The Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery
While the origins of permanent Australian Artillery stretch back to 1871, today’s formal title for all Australian Gunners was only established a mere 59 years ago. However, the origins of that title are found further back in history.
Unique aspects of the history, heritage and capability of the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery are found in its titles and traditions. Since 1962, the Dining Vice-President at formal artillery dinners proposes a toast to “The Royal Regiment”, and all present respond with “The Royal Regiment”. More importantly, the origin of the idea of an entity that is greater than the sum of its parts is found in the relationships between Australian artillery forces, the Royal Artillery, other Commonwealth nations and the Crown.
Australian Gunners served alongside their counterparts from Britain and its Empire as early as 1885 in Sudan, and during the Boer War. After July 1899, permanent artillery units of Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales were named Regiments of the Royal Australian Artillery, though this title didn’t apply to all Australian Gunners until 15 September 1949.
During WW1 the massing of fires from many batteries of different nations onto shared targets became increasingly common, and increasingly effective. Commanders considered that ‘no battery in range should be at rest’. Common methods of command and control stretching across tactical boundaries employing artillery from several Commonwealth nations created a sense of unity and one entity, all with shared purpose. The massed effects were again devastating during the combined British and Commonwealth artillery fireplans of WW2 in North Africa.
Capabilities forged in the two world wars have continued to the present day with the RAA,RA, Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery (RCA) and Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery NZA) maintaining enduring alliances, along with the United States Artillery. Close interoperability of artilleries has proven invaluable in more recent conflicts, and are critical as the RAA modernises and grows its future capabilities.
On 19 September 1962 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II approved the title “The Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery”. From 1962 onwards, the RAA was no longer referred to as an arms corps, but as ‘The Regiment’. Decades of exchange postings between nations, particularly at respective Schools of Artillery, have promoted the notion of “The Regiment” between the nations’ artilleries. This is further reinforced by the use of the collective noun ‘Gunners’ being applied regardless of rank and nationality.
‘The Regiment’ is an important ideal for Gunners, recognising an entity that is greater in its potential capability than a single element of the Army. Embracing ‘The Regiment’ is central to what it means to be a Gunner. It engenders Gunner esprit de corps and delivers battle winning effects.
John Cox
Chair RAA Regimental History Committee
