105th Medium Battery, Royal Australian Artillery
Encyclopedia
The 105th Medium Battery is a unit of the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery
that can trace its history back to March 1916, when it was raised as 105th Howitzer Battery in Egypt. The battery is based at Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera, Queensland
, as a full-time regular army unit and is one of three batteries that make up the 1st Regiment, in the 7th Brigade.
shortly thereafter.
, 14th and 15th Batteries at Fleurbaix
, France (5 km SW of Armentieres
) to form 5th Field Brigade Australian Field Artillery of 2nd Division Artillery, after a reorganisation of the artillery saw each field brigade having twelve 18 pound guns and four QF 4.5 inches (114.3 mm) howitzers
. The Howitzer Brigades then became Field Artillery Brigades also, seeing the 105th Howitzer Battery become the 105th Field Artillery (Howitzer) Battery.
In January 1917, batteries were increased in size from four to six guns each in order to economise on battery and brigade commanders. The Battery was disbanded following cessation of hostilities on 30 March 1919.
, based on the framework of the 1st AIF
, in 1921, the 105th Field (Howitzer) Battery was re-raised, along with the rest of the 5th Field Regiment. The 15th Battery was an exception, not being re-raised until 1938. The Battery was based at Gona Barracks at Kelvin Grove, Queensland
at this time.
During the years prior to World War II
, the Battery conducted several training camps around Brisbane. The Battery embarked on their first annual training camp, held on the southern shores of the Brisbane River
at Lytton
in 1927. During 1930, two training camps were conducted. The first commenced on 4 April at Enoggera, with the second, commencing on 30 June, being conducted at Lytton. A training camp during March 1931 was conducted at Bellevue Station, near Ipswich
. At this time, the Battery was still using horses for transportation of personnel and its guns.
A new artillery range was opened by Assistant Minister for Defence Mr. J. Francis in September 1934 at Mound Walker (near Rosewood
). The Battery trekked 50 miles (80.5 km) to attend the opening of the new range, as well as conduct a joint exercise with the 111th Battery. This exercise was held annually until 1939, when the Caloundra Range was established on a beach 64 miles (103 km) to the north of Brisbane.
During the 1937 exercises, cars and utilities were used for transportation by Battery staff, with other Battery personnel utilising horses. The introduction of Fordson Gun Tractors in 1938 saw the Battery's guns being towed by the tractors, with the staff reverting to riding horses. The Battery was fully mechanised from November 1939 onwards. The Battery was again disbanded in December 1940, with members of the 5th Field Regiment amalgamating to form the newly raised 2nd/5th Field Regiment. This unit was later re-designated 2nd/1st Anti Tank Regiment.
. Shortly thereafter, the Battery was deployed on a tour of Malaya
, lasting from September 1955 to June 1957. The Battery remained as a unit of the 1st Field Regiment until 1960, when the Battery moved to Sanananda Barracks, Wacol
to become a founding member of 4th Field Regiment
.
. The second and last tour of Vietnam lasted from February 1969 to March 1970. In 1976, the Battery detached from the 4th Field Regiment and moved to its current home at Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera to join 1st Field Regiment.
, with the Battery being re-raised as 105th Medium Battery on 2 July 2005. At the same time the Gun Troops and other sub-units of the Battery were named
In 2009, 15 members of the 105th Medium Battery deployed to train with the British Army. After training in Northern Ireland together with the British unit, they deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan in 2010. This was the first time since the Vietnam War that 105th Medium Battery personnel have been deployed in their role as artillery operators in combat.
Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery, normally referred to as the Royal Australian Artillery , is a corps of the Australian Army descended from the original colonial artillery units prior to Australia's federation...
that can trace its history back to March 1916, when it was raised as 105th Howitzer Battery in Egypt. The battery is based at Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera, Queensland
Enoggera, Queensland
Enoggera is a suburb of Brisbane, in Queensland, Australia. The suburb is located 6 km north-west of the Brisbane CBD.-History:In 1845 John Brennan purchased six hectares of land in Enoggera. Six years later, Thomas Hayes moved to the area and bought thirty-three acres of land...
, as a full-time regular army unit and is one of three batteries that make up the 1st Regiment, in the 7th Brigade.
