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Royal Gibraltar Regiment

Coordinates:36°08′57″N5°20′31″W/ 36.149028°N 5.3419°W/36.149028; -5.3419
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(Redirected fromGibraltar Defence Force)

Royal Gibraltar Regiment
Cap badge of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment
ActiveApril 1958-present
CountryGibraltar
United Kingdom
BranchBritish Army
TypeLine Infantry
RoleLight Infantry
SizeTotal of 400+ reported as of 2019;[1]235 reported as of 2023[2]
Part ofQueen's Division
Garrison/HQDevil's Tower Camp,Gibraltar
Nickname(s)The Barbarians
Motto(s)"Nulli expugnabilis hosti"(Latin)
Conquered By No Enemy
AnniversariesRegimental Day: 28 April
EngagementsDefence of Gibraltar, 1940-1945
Websitewww.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/infantry/royal-gibraltar-regiment/Edit this at Wikidata
Commanders
Colonel-in-ChiefThe Governor of Gibraltar
Honorary ColonelLieutenant Colonel(Retd.) Francis Brancato OBE JP
Insignia
Tactical Recognition Flash
Arm BadgeKey of Gibraltar
AbbreviationRG

TheRoyal Gibraltar Regimentis part ofBritish Forces Gibraltarfor theBritish overseas territoryofGibraltar,which historically, along withBermuda,Halifax, Nova Scotia(prior to the 1867Confederation of Canadawhich resulted in the British Army withdrawing from those colonies ofBritish North Americawhich joined the new dominion, other than small garrisons protecting Royal Naval facilities, and the 1905 closure of the Royal Naval yards at Halifax andEsquimalt), andMalta,had been designated anImperial fortressrather than a colony.[3][4]It was formed in 1958 from the Gibraltar Defence Force as aninfantryunit, with an integratedartillerytroop.The regiment is included in the British Army as a defence engagement force.[5]

History

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18th century

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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 fromBaysidetoDevil's Towerto prevent soldiers from the garrison deserting across to the enemy.[6] These men were known as the Genoese Guard and were disbanded at the end of theSeven Years' War.[6]

During theGreat Siege of Gibraltar,160 local labourers volunteered to take part in the action during the night of 26/27 November 1781. They were tasked with following the advancing troops and assisting in the dismantling and demolition of the Spanish batteries, magazines and trenches.[6]

19th century

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During the Sudan Campaign 100 local men were deployed by the commissariat as transport drivers, known asLos 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 theEgyptian War Medalwith a clasp bearing the title 'Suakin 1885'.[6]

20th century

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During theSecond Boer War,in 1900, a group of Gibraltarians offered to form aLocal 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.[6]

World War I

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DuringWorld War I,a group of local rowing club members volunteered to take up arms. Such was the interest that soon some 400 Gibraltarians joined. One of their tasks was to act as stretcher bearers for the many casualties arriving onhospital shipsfromGallipoli.The wounded were taken to theRoyal Naval Hospital Gibraltarand a number of temporary hospitals.[7]The volunteers obtained recognition from the governor, General SirHerbert Miles,on 3 July 1915. Addressing the volunteers atWellington Front,the governor said 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".[8]

The Corps was based atOrange Bastion,with its headquarters on the ground floor of what is nowCity Hall.Later, the group moved to Wellington Front. The volunteers were divided into four rifle companies, A, B, C and D: each was commanded by a captain, with 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 theRoyal Engineers.During the war, the Corps provided reinforcement to assist in the defence ofthe Rock.The Corps was disbanded on 1 February 1920.[8]

World War II

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In 1938, the Governor, GeneralSir Edmund Ironside,formed a Territorial Artillery unit 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 theRoyal Artilleryas well as to theRoyal Signals,Royal Army Service CorpsandRoyal Army Medical Corps.[8]

On 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 againstVichy FrenchandItalianplanes, engagingGermanplanes later in the war. They shot down their first enemy aircraft on the night of 20 August 1940. The entry in the unit's War Diary reads as follows:[8]

"Third bombing raid over Gibraltar, first plane came over at 23.30 hours and was picked up by searchlights at the moment of bomb release. It kept a steady course and AA fire was opened. Plane was hit and brought down in the straits".

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.[8]

Post war

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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 inches (23.4 cm) coastal guns.[9]This organisation was to remain in force until 1971. With the departure of the last gunner unit in 1958, the regiment was issued with four25 pounder (88 mm) gunsand took over the responsibilities of firing Royal GunSalutes.[9]

On 25 September 1971, the regiment was presented with its first colours. At a ceremony held at theGrand Parade,the Governor,Admiral of the Fleet SirVaryl Begg,presented the regiment with its colours on behalf ofQueen Elizabeth II.[9]On the same day, the regiment was granted theFreedom of the Cityof Gibraltar by theMayor of Gibraltar,Alfred Vazquez,during a ceremony outside theHouse of Assembly.[9]

