeed, so it does me. I know you're surprised & so am I, even more than you, things are pretty bad over in France, bombing, machine gunning & shelling. I'm pleased to say I came through that lot untouched, our Regiment has been properly busted up, in fact out of about 1,400 men, only about 400 are here, of course some may still be alright but that is neither here nor there.
Tuesday 28th May 1940
...I'm writing this time from Fort Austin, Plymouth & still can't reply, as were told in a day or so we'll be moving again, where to I can't say...
...let me tell you how it all started, we were sent to a small village somewhere in Belgium to rest after being in action, the rest was very welcome as for a long while we had not had any decent sleep, just an hour or two now and then, that was nearly always when we were travelling, after being there two days our ISM came in the barn & told us to grab our packs rifles, bren guns, and be ready to move in 5 minutes, after that they loaded into as few lorries as possible & off we went, not knowing what was going to happen next, on the way they gave us as much ammunition we could carry, naturally we thought we were going to have a go at infantry street fighting somewhere or other, never did we expect to come back to England., we arrived at Dunkirk at 12 o'clock midnight, what sight that was, you've heard I suppose that it has been bombed, well never would you think a town as big as that is could be in such a state, not a civilian to be seen, houses bombed to pieces, then the docks, you've heard of the oil boat set fire last week at Dunkirk, well it was still burning furiously on Sunday when we left, the smoke in the sky spread for miles & miles, all told there were three fires in the harbour, everywhere we have been in France so the Germans have followed both in the air & in tanks, & while at Dunkirk lining up to get on the boat over they came again dropping his eggs everywhere but we all came through safe & sound.
Leaving there at about 1.30 AM we arrived at Dover at 3.30 AM where we got a hot cup of tea (no sugar) a sausage roll & 2 d bar of Cadbury whole nut, then a train to Bagshot I think, then a lot of messing about & a meal or two & I wrote to you, after which I laid down fully dressed with my overcoat over me intending to sleep for an hour or so, instead of that, I must have been tired I slept from 5 o c until sometime in the middle of the night, I don't suppose I'd have woke up then if I had my blankets over me but I was cold, that must have woke me, half asleep & half awake I put my blankets over me (I still had my battle dress on) & sleep till 6.15 this morning, what a lovely sleep, I certainly felt much better today than I have for a long time, now don't think that I shan't want any sleep when I get home, will you.
From there we caught a train at 9.30 arriving here at 3.30 now I'm waiting for 9.30 when were going to get a real hot dinner, after living on bully & biscuits for two weeks or more its going to be a real treat...
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Capt. Donald Herbert 261635 2nd Searchlight Regiment Royal Artillery Donald Wells is my maternal grandfather. He survived the war, but never talked about his war time experience. I found out that he was a POW at Stalag 20b Marienburg. He served as a Lance Bombardier in the Royal Artillery, becoming 2nd Lieutenant and temporary Captain in 1944.
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Gnr. Edward Charles Penfold 6 Bty., 2nd Searchlight Regiment. Royal Artillery (d.19th October 1946) Near my home in Wilton, I found Edward Penfold’s war grave at the cemetery in Barford St Martin, near Wilton, Salisbury.
He lies in a forgotten corner, the grave looking somewhat forlorn and a tad neglected.
I checked on the CWGC website and found his grave records and who was his family. I shall shortly check to see if his family are still in the area, and offer to maintain his grave, as the site is listed as being cared for by relatives.
Today, 10th November, Remembrance Sunday, I commemorated his service with my own Act of Remembrance. RIP Gunner Edward Charles Penfold RA.
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Gnr. William Frederick Bowers 2nd Search Light Regiment, 475th Bty. Royal Artillery (d.14th April 1941) Bill Bowers was killed 'Due to War Operations' on Portland - he was manning a Heavy Weight Searchlight. His Commanding Officer was James Dykes whose name is shown on Bill's death certificate. He was stationed in Bincleaves Barracks in Weymouth. Apparently the Battery was hit by a bomb, a number of civilians were also killed in the same raid that night.
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Gnr. William Hennessy 2nd Searchlight Regiment Royal Artillery William Hennessy served with the 2nd Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery in WW2. He was a Prisoner of War in Stalag VIIIB.
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Gnr. William Frederick Bowers 475th Battery, 2nd Searchlight Regiment Royal Artillery (d.14th April 1941) William Bowers was killed manning a heavy searchlight defending Portland Naval base on 14th April 1941.
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Sgt. Cecil Stanley Wright CdeG. 2nd Searchlight Regiment Royal Artillery Cecil Wright fought in the Battle of Antwerp.
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LBdr. John Christie 2nd Searchlight Regiment, 6th Battery Royal Artillery (d.18th May 1940) My great uncle, John Christie, was killed on the 8th day of the German Blitzkrieg, west of Arras. Details are unclear but we know that his unit, which was not a front line battle formation, found itself faced by rapdly advancing German tanks: but the men were only armed with rifles. One story is that John (known as Jack) was killed trying to capture a tank but this is uncertain. He was 21 and two of his brothers served throughout the war in the RA and infantry, both survived.
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Gnr. Thomas Gary Cooper 2nd Searchlight Regiment, 5th Battery Royal Artillery Tom was born 19th April 1913 in Penistone. Married Doris Wood in 1936. In 1939, Thomas Cooper was a miner below ground and lived in Barnsley, South Yorkshire with his wife, Doris, and son Brian aged 2.
He joined the Royal Artillery, 2nd Searchlight Regiment, 5th Battery and served in France 1940, 1945. He had 7 children with Doris and died 1983 in Barnsley, South Yorkshire.
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L/Sgt. Philip George Lilly 2nd Searchlight Regt. 5 Bty. Royal Artillery (d.23rd March 1941) Philip Lilly was my Great Uncle, he served with 5th Battery. 2nd Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery
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