1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
Encyclopedia
1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery is a regiment
of the Royal Horse Artillery
in the British Army
. It currently serves in the armoured field artillery
role, and is equipped with the AS-90
self-propelled gun. They are currently based in Assaye Barracks in Tidworth
Gunner AS 90;
Gunner Logistics;
Gunner Observation Post Assistant;
1RHA then joined 10 Armd Division in Aleppo
and spent the next year training all over Syria
, Palestine
and the Suez Canal
Zone. 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery then landed in Italy
from Palestine in May 1944 at Taranto
, and were in action south of Rome
on 15 May 1944 and thereafter played a full part in the remainder of the Italian Campaign
and finished the war in Italy
1RHA moved to Assaye Barracks in Tidworth in preparation for the AS-90 Self-propelled artillery
August and September 2004 were particularly violent, resulting in the loss of Cpl Marc Taylor REME
and Gunner David Lawrence in a improvised explosive device
/rocket-propelled grenade attack on their convoy. Sgt Terry Bryan received a Conspicuous Gallantry Cross
for his role as commander of a multiple which was ambushed and had to abandon their vehicles.
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
of the Royal Horse Artillery
Royal Horse Artillery
The regiments of the Royal Horse Artillery , dating from 1793, are part of the Royal Regiment of Artillery of the British Army...
in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. It currently serves in the armoured field artillery
Field artillery
Field artillery is a category of mobile artillery used to support armies in the field. These weapons are specialized for mobility, tactical proficiency, long range, short range and extremely long range target engagement....
role, and is equipped with the AS-90
AS-90
The AS-90 is a lightly armoured self-propelled artillery piece used by the British Army. It was first delivered in 1993...
self-propelled gun. They are currently based in Assaye Barracks in Tidworth
Tidworth
Tidworth is a town in south-east Wiltshire, England with a growing civilian population. Situated at the eastern edge of Salisbury Plain, it is approximately 10 miles west of Andover, 12 miles south of Marlborough, 24 miles south of Swindon, 15 miles north by north-east of Salisbury and 6 miles east...
Regiment structure
- A Battery (The Chestnut Troop)A Battery (The Chestnut Troop) Royal Horse ArtilleryA Battery Royal Horse Artillery is the senior Battery in the Royal Regiment of Artillery and is part of 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery...
– Equipped with L118 105mm light gun and based at Assaye Barracks in TidworthTidworthTidworth is a town in south-east Wiltshire, England with a growing civilian population. Situated at the eastern edge of Salisbury Plain, it is approximately 10 miles west of Andover, 12 miles south of Marlborough, 24 miles south of Swindon, 15 miles north by north-east of Salisbury and 6 miles east... - B BatteryB Battery Royal Horse ArtilleryB Battery, Royal Horse Artillery is a Close Support Battery of 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery. It is currently based in Assaye Barracks in Tidworth-Battery Structure and Equipment:...
– Equipped with L118 105mm light gun and based at Assaye Barracks in Tidworth - E BatteryE Battery Royal Horse ArtilleryE Battery Royal Horse Artillery are a Close Support Battery of 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery They are currently based in Assaye Barracks in Tidworth-Current Role:...
– Equipped with L118 105mm light gun and based at Assaye Barracks in Tidworth - L (Néry) BatteryL (Néry) Battery Royal Horse ArtilleryL Battery Royal Horse Artillery are the Tactical Group Battery of 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery. They are currently based in Assaye Barracks in Tidworth.-Current Role:...
– Tactical Group Battery, and based at Assaye Barracks in Tidworth - O Battery (The Rocket Troop) – Headquarters Battery the backbone of the regiment based at Assaye Barracks in Tidworth
- REMERemeReme may refer to:*Rəmə, Azerbaijan*Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers...
light aid detachment
Unit trades
Gunner Command systems;Gunner AS 90;
Gunner Logistics;
Gunner Observation Post Assistant;
Formation
- 1938 – Although some of the Batteries had existed for 145 years, 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery were formed at Bulford CampBulford CampBulford Camp is a military camp on the Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England.The modern day Bulford Camp is two camps separated by Marlborough Road. The camp on the eastern side contains Picton Barracks housing the headquarters of 3rd Division and Kiwi Barracks houses the 4th Battalion The Rifles...
on 1 May 1938.
World War II
- 1939 – 1RHA were part of 51st (Highland) Infantry Division, and fought at Saint ValerySaint-Valery-en-CauxSaint-Valery-en-Caux is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France.-Geography:A small fishing port and light industrial town situated in the Pays de Caux, some west of Dieppe at the junction of the D53, D20, D79 and the D925 roads...
