What was an SAA Section?

[akduerden]

I have some extracts from the 78Th SAA section war diary but do not know what type of unit it was. It looks like supply of some sort. What does SAA stand for?

[squirrel]

Small Arms Ammunition?

[Ron Clifton]

Yes.

Most infantry and m/gun units were replenished with SAA by their artillery brigade or divisional ammunition column, but in some cases, e.g. brigades operating independently, a separate SAA section filled this role.

There was a Renfrewshire SAA Section in the pre-war Highland Division TF, because the 4th (Highland) Mountain Brigade RGA with this division did not carry SAA in its ammunition column.

Ron

[akduerden]

Yes.

Most infantry and m/gun units were replenished with SAA by their artillery brigade or divisional ammunition column, but in some cases, e.g. brigades operating independently, a separate SAA section filled this role.

There was a Renfrewshire SAA Section in the pre-war Highland Division TF, because the 4th (Highland) Mountain Brigade RGA with this division did not carry SAA in its ammunition column.

Ron

Ron,

The fact that the 78th SAA Section war dairy was with the 115th Brigade RFA war diary likely to mean that 15th Brigade RFA did not carry SAA in its ammunition column? Not the 78th was renamed 115th and then back to 78th. Note there was also a 78th Infantry Brigage in the 26th Div, which the 115th was part of.

Andrew

[Ron Clifton]

Andrew

I think the key lies in "26th Div" - i.e. it relates specifically to Salonika/Macedonia, where they did have extra SAA sections to carry ammo, mostly on pack animals, to troops in mountainous areas where it would be difficult to get a horse-drawn SAA wagon. It looks as if 78 SAA Sec was formed to supply the battalions of 78 Inf Bde in this way.

Artillery brigades were not actually part of infantry brigades, but you often find a close association between such a pair. So 115 Field Bde RFA may have functioned closely with 78 Inf Bde.

Ron