79-728: The Antrim Artillery was a part-time reserve unit of Britain's Royal Artillery based in County Antrim , Northern Ireland , from 1853 to 1919. It numbered 1st on the order of precedence of the Militia Artillery. Volunteers from the unit served in the Second Boer War . During World War I it defended Belfast Lough and trained gunners for service overseas. Subsequent units continued the Antrim Artillery traditions. The long-standing national Militia of
158-525: A Captain of Fort , a Master-Gunner or Chief-Gunner, and a number of other ranks, including Gunners, Gunner's Mates, Quarter-Gunners, and Matroses. Their numbers were extremely small; as late as 1720, the total establishment for the whole of Britain was 41 master gunners and 178 gunner assistants. Although the Royal Artillery increasingly involved itself with the coastal artillery in Britain, also,
237-567: A county basis, and filled by voluntary enlistment (although conscription by means of the Militia Ballot might be used if the counties failed to meet their quotas). Training was for 56 days on enlistment, then for 21–28 days per year, during which the men received full army pay. Under the Act, Militia units could be embodied by Royal Proclamation for full-time home defence service in three circumstances: The Prince of Wales's Own Donegal Militia
316-588: A distinct identity within the regiment. Before World War II, Royal Artillery recruits were required to be at least 5 feet 4 inches (1.63 m) tall. Men in mechanised units had to be at least 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m) tall. They initially enlisted for six years with the colours and a further six years with the reserve or four years and eight years. They trained at the Royal Artillery Depot in Woolwich. From its beginnings,
395-647: A handful of Royal Artillery personnel primarily responsible for maintenance, who were reinforced in wartime by drafts of infantrymen from the British Army or the Militia, or by temporarily-raised Volunteer Artillery corps. This was to remain the case through the Naploeonic Wars. The regiment was involved in all major campaigns of the Napoleonic Wars ; in 1804, naval artillery was transferred to
474-622: A semi-permanent function in the 16th century. Until the early 18th century, the majority of British regiments were raised for specific campaigns and disbanded on completion. An exception were gunners based at the Tower of London , Portsmouth and other forts around Britain, who were controlled by the Ordnance Office and stored and maintained equipment and provided personnel for field artillery 'traynes' that were organised as needed. These personnel, responsible in peacetime for maintaining
553-410: A spray of laurel. Grenade badges, whether worn as a collar badge or elsewhere, lacked the scroll inscribed "Ubique" that was part of the regular Royal Artillery version. Militia Artillery units were made up of Militia officers and other ranks, with a Permanent Staff made up of seconded Royal Artillery officers and senior other ranks, including a single officer acting as both Commandant and Adjutant (where
632-749: A suitably qualified Militia officer was unavailable to serve as Commandant), or only as Adjutant where the Commandant was a Militia officer. Units from the Royal Engineers and Royal Artillery were in Australia, even after Federation. On 1 July 1899, the Royal Artillery was divided into three groups: the Royal Horse Artillery of 21 batteries and the Royal Field Artillery of 95 batteries composed one group, while
711-712: A total establishment of 417 officers and other ranks (ORs). In March 1855 Captain Robert Roe Fisher, a retired RA officer, was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel commandant of the new unit, and in November it assumed the subtitle 'Prince of Wales's Own' from its parent unit. The Donegal Artillery Militia was embodied for duty in September 1855 during the Crimean War when the bulk of the Regular Army
790-592: Is equipped with a variety of equipment and performs a wide range of roles, including: The Captain General of the regiment is King Charles III . The post was previously known as Colonel-in-Chief until King George VI expressed the desire to be known as Captain General. The head of the regiment is the Master Gunner, St. James's Park . The Royal Regiment of Artillery comprises both Regular (full-time) and Reserve (part-time) units. The Royal Regiment of Artillery
869-507: Is unusual in that it has sub-units that often move between regiments, or are placed into suspended animation. See List of Royal Artillery Batteries . The Royal Regiment of Artillery comprises one ceremonial troop and 13 Regular Army regiments , and are designated by a number and the name Royal Artillery (RA) or Royal Horse Artillery (RHA): Regular regiments of the Royal Horse Artillery Regular regiments of
