50-537: The Royal Gibraltar Regiment is part of British Forces Gibraltar for the British overseas territory of Gibraltar , which historically, along with Bermuda , Halifax, Nova Scotia (prior to the 1867 Confederation of Canada which resulted in the British Army withdrawing from those colonies of British North America which joined the new dominion, other than small garrisons protecting Royal Naval facilities, and
100-468: A civilian passenger terminal on the northern side of the airfield. Winston Churchill Avenue , the four-lane road linking Gibraltar and Spain, crosses the airfield's runway and is closed to traffic each time an aircraft takes off or lands. As of 2023, sixteen personnel are based at the station. The Kings Lines Oil Fuel Depot was built 1954 for the Royal Navy. The depot is located underground within
150-644: A clasp bearing the title 'Suakin 1885'. During the Second Boer War , in 1900, a group of Gibraltarians offered to form a Local Corps of Volunteers . The suggestion was made that some of the Volunteers might be organised as a Rifle Corps. However, the war was over before the Corps was formed. During World War I , a group of local rowing club members volunteered to take up arms. Such was the interest that soon some 400 Gibraltarians joined. One of their tasks
200-417: A drab green lanyard made from parachute cord. The Corps motto is "certa cito", often translated from Latin as Swift and Sure . The Colonel-in-Chief is currently The Princess Royal. The Corps deploys and operates a broad range of specialist military and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) communications systems. The main categories are as follows: There are now two signal brigades : The structure of
250-680: A more tri-service character. British Armed Forces in Gibraltar had been predominantly naval-led since the 1890s. In the 1950s discussions about the creation of NATO's Allied Forces Mediterranean led to the Flag Officer Gibraltar being placed in command of NATO forces in the area. However, many years later, the British Royal Navy captain serving as Head of Sea Section in Operations Division, SHAPE,
300-470: A reserve force, on the withdrawal of the British Army garrison from the territory in 1991, the regiment was reorganised into an all-infantry unit and took over the duties of the resident battalion. The re-roled regiment consisted of a headquarters company (Thompson's Battery) and three rifle companies of which B Company is the reserve element with the others being made up of regular soldiers. As of 2023,
350-526: A result of their patriotic fervour and of their love and respect for the Crown". The Corps was based at Orange Bastion , with its headquarters on the ground floor of what is now City Hall . Later, the group moved to Wellington Front. The volunteers were divided into four rifle companies, A, B, C and D: each was commanded by a captain, with two subalterns, one sergeant major, four sergeants, eight corporals, two buglers and about 80 men. The first commanding officer
400-605: A soldier chooses not to follow the Supervisor route, they will remain employed 'in trade' until promoted to Warrant Officer, where they will then be classed as on the Regimental Duty (RD) roster and will oversee the daily routine, and administration of a unit's personnel and equipment. The Royal Signals Museum is based at Blandford Camp in Dorset . The Corps wears a blue and white tactical recognition flash . This
450-493: Is a civilian police force which is part of the MOD. As of 2023 it had 100 officers. The GDP operates two patrol boats and rigid inflatable boats. RAF Gibraltar is a Royal Air Force station located at the northern end of the territory. Although no aircraft are based at the station, it is used to support operations in the region and for major NATO exercises. The airfield also serves as Gibraltar International Airport which operates
500-1174: Is also used by the Gibraltar Defence Police and the Royal Gibraltar Police for public order training. The hill is also the location of Windmill Hill Signal Station, used by the Royal Navy for monitoring maritime activity in the Strait of Gibraltar . Though Gibraltar's current garrison is much smaller than it had been before the end of the Cold War, a sizable force still exists, including: Ministry of Defence (MoD) /HQ British Forces Gibraltar (145 military personnel as of 2023 plus 528 civilians under contract) Army Navy (28 personnel as of 2023, plus additional personnel assigned to HMS Trent ) Royal Air Force (16 personnel as of 2023) Gibraltar Defence Police Post holders included: Post holders included: Post holders included: Post holders included: Post holders included: Royal Signals The Royal Corps of Signals (often simply known as
