▁of ▁the ▁T A ' s ▁Anti - A ircraft ▁( AA ) ▁units ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 3 0 , ▁which ▁acceler ated ▁after ▁the ▁Mun ich ▁Cris is ▁of ▁ 1 9 3 8 , ▁when ▁the ▁T A ▁had ▁been ▁briefly ▁mobil ised ▁for ▁war . ▁Wh itt aker ▁was ▁promoted ▁to ▁Brig ad ier ▁and ▁appointed ▁commander ▁of ▁ 2 6 th ▁( Lond on ) ▁Anti - A ircraft ▁Brigade ▁( including ▁his ▁old ▁regiment ) ▁on ▁ 1 8 ▁January ▁ 1 9 3 9 . ▁ 2 6 th ▁AA ▁B de , ▁cont rolling ▁several ▁reg iments ▁of ▁heavy ▁anti - air craft ▁( H AA ) ▁guns , ▁was ▁a ▁critical ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁air ▁def ences ▁of ▁London . ▁Just ▁before ▁the ▁out break ▁of ▁war , ▁the ▁brig ade ▁moved ▁its ▁headquarters ▁to ▁B rom pton ▁Road ▁in ▁South ▁K ens ington , ▁where ▁a ▁Pic c ad illy ▁line ▁under ground ▁railway ▁station ▁had ▁been ▁dis used ▁since ▁ 1 9 3 4 . ▁The ▁t unn els , ▁sub ways ▁and ▁lift - sh aft s ▁of ▁the ▁station ▁were ▁adapted ▁to ▁provide ▁bomb - proof ▁accommod ation , ▁and ▁it ▁became ▁the ▁control ▁centre ▁for ▁the ▁whole ▁of ▁the ▁London ▁Inner ▁Art illery ▁Zone ▁( IA Z ) ▁under ▁ 1 st ▁AA ▁Division . ▁ ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁Wh itt aker ▁commanded ▁his ▁brig ade ▁from ▁this ▁H Q ▁during ▁the ▁training ▁period ▁of ▁the ▁Ph oney