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7th
Artillery Brigade
Narrative by the
Brigade Commander
Brigadier MCM Steel MBE
10th
September 1977
In accordance with the Army
Restructuring Plan, 7th Artillery Brigade disbands in September 1977. Of the
three regiments presently serving in the Brigade, 12th Light Air Defence
Regiment will remain in Dortmund and join the newly formed Artillery Division,
16th Light Air Defence Regiment will return to the United Kingdom and 36th
Heavy Air Defence Regiment will disband and form three Blowpipe Air Defence
Batteries.
So this parade has a dual purpose. It marks the disbandment
of the 7th Artillery Brigade and the end of 60 years of Anti - Aircraft or Air
Defence Brigade-level formation headquarters in the regular army; it marks also
the last ceremonial appearance of the Bofors 40/70 gun and the BAC Thunderbird
missile.
Therefore, it is an occasion for sadness but relieved by the
knowledge that two of the Regiments and all of the Batteries in the Brigade can
look forward to a period of service equipped with the new Air Defence missiles,
in far more challenging rolls.
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History of 7th Artillery Brigade
As
result of the disbandment of AA Command in the Autumn of 1954 and spring of
1955, a regular Anti-Aircraft Group, Royal Artillery was formed. it was known
initially as "Z" AGRA (AA) but from the 1 April 1955 it became formally
established as 7 AGRA (AA).
On formation it was totally Heavy AA
comprising 3 Regiments equipped with 3.7" Mk 3a guns, an AA Fire Command
Battery and 7 AGRA Signal Squadron. All units were located in the Essex
area.
In August 1956, HQ 7 AGRA (AA) moved to Cyprus with one heavy and
two light air defence regiments to provide air defence cover for airfields and
vulnerable installations during the Suez emergency. The HQ and heavy air
defence regiment returned to the UK in February 1956, the light air defence
regiments remaining on the Island for air defence and IS duties.
In
October 1961, the Headquarters was redesignated HQ 7th Artillery Brigade and
moved to BAOR. It was stationed in Gütersloh until July 1964 when it moved
to Hubbelrath, then deploying finally to West Riding Barracks, Dortmund in
January 1967.
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History of 12th Light Air Defence Regiment Royal
Artillery
12 Regiment, in it's present air defence role,
dates back to only 1951 but it's origins can be traced back to India and the
formation of 15 Field Regiment R.A. It was in the field role that 15 Regiment
moved from India in 1941 to see active service throughout the Middle East and
Italy.
After the war, the Regiment became 15, then 12 Anti Tank
Regiment, being based mainly in the Middle East and Mediterranean. It became 12
Anti Aircraft Regiment in 1951 and finally 12 Light Air Defence Regiment in
1963; during this period the Regiment saw service in Malaya before returning to
serve in BAOR and UK.
In June 1971 the Regiment moved to Barton Stacey
and in September became the first Gunner Regiment to perform Public Duties at
Buckingham Palace. November saw the Regiment in Belfast completing an emergency
tour which resulted in an award of a DSO, two MC's and a MM. Shortly after
their return from Northern Ireland elements of the Regiment, on Exercise in
Cyprus, became involved in the 1974 emergency.
12 Regiment became the
first operational Rapier Regiment in June 1975 and moved to Dortmund in
September 1975.
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History of 16 Light Air Defence Regiment Royal Artillery
The three gun batteries of 16 Light Air Defence Regiment
were formed in the middle of the 18th Century, two joining the Regiment in 1946
and the third in 1970. 32 (Minden) Battery, 30 Battery (Roger's Company) and 14
(Coles Kop) Battery have fought in most campaigns or wars involving the British
Army and have served world wide since their formation.
Since the end of
the Second World War the Regiment has served in West Germany on three
occasions; in Osnabrück, Krefeld and Soest and also in Malaysia and
Cyprus. More recently the Regiment has undertaken four tours of operational
duty in Northern Ireland.
The Regiment is currently equipped with L40/70
gun equipment but has begun conversion to the Rapier system. 14 (Coles Kop)
Battery is already equipped with the Rapier and is stationed in the United
Kingdom; the remainder of the regiment returns to England later this year. It
is planned that 16 Light Air Defence Regiment will return to West Germany in
the early 1980s.
