29 Commando Regiment RA

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'29 Commando Regiment RA'

The first Army Commandos were raised by a Gunner, Lt Col John Durnford-Slater RA in June 1940, following the defeat ending with the evacuation at Dunkirk, The Commandos struck at the German forces at a time when Britain was otherwise powerless. Raids were made on the coasts of Norway, France and the Mediterranean. By the time of the Normandy landings of 6 June 1944, the Commando forces were of a considerable size and had played a vital part on operations in all theatres of war.

148 ( Meiktila ) Battery

148 (Meiktila) Commando Forward Observation Battery Royal Artillery is a Commando-trained unit of specialist Naval Gunfire Forward Observers. Although part of 29th Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, it conducts many operations separately from the rest of the regiment. Royal Artillery batteries are usually named after one of their battle honours; the Battle of Meiktila occurred in Burma in February/March 1945, with 148 Battery firing its 25-pounder guns in support of 255th Armoured Brigade. 
 

History

79 (Kirkee) Battery

The Battery converted to the Commando role on 15th May 1962. Two years later saw the Regiment based in Singapore and serving in Borneo and Malaya where it saw action in the jungle role. The early seventies saw the battery based in Malta until it returned to The Royal Citadel in 1974. The troubles in Northern Ireland saw the Battery deployed on four Operation BANNER tours. The Battery has also served as part of the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus on two occasions, the last in 1995.

8 (Alma) Battery

Commando trained. Currently based in the Royal Citadel Plymouth the Battery is known as "Black Eight" because of their efforts at the Battle of Alma where the Battery fired more rounds than any other leaving the faces of the gunners black with powder stains. Black Eight is the second gun battery in 29 Cdo. Regiment and is also equipped with six 105mm Light Guns and three Observation Parties.

95 Commando (Light) Regt. RA

The origin of this unit was the 95th Amphibious Observation Regiment RA formed in the early 1950's, which was redesignated as 95th Commando Amphibious Observation Regiment RA in 1962. On the 18th March 1964 it was redesignated as 95 Commando Light Regiment RA. On the 1st May 1971 it was again redesignated as  95th Commando Forward Observer Unit RA and joined with 29 Commando Regiment RA.
 

BROWN, Christopher Charles

Lieutenant General
497571
29 Cdo. Regt.RA
Royal Artillery
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Mentioned in Despatches
Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service
Captain Christopher Brown, 29 Commando Regiment RA, was a Naval Gunfire Spotter attached to Special Forces during the Falklands War. He received a Mention in despatches in recognition of gallant and distinguished service between 25 April to 15 June 1982 [1] [2].

CARNS, Alistair Scott

Colonel
N029561Y
Royal Marines
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Military Cross (MC)
Mentioned in Despatches
Captain Alistair Carns RM was awarded the Military Cross in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Afghanistan 1st October 2010 to 31st March 2011 [1]. 

CUTTING, Robert Steven

Gnr Robert Cutting 29 Commando
Gunner
24167846
29 Cdo. Regt.RA
Royal Artillery
Died on active service

Gunner Robert Cutting, aged 18, from Blackley Manchester, was shot dead at 4am whilst on foot patrol at the junction of Lepper Street and Stratheden Street, in the New Lodge area of Belfast. This was a blue on blue incident.

DANE, James Thomas

Bombardier
23529779
29 Cdo. Regt.RA
Royal Artillery
Died on active service
Bombardier James Dane died when he fell over a cliff while on operations against dissident tribesmen in Aden. He was attached to 2nd Bn., Parachute Regiment at the time. Buried Silent Valley Cemetery later reinterred to Dundalk.
 
Sources

DWYER, James Edward

LBdr James Dwyer
Lance Bombardier
25173531
29 Cdo. Regt.RA
Royal Artillery
Killed in action or died of wounds

Lance Bombardier James Dwyer died whilst on a patrol in Southern Helmand province when the vehicle he was driving struck an anti-tank mine. [Source: MOD]

ECCLESTON, Gary

Gunner
24444973
29 Cdo. Regt.RA
Royal Artillery
Mentioned in Despatches
Gunner Gary Eccleston, Bty. Cmdr's radio operator, received a Mention in Despatches in recognition of service during the operations in the South Atlantic on the night of 11/12 June 1982.
 
Source

EVANS, Llywelyn Carl

LBdr Karl Evans
Lance Bombardier
25052841
29 Cdo. Regt.RA
Royal Artillery
Died on active service

Lance Bombardier Llywelyn Carl Evans died when a a US Marine Corps CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter crashed south of the Kuwait border with US and UK personnel aboard; there were no survivors.

EVE, Keith Richard Hubert

Lieutenant Colonel
397236
29 Cdo. Regt.RA
Royal Artillery
Mentioned in Despatches
Lieutenant Colonel Keith Eve deployed with 29 Commando Regiment as Liaison Officer Naval Gunfire Support during the Falklands War. He received a Mention in Despatches in recognition of gallant and distinguished service during the operations in the South Atlantic in 1982.
 

