Royal Gibraltar Regiment
Encyclopedia
The Royal Gibraltar Regiment is the home
defence unit
for the British overseas territory of Gibraltar
. It was formed in 1958 from the Gibraltar Defence Force as an infantry
unit, with an integrated artillery
troop
.
garrison from the territory in 1991, it was placed on the British Army's regular establishment and attached to British Forces Gibraltar
. It is formed as a standard light infantry
battalion
with a Headquarters Company and three rifle companies
. Of these, two are made up of regular soldiers and the other is a Territorial Army unit. HQ Company includes an artillery troop, equipped with the L118 Light Gun
:
In 1999 the regiment was granted the Royal title. In March 2001, for the first time, the regiment mounted the guard
at Buckingham Palace
. In addition to this, the regiment, thanks to its artillery heritage, is also permitted to fire gun salutes from the Tower of London
, something that is traditionally done only by the Honourable Artillery Company
. The regiment also has responsibility for the Ceremony of the Keys
in Gibraltar.
to Devil's Tower to prevent soldiers from the garrison deserting across to the enemy.
These men were known as the Genoese Guard and were disbanded at the end of the Seven Years War.
During the Great Siege of Gibraltar
, 160 local labourers volunteered to take part in the action during the night of 26/27 November 1781. They were tasked to follow the advancing troops and assist in the dismantling and demolition of the Spanish batteries, magazines and trenches.
, 100 local men were deployed by the commissariat as transport drivers, known as Los Carreteros Del Rey (The King’s Cart Drivers). The expedition was involved in several battles with the Dervishes. During a parade held in Gibraltar the cart drivers were awarded the Egyptian War Medal
with a clasp bearing the title ‘Suakin 1885’.
, in 1900, a group of Gibraltarians offered to form a Local Corps of Volunteers. The suggestion was made that some of the Volunteers might be organised as a Rifle Corps. However the war was over before the Corps was formed.
on 3 July 1915. Addressing the volunteers at Wellington Front on that day the Governor reminded them that the Corps had come into being not because of any official demand but as a result of their patriotic fervour and of their love and respect for the Crown.
The Corps was initially based at Orange Bastion, with the Headquarters on the ground floor of what is now City Hall. Later the Corps moved to Wellington Front. It consisted of four rifle companies, A, B, C and D, each commanded by a Captain, two subalterns, one Sergeant Major, four Sergeants, eight Corporals, two buglers and about 80 men. The first Commanding Officer was Major G B Roberts of the Royal Engineers
. During the war, the Corps provided substantial reinforcement to assist in the defence of the Rock. It Corps was disbanded on 1 February 1920.
formed a Territorial Unit which would be of Artillery to help man the anti-aircraft guns on Gibraltar. The Volunteers paraded for the first time on 28 April 1939. Just before the outbreak of the war, more volunteers were called for and men were allocated to the 4th and 27th Coast Batteries of the Royal Artillery
as well as to the Royal Signals, Royal Army Service Corps
and Royal Army Medical Corps
.
On the 2 September 1939, the Gibraltar Defence Force was mobilised. The Heavy Anti Aircraft section was attached to 19 AA Battery Royal Artillery and deployed with two 3 inch guns to the Admiralty oil tanks, on the east side of the Rock.
They fired their first shots in anger on 7 July 1940 and from then on they were often in action against Vichy French and Italian
planes, engaging German
planes later in the war. They shot down their first enemy aircraft, on the night of the 20 August 1940. The entry in the unit’s War Diary reads as follows:
In April 1942, the Coastal Defence element was merged with the Anti Aircraft section.
Early in 1944 the force was reconstituted under the Defence Force Ordinance 1943. The majority of volunteers were placed on the reserve list, with other sections disbanded.
The Regiment then had a dual role, being organised as an infantry battalion with four rifle companies and, an artillery troop manning the 9.2 inch coastal guns.
This organisation was to remain in force until 1971. With the departure of the last gunner unit in 1958 the Regiment was issued with four 25 pounder guns and took over the responsibilities of firing Royal Gun Salute
s.
On 25 September 1971 the regiment was presented with its first colours. At a ceremony held at the Grand Parade, His Excellency the Governor
, Admiral of the Fleet Sir Varyl Begg
, presented the Regiment with its colours on behalf of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
On the same day the Regiment was granted the Freedom of the City of Gibraltar by the Mayor of Gibraltar
, the Hon Alfred Vazquez during a ceremony outside the House of Assembly.
