26th (London) Anti-Aircraft Brigade
| 26th (London) Anti-Aircraft Brigade | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1922–1948 |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
|
| Branch |
 Territorial Army
|
| Type | Anti-Aircraft Brigade |
| Role | Air Defence |
| Part of | 1st AA Division |
| Garrison/HQ | Duke of York's Headquarters |
| Engagements |
The Blitz Baby Blitz Operation Diver |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Maj-Gen Robert Whittaker |
26th (London) Anti-Aircraft Brigade (26 AA Bde) was an Air Defence formation of the British Army during World War II. It defended London during the Blitz.
German air raids by Zeppelin airships and Gotha bombers on London and other British cities during World War I had shown the need for strong anti-aircraft (AA) defences in any future war. When the Territorial Army (TA) was reformed in 1922 it included a number of dedicated AA units of the Royal Artillery (RA) and Royal Engineers (RE). Two formations were organised in London District to command these units, provisionally known as the 2nd and 3rd London Air Defence Brigades, but soon numbered 26th and 27th. Both were based at the Duke of York's Headquarters in Chelsea, where the units of the 2nd AD Bde were accommodated in buildings used before World War I by King Edward's Horse and the Royal Army Service Corps divisional train of the 47th (1/2nd London) Division. Extra buildings erected for the units included gun drill sheds and a store for each battery. Meanwhile, 3rd AD Bde's units were based at Lytton Grove, Putney, taking over pre-war buildings previously used by the City of London Yeomanry (Rough Riders). The brigades had the following composition:.
26th (London) Air Defence Brigade
27th (London) Air Defence Brigade
As Britain's AA defences expanded during the 1930s, higher formations became necessary. 1st AA Division was formed in 1935 at RAF Uxbridge to command the growing number of Territorial Army (TA) anti-aircraft gun and searchlight units covering London and the Home Counties. The 26th AD Bde was reorganised on 16 December 1935 as 26th (London) Anti-Aircraft Group, commanding all the gun and searchlight units of the two former brigades, while the 27th was reformed as 27th (Home Counties) Anti-Aircraft Group at RAF Kenley, to command new AA units in the South London suburbs.
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