. The Regiment was captured after severe fighting, but some Batteries managed to escape after the Battle of DunkirkBattle of DunkirkThe Battle of Dunkirk was a battle in the Second World War between the Allies and Germany. A part of the Battle of France on the Western Front, the Battle of Dunkirk was the defence and evacuation of British and allied forces in Europe from 26 May–4 June 1940.After the Phoney War, the Battle of...
. The Regiment reformed and was deployed to Northern Africa in late 1940.
- 1940 – The Regiment arrived with the Middle East CommandMiddle East CommandThe Middle East Command was a British Army Command established prior to the Second World War in Egypt. Its primary role was to command British land forces and co-ordinate with the relevant naval and air commands to defend British interests in the Middle East and eastern Mediterranean region.The...
in October 1940 and took a large part in Wavell's Campaign which opened on 9 December 1940. The most notable actions were those during the Siege of TobrukSiege of TobrukThe siege of Tobruk was a confrontation that lasted 240 days between Axis and Allied forces in North Africa during the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War...
and all the batteries fought during the fierce fighting just before El Alamein and then the FirstFirst Battle of El AlameinThe First Battle of El Alamein was a battle of the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War, fought between Axis forces of the Panzer Army Africa commanded by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, and Allied forces The First Battle of El Alamein (1–27 July 1942) was a battle of the Western Desert...
and SecondSecond Battle of El AlameinThe Second Battle of El Alamein marked a major turning point in the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. The battle took place over 20 days from 23 October – 11 November 1942. The First Battle of El Alamein had stalled the Axis advance. Thereafter, Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery...
Battles of El Alamein itself. After battle the Regiment was withdrawn to refit, and took no further part in the war in the Western Desert CampaignWestern Desert CampaignThe Western Desert Campaign, also known as the Desert War, was the initial stage of the North African Campaign during the Second World War. The campaign was heavily influenced by the availability of supplies and transport. The ability of the Allied forces, operating from besieged Malta, to...
1RHA then joined 10 Armd Division in Aleppo
Aleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...
and spent the next year training all over Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
and the Suez Canal
Suez Canal
The Suez Canal , also known by the nickname "The Highway to India", is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation...
Zone. 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery then landed in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
from Palestine in May 1944 at Taranto
Taranto
Taranto is a coastal city in Apulia, Southern Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Taranto and is an important commercial port as well as the main Italian naval base....
, and were in action south of Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
on 15 May 1944 and thereafter played a full part in the remainder of the Italian Campaign
Italian Campaign (World War II)
The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...
and finished the war in Italy
Cold War
- 1945 – 1RHA were stationed in Palestine after World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, during the period of terrorist activity that led to the creation of the State of IsraelIsraelThe State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. - 1950 – 1RHA returned to EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
as part of 6th Armoured Division at Salisbury PlainSalisbury PlainSalisbury Plain is a chalk plateau in central southern England covering . It is part of the Southern England Chalk Formation and largely lies within the county of Wiltshire, with a little in Hampshire. The plain is famous for its rich archaeology, including Stonehenge, one of England's best known...
. They were formed because of the emerging threat from the Soviet UnionSoviet UnionThe Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991.... - 1952 – 1RHA moved to MünsterMünsterMünster is an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also capital of the local government region Münsterland...
in West GermanyWest GermanyWest Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
, where they remained until 1958 as part of the 20th Armd Bde of 6th Armd Div - 1958 – Moved to Hildesheim, where they were equipped with the M44 Self Propelled 155 mm Howitzer
- 1965 – 1RHA deployed to the AdenAden ProtectorateThe Aden Protectorate was a British protectorate in southern Arabia which evolved in the hinterland of Aden following the acquisition of that port by Britain in 1839 as an anti-piracy station, and it continued until the 1960s. For administrative purposes it was divided into the Western...
with two batteries (split into two independent 2 gun section), where they supported British battalions in the RadfanRadfanRadfan or the Radfan Hills is a region of the Republic of Yemen. In the 1960s, the area was part of a British protectorate of Dhala and was the site of intense fighting during the Aden Emergency...
, and South Arabian battalions on the YemenYemenThe Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
i border. The third battery was based at BP Camp in Little Aden, where they carried out internal security duties during the Aden EmergencyAden EmergencyThe Aden Emergency was an insurgency against the British crown forces in the British controlled territories of South Arabia which now form part of the Yemen. Partly inspired by Nasser's pan Arab nationalism, it began on 10 December 1963 with the throwing of a grenade at a gathering of British...
. All three batteries rotated, and during 21 months in Aden, 1RHA fired over 23,000 rounds in over 200 operations, supporting seven British and six Arab battalions, and suffered nearly 50 casualties.
