No1 Display Team
Originally there were three Independant Teams:
The Central Display Team
The RA Motor Cycle Display Team
The Thunderbird Mobile Exhibition
The Thunderbird Mobile Exhibition was a 16 man strong team,
and had the following equipment:
The Display Vehicle: A Thornycroft 'Big T' Tractor, with a converted
Rubery-Owen trailer to show a model of a Deployed SAGW Troop.
Thunderbird 1 Missile and Launcher Loader towed by a
Bedford RL3 ton truck
Thunderbird Launcher towed by a Bedford RL3 ton truck
Bofors 40/70 LAA Gun towed by a AEC Matador 10 ton truck
Meadows 27.5 KVA Generator towed by a Bedford RL3 ton truck
2 x Austin Champs
For a short period the Team were stationed at Piddlehinton Camp, Dorset, and maintenance of the Missile was
carried out by English Electric in Stevenage.
All members of the Troop had to learn a running commentary describing the events from the detection to the destruction
of a target. This semi-trailer housed a complete working simulated model of the radars, height finder, TIR range detector
and launchers, the complete show lasted for 25 minutes.
Founder members of the RA Recruiting Troop were as follows:
of a target. This semi-
Founder members of the RA Recruiting Troop were as follows:
The first Display was undertaken in April by 12th LAA Regiment's KAPE Team in Northern Ireland,
then moved to the Newcastle/Sunderland area. The visits usually were over a four day period,
and always included a Saturday or Sunday. If at an Agricultural or County Show,
the duration would have been for a week at a time.
In May the complete troop traveled to Larkhill to familiarise themselves with the Weapons and
Equipment they would be using, this lasted for five days, after which the troop moved
onto the School of Artillery, Manorbier where training continued for a further five days,
consisting of in and out of action drills with both Guns and Missile. Following this the troop
returned to Woolwich where for the next three days they prepared the equipment in readiness
for the troop's first complete display.
The Troop would start touring the week before Easter, and normally returned to Barracks
at the end of September to prepare for Administration Parade and Display.
It was then Block Leave for the Troop.
This was how the Troop operated for the first three years of its existence, always
on a temporary basis, before being brought fully into the Regimental fold.
During my time with the Troop in the early 70's, the Tour of duty was for two years,
but many stayed much longer than that, especially in the MCDT. Members of the Troop
and the MCDT, were drawn from all of the Regiments of the Royal Artillery, specializing in
there own piece of equipment, but soon becoming conversant with every aspect of
The Royal Regiment.
The RA Recruiting Troop was unique and will probably never be resurrected, but it forfilled a
vital role during its time of activity, and the men who served in the Troop were proud to
travel the Country and Abroad representing The Royal Artillery.
then moved to the Newcastle/Sunderland area. The visits usually were over a four day period,
and always included a Saturday or Sunday. If at an Agricultural or County Show,
the duration would have been for a week at a time.
In May the complete troop traveled to Larkhill to familiarise themselves with the Weapons and
Equipment they would be using, this lasted for five days, after which the troop moved
onto the School of Artillery, Manorbier where training continued for a further five days,
consisting of in and out of action drills with both Guns and Missile. Following this the troop
returned to Woolwich where for the next three days they prepared the equipment in readiness
for the troop's first complete display.
The Troop would start touring the week before Easter, and normally returned to Barracks
at the end of September to prepare for Administration Parade and Display.
It was then Block Leave for the Troop.
This was how the Troop operated for the first three years of its existence, always
on a temporary basis, before being brought fully into the Regimental fold.
During my time with the Troop in the early 70's, the Tour of duty was for two years,
but many stayed much longer than that, especially in the MCDT. Members of the Troop
and the MCDT, were drawn from all of the Regiments of the Royal Artillery, specializing in
there own piece of equipment, but soon becoming conversant with every aspect of
The Royal Regiment.
The RA Recruiting Troop was unique and will probably never be resurrected, but it forfilled a
vital role during its time of activity, and the men who served in the Troop were proud to
travel the Country and Abroad representing The Royal Artillery.
History
of
The Royal Regiment of Artillery
Our Heritage
The history of the Royal Regiment of Artillery is the history of the British Army. Our motto is "Ubique" and on land,
sea and air the Gunners have taken part in virtually every campaign and battle involving the Army since Crecy in 1346.
