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{{Short description|Infantry regiment of the British Army}}
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{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = Royal Gibraltar Regiment
| image                         = New Royal Gibraltar Regiment Cap Badge.png
| image_size                    = 139px
| caption                       = Cap badge of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment
| dates                         = April 1958-present
| country                       = {{flag|Gibraltar}}<br>{{flag|United Kingdom}}
| branch                        = {{army|United Kingdom}}
| type                          = Line Infantry
| role                          = Light Infantry
| command_structure             = [[Queen's Division]]
| size                          = Total of 400+ reported as of 2019;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chronicle.gi/recruitment-top-priority-regiment-marks-80-years/|title=Recruitment a top priority as regiment marks 80 years|publisher=Gibraltar Chronicle|access-date=8 June 2021}}</ref> 235 reported as of 2023<ref>{{cite web | url=https://thediplomatinspain.com/en/2023/04/some-14000-british-servicemen-pass-through-gibraltar-each-year/#:~:text=In%20addition%20to%20these%20'visits,the%20British%20Forces%20Headquarters%20in | title=Some 14,000 British servicemen pass through Gibraltar each year |website=The Diplomat |date=25 April 2023}}</ref>
| current_commander             = [[Governor of Gibraltar]]
| garrison                      = [[Devil's Tower Camp]], Gibraltar
| commander1_label              = Colonel-in-Chief
| commander2                    = [[Lieutenant Colonel (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant Colonel]] (Retd.) Francis Brancato
| commander2_label              = Honorary Colonel
| nickname                      = The Barbarians
| motto                         = ''"Nulli expugnabilis hosti"'' {{small|(Latin)}} <br>Conquered By No Enemy
| colors                        = 
| identification_symbol         = [[File:Royal Gibraltar Regiment TRF.svg|75px]]
| identification_symbol_label   = Tactical Recognition Flash
| identification_symbol_2       = Key of Gibraltar
| identification_symbol_2_label = Arm Badge
| identification_symbol_4       = RG
| identification_symbol_4_label = Abbreviation
| march                         = 
| mascot                        = 
| battles                       = Defence of Gibraltar, 1940-1945
| notable_commanders            = 
| anniversaries                 = Regimental Day: 28 April
| website                       = {{Official URL}}
}}
The '''Royal Gibraltar Regiment''' is part of [[British Forces Gibraltar]] for the [[British overseas territory]] of [[Gibraltar]], which historically, along with [[Bermuda]], [[Halifax, Nova Scotia]] (prior to the 1867 [[Confederation of Canada]] which resulted in the British Army withdrawing from those colonies of [[British North America]] which joined the new dominion, other than small garrisons protecting Royal Naval facilities, and the 1905 closure of the Royal Naval yards at Halifax and [[Esquimalt Royal Navy Dockyard |Esquimalt]]), and [[Malta]], had been designated an [[Imperial fortress]] rather than a colony.<ref>{{cite book |last=Gordon |first=Donald Craigie |author-link= |date=1965 |title=The Dominion Partnership in Imperial Defense, 1870-1914 |url= |location=Baltimore, Maryland, USA |publisher=Johns Hopkins Press |page=14 |isbn= |quote=There were more than 44,000 troops stationed overseas in colonial garrisons, and slightly more than half of these were in imperial fortresses: in the Mediterranean, Bermuda, Halifax, St. Helena, and Mauritius. The rest of the forces were in colonies proper, with a heavy concentration in New Zealand and South Africa. The imperial government paid approximately £1,715,000 per annum toward the maintenance of these forces, and the various colonial governments contributed £370,000, the largest amounts coming from Ceylon and Victoria in Australia.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=MacFarlane |first=Thomas |author-link= |date=1891 |title=Within the Empire; An Essay on Imperial Federation |url= |location=Ottawa |publisher=James Hope & Co., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |page=29 |isbn= |quote=Besides the Imperial fortress of Malta, Gibraltar, Halifax and Bermuda it has to maintain and arm coaling stations and forts at Siena Leone, St. Helena, Simons Bay (at the Cape of Good Hope), Trincomalee, Jamaica and Port Castries (in the island of Santa Lucia).}}</ref> It was formed in 1958 from the Gibraltar Defence Force as an [[infantry]] unit, with an integrated [[artillery]] [[troop]].  The regiment is included in the British Army as a defence engagement force.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/infantry/royal-gibraltar-regiment/|title=Royal Gibraltar Regiment|access-date=25 April 2020}}</ref>