The Artillery battery was named "Thompson Battery" on 15 September 1973 in honour of the late Sir Willie Thomson OBE JP, and in December 1975 Thomson’s Battery was issued with three 105mm pack howitzers. Following Operation Corporate
the Ministry of Defence decided, in line with its policy of modernisation and commonality of equipment to re-equip the Regiment with new weapons. In late 1982 six 105mm Light Guns replaced the three howitzers and eight blowpipe Surface-to-Air missile units replaced the four L40/70 AA Guns.
On 1 April 1991, the Regiment was reorganised into an all Infantry Unit and took over the duties of the resident infantry Battalion. The re-roled Regiment consisted of a Headquarter Company (Thompson’s Bty) and three Rifle Companies of which G and I Companies were regular with B Company and the Military band
consisting of TA soldiers.
On 21 April 1998 the Regiment performed its first public duties in London by firing a 62 Royal Gun Salute at the Tower of London
on the occasion of HM the Queen’s Birthday. On the 1 July 1998 HRH the Duke of Kent
presented The Regiment with its new Colours.
, the Tower of London
and St James' Palace between 28 February to 16 March 2001.
On 21 April 2004 the Regiment fired its second 62 Royal Gun Salute at the Tower Of London on the occasion of Her Majesty the Queen’s birthday.
The regiment has supplied officers and men for the conflicts in Afghanistan
and Iraq
. It is in these theatres that members of the Regiment have been decorated with two Bronze Stars and a Military Cross
.
National security
National security is the requirement to maintain the survival of the state through the use of economic, diplomacy, power projection and political power. The concept developed mostly in the United States of America after World War II...
defence unit
Defense (military)
Defense has several uses in the sphere of military application.Personal defense implies measures taken by individual soldiers in protecting themselves whether by use of protective materials such as armor, or field construction of trenches or a bunker, or by using weapons that prevent the enemy...
for the British overseas territory of Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
. It was formed in 1958 from the Gibraltar Defence Force as an infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
unit, with an integrated artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
troop
Troop
A troop is a military unit, originally a small force of cavalry, subordinate to a squadron and headed by the troop leader. In many armies a troop is the equivalent unit to the infantry section or platoon...
.
Formation
Initially a reserve force, on the withdrawal of the British ArmyBritish 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...
garrison from the territory in 1991, it was placed on the British Army's regular establishment and attached to British Forces Gibraltar
British Forces Gibraltar
British Forces Gibraltar is the name given to the British Armed Forces stationed in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. Gibraltar is used primarily as a training area, thanks to its good climate and rocky terrain, and as a stopover for aircraft and ships en route to and from deployments...
. It is formed as a standard light infantry
Light infantry
Traditionally light infantry were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. Light infantry was distinct from medium, heavy or line infantry. Heavy infantry were dedicated primarily to fighting in tight...
battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
with a Headquarters Company and three rifle companies
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
. Of these, two are made up of regular soldiers and the other is a Territorial Army unit. HQ Company includes an artillery troop, equipped with the L118 Light Gun
L118 Light Gun
The L118 Light Gun is a 105 mm towed howitzer, originally produced for the British Army in the 1970s and widely exported since, including to the United States, where a modified version is known as the M119A1...
:
- Organisation
- HQ Company (Thomson's Battery, Regular)
- G Company (Regular)
- I Company (Regular)
- B Company (Territorial)
In 1999 the regiment was granted the Royal title. In March 2001, for the first time, the regiment mounted the guard
Guard Mounting
Guard Mounting, or Changing the Guard , refers to a formal ceremony in which sentries providing ceremonial guard duties at important institutions are relieved by a new batch of sentries...
at Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
. In addition to this, the regiment, thanks to its artillery heritage, is also permitted to fire gun salutes from the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
, something that is traditionally done only by the Honourable Artillery Company
Honourable Artillery Company
The Honourable Artillery Company was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1537 by King Henry VIII. Today it is a Registered Charity whose purpose is to attend to the “better defence of the realm"...
. The regiment also has responsibility for the Ceremony of the Keys
Ceremony of the Keys
Ceremonies known as the Ceremony of the Keys are held in at least two locations in the United Kingdom: London, and Edinburgh, as well as Gibraltar.-London:...
in Gibraltar.
18th Century
The earliest verifiable historical evidence of local civilians enrolled to defend Gibraltar dates to 24 June 1720 and by 1755 an armed organisation of local men were mounting guard on the picket line from BaysideBayside
Bayside may refer to a number of places:In the United States:*Bayside, California*Bayside High School , several schools in the U.S...
to Devil's Tower to prevent soldiers from the garrison deserting across to the enemy.
