Royal Artillery Regiment
Digital/Illustrator
28/11/2007
Royal Artillery Regiment
Motto:
Ubique (Everywhere), with an accompanying motto Quo Fas Et Gloria Ducunt (Whither Right and Glory Lead).
In 1716, under a Royal Warrant, two companies of artillery, each of 100 men, were formed at the Woolwich Warren (later the Royal Arsenal) to ensure that a regular force of gunners was available when needed. Woolwich has been the spiritual home of the 'Gunners' ever since that time, although the Regiment had moved to its famous barracks on Woolwich Common by 1805. The Regiment expanded rapidly in the 18th century and saw service in every campaign and every garrison world-wide. In 1793, the Royal Horse Artillery was formed to provide greater mobility in the field, and soon became associated with the role of supporting cavalry. The RHA performed so well that it became a corps d'elite within the Regiment.
The 19th century saw the Regiment heavily engaged in the Crimean War and the South African War. Throughout the century, it was campaigning in India alongside the separate artilleries of the East India Company. This led to their amalgamation with the British Army after the Indian Mutiny, bringing some famous batteries into the Regiment.
History:
The science of artillery grew rapidly under the pressure of the Industrial Revolution and by the end of the 19th century, the need for indirect fire brought major changes. Guns became ever more powerful, firing more efficient munitions to longer ranges with increased accuracy and greater speed. The Great War of 1914-18 was to prove an artillery war, and the number of gunners increased dramatically, serving 6,655 guns by the end of the war, with anti-aircraft (AA) guns joining in against the new threat from the air.
During the Second World War the Royal Regiment of Artillery expanded not only in size but in scope also. The Regiment, which in 1939 was still coming to terms with mechanisation and its relatively new branches of Anti-tank and Anti-aircraft, found itself, over the next six years, taking on even more roles. In the air, Gunners found themselves flying spotter planes, parachuting and landing by glider. At sea they manned the guns of armed merchantmen. On the ground they manned their guns, fought as infantry, built roads and landing strips and much more besides. By the end of the war there were nearly 700,000 serving in the Regiment - about two-fifths of the British Army and about equal with the whole of the Royal Navy.
Client: WitchStitch Designs