GIBRALTAR DEFENCE FORCE (GDF) 1939-1958
Speaking in his New Year’s Eve, broadcast of 1938 the Governor General Sir Edmond Ironside mentioned that he was considering the formation of ‘a Territorial Unit of Artillery to help man the anti-aircraft guns.’ By March of the following year the Governor’s idea began to take shape and a Government notice appeared in the Gazette, (Defence Ordinance No 2 of 1939) setting out the conditions of service and calling for volunteers. Hundreds of men did so, however only fifty were taken on due a shortage of instructors and equipment. The volunteers of the GDF paraded for the first time on 28th April 1939. The new soldiers heard an address by their founder, General Ironside, before commencing their formal training with an introduction to foot drill, rifle drill and gun drill. Evening and Sunday morning training sessions followed regularly after this and by July the unit was sufficiently proficient to undertake their annual camp under canvas, at Europa Point. Just before 
the outbreak of the war, more volunteers were called for and men were allocated to the 4th and 27th Coast Batteries of the Royal Artillery as well as to the Royal Signals, Royal Army Service Corps and Royal Army Medical Corps. GDF soldiers instructed and trained the special constabulary as Bofors Gunners.
On the 2nd September 1939, the GDF was mobilised and its personnel embodied on
a permanent war footing. The HAA section was attached to 19 AA Battery RA and deployed with two 3 inch guns to the Admiralty oil tanks, on the east side of the Rock. The HAA section changed around gun sites such as Montagu Bastion and the Detached Mole with monotonous regularity. It was not until the 7th July 1940 that they fired their first shot in anger. From then on they were repeatedly in action against Vichy French and Italian planes, engaging German planes later in the war. It was whilst deployed at Signal Hill that they shot down their first enemy bomber, on the night of the 20th August 1940. The entry in the unit’s War Diary reads as follows:
"Third bombing raid over Gibraltar, first plane came over at 23.30 hours and
was picked up by searchlights at the moment of bomb release. It kept a steady course and AA fire was opened. Plane was hit and brought down in the straits".
In April 1942, the GDF Coastal Defence element was merged with the AA section. Intensive training with the 3.7 inch heavy AA guns followed. During these periods they continued to be part of 82nd HAA Regiment RA, which had taken over the Anti-Aircraft Defence of Gibraltar.
In May 1942 the GDF HAA Battery was put under the command of Major Willie Thompson. The battery consisted of four 3.7 inch guns and a ‘Maggie’ radar. Early in 1944 the force was reconstituted under the Defence Force Ordinance 1943. The majority of volunteers were disembodied and placed on the reserve list, with other sections disbanded. The GDF Training Establishment then became responsible for training those conscripts called up under the Military Service Ordinance during their six months national service.
The first intake of 99 men reported to West Battery on the 17th July 1944 to commence their training. By 1945 there were three intakes a year of about 100 men each being put through their paces; one on basic training at West Battery, one on gunnery at South Battery and another on site manning at Napier Battery. On the 1st April 1950 the force 
moved into a new home Buena Vista Barracks and on the 25th August of the year they mounted guard outside the Convent for the first time. By 1957 national service had produced a large pool of reservists liable to be called up in an emergency.
A significant change occurred on 30th August 1958…
Speaking in his New Year’s Eve, broadcast of 1938 the Governor General Sir Edmond Ironside mentioned that he was considering the formation of ‘a Territorial Unit of Artillery to help man the anti-aircraft guns.’ By March of the following year the Governor’s idea began to take shape and a Government notice appeared in the Gazette, (Defence Ordinance No 2 of 1939) setting out the conditions of service and calling for volunteers. Hundreds of men did so, however only fifty were taken on due a shortage of instructors and equipment. The volunteers of the GDF paraded for the first time on 28th April 1939. The new soldiers heard an address by their founder, General Ironside, before commencing their formal training with an introduction to foot drill, rifle drill and gun drill. Evening and Sunday morning training sessions followed regularly after this and by July the unit was sufficiently proficient to undertake their annual camp under canvas, at Europa Point. Just before the outbreak of the war, more volunteers were called for and men were allocated to the 4th and 27th Coast Batteries of the Royal Artillery as well as to the Royal Signals, Royal Army Service Corps and Royal Army Medical Corps. GDF soldiers instructed and trained the special constabulary as Bofors Gunners.On the 2nd September 1939, the GDF was mobilised and its personnel embodied on
a permanent war footing. The HAA section was attached to 19 AA Battery RA and deployed with two 3 inch guns to the Admiralty oil tanks, on the east side of the Rock. The HAA section changed around gun sites such as Montagu Bastion and the Detached Mole with monotonous regularity. It was not until the 7th July 1940 that they fired their first shot in anger. From then on they were repeatedly in action against Vichy French and Italian planes, engaging German planes later in the war. It was whilst deployed at Signal Hill that they shot down their first enemy bomber, on the night of the 20th August 1940. The entry in the unit’s War Diary reads as follows:"Third bombing raid over Gibraltar, first plane came over at 23.30 hours and
was picked up by searchlights at the moment of bomb release. It kept a steady course and AA fire was opened. Plane was hit and brought down in the straits".
In April 1942, the GDF Coastal Defence element was merged with the AA section. Intensive training with the 3.7 inch heavy AA guns followed. During these periods they continued to be part of 82nd HAA Regiment RA, which had taken over the Anti-Aircraft Defence of Gibraltar.In May 1942 the GDF HAA Battery was put under the command of Major Willie Thompson. The battery consisted of four 3.7 inch guns and a ‘Maggie’ radar. Early in 1944 the force was reconstituted under the Defence Force Ordinance 1943. The majority of volunteers were disembodied and placed on the reserve list, with other sections disbanded. The GDF Training Establishment then became responsible for training those conscripts called up under the Military Service Ordinance during their six months national service.
The first intake of 99 men reported to West Battery on the 17th July 1944 to commence their training. By 1945 there were three intakes a year of about 100 men each being put through their paces; one on basic training at West Battery, one on gunnery at South Battery and another on site manning at Napier Battery. On the 1st April 1950 the force moved into a new home Buena Vista Barracks and on the 25th August of the year they mounted guard outside the Convent for the first time. By 1957 national service had produced a large pool of reservists liable to be called up in an emergency. A significant change occurred on 30th August 1958…