FARRAGHER, Kieran Joseph

Warrant Officer Class 2
24155023
95 Cdo. Regt.RA
29 Cdo. Regt.RA
SAS
Royal Artillery
Died in service

Warrant Officer Kieran Farragher, attached to the Special Air Service, died in a climbing accident in Botswana. He had joined the SAS in 1973 having previously served in 95 Commando and 29 Commando Regt RA.

FRANCIS, John

Warrant Officer Class 2
23953947
29 Cdo. Regt.RA
Royal Artillery
Mentioned in Despatches
Warrant Officer 2 John Francis was the Battery Sergeant Major of 7 (Sphinx) Commando Battery during the Falklands War. He received a Mention in Despatches in recognition of gallant and distinguished service during the operations in the South Atlantic in 1982.
 

GROVES, Richard Geoffrey

Warrant Officer Class 2
24802235
29 Cdo. Regt.RA
Royal Artillery
Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service
Warrant Officer Richard Groves received the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in Afghanistan during the period 1st October 2006 to 31st March 2007.
 
Sources
London Gazette 58396, page 10412.

HEHIR, Leslie Samuel

Sgt. Les Hehir
Sergeant
24937123
29 Cdo. Regt.RA
Royal Artillery
Died on active service

Sergeant Les Hehir died when a a US Marine Corps CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter crashed south of the Kuwait border with US and UK personnel aboard; there were no survivors.

HOLROYD-SMITH, Michael John

Brigadier
460614
29 Cdo. Regt.RA
Royal Artillery
Lieutenant Colonel Michael Holroyd-Smith, Commanding Officer 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, was appointed O.B.E. (Military Division) in recognition of service within the operations in the South Atlantic during the Falklands War [1][2].

HOLT, Edward Morris

Bombardier
24167965
29 Cdo. Regt.RA
Royal Artillery
Military Medal (MM)
Bombardier Edward Holt was awarded the Military Medal in recognition of gallant and distinguished service during operations in the South Atlantic.
Citation

JACKSON, John Rodney

Bombardier
24130402
29 Cdo. Regt.RA
Royal Artillery
Mentioned in Despatches
Bombardier John Jackson received a Mention in Despatches in recognition of service during the operations in the South Atlantic. He was second in command of an Artillery and Naval Gunfire Forward Observation Party grouped with a company of 3 Para during the period 5 - 14 June 1982.

JACKSON, Warren Edward

Warrant Officer Class 2
24801492
29 Cdo. Regt.RA
Royal Artillery
Died in service
Warrant Officer Warren Jackson, 148 (Meiktila) Battery, died in a road traffic collision on the A31 at Almer, nr Winchester.  [Sources: AFM ROH / Commando Gunner website / Bournemouth Echo.]
 

LAMBERT-GORWYN, Martin

Lieutenant Colonel
24182632 & 539393
29 Cdo. Regt.RA
Royal Artillery
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Warrant Officer Class 1 Martin Lambert-Gorwyn, 29 Commando Regiment RA,  was commisioned Second Lieutenant 7 April 1992 with seniority 7 April 1988; To be Lieutenant 7 April 1992 with seniority 7 April 1990 [1].

MAKEIG-JONES, Robin John

Major
498932
3 Cdo. Bde. Air Sqn / Helicopter Force
29 Cdo. Regt.RA
Royal Artillery
Mentioned in Despatches
Captain Robin Makeig-Jones, 29 Commando Regiment, attached as a pilot to 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron, received a Mention in Despatches [1] in recognition of his courage in the air, and devotion to duty, on the night of 13/14 June 1982 during the operation to take the Wireless

McCRACKEN, William Andrew

Captain William McCracken 29 Commando
Captain
501653
29 Cdo. Regt.RA
Royal Artillery
Military Cross (MC)
Citation: "Captain William McCracken, 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, was in command of an Artillery and Naval Gunfire Forward Observation Party grouped with B Company 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment during the period 13th-14th June 1982.

MCINTOSH, Graeme

Captain
24652124 & 564992
29 Cdo. Regt.RA
Royal Artillery
Queen's Gallantry Medal (QGM)
Warrant Officer Class 1 Graeme McIntosh RA was commissioned Captain on the 2nd April 2006 with seniority from 2nd April 2004 [1].

MCLAUGHLIN, Liam

LBdr Liam McLaughlan
LBdr Ross Clark (left) and LBdr Liam 'Paddy' McLaughlin
Lance Bombardier
25155657
29 Cdo. Regt.RA
Royal Artillery
Killed in action or died of wounds
Lance Bombardier Liam McLaughlin, and his friend and colleague, LBdr. Ross Clark,  both died during an enemy rocket attack whilst deployed in the Sangin area of Helmand province. [Source: MOD]
 

ODAMS, Richard

Lance Bombardier
24201356
29 Cdo. Regt.RA
Royal Artillery
Died in service

Lance Bombardier Richard Odams,  born in West Hartlepool Durham, died in a boating accident whilst serving with 8 Bty. 

