Commando Gunners celebrate 60 years with Freedom of Plymouth Parade

Proud gunners from 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery paraded in near-perfect sunshine through the streets of Plymouth to celebrate their 60th birthday.

The Regiment, whose soldiers wear the coveted green beret and support Plymouth’s Royal Marines of 3 Commando Brigade on operations, marched with their guns and regimental veterans from their home in The Royal Citadel. 

Members of the public turned out to applaud them as they proceeded along Royal Parade where senior military officers, civic dignitaries and special guests were there to greet them and take their salute. VIP for the Commando Gunner 60 celebrational Freedom of Plymouth parade was General David Richards, Baron Richards of Herstmonceux, former Chief of Defence Staff and onetime commando gunner. 

“We are incredibly proud of Plymouth’s long military history and the vital role that the city still plays today, as home to many military personnel,” Plymouth’s Lord Mayor Councillor Terri Beer told the gunners.

“This parade has been a fantastic opportunity for everyone to show their support for – and thanks to – both the current serving regiment as well as its veterans, celebrating 60 years of hard work, bravery and dedication.” 

The unit traces its history back to the dark days of the Cold War when tensions between Moscow and Washington were at their height.

The commando role – shared by the Army and Navy during the war – passed to the Royal Marines post-war… but the Corps found themselves lacking firepower by the late 1950s without their own gunnery formation, so they turned to the Army to help out. 

In 1962, 29 Field Regiment RA was deployed in Aden and Kuwait, deterring Iraq from invading the oil fields.

Off the back of these operations, the regiment was chosen to re-role as Commando Artillery. The men of the newly formed 29 Commando Regiment RA trained for and passed the All-Arms Commando Course at Lympstone, where it is still held to this day. 

Over the past 60 years the Regiment has fought in every major conflict the Brigade has been involved in from Brunei in its formative year to the most recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.