Northern Ireland
- 1969 – 1RHA were the first Gunner regiment to be tasked on Operation BannerOperation BannerOperation Banner was the operational name for the British Armed Forces' operation in Northern Ireland from August 1969 to July 2007. It was initially deployed at the request of the Unionist government of Northern Ireland to support the Royal Ulster Constabulary . After the 1998 Belfast Agreement,...
and deployed in November 1969. With a mobile force comprised with more Land RoverLand RoverLand Rover is a British car manufacturer with its headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, United Kingdom which specialises in four-wheel-drive vehicles. It is owned by the Indian company Tata Motors, forming part of their Jaguar Land Rover group...
s and RadiosLarkspur radio systemLarkspur was the name of a tactical radio system used by the British Army. Its development started in the late 1940s with the first equipments being issued in the mid-1950s. It remained in service until replaced by Clansman in the late-1970s although some elements of Larkspur were still in service...
than predecessors; it was able to respond more rapidly to troublespots. - 1972 – 1RHA moved to Northern Ireland to support 3 Inf Bde. E BatteryE Battery Royal Horse ArtilleryE Battery Royal Horse Artillery are a Close Support Battery of 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery They are currently based in Assaye Barracks in Tidworth-Current Role:...
deployed to the Long KeshMaze (HM Prison)Her Majesty's Prison Maze was a prison in Northern Ireland that was used to house paramilitary prisoners during the Troubles from mid-1971 to mid-2000....
, The Chestnut TroopA Battery (The Chestnut Troop) Royal Horse ArtilleryA Battery Royal Horse Artillery is the senior Battery in the Royal Regiment of Artillery and is part of 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery...
in Fermanagh, B BatteryB Battery Royal Horse ArtilleryB Battery, Royal Horse Artillery is a Close Support Battery of 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery. It is currently based in Assaye Barracks in Tidworth-Battery Structure and Equipment:...
around DungannonDungannonDungannon is a medium-sized town in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is the third-largest town in the county and a population of 11,139 people was recorded in the 2001 Census. In August 2006, Dungannon won Ulster In Bloom's Best Kept Town Award for the fifth time...
and the Radar Troop in County DownCounty Down-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
. - 1974 – In February 1RHA arrived in BelfastBelfastBelfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
City Centre to take over from 19 Field Regt RA19th Regiment Royal Artillery19th Regiment Royal Artillery – The Highland Gunners – is a regiment of the Royal Artillery in the British Army. It currently supports 12 Mechanised Brigade in the armoured field artillery role. The regiment has Fire Support Teams mounted in Warrior Mechanised Artillery Observation Vehicles...
. They dealt with over 600 real and hoax Provisional Irish Republican ArmyProvisional Irish Republican ArmyThe Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
(IRA) bomb alerts of which approx 60 were real. B BatteryB Battery Royal Horse ArtilleryB Battery, Royal Horse Artillery is a Close Support Battery of 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery. It is currently based in Assaye Barracks in Tidworth-Battery Structure and Equipment:...
sadly lost Gunner Farrington during an IRA attack. - 1976 – 1RHA deployed on its fourth Northern IrelandOperation BannerOperation Banner was the operational name for the British Armed Forces' operation in Northern Ireland from August 1969 to July 2007. It was initially deployed at the request of the Unionist government of Northern Ireland to support the Royal Ulster Constabulary . After the 1998 Belfast Agreement,...
tour, in BelfastBelfastBelfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
City Centre.
Persian Gulf War
- 1990 – A composite Battery comprising elements of B BatteryB Battery Royal Horse ArtilleryB Battery, Royal Horse Artillery is a Close Support Battery of 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery. It is currently based in Assaye Barracks in Tidworth-Battery Structure and Equipment:...
and E BatteryE Battery Royal Horse ArtilleryE Battery Royal Horse Artillery are a Close Support Battery of 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery They are currently based in Assaye Barracks in Tidworth-Current Role:...
were sent to support 40 Field Regt RA40th Regiment Royal Artillery40th Regiment Royal Artillery – The Lowland Gunners – is a regiment of the Royal Artillery in the British Army. It currently supports 19 Light Brigade in the field artillery role. It is structured into Fire Support Teams equipped with MSTAR, and the regiment's three gun batteries are equipped with...
in the Persian GulfPersian GulfThe Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
1RHA moved to Assaye Barracks in Tidworth in preparation for the AS-90 Self-propelled artillery
Self-propelled artillery
Self-propelled artillery vehicles are combat vehicles armed with artillery. Within the term are covered self-propelled guns and rocket artillery...