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#1732794185877948-710: The Royal Artillery ( RA ) and colloquially known as " The Gunners ", is one of two regiments that make up the artillery arm of the British Army . The Royal Regiment of Artillery comprises thirteen Regular Army regiments , the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery and five Army Reserve regiments. Artillery was used by the English army as early as the Battle of Crécy in 1346, while Henry VIII established it as
1027-731: The Royal Marine Artillery , while the Royal Irish Artillery lost its separate status in 1810 after the 1800 Union . This period also saw development of the Congreve rocket ; based on an existing Indian design, these were the first solid-fuel projectiles used by the British army and two rocket troops were established in 1814. Their use in the War of 1812 is referenced in the line "rocket's red glare" which appears in
1106-673: The Royal Military Academy or RMA Woolwich in 1741; this trained artillery and engineering officers for the regiment, the East India Company and the Royal Irish Artillery . In 1757, it split into two battalions , each of twelve companies; by 1780, it contained 32 companies in four battalions, two "invalid companies" used solely for garrison duties and the Royal Artillery Band , with a total strength of 5,241 men and officers. Originally based in
1185-528: The United Kingdom was revived by the Militia Act 1852 , enacted during a period of international tension. As before, units were raised and administered on a county basis, and filled by voluntary enlistment (although conscription by means of the Militia Ballot might be used if the counties failed to meet their quotas). Training was for 56 days on enlistment, then for 21–28 days per year, during which
1264-458: The kopjes adjoining Zoutpans Drift. In November the remainder of the Donegal company under Maj Reed (promoted to Lt-Col on 12 October) moved from Cape Town to Kimberley , where they were broken up into small detachments manning field guns at various posts, including manning a gun on one of the armoured trains running out of Kimberley. On 20 November Lieutenant W.H. Milligan and 28 ORs of
1343-549: The "Royal Artillery" in 1720. These were increased to four companies and on 1 April 1722 grouped with independent artillery units at Gibraltar and Menorca to form the Royal Regiment of Artillery; the first commander was Colonel Albert Borgard , a Dane who served in the British army since 1698. Aside from the Master Gunner of England, the detachments in each fort formed a District Establishment that included
1422-488: The 'Garrison Army' to Militia Artillery units: the Donegal Artillery's war station was at Cork , including Spike Island , Fort Camden and Fort Carlisle guarding Cork Harbour . The Royal Artillery was reorganised in 1882, and 11 territorial divisions of garrison artillery were formed, each with a brigade of regular artillery. The Militia Artillery was assigned to form the junior brigades of these divisions,
1501-536: The Antrim unit became the 2nd Brigade, North Irish Division, RA . When the North Irish Division was abolished on 1 July 1889 the title was altered to Antrim Artillery (Southern Division) RA . In 1888 the ancient castle and obsolete guns at Carrickfergus were replaced by two modern batteries to defend Belfast Lough , armed with 6-inch BL and 9-inch RML guns to be manned by the Antrim Artillery. At
1580-522: The Antrim. From April to September the brigade's duties consisted of escorting 1000 Boer prisoners of war by sea to St Helena , and on return to South Africa they assisted in manning the defences of Cape Town and Simonstown . At the end of September the Adjutant of the Donegals, Capt Frederick Crawford, led a detachment of 25 Donegals and 25 Antrims to Orange River Station. There they took over
1659-560: The Boer War, the future of the Militia was called into question. There were moves to reform the Auxiliary Forces (Militia, Yeomanry and Volunteers ) to take their place in the six Army Corps proposed by St John Brodrick as Secretary of State for War . Some batteries of Militia Artillery were to be converted to field artillery. However, little of Brodrick's scheme was carried out. Under the sweeping Haldane Reforms of 1908,
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#17327941858771738-680: The British Army or the Militia. The post of Captain of Fort was replaced (at least in England, if not in its colonies) with that of Governor following the Restoration . When Marlborough was restored as Master-General of the Ordnance in 1714, he initiated a series of reforms, which included splitting the existing Ordnance Service into artillery and sappers or engineers . The artillery were formed into two marching companies , each of 100 men, in 1716. These marching companies were renamed
1817-481: The District Establishments remained independent until February 1771, when the Royal Artillery formed eight Invalid Companies (made up of personnel no longer fit for expeditionary service) into which they were absorbed (although the District Establishments would still rely on drafts of sailors, British Army soldiers, Militia infantrymen, or Volunteers to bring the batteries up to wartime strength until
