Title Pre 1947:
4 ( Gibraltar 1779-83 ) Coast Bty
Title Pre 2001:
Gibraltar 1779-83
Honour Title:
21 (Gibraltar 1779-83) Air Assault Battery
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Original Honour Title Issued:
13 Nov 1934
New Honour Title Issued:
Feb 2001
Current Status:
Active
Associated Regiments:
28 Regt 1947 - Dec 1956
Suspended Animation
Dec 1956 - Jun 1958
50 Regt Jun 1958 - Dec 1976
27 Regt Dec 1976 - Apr 1982
47 Regt Apr 1982 - Date |
21 Battery can trace their origins back to 1st February 1758, formed as P. Wedell's Company at Woolwich in South London.
During the first eleven years of formation it served in America, Canada and the West Indies, taking part in the famous capture of Dominica & Havana.
By 1779 the Battery found itself serving in Gibraltar, until 1783, where it received battle honours during the great siege, which the Battery still celebrates to this day.
During the sortie 27 November 1781*, against the French and Spanish armies, the Battery distinguished itself by destroying much of the enemy' artillery with only four loss to its' own men.
During the later part of the 18th Century and the 19th Century, the Battery found itself serving in the Mediterranean region of the World and again in the West Indies, Canada and finally back home to Great Britain.
The South African Campaign saw further service and honours before it found itself stationed in North China. It found itself serving in the Far and Middle East until the end of First World War.
During the Second World War, the Battery found itself back in Gibraltar, where it served with distinction as a Coastal Battery, a role it maintained up to 1956.
After a short 18 month suspension,
the Battery it found itself alongside 50 Regiment as a 'medium battery' and equipped with Honest John in 1960.
This followed with 16 years service at Menden, before joining 27 Regiment in Lippstadt when it took up the role of an Air Defence Battery armed with Blowpipe and later Javelin.
Since then 21 Battery has maintained its air defence role and served in Gutersloh & Thorney Island. The Battery converted to an Air Mobile role in 1992 and, in Sept 1992 21 Battery was assigned to the newly formed 16 Air Assault Brigade, the newest Brigade in the Army. This move saw a number of changes; ‘P-Troop’, the airborne air defence troop of 5 Airborne Brigade, joined 47 Regiment as party of 31 (HQ) Bty, and then subsequently 21 Battery.
In 1999 ‘P-Troop’ deployed to Kosovo to support the deployment of HQ ARRC in assisting the humanitarian crisis there and was instrumental in establishing peace in Pristina. February 2001 saw the Battery awarded its new title, 21 (Gibraltar 1779-83) Air Assault Battery.
In 2000 the Battery converted to the latest air defence weapon system, the High Velocity Missile in the light deployable mode. The Battery now conducts parachute and air-assault operations in support of the Brigade’s world wide expeditionary role.
In January 2001 elements of the Battery deployed with 16 AA Bde to Afghanistan as part of the International Stabilisation and Assistance Force in Kabul after the fall of the Taliban regime and provided Liaison Officer parties vital to the establishment of a new and peaceful government.
* many thanks to Spud Slater for helping us with the date.
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12/03/05 - 30/04/08
