​Royal Artillery Recruiting Troop 

The Royal Artillery Motor Cycle Display Team originated from the 31st Training Regiment 

Royal Artillery Display Team which was formed at Kinmel Park Camp, Rhyl, in the summer

of 1949 and gave their first performance at the St Asaph Tattoo in July 1949.

 

The team was the brainchild of Captain David Miles, and used the normal issue Army Motor Cycles 

of that time which were Matchless G3L machines. They were an immediate success and during their 

early days gave displays in North Wales and Central Wales and the neighbouring English counties.

 

From the very start the emphasis was on a slick, polished and professional presentation, with really 

well practiced precision riding for the team manoeuvres and a non-stop series of tricks, with the 

next machine always in the arena before the previous one had left.

 

You will see that this high standard of polish and professionalism has been maintained and 

perfected by the team of today. Although the display is varied in content from year to year, some 

of the trick riding acts, and the clown act, have remained as they were originally conceived 

in the team of 1949.

 

The team remained in Rhyl until 1961, when 31st Training Regiment was disbanded, and by 

this time they had built up a reputation throughout the United Kingdom for the excellence of their 

displays. They had also changed their machines from the aging WD Matchless to BSA 500cc

Gold Stars. This was the direct result of members of the team riding the BSA motor cycles in

the 1960 International Six Day Trials, and the link between BSA and the team was to remain

until 1974 when for various reasons which had nothing to do with the quality of the BSA,

it was decided to change to the Greeves Griffon QUB.

 

The Team moved in 1961 from Rhyl to Woolwich, the home of the Royal Regiment of 

Artillery and became part of the Royal Artillery Recruiting Troop, and later the 

Royal Artillery Display Troop. The Team are now based at Larkhill, Wiltshire.

 

Nowdays, the team represents the cream of the Army's riding ability, and the soldiers are

 selected to be in The Flying Gunners for their riding skill and for their courage. The selection 

is grueling, but the reward of "making the team" makes the process worthwhile.

 

Once a rider makes the team, he is trained in numerous motorcycle skills, from precision 

riding to motorcross jumping, and this has always raised considerable media interest.

 

The team is self sufficient and must fund its own activities, however the soldiers are all from 

operational Regiments, many having served in numerous theatres of conflict, from the Gulf 

to Kosovo. All of the riders are proud to be Gunners, but above all else, 

they are proud to be "Flying Gunners".

 

Motorbikes were introduced into the Royal Artillery during the First World War. They 

were used by Gunner Regiments to reconnoiter gun positions and courier missions. 

 

Today, the Royal Artillery will still use motorbikes in some very important roles. Battery Guides use 

them when leading the Guns onto the Gun Position and they are also used by Royal Artillery Special 

Forces Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols to infiltrate deep behind enemy lines on target 

acquisition and observation missions.

 

Unfortunately the Team was disbanded due to MOD cuts in 2012.