1896-467: The Donegal Artillery becoming 3rd Brigade, North Irish Division, RA , on 1 April 1882, by now with six batteries. When the North Irish Division was abolished in 1889 the title was altered to Donegal Artillery (Southern Division) RA . When the Second Boer War broke out in 1899 the Militia Reserve was mobilised to reinforce the regulars sent to South Africa. Later, the Donegal Artillery
1975-553: The Donegal Artillery had been embodied on 2 May 1900 and served in home defence until disembodiment on 6 November 1900. From 1902 most units of the Militia artillery formally became part of the Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA), the Donegal unit taking the title of ' Donegal RGA (M) . After the Boer War, the future of the Militia was called into question. There were moves to reform the Auxiliary Forces (Militia, Yeomanry and Volunteers ) to take their place in
2054-523: The Donegal Artillery was one of a number of militia units that volunteered for similar service. However, the offer was not accepted, and the unit was not embodied. The militia now settled into a routine of annual training (though there was no training for the Irish Militia from 1866 to 1870 at the time of the Fenian crisis). Each militia unit had a large cadre of permanent staff (26 in the case of
2133-644: The Donegal Artillery) and a number of the officers were former Regulars. Around a third of the recruits and many young officers went on to join the Regular Army. The Militia Reserve introduced in 1867 consisted of present and former militiamen who undertook to serve overseas in case of war. Following the Cardwell Reforms a mobilisation scheme began to appear in the Army List from December 1875. This assigned places in an order of battle of
2212-669: The Donegals joined a relief column for Schweizer-Reneke , which involved a three-day march, fighting all the way. They were then trapped in the town and besieged until relieved by Lord Methuen 's column and brought back to Kimberley on 28 January 1901. Lieutenant-Col Reed became OC Troops at various places, including 'A' Section of the Kimberley defences in February 1901, and was Commander, Royal Artillery, to Major-General Pretyman, Military Governor of Orange Free State, on 2 April. The company left Kimberley on 7 June for Cape Town, where
2291-716: The Hon Cecil Howard , a former captain in the 60th Rifles , who was commissioned as a captain in the unit on 26 July 1879 and was later promoted to major; he succeeded as 6th Earl of Wicklow in 1881. In the Mobilisation Scheme developed in the 1870s, the Antrim Artillery's war station was in the Tilbury Division of the Thames and Medway Defences. The Artillery Militia was reorganised into 11 divisions of garrison artillery on 1 April 1882, and
2370-727: The Irish Militia Brigade embarked for home. The Donegal Artillery lost four officers and ORs who died of disease during the campaign. Captain Crawford, Acting Brigade Sergeant-Major C.W. Holt and Sgt J. Clarke were Mentioned in dispatches , and BSM Holt was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal . All the participants received the Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps for 'Cape Colony', 'Orange Free State' and 'South Africa 1901'. The remainder of
2449-645: The Militia was replaced by the Special Reserve , a semi-professional force whose role was to provide reinforcement drafts for Regular units serving overseas in wartime. Although the majority of RGA (M) units accepted conversion to Special Reserve Royal Field Artillery , most of these units were disbanded in March 1909. The exceptions were the Antrim and the Cork RGA (M) , which remained in the RGA's order of battle in
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2528-468: The Militia, or old Constitutional Force, normally made up of infantry units; the mounted Yeomanry; and Volunteer units of various types, normally raised only during wartime), particularly in the fields of artillery and engineering; Britain lagged behind others in this area, with Vauban establishing the French Corps royal des ingénieurs militaires as far back as 1690. A cadet company was formed at
2607-487: The Nineteenth Century they were re-organised through a succession of reforms, and increasingly integrated with the British Army. In 1882, the Militia Artillery units lost their individual identities, becoming numbered brigades organised within Royal Artillery territorial divisions (two brigades of horse artillery, four brigades of field artillery and eleven territorial divisions of garrison artillery). In 1889
2686-483: The RGA dressed like foot soldiers. In 1920 the rank of Bombardier was instituted in the Royal Artillery. Following the separation of the regular garrison companies into the Royal Garrison Artillery in 1899, the Militia Artillery units were re-titled accordingly in 1902 (by example, The Antrim Royal Garrison Artillery (Militia) , which would usually be rendered Antrim R.G.A (M) ). The badge adopted
