12th Regiment Royal Artillery Regimental History

12th Regiment was formed in 1942 as part of 15 Field Brigade and served in India until 1941. During WWII it served as a Field Regiment in Iraq, Persia, Syria & Italy. In June 1946 it was redesignated 15 Anti-Tank Regiment, five months later it´s name was changed to 7 Regiment Royal Horse Artillery.

From 1947 - 51 the Regiment served in the Mediterranean and North Africa as 12 Anti-Tank Regiment, on redeployment to Celle in 1951 it became 12 Anti-Aircraft Regiment. In 1963 the Regiment moved to Malaya in both Anti-Aircraft and Internal Security roles and returned to BAOR in 1966 for a further four years.

The Regiment converted to Rapier in 1972 and deployed twice to Northern Ireland (NI) earning in it´s first tour, a Distinguished Service Order, two Military Crosses, a Military Medal, two mentions in Dispatches and three General Officer Commanding Commendations.

In 1975 the Regiment moved to Dortmund, Germany and deployed to NI in 1977 & 1979. in May 1981 it moved to Kirton in Lindsey in the UK and in 1982 two Batteries deployed to the Falklands gaining three mentions in Dispatches and three Commendations of the Commander Task Force.

In March1983 the Regiment was granted the freedom of the Borough of Glandford. in 1984 the Regiment moved back to Dortmund, and 58 battery deployed to the Falklands. In 1985 the Regiment gained a further Battery when 12 Battery was reformed. in September 1988 the Regiment deployed to NI less for 9 Battery who deployed to Cyprus in December 1988.

1n 1991 the Regiment deployed on Op Granby and took part in Gulf War I. T Battery absorbed 9 Battery and 58 Battery absorbed 12 Battery to bring them to war strength and they saw service in Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait.

In September 1995 the Regiment moved from Dortmund to Sennelager, and in November 12, 9, T(HQ) Batteries and elements from the Workshops deployed on a United Nations Tour of Cyprus. On completion of the tour, 58 Battery stood down from an imminent tour of NI with 4th Regiment RA and deployed two troops to Cyprus with 32 Regiment RA and the third Troop to Bosnia with 4th Regiment RA.

In 1998 the Regiment deployed to South Armagh, NI. 1999 saw elements of the regiment deploy on Op Agricola, HVM´s first ever operational deployment. From October to April 00 the Regiment was on standby for deployment to NI (NIBAT). Two Batteries returned from a Cyprus tour in 2001 whilst 58 Battery took part in Ex Saif Sareea in the Oman. In February 2003 the Regiment deployed to Iraq and took part on Op Telic as part of 7 Armoured Brigade (The Desert Rats) in Gulf War II. The Regiment completed another Cyprus tour in 2005 and 58 Battery are currently in Iraq with 20 Armd Brigade on Op Telic 8.