Royal Australian Artillery
Historical Company
ENewsletter Edition No 68 December 2022
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Dear Gunners (Readers) -
Welcome to Airburst No 68 December 2022
A Very Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year To You & Yours
The AGM was held as a combination of face-t0-face and electronic attendance by Zoom. Attendance easily reached the quorum and the meeting business progressed swiftly. The AGM was followed by a board meeting where the Board Appointments were filled. I will remain the Chair until the next AGM when I intend to step down although I will remain as a Board Member if called upon. Peter Lawrence soldiers on as Honorary Treasurer with Bill Foxall as Assistant Honorary Treasurer, and Rob Crawford will remain as Honorary Secretary until February 2023. Ron West will continue as our volunteer coordinator. The AGM papers will remain on the website until the next meeting.
The position of Secretary is a critical position and we need someone to step up to the plate if the RAAHC is to survive. The task is not onerous and we are looking at options to reduce the work of the position. It is not necessary for an applicant to be a gunner or a Board Member so if you are looking at finding something worthwhile to do please contact me at chair@artilleryhistory.org.
Some years ago, Steve Gower, a fellow gunner and past Director of the Australian War Memorial and I engaged in a discussion of the Battle of Coral. He encouraged me to record my experiences of Coral by writing a book but Ifound every reason to avoid the enterprise. My procrastination was brought to anend when a proposed book on 102nd Field Battery’s tour in Vietnam, organised by the veterans, failed to eventuate. I put up my hand to undertake part of that endeavour by putting pen to paper on the more limited tale of 102 Battery’s part in the Battle of Coral and some of the events that occurred.
I am taking the opportunity in this newsletter to determine whether there is any interest in purchasing the book. I am only seeking expressions of interest as the 200 books I had published have all been sold. If you are interested see the last article on the book at the bottom of this newsletter and send me an email.
Stay safe over the Festive Season and have a great New Year!
UBIQUE
Ian Ahearn
Chair RAAHC
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Gunner’s Day 2022 - Western Australia
Gunners Day 2022, was held on Sunday, 6th of November at
The West Australian Gunners Day 2022, was held on Sunday, 6th of November at the Garrison church, Saint Mathews in Guildford. Bob Farrelly,President RAA Association of WA Inc. report of the event is below:
"Following an early morning thunderstorm we were lucky to have a glorious day for the celebration and we had a very good attendance including some 47 members of the Bessel- Browne family.
The parade was led by Ken Hepworth with the salute taken by BRIG Gerry Warner AM LVO, our Patron. Reverend Katrina Holgate was joined by Bishop Jeremy James to conduct the Memorial wreath laying service. Led by the Pipes & Drums from the Australian Army Band - Perth, Gunners past and present, serving Officers and Soldiers of 3 Battery RAA and members of the 56 Australian Cadet Unit (Fremantle) marched through Stirling Gardens where BRIG Warner took the salute. The parade then moved into position around the War Memorial for the wreath laying service.
This year we had the cadets from 56 ACU form a catafalque party around the memorial which was well done and well received.
Gunner’s day 2022 was special for two reasons. The celebration of 150 years of formed artillery in Western Australia and the presentation of the “urn”.
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Cadets from from 56 ACU carry the banners.
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Brigadier (Retd) Jerry Warner takes the salute |
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Below: The laying of wreaths |
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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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150th celebration of formed Artillery in Western Australia
2021 was the celebration of 150 years of Artillery in Australia. In 2022 we have the 150th anniversary of formed Artillery in Western Australia.
On 1 July 1872 the Union Troop of Western Australian Mounted Volunteers commenced parading as the Western Australian Troop of Volunteer Horse Artillery. The official gazettal followed on 21 January 1873 when the change appeared in the Government Gazette of Western Australia with redesignation of the Troop to an artillery unit.
Whilst the historians may argue which is the official date, 1 July 1872 has always been acknowledged as the BTY Birthday in WA and we take the opportunity this November and December to celebrate the 150th anniversary. This is a significant milestone which we celebrated at Gunner’s Day and will do at the Feast of Saint Barbara in December where we will have the new Queen’s Banner.
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LTCOL (Ret) Bob Farrelly, President of the Royal Australian Artillery Association of WA presented Saint Mathews Church “The Urn”.
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The Urn
The Urn contains the ashes of an Australian Blue Ensign, presented to Major A. J. Bessell-Browne, DSO, before he departed for Active Service in the Middle East in November 1914. He commanded 8th Battery, 3rd Field Brigade, Australian Field Artillery.
The Ensign, or as it became known – The Banner - was first flown at Blackboy Hill Camp (in Guildford) during pre-embarkation training and later at Mena Camp Egypt and, then at ANZAC Cove Gallipoli. Later, it was flown on the Somme in France in 1916 and then, in early 1917 at Ypres Salient. It was returned to Perth at the cessation of hostilities.
Prior to and after World War 1, Guildford was the hub for training Artillery and Light Horse Units and the Anglican Church of Saint Matthew was considered the Garrison Church of these units. After demobilization, Brigadier General Bessell-Browne was keen to retain the strong link with Saint Matthews Church and to observe the British custom of laying up colours in a Garrison Church. Church Elders accepted the Banner which was unveiled on Sunday, 21st September 1919 by the 8th Battery’s first Commanding Officer, now Brigadier General A. J. Bessell-Browne, CB, CMG, DSO, VD.