2765-647: The Riding Troop RHA was renamed the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery and, in 1951, the title of the regiment's colonel-in-chief became Captain General. When The Queen first visited the Troop after her accession, it was expected that it would become "The Queen's Troop", but Her Majesty announced that in honour of her father's decision it would remain "The King's Troop". The Royal Horse Artillery , which has separate traditions, uniforms and insignia, still retains
2844-713: The Royal Arsenal, beginning in 1770 the regiment was rehoused in the Royal Artillery Barracks on Woolwich Common. A major innovation in 1793 was the establishment of the Royal Horse Artillery , designed to provide mobile fire support for cavalry units. The same year saw the foundation of the Corps of Royal Artillery Drivers to provide transport for the artillery. Fixed Coastal Artillery batteries were generally manned in peacetime by
2923-640: The Royal Artillery The Royal Artillery utilises two air defence weapons: The Royal Artillery field the following close support/offensive support weapons: The Royal Artillery, due to its large size, has 11 Colonel Commandants and a Master Gunner concurrently. These are: In the British Army Order of Precedence , the Household Cavalry is always listed first and always parades at the extreme right of
3002-741: The Royal Artillery has been based at Woolwich , in south-east London. In 2003 it was decided to move the headquarters to Larkhill in the Salisbury Plain Training Area in Wiltshire (the RA's training ground, where the Royal School of Artillery has been based since 1915). In 2012, however, the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery was relocated to Woolwich from their former headquarters in St John's Wood . The Royal Artillery
3081-814: The Royal Engineers, Royal Sappers and Miners, the Commissariat Department, and various barracks, ordnance stores, and transport departments) was transferred to the British Army when the Board of Ordnance was abolished in 1855 (the administrative branches of the Board were absorbed by the War Office ) and the War Office School of Gunnery established in Shoeburyness in 1859. When the British East India Company
3160-406: The Star-Spangled Banner . The Militia, which had been a paper tiger since the end of the Napoleonic Wars, was re-organised under the Militia Act 1852 in response to the threat of invasion by France, changing it from a conscripted force to one made up of volunteers who engaged for terms of service. The force continued to be a reserve tasked with home defence, embodied for annual training, and for
3239-413: The United Kingdom wore a unique badge. Between 1882 and 1889, Militia Artillery brigades wore a divisional badge based on that of the Royal Artillery, except that the lower scroll and upper scroll, which on the Royal Artillery badge were inscribed "Quo Fas Et Gloria Ducunt" and "Ubique" (which indicated the regular Royal Artillery, like the Royal Engineers, served everywhere), were respectively inscribed with
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3318-455: The absence of Territorial Force units in Irish Command . The unit took the title Antrim RGA (SR) . On the outbreak of World War I in August 1914, the North Irish Coast Defences comprised No 15 Company, RGA, at Derry , and the Antrim RGA (SR) at Carrickfergus. The Antrim RGA manned two Vickers-Maxim Mk VII 6-inch guns at Grey Point Fort , a new battery built at Helen's Bay on the south shore of Belfast Lough between 1904 and 1907. At
3397-467: The campaign. Lieutenant-Colonel Pottinger, Maj Elmitt, Company Serjeant Major C.S. McCabe and Serjeant J. McIlwaine were all Mentioned in dispatches . In addition, Lt-Col Pottinger was awarded a CMG and CSM McCabe a DCM . From 1902 most units of the Militia artillery formally became part of the Royal Garrison Artillery , the Antrim unit taking the title of ' Antrim RGA (M) , changed to Antrim Royal Garrison Reserve Artillery on 19 July 1907. After
3476-413: The coast artillery was disbanded, and the Antrim Artillery was converted into Royal Engineers (RE) as 146 (Antrim Artillery) Corps Engineer Regiment, RE . In 1961 the unit merged with 591 (Antrim) Field Squadron, Royal Engineers , to form 74 Engineer Regiment , including 114 (Antrim Artillery) Field Squadron . In 1967 the regiment was reduced to a single 74 (Antrim Artillery) Field Squadron, RE , which
3555-426: The coastal defence, mountain, siege and heavy batteries were split off into another group named the Royal Garrison Artillery of 91 companies. The third group continued to be titled simply Royal Artillery , and was responsible for ammunition storage and supply. Which branch a gunner belonged to was indicated by metal shoulder titles (R.A., R.F.A., R.H.A., or R.G.A.). The RFA and RHA also dressed as mounted men, whereas
