Northumbrian Gunner: 101 Regiment RA - 50th Anniversary Dinner

50th Anniversary 101 (Northumbrian) Regiment Royal Artillery
50th Anniversary Regimental / NVAA Dinner
1st April 2017

At the end of the Second Word War the Territorial Army was stood down. It was reformed in 1947 with roles in both home defence and reinforcing the British Army of the Rhine to combat the Soviet threat.

274 Regiment Royal Artillery TA
South Shields

The British Army was still very much involved in maintaining the status quo in the Middle and the Far East. By 1966 Britain had began to draw down forces east of Suez. The Defence White paper of that year would outline a reduction in the size of the Territorial Army and its transformation to the Territorial and Volunteer Reserve (TAVR).

On the 1st April 1967 the new order of battle for the British Army came into operation and 101 (Northumbrian) Regiment was born, among with 4 other Regiments, and the HAC.

Officers Mess 101 Regiment 1967

When 101 Regiment was formed in 1967 it was as a Medium Regiment equipped with the BL 5.5 in gun, a gun that had been introduced in 1941.

101 (Northumbrian) Medium Regiment RA (V)
5.5in BL Gun

Conversion to the 105mm Light Gun in 1980 brought a highly flexible gun capable of movement by helicopter, ideal for the Regiment’s role protecting the rear of the BAOR (British Army of the Rhine) as part of 2nd (Infantry) Division.

101 (Northumbrian) Field Regiment RA (V)
105mm Light Gun

In 1992, the Regiment once again converted. As one of the few Territorial Army units within the 1st (UK) Armoured Division, 101 provided a General Support capability with the FH70 Howitzer.

101 (Northumbrian) Regiment RA (V)
FH70

In 1997 it was farewell to the Guns. A Territorial Army unit was required to convert to MLRS, and 101 Regiment was selected for the task.

In MLRS the Regiment acquired a weapon system that was a battle changer and joined 1st Artillery Brigade.

101 (Northumbrian) Regiment RA
Multi Rocket Launch System

Further developments saw introduction of GMLRS, capable of delivering precision fires out to a range of 70km. The role changed to provide individual Reservists in support of 39 Regiment on operations in Afghanistan.

MLRS Afghanistan

Northumbrian Gunners of 203 and 205 Batteries once again fired on active service, the first time since WW2. The period with MLRS included 204 and 269 Batteries in a Surveillance and Target Acquisition role, also serving in Afghanistan.

101 Regiment Weapon Systems

Fifty years after the formation of the Regiment, 101 (Northumbrian) Regiment is an integral part of the 1st Artillery Brigade as a General Support Divisional Fires Regiment.