Royal Horse Artillery

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Royal Horse Artillery
The King
Colonel CommandantGeneral Sir Alexander Harley, KBE, CB
Insignia
Tactical Recognition Flash
Astley, Worcestershire, grave of Major General Hill Wallace CB (1823-1899), late RHA[1]

The Royal Horse Artillery (RHA) was formed in 1793 as a distinct arm of the Royal Regiment of Artillery (commonly termed Royal Artillery) to provide horse artillery support to the cavalry units of the British Army.[2] Although the cavalry link remained part of its defining character, as early as the Battle of Waterloo the RHA was sometimes deployed more along the lines of conventional field artillery, fighting from comparatively fixed positions.[3]

The Royal Horse Artillery, currently consists of three regiments, (1 RHA, 3 RHA and 7 RHA) and one ceremonial unit (King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery). Almost all the batteries of the Royal Horse Artillery have served continuously since the French Revolutionary Wars or Napoleonic Wars, except the King's Troop, created in 1946, and M Battery which was 'reanimated' in 1993. Horses are still in service for ceremonial purposes but were phased out from operational deployment in the 1930s.

History

In 1793, in the course of the

union with Ireland in 1801.[4]: p 25  The Royal Regiment of Artillery was not part of the British Army at this time, but part of the establishment of the Board of Ordnance, with the Master-General its commanding officer; only after the Board's abolition in 1855 did the Artillery become part of the British Army under the Commander-in-Chief of the Forces
.

All RHA personnel were mounted. Included in the establishment were 45

cavalry charge was achieved initially by the Horse Artillery using lighter guns than the RFA, and later by their using proportionally more horses.[6][7]

The regiment wore light cavalry uniforms of blue with gold lace and red facings. Their overalls were grey with a red stripe and on their heads they wore the distinctive

Tarleton helmets.[8] If needed, they carried 1796 light-cavalry sabres or their own semi-official RHA 1796P sabre
.

The RHA participated in the major wars of two centuries, including the

Boer War, World War I and World War II
.

In 1859, the term "battalion" was replaced by "brigade".[4]: p 64  which was in turn was replaced by "regiment" in 1939.[4]: p 103  The five Horse Artillery brigades consisted of two batteries each. Between 1899 and 1924, the Royal Artillery was divided with the creation of the Royal Field Artillery, which utilised horse for its medium-calibre guns.

When the

Ordnance BLC 15 pounder was issued to some second-line RHA units formed in 1914.[10]

At the outbreak of

Ordnance QF 13 pounder
.

In the 1920s, development of trucks and track vehicles brought an end to operational use of horses. By 1927, medium artillery was drawn by tractors instead of heavy draught horses. By 1937, nine field brigades had been mechanised as well as a brigade of RHA.

K Battery, in 1939.[12][13]
Today, the ceremonial King's Troop alone retains the use of the mounted batteries.

At the onset of World War II, recruits were instructed that "the role of the Royal Artilleryman is, as it has ever been, to fight his gun, forgetful of self, to the last round in support of other arms."[4]: p 107 

Current regiments

A Guard of the King's Troop at Horse Guards Parade
The King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, at Trooping the Colour, in 2012

The following are current units of the Royal Horse Artillery:[14][15]

The Royal Horse Artillery provided the

Queen's Guard
on three occasions:

  • 1 RHA – January 1979
  • 7 Para RHA – March 1989
  • King's Troop – April 2007

The King's Troop provides the

King's Life Guard in Whitehall for three weeks in August each year while the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment
goes away for summer training.

Alliances

Order of precedence

When on parade with its guns, the Royal Horse Artillery takes precedence over all. Without its guns, the Household Cavalry alone precedes the RHA.[citation needed]

Preceded by
Order of Precedence
 		Succeeded by

See also

  • List of Royal Artillery Batteries

References

  1. ^ Monument to Hill Family, Church of St Peter, Astley
  2. ^ "Royal Artillery". National Army Museum.
  3. ^ Kinard, Jeff (2007). Artillery: An Illustrated History of Its Impact. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. p. 139.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Graham C. A. L. DSO psc, Brig Gen The Story of the Royal Regiment of Artillery RA Institution, Woolwich 1939
  5. OCLC 808009793
    .
  6. OCLC 12053185
    .
  7. ^ Atkinson, Captain J. (1914). ABC of the Army: An Illustrated Guide to Military Knowledge for Those who Seek a General Acquaintance with Elementary Matters Pertaining to the British Army. London: Gal & Polden Ltd. p. 22.
  8. ^ "A Waterloo Officers Royal Horse Artillery Tarleton Helmet". The Military Gentleman. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  9. ISBN 978-1-4728-0451-8
    .
  10. ^ Becke, A. F. (1945). History of the Great War: Order of Battle of Divisions: Territorial Force & Mounted Divisions Pt. 2A. London HMSO.
  11. ^ Woodward, David (1978). Armies of the World 1854-1914. Sidgwick & Jackson. p. 117.
  12. ^ Gilberd, J.G. (1989). "Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery". Boot and Saddle. Archived from the original on 9 February 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
  13. ^ "Affiliations". Worshipful Company of Farriers. Archived from the original on 10 February 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
  14. ^ "Army:Written question - 194616". UK Parliament. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  15. ^ "Royal Artillery". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  16. ^ "Honourable Artillery Company - British Army Website". Army.mod.uk. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  17. ^ "Reservists pair with Airborne gunners - British Army Website". British Army. 27 September 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  18. ^ T.F.Mills (15 July 2007) [Created 1 August 2000]. "Royal Horse Artillery". Regiments.org. Archived from the original on 16 August 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)

External links

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