A Field Battery, Royal Australian Artillery
Encyclopedia
'A' Field Battery is an airborne
artillery
battery
of the Australian Army
. The unit has been in existence since 1871, having originally been raised as part of the New South Wales colonial defence force. Today it is part of the 1st Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, attached to the 7th Brigade based at Enoggera, Queensland
.
but saw only limited action as the war was near its end when it arrived. In 1899 the battery was renamed A Battery, Royal Australian Artillery and departed for the Second Boer War
on 30 December, 1899. During the war, the battery was involved in several important actions, such as playing an important role in the capture of the Boer commander de Wet's
artillery pieces. 'A' Battery lost one man killed in action, two died of disease, and 45 men returned to Australia due to illness. For its service in South Africa, A Battery was presented a Kings Banner, and is believed to be the only Commonwealth artillery unit to have been honoured in this way.
(AIF) to leave Australia. Following a period of training and preparation in Egypt with the rest of the AIF, the unit served with distinction at Gallipoli (where only one gun was able to be brought to shore) and in France and Belgium on the Western Front.
Following the war, the battery provided the personal escort and saluting battery during the Prince of Wales
visit to Australia 1919. During the Prince's visit, in acknowledgement of the battery's service in South Africa and during the First World War, the battery was granted the right to wear the white lanyard on the left shoulder. As a result, the battery is the only unit of the Royal Australian Artillery to do this.
, preventing their deployment to the Middle-East and North Africa. However, in July 1943 A Field Battery was re-designated yet again, as the 2nd Mountain Battery, and arrived in New Guinea
in September that year. The battery served in New Guinea from 1943–1944.
in Japan
. It saw service during the Malayan Emergency
, the Indonesian Confrontation and in Vietnam
. In late 1987 the Battery assumed the role of parachute deployable artillery for the Airborne Battle Group, and has had personnel serve in non-artillery roles in East Timor
/ (Timor Leste)
, as well as deploying in artillery roles to Afghanistan
and Iraq.
'A' Field Battery is currently equipped with six 105mm L119 Hamel guns
. These guns have currently not seen operational service with the Australian Army.
1899–1910 — 'A' Battery, Royal Australian Artillery
1910–1927 — No. 1 Battery, Australian Field Artillery (Permanent)
1927–1930 — 1st Field Battery, Royal Australian Artillery
1930–1936 — 1st Field Cadre, Royal Australian Artillery
1936–1939 — 1st Field Cadre, Australian Artillery Regiment
1939–1943 — 'A' Field Battery, Royal Australian Artillery Regiment
1943–1946 — 2nd Mountain Battery
1946–1949 — 'A' Field Battery, Royal Australian Artillery Regiment
1949–1957 — 'A' Field Battery, 1st Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery
1957–1959 — 'A' Field Battery, Royal Australian Artillery Regiment (independent)
1959–1965 — 'A' Field Battery, 1st Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery
1965–1966 — 'A' Field Battery, 45th Light Regiment, Royal Artillery
1966–1967 — 'A' Field Battery, 6th Light Regiment, Royal Artillery
1967–1969 — 'A' Field Battery, 19 Composite Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery
1969–1974 — 'A' Field Battery, 12th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery
1974–2000 — 'A' Field Battery, 8th/12th Medium Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery
2000–2010 — 'A' Field Battery, 4th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery
.
2011–Present — 'A' Battery, 1st Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery
Airborne forces
Airborne forces are military units, usually light infantry, set up to be moved by aircraft and 'dropped' into battle. Thus they can be placed behind enemy lines, and have an ability to deploy almost anywhere with little warning...
artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
battery
Artillery battery
In military organizations, an artillery battery is a unit of guns, mortars, rockets or missiles so grouped in order to facilitate better battlefield communication and command and control, as well as to provide dispersion for its constituent gunnery crews and their systems...
of the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
. The unit has been in existence since 1871, having originally been raised as part of the New South Wales colonial defence force. Today it is part of the 1st Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, attached to the 7th Brigade based at Enoggera, Queensland
Enoggera Barracks
Enoggera Barracks is an Australian Army base in the northwestern Brisbane suburb of Enoggera in Queensland.-History:...
.
Formation and early history
'A' Field Battery was originally formed as 'A' Field Battery, New South Wales Artillery. The battery served in the Sudan CampaignMahdist War
The Mahdist War was a colonial war of the late 19th century. It was fought between the Mahdist Sudanese and the Egyptian and later British forces. It has also been called the Anglo-Sudan War or the Sudanese Mahdist Revolt. The British have called their part in the conflict the Sudan Campaign...
but saw only limited action as the war was near its end when it arrived. In 1899 the battery was renamed A Battery, Royal Australian Artillery and departed for the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
on 30 December, 1899. During the war, the battery was involved in several important actions, such as playing an important role in the capture of the Boer commander de Wet's
Christiaan De Wet
Christiaan Rudolf de Wet was a Boer general, rebel leader and politician.He was born on the Leeuwkop farm, in the district of Smithfield in the Boer Republic of the Orange Free State...
artillery pieces. 'A' Battery lost one man killed in action, two died of disease, and 45 men returned to Australia due to illness. For its service in South Africa, A Battery was presented a Kings Banner, and is believed to be the only Commonwealth artillery unit to have been honoured in this way.
