Type Artillery | ||
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Active 1 February 1793 – present |
A Battery (The Chestnut Troop) Royal Horse Artillery is the senior Battery in the British Army's Royal Artillery and is part of 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery. The Chestnut Troop is currently based in Assaye Barracks in Tidworth Camp.
Contents
Current Role
The unit is currently equipped as a Close Support Artillery Battery, with the AS-90 Self-propelled gun.
Formation
1793 - A Troop Royal Horse Artillery was raised as The Chestnut Troop at Woolwich on 1 February 1793. Equipped with Chestnut horses from the start, Lord Wellington asked of the whereabouts of “The Chestnut Troop” during the Battle of Waterloo. This unofficial title stuck until Edward VII sanctioned, in Army Order 135, that the Battery be designated A Battery (The Chestnut Troop) Royal Horse Artillery. This honour title is unique as it is not associated with one particular incident, and affords "The Chestnut Troop" the privilege to be known as such outside the Royal Regiment of Artillery. As the senior Battery within the whole of the Royal Regiment of Artillery, it takes position at the Right of the Line on the parade.
A Troop was raised as the first fully self-contained and fully mounted unit equipped with six, six-pounder guns.
19th century
Until the turn of the 20th century the Troop served in both the UK and India, before serving in the South African War.
World War One
1914 – The outbreak of the First World War saw the Troop deployed to France. It served throughout the War, firing its last round at Orrs on 4 November 1918.
Interwar
In 1919 the Chestnut Troop was deployed in North West Persia as part of the Norperforce. They were later deployment to Basra in 1921. In 1938 the Chestnut Troop became part of 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery which involved, at the outset, the formation of a Battery as a 12 gun composite Battery.
World War Two
Cold War
After the War the Troop served in Egypt, the UK and Germany. 1965 to 1967 – Aden
Northern Ireland
It completed four tours of Northern Ireland throughout the 1970s.