Balkan Wars
- 1996 – 1RHA deployed with IFORIFORThe Implementation Force was a NATO-led multinational peacekeeping force in Bosnia and Herzegovina under a one-year mandate from 20 December 1995 to 20 December 1996 under the codename Operation Joint Endeavour. Its task was to implement the military Annexes of The General Framework Agreement for...
to BosniaBosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the... - 1998 – 1RHA deployed with SFORSFORThe Stabilisation Force was a NATO-led multinational peacekeeping force in Bosnia and Herzegovina which was tasked with upholding the Dayton Agreement. It replaced the previous force IFOR...
to Bosnia - 1999 – 1RHA (BBty tac group)deployed with the NATO led force in KosovoKosovoKosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
- 2000 – The Chestnut TroopA Battery (The Chestnut Troop) Royal Horse ArtilleryA Battery Royal Horse Artillery is the senior Battery in the Royal Regiment of Artillery and is part of 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery...
deployed to Sanski MostSanski MostSanski Most is a town and municipality in northwestern Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located on the Sana River in Bosanska Krajina, between Prijedor and Ključ. Administratively it is part of the Una-Sana Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina....
, Bosnia; whilst L/N Battery and elements of O/Hq Bty deployed to Kosovo - 2002 – 1RHA sent B BatteryB Battery Royal Horse ArtilleryB Battery, Royal Horse Artillery is a Close Support Battery of 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery. It is currently based in Assaye Barracks in Tidworth-Battery Structure and Equipment:...
to SipovoŠipovoŠipovo is a town and municipality in central Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is situated in the western part of the Republika Srpska entity and the southern part of the Bosanska Krajina region. The municipality covers an area of , much of which is forested. The Glogovac monastery of the Serb Orthodox...
in BosniaBosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
as the UK Artillery Battery; whist A Battery deployed with the QRL to Kosovo.
Operation TELIC in Iraq
- 2004 – 1RHA deployed to BasraBasraBasra is the capital of Basra Governorate, in southern Iraq near Kuwait and Iran. It had an estimated population of two million as of 2009...
, IraqIraqIraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
on Operation TelicOperation TelicOperation TELIC was the codename under which all British military operations in Iraq were conducted between the start of the Invasion of Iraq on 19 March 2003 and the withdrawal of the last remaining British forces on 22 May 2011...
(Op TELIC 4) as part of 1st Mechanised Brigade. The Chestnut TroopA Battery (The Chestnut Troop) Royal Horse ArtilleryA Battery Royal Horse Artillery is the senior Battery in the Royal Regiment of Artillery and is part of 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery...
initially supported the 1 Cheshire Battlegroup monitoring the city policeIraqi PoliceThe Iraqi Police Service are the uniformed Territorial police force responsible for the enforcement of civil law within Iraq.The current organisation, structure and recruitment practice was guided by the Coalition Provisional Authority following the 2003 invasion of Iraq...
. B BatteryB Battery Royal Horse ArtilleryB Battery, Royal Horse Artillery is a Close Support Battery of 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery. It is currently based in Assaye Barracks in Tidworth-Battery Structure and Equipment:...
trained the regional police departments before providing protection Provincial Support and Liaison Team. E BatteryE Battery Royal Horse ArtilleryE Battery Royal Horse Artillery are a Close Support Battery of 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery They are currently based in Assaye Barracks in Tidworth-Current Role:...
trained the Border Police, and also had soldiers attached to the Danish contingent to the north of BasraBasraBasra is the capital of Basra Governorate, in southern Iraq near Kuwait and Iran. It had an estimated population of two million as of 2009...
.
August and September 2004 were particularly violent, resulting in the loss of Cpl Marc Taylor REME
Reme
Reme may refer to:*Rəmə, Azerbaijan*Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers...
and Gunner David Lawrence in a improvised explosive device
Improvised explosive device
An improvised explosive device , also known as a roadside bomb, is a homemade bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action...
/rocket-propelled grenade attack on their convoy. Sgt Terry Bryan received a Conspicuous Gallantry Cross
Conspicuous Gallantry Cross
The Conspicuous Gallantry Cross is a second level military decoration of the United Kingdom armed forces. Created in 1993 and first awarded in 1995, it was instituted after a review of the British honours system to remove distinctions of rank in the awarding of gallantry decorations...
for his role as commander of a multiple which was ambushed and had to abandon their vehicles.
See also
- British ArmyBritish ArmyThe British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
- Royal ArtilleryRoyal ArtilleryThe Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
- Royal Horse ArtilleryRoyal Horse ArtilleryThe regiments of the Royal Horse Artillery , dating from 1793, are part of the Royal Regiment of Artillery of the British Army...
- List of Royal Artillery Batteries