==History==

===18th century===
The earliest verifiable historical evidence of local civilians enrolled to defend Gibraltar dates to 24 June 1720 and, by 1755, an armed organisation of local men were mounting guard on the picket line from [[Bayside Comprehensive School|Bayside]] to [[Devil's Tower (Gibraltar)|Devil's Tower]] to prevent soldiers from the garrison deserting across to the enemy.<ref name="1RG.GI">{{cite web|title=1RG.GI|url=http://www.1rg.gi/history/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080422190409/http://www.1rg.gi/history/|archive-date=2008-04-22}}</ref>
These men were known as the Genoese Guard and were disbanded at the end of the [[Seven Years' War]].<ref name="1RG.GI"/>

During the [[Great Siege of Gibraltar]], 160 local labourers volunteered to take part in the action during the night of 26/27 November 1781. They were tasked with following the advancing troops and assisting in the dismantling and demolition of the Spanish batteries, magazines and trenches.<ref name="1RG.GI"/>

===19th century===
During the Sudan Campaign 100 local men were deployed by the commissariat as transport drivers, known as ''[[Los Carreteros Del Rey]] (The King's Cart Drivers)''. The expedition was involved in several battles with the Dervishes. During a parade held in Gibraltar, the cart drivers were awarded the [[Egypt Medal|Egyptian War Medal]] with a clasp bearing the title 'Suakin 1885'.<ref name="1RG.GI"/>

===20th century===
During the [[Second Boer War]], in 1900, a group of Gibraltarians offered to form a ''Local Corps of Volunteers''. The suggestion was made that some of the Volunteers might be organised as a Rifle Corps. However, the war was over before the Corps was formed.<ref name="1RG.GI"/>

====World War I====
During [[World War I]], a group of local rowing club members volunteered to take up arms. Such was the interest that soon some 400 Gibraltarians joined. One of their tasks was to act as stretcher bearers for the many casualties arriving on [[hospital ships]] from [[Gallipoli]]. The wounded were taken to the [[Royal Naval Hospital Gibraltar]] and a number of temporary hospitals.<ref name=jackson>{{cite book|last=Jackson|first=Sir William G. F.|title=The rock of the Gibraltarians : a history of Gibraltar|year=1990|publisher=Gibraltar Books|location=Grendon|isbn=0948466146|page=265|edition=2nd}}</ref> The volunteers obtained recognition from the governor, General Sir [[Herbert Miles]], on 3 July 1915. Addressing the volunteers at [[Wellington Front]], the governor said that the Corps had "come into being not because of any official demand but as a result of their patriotic fervour and of their love and respect for the Crown".<ref name="http">{{cite web|title=1RG.GI|url=http://www.1rg.gi/history/gvc.qxp|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080422084356/http://www.1rg.gi/history/gvc.qxp|archive-date=2008-04-22}}</ref>

The Corps was based at [[Orange Bastion]], with its headquarters on the ground floor of what is now [[Gibraltar City Hall|City Hall]]. Later, the group moved to Wellington Front. The volunteers were divided into four rifle companies, A, B, C and D: each was commanded by a captain, with two subalterns, one sergeant major, four sergeants, eight corporals, two buglers and about 80 men. The first commanding officer was Major G B Roberts of the [[Royal Engineers]]. During the war, the Corps provided reinforcement to assist in the defence of [[Rock of Gibraltar|the Rock]]. The Corps was disbanded on 1 February 1920.<ref name="http"/>

====World War II====
In 1938, the Governor, General [[Edmund Ironside, 1st Baron Ironside|Sir Edmund Ironside]], formed a Territorial Artillery unit to help man the anti-aircraft guns on Gibraltar. The Volunteers paraded for the first time on 28 April 1939. Just before the outbreak of the war, more volunteers were called for and men were allocated to the 4th and 27th Coast Batteries of the [[Royal Artillery]] as well as to the [[Royal Signals]], [[Royal Army Service Corps]] and [[Royal Army Medical Corps]].<ref name="http"/>

On 2 September 1939, the Gibraltar Defence Force was mobilised. The Heavy Anti Aircraft section was attached to 19 AA Battery Royal Artillery and deployed with two 3 inch guns to the Admiralty oil tanks, on the east side of the Rock.
They fired their first shots in anger on 7 July 1940 and from then on they were often in action against [[Vichy French]] and [[Italy|Italian]] planes, engaging [[Germany|German]] planes later in the war. They shot down their first enemy aircraft on the night of 20 August 1940. The entry in the unit's War Diary reads as follows:<ref name="http"/>
{{Quote box
| quote = "Third bombing raid over Gibraltar, first plane came over at 23.30 hours and was picked up by searchlights at the moment of bomb release. It kept a steady course and AA fire was opened. Plane was hit and brought down in the straits". | source = 
| width = 80%
| align = center
}}