550-526: Is delivered at the Army Training Regiment at Winchester or Army Training Centre Pirbright before undergoing trade training at 11th (Royal School of Signals) Signal Regiment. There are currently six different trades available to other ranks , each of which is open to both men and women: On selection for promotion to Sergeant, soldiers may choose to volunteer for selection to a Supervisory roster. Currently there are 4 Supervisor roles: If
SECTION 10
#1732773151510600-678: Is still used by the Royal Navy and is referred to as ' His Majesty's Naval Base Gibraltar (HMNB Gibraltar)'. The base is the permanent home to the Royal Navy's Gibraltar Squadron , equipped with two Cutlass -class patrol vessels and three Pacific 24 rigid inflatable boats . They are supported by diving platforms and harbour work boats. The base is also home to the offshore patrol vessel HMS Trent . Gibraltar regularly hosts other British or allied warships and support vessels. The Gibraltar Defence Police (GDP) has it headquarters at North Gate House, located within HMNB Gibraltar. GDP
650-467: Is used primarily as a training area, thanks to its good climate and rocky terrain, and as a stopover for aircraft and ships en route to and from deployments East of Suez or in Africa. British Forces Gibraltar as a formation was established in mid-1992 after the last Royal Navy-lead commander, Rear Admiral Geoffrey Biggs , Flag Officer Gibraltar , hauled down his flag. Thereafter the new command took on
700-415: Is worn horizontally on the right arm with the blue half charging forward. The flag and cap badge feature Mercury (Latin: Mercurius ), the winged messenger of the gods, who is referred to by members of the corps as "Jimmy". The origins of this nickname are unclear. According to one explanation, the badge is referred to as "Jimmy" because the image of Mercury was based on the late mediaeval bronze statue by
750-514: The 1st and second Strike Brigades respectively. Furthermore, a new regiment, 13th Signal Regiment , was planned to form up under 1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade and work with 14th Signal Regiment on cyber and electromagnetic activity. In 2017 the Royal Signals Motorcycle Display Team , then in its 90th year, was disbanded; senior officers had complained that it "failed to reflect
800-545: The Armed Forces Act 2011 to bring it in line with British Armed Forces . It was signed by Governor of Gibraltar Ed Davis (Royal Marines officer) on board HMS Diamond in 2018 along with Fabian Picardo and Armed Forces Minister Mark Lancaster . On 31 March 2022 the Royal Gibraltar Regiment was presented with New Colours by HRH Earl of Wessex at Windsor Castle . Initially
850-958: The British Army of the Rhine confronting Soviet Bloc forces, providing the British Forces' contribution to NATO with its communications infrastructure . Soldiers from the Royal Signals delivered communications in the Falklands War in 1982 and the first Gulf War in 1991. In 1994, The Royal Corps of Signals moved its training regiments, 11th Signal Regiment (the Recruit Training Regiment) and 8th Signal Regiment (the Trade Training School), from Catterick Garrison to Blandford Camp . In late 2012, 2nd (National Communications) Signal Brigade
900-575: The Rock of Gibraltar and had a capacity to store 250,000 tonnes of fuel. It has been unused for many years and in 2023 the MOD indicated that it intended on reopening the facility. Windmill Hill located on at the southern end of the peninsula is home to the Buffadero Training Centre which is used by the Royal Gibraltar Regiment and other British Army units. It features a purposes built village for urban combat training. Buffadero
950-749: The Royal Gibraltar Regiment took charge of local defence under the new headquarters British Forces Gibraltar. The commander of British Forces Gibraltar is Commodore Tom Guy of the Royal Navy, who was appointed in June 2022. British Forces Gibraltar reports to the Director of Overseas Bases within Strategic Command , who is responsible for the command, direction and support of UK’s overseas bases. All MOD establishments in Gibraltar are operated by Strategic Command, with each of
1000-587: The Royal Signals – abbreviated to R SIGNALS ) is one of the combat support arms of the British Army . Signals units are among the first into action, providing the battlefield communications and information systems essential to all operations. Royal Signals units provide the full telecommunications infrastructure for the Army wherever they operate in the world. The Corps has its own engineers, logistics experts and systems operators to run radio and area networks in