These men were known as the Genoese Guard and were disbanded at the end of the Seven Years War.
During the Great Siege of Gibraltar
Great Siege of Gibraltar
The Great Siege of Gibraltar was an unsuccessful attempt by Spain and France to capture Gibraltar from the British during the American War of Independence. This was the largest action fought during the war in terms of numbers, particularly the Grand Assault of 18 September 1782...
, 160 local labourers volunteered to take part in the action during the night of 26/27 November 1781. They were tasked to follow the advancing troops and assist in the dismantling and demolition of the Spanish batteries, magazines and trenches.
19th Century
During the Mahdist WarMahdist War
The Mahdist War was a colonial war of the late 19th century. It was fought between the Mahdist Sudanese and the Egyptian and later British forces. It has also been called the Anglo-Sudan War or the Sudanese Mahdist Revolt. The British have called their part in the conflict the Sudan Campaign...
, 100 local men were deployed by the commissariat as transport drivers, known as Los Carreteros Del Rey (The King’s Cart Drivers). The expedition was involved in several battles with the Dervishes. During a parade held in Gibraltar the cart drivers were awarded the Egyptian War Medal
Egypt Medal
The Egypt Medal 1882-1889 was awarded for the military actions involving the British Army during the 1882 Anglo-Egyptian War. The war become due to the British involvement in Egypt deepened after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 and foreign armies mutinied and triggered an anti-European...
with a clasp bearing the title ‘Suakin 1885’.
20th Century
During the Second Boer WarSecond Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
, in 1900, a group of Gibraltarians offered to form a Local Corps of Volunteers. The suggestion was made that some of the Volunteers might be organised as a Rifle Corps. However the war was over before the Corps was formed.
The Great War
During the Great War a group of Gibraltarians, volunteered to take up arms for King and Country. Such was the interest that soon some 400 Gibraltarians joined. This group eventually obtained official recognition from the Governor, General Sir Herbert MilesHerbert Miles
Lieutenant General Sir Herbert Scott Gould Miles GCB GCMG GBE CVO was Quartermaster-General to the Forces.-Military career:Miles was commissioned into the 101st Regiment of Foot in 1869....
on 3 July 1915. Addressing the volunteers at Wellington Front on that day the Governor reminded them that the Corps had come into being not because of any official demand but as a result of their patriotic fervour and of their love and respect for the Crown.
The Corps was initially based at Orange Bastion, with the Headquarters on the ground floor of what is now City Hall. Later the Corps moved to Wellington Front. It consisted of four rifle companies, A, B, C and D, each commanded by a Captain, two subalterns, one Sergeant Major, four Sergeants, eight Corporals, two buglers and about 80 men. The first Commanding Officer was Major G B Roberts of the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
. During the war, the Corps provided substantial reinforcement to assist in the defence of the Rock. It Corps was disbanded on 1 February 1920.
World War II
In 1938 the Governor General Sir Edmund Ironside, 1st Baron IronsideEdmund Ironside, 1st Baron Ironside
Field Marshal William Edmund Ironside, 1st Baron Ironside GCB, CMG, CBE, DSO, was a British Army officer who served as Chief of the Imperial General Staff during the first year of the Second World War....
formed a Territorial Unit which would be of Artillery to help man the anti-aircraft guns on Gibraltar. The Volunteers paraded for the first time on 28 April 1939. Just before the outbreak of the war, more volunteers were called for and men were allocated to the 4th and 27th Coast Batteries of the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The 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:...
as well as to the Royal Signals, Royal Army Service Corps
Royal Army Service Corps
The Royal Army Service Corps was a corps of the British Army. It was responsible for land, coastal and lake transport; air despatch; supply of food, water, fuel, and general domestic stores such as clothing, furniture and stationery ; administration of...
and Royal Army Medical Corps
Royal Army Medical Corps
The Royal Army Medical Corps is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace...
.
On the 2 September 1939, the Gibraltar Defence Force was mobilised. The Heavy Anti Aircraft section was attached to 19 AA Battery Royal Artillery and deployed with two 3 inch guns to the Admiralty oil tanks, on the east side of the Rock.
They fired their first shots in anger on 7 July 1940 and from then on they were often in action against Vichy French and Italian
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...
planes, engaging German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
planes later in the war. They shot down their first enemy aircraft, on the night of the 20 August 1940. The entry in the unit’s War Diary reads as follows:
In April 1942, the Coastal Defence element was merged with the Anti Aircraft section.