3634-411: The colonies, and these were not re-designated as Special Reserve; The most notable of these was the Bermuda Militia Artillery , which, like the Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps , formed part of the garrison of the important Imperial fortress colony of Bermuda where the regular Royal Artillery had first posted a company in 1794, following the French Revolution ). The remainder of the Special Reserve
3713-457: The defences of the Cape Peninsula and the Orange River Colony (ORC). While in the ORC the gunners constructed 'Fort Antrim', which the Inspector of Fortifications described as 'the finest bit of fortification in South Africa'. At the end of September 1900 a detachment of 25 Antrims joined a similar number of Donegals, all under the command of Capt F.H. Crawford, Adjutant of the Donegals, and proceeded to Orange River Station. There they took over
3792-429: The duration of wars or emergencies. The Militia had been principally an infantry force to this date, but Militia Artillery units were added from this point, and some existing Militia Infantry regiments were converted to coastal artillery. The role of the Militia Artillery was to man coastal defences and fortifications in wartime, relieving the Royal Artillery (RA) for active service. The Royal Artillery (and also of
3871-401: The end of the 19th century, the Antrim Artillery was largest militia artillery unit in Ireland, with 739 men enrolled (from an establishment of 980) in 1901. Recruiting was mainly from shipbuilders and agricultural labourers, and the average height of 5 ft 8 ins (1.73 m) was 2 ins (5 cm) greater than that laid down in regulations. The unit also possessed a band. The unit
3950-425: The formation of Militia Artillery and Volunteer Artillery in the 1850s). During the 18th century, the British regular military forces, including the Board of Ordnance's military corps (the Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers and later the Royal Sappers and Miners) and the British Army (composed mostly of infantry and cavalry) became increasingly professional (various reserve, or local , forces also existed, including:
4029-422: The forts with their garrison artillery (or coastal artillery ), were the first regular artillerymen, organised in 1540 under the Master-General and Board of Ordnance, but paid directly by the Exchequer . The regular artillerymen of the District Establishments were responsible for upkeep of the fort and maintenance of equipment, and would be brought up to strength in wartime with untrained personnel drafted in from
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#17327941858774108-437: The headquarters and units, whether Regular, Special Reserve, or Territorial Force. Together with No 15 Company RGA the Antrim RGA was split between Nos 34 (Antrim) and 35 ( Donegal ) Fire Commands at Belfast and Lough Swilly respectively. After the Armistice with Germany all Special Reserve units were demobilised in 1919 and placed in suspended animation. Although the Special Reserve remained in legal existence (reverting to
4187-427: The line. However, when the Royal Horse Artillery is on parade with its guns it will replace the Household Cavalry at the extreme right of the line. The Regimental museum, " Firepower " located in the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich closed in 2017. The Royal Artillery have a traditional rivalry with the Royal Engineers (the Sappers). Donegal Artillery The Donegal Artillery Militia (The Prince of Wales's)
4266-425: The lower scroll. Similarly they wore the RA general pattern full dress Sabretache , but the RA motto 'QUO FAS ET GLORIA DUCUNT' on the lower scroll was replaced by 'DONEGAL ARTILLERY'. The embroidered badge on the officers' Field service cap had the Prince of Wales's insignia (the Prince of Wales's feathers in silver wire emerging from a gold crown, with the motto 'ICH DIEN' in silver on a light blue backing); above
4345-486: The manning of three 7-pounder mountain guns and two Maxim guns , being relieved in mid-October by a similar detachment of Antrims and Donegals. While there, they took part in demolishing 32 miles (51 km) of railway lines to the north and laying land mines in the kopjes adjoining Zoutpans Drift. The brigade left Cape Town for home in June 1901, having been relieved by the Norfolk Artillery Militia . The Antrim Artillery lost three gunners who died of disease during
4424-415: The manning of three 7-pounder mountain guns and two Maxim guns, with Capt Crawford appointed Officer Commanding (OC) Troops at the Orange River Bridge. They were relieved by a similar detachment of Antrims and Donegals that left Cape Town on 18 October under Maj G.E. Elmitt of the Antrims. While there, they took part in demolishing 32 miles (51 km) of railway lines to the north and laying land mines in
4503-469: The men received full army pay. Under the Act, Militia units could be embodied by Royal Proclamation for full-time service in three circumstances: The 1852 Act introduced Militia Artillery units in addition to the traditional infantry regiments. Their role was to man coastal defences and fortifications, relieving the Royal Artillery (RA) for active service. The Antrim Militia Artillery was raised in November 1854. The first Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant
4582-429: The name of the territorial division name (by example, North Irish Division) and left blank or covered in a spray of laurel (as the Militia and Volunteer Force were both home defence forces, the members of which could not be sent abroad on expedition without their consents). From 1889 to 1902, the lower scroll was inscribed with the name of the unit (by example, Antrim Artillery) and the upper scroll left blank or covered in
4661-522: The number of divisions was reduced to three, and the Militia Artillery brigades were renamed again, mostly regaining some variation of their original territorial names. Post 1881, militia artillery officers wore for a brief time five button serge foreign service frocks with ball buttons and silver lace. Post 1890, officers transitioned to pocketed examples, again with ball buttons but the frocks varying from pure blue serge to other examples with scarlet facings. Prior to 1882, each Militia Artillery unit in
4740-400: The officers and men of the Donegal RGA (M) accepted transfer to the Special Reserve Royal Field Artillery , becoming the Donegal Royal Field Reserve Artillery . However, in a change of policy all the RFRA units were scrapped in 1909, the Donegals being disbanded on 20 October. Instead the men of the RFA Special Reserve would form Brigade Ammunition Columns for the Regular RFA brigades on
4819-430: The outbreak of war the Antrim RGA had a strength of 607 all ranks, but as the war progressed and the likelihood of German attacks on the coast diminished, the Special Reserve's role of supplying and training reinforcement drafts for fighting units of the RGA took precedence. By August 1918 the unit had only 18 men on its books. In October 1918 Army Order 287 formed 'Fire Commands' in the coastal garrisons, which took over all
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#17327941858774898-443: The outbreak of war. The last Commanding Officer of the Donegal RFRA, Lt-Col W.A.G. Saunders-Knox-Gore, served through World War I and was awarded an OBE (Military) in the 1919 Birthday Honours . The following served as Honorary Colonel of the unit: On formation the corps adopted the blue uniform and red facings of the Royal Artillery. The officers wore the standard North Irish Division helmet plate with 'DONEGAL ARTILLERY' on
4977-403: The regiments formed was the Prince of Wales's Own Donegal Militia , based at Lifford , which saw action during the Irish Rebellion of 1798 . The disembodied Militia of the United Kingdom declined during the long peace after the battle of Waterloo . It was revived by the Militia Act 1852 , enacted during a period of international tension. As before, units were raised and administered on
5056-449: The service company of the Donegal Artillery to form the Irish Militia Artillery Brigade, RGA , under the command of Lt-Col Eldred Pottinger of the Antrim, with Major G.E. Elmitt in command of the Antrim Company. Lieutenant-Colonel Pottinger had been the Antrim's CO since 11 October 1890, and Maj Elmitt Instructor of Artillery since 27 February 1892. The company's duties included escorting Boer prisoners of war to St Helena , and improving
5135-450: The six Army Corps proposed by St John Brodrick as Secretary of State for War . Some batteries of Militia Artillery were to be converted to field artillery. However, little of Brodrick's scheme was carried out. Under the sweeping Haldane Reforms of 1908, the Militia was replaced by the Special Reserve , a semi-professional force whose role was to provide reinforcement drafts for Regular units serving overseas in wartime. The majority of
5214-496: The title of Militia in 1921) it was moribund. The 'Antrim Militia, RA', as it was termed from 1 June 1924, only had two officers listed by 1939. The militia was formally disbanded in 1953. The title 'Antrim Artillery' was revived in 1937 when the first Territorial Army units formed in Northern Ireland included 188 (Antrim) Heavy Battery. This was expanded into the Antrim Heavy Regiment early in World War II and shortly afterwards designated 525th (Antrim) Coast Regiment . In 1956
5293-603: The unit was named. When the Volunteer Force and the Yeomanry in the United Kingdom (including the Volunteer Artillery) were merged to create the Territorial Force in 1908, the Militia was re-designated the Special Reserve . At the same time, plans were made to convert all of the Royal Garrison Artillery (Militia) units to Special Reserve Royal Field Artillery, but all Home units other than The Antrim Royal Garrison Artillery (Militia) (converted in 1956 to 74 (Antrim Artillery) Engineer Regiment (V) ) were instead disbanded in 1909 (although Militia Artillery units remained in some of