History
The 105th Howitzer Battery was raised in March 1916 in Egypt as a part of the 22nd Howitzer Brigade, following a decision to equip each infantry division with a Howitzer Brigade, and embarked for Marseilles, FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
shortly thereafter.
World War I
By 11 May 1916, the Battery joined 13th13th Field Battery, Royal Australian Artillery
13 Field Battery, Royal Australian Artillery was formed in New South Wales during September 1915 as the 13th Field Artillery Battery, part of 5th Field Artillery Brigade...
, 14th and 15th Batteries at Fleurbaix
Fleurbaix
Fleurbaix is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:A farming village some northeast of Béthune and west of Lille, at the junction of the D176 and the D171 roads, at the border with the department of Nord...
, France (5 km SW of Armentieres
Armentières
Armentières is a commune in the Nord department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region in northern France. It is part of the Urban Community of Lille Métropole, and lies on the Belgian border, northwest of the city of Lille, on the right bank of the river Lys....
) to form 5th Field Brigade Australian Field Artillery of 2nd Division Artillery, after a reorganisation of the artillery saw each field brigade having twelve 18 pound guns and four QF 4.5 inches (114.3 mm) howitzers
QF 4.5 inch Howitzer
The Ordnance QF 4.5 inch Howitzer was the standard British Empire field howitzer of the First World War era. It replaced the BL 5 inch Howitzer and equipped some 25% of the field artillery. It entered service in 1910 and remained in service through the interwar period and was last used in...
. The Howitzer Brigades then became Field Artillery Brigades also, seeing the 105th Howitzer Battery become the 105th Field Artillery (Howitzer) Battery.
In January 1917, batteries were increased in size from four to six guns each in order to economise on battery and brigade commanders. The Battery was disbanded following cessation of hostilities on 30 March 1919.
1921 to 1940
Following a restructure of the Citizen's ArmyAustralian Army Reserve
The Australian Army Reserve is a collective name given to the reserve units of the Australian Army. Since the Federation of Australia in 1901, the reserve military force has been known by many names, including the Citizens Forces, the Citizen Military Forces, the Militia and, unofficially, the...
, based on the framework of the 1st AIF
First Australian Imperial Force
The First Australian Imperial Force was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during World War I. It was formed from 15 August 1914, following Britain's declaration of war on Germany. Generally known at the time as the AIF, it is today referred to as the 1st AIF to distinguish from...
, in 1921, the 105th Field (Howitzer) Battery was re-raised, along with the rest of the 5th Field Regiment. The 15th Battery was an exception, not being re-raised until 1938. The Battery was based at Gona Barracks at Kelvin Grove, Queensland
Kelvin Grove, Queensland
Kelvin Grove is an inner northern suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia located approximately 3 km from the CBD. This hilly suburb takes its name from Kelvingrove Park in Glasgow, Scotland. It is primarily residential with tree-lined streets and some commercial and light industrial...
at this time.
During the years prior to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Battery conducted several training camps around Brisbane. The Battery embarked on their first annual training camp, held on the southern shores of the Brisbane River
Brisbane River
The Brisbane River is the longest river in south east Queensland, Australia, and flows through the city of Brisbane, before emptying into Moreton Bay. John Oxley was the first European to explore the river who named it after the Governor of New South Wales, Thomas Brisbane in 1823...
at Lytton
Lytton, Queensland
Lytton is an outer suburb of Brisbane, Australia. It is 15 km north-east of the CBD.Although Lytton was once a town, it is now primarily commercial and industrial. It shares the same postcode as the Port of Brisbane....
in 1927. During 1930, two training camps were conducted. The first commenced on 4 April at Enoggera, with the second, commencing on 30 June, being conducted at Lytton. A training camp during March 1931 was conducted at Bellevue Station, near Ipswich
Ipswich, Queensland
Ipswich is a city in South-East Queensland, Australia. Situated along the Bremer River Valley approximately 40 kilometres away from the state's capital Brisbane. The suburb by the same name forms the city's Central Business District and administrative centre...
. At this time, the Battery was still using horses for transportation of personnel and its guns.
