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97 Battery (Lawson's Company) Royal Artillery

97 Battery (Lawson's Company) Royal Artillery
97 Battery RA Crest.jpeg
Active 1803 – present
Country  United Kingdom
Branch British Army
Type Artillery
Role Field Artillery
Size Artillery battery
Part of 4th Regiment Royal Artillery
Garrison/HQ Alanbrooke Barracks, Topcliffe
Nickname(s) Lawson's
Patron Saint Barbara
Colors Green & Gold
Anniversaries 13 September (Formation)
21 June (Battle of Vitoria)
Engagements Peninsular War
-Battle of Rolica
-Battle of Vimiera
-Capture of Oporto
-Battle of Talavera
-Battle of Bussaco
-Torres Vedras
-Battle of Fuentes d'Onoro
-Siege of Cuidad Rodrigo
-Battle of Salamanca
-Siege of Burgos
-Battle of Vittoria
-Siege of San Sebastian
-Battle of the Bidassoa
-Battle of Nivelle

Boer War (South Africa)
First World War
Second World War
Operation Musketeer (Suez Crisis)
Operation Claret (Indonesian-Malaysian Confrontation)
Operation Banner (Northern Ireland)
Operation Corporate(Falklands War)
Operation Tosca (Cyprus)
Operation Telic (Iraq)
Operation Herrick (Afghanistan)
Battle honours Battle of Vitoria (the title given is Lawson's Company for its commander at the time)
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Captain Robert Lawson RA

97 Battery (Lawson's Company) Royal Artillery was formed on 13 September 1803 as Captain H. Douglas's Company, 8th Battalion Royal Artillery and is currently a tac battery within 4th Regiment Royal Artillery based in Alanbrooke Barracks, Topcliffe, North Yorkshire. The battery was until recently a gun battery but was reduced to a tac battery in 2013 following its last operational tour of Afghanistan. It is now one of three tac batteries (each made up entirely of Forward Observation parties) who call in artillery fire from 4th Regiment Royal Artillery's two remaining gun batteries. The battery has been known by a variety of names during its existence and moved between different Royal Artillery Regiments or Battalions due to reorganisations of the Royal Regiment of Artillery and changes in role. However, its title "Lawson's" has endured for a considerable period of time. In the First World War it fought as 87th (Howitzer) Battery, Royal Field Artillery.

The battery was formed in 1803 as part of the newly formed 8th Battalion, during a period of expansion for the Royal Regiment of Artillery. As was the custom at the time each of the battalion's new companies (as artillery units of this size were referred to during this period), took the name of their company commander. As a result, the battery was first known as Captain Douglas's Company and stationed at Woolwich. It remained garrisoned at the Royal Arsenal until November 1805, after which it marched to Exeter and then onto Plymouth in May 1807. Captain TS Hughes then took command of the company for the subsequent embarkation to Gibraltar.

Captain Hughes command did not last long and he died in Gibraltar on 18 May 1808, being replaced by Captain Robert Lawson who was dispatched from England. The company was in the process of deploying to war for the first time and before their new commander could arrive from Great Britain the company was split with half, under command of the 2nd Captain (Captain HT Fauquier), being ordered to join a British force being sent to fight in Sicily whilst the remainder, temporarily under the command of Captain W Morrison, were dispatched on the Transport Ship Hornby to Mondego Bay in Portugal as part of the British force being assembled there. This was the British force which was to go on to fight the Peninsula War. After the latter groups arrival in Portugal they were joined by their new commander. The half of the unit sent to Sicily was never to rejoin them and was later absorbed into another Royal Artillery unit.


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