1050-781: The Telegraph Battalion Royal Engineers ; 'C' Troop formed the 1st Division (Field Force, based at Aldershot ) while the two Royal Engineers companies formed the 2nd Division (Postal and Telegraph, based in London ). Signalling was the responsibility of the Telegraph Battalion until 1908, when the Royal Engineers Signal Service was formed. As such, it provided communications during the First World War . It
SECTION 20
#17327731515101100-582: The United Kingdom 's Ministry of Defence to cut back the Royal Navy surface fleet meant that the dockyard was no longer financially viable. In 1984 the dockyard passed into the hands of the UK ship repair and conversion company, A&P Group . The takeover of the former naval dockyard at Gibraltar as "Gibrepair" in 1985 was short-lived, a victim of local social politics. The current dockyard
1150-667: The 1905 closure of the Royal Naval yards at Halifax and Esquimalt ), and Malta , had been designated an Imperial fortress rather than a colony. It was formed in 1958 from the Gibraltar Defence Force as an infantry unit, with an integrated artillery troop . The regiment is included in the British Army as a defence engagement force. The earliest verifiable historical evidence of local civilians enrolled to defend Gibraltar dates to 24 June 1720 and, by 1755, an armed organisation of local men were mounting guard on
1200-551: The Admiralty oil tanks, on the east side of the Rock. They fired their first shots in anger on 7 July 1940 and from then on they were often in action against Vichy French and Italian planes, engaging German planes later in the war. They shot down their first enemy aircraft on the night of 20 August 1940. The entry in the unit's War Diary reads as follows: "Third bombing raid over Gibraltar, first plane came over at 23.30 hours and
1250-484: The British Army and its duty was to provide communications for a field army by means of visual signalling , mounted orderlies and telegraph . By 1871, 'C' Troop had expanded in size from 2 officers and 133 other ranks to 5 officers and 245 other ranks. In 1879, 'C' Troop first saw action during the Anglo-Zulu War . On 1 May 1884, 'C' Troop was amalgamated with the 22nd and 34th Companies, Royal Engineers, to form
1300-815: The Colonel-In-Chief of the Corps, delivered a video message of congratulations, and the Foreman of Signals Course students successfully took a photograph of the Royal Signals 100 badge in space, completing a challenge that was set for them. Royal Signals officers receive general military training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , followed by specialist communications training at the Royal School of Signals , Blandford Camp , Dorset . Other ranks are trained both as field soldiers and tradesmen. Their basic military training
1350-700: The Italian sculptor Giambologna , and shortening his name over time reduced it to "Jimmy". The most widely accepted origin is a Royal Signals boxer, Jimmy Emblen, who was the British Army Champion in 1924 and represented the Royal Corps of Signals from 1921 to 1924. On No 2 , No 4 and No 14 Dress, the Corps wears a dark blue lanyard on the right side signifying its early links with the Royal Engineers. The Airborne Signals Unit wears
1400-545: The Royal Signals changed under Army 2020 . The listing below shows the present location of units and their future location. The Royal Corps of Signals reserve component was severely reduced after the 2009 Review of Reserve Forces, losing many full regiments, with their respective squadrons mostly reduced to troops. The Royal Corps of Signals is the sponsoring Corps for several Army Cadet Force and Combined Cadet Force units, such as in Blandford Forum, home to
1450-537: The band) consisted of TA soldiers. On 1 July 1998, the Duke of Kent presented the regiment with its new colours. The regiment has supplied officers and men for the conflicts in Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq . It is in these theatres that members of the regiment have been decorated with two Bronze Stars and a Military Cross . The Royal Gibraltar Regiment signed up to
1500-629: The colours and a further four years with the reserve. They trained at the Signal Training Centre at Catterick Camp and all personnel were taught to ride. During the Second World War (1939–45), members of the Royal Corps of Signals served in every theatre of war . In one notable action, Corporal Thomas Waters of the 5th Parachute Brigade Signal Section was awarded the Military Medal for laying and maintaining
