Latest news with #KGA
South Wales Guardian
2 days ago
- General
- South Wales Guardian
Charles shows ‘faultless' firing technique on visit to home of Royal Artillery
Charles was met with a 21-gun salute as he arrived at the headquarters of the Royal Regiment of Artillery at Larkhill, Wiltshire, in his first visit since assuming the title of Captain General. The King, who became ceremonial head of the regiment following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, received the royal salute as he arrived at the regiment's headquarters near Salisbury where he was met by Master Gunner, St James's Park, Lieutenant-General Sir Andrew Gregory. Following the national anthem, Charles, wearing the number four tropical dress uniform, was invited into the officers' mess where he met personnel including representatives from the newly formed King's Gurkha Artillery (KGA). In the dining room, the King had a chance to see historical artefacts including the voluntary artillery officer full dress tunic uniform of his great-grandfather George V. Charles commented: 'It's lasted very well.' He also had a chance to meet families of the service personnel and representatives of Chelsea Pensioners. In the grounds, the King was shown some of the high-tech equipment used by the soldiers including the L118 light gun, the Archer artillery system, a multiple launch rocket system and drones. Charles picked up one of the fixed-winged drones to gauge its weight as their use was being explained to him. The King also met representatives of the reserves as he was informed about the different roles within the Royal Artillery. Staff sergeant Bethan Preston-Newman, of the 104th Regiment based in Newport, Wales, said: 'It was a once-in-lifetime opportunity to meet the King and really nice to explain what the reserves do.' Lance Bombardier Rebecca Haynes, also based in Newport, said: 'It was a great honour to be here and represent the regiment.' Lance Bombardier Alexandra Robinson, based in Worcester, said: 'He is definitely interested in us as people and it's definitely an honour to be here.' Charles then accepted an invitation to take the seated position of the L118 light gun to fire a single shot. He put on a set of ear defenders as he sat in the firing seat and called 'ready' and visibly winced as he pulled the firing lever. Sergeant Neil Mitchell, of 14 Regt, 34 Battery, praised the King's firing technique at pulling the firing lever and said: 'The first one he didn't give it a good enough pull but the second time was faultless.' He added jokingly: 'I was going to ask him if he could start on Monday.' The King was then presented with an engraved 105mm cartridge. Before his departure, Charles chatted to some of the families that had gathered to meet him.
Rhyl Journal
3 days ago
- General
- Rhyl Journal
Charles shows ‘faultless' firing technique on visit to home of Royal Artillery
Charles was met with a 21-gun salute as he arrived at the headquarters of the Royal Regiment of Artillery at Larkhill, Wiltshire, in his first visit since assuming the title of Captain General. The King, who became ceremonial head of the regiment following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, received the royal salute as he arrived at the regiment's headquarters near Salisbury where he was met by Master Gunner, St James's Park, Lieutenant-General Sir Andrew Gregory. Following the national anthem, Charles, wearing the number four tropical dress uniform, was invited into the officers' mess where he met personnel including representatives from the newly formed King's Gurkha Artillery (KGA). In the dining room, the King had a chance to see historical artefacts including the voluntary artillery officer full dress tunic uniform of his great-grandfather George V. Charles commented: 'It's lasted very well.' He also had a chance to meet families of the service personnel and representatives of Chelsea Pensioners. In the grounds, the King was shown some of the high-tech equipment used by the soldiers including the L118 light gun, the Archer artillery system, a multiple launch rocket system and drones. Charles picked up one of the fixed-winged drones to gauge its weight as their use was being explained to him. The King also met representatives of the reserves as he was informed about the different roles within the Royal Artillery. Staff sergeant Bethan Preston-Newman, of the 104th Regiment based in Newport, Wales, said: 'It was a once-in-lifetime opportunity to meet the King and really nice to explain what the reserves do.' Lance Bombardier Rebecca Haynes, also based in Newport, said: 'It was a great honour to be here and represent the regiment.' Lance Bombardier Alexandra Robinson, based in Worcester, said: 'He is definitely interested in us as people and it's definitely an honour to be here.' Charles then accepted an invitation to take the seated position of the L118 light gun to fire a single shot. He put on a set of ear defenders as he sat in the firing seat and called 'ready' and visibly winced as he pulled the firing lever. Sergeant Neil Mitchell, of 14 Regt, 34 Battery, praised the King's firing technique at pulling the firing lever and said: 'The first one he didn't give it a good enough pull but the second time was faultless.' He added jokingly: 'I was going to ask him if he could start on Monday.' The King was then presented with an engraved 105mm cartridge. Before his departure, Charles chatted to some of the families that had gathered to meet him.