First World War
Following the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, the battery was among the first units of the Australian Imperial ForceAustralian Imperial Force
The Australian Imperial Force was the name given to all-volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and World War II.* First Australian Imperial Force * Second Australian Imperial Force...
(AIF) to leave Australia. Following a period of training and preparation in Egypt with the rest of the AIF, the unit served with distinction at Gallipoli (where only one gun was able to be brought to shore) and in France and Belgium on the Western Front.
Following the war, the battery provided the personal escort and saluting battery during the Prince of Wales
Edward VIII of the United Kingdom
Edward VIII was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth, and Emperor of India, from 20 January to 11 December 1936.Before his accession to the throne, Edward was Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay...
visit to Australia 1919. During the Prince's visit, in acknowledgement of the battery's service in South Africa and during the First World War, the battery was granted the right to wear the white lanyard on the left shoulder. As a result, the battery is the only unit of the Royal Australian Artillery to do this.
Second World War
During the period between the wars, the battery undertook several changes in name, eventually being designated A Field Battery Royal Australian Artillery Regiment. At the outbreak of the Second World War A Field Battery were deployed at the School of Artillery and 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...
, preventing their deployment to the Middle-East and North Africa. However, in July 1943 A Field Battery was re-designated yet again, as the 2nd Mountain Battery, and arrived in New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
in September that year. The battery served in New Guinea from 1943–1944.
Service since 1945
Following the end of the war, and returning to its original name, the Battery was part of the British Commonwealth Occupation ForceBritish Commonwealth Occupation Force
The British Commonwealth Occupation Force , was the name of the joint Australian, Canadian, British, Indian and New Zealand military forces in occupied Japan, from 21 February 1946 until the end of occupation in 1952...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. It saw service during the Malayan Emergency
Malayan Emergency
The Malayan Emergency was a guerrilla war fought between Commonwealth armed forces and the Malayan National Liberation Army , the military arm of the Malayan Communist Party, from 1948 to 1960....
, the Indonesian Confrontation and in Vietnam
Military history of Australia during the Vietnam War
Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War began as a small commitment of 30 men in 1962, and increased over the following decade to a peak of 7,672 Australians deployed in South Vietnam or in support of Australian forces there. The Vietnam War was the longest and most controversial war Australia...
. In late 1987 the Battery assumed the role of parachute deployable artillery for the Airborne Battle Group, and has had personnel serve in non-artillery roles in East Timor
INTERFET
The International Force for East Timor was a multinational peacekeeping taskforce, mandated by the United Nations to address the humanitarian and security crisis which took place in East Timor from 1999–2000 until the arrival of United Nations peacekeepers...
/ (Timor Leste)
Operation Astute
Operation Astute is an Australian-led military deployment to East Timor to quell unrest and return stability in the 2006 East Timor crisis. It is currently headed by Brigadier Bill Sowry, and commenced on 25 May 2006 under the command of Brigadier Michael Slater...
, as well as deploying in artillery roles to Afghanistan
Operation Slipper
Operation Slipper is the Australian Defence Force contribution to the war in Afghanistan. The operation commenced in late 2001 and is ongoing...
and Iraq.
'A' Field Battery is currently equipped with six 105mm L119 Hamel guns
L118 Light Gun
The L118 Light Gun is a 105 mm towed howitzer, originally produced for the British Army in the 1970s and widely exported since, including to the United States, where a modified version is known as the M119A1...
. These guns have currently not seen operational service with the Australian Army.
Lineage
1871–1899 — 'A' Battery, New South Wales Artillery1899–1910 — 'A' Battery, Royal Australian Artillery
1910–1927 — No. 1 Battery, Australian Field Artillery (Permanent)
1927–1930 — 1st Field Battery, Royal Australian Artillery
1930–1936 — 1st Field Cadre, Royal Australian Artillery
1936–1939 — 1st Field Cadre, Australian Artillery Regiment
1939–1943 — 'A' Field Battery, Royal Australian Artillery Regiment
1943–1946 — 2nd Mountain Battery
1946–1949 — 'A' Field Battery, Royal Australian Artillery Regiment
1949–1957 — 'A' Field Battery, 1st Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery
1st Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery
The 1st Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery is a close support regiment attached to the 7th Brigade at Enoggera Barracks in Queensland. The unit was formed in 1914 under the name 1st Australian Field Artillery Brigade, part of 1st Division Artillery during World War I and later served in World War...
1957–1959 — 'A' Field Battery, Royal Australian Artillery Regiment (independent)
1959–1965 — 'A' Field Battery, 1st Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery
1965–1966 — 'A' Field Battery, 45th Light Regiment, Royal Artillery
1966–1967 — 'A' Field Battery, 6th Light Regiment, Royal Artillery
1967–1969 — 'A' Field Battery, 19 Composite Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery
1969–1974 — 'A' Field Battery, 12th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery
1974–2000 — 'A' Field Battery, 8th/12th Medium Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery
8th/12th Medium Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery
The 8th/12th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, was formed at the Holsworthy Barracks on 16 November 1973 through amalgamation of the 8th Medium Regiment and the 12th Field Regiment . The Regiment provides field artillery support to the 1st Brigade based in Darwin...
2000–2010 — 'A' Field Battery, 4th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery
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...
.
2011–Present — 'A' Battery, 1st Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery