ANZAC Day at the RAA Memorial

The Gunner ANZAC Serice at the RAA Memorial was carried out in crystal clear weather with a large presence of gunners and their families. 23 Battery, 9th Regiment, RAA performed magnificently as did the RMC Padre and the RMC Band Bugler, The photograhs below show th catafalque party and Major General (Retd) Criag Furini giving the Commemorative Adress.

RAAHC - At Priority Call & In Direct Support

(Examples of what RAAHC volunteers are achieving routinely)

Above: Nungarin Museum, WA

Nungarin Museum, Western Australia - Jan to Apr 2024

·        Information support requested by Museum for restoration of AAA searchlight.

·        RAAHC CRC provided documents including:

o   Interim Instruction Handbook of “Control Gear Mark IV” as used in Projectors, A.A 150cm. Mk. I (~30 pages)

o   Notes on Repairs to Fire Control Instruments / Part 16 . Control Gear, MK III / 1943 (~30 pages)

o   The Pre-Provisional Handbook of Projector A.A 150 C.M Mk.1* F.S Fitted with Equipment S.L.C No.6 (17 pages)

·        Nungarin Museum paid the RAAHC for document scanning work.

Enquirer (IE) – April 2024

·        "I am after information on Australian Artillery units War Diaries from the Second World War. There doesn’t appear to be many in the AWM and I was wondering if those not listed were stored or available elsewhere."

·        RAAHC Network considered the request – Keith Glyde responded to IE:

o   Several hundred Australian artillery war diaries from the 1939-45 period are held by the Australian War memorial.

o   They are all digitized and on-line: CLICK HERE

o   Not all are complete, some are missing altogether, and they vary in the amount and type of information in each.

 All Australians with an Interest in Australian Artillery History

·        October 2023, RAAHC applied for a DVA grant to assist with publishing costs Action! Action! Action! – A Short History of the Employment of Australian Artillery 1871-2021.

·        March 2024 – Grant Approved.

·        Book manuscript is with the publisher.

·        Book launch planned for on or around 1 August 2024.

·        More information in future Airbursts.

Coordinator of Planned Vietnam Unit Plaques Canungra – March/April 2024

·        Request for advice on how to accurately capture all RAA unit involvement across the Vietnam conflict on a single plaque.

·        Drafts prepared and exchanged for consideration by Canungra staff.

·        Actioned in consultation with the Australian Artillery Association.

Downes Family – October 2023 to April 2024

·        Major General Major Francis Downes CMG (Major is his Christian Name) was a major figure in the early defence of the Colonies of South Australia and Victoria, and for the transition to the Commonwealth with a national defence organisation. CLICK HERE to see more/

·        The family is keen to have his story remembered by the gunner family.

·        The RAAHC is assembling and curating a considerable amount of information on Downes, including restoring a desktop model gun and accurately locating his sword at the AWM.

·        There is a possibility that the Downes Model Gun could be perpetually passed between successive HOR as a reminder of our history and heritage.

Below: Major Francis Downes (1834-1923), by unknown photographer, 1890

106 th Field Battery RAA-a short history

Decimal currency and 106th Field Battery were introduced to the Australian community in 1966. The former nationally, the latter to the immediate environs of Brisbane (to be exact, Wacol). Major Evard Cape was appointed the first Battery Commander (BC) and as was fashionable at the time, began preparing his charge for service in Vietnam. 

The battery deployed on its first tour of Vietnam in 1967 returning to Australia in 1968. It toured again in 1970-71 under the command of Major David Gilroy. At the conclusion of its second innings it returned to Townsville where Major Noel De La Hunty assumed command. America decided to draw the stumps in Vietnam so the new Battery Commander, had to cast around for a new overseas oval or face the terrifying prospect of playing an entire match in beautiful downtown Townsville. He discovered that Australia was seeking to become the 'A' in ANZUK Force which was being created in Singapore. He then decided to try his hand at the job of second-in-command (2IC) of what was to be 28 ANZUK Field Regiment and was promptly given his chance. He was dispatched to Singers in this 2IC capacity and was therefore required to hand-over the battery to Major Tim Townley. 

The insertion of the 106th into Singapore began with the arrival of the advance party at Paya Labar airport on the 19 November 1971. They were met by an imposing array of dignitaries which included the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Trefor Jones, RA ,the Regimental Sergeant Major, Warrant Officer Charles Leigh, RA and sundry garden, or regimental officers, sixteen porters, nine taxi drivers and a second-in-command familiar to them all. 28 ANZUK Field Regiment was the title of the organisation that loosely enfolded a British Battery (1st Light Battery RA… “The Blazers”), the “Turtles” and the “others”. The latter being a term of endearment used by both gun battery’s when referring to Regimental Headquarters, Headquarter Battery, and the workshops.

On the 14 December 1971 the main body of the fighting 106th flew in. They were not overawed by their first sight (and smell) of Singapore, although the presence of the Brigade Commander, Mike Walsh, did shake their composure somewhat. It wasn’t the British accent so much as the sight of so much nonchalance draped in dinner suit and bow tie. 

So began two years of sweat, hard work and laughs. It ended on 9 January 1974 when the Battery returned to Australia and was disbanded. The Battery was re-raised as 106th Battery on 5 December 2014 as part of 4th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery.

On deployment to Vietnam in 1967 106 Field Battery was equipped with the L5 Pack Howitzer, The photo above shows FOXTROT gun firing in Nui Dat.

The L5was replaced by the M2A2. The photo above shows ECHO gun providing support during Tet in Febraury 1968.

The "Turtles: unloading their guns at Asahan Range, Malaysia

Camouflaged gun position in Asahan.

Moving into a battery position.

RAF helicopter support.

Firing at Asahan Range, Malaysia.

106th Field Battery RAA passes in review at Nee Soon Barracks, Singapore Parade

Land-based strike to receive $3.9bn windfall

Army’s land-based strike capabilities are expected to receive an additional $3.9 billion to $4.9 billion in funding, with an additional $5.2 billion to $7.2 billion for land command systems, under the government’s $50 billion boost for the Australian Defence Force.

Defence has confirmed that Army littoral, strike and aviation capabilities are expected to receive a funding windfall following the release of the Integrated Investment Program (IIP).

Additional Army investments detailed in the IIP include between $3.9 billion to $4.9 billion for land-based strike capabilities, between $5.2 billion to $7.2 billion for land command systems as well as over $9 billion earmarked for estate and infrastructure, Defence revealed.

The increased funding for land-based strike includes the accelerated acquisition of 42 HIMARS systems, originally announced in August 2023.

Breaking down future ADF expenditure, the IIP revealed that Australia’s 18 medium and eight heavy landing craft have been costed between $7 billion to $10 billion. Supporting infrastructure is expected to come to $5 billion to $7 billion.

CLICK HERE to see more