Early in 1944, the force was reconstituted under the Defence Force Ordinance 1943. The majority of volunteers were placed on the reserve list, with other sections disbanded.<ref name="http"/>

===Post war===
On 30 August 1958, the permanent cadre and the reserve of the Gibraltar Defence Force was formed into the Gibraltar Regiment. The regiment then had a dual role, being organised as an infantry battalion with four rifle companies and an artillery troop manning the {{convert|9.2|in|cm|1}} coastal guns.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|title=1RG.GI|url=http://www.1rg.gi/history/regiment.qxp|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080422084512/http://www.1rg.gi/history/regiment.qxp|archive-date=2008-04-22}}</ref> This organisation was to remain in force until 1971. With the departure of the last gunner unit in 1958, the regiment was issued with four [[Ordnance QF 25 pounder|25 pounder (88 mm) guns]] and took over the responsibilities of firing Royal Gun [[Salute]]s.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

On 25 September 1971, the regiment was presented with its first colours. At a ceremony held at the [[Grand Parade (Gibraltar)|Grand Parade]], [[Governor of Gibraltar|the Governor]], Admiral of the Fleet Sir [[Varyl Begg]], presented the regiment with its colours on behalf of [[Queen Elizabeth II]].<ref name="ReferenceA"/> On the same day, the regiment was granted the [[Freedom of the City]] of Gibraltar by the [[Mayor of Gibraltar]], [[Alfred Vazquez]], during a ceremony outside the [[Gibraltar Parliament|House of Assembly]].<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

The artillery battery was named '''Thomson's Battery''' on 15 September 1973 in honour of the late Sir Willie Thomson OBE JP; and, in December 1975, Thomson's Battery was issued with three 105mm [[L5 Pack Howitzer]]s. Following [[Operation Corporate]], the Ministry of Defence decided, in line with its policy of modernisation and commonality of equipment, to re-equip the regiment with new weapons. In late 1982, six 105mm [[L118 light gun]]s guns replaced the three howitzers and eight [[Blowpipe (missile)|Blowpipe]] surface-to-air missile units replaced the four [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/70|L40/70]] AA Guns.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
 
On 1 April 1991, the regiment was reorganised into an all-infantry unit and took over the duties of the resident infantry battalion. The re-roled regiment consisted of a headquarters company (Thomson's Bty), a [[military band]] and three rifle companies of which G and I companies were regular and B Company (and the band) consisted of TA soldiers.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

On 1 July 1998, the [[Duke of Kent]] presented the regiment with its new colours.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

===21st century===
The regiment has supplied officers and men for the conflicts in Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone, Bosnia, Kosovo, [[Afghanistan]] and [[Iraq]]. It is in these theatres that members of the regiment have been decorated with two [[Bronze Star]]s and a [[Military Cross]].<ref>{{cite web|title=1RG.GI|url=http://www.1rg.gi/history/royalregiment.qxp|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080422084522/http://www.1rg.gi/history/royalregiment.qxp|archive-date=2008-04-22}}</ref> The Royal Gibraltar Regiment signed up to the [[Armed Forces Act 2011]] to bring it in line with [[British Armed Forces]]. It was signed by [[Governor of Gibraltar]] [[Ed Davis (Royal Marines officer)]] on board {{HMS|Diamond|D34|6}} in 2018 along with [[Fabian Picardo]] and [[Armed Forces Minister]] [[Mark Lancaster, Baron Lancaster of Kimbolton|Mark Lancaster]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/armed-forces-minister-reaffirms-importance-of-gibraltar-to-uk-defence|title=Armed Forces Minister reaffirms importance of Gibraltar to UK defence|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=8 June 2021}}</ref>

