RAA Liaison Letter Spring 2008

166 Pages·2008·5.45 MB·English

The
Royal Australian Artillery
LIAISON LETTER
Spring Edition 2008
The Official Journal of the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery
Incorporating the Australian Gunner Magazine
First Published in 1948

Contents
EditorsComment 1
LetterstotheEditor 3
Regimental 15
Operations 33
TakePost 43
AroundtheRegiments 49
HonourTitle 59
RAA
Coral40thAnniversary 87
ProfessionalPapers 109
LIAISON
Capability&Training 143
Associations&Organisations 151
LETTER
NextEditionContributionDeadline
ContributionsfortheLiaisonLetter2009–AutumnEdition
should be forwarded to the editor at his home postal or
emailaddress,bynolaterthanFriday20thFebruary2009.
Spring Edition
‘Late’ correspondence or submissions after that date
shouldbeforwardedtotheeditorviatheSchoolofArtillery
2008 orhisdefenceemailaddress.
LiaisonLetterInColourOn-line
Ifyouhaveaccesstothedefencerestrictednetworkyoucanread
the Liaison Letter in colour on the Regimental web-site
foundat:http://intranet.defence.gov.au/armyweb/Sites/RRAA/
PublicationInformation
FrontCover: Topleft:12thFieldRegimentAWMPlaque;topright:ColonelIanAhearn–GPO102ndField
Battery;centreleft:CombinedRAABand;centreright:LieutenantColonelCraigFuriniis
presentedtheCoralHonourScrollbytheGovernorGeneral;bottomleft:MinuteGuns;bottom
centre:RoyalGuard;bottomright:RAACoralSubCommittee
FrontCoverDesignedby: CorporalMichaelDavis,1stJointPublicAffairsUnit(formerly8th/12thMediumRegiment)
EditedandCompiledby: MajorD.T.(Terry)Brennan,StaffOfficertoHeadofRegiment
Publishedby: DeputyHeadofRegiment,SchoolofArtillery,
BridgesBarracks,Puckapunyal,Victoria 3662
DesktopPublishingby: MichelleRay,CombinedArmsDoctrineandDevelopmentSection,
BridgesBarracks,Puckapunyal,Victoria 3662
Printedby: DefencePublishingService–Victoria
Distribution: ForissuesrelatingtocontentordistributioncontacttheEditor
[email protected]
Contributorsareurgedtoensuretheaccuracyoftheinformationcontainedintheirarticles;theRoyalAustralianArtillery,
DeputyHeadofRegimentandtheRAALiaisonLettereditoracceptnoresponsibilityforerrorsoffact.
TheviewsexpressedintheRoyalAustralianArtilleryLiaisonLetterarethecontributorsandnotnecessarilythoseoftheRoyal
AustralianArtillery,AustralianArmyorDepartmentofDefence.TheCommonwealthofAustraliawillnotbelegallyresponsible
incontract,tortorotherwiseforanystatementmadeinthispublication.
RAALiaisonLetter2008-SpringEdition
Defence
MEDIA RELEASE Photographs
MediaReleaseonPage14
AUSSIE GUNNERS PULL THEIR WEIGHT IN
AFGHANISTAN
LieutenantNickCooperconfirmsmapinformationversus Gun Detachment Commander Sergeant Bryce Watson
target information after receiving a request for artillery withhisL118LightGunattheremoteForwardOperating
BaseKajakiinHelmandProvince,Afghanistan.
supportfromacoalitionpatrol.
GunnerNathanWallaceproudlyfliestheAustralianflagin
GunnerNathanWallacepreparesanewsalvoofrounds his outdoor bomb sheltered accommodation at Forward
duringafiringmissioninsupportofcoalitionforces. OperatingBaseArmadillo,Afghanistan.
GunnerDamienChattertonkeepswatchfromalookout
GunnerAdrianBroadheadandaBritishGunnerstack
postatForwardOperatingBaseKajakiinAfghanistan.
ammunitionboxesatForwardOperatingBaseKajaki.
RAALiaisonLetter2008-SpringEdition
Editors theiraudienceandthatinsomesmallwayyouare
contributing to recording the Regiment's history. I
would make a plea that you reduce abbreviations
Comment as much as possible and when necessary explain
what it stands for or means; and minimise the use
of upper case and capitals. When referring to an
individual either provide their initials or preferred
name, for example, Major D.T. Brennan or Major
Introduction
Terry Brennan, do not simply provide a rank and
Welcome to another
surname. Above all else be consistent in the
Liaison Letter, I am
manner and style of your writing, for example, do
pleased to report I have
not swap between using a term in full and
had great support from
randomlyrevertingbacktoitinabbreviation.
across the Regiment for
Terminology
this edition. The
Regiment remains busy AspartofmyreadingIamalsorequiredtodigesta
both home and overseas significant amount of terminology which is
and the wide variety of articles in this edition is a includedinvariousarticles.Idonotplantoairmy
reflection ranging from current operations in opinion on whether I think our terminology is
Afghanistan to the awarding of the honour title being ‘Americanised’ especially for the sake of
‘Coral’to102ndFieldBatteryfortheexploitsofits doing it – I will leave that to those more directly
members40yearsago. involved than me to decide. As a former doctrine
officer I would like to comment on what at this
Aconstantthemeafterthemailoutofeachedition
pointintimeappearstobetheuseofthefirstterm
