100 (Yeomanry) Royal Artillery Regiment

100 (Yeomanry) Royal Artillery Regiment

Our association with 100 (Yeomanry) Royal Artillery Regiment dates back to when Eddie George was Master of the Company (2004/05). NRHQ RA (as it was called then) had approached the City of London Corporation to ask if they could suggest a livery company to affiliate with, and were directed to us.

The Regiment is based at Woolwich Barracks, which boasts the second largest parade ground in Europe, and the Georgian façade of the main building is the longest in the UK. The Officers’ Mess is a magnificent room, and the Sergeants’ Mess is pretty good too!

100 (Yeomanry) Royal Artillery Regiment is the youngest unit in the Royal Artillery, having been formed in 1967, and although it is based in Woolwich, the unit recruits from all over the UK to provide Army Reserve officers and soldiers in support of operations and exercises. The vast majority of officers and soldiers in the unit are reservists and balance their military service with civilian careers. Only half the personnel are in the Royal Artillery, the rest representing almost every other cap badge in the British Army.

100 (Yeomanry) Royal Artillery Regiment has 3 sub units; the All Arms Staff Pool, 221 (Wessex) Battery RA and 255 (Somerset Yeomanry) Battery RA.

The All Arms Staff Pool consists of personnel who support Regular Army formations (Staff Officers and soldiers), RAF Squadrons (Ground Liaison Officers) and the Royal Navy (Naval Gunfire Liaison Officers). 221 (Wessex) Battery RA consists of gunnery specialists who provide support to the Royal School of Artillery, the Gunnery Training Team and RA Regiments on operations and exercises. They are based at Larkhill, Wiltshire, and 255 (Somerset Yeomanry) Battery RA is based in Bath and generates 10 Tactical Air Control Parties for operations and exercises.

100 (Yeomanry) Royal Artillery Regiment has provided officers and soldiers for most of the British Army’s recent overseas operations including Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya. In addition, it has also provided significant support for UK operations including the response to the covid pandemic.

As well as supporting operations and exercises, 100 (Yeomanry) Royal Artillery Regiment personnel are encouraged to participate in adventurous training expeditions which include trekking, winter sports and sailing. The WCIB helped finance their 2020 expedition to South Africa – Exercise Cockney Strandloper – which was aimed at building skills in leadership, self-confidence, endurance, and team cohesion in an arid, desert environment.

Other regiments are based at Woolwich, the number and length of stay varying over time. One other permanent resident is the Kings Troop RHA, who not only make all their own saddlery but also boast the largest farriers shop (two forges) in the UK.

Over the years some of us have been fortunate enough to attend some of 100 (Yeomanry) Royal Artillery Regiment’s splendidly convivial mess dinners, and they always attend our Banquet. The relationship is very good, and we look forward to continuing to develop it.

Visit the 100 Regiment Royal Artillery website