On 31 March 2022 the Royal Gibraltar Regiment was presented with [[Military colours, standards and guidons|New Colours]] by [[Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex|HRH Earl of Wessex]] at [[Windsor Castle]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmBXNOGuWj4|title=RG presented with new Colours in Windsor Castle outdoor ceremony, witnessed by the Queen|last=GBC News|date=6 April 2022|via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSmel93P5Fs|title=CBF 'very proud' as Royal Gibraltar Regiment prepares to receive new colours|last=GBC News|date=6 April 2022|via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Krw_DqSnoQ|title=RG CO 'can't wait to parade the new colours at the Queen's Birthday Parade in June'|last=GBC News|date=6 April 2022|via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex presents new colours to Royal Gibraltar Regiment: Video |url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/408717-prince-edward-earl-of-wessex-presents-new-colours-to-royal-gibraltar-regiment-video |website=Geo TV |access-date=6 April 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=HMGOG Congratulates Royal Gibraltar Regiment on Grant of New Royal Colours - 230/2022 |url=https://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/press-releases/hmgog-congratulates-royal-gibraltar-regiment-on-grant-of-new-royal-colours-2302022-7832 |website=HM Government of Gibraltar |access-date=6 April 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.chronicle.gi/prince-edward-confirms-rock-trip-as-he-presents-royal-gibraltar-regiment-with-new-colours/ |title=Prince Edward confirms Rock trip as he presents Royal Gibraltar Regiment with new colours  |last=Gomez |first=Eyleen |date=31 March 2022 |website=The Gibraltar Chronicle |access-date=6 April 2022 }}</ref>

==Structure==
[[File:Royal Gibraltar Regiment, Changing the Guard, Band, April 12.jpg|thumb|The Band of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment.]]
Initially a reserve force, on the withdrawal of the [[British Army]] garrison from the territory in 1991, the regiment was reorganised into an all-infantry unit and took over the duties of the resident battalion. The re-roled regiment consisted of a headquarters company (Thompson's Battery) and three rifle companies of which B Company is the reserve element with the others being made up of regular soldiers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royalgibraltarregiment.gi/history_gibraltar_regiment.php?sp=submenu3|title=Royal Gibraltar Regiment - Gibraltar Regiment|work=royalgibraltarregiment.gi|access-date=7 June 2015}}</ref> As of 2023, the regiment was reported to have a strength of 235 personnel, meaning that most component companies and platoons were understrength.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://thediplomatinspain.com/en/2023/04/some-14000-british-servicemen-pass-through-gibraltar-each-year/#:~:text=In%20addition%20to%20these%20'visits,the%20British%20Forces%20Headquarters%20in | title=Some 14,000 British servicemen pass through Gibraltar each year |website=The Diplomat |date=25 April 2023}}</ref> Component elements of the regiment consisted of:

* HQ Company (Thomson's Battery, Regular) - made up currently of the Artillery Troop ([[L118]]  105mm light guns), Motor Transport Platoon, Signals Wing, Catering Platoon and Clothing Stores.
* G Company (Regular) – comprises three regular rifle platoons.
* I Company (Regular) – a regular rifle company, but also holds the regiment's specialists when fully manned. These are:
** 2 × recce sections,
** 5 × sniper pairs,
** 2 × machine gun sections,
** 2 × assault pioneer/soldier sections,
** 2 × high-assurance search teams,
** 2 × low-risk search teams,
** The regiment's explosive ordnance disposal teams (EOD)
* B Company (Reserves) consists of three rifle platoons. It also provides two sharpshooter pairs, two machine gun sections and one low-risk search team.

==Role==
[[File:Royal Gibraltar Regiment soldiers.jpg|thumb|Two soldiers of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment on guard duty at the Governor's residence.]]
The regiment undertakes army ceremonial tasks in Gibraltar as it is the only major unit based there. It is responsible for the ceremonial guard of the Governor at his residence the Convent, and performing the [[Ceremony of the Keys (Gibraltar)|ceremony of the keys]] twice a year and the King's Birthday Parade in [[Casemates Square]], as well as any other Guards of Honour. In March 2001, for the first time, the regiment mounted the [[Guard Mounting|guard]] at [[Buckingham Palace]]. In addition to this, the regiment has fired three 62 Gun Royal salutes at the [[Tower of London]] on the occasion of the Birthday of Her Majesty the Queen, a duty normally carried out by the [[Honourable Artillery Company]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royalgibraltarregiment.gi/regiment_regular_army_ceremonials.php?sp=submenu2|title=Royal Gibraltar Regiment - Ceremonials|work=royalgibraltarregiment.gi|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924092237/http://www.royalgibraltarregiment.gi/regiment_regular_army_ceremonials.php?sp=submenu2|access-date=7 June 2015|archive-date=24 September 2015}}</ref> The regiment resumed both roles in April 2012 and returned to London once again in March 2022 for public duties.<ref>{{cite web |title=Royal Gibraltar Regiment Return to London for Public duties |url=https://www.army.mod.uk/news-and-events/news/2022/03/royal-gibraltar-regiment-return-to-london-for-public-duties/ |website=British Army |access-date=25 March 2022}}</ref>
[[File:Changing of the Guard sentry box - Royal Gib Regiment.jpg|thumb|right|A soldier of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment on ceremonial duty.]]

