38th Anti-aircraft Battery in Australia during WW2

The 38th Anti-aircraft Battery, 38 AA Bty, was formed in a house called "Belbowrie" on the corner of Donaldson Street and Hay Street, Corinda reporting to Headquarters 2/2 Heavy Anti-aircraft Regiment, HQ 2/2 HAA Regt. Its role was to take over the Anti-aircraft gun sites on the northern of the Brisbane River from the 6th Anti-aircraft Battery, 6 AA Bty, which had previously looked after both sides of the river. On 1 September 1942, 2 officers and 12 ordinary ranks marched into Corinda to form the new AA Headquarters. Colonel Meredith was their Commanding Officer.

"Belbowrie" 95 Donaldson Street, Corinda. They
also occupied the adjacent house in Donaldson Street.

This was the second house used by AA units during WWII. Since
then, two other houses have been built between the two houses.

38 AA Bty initially took over 386 HAA Gun station at Victoria Park and 389 HAA Gun Station at Hendra. 38 AA Bty took over 388 HAA Gun Station at Pinkenba in September 1942. 38 AA Bty Headquarters moved from Corinda to a house in New Farm on the corner of Moray Street and Sydney Street in December 1942 and then to Hendra in June 1943. A re-organisation in August 1943 saw the HAA batteries come under command of Headquarters Brisbane Anti-aircraft Group, HQ Brisbane AA Gp.

In mid 1943 the Volunteer Defence Corps VDC soldiers of "C" Coy and "D" Coy of the 2nd VDC Battalion 2 VDC Bn, and "D" Coy of the 1st VDC Battalion, 1 VDC Bn, commenced training to take over operation of the HAA guns. The August 1943 restructure incorporated partial VDC manning of HAA guns in southern Australia.

Each of the above Gun Stations were manned by large groups of VDC soldiers which were detached from their VDC Battalions. Very few VDC Officers or senior NCOs were part of the AA manning arrangements.

In February 1944, when the anti-aircraft defences in Brisbane were to be reduced, the VDC formed complete ‘shadow units’ which could fully man the gun stations leaving the AMF unit reduced to a training and maintenance cadre for the VDC unit. 2 VDC Battalion, 2 VDC Bn, was restructured and became 38 HAA Bty (VDC) and 38 HAA Bty (Static) was reduced to 38 HAA Bty (LE). It took until July 1944 to fully implement the changes. Whilst the VDC and AMF batteries continued as separate units, their records were often intermingled. HQs Second Australian Army took over control of Brisbane Fortress in November 1944 and all anti-aircraft defences, including 38 HAA Bty (LE) were disbanded in December 1944, while 38 HAA Bty (VDC) was re-designated to 2 VDC Bn and was stood down as a reserve unit.

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