A new artillery range was opened by Assistant Minister for Defence Mr. J. Francis in September 1934 at Mound Walker (near Rosewood
Rosewood, Queensland
Rosewood is a small town in the Bremer Valley, Queensland, Australia. It is located 60 km west of the Brisbane CBD in the Ipswich City Council area and is the terminus of QR Citytrain's Rosewood railway line. Rosewood Railway Station provides Citytrain commuter rail services to Ipswich and...
). The Battery trekked 50 miles (80.5 km) to attend the opening of the new range, as well as conduct a joint exercise with the 111th Battery. This exercise was held annually until 1939, when the Caloundra Range was established on a beach 64 miles (103 km) to the north of Brisbane.
During the 1937 exercises, cars and utilities were used for transportation by Battery staff, with other Battery personnel utilising horses. The introduction of Fordson Gun Tractors in 1938 saw the Battery's guns being towed by the tractors, with the staff reverting to riding horses. The Battery was fully mechanised from November 1939 onwards. The Battery was again disbanded in December 1940, with members of the 5th Field Regiment amalgamating to form the newly raised 2nd/5th Field Regiment. This unit was later re-designated 2nd/1st Anti Tank Regiment.
1955 to present
The Battery was re-raised on 1 July 1955 as an independent battery of 1st Field Regiment at Holsworthy BarracksHolsworthy Barracks
Holsworthy Barracks is located in the outer south-western Sydney suburb of Holsworthy. It is part of the Holsworthy military reserve, which has been a training area and artillery range for the Australian Army since World War I. Following World War II it became a major base for the permanent...
. Shortly thereafter, the Battery was deployed on a tour of Malaya
Federation of Malaya
The Federation of Malaya is the name given to a federation of 11 states that existed from 31 January 1948 until 16 September 1963. The Federation became independent on 31 August 1957...
, lasting from September 1955 to June 1957. The Battery remained as a unit of the 1st Field Regiment until 1960, when the Battery moved to Sanananda Barracks, Wacol
Wacol, Queensland
Wacol is a suburb of Brisbane, Australia. According to the 2001 census, a total of 4851 people lived within the boundaries of Wacol. The suburb is located on the east bank of the Brisbane River, 18 km south-west of the Brisbane central business district, on the Brisbane-Ipswich railway...
to become a founding member of 4th Field Regiment
4th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery
The 4th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery is an artillery unit of the Australian Army. Currently it provides direct-support to the 3rd Brigade and is based at Lavarack Barracks in Townsville, Queensland. The unit was raised in 1960 and is currently re-equipping with M777A2 lightweight towed...
.
Vietnam
The Battery was involved in two tours of Vietnam. The first from 14 September 1965 to October 1966. It was during this tour, on 18 August 1966, that the Battery was involved in the Battle of Long TanBattle of Long Tan
The Battle of Long Tân was fought between the Australian Army and Viet Cong forces in a rubber plantation near the village of Long Tân, about north east of Vũng Tàu, South Vietnam...
. The second and last tour of Vietnam lasted from February 1969 to March 1970. In 1976, the Battery detached from the 4th Field Regiment and moved to its current home at Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera to join 1st Field Regiment.
Recent history
On 1 July 2005, after 50 years of continuous service as a field battery, 105th Battery's 105mm L119 Hamels were replaced with 155mm M198 HowitzersM198 howitzer
The M198 howitzer is a medium-sized, towed artillery piece, developed for service with the United States Army and Marine Corps. It was commissioned to be a lightweight replacement for the WWII era M114 155mm howitzer. It was designed and prototyped at the Rock Island Arsenal in 1969 with firing...
, with the Battery being re-raised as 105th Medium Battery on 2 July 2005. At the same time the Gun Troops and other sub-units of the Battery were named
- Command Troop "Somme"
- Gun Troop "Perak" (Malay Theatre)
- Gun Troop "Kedah" (Malay Theatre)
- Joint Offensive Support Team (JOST) "Dekker".
In 2009, 15 members of the 105th Medium Battery deployed to train with the British Army. After training in Northern Ireland together with the British unit, they deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan in 2010. This was the first time since the Vietnam War that 105th Medium Battery personnel have been deployed in their role as artillery operators in combat.