PAGE, Jack

Staff Sergeant (Battery Quartermaster Sergeant)
22529220
29 Cdo. Regt.RA
Royal Artillery
British Empire Medal (BEM)
Staff Sergeant  Jack Page, BQMS to 8 Alama Bty., was awarded the B.E.M. (Military Division) on the 1st January 1973 [1].
 

POWELL, Adrian Mark

Trooper
24876485
29 Cdo. Regt.RA
SAS
Royal Artillery
Died in service

Trooper Adrian Powell died in a road traffic collision whilst serving with the SAS. He had previously served with  7 and 148 Btys. of 29 Commando Regt. RA, and 7 RHA.  He died when the vehicle in which he was travelling overturned while on way to training exercises near Nairobi in Kenya.

ROFFEY, Charles David

Lieutenant
470141
29 Cdo. Regt.RA
Royal Artillery
Died in service

Lieutenant Charles Roffey died in road accident in Johore Bahru Malaysia.

Sources
AFM ROH.
Report in the Birmingham Daily Post 27 December 1963.
Commando Gunner website/3845 Gnr Wilson I.F.

SAWYER, Thomas Herbert John

Captain Tom Sawyer
Captain
556455
29 Cdo. Regt.RA
Royal Artillery
Killed in action or died of wounds
Captain Thomas Sawyer died in an explosion while taking part in a joint operation with a Danish Battle Group and the Afghan National Army north east of Gereshk in central Helmand. He was in a fire support team that was engaged in an operation to clear compounds in a known Taliban stronghold.

SCOULLAR, Mark James

Major
24826443
29 Cdo. Regt.RA
Royal Artillery
29 April 2010 Warrant Officer 1 commissioned Captain.
31 July 2016 promoted Major.
July 2021 Second in Command 29 Commando Regiment RA.
 
Sources
London Gazette 59408, page 7962.

SEATH, David Bernard

Captain
30039690
29 Cdo. Regt.RA
Royal Artillery
Died in service

Captain David Seath died of a cardiac arrest whilst taking part in the 2016 London Marathon. He was a fire support team commander for 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, based in Plymouth.

SHAMS, Dean

Lance Corporal
24645336
29 Cdo. Regt.RA
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Died in service

Lance Corporal Dean Shams, REME, died whilst serving with 29 Commando, 79 Kirkee Cdo Bty. Fitter section in Belize. He slipped and fell into one of the chutes at the falls near Baldy Beacon.  No one had seen him fall.

SIMCOX, Howard Robert

Howard Simcox 29 Commando
Bombardier
24082571
29 Cdo. Regt.RA
Royal Artillery
British Empire Medal (BEM)
Bombardier Howard Simcox was awarded the British Empire Medal on 31 December 1987.
 
Sources
[1] London Gazette 51171, page 19.
[Image] James Walton, 8 Alma Commando Battery.
 

SMITH, Kevin John

Gunner
24148518
29 Cdo. Regt.RA
Royal Artillery
Died in service

Gunner Kevin Smith, 79 Bty.,  died in a fall from the wall of Mosta magazine in Malta.

"Whilst the rest of the detachment waited for transport up to the main magazine Smudger decided to climb up, he nearly made it when he unfortunately slipped and fell about 100 feet." *

SMITH, Michael

Warrant Officer Class 2
24714498
29 Cdo. Regt.RA
Royal Artillery
Mentioned in Despatches
Killed in action or died of wounds
Warrant Officer Michael Smith died from injuries sustained when a grenade was fired at the UK base in Sangin, Helmand Province.

SWAIN, Ivor William

Sgt Swain 29 Commando
Sergeant
23824074
29 Cdo. Regt.RA
Royal Artillery
Died on active service
Sergeant Ivor Swain died during operations in Northern Ireland [1]. Ivor was a well respected Sergeant in 8 Alma Commando Battery, 29 Commando RA. He was killed when his Land Rover patrol was called out to investigate a reported incident.

THOMAS, John David

Gunner
23880980
29 Cdo. Regt.RA
Royal Artillery
Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct
Gunner John Thomas, 145 (Maiwand) Commando Battery, RA, received the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct for his gallantry and determination in Brunei on the 28th December, 1962, in plunging into a flooded river and rescuing a comrade from drowning.
 

TINNION, Bradley

Bombardier
24852343
SAS
Special Air Service
Mentioned in Despatches
Killed in action or died of wounds
Bombardier Bradley Tinnion, 22 Special Air Service Regiment, died of wounds when hit by machine gun fire during an operation to rescue and evacuate six Army hostages out of the jungle in Sierra Leone (Operation Barras).

WARING, Mark Evan

Lieutenant
501715
29 Cdo. Regt.RA
Royal Artillery
Mentioned in Despatches
Lieutenant Mark Waring received a Mention in Despatches in recognition of his service during operations in the South Atlantic between 21 May - 15 June 1982.

WILSON, Neil

Lieutenant Colonel
29 Cdo. Regt.RA
Royal Artillery

Commanding Officer 29 Commando Regiment RA during operations in Afghanistan.

Sources
Globe and Laurel Jul/Aug.2007.
Numerous media reports.

 

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