L (Néry) Battery Royal Horse Artillery Explained
L (Néry) Battery Royal Horse Artillery is the Tactical Group Battery of 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery.[1]
Previous role
The Battery became a Tactical Group Battery in 2005, with its guns firing their last rounds in Otterburn in February 2005.
- 2006 – L/N (Nery) Battery (The Eagle Troop) RHA split to reform separately as L and N Batteries. N Battery returned to 3 RHA to become their Tactical Group Battery and L Battery became 1 RHA's Tactical Group Battery – supporting the HCR, 1st Mech Bde Formation Reconnaissance Regiment.
Battery structure
L (Nery) Battery are known as a Tactical Group Battery and they consist of approximately 30 personnel:
- Battery Commanders FOO Party
- FOO Party A - Commanded by the Battery Captain
- FOO Party B - Commanded by a Captain.
- Battery Commanders Tac Group
Equipment
L (Nery) Battery are currently equipped with CVRT, rather the Warrior OPV. They have Forward Air Controllers in each team.
History
Formation
L (Nery) Battery were formed in India in 1809 as 3rd Troop The Bengal Horse Artillery.
19th century
- 1857 - The Battery was distinguished with service in the Indian Mutiny, when in action on 7 July 1857, Gunner William Connolly who was repeatedly injured, refused to leave his post on the gun. He was awarded L Battery's first Victoria Cross.
- 1889 - the Battery was renamed L Battery Royal Horse Artillery.
World War One
- 1914 – L Battery accompanied the BEF to France.
- 1914 - The Action at Néry. On the morning of 1 September 1914 the German 4th Cavalry Division attacked 1st Cavalry Brigade and L Battery, who had been camped in the village of Néry. In the action that followed, L Battery, less for one gun, was all but destroyed. The 13-pounder gun manned by Captain Bradbury, WO2 Dorrell, Sergeant Nelson, and Gunners Osbourne and Darbyshire, managed to keep the single gun in action against the three German Batteries located a thousand yards away. The Artillery fire put down by this gun allowed the 1st Cavalry Brigade to deliver a successful Counter attack. For this action Captain Bradbury, WO2 Dorrell, Sergeant Nelson, were all awarded the Victoria Cross.
World War Two
L (Nery) Battery served with distinction during WW2 in North Africa and Italy.
Cold War
L (Nery) Battery also deployed to Palestine, Malaya, and Cyprus and Northern Ireland.
Recent and current conflicts
Northern Ireland
See main article: Operation Banner. L (Nery) Battery deployed to Northern Ireland.
Persian Gulf War
See main article: Operation Granby. Elements of the Battery also served in Operation Granby in the Persian Gulf.
Balkan Wars
- 1993 – L Battery joined 1 RHA in Assaye Barracks Tidworth Camp when 2 Regt RA (formerly 2 RHA) disbanded.
- 1999- The Battery amalgamated with N Battery (The Eagle Troop) RHA to become L/N (Néry) Battery (The Eagle Troop) RHA.
The Battery served in the Balkans.
Operation TELIC in Iraq
- 2004 - L / N Battery served in Iraq on Op TELIC 4.
See also
Bibliography
- Book: Clarke, W.G.
. 1993 . Horse Gunners: The Royal Horse Artillery, 200 Years of Panache and Professionalism . The Royal Artillery Institution . Woolwich . 09520762-0-9.
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery Association Newsletter Edition 14 2018. 22 December 2018.
United Kingdom