North Wales Chronicle
3 days ago
- General
- North Wales Chronicle
Charles shows ‘faultless' firing technique on visit to home of Royal Artillery
Charles was met with a 21-gun salute as he arrived at the headquarters of the Royal Regiment of Artillery at Larkhill, Wiltshire, in his first visit since assuming the title of Captain General. The King, who became ceremonial head of the regiment following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, received the royal salute as he arrived at the regiment's headquarters near Salisbury where he was met by Master Gunner, St James's Park, Lieutenant-General Sir Andrew Gregory. Following the national anthem, Charles, wearing the number four tropical dress uniform, was invited into the officers' mess where he met personnel including representatives from the newly formed King's Gurkha Artillery (KGA). In the dining room, the King had a chance to see historical artefacts including the voluntary artillery officer full dress tunic uniform of his great-grandfather George V. Charles commented: 'It's lasted very well.' He also had a chance to meet families of the service personnel and representatives of Chelsea Pensioners. In the grounds, the King was shown some of the high-tech equipment used by the soldiers including the L118 light gun, the Archer artillery system, a multiple launch rocket system and drones. Charles picked up one of the fixed-winged drones to gauge its weight as their use was being explained to him. The King also met representatives of the reserves as he was informed about the different roles within the Royal Artillery. Staff sergeant Bethan Preston-Newman, of the 104th Regiment based in Newport, Wales, said: 'It was a once-in-lifetime opportunity to meet the King and really nice to explain what the reserves do.' Lance Bombardier Rebecca Haynes, also based in Newport, said: 'It was a great honour to be here and represent the regiment.' Lance Bombardier Alexandra Robinson, based in Worcester, said: 'He is definitely interested in us as people and it's definitely an honour to be here.' Charles then accepted an invitation to take the seated position of the L118 light gun to fire a single shot. He put on a set of ear defenders as he sat in the firing seat and called 'ready' and visibly winced as he pulled the firing lever. Sergeant Neil Mitchell, of 14 Regt, 34 Battery, praised the King's firing technique at pulling the firing lever and said: 'The first one he didn't give it a good enough pull but the second time was faultless.' He added jokingly: 'I was going to ask him if he could start on Monday.' The King was then presented with an engraved 105mm cartridge. Before his departure, Charles chatted to some of the families that had gathered to meet him.
