Royal Australian Artillery
Historical Company
ENewsletter Edition No 71 March 2023
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Dear Gunners (Readers) -
Welcome to Airburst No 71 March 2023
March has arrived and with it some activities that you might support. This issue contains information on a proposed book on North Head, a history competition by the NSW Government, how to order a whisky bottle, an update on the Combined Arms Heritage Learning Centre (CAHLC), Part 2 of the Future Ready Royal Australian Artillery and the Australian Armour and Artillery Museum.
Hope you enjoy.
Defending North Head
Kevin O’Brien , a member of the RAAHC and a gunner, has commenced writing a book on North Head. This will be a companion volume to his recent production of Defending Middle Head. It will be of a similar quality and style - illustrated with lots of maps and photographs. It will be a comprehensive, but short history, covering from the times of Aboriginal occupation until the present-day Sydney Harbour Federation Trust. Major topics will include the Quarantine Station, the WW2 Fortifications and the School of Artillery.
If you have any high-quality photographs of your time at North Head or of major events you attended these would be greatly appreciated for consideration of possible inclusion in the book. Please send a high-quality scan of your photo to kjob4@live.com together with a suggested caption including the name of anyone in the photo. Of course, all photos will be acknowledged.
The Anzac Memorial Trustees Military History Prize 2023
The ANZAC Memorial Trustees Military History Prize is being awarded as part of the NSW Premier's History Awards for the first time in 2023. The Prize is valued at $10,000.
The Military History Prize is for a work of non-fiction published as a book or e-book, publicly released or made available as a broadcast film, television or radio program, DVD, podcast, website or application for mobile/handheld devices, on the involvement of Australians in wars, campaigns, battles and/or peacekeeping operations represented in the Anzac Memorial’s Hall of Service.
In the Anzac spirit, the Prize is open to citizens and permanent residents of Australia and New Zealand.
Further details about the intent and eligibility criteria of the Prize can be found below.
Applications close 6 April 2023.
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PRE-SALE, expected shipment early April 2023.
Some RAA Alumni have commissioned Wet Canteen Bottling Company (WCBC) to create a 1st Regiment RAA Single Malt Whisky. Given that WCBC comprises of a couple of ex 8/12 Gunners we have done this at zero cost, on the condition that they sell a minimum of 30 bottles. The cost is $130 per bottle
Puckapunyal Combined Arms Heritage Learning Centre (CAHLC)-Update
In December 2021, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works approved construction of the Puckapunyal Combined Arms Heritage Learning Centre (CAHLC) to house the Royal Australian Armoured Corps (RAAC) and Royal Australian Artillery (RAA) heritage collections. Defence’s Security and Estate Group continues to manage this project, and has commenced procurement activities for a Head Contractor who will be responsible for the construction of the CAHLC. Contract award for the Head Contractor is anticipated to occur early 2023, with construction of the CAHLC estimated to be complete in late 2024.
The CAHLC will replace the existing Australian Army Tank Museum and the Australian Army Artillery Museum, which is currently in storage since it was relocated from North Head in 2011. When it opens in Financial Year 2024/2025, the CAHLC will be the Australian Army’s fourth purpose-designed museum (the others being the Flying Museum at Oakey, the Infantry Museum at Singleton and the Museum of Military Engineering at Holsworthy). This decision brings the total investment in new museum facilities for Army since 2005 to $100 million, reflecting Army’s commitment to promoting its history and preserving its heritage. With over 5000m2 of exhibition space, the CAHLC will be the largest of Army’s sixteen museums. Exhibition planning is at an advanced stage, in consultation with the RAAC Head of Corps and the RAA Head of Regiment.
UBIQUE
Ian Ahearn
Chair RAAHC
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Above: A concept design for the RAA National Memorial |
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The Future Ready Royal Australian Artillery - A Perspective.
Part 2| Protected Mobile Fires – Self Propelled Field Artillery
This is part two of a four part series of articles exploring the future ready Royal Australian Artillery and how Australia's Gunners will maintain stride with peer fighting forces around the globe. This second part looks at the potential future of Australia's artillery combat capability, focusing on close support to manoeuvre forces.
The role of the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery is to maximise the combat power of the Australian Defence Force through the provision of offensive support coordination and indirect firepower, surveillance and target acquisition and ground-based air defence.
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4th Regiment RAA at Work 2022 |
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Are you a member of the Royal Australian Artillery Historical Company? If not then visit our website, view membership details and benefits and join us today! |
Become a part of history by purchasing your Australia's Memorial Walk paver today. For more information view website. |
Publicise Your Upcoming Event |
Are you a member of an Artillery association? Does your association have an upcoming event? Want to publicise it to a wider audience for free? Contact the Editor for further details.
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CARTOON CORNER-a laugh is as good as a holiday
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The Australian Armour and Artillery Museum
The Australian Armour and Artillery Museum is a privately-owned museum dedicated to tanks, armoured vehicles and artillery from the Second World War and post war periods. It was officially opened in 2014, in Cairns, Queensland, Australia. The Museum houses the largest private collection of tanks, armoured vehicles and artillery in the southern hemisphere, and is located in the heart of Cairns.
The photos below show some of the collection
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Did you Know?
8/12th Regiment, RAA
50th Birthday Approaches
The 8th/12th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, was formed at the Holsworthy Barracks on 16 November 1973 through the amalgamation of the 8th Medium Regiment (RAA) and the 12th Field Regiment (RAA). The Regiment provides field artillery support to the 1st Brigade based in Darwin. It is currently equipped with 155mm M777 Howitzers.
The 8th Medium Regiment, known in the 1950s as the 19th Composite Regiment, was created in February 1968 to provide a united administrative command of several independent artillery units in the Holsworthy Barracks area and had the primary role of providing support to the School of Artillery. The 12th Field Regiment had been reformed at Holsworthy in April 1966, and its elements served in Vietnam in 1968 and 1971. Before relocating to Darwin, the regiment was stationed in Townsville (Queensland) and Ingleburn (New South Wales).
The three current gun batteries of the Regiment reflect their formation in Egypt at Tel-el-Kebir as part of the First Australian Imperial Force. They were equipped with 4.5-inch (110 mm) howitzers and three batteries subsequently served in France.
The Regiment will celebrate its 50th birthday on 16 November 2023.
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The photos above show howitzers of 101st ,102nd and 103rd Battery in France during WW1.
The progress of technology- am M777 Howitzer of 8/12th Regiment today!
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Gunners Around the Nation & The World |
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View the websites/ Newsletters from various Artillery associations around the nation and overseas:
RAA Association Victoria Newsletter - Cascabel
Locating Surveillance and Target Acquisition Association - Website
Royal Australian Artillery Association (NSW) -Website
Australian Artillery Association - Website
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PO Box 171
Cremorne Junction
NSW 2090 Australia
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