In peacetime, guns were kept in Castles and were looked after by Master Gunners, skilled in their manufacture and
so most knowledgeable in their use.
In wartime, men were recruited and trained into a Trayne of Artillery, until on the 26th May 1716 the first two
Companies of Artillery were formed by Royal Warrant at Woolwich.
The Crimea, the Indian Mutiny, the Boer War, the two World Wars, the Falklandsand the Gulf War
were all fought by Gunners.
We have produced Ten Field Marshals and the Victoria Cross has been won by Sixty-two
members of the Regiment.
It is a history of which we are very proud and a story worthy of the telling.
The guns of the Royal Artillery are the Regiment's Colours, in the same way as the flags
and guidons of Infantry Regiments are theirs, leading them into battle.
The history of the Royal Regiment of Artillery is the history of the British Army. Our motto is "Ubique" and on land,
sea and air the Gunners have taken part in virtually every campaign and battle involving the Army since Crecy in 1346.
In peacetime, guns were kept in Castles and were looked after by Master Gunners, skilled in their manufacture and
so most knowledgeable in their use.
In wartime, men were recruited and trained into a Trayne of Artillery, until on the 26th May 1716 the first two
Companies of Artillery were formed by Royal Warrant at Woolwich.
The Crimea, the Indian Mutiny, the Boer War, the two World Wars, the Falklandsand the Gulf War
were all fought by Gunners.
We have produced Ten Field Marshals and the Victoria Cross has been won by Sixty-
It is a history of which we are very proud and a story worthy of the telling.
The guns of the Royal Artillery are the Regiment's Colours, in the same way as the flags
and guidons of Infantry Regiments are theirs, leading them into battle.
The Colours represent pride in the Regiment, so the guns are protected and retained at all costs.
If the situation demands that they are left behind they must be disabled or destroyed.
The gun depicted on the cap badge is a 9pdr Rifled Muzzle Loader of about 1871, and the rammer
used to ram the charge into the muzzle is also seen, to the left of the carriage wheel.
Ubique, surmounting the gun, means "Everywhere", and the Motto
Quo Fas et Gloria Ducunt, "Where right and glory lead us"
St Barbara
St. Barbara is the patron saint of The Royal Regiment of Artillery. Due to the manner of her death,
St. Barbara is also traditionally the patron of armourers, gunsmiths, artillerymen, miners and anyone
else who worked with cannon and explosives. She is invoked against thunder and lightning and all
accidents arising from explosions of gunpowder. St. Barbara’s Day is
traditionally celebrated on the 4th December.
If the situation demands that they are left behind they must be disabled or destroyed.
The gun depicted on the cap badge is a 9pdr Rifled Muzzle Loader of about 1871, and the rammer
used to ram the charge into the muzzle is also seen, to the left of the carriage wheel.
Ubique, surmounting the gun, means "Everywhere", and the Motto
Quo Fas et Gloria Ducunt, "Where right and glory lead us"
St Barbara
St. Barbara is the patron saint of The Royal Regiment of Artillery. Due to the manner of her death,
St. Barbara is also traditionally the patron of armourers, gunsmiths, artillerymen, miners and anyone
else who worked with cannon and explosives. She is invoked against thunder and lightning and all
accidents arising from explosions of gunpowder. St. Barbara’s Day is
traditionally celebrated on the 4th December.
Equipment
Some of the Equipment's used by the Displays during the 70's
Each Mobile Display Team had the following Equipment's at its disposal:
Thunderbird Mk1 Missile
25 Pdr Field Gun in Desert Drab
105mm Pack Howitzer
105mm Light Gun
Abbot Self - Propelled Gun
Saracen Armoured Vehicle
Rapier Air Defence Missile System
40/70 Light Air Defence Gun
Drone Pilotless Aircraft
Plus:
Cinema
.22 Rifle Range
and all necessary vehicles for towing,
27.5KVA (Meadows) Generator for power, and Bin Wagons for living accommodation
on site.
On occasions a Jump Tower and personnel would be provided by
7th Parachute Regiment RHA.
Founder Members of the Team were:
The Origins of
the
Royal Artillery
Recruiting /Display Troop
the
Royal Artillery
Recruiting /Display Troop
The Cap Badge
1961
