divisions for a gigantic American-led invasion of the Japanese home islands, scheduled for March
1946. The 3rd was to have formed part of a Commonwealth corps with a Canadian and an
Australian division - attacking the main island of Honshu, eventually taking Tokyo.
Elements of one unit, the 20th Anti-Tank Regiment, got as far as being emplaned for the United
States. Mercifully - with Allied casualties predicted to be one million - the atomic bombs were
dropped and Japan finally capitulated on August 15.
Back in Germany, the 92nd continued its policing duties. On August 18, the regiment evicted all
Russian displaced persons and freed PoWs from Harpstedt and Dunsen to camps at Luneburg. At
the beginning of September, while 318 stayed at Kreis Hoya, Harpstedt, the regiment moved to
Scheessel in the Kreis Rotenburg area. On the 25th, the batteries completed the reorganisation into
three troops.
During the month, men began to be released or transferred to other units and by the beginning of
October, the regiment's strength was 607. On October 9, the 92nd REME workshop was
disbanded. Pioneers took over Harpstedt from 318 on the 22nd and the battery moved to
Rotenburg aerodrome. On November 13 Lieutenant Colonel G E C Sikes, DSO took over
command and as December opened, the regiment's assignment was guarding a vehicle park on the
Bremen-Hamburg autobahn.
All the time, numbers had been gradually dwindling. Because two drafts of men were scheduled to
leave on December 24, Christmas celebrations were held on the 23rd, with the weather snowy. By
now the regiment numbered only 552. As 1946 opened, the run-down accelerated - and notification
came that disbandment was scheduled for February.
Throughout January, personnel numbers dwindled rapidly as men were discharged or given other
postings. By February 2, most remaining stores, equipment and vehicles were being shipped out.
Two days later, on February 4, 1946, as rain swept Scheessel, the 92nd (Loyals) Light Anti-
Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery, was formally disbanded. It was five years and seven months to
the day since the 7th Loyals had been formed at Fulwood Barracks. Most of the men and many of
the officers who had made up the newly-raised battalion in that desperate summer of 1940 had
stayed with it on its long, eventful journey from fledgling infantry unit to crack mobile anti-aircraft
regiment.
Through the long years of training in Britain and their many battles - from the Normandy beaches
to Bremen - they had served the guns well. And had proved by their skill, courage and dedication
that they were indeed `true Loyals.'
Loyaute M'Oblige