AIRBURST - RAAHC Enewsletter No 86 November 2024

AIRBURST

Royal Australian Artillery Historical Company

ENewsletter Edition No 86 November 2024

Dear Gunners (Readers)

Welcome to Airburst No 86 November 2024

All good things must come to an end. I resigned from the position of Chair RAAHC at the Board meeting held on 26 October 2024. I believed it was time for new younger blood in the position and was glad to see that Rob Crawford put his hand up for the job. I wish him all the best during his period as Chair and I will continue to serve as a Director responsible for our electronic media. Nick Floyd remains Deputy Chair.

Sean Ryan has taken over as Company Secretary to add to his duties as Honorary Secretary. Rob Crawford remains as Collections Director. Peter Lawrence continues to keep his shoulder to the grindstone as Honorary Treasurer aided by Bill Foxall. John Cox continues as Director History and Ron West , James Eling round out the Directors Team.

The Annual General Meeting was carried out on 26 October without a hitch.

The image of Action! Action! Action! is a gentle reminder that the book is still on sale and can be ordered on the RAAHC Website.

In the articles below I have tried to provide information on what the Regiments are doing. Sources include Facebook and the general internet. Some of the Regiments do not keep their Facebook pages up to date and therefore it is hard to obtain up to date information.

Hope you enjoy.

UBIQUE

Ian Ahearn

Director RAAHC

Regiments at Work

In Setember 2024 the 1st Regiment RAA returned home after three weeks of combined arms training in Shoalwater Bay Training Area, including realistic force on force training and live firing on Exercise Diamond Strike. 105th Battery attended a follow on Exercise DIAMOND TRIDENT in Far North Queensland iater in September.

105 Bty M777 arriving off a C-130 during Ex Diamond Trident.

105 Bty M777 Section, BCs TAC Party.

A 1st Regimentt Manitou operator loading a M777 onto a C-17.

1st Regiment Gunners firing Danger Close.

A 1st Regiment M777 inside a C 17.

Meanwhile 9th Regiment was busy on 22 October with duties associated with the visit of the King to Canberra.

Above and Below: 9th Regiment's Gunners ready and willing.

Meanwhile 4th Regiment, in November, conducted live firing in Indonesia claiming the first rounds fired by the RAA in an overseas location since 1970.

The INTERGRATOR is the most versitile UAS in its class , with a modular design to fit every mission. The equipment is manufactured by INSITU, a Boeing Company and is used by 20 th Regiment. More information can be viewed by CLICKING HERE.

The photo below shows the INTERGRATOR ready to launch into action by the Regiment Falconc-132nd Battery.

HISTORIC WAR ART

Mont Saint-Quentin Australian war memorial is an Australian First World War memorial located at Mont Saint-Quentin in Péronne, France. This monument was erected in honour of the fallen soldiers of the Australian Second Division during the Battle of Mont Saint-Quentin. It is one of five commemorative monuments initiated by the soldiers of the division. The memorial is located on the Bapaume-Péronne Road (D1017).

The original monument consisted of a pedestaled sculpture, created by Charles Web Gilbert, representing an Australian soldier thrusting his bayonet into a German eagle. The pedestal has bronze bas-reliefs created by May Butler-George that depict soldiers in combat, namely men hauling and pushing a gun and men advancing with bayoneted rifles and hand grenades. The memorial was inaugurated on August 30 1925, and unveiled by Ferdinand Foch. In 1940, German soldiers destroyed the sculpture most probably due to the anti-German imagery.

The bronze bas reliefs were cast in 1923 using plaster reliefs including one depicting gunners struggling to bring their 18 Pounder Gun into action. The plaster relief of the gun was given to a gunner who modelled for May Butler George. Brigadier L.E.S Barker, CBE, DSO, MC was that gunner and he subsequently gifted the cast to the Regiment.

The Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery is fortunate to possess a rare and this significant item of war art and arrangements are being considered for its display at the School of Artillery. The plaster cast and the title on the original bronze panel are shown below.

Tarcutta, NSW -Site of a unique artillery howitzer

Tarcutta, NSW, is the site of a special artillery piece that was used by the Australians in WW 2. The Canon de 155 C modèle 1917 Schneider, often abbreviated as the C17S, was a French howitzer designed by Schneider. It was essentially the Canon de 155 C modèle 1915 Schneider fitted with a different breech to use bagged propellant rather than the cartridge cases used by the older howitzer.

It was used by France, Russian Empire, Belgium, Romania, and the United States from 1917 during World War I and was widely exported after the war. Surviving weapons were in service with France, Poland, Greece, Italy, Belgium, the United States, and Finland during World War II. Captured weapons were used by the Germans for their 2nd-line artillery and coast defence units.

America continued to manufacture the gun after WW1, and some were issued to the 2^nd/1^st Medium Artillery Regiment, RAA during WW 2. The regiment deployed to the Middle East in September 1941. The Regiment was initially based at Hill 93 in Palestine. In October 1941, the Regiment reverted to a medium regiment. At that time it received sixteen US-made, French-designed 155 mm howitzers. They moved to Beit Jirja and then later Beir Suneid but did not see combat before being brought back to Australia in March 1942 and saw no further active service throughout the war.