The Royal Gibraltar Regiment Celebrates Regimental Day
On 28th and 29th April the Royal Gibraltar Regiment held a number of events to mark its Regimental Day. The Friday saw the traditional football match, played between Headquarter Company and G Company for the Christian Wink Trophy. The trophy is played in memory of Private Christian Wink, who died while exercising with G Company in Morocco. The game was won by G Company, with just one goal from team captain, Corporal Jason Olivera, who scored from a penalty after 31 minutes. Mr. Emilio Wink, Christian's father, presented the trophy to Corporal Olivera.
Saturday's events began with a milestone in the Regiment's history. The dark blue beret and silver cap badge which have been worn since 1958 have been replaced. The new beret is khaki in colour, as worn by most infantry regiments, and the cap badge is now deep bronze in colour, with a backing flash in the Regiment's colours of scarlet and French grey; the scarlet of Gibraltar’s Infantry protecting the limestone grey of the Rock.
The whole Regiment formed up on parade early on Saturday 29th April, when HE the Governor authorised the Commanding Officer to order the troops to replace their berets. The change in beret comes at a time when many infantry regiments are being amalgamated to form larger regiments each of more than one battalion. As a result of these changes several uniforms, insignia and cap badges are being lost and more created, so it was the ideal time for thge Royal Gibraltar Regiment to adopt the long overdue infantry beret. The Regiment has been an infantry unit since 1991, before which it was split between an infantry rifle company and an artillery battery.
The day continued with a Gun pull for charity. Members of G Company, proudly wearing their new berets, pulled a 105mm light gun down Main Street raising money for Cancer Research, Bruce's Farm Rehabilitation Centre and Cancer Research.
At midday B Company, the Regiment's Band and Corps of Drums and the Pipes and Drums of the 4th Battalion, the Royal Irish Regiment, performed a Convent Guard Mount. B Company provided both the old and new guards.
The parade included the father and son team of Corporal Rafael and Private Daniel Gonzalez, who paraded as members of the Band and the Old Guard respectively. The day ended with an informal lunch for all members of the Regiment during which the COmmanding Officer addressed the troops.
Regimental day falls on 28 April, on which day in 1939 the Gibraltar Defence Force was formed by the then Governor, Sir Edmund Ironside. The Force consisted primarily of Coastal and Air Defence Artillery, supported by tradesmen such as signallers, clerks and fire fighters. Saturday's beret parade is not the first milestone event to be celebrated on Regimental Day: On that day in 1958 the GDF became known as the Gibraltar Regiment, and on 28 April 1999 the Regiment was granted the Royal title by HM the Queen. 28 April 2009 will be another significant date as the Regiment will celebrate its 70th anniversary.
Related information can be found in Badges and Insignias in our History section.
On 28th and 29th April the Royal Gibraltar Regiment held a number of events to mark its Regimental Day. The Friday saw the traditional football match, played between Headquarter Company and G Company for the Christian Wink Trophy. The trophy is played in memory of Private Christian Wink, who died while exercising with G Company in Morocco. The game was won by G Company, with just one goal from team captain, Corporal Jason Olivera, who scored from a penalty after 31 minutes. Mr. Emilio Wink, Christian's father, presented the trophy to Corporal Olivera.
Saturday's events began with a milestone in the Regiment's history. The dark blue beret and silver cap badge which have been worn since 1958 have been replaced. The new beret is khaki in colour, as worn by most infantry regiments, and the cap badge is now deep bronze in colour, with a backing flash in the Regiment's colours of scarlet and French grey; the scarlet of Gibraltar’s Infantry protecting the limestone grey of the Rock.
The whole Regiment formed up on parade early on Saturday 29th April, when HE the Governor authorised the Commanding Officer to order the troops to replace their berets. The change in beret comes at a time when many infantry regiments are being amalgamated to form larger regiments each of more than one battalion. As a result of these changes several uniforms, insignia and cap badges are being lost and more created, so it was the ideal time for thge Royal Gibraltar Regiment to adopt the long overdue infantry beret. The Regiment has been an infantry unit since 1991, before which it was split between an infantry rifle company and an artillery battery.
The day continued with a Gun pull for charity. Members of G Company, proudly wearing their new berets, pulled a 105mm light gun down Main Street raising money for Cancer Research, Bruce's Farm Rehabilitation Centre and Cancer Research.
At midday B Company, the Regiment's Band and Corps of Drums and the Pipes and Drums of the 4th Battalion, the Royal Irish Regiment, performed a Convent Guard Mount. B Company provided both the old and new guards.
The parade included the father and son team of Corporal Rafael and Private Daniel Gonzalez, who paraded as members of the Band and the Old Guard respectively. The day ended with an informal lunch for all members of the Regiment during which the COmmanding Officer addressed the troops.Regimental day falls on 28 April, on which day in 1939 the Gibraltar Defence Force was formed by the then Governor, Sir Edmund Ironside. The Force consisted primarily of Coastal and Air Defence Artillery, supported by tradesmen such as signallers, clerks and fire fighters. Saturday's beret parade is not the first milestone event to be celebrated on Regimental Day: On that day in 1958 the GDF became known as the Gibraltar Regiment, and on 28 April 1999 the Regiment was granted the Royal title by HM the Queen. 28 April 2009 will be another significant date as the Regiment will celebrate its 70th anniversary.
Related information can be found in Badges and Insignias in our History section.