The Banner was hung from ceiling rafters in the Church until the 1970’s when it was damaged during renovations to the building. Due to the rigors of time and service it disintegrated and efforts to have the remnants conserved were unsuccessful and were stored safely by the Royal Australian Artillery Historical Society of WA.
Later, after discussion with the RAA Association of WA, it was agreed that the remnants be “consumed by fire” and the ashes retained for posterity. Accordingly, in the presence of John Hobbs, President of RAA-WA (grandson of Lieutenant General Sir J. J. Talbot Hobbs) and Ian Bessell-Browne, Patron of RAA Historical Society (son of Brigadier General A. J. Bessell-Browne) the remnants were consumed by fire and the ashes consecrated by Army Chaplain Bianchini and sealed in the Urn.
The Urn was displayed on the Communion Table in the Memorial Room at the Leighton Battery Historical Society until 2020 when it was suggested that it be offered to Saint Matthews Garrison Church.
The offer was accepted by Saint Mathews Church and was presented to Bishop Jeremy James who in turn presented the Urn to the Warden of Saint Mathews church. The urn will be fixed to the wall.
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Flagstaff Hill 80 Pounder Firing.
Visit by the Werribee Half Battery
A report by Mary Sterling
The Warrnambool Garrison Artillery hosted members of the Werribee Half Battery in October 2022. Capt. Allan Sterling had the honour and privilege of firing the 80pdr at 1230 hours at Flagstaff Hill. Many thanks to Battery Commander Major David McGuiness for this gracious gesture. This was followed by a very pleasant lunch with the Garrison Artillery members. The afternoon was spent touring the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. In the evening we enjoyed a great bonus by seeing the fantastic light and sound show which focused on the maritime history of Warrnambool, highlighting the Loch Ard disaster.
Sunday was off to the range with Lieutenant Maryanne Sterling and myself, together with Battery Sgt Major Steve Ivey (naval gun), Armourer Rod (mountain gun) and Gunner Glenn Budd, his wife Janine and son Jessie, for a morning focussed on cannon shooting with some small arms thrown in for good measure. What a great morning of shooting fun! On the way through we stopped off to view the spectacular Hopkins River Falls which were at their largest in memory.
Our thanks to Warrnambool Garrison Artillery (2nd VGA) members Maj. David McGuiness, Sgt Major Steve Ivey, Glenn, Janine, Rod, and the crew for making us feel so welcome and making our visit so memorable.
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Did you Know?
The Regimental Standard
In July 1945 the Royal Artillery put forward a submission to the Master Gunner’s Committee for unit flags; the result, approved by the College of Arms, was a series of standards. The Royal Australian Artillery adopted the Standard in 1952 with the approval of the then Master Gunner of St James’s Park, Field Marshal the Viscount Alanbrooke.
The Standard conforms in both shape and style to heraldic usage and custom. It includes the Regimental badge (with the upper scroll bearing the motto Ubique, but minus the lower scroll), the relevant unit’s number, along with two scrolls bearing the second motto (Quo Fas et Gloria Ducunt) and the flamed grenade. There is, however, a unique aspect about the Standard and that is to do with the grenade. The College of Arms was not supplied with an adequate brief with regard to the full required design, and as a consequence, the College employed the universal bursting grenade pattern of six flames, instead of the Regiment’s seven-flamed bursting grenade; by the time the mistake was realized the College had approved the Standard’s current design.
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Expression of Interest - Second to None
I am seeking Expressions of Interest for the purchase of the book (cover above and synopsis below. Cost of the book is $30 which includes postage in Australia.
If interested click on SECOND TO NONE to send an email with your name, address and number of copies required.
Once I receive the email and the book is republished I will send an email with payment details.
SYNOPSIS “SECOND TO NONE”
Shortly after mid-night on the morning of 13th May, 1968, in a scrubby area just north of Saigon in South Vietnam, approximately 100 Australian artillery-and mortar men were on the brink of making military history. They were about to face a fire-storm unlike any other that was experienced by Australians in Vietnam before or after them. Their position would be attacked and partially over-run by a more than 400 well-trained and heavily-armed regular soldiers of the North Vietnamese Army. Outnumbered and out-gunned by the enemy, the Australians would fight back fiercely and eventually prevail in an all-out engagement that was later to be named The Battle of Fire Support Patrol Base Coral.
During the battle the gunners would incur multiple casualties while still managing to provide accurate howitzer support for infantry units under attack nearby. For their actions at Fire Support Patrol Base Coral, the gunners of 12th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (RAA) would subsequently be awarded the Unit Citation for Gallantry while the 102nd Field Battery, RAA would also receive the Honour Title “Coral”.
This book is the story of that battle as seen through the eyes of a young, untried Lieutenant experiencing his first combat.
Gunner Trevor Bryant
102 Field Battery, RAA Vietnam 1968/69
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Gunners Around the Nation & The World |
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View the latest Newsletters from various Artillery associations around the nation:
RAA Association Victoria Newsletter - Cascabel
Locating Surveillance and Target Acquisition Association - Newsletter
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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