103rd (Lancashire Artillery Volunteers) Regiment Royal Artillery
| 103rd (Lancashire Artillery Volunteers) Regiment Royal Artillery | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1967-Present |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
|
| Branch |
 British Army
|
| Role | Field support |
| Size | 4 Batteries |
| Part of | 1st Artillery Brigade |
| Garrison/HQ | Jubilee Barracks, St Helens |
| Equipment | L118 Light Gun |
103rd (Lancashire Artillery Volunteers) Regiment Royal Artillery is part of the Army Reserve and has sub-units throughout the North-West of England. Its purpose is to provide reinforcements for units that use the 105 mm L118 Light Gun.
The Lancashire Artillery Volunteers were first raised in 1859 as part of the Volunteer Force raised in response to threats of French Invasion. A total of 23 Artillery companies were raised initially. However, in Manchester, numerous units that would later form the Lancashire Artillery Gunners had existed from as early as 1804, when the Duke of Gloucester inspected the Heaton Artillery Volunteers before they were shipped off to the fronts of the Napoleonic Wars.
Officers and men of the Lancashire Artillery Volunteers continued to give service during the two world wars of the 20th Century.
In 1967, some of these units were amalgamated to form 103rd (Lancashire Artillery Volunteers) Light Air Defence Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers). Its units were Headquarters Battery at Liverpool, 208 (3rd West Lancashire) Light Air Defence Battery at Liverpool and 209 (The Manchester Artillery) Light Air Defence Battery at Manchester. In 1969 213 (South Lancashire Artillery) Light Air Defence Battery was formed at St Helens and joined the regiment.
In 1976, the regiment changed its designation to 103rd (Lancashire Artillery Volunteers) Air Defence Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers) upon being equipped with the Blowpipe missile air-defense weapon. Then, in 1986, 216 (The Bolton Artillery) Battery was formed at Bolton and joined the regiment.
In 1992, as a result of the Options for Change, the regiment lost one Air-Defence Battery (213 Air-Defense Battery, which was amalgamated with HQ Battery at St Helens) and Regimental Headquarters were moved from Deysbrooke Barracks, Liverpool, to St. Helens to be co-located with HQ Battery.
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