5372-410: Was John Skeffington, 10th Viscount Massereene , KP (1812–1863), and the headquarters was established at Carrickfergus Castle . Carrickfergus Castle's obsolete guns (6 × 64-pounders, 7 × 32-pounders and 1 × mortar, with an additional 6 × 24-pounders from 1859) were used for training, and the 64-pounders were fired on 27 May 1856 to salute the peace at the end of the Crimean War . A new headquarters
5451-417: Was a part-time reserve unit of Britain's Royal Artillery based in County Donegal , Ireland , from 1854 to 1909. Volunteers from the unit served in the Second Boer War and distinguished themselves at the siege of Schweizer-Reneke . The Parliament of Ireland passed a Militia Act at the start of the French Revolutionary War in 1793, which led to the creation of the first effective Irish Militia . One of
5530-428: Was a scroll reading 'THE DONEGAL ARTILLERY' and below a scroll reading 'PRINCE OF WALES'S', both embroidered in gold on red backing. The whole badge had a black cloth backing. In 1907 the other ranks bore the brass titles 'RGA' over 'DONEGAL' on the shoulder straps of the khaki service dress. The year after the end of the Boer War, the officers of the Donegal Artillery presented a brass lectern to Letterkenny church as
5609-431: Was away. It was sent to Omagh in County Tyrone , then by 10 December it moved to Charlemont Fort , where it remained. The war ended with the Treaty of Paris signed on 30 March 1856, and the Donegal Artillery was disembodied in September 1856. Several militia units had volunteered for overseas garrison duty during the Crimean War, and when the Indian Mutiny broke out and Regular troops were sent to suppress it,
5688-528: Was dissolved in 1862, its artillery function was absorbed by the Royal Artillery, giving it a total strength of 29 horse batteries, 73 field batteries and 88 heavy batteries. Military expenditure estimates for 1872 list the regimental strength as a total of 34,943 men and officers, including those in India. Although the Militia and the Volunteer Force remained separate forces, during the latter half of
5767-603: Was embodied for home defence three times: Under the Militia Acts, units could also volunteer for overseas service. The Antrim Artillery did so in 1900, and was one of the six Militia Artillery units permitted to form a Service Company of volunteers to serve in South Africa alongside the Regulars. The service company of five officers and 153 other ranks embarked for South Africa in March 1900. There they combined with
5846-483: Was eventually disbanded in 1999, and 85 (Ulster) Squadron , Royal Corps of Signals , became custodian of the Antrim Artillery property and adopted the subtitle '(Ulster and Antrim Artillery)'. A new 591 (Antrim Artillery) Field Squadron, RE , was formed at Bangor, County Down , in 2006 and continues the Antrim Artillery traditions. The following served as honorary colonel of the unit: Royal Artillery The Royal Regiment of Artillery , commonly referred to as
5925-563: Was one of six Militia Artillery units permitted to form a Service Company of volunteers to serve in South Africa alongside the regulars. The service company of five officers and 144 ORs under Major William Reed embarked for South Africa in March 1900. There they combined with the service company of the Antrim Artillery to form the Irish Militia Artillery brigade under the command of Lt-Col Eldred Pottinger of
6004-596: Was provided at the County Court House in Carrickfergus in September 1856, and in 1876 the War Department acquired land to erect permanent buildings for the militia at the castle. Clotworthy Skeffington, 11th Viscount Massereene , (1842–1905), the eldest son of the first commandant, was appointed Lt-Col on 20 November 1872, having served as major since 5 August 1865. Another early officer was
6083-675: Was re-designated as the Militia again after the First World War and permanently suspended. The Territorial Force was renamed the Territorial Army. The division of the Royal Regiment of Artillery lasted until 1924, when the RFA, RHA, and RGA amalgamated once more to become one regiment. In 1938, RA Brigades were renamed regiments. During the World War II there were over 1 million men serving in 960 gunner regiments. In 1947
6162-567: Was reformed as an infantry regiment of 12 companies. The 1852 Act introduced Artillery Militia units in addition to the traditional infantry regiments. Their role was to man coastal defences and fortifications, relieving the Royal Artillery (RA) for active service. In November 1854 the Donegal Artillery Militia was formed at Letterkenny from four infantry companies detached from the Donegal Militia, giving it
6241-422: Was the same as that of the regular Royal Regiment of Artillery, from that point including the "ubique" and "Quo Fas Et Gloria Ducunt" scrolls, with a letter "M" fixed at the bottom of the gun badge, and on the body of the grenade on the grenade badge (also with the "ubique" scroll), whether worn on the collar or on a cap. Alternately, Ubique was replaced on scrolls with the name of the city, county or colony for which
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