Leader Live
3 days ago
- General
- Leader Live
Charles shows ‘faultless' firing technique on visit to home of Royal Artillery
Charles was met with a 21-gun salute as he arrived at the headquarters of the Royal Regiment of Artillery at Larkhill, Wiltshire, in his first visit since assuming the title of Captain General. The King, who became ceremonial head of the regiment following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, received the royal salute as he arrived at the regiment's headquarters near Salisbury where he was met by Master Gunner, St James's Park, Lieutenant-General Sir Andrew Gregory. Following the national anthem, Charles, wearing the number four tropical dress uniform, was invited into the officers' mess where he met personnel including representatives from the newly formed King's Gurkha Artillery (KGA). In the dining room, the King had a chance to see historical artefacts including the voluntary artillery officer full dress tunic uniform of his great-grandfather George V. Charles commented: 'It's lasted very well.' He also had a chance to meet families of the service personnel and representatives of Chelsea Pensioners. In the grounds, the King was shown some of the high-tech equipment used by the soldiers including the L118 light gun, the Archer artillery system, a multiple launch rocket system and drones. Charles picked up one of the fixed-winged drones to gauge its weight as their use was being explained to him. The King also met representatives of the reserves as he was informed about the different roles within the Royal Artillery. Staff sergeant Bethan Preston-Newman, of the 104th Regiment based in Newport, Wales, said: 'It was a once-in-lifetime opportunity to meet the King and really nice to explain what the reserves do.' Lance Bombardier Rebecca Haynes, also based in Newport, said: 'It was a great honour to be here and represent the regiment.' Lance Bombardier Alexandra Robinson, based in Worcester, said: 'He is definitely interested in us as people and it's definitely an honour to be here.' Charles then accepted an invitation to take the seated position of the L118 light gun to fire a single shot. He put on a set of ear defenders as he sat in the firing seat and called 'ready' and visibly winced as he pulled the firing lever. Sergeant Neil Mitchell, of 14 Regt, 34 Battery, praised the King's firing technique at pulling the firing lever and said: 'The first one he didn't give it a good enough pull but the second time was faultless.' He added jokingly: 'I was going to ask him if he could start on Monday.' The King was then presented with an engraved 105mm cartridge. Before his departure, Charles chatted to some of the families that had gathered to meet him.
Daily Mail
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
New Gurkha artillery unit 'is created as British Army battles manpower issues'
Gurkha soldiers are set to take artillery roles in the British Army for the first time, in a dedicated unit created amid the military recruitment crisis. The King's Gurkha Artillery (KGA) will consist of 400 of the currently around 4,000 Nepalese personnel that make up the Brigade of Gurkhas. It will see the soldiers - recruited from Nepal into the British Army for the last 200 years - take up artillery positions for the very first time. It is understood new recruits will account for a third of the KGA, while the rest will come from existing Gurkha units, the Telegraph reports. The plans will help redress the some 700-soldier shortage in the Royal Regiment of Artillery, which the KGA will operate in. There is speculation the role of Gurkhas - of various trades and mostly infantry - is being expanded in case troops need to be sent to Ukraine for Sir Keir Starmer 's 'coalition of the willing'. It comes amid widespread retention and recruitment issues in the military, which have seen defence secretary John Healey change thresholds for entry - including by allowing cancer survivor recruits for the first time. The first KGA recruits will undergo the first stage of training in November before heading to the Royal Artillery's home at Larkhill Garrison in Wiltshire for trade-specific training. KGA soldiers will, over the next four years, be trained on equipment like the Archer and Light Gun artillery systems - replacements for the AS90s given to Ukraine. In future, they will be trained to operate the remote-controlled Howitzer 155 artillery system. It follows the PM's pledge earlier this year to put boots on the ground in Ukraine to protect the sanctity of any peace deal the country agrees with Russia. But a defence source has insisted KGA soldiers would not be sent to Ukraine as part of this mission. The Ministry of Defence said the new Gurkha unit would be key to British artillery operations - and provides opportunities and development in a fitting recognition of their years of service to the UK. Veterans minister Alistair Carns said the Brigade of the Gurkhas 'has rightly earned a reputation as being amongst the finest soldiers in the world'. The KGA would, he said, recognise their 'oustanding contribution' and 'years of dedicated service'. He added: 'Our government is already delivering for defence through our Plan for Change, and this latest development will support retention efforts amongst Gurkhas while protecting and defending UK interests at home and abroad.' Gurkhas have served in the British Army since the two-year Anglo-Nepalese War ended in 1816, which saw the British East India Company fight the city state of Gorkha in what is now western Nepal. With the victorious British impressed by Gurkha fighters, the peace treaty agreed Nepalese personnel could volunteer for service with the Company if they wished. Having since served in World War One, the Falklands, Afghanistan and Iraq, the Brigade of Gurkhas has built 'a reputation of being amongst the finest and most feared soldiers in the world'.