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History of 36 Heavy Air Defence Regiment Royal Artillery
36 Heavy Air Defence Regiment has a history of Air Defence
dating back to 1947 when it consisted of 56 (Olpherts) Battery, 60 Battery and
168 Battery.
The Regiment has maintained a strong connection with the
Essex area for many years. It was in Shoeburyness in 1960 that the Regiment was
first equipped with the Thunderbird One and became a guided weapons regiment
along with it's sister Regiment, 37 Guided Weapons Regiment Royal
Artillery.
The Regiment moved to Düisburg in 1962 and later to
Dortmund in 1966. During 1967 the Regiment returned to Shoeburyness and
amalgamated with 37 Regiment on the 1st April 1968 retaining the names of the
two Batteries of 37 Regiment, 10 Assaye Battery and 111 (Dragon) Battery. and
re-equipped with the Thunderbird Mk II missile.
In it's new form, the
Regiment returned to Dortmund in 1971. Since then, 36 Heavy Air Defence
Regiment has had two tour in Northern Ireland. The first in Belfast in 1973 and
the second in Lurgan and Long Kesh in 1976/77.
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The Other Arms in the Brigade
In
addition to the gunner units in the Brigade, there are formed sub units and
individuals from other arms and services. The Brigade signal squadron began
life as 7 AGRA Signal Squadron, was redesignated in 1959 as 217 Signal Squadron
(AGRA(AA)) and became 7 Artillery Brigade HQ and Signal Squadron in
1961.
36 Hy AD Regt has a R Signals sub unit, 260 Signal Squadron (SAM),
who operate the specialist communication equipment of the SAGW II system. This
Regiment also has 7 Guided Missile Company RAOC whose task it is to store,
maintain and issue the Thunderbird missiles.
Whilst there is no integral
transport sub unit in the Brigade, 6 Squadron RCT of 4 Div Regiment RCT has an
affiliated role and provides transport support for the Brigade on exercises and
operations.
Each major unit has it's own integral workshops REME, Stores
Section RAOC and individual Officers and men from RAMC, RAPC, ACC, APTC, RAChD
and WRAC, all of whom make an invaluable contribution to the life of the unit.
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Webmasters footnote
The brief
histories above were taken from the Disbandment Parade Programme held at Napier
Barracks Dortmund on the 10th September 1977. and is know to have a number of
in accurate fact's however the webmaster feels that as this one of a small
handful of documented records of the history of the regiment it was important
to include the exact text as it was printed. I am most grateful to Eric Pratt
who sent me the programme and from it I have been able to acquire some
interesting images which have enhanced and are included on this page and
elsewhere on this website.
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217 Signal Squadron (Army Group Royal Artillery (Anti
Aircraft))
One might wonder why I have included a reference
to 217 Signal Squadron (AGRA (AA)) on this website. Basically for two reason
firstly because the Brigade Commander, Brigadier MCM Steel MBE made little
mention in his closing narrative at the Brigade disbandment parade in 1977 and
as it will become clear the unit had links with 36 Guided Weapons Regiment and
the Signal Troops that came to form our Squadron.
In May 1961 217
Signal Squadron (AGRA(AA)) was based at Laindon Camp, Basildon, Essex. The camp
also housed 7 Army Group Royal Artillery HQ. The units role was to provide the
communications required by the AGRA. The main accent of the Squadrons
communications was radio relay, supported by H.F. wireless. The unit also had a
small line-laying commitment for locals and short tails.
The Squadron
was Commanded by Major W.G. Neilson and the Control Troop (Radio Relay) was
commanded by Lieutenant G. Barrett. It was reported in the WIRE October 1961
That the Squadron was sending a small Radio Relay Troop in support of 36 Guided
Weapons Regiment Royal Artillery who were heading out to Germany to reinforce
the British Army Of the Rhine. In 1966 some of the men who had served with 217
Signal Squadron (AGRA(AA)) joined 654 & 655 Signal Troops at Pembroke
Dock.
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