The 4th Regiment Royal Artillery is a regiment of the Royal Artillery in the British Army. It was formed in 1939 as 4th Regiment Royal Horse Artillery before being redesignated in 1961. It is currently based at Alanbrooke Barracks in Topcliffe and serves in the light field artillery role, equipped with 105mm Light Guns, these are to be withdrawn and the regiment will direct air, rocket, and artillery support from other formations, services, or allies.
The Regiment moved from Roberts Barracks in Osnabruck, Germany at the end of 2008 where it had previously been stationed for over 20 years. The Regiment's main recruiting area is in the North East of England, and so significant effort has been put into re-establishing links, especially to the city of Sunderland where the Regiment holds the Freedom of the City. These strong links to the local area gives the Regiment its name The North East Gunners.
The regiment took part in World War II:
1939 – The Regiment was formed as 4th Regiment Royal Horse Artillery (RHA) at Helmieh, Egypt on 28 May 1939. The original Batteries were C Battery, F (Sphinx) Battery, and G Battery (Mercer's Troop), drawn from independent commands in India and equipped with the Ordnance QF 25 pounder.
1941 – During the battle of Sidi Rezegh in the Western Desert on 23 November 1941, Brigadier John Charles Campbell, who only a few months earlier had been commanding 4th RHA, won the Victoria Cross.
The history of the regiment continued:
1947 – 4th Regiment RHA was based in Germany at Dorset Barracks in Kiel
1948 – The regiment moved to Alma Barracks at Blackdown Camp
1951 – The regiment moved to Barracks at Hohne
The history of the regiment continued:
1961 – The Regiment became 4th Regiment, Royal Artillery losing all 3 batteries to 33rd Parachute Light Regiment Royal Artillery, which immediately became 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery. 4th Regiment RA gained 29 (Corunna), 88 (Arracan) and 97 Battery (Lawson’s Company) as gun batteries and was posted to Hong Kong.
1965 – The Regiment deployed on operations to the Malayan Peninsula. It saw active service from February to April and during the confrontation with Indonesia in Borneo until November.
1966 – The Regiment resumed service in West Germany, moving to Munsterlager in support of 1st Armoured Division.
1971 – The Regiment served three emergency tours of Northern Ireland in 1972, 1974, and 1976.
1974 – The Regiment retrained on the 105 pack howitzer.
1977 – The Regiment replaced 7th RHA in Aldershot in support of 6 Field Force and equipped with the 105mm Light Gun adopted the parachute role.
1981 – 29 (Corunna) Battery deployed to Long Kesh (HMP Maze) in Northern Ireland.
1982 – Two gun batteries and Regimental HQ with mortar locating radar and intelligence section deployed to the South Atlantic as part of the task force to retake the Falkland Islands.
1984 – The Regiment moved to Osnabrück equipped with the M109 155mm Self-propelled gun, remaining in support of the 1st Armoured Division
1991 – The Regiment undertook an emergency tour of Northern Ireland as the Tyrone Roulement Battalion.
1994 – The Regiment deployed to Belfast, Northern Ireland along with the rear party being equipped with the AS90 gun.
1997 – Units of the Regiment deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
1999 – The guns were deployed to Macedonia and provided a very effective deterrent when NATO troops moved into Kosovo.
1999 – Units returned to Northern Ireland.
2004 – Units deployed to Iraq for Operation TELIC 5 where they were involved in the reconstruction of Basra.
2006 – The Regiment deployed on Operation TOSCA on peacekeeping duties as part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).
2007 – The Regiment began its conversion to the 105mm Light Gun and then deployed for Operation HERRICK 7 in Afghanistan.
2008 - The Regiment moved from Osnabrück to Topcliffe
2010 - Deployment on Operation HERRICK 12 in Afghanistan.
2012 - The Regiment returned to Afghanistan for the final time for Operation HERRICK 17.
Under Army 2020, the Regiment will be placed under Force Troops Command and tasked to support the Adaptable Force. To this end, the Regiment was re-roled to the 105mm Light Gun in place of the AS90 self-propelled howitzer and has adopted a 'light-role ethos' better suited to the type of operations the Regiment may conduct in the future. Under Army 2020 Refine the regiment's guns will be withdrawn and the regiment will comprise artillery fire observers, joint terminal attack controllers, intelligence, surveillance, targeting, acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) operators, and fire-planning staff. The Regiment's Army Reserve pairing is with 103 Regiment RA, based in the North West of England.
The regiment commands the following batteries:
6/36 (Arcot 1751) Battery (Tac group)
3/29 (Corunna) Battery (L118 light gun battery)
129 (Dragon) Battery (Tac group)
88 (Arracan) Battery (L118 light gun battery)
94 (New Zealand) Battery (HQ Battery)
97 Battery (Lawson's Company) (Tac Group)
Forever Fourth is the Regimental charity for 4th Regiment Royal Artillery. The charity charter is:
"To provide immediate and short term financial assistance to 4 Regt RA personnel and their families in the event of serious injury or fatality sustained on or training for operations."