is I always receive a number of ‘return to sender’
thatcomestomindratherthanwhatisthecurrent
copiesbackandthelasteditionwasnoexception.I
accepted / authorised term. I appreciate
would ask readers to let me know if you change
terminologychangesandevolves,anddoctrineisa
your mailing address. Further as a consequence of
flexiblebeast.Whatconcernsmeatthemomentis
thisandmyongoingeffortstoreachasmanyofour
that there appears to be no one griping up and
Gunner community as possible, I plan on regularly
managing or at least implementing this change.
publishing the names of a few lost people starting
Thetaskisnotdifficult!
with this edition. I would appreciate assistance
with obtaining the contact details for Colonel's CustomsandTraditions
KevinFarrerandDavidPearce.
Commencing with this edition I invited Chris
Subscriptions Jobson, author of RAA Customs and Traditions to
make a regular contribution. I am pleased to say
Therehasbeenagreatresponsefrombothserving
that Chris readily agreed. Whilst on the subject of
and retired members of the Regiment with regard
customs and traditions it continues to annoy me
to subscriptions especially life subscriptions.
that some Gunners do not understand that when
Whilst I thank everyone who has decided to
referring to the Royal Australian Artillery, Gunners
contribute and it is pleasing to see the significant
use the term Regiment or Royal Regiment – the
increase in junior officers and warrant officers
term ‘Corps’ should not be used! It is especially
heeding the request. The gesture by these
grating to read officers and senior
individuals and others is a wonderful example but
non-commissioned officers using ‘Corps’ when
wecanstilldobetter.Iamstillverydisappointedat
theyshouldknowbetter.
the number of senior officers including many who
have held key appointments within the Regiment The other aspect of customs and traditions which
buthavenottakenuptheopportunitytobecomea has come to my attention recently has been what
life subscriber. I would ask them to seriously couldbebestcalled‘local’traditions.Thefirstwas
considerbecomingalifesubscriber. a reference to the ‘Premier Regiment’ in an article
by 16th Air Defence Regiment. I am sorry air
WritingArticles
defenders, but as a former second in command of
AseditorIamrequiredtoreadallthesubmissionsI
1st Field Regiment there has only ever been one
receiveandthiscanattimesbeasfrustratingasitis
‘PremierRegiment’andthatis1stFieldRegiment.
time consuming. I would ask that those who are
chargedwithwritingordraftingarticlesremember
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RAALiaisonLetter2008-SpringEdition
Colonel Reg Foster - Colonel Commandant Central waspleasedtohearthatmorerecentlyCaptainPhil
Regionrecentlyposedthefollowinglocaltradition Hickey had adopted the tradition. It may catch on
to the Staff Officer Grade Two Head of Regiment, acrosstheRegiment!
MajorKymSchoene:
Conclusion
‘As a former member of 8th/12th Medium Regiment I
In the last edition I discussed a number of
recall it is tradition that medium artillery officers wear
milestones and anniversaries reached by the
oneblueandoneredsocktoadinner.Couldyouremind
Regiment. I have reached a small personal
mewhichsockiswornonwhichfoot.….Thereisastory
milestone with this edition – it is the 15th Liaison
about a medium gunner who was wounded in the field
Letter I have compiled and edited since
andwhobledsoprofuselyitturnedoneofhissocksred,
commencingstartingwiththe2000edition.Inmy
wellyoucanguesstherest,butinthemid‘80’sin8/12it
view the quality and variety of content has
costyouextrasifyougotitwrongorfailedtowearone
improved greatly and this is due in part to the
redandonebluesocktodinners.’
increasingly positive support received for each
MajorKymSchoenerespondedwiththefollowing: subsequentedition.
‘I have found several answers, which is always a good Again thank you to everyone who has made the
start. efforttosupportthiseditionbycontributing,even
those who I think may have been dragged a little
The first states that the custom originated in the
reluctantly to the computer. Your support and
sergeants' mess where the medium battery sergeants
interest is most certainly appreciated not only by
worearedandabluesock.Theredwaswornontheleft
mebutalsothewiderGunnercommunity.
foot. Red over blue = left foot always steps off first.
Anotherversionincluded‘noredportleft’,thelinktothe
lights on a boat mixed with coastal gunnery. This
medium gunner dress then spread to the officers' mess,
andiscontinuedtothisday.
The officers' mess version has the red sock worn on the
right foot. There is a plaque / written account in the
D.T.(Terry)BRENNAN
Regimental room in the Robertson Barracks Officers
Major
Messwhichwaswrittenupