4th Regiment RA

4th Regiment Royal Artillery

History 1939 to 1996

4th Regiment was formed in Helmieh, Egypt, in May 1939. The Regiment initially comprised of :

C Battery RHA

F(Sphinx) Battery RHA

G Battery( Mercer's Troop) RHA

All of the Batteries arrived in Egypt from independant Stations in India, 'C' from Trimulgherry, 'F' from Risalpur and 'G' from Meerut. They were formed into 4th Regiment almost immediately on arrival and were initially equipped with the 18/25 pounder Towed Gun. Later in 1939 'F' and 'G' Batteries were linked to form F/G Battery RHA, 'C' remained unchanged. Later still 'G 'were sent home on "paper" to become part of the newly formed 5th RHA in the United Kingdom and 'DD' Battery was raised in 1941 to replace them. The Regimental "Orbat" in 1941 was , 'C' Battery, 'F' Battery, and 'DD' Battery, this remained unchanged for the duration of WW11.

4 RHA served throughout the Desert campaigns, first against the Italians and latter against Rommels 'Afrika Korps'. During this period the Regiment was re-equipped with the 25pdr MK1, towed by the 4x4 Quad and Limber. The Regiment took part in many of the major battles in the Desert, including El Alamein. During this period the Regiment served for the most part with 7th Armoured Division "The Desert Rats" as part of Montgomerys 8th Army, but later after El Alamein moved to 1st Armoured Division.

4 RHA Western Desert 1942 with Quad, Limber and 25Pdr Mk1

4 RHA Western Desert 1942

On the conclusion of the campaigns in the Western Desert in 1943, 4th RHA handed over its Guns and Equipment to 5th RHA at Bizerta and then became involved in running a Transit Camp with the Americans, for Troops moving to Sicily and Italy. Later in 1943 4th Regiment returned to the UK to prepare for and take part in "Operation Overlord" the Invasion of Europe.

The Regiment fought all through the European campaign from Normandy to Hamburg, indeed 4th RHA was one of the first Gunner Regiments to cross the Rhine in 1945. Initially the Regiment was equipped with the ubiquitous 25pdr and 4x4 Quad. Howeaver, after the Battle of Faliase Cap in August 1944 4th were re-equipped with the SP 25pdr and remained with them until the end of the war. On the cessation of hostilities in May 1945 the Regiment moved to Kiel and here it was to stay until 1948 when it returned to the UK to Blackdown Camp in Hampshire. During this period several changes had taken place, in 1946 DD Bty had been disbanded and replaced by Y Bty RHA. C Bty had moved to 5RHA, in the same year and had been replaced by Z Bty RHA. In 1947 Z and Y Btys moved to 10 Anti/tank Regt and were replaced by V and W Btys RHA, this changed again in 1948 on arrival in the UK, W Bty moved to 6 Fd Regt and N Bty ( The Eagle Troop) came from 6th to 4th. The Orbat then for the next 3 years being:

F (Sphinx) Bty RHA

N Bty ( The Eagle Troop) RHA

V Bty RHA

In 1949 the Regiment received a great honour in that it was chosen to provide the Guard of Honour for the dedication of the 1939-1945 addition to the RA War Memorial at Hyde Park Corner in London. The Regiment received many very complimentary letters of congratulations for its immaculate turnout and drill, one of which is reproduced here:

To the Commanding Officer

" I must send you a line to congratulate you and 4th RHA on the magnificent Guard of Honour which you provided for the Memorial Service last Sunday. I have seldom seen men better turned out or smarter on Parade, please convey to them my heartiest congratulations. They certainly did great credit to The Royal Regiment on an event of great importance to the Regiment."

Her Royal Highness (The Princess Elizabeth, now Queen Elizabeth II) has sent me a message of appreciation of which I have requested a copy to be forwarded to you,

with very best congratulations

yours sincerely

Alan Brook

Field Marshall

Guard of Honour 1949

The year 1952 saw yet more change for the Regiment, V Bty moved to 6 Fd Regt and was replaced by P Bty ( The Dragon Troop), later the Regiment moved to Hohne, BAOR, where it was to stay untill 1961. During this period the Army as a whole was reduced due to the phasing out of National Service and the impending introduction of the 'New' regular Army. In 1958 2nd RHA and 5th RHA reverted to RA status and this brought about further change for 4th, N Bty departed to 2nd Fd and were replaced by I Bty from 2. P Bty departed to 5th and were replaced by G Bty from 5th. This making the Regimental Orbat in 1958:

F (Sphinx) Bty RHA G Bty ( Mercers Troop) RHA I Bty ( Bulls Troop) RHA

Sexton 25Pdr SP Hohne 1956

M44 SP of I Bty (Bull's Troop) Hohne 1960

In 1961 it was decided to make the existing 'Gunner' Parachute Regiment, 33rd Para Light Regt RA into an RHA Regiment, to do this would mean using one of the present RHA Regiments. 4th RHA was chosen to provide the Batteries for this new Regiment which was to be known as 7th Regt RHA.

4th RHA duly handed over its Guns and Equipment, which at this time were SP 44 (155mm) Guns to 25 Fd Regt RA at Hohne in May 1961 and embarked for the UK and Barton Stacey Camp near Andover in Hampshire. On the 27th June 1961 the Property, Silver, History and Traditions of 'F' 'G' and 'I' Batteries were transferred from 4th RHA to the newly formed 7th RHA. The Officers and Men staying at Barton Stacey to form the new 4th Fd Regt RA, comprising:

29 (Corruna) Medium Bty RA (from 33rd), 88 (Arracan) Fd Bty RA (from SA), 97 Bty ( Lawsons Company) RA (from 33rd).

The Regiment sailed for Hong Kong on the 3rd August 1961 aboard the Troopship SS Oxfordshire, to carry out a 3 year tour of duty in that Colony.

The Regiment was deployed in Hong Kong with 2 Batteries equipped with 25 pdr (88 and 97) and 1 Battery wth the 5.5 Medium Gun (29). During this period the regiment provided many UN honour guards for Korea, each Bty providing a guard in rotation. There were also other duties within the Colony, not least of all Border duties in the New Territories in an attempt to stem the tide of illegal Imigrants from Communist China. The Regiment returned to the UK in August 1964, to Bulford Camp, now equipped with the 105 Pack Howizter.

105mm Pack Howizter

Early in 1965 the Regiment was deployed to Malaya for service in the Borneo confrontation, this lasted until November 1965 when the they once again returned to Bulford. Early in 1966 saw the Regiment preparing for its move to Munsterlager, West Germany, where it was to become an SP Abbot Regiment. The Regiment was firmly esconced in Dennis Bks Munsterlager by Christmas of that year.

Abbot Self Propelled Gun

Whilst the Regiment was serving in Munsterlager it carried out its first tour of duty in Ulster in 1972. The regiment was on the move again in 1974, this time to Catterick in North Yorkshire where it re-equipped once again with the 105 Pack Howitzer. 1974 also saw the regiment complete its 2nd tour in Ulster, and completed its 3rd tour in that province in 1976.

As with its History to date, 4th Regiment faced yet another change and this time a dramatic challenge, when in 1977 it moved to Aldershot to take up the Air Portable Role from 7th RHA. How ironic that this should come about. 7th RHA were now no longer in the Parachute Role and they duly departed for service on BAOR. 4th Regiment quickly settled into its new Role and also re-equipped with the new 105mm Light Gun.

The Regiment provided a Bty to Ulster in 1980 (29Bty) for yet another emergency tour. Apart from these tours the other Btys carried out tours of duty in Belize and overseas exercises in such places as Kenya and Australia, to name but a few.

April 1982 saw 2 Btys of the Regiment, 29 and 97 deployed to the South Atlantic to take part in Operation Corporate, The Faulklands war. 88 Bty, who had been in Belize up until April only provided OP Trained Personel to make up the FOOs. During this time 41Bty was re-activated in the form of FOOs in order to support one of the Infantry Battalions.

The Regiment returned to BAOR in 1984, to take up its Role as M109 SP Regt in support of 12 Armoured Bde in Osnabruck, West Germany. This was a complicated takeover, the Regiment taking the Guns of 26 Fd Regt who were in Dortmund and the Barracks and remaining Equipment of 7 RHA who were in Osnabruck. In 1986 the Regiment once again provided a Bty, this time 88Bty, for a tour in Ulster, at the HMP Maze. For some members of the Regiment this was their 5th tour of duty in Ulster.

M109 SP

In 1994 the Regiment was re-equipped with the AS90 SP Gun and is still in Roberts Bks. Osnabruck.

AS90 Self Propelled Gun the present equipment in service with 4th