1550-647: The dismantling and demolition of the Spanish batteries, magazines and trenches. During the Sudan Campaign 100 local men were deployed by the commissariat as transport drivers, known as Los Carreteros Del Rey (The King's Cart Drivers) . The expedition was involved in several battles with the Dervishes. During a parade held in Gibraltar, the cart drivers were awarded the Egyptian War Medal with
Royal Gibraltar Regiment - Misplaced Pages Continue
1600-705: The field telephone line under heavy enemy fire across the Caen Canal Bridge during the Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944. In the immediate post-war period, the Corps played a full and active part in numerous campaigns including Palestine , the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation , Malaya and the Korean War . Until the end of the Cold War , the main body of the Corps was deployed with
1650-504: The field. It is responsible for installing, maintaining and operating all types of telecommunications equipment and information systems, providing command support to commanders and their headquarters, and conducting electronic warfare against enemy communications. In 1870, 'C' Telegraph Troop , Royal Engineers , was founded under Captain Montague Lambert. The Troop was the first formal professional body of signallers in
1700-1076: The keys twice a year and the King's Birthday Parade in Casemates Square , as well as any other Guards of Honour. In March 2001, for the first time, the regiment mounted the guard at Buckingham Palace . In addition to this, the regiment has fired three 62 Gun Royal salutes at the Tower of London on the occasion of the Birthday of Her Majesty the Queen, a duty normally carried out by the Honourable Artillery Company . The regiment resumed both roles in April 2012 and returned to London once again in March 2022 for public duties. Source: For reasons both of climate and ceremonial responsibilities,
1750-495: The modern-day cyber communication skills in which the Royal Signals are trained". On 28 June 2020, the Royal Corps of Signals marked the 100th anniversary of its foundation. Constrained by COVID-19 rules, many Royal Signals 100 celebrations were organised online, including the #100for100 challenge that involved hundreds of members of the Corps running 100 km for the Royal Signals Charity. The Princess Royal,
1800-609: The picket line from Bayside to Devil's Tower to prevent soldiers from the garrison deserting across to the enemy. These men were known as the Genoese Guard and were disbanded at the end of the Seven Years' War . During the Great Siege of Gibraltar , 160 local labourers volunteered to take part in the action during the night of 26/27 November 1781. They were tasked with following the advancing troops and assisting in
1850-482: The regiment is issued with a wider range of uniforms than most other British infantry units. These include: 36°08′57″N 5°20′31″W / 36.149028°N 5.3419°W / 36.149028; -5.3419 British Forces Gibraltar British Forces Gibraltar constitute those elements of the British Armed Forces stationed in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar . Gibraltar
1900-820: The regiment was presented with its first colours. At a ceremony held at the Grand Parade , the Governor , Admiral of the Fleet Sir Varyl Begg , presented the regiment with its colours on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II . On the same day, the regiment was granted the Freedom of the City of Gibraltar by the Mayor of Gibraltar , Alfred Vazquez , during a ceremony outside the House of Assembly . The artillery battery
1950-461: The regiment was reported to have a strength of 235 personnel, meaning that most component companies and platoons were understrength. Component elements of the regiment consisted of: The regiment undertakes army ceremonial tasks in Gibraltar as it is the only major unit based there. It is responsible for the ceremonial guard of the Governor at his residence the Convent, and performing the ceremony of
2000-463: The separate armed forces using the facilities. The Royal Gibraltar Regiment of the British Army is based at Devil's Tower Camp . The regiment is a mixed infantry-focused unit, with 235 personnel as of 2023. HM Dockyard, Gibraltar was active from 1895 to 1984. The dockyard was used extensively by the Royal Navy , docking many of the Navy's most prestigious ships. In the early 1980s a decision by