Early in 1944 the force was reconstituted under the Defence Force Ordinance 1943. The majority of volunteers were placed on the reserve list, with other sections disbanded.
Post War
On 30 August 1958 the permanent cadre and the reserve of the Gibraltar Defence Force was formed into the Gibraltar Regiment.The Regiment then had a dual role, being organised as an infantry battalion with four rifle companies and, an artillery troop manning the 9.2 inch coastal guns.
This organisation was to remain in force until 1971. With the departure of the last gunner unit in 1958 the Regiment was issued with four 25 pounder guns and took over the responsibilities of firing Royal Gun Salute
Salute
A salute is a gesture or other action used to display respect. Salutes are primarily associated with armed forces, but other organizations and civil people also use salutes.-Military salutes:...
s.
On 25 September 1971 the regiment was presented with its first colours. At a ceremony held at the Grand Parade, His Excellency the Governor
Governor of Gibraltar
The Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Gibraltar is the representative of the British monarch in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. The Governor is appointed by the British Monarch on the advice of the British Government...
, Admiral of the Fleet Sir Varyl Begg
Varyl Begg
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Varyl Cargill Begg GCB, DSO, DSC was First Sea Lord, the professional head of the Royal Navy, from 1966 to 1968.-Early life:...
, presented the Regiment with its colours on behalf of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
On the same day the Regiment was granted the Freedom of the City of Gibraltar by the Mayor of Gibraltar
Mayor of Gibraltar
His or Her Worship, the Mayor of Gibraltar, is currently the ceremonial official of the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. The Mayor is appointed by the elected Members of Parliament and takes residency in the City Hall...
, the Hon Alfred Vazquez during a ceremony outside the House of Assembly.
The Artillery battery was named "Thompson Battery" on 15 September 1973 in honour of the late Sir Willie Thomson OBE JP, and in December 1975 Thomson’s Battery was issued with three 105mm pack howitzers. Following Operation Corporate
Operation Corporate
Operation Corporate was the codename given to the 1982 British military involvement in the Falkland Islands during the Falklands War. The commander of task force operations was Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse. Operations lasted from 1 April 1982 to 20 June 1982....
the Ministry of Defence decided, in line with its policy of modernisation and commonality of equipment to re-equip the Regiment with new weapons. In late 1982 six 105mm Light Guns replaced the three howitzers and eight blowpipe Surface-to-Air missile units replaced the four L40/70 AA Guns.
On 1 April 1991, the Regiment was reorganised into an all Infantry Unit and took over the duties of the resident infantry Battalion. The re-roled Regiment consisted of a Headquarter Company (Thompson’s Bty) and three Rifle Companies of which G and I Companies were regular with B Company and the Military band
Military band
A military band originally was a group of personnel that performs musical duties for military functions, usually for the armed forces. A typical military band consists mostly of wind and percussion instruments. The conductor of a band commonly bears the title of Bandmaster or Director of Music...
consisting of TA soldiers.
On 21 April 1998 the Regiment performed its first public duties in London by firing a 62 Royal Gun Salute at the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
on the occasion of HM the Queen’s Birthday. On the 1 July 1998 HRH the Duke of Kent
Duke of Kent
Duke of Kent is a title which has been created various times in the peerages of Great Britain and the United Kingdom, most recently as a royal dukedom for the fourth son of George V.-Pre-history:...
presented The Regiment with its new Colours.
21st Century
In the 21st Century the Regiment has conducted public duties at Buckingham PalaceBuckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
, the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
and St James' Palace between 28 February to 16 March 2001.
On 21 April 2004 the Regiment fired its second 62 Royal Gun Salute at the Tower Of London on the occasion of Her Majesty the Queen’s birthday.
The regiment has supplied officers and men for the conflicts in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; 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....
. It is in these theatres that members of the Regiment have been decorated with two Bronze Stars and a Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
.
See also
- Bermuda RegimentBermuda RegimentThe Bermuda Regiment is the home defence unit of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda. It is a single territorial infantry battalion that was formed by the amalgamation in 1965 of two originally voluntary units, the all white Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps and the mostly black Bermuda Militia...
- Falkland Islands Defence ForceFalkland Islands Defence ForceThe Falkland Islands Defence Force is the locally maintained volunteer defence unit in the Falkland Islands. The FIDF works alongside the military units supplied by the United Kingdom to ensure the security of the islands.-History:...
- Royal Hong Kong Regiment