How 8 RUR became a Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment.

Note the RUR badges.

On 5 March 1943, 117th Light Anti Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery arrived in Algiers in North Africa where it soon became the Corps Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment. Three weeks later when the remainder of its equipment arrived, the Regiment moved 500 miles eastwards to Le Kef. Here a Battery deployed for the first time guarding bridges, Corps Headquarters and Corps Troops.

Formerly this unit had been the 8th Battalion The Royal Ulster Rifles, which was constituted in June 1940 as a Holding Battalion of the Royal Ulster Rifles. In its first three weeks of existence, it trained and equipped 767 men direct from civilian life. In October 1940, 8 RUR became a field force unit and therefore trained for war.

When the Battalion heard that from 1 January 1942 it was to become an air defence unit, the officers and men received the news with mixed feelings; however, they were all pleased that they were to retain their rifle regiment customs and traditions.

In May 1944, after the Cassino battles, the regiment was again re-roled, this time as infantry with its personnel assigned to battalions of the newly-formed 61 Brigade, a Rifles (King's Royal Rifle Corps & Rifle Brigade) formation, part of 6th Armoured Division.