5 (Gibraltar 1779-83)) Battery Royal Artillery (RA) have arrived in Gibraltar to conduct  several weeks training to represent the Royal Artillery as a whole in exercising its freedom of  the City of Gibraltar, who will parade through Main Street which takes place on Saturday 11th at 12:00pm. 

A statement from British Forces Gibraltar follows below:

The Battery will be making the most of the excellent facilities in Gibraltar to train small unit  leadership and tactics, as well as giving it an opportunity to study the Great Siege in more  detail, an action in which its forbears fought admirably. 

5 (Gibraltar 1779-83)) Battery RA is currently part of 19th Regiment RA “The Scottish  Gunners”. As their title suggests, this Regiment holds a close affinity to Scotland, and many  of its soldier’s herald from here.  

Formed in 1749, 5 (Gibraltar 1779-83) Battery RA has a storied history. In the near past it  has been deployed in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Most recently, it returned from its  deployment on Op CABRIT, positioned in Estonia from September 2021 until June 2022,  playing its part in NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence as part of the RTR Battlegroup. 

Currently based at Larkhill, it normally supports the 12th Armoured Brigade Combat Team. It is currently an armoured close support artillery unit, equipped with the AS90, a 155mm self propelled gun.  

The Regiment can trace its origins to 1900 and saw initial action in WW1. However, its  constituent Battery’s are even older, the most senior of which is 5 (Gibraltar 1779-83) Battery  RA. As its honour title suggests the Battery has a close history with The Rock. Whilst named  Grove’s Company, after its commander at the time, it was one of the five battery’s present  during the Great Siege from 1779-83. 

Indeed, one of the Battery’s troops still carries the name “Grove’s’” to remember this  formative period in its history. In addition, the Battery also sports the red and green ribbon of  the Croix de Guerre on its members’ headdress and uniform. This was awarded to the  Battery as a whole for its action on the Aisne on 27th May 1918, in which the Battery fought  to the bitter finish on their guns, in the face of an overwhelming German attack. Only four of  the Battery’s 85 soldiers would return to allied lines after the action.