firing Royal Gun Salutes. On 25 September 1971, the regiment was presented with its first colours. At a ceremony held at the Grand Parade, the Governor, Admiral of the Fleet Sir Varyl Begg, presented the regiment with its colours on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II. On the same day, the regiment was granted the Freedom of the City of Gibraltar by the Mayor of Gibraltar, Alfred Vazquez, during a ceremony outside the House of Assembly. The artillery battery was named Thomson's Battery on 15 September 1973 in honour of the late Sir Willie Thomson OBE JP; and, in December 1975, Thomson's Battery was issued with three 105mm L5 Pack Howitzers. Following Operation Corporate, the Ministry of Defence decided, in line with its policy of modernisation and commonality of equipment, to re-equip the regiment with new weapons. In late 1982, six 105mm L118 light guns guns replaced the three howitzers and eight Blowpipe surface-to-air missile units replaced the four L40/70 AA Guns. On 1 April 1991, the regiment was reorganised into an all-infantry unit and took over the duties of the resident infantry battalion. The re-roled regiment consisted of a headquarters company (Thomson's Bty), a military band and three rifle companies of which G and I companies were regular and B Company (and the band) consisted of TA soldiers. On 1 July 1998, the Duke of Kent presented the regiment with its new colours. 21st century The regiment has supplied officers and men for the conflicts in Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. It is in these theatres that members of the regiment have been decorated with two Bronze Stars and a Military Cross. The Royal Gibraltar Regiment signed up to the Armed Forces Act 2011 to bring it in line with British Armed Forces. It was signed by Governor of Gibraltar Ed Davis (Royal Marines officer) on board in 2018 along with Fabian Picardo and Armed Forces Minister Mark Lancaster. On 31 March 2022 the Royal Gibraltar Regiment was presented with New Colours by HRH Earl of Wessex at Windsor Castle. Structure Initially a reserve force, on the withdrawal of the British Army garrison from the territory in 1991, the regiment was reorganised into an all-infantry unit and took over the duties of the resident battalion. The re-roled regiment consisted of a headquarters company (Thompson's Bty) and three rifle companies of which B Company is the reserve