Olivers Part-time Army: Territorial Army (Volunteer) Artillery 1979-80

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Rising tensions on the European continent in the 1860's and a threat of war with France, saw the formation of the Volunteer Force comprising of Volunteer Rifle and Artillery units across Britain. In the early C20th these were incorporated into the Territorial Army (TA) but many kept their proud history and traditions and managed to remain alive in spirit as troops or batteries during the rounds of post war cuts and subsequent amalgamations in the 1960's and 70's.

The TA artillery formations were all part of the Royal Artillery and had roles in wartime supporting 5th and 7th Field Forces destined to reinforce BAOR.

The Honourable Artillery Company (HAC)
Regimental Headquarters at Armoury House, Finsbury, London.
All sub units located, except were shown, at Armoury House, Finsbury, London.

Regiment was enlarged and reorganised into a Surveillance & Target Acquisition,covert long range reconnaissance and stay behind role in 1973, comprising:

• First Squadron: Somme Troop, Ypres Troop, Arras Troop.
• II Squadron: El Alamein Troop, Cassino Troop, El Hamma Troop.
• III Squadron: Aden Troop, Gaza Troop, Rhine Troop.

• plus ceremonial Gun Troop (6x 25pdrs) at Tower of London. (home defence role in wartime)

100 (Yeomanry) Field Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers)

Formed 1 April 1967 with Regimental Headquarters at Grove Park, London.

BATTERIES: BL 5.5" Medium Guns, changed to L118 105mm Light Guns in 1980.

• HQ (Home Counties) Battery at Grove Park, London.
• 200 (Sussex Yeomanry) Medium Battery at Brighton and Reigate.
• 201 (Herfordshire and Bedfordshire Yeomanry) Medium Battery at Luton and St Albans.
• 202 (Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry) Medium Battery at Bury St Edmunds, Ipswich, Norwich and Swaffham.

101 (Northumbrian) Field Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers)

BATTERIES: BL 5.5" Medium Guns, changed to L118 105mm Light Guns in 1980.

• RHQ and HQ Battery at Gateshead.
• 203 (Elswick) Field Battery at Blyth.
• 204 (Tyneside Scottish) Field Battery Kingston Park, Newcastle upon Tyne
• 205  (3rd Durham Volutneer Artillery) Field Battery at South Shields.

102 (Ulster and Scottish) Air Defence Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers)

Formed 1 April 1967 with Regimental Headquarters at Newtownards.

BATTERIES: Each 12x Bofors 40/70 Light Anti-Aircraft Gun, re-equipped with Blowpipe man portable Surface to Air Missiles in 1978-79.

• HQ Battery at Newtownards.
• 206 (Ulster) Air Defence Battery at Coleraine.
• 207 (Scottish) Air Defence Battery with HQ and D Troop at Glasgow and E and F Troops at Edinburgh.
• 212 (Highland) Air Defence Battery, Arbroath.

103 (Lancashire Artillery Volunteers) Air Defence Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers)

Formed 1 April 1967 with Regimental Headquarters at Liverpool.

BATTERIES: Each 12x Bofors 40/70 Light Anti-Aircraft Gun, re-equipped with Blowpipe man portable Surface to Air Missiles in 1978-79.

• HQ Battery (King's) at Liverpool.
• 208 (3rd West Lancashire) Air Defence Battery in Liverpool, B Troop at Prestayn and C (South Lancashire Artillery) at St Helens.
• 209 (The Manchester Artillery) Air Defence Battery with HQ and D and E Troops at Manchester and F Troop (The Bolton Artillery) at Bolton.
• 213 (South Lancashire Artillery) Air Defence Battery at St Helens with Troop at Widnes.
• 208 Battery at Aigburth Road, Liverpool. Later (?) B Troop to 'A' Company Welsh Volunteers.

104 Air Defence Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers)

Formed 1 April 1967 with Headquarters at Raglan Barracks, Newport.

BATTERIES: Each 12x Bofors 40/70 Light Anti-Aircraft Gun, re-equipped with Blowpipe man portable Surface to Air Missiles in 1978-79.

• HQ Battery at Raglan Barracks, Newport.
• 210 (Staffordshire) Air Defence Battery at Wolverhampton.
• 211 (South Wales) Air Defence Battery with HQ and D (Monmouthshire) Troop at Newport and E (Glamorgan Yeomanry) Troop at Cardiff and F (Brecknockshire and Monmouthshire) Troop at Ebbw Vale. Later detachment (?) at Abertillery.
• 214 (Worcestershire) Air Defence Battery at Malvern.

Independent batteries

• 266 (Gloucester Volunteer Artillery) OP Battery Royal Artillery (Volunteers).
• 269 (West Riding) OP Battery Royal Artillery (Volunteers). Leeds ?
• 289 Parachute Battery Royal Horse Artillery (Volunteers). London/Essex. 1977 redesignated as 289 Commando Battery, 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery (V), with 6x L118 105mm guns.
• 307 (South Nottinghamshire Hussars Yeomanry, Royal Horse Artillery) Battery (Volunteers), independent OP battery, Bulwell.

Hands up, this is a work in progress...... I will update as more information come my way.

Cheers
Mark
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