The artillery battery was namedThomson's Batteryon 15 September 1973 in honour of the late Sir Willie Thomson OBE JP; and, in December 1975, Thomson's Battery was issued with three 105mmL5 Pack Howitzers.FollowingOperation 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 105mmL118 light gunsguns replaced the three howitzers and eightBlowpipesurface-to-air missile units replaced the fourL40/70AA Guns.[9]

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 headquarters company (Thomson's Bty), amilitary bandand three rifle companies of which G and I companies were regular and B Company (and the band) consisted of TA soldiers.[9]

On 1 July 1998, theDuke of Kentpresented the regiment with its new colours.[9]

21st century

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The regiment has supplied officers and men for the conflicts in Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone, Bosnia, Kosovo,AfghanistanandIraq.It is in these theatres that members of the regiment have been decorated with twoBronze Starsand aMilitary Cross.[10]The Royal Gibraltar Regiment signed up to theArmed Forces Act 2011to bring it in line withBritish Armed Forces.It was signed byGovernor of GibraltarEd Davis (Royal Marines officer)on boardHMSDiamondin 2018 along withFabian PicardoandArmed Forces MinisterMark Lancaster.[11]

On 31 March 2022 the Royal Gibraltar Regiment was presented withNew ColoursbyHRH Earl of WessexatWindsor Castle.[12][13][14][15][16][17]

Structure

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The Band of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment.

Initially a reserve force, on the withdrawal of theBritish Armygarrison from the territory in 1991, the regiment was reorganised into an all-infantry unit and took over the duties of the resident battalion. The re-roled regiment consisted of a headquarters company (Thompson's Battery) and three rifle companies of which B Company is the reserve element with the others being made up of regular soldiers.[18]As of 2023, the regiment was reported to have a strength of 235 personnel, meaning that most component companies and platoons were understrength.[19]Component elements of the regiment consisted of:

  • HQ Company (Thomson's Battery, Regular) - made up currently of the Artillery Troop (L118105mm light guns), Motor Transport Platoon, Signals Wing, Catering Platoon and Clothing Stores.
  • G Company (Regular) – comprises three regular rifle platoons.
  • I Company (Regular) – a regular rifle company, but also holds the regiment's specialists when fully manned. These are:
    • 2 × recce sections,
    • 5 × sniper pairs,
    • 2 × machine gun sections,
    • 2 × assault pioneer/soldier sections,
    • 2 × high-assurance search teams,
    • 2 × low-risk search teams,
    • The regiment's explosive ordnance disposal teams (EOD)
  • B Company (Reserves) consists of three rifle platoons. It also provides two sharpshooter pairs, two machine gun sections and one low-risk search team.

Role

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Two soldiers of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment on guard duty at the Governor's residence.

The regiment undertakes army ceremonial tasks in Gibraltar as it is the only major unit based there. It is responsible for the ceremonial guard of the Governor at his residence the Convent, and performing theceremony of the keystwice a year and the King's Birthday Parade inCasemates Square,as well as any other Guards of Honour. In March 2001, for the first time, the regiment mounted theguardatBuckingham Palace.In addition to this, the regiment has fired three 62 Gun Royal salutes at theTower of Londonon the occasion of the Birthday of Her Majesty the Queen, a duty normally carried out by theHonourable Artillery Company.[20]The regiment resumed both roles in April 2012 and returned to London once again in March 2022 for public duties.[21]

A soldier of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment on ceremonial duty.

Honorary Regimental Colonels

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Source:[22]

  • 1953–: Col. Sir William Thomson, OBE
  • 1958–: Gen. SirCharles Frederic Keightley,GCB, GBE, DSO, KStJ
  • 1980–1985: Col. John Joseph Porral, CBE, ED
  • 1985–1989: Col. Arthur John Ferrary, OBE, ED
  • 1989–1998: Col. Domingo Louis Collado, OBE
  • 1993–1999: Col. SirRobert John Peliza,KBE, ED, GMH
  • 1998–2003: Col. John Joseph Porral, CBE, ED
  • 2003–2008: Lt-Col. Eddie A. Guerrero, OBE, JP[23]
  • 2008–2014: Lt-Col. Dennis Duarte, OBE
  • 2014–2017: Col. The Hon Ernest Michael Britto, OBE, ED[24]
  • 2017–present: Col Francis Brancato, OBE JP

Uniforms

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For reasons both of climate and ceremonial responsibilities, the regiment is issued with a wider range of uniforms than most other British infantry units. These include:

