50 Missile Regiment Royal Artillery
1947 - 1993
50 Missile Regiment was originally 4th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment based at Stoneleigh Park Camp Coventry.
The R.A. renamed all the Regiments numerically during 1947 - 1949 and in May 1948 the 4th Heavy Anti Aircraft Regt. was renamed 50 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment and so the Regiment was born.
In November 1950 the Regiment moved from Stoneleigh Park Camp Coventry to Durranhill Camp in Carlisle it remained there until 10 May1952.
In 1952 the Regiment moved to Dundonald Camp at Troon in Scotland.
On the 29 April 1955 the Regiment was re-equipped with the 5.5 Gun and was renamed the 50th Meduim Regiment R.A. And it was in 1956 that the Regiment was deployed to assist in the peace keeping role in Cyprus against the EOKA terrorists returning to Dundonald Camp in 1958.
In November 1959 the the Regiment moved to Northumberland Barracks in Menden West Germany. On the 12 August 1960 the Regiment was re-named the 50th Regiment R.A. with 4 Battery's being 15 Battery, 21 Gibralter Battery, 33 Heavy Battery and 78 Heavy Battery.
In 1960 15 Battery and 21 Gibraltar Battery was re-equipped with the American Honest John nuclear free flight rocket system and 33 Battery and 78 Battery was re-equipped with the 8" towed Howitzer.
On the 18 March 1964 the Regiment was renamed as 50 Missile Regiment R.A.
In 1972 the organisation was changed to three Missile Battery's, but on amalgamation with 24 Missile Regt from Dortmund in 1977. The Regiment reverted to four Missile Battery's.A further re-organisation in 1985 resulted in the Regiment adopting its present establishment of 19 Gibralter Missile Battery, 36 Arcot Missile Battery, 15 Missile Battery.
In 1976 the Regiment Converted to the American Lance Tactical Nuclear Missile System.
In 1977 in recognition of its relationship with the town, 50 Missile Regiment was granted the Freedom of the City of Menden.
The Missile Battery's moved independantly for live firings in the Outer Hebrides every year and other training took place in many countries in Western Europe. The Regiment had a close affiliation with 150 Raketenartillerie Battalion of the West German Army stationed on the Rhine at Wesel, and also with the cities of LINCOLN and KINGSTON-UPON-HULL.
The Regiment recruited in LINCOLN, HULL, and SOUTH HUMBERSIDE.
In 1993 the Regiment was put in to suspended animation 26/03/1993
A short history of the Regiment from 1938 to 1993
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Title 1938 -1947
11 May 1938 from IV AA Bde to 4 th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery
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Regimental Titles
1 st June 1938 to 1 Apr 1947 |
4th Heavy Anti Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery (1) |
1 Apr 1947 |
50th Heavy Anti Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery
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29 Apr 1955 |
50th Medium Regiment Royal Artillery
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29 Sept 1960 |
50th Regiment Royal Artillery (Composite
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19 Mar 1964 |
50th Missile Regiment Royal Artillery
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26 Mar 1993 |
Suspended Animation (1) Since 1st April 1947 |
Battery's under Command
Battery |
Date – where from |
Date – where to |
33 Battery |
1 st Apr 1947 - Was 12 Coast Bty (1) |
Apr 1972 - JLRRA |
167 Battery |
1 st Apr 1947 - Was 5 HAA Bty |
Jun 1958 - Suspended (2) |
174 Battery |
1 st Apr 1947 - Was 6 HAA Bty |
Jun 1958 - Suspended (2) |
15 Battery |
1 st Jun 1958 - Reformed (3) |
Mar 1993 - 22 Regt |
21 ( Gibraltar 1779-83) Battery |
1 st Jun 1958 - Reformed (4) |
14 Dec 1977 - 27 Med Regt |
78 Battery |
1 Feb 1959 - Reformed (5) |
Mar 1968 - Suspended |
56 (Olpherts's) Battery |
30 th April 1968 - 36 Regt |
Nov 1972 - 27 Regt |
36 (Arcot 1751) Battery |
20 th Nov 1972 - 39 Regt |
Jan 1993 - 40 Regt |
51 ( Kabul 1812) Battery |
1 st April 1977 - 24 Regt |
1 st Sept 1986 – S/A |
19 ( Gibraltar 1779-83) Battery |
1 st April 1977 - 24 Regt |
Mar 1993 - AMF(L) |
(1) Personnel from 258 HAA Bty, (2) Jan 1962 - Disbanded, (3) Suspended in 61 Regt, (4) Suspended in 28 Regt, (5) Suspended in 40 Regt
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Equipment
April 1947 |
3.7 Ack Ack Gun (1) |
April 1955 |
5.5 Medium Gun |
August 1960 |
Honest John Missile (15 & 21 Battery 's) |
March 1968 |
8”Towed Howitzer (56 Bty) |
Nov 1972 |
8”Towed Howitzer (36 Bty) |
Apr 1972 |
M110 (56 Bty) |
? 1976 |
Lance Missile |
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(1) Since 1st April 1947 |
Stations / Operational Tours
Apr-47 |
Coventry ( Stoneleigh Park Camp) (1) |
Nov-50 |
Carlisle (Duranhill Camp) |
May-52 |
Troon (Dundonald Camp) |
Feb-56 |
Cyprus (Limni Camp) |
Nov-59 |
Menden (Northumberland Bks) |
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Nov 1971 - Northern Ireland (15 Bty) |
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? 1972 - Northern Ireland (? Bty) |
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? 1990 - Cyprus UN (Composite Bty) (2) |
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Nov 1991 - Northern Ireland (15 Bty) |
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Jul 1992 - Northern Ireland (36 Bty) |
(1) – Since 1 April 1947 – (2) – Attached to 22 Regt RA |
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The Commanding Officers of 50 Missile Regt R.A. From 1947 - 1993
1947 to 1949 |
Lt Col Not Recorded |
1949 to 1952 |
Lt Col A.E. Chessells |
1952 to 1955 |
Lt Col R. C. Merrick |
1955 to 1956 |
Lt Col G.A.C. Butler |
1956 to 1958 |
Lt Col J.D King - Martin |
1958 to 1960 |
Lt Col O.R.W. Oswald |
1960 to 1962 |
Lt Col P.A. Lowe |
1962 to 1964 |
Lt Col G de E Collin |
1964 to 1966 |
Lt Col A J. Woolford |
1966 to 1968 |
Lt Col B.G. Simpson |
1968 to 1971 |
Lt Col D.K. Neville |
1971 to 1974 |
Lt Col A.V. Young |
1974 to 1978 |
Lt Col J.S. Bennett |
1974 to 1980 |
Lt Col W.M. Morgan |
1980 to 1983 |
Lt Col G.A. Morris |
1983 to 1985 |
Lt Col M.J.N. Richards |
1985 to 1988 |
Lt Col P.B. Kirby |
1988 to 1991 |
Lt Col T.R. Dumas |
1991 to 1993 |
Lt Col P.G. Barry |
In 1977 in recognition of its relationship with the town, 50 Missile Regiment was granted the Freedom of the City of Menden . 1993 Regiment placed in Suspended Animation
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