2050-418: The three howitzers and eight Blowpipe surface-to-air missile units replaced the four L40/70 AA Guns. On 1 April 1991, the regiment was reorganised into an all-infantry unit and took over the duties of the resident infantry battalion. The re-roled regiment consisted of a headquarters company (Thomson's Bty), a military band and three rifle companies of which G and I companies were regular and B Company (and
Royal Gibraltar Regiment - Misplaced Pages Continue
2100-463: The war, more volunteers were called for and men were allocated to the 4th and 27th Coast Batteries of the Royal Artillery as well as to the Royal Signals , Royal Army Service Corps and Royal Army Medical Corps . On 2 September 1939, the Gibraltar Defence Force was mobilised. The Heavy Anti Aircraft section was attached to 19 AA Battery Royal Artillery and deployed with two 3 inch guns to
2150-409: Was Major G B Roberts of the Royal Engineers . During the war, the Corps provided reinforcement to assist in the defence of the Rock . The Corps was disbanded on 1 February 1920. In 1938, the Governor, General Sir Edmund Ironside , formed a Territorial Artillery unit to help man the anti-aircraft guns on Gibraltar. The Volunteers paraded for the first time on 28 April 1939. Just before the outbreak of
2200-490: Was about this time that motorcycle despatch riders and wireless sets were introduced into service. A Royal Warrant for the creation of a Corps of Signals was signed by the Secretary of State for War , Winston Churchill , on 28 June 1920. Six weeks later, King George V conferred the title Royal Corps of Signals . Before the Second World War , Royal Signals recruits were required to be at least 5 feet 2 inches tall. They initially enlisted for eight years with
2250-778: Was disbanded. Soldiers from the Royal Corps of Signals saw extensive service during the eight years of the Iraq War before withdrawal of troops in 2011, and the 13 years of the War in Afghanistan before it ended in 2014. Under Army 2020 Refine a number of changes planned for the Corps were made public in 2013-14. A presentation by the Master of Signals indicated that 16 Signal Regiment would shift from 11 Signal Brigade to 1 Signal Brigade and focus on supporting communications for logistic headquarters. Similarly, 32 and 39 Signal Regiments were planned to shift to 1 Signal Brigade. 15 Signal Regiment would no longer be focused on Information Systems but would support 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade, while 21 and 2 Signal Regiments were planned to support
2300-471: Was formed into the Gibraltar Regiment. The regiment then had a dual role, being organised as an infantry battalion with four rifle companies and an artillery troop manning the 9.2 inches (23.4 cm) coastal guns. This organisation was to remain in force until 1971. With the departure of the last gunner unit in 1958, the regiment was issued with four 25 pounder (88 mm) guns and took over the responsibilities of firing Royal Gun Salutes . On 25 September 1971,
2350-425: Was named Thomson's Battery on 15 September 1973 in honour of the late Sir Willie Thomson OBE JP; and, in December 1975, Thomson's Battery was issued with three 105mm L5 Pack Howitzers . Following Operation Corporate , the Ministry of Defence decided, in line with its policy of modernisation and commonality of equipment, to re-equip the regiment with new weapons. In late 1982, six 105mm L118 light guns guns replaced
2400-420: Was picked up by searchlights at the moment of bomb release. It kept a steady course and AA fire was opened. Plane was hit and brought down in the straits". Early in 1944, the force was reconstituted under the Defence Force Ordinance 1943. The majority of volunteers were placed on the reserve list, with other sections disbanded. On 30 August 1958, the permanent cadre and the reserve of the Gibraltar Defence Force
2450-447: Was to act as stretcher bearers for the many casualties arriving on hospital ships from Gallipoli . The wounded were taken to the Royal Naval Hospital Gibraltar and a number of temporary hospitals. The volunteers obtained recognition from the governor, General Sir Herbert Miles , on 3 July 1915. Addressing the volunteers at Wellington Front , the governor said that the Corps had "come into being not because of any official demand but as
2500-475: Was to have to deal with the re-absorption of Spain into NATO in the early 1990s. Arranging the NATO-Spain-Gibraltar-UK linkages involved "delicate negotiations," but British plans, to Captain Peter Melson's knowledge "committed no forces to defence of the Strait, while Spain was willing to commit substantial elements of their ORBAT [order of battle, their armed forces]." The last UK based army battalion, 3rd Battalion Royal Green Jackets , left Gibraltar in 1991 and
#509490