  • full dress (scarlet)
  • No 1 Temperate Ceremonial (dark blue)
  • No 2 Service Dress (khaki)
  • No 3 Warm Weather Ceremonial (white)
  • No 6 Warm Weather Parade (bush jacket)
[edit]
  • Sgt. Alfred Holmes of the Gibraltar Regiment (1931–1994).
    Sgt.Alfred Holmesof the Gibraltar Regiment (1931–1994).
  • Royal Gibraltar Regiment Band along with pipers from the London Regiment (1993) perform at the Ceremony of the Keys.
    Royal Gibraltar Regiment Band along with pipers from theLondon Regiment (1993)perform at theCeremony of the Keys.
  • Royal Gibraltar Regiment firing a 21 gun salute on the occasion of the Queen's birthday parade in June 2008.
    Royal Gibraltar Regiment firing a 21 gun salute on the occasion of the Queen's birthday parade in June 2008.
  • Royal Gibraltar Regiment on parade on the occasion of the Queen's birthday parade in June 2007.
    Royal Gibraltar Regiment on parade on the occasion of the Queen's birthday parade in June 2007.
  • Royal Gibraltar Regiment in London, April 2012.
    Royal Gibraltar Regiment in London, April 2012.
  • Drummers in London, April 2012.
    Drummers in London, April 2012.
  • Regimental Colours in London, 2012.
    Regimental Colours in London, 2012.
  • 21 Gun Salute in Gibraltar marking the birth of Prince George of Cambridge, 2013.
    21 Gun Salute in Gibraltar marking the birth ofPrince George of Cambridge,2013.
  • Devil's Tower Camp.
    Devil's Tower Camp.

Order of precedence

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Preceded by Order of Precedence Succeeded by

See also

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Alliances

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References

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  1. ^"Recruitment a top priority as regiment marks 80 years".Gibraltar Chronicle.Retrieved8 June2021.
  2. ^"Some 14,000 British servicemen pass through Gibraltar each year".The Diplomat.25 April 2023.
  3. ^Gordon, Donald Craigie (1965).The Dominion Partnership in Imperial Defense, 1870-1914.Baltimore, Maryland, USA: Johns Hopkins Press. p. 14.There were more than 44,000 troops stationed overseas in colonial garrisons, and slightly more than half of these were in imperial fortresses: in the Mediterranean, Bermuda, Halifax, St. Helena, and Mauritius. The rest of the forces were in colonies proper, with a heavy concentration in New Zealand and South Africa. The imperial government paid approximately £1,715,000 per annum toward the maintenance of these forces, and the various colonial governments contributed £370,000, the largest amounts coming from Ceylon and Victoria in Australia.
  4. ^MacFarlane, Thomas (1891).Within the Empire; An Essay on Imperial Federation.Ottawa: James Hope & Co., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. p. 29.Besides the Imperial fortress of Malta, Gibraltar, Halifax and Bermuda it has to maintain and arm coaling stations and forts at Siena Leone, St. Helena, Simons Bay (at the Cape of Good Hope), Trincomalee, Jamaica and Port Castries (in the island of Santa Lucia).
  5. ^"Royal Gibraltar Regiment".Retrieved25 April2020.
  6. ^abcde"1RG.GI".Archived fromthe originalon 22 April 2008.
  7. ^Jackson, Sir William G. F. (1990).The rock of the Gibraltarians: a history of Gibraltar(2nd ed.). Grendon: Gibraltar Books. p. 265.ISBN0948466146.
  8. ^abcde"1RG.GI".Archived fromthe originalon 22 April 2008.
  9. ^abcdefg"1RG.GI".Archived fromthe originalon 22 April 2008.
  10. ^"1RG.GI".Archived fromthe originalon 22 April 2008.
  11. ^"Armed Forces Minister reaffirms importance of Gibraltar to UK defence".Ministry of Defence.Retrieved8 June2021.
  12. ^GBC News (6 April 2022)."RG presented with new Colours in Windsor Castle outdoor ceremony, witnessed by the Queen"– via YouTube.
  13. ^GBC News (6 April 2022)."CBF 'very proud' as Royal Gibraltar Regiment prepares to receive new colours"– via YouTube.
  14. ^GBC News (6 April 2022)."RG CO 'can't wait to parade the new colours at the Queen's Birthday Parade in June'"– via YouTube.
  15. ^"Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex presents new colours to Royal Gibraltar Regiment: Video".Geo TV.Retrieved6 April2022.
  16. ^"HMGOG Congratulates Royal Gibraltar Regiment on Grant of New Royal Colours - 230/2022".HM Government of Gibraltar.Retrieved6 April2022.
  17. ^Gomez, Eyleen (31 March 2022)."Prince Edward confirms Rock trip as he presents Royal Gibraltar Regiment with new colours".The Gibraltar Chronicle.Retrieved6 April2022.
  18. ^"Royal Gibraltar Regiment - Gibraltar Regiment".royalgibraltarregiment.gi.Retrieved7 June2015.
  19. ^"Some 14,000 British servicemen pass through Gibraltar each year".The Diplomat.25 April 2023.
  20. ^"Royal Gibraltar Regiment - Ceremonials".royalgibraltarregiment.gi.Archived fromthe originalon 24 September 2015.Retrieved7 June2015.
  21. ^"Royal Gibraltar Regiment Return to London for Public duties".British Army.Retrieved25 March2022.
  22. ^"The Royal Gibraltar Regiment".Regiments.org. Archived fromthe originalon 4 January 2007.Retrieved4 February2019.
  23. ^"No. 57019".The London Gazette(Supplement). 11 November 2003. p. 13884.
  24. ^"No. 60932".The London Gazette(Supplement). 15 July 2014. p. 7.
Preceded by Order of Precedence Succeeded by
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36°08′57″N5°20′31″W/ 36.149028°N 5.3419°W/36.149028; -5.3419

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