Flashback, March 2003 – AS90 Guns, Basra

AS90 Guns from J Bty 3 RHA engaging Iraqi positions as they support the battlegroup of the First Royal Regiment of Fusiliers outside Basra in March 2003. Image: Crown Copyright
AS90 Guns from J Battery, 3rd Regiment RHA engaging Iraqi positions as they support the battlegroup of the First Royal Regiment of Fusiliers outside Basra in March 2003. Image: Crown Copyright

The J (Sidi Rezegh) Battery officially formed up on 4th April 1805 as The Troop Madras Horse Artillery, but the battery can trace its origins back to 1756 as the Madres Galloper Guns.

In 1941, during one of Rommel’s 8th Afrika Korps Panzer advances, the battery were hopelessly outnumbered and outgunned, but the Germans were beaten back by the leadership of Lt Ward Gunn and the BC, Maj Pinney.

Lt Ward Gunn was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross, and the battery was awarded the honour title of “Sidi Rezegh”.

More about the 3 RHA Batteries

More about the 3rd Regiment RHA