==Honorary Regimental Colonels==
Source:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/europe/regts/gibraltar.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070104032150/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/europe/regts/gibraltar.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 January 2007|title=The Royal Gibraltar Regiment|publisher=Regiments.org|access-date=4 February 2019}}</ref>
*1953–:	Col. Sir William Thomson
*1958–:	Gen. Sir [[Charles Keightley|Charles Frederic Keightley]]
*1980–1985:  Col. John Joseph Porral
*1985–1989:  Col. Arthur John Ferrary
*1989–1998:  Col. Domingo Louis Collado
*1993–1999:  Col. Sir [[Robert Peliza|Robert John Peliza]]
*1998–2003:  Col. John Joseph Porral
*2003–2008:  Lt-Col. Eddie A. Guerrero<ref>{{London Gazette|supp=y|issue=57019|page=13884|date=11 November 2003}}</ref>
*2008–2014: Lt-Col. Dennis Duarte
*2014–2017: Col. The Hon Ernest Michael Britto<ref>{{London Gazette|supp=y|issue=60932|page=7|date=15 July 2014}}</ref>
*2017–present: Col Francis Brancato

==Uniforms==
For reasons both of climate and ceremonial responsibilities, the regiment is issued with a wider range of uniforms than most other British infantry units. These include:
*full dress ([[Scarlet (color)|scarlet]])
*No 1 Temperate Ceremonial (dark blue)
*No 2 Service Dress ([[khaki]])
*No 3 Warm Weather Ceremonial (white)
*No 6 Warm Weather Parade (bush jacket)

==Image gallery==
<gallery class="center">
File:Alfred Holmes.jpg|[[Sergeant|Sgt.]] [[Alfred Holmes]] of the Gibraltar Regiment (1931–1994).
File:Gib Reg pipes.JPG|Royal Gibraltar Regiment Band along with pipers from the [[London Regiment (1993)]] perform at the [[Ceremony of the Keys (Gibraltar)|Ceremony of the Keys]].
File:Queens birthday 21 gun.jpg|Royal Gibraltar Regiment firing a 21 gun salute on the occasion of the Queen's birthday parade in June 2008.
File:Queens birthday.JPG|Royal Gibraltar Regiment on parade on the occasion of the Queen's birthday parade in June 2007.
File:Royal Gibraltar Regiment.jpg|Royal Gibraltar Regiment in London, April 2012.
File:Royal Gibraltar Regiment drummers.jpg|Drummers in London, April 2012.
File:Changing of the Guard - Royal Gibraltar Regiment colours.jpg|Regimental Colours in London, 2012.
File:21 Gun Salute in Gibraltar marking the birth of Prince George of Cambridge 02.jpg|21 Gun Salute in Gibraltar marking the birth of [[Prince George of Cambridge]], 2013.
File:Devils Tower Camp, Gibraltar.jpg|Devil's Tower Camp.
</gallery>

== Order of precedence ==
{{S-start}}
{{order of precedence
| before = [[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|Army Reserve]]
| title = [[British Army Order of Precedence|Order of Precedence]]
| after = [[Royal Bermuda Regiment]]}}
{{S-end}}

==See also==
*[[The Band and Corps of Drums of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment]]
*[[Royal Bermuda Regiment]]
*[[Cayman Islands Regiment]]
*[[Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment]]
*[[Falkland Islands Defence Force]]
*[[Royal Montserrat Defence Force]]
*[[The Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers)|Royal Hong Kong Regiment]]
* [[British Army Training and Support Unit Belize]]
* [[Overseas military bases of the United Kingdom]]

==Alliances==
*{{GBR}} – [[The Royal Anglian Regiment]]
*{{GBR}} – [[Royal Regiment of Artillery]]
*{{GBR}} – [[Corps of Royal Engineers]]
*{{GBR}} – [[The Royal Irish Regiment (27th (Inniskilling), 83rd, 87th and Ulster Defence Regiment)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{order of precedence
|before = [[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|British Army Reserve]]
|title  = [[British Army Order of Precedence|Order of Precedence]]
|after  = [[Royal Bermuda Regiment]]
}}
{{s-end}}

== External links ==
*{{Commons category-inline}}
* {{Official website}}

{{British Army navbox}}
{{Gibraltar topics}}

{{Coord|36.149028|-5.3419|region:GI_type:landmark|display=title}}

[[Category:British Forces Gibraltar]]
[[Category:British colonial regiments]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1958]]
[[Category:1958 establishments in Gibraltar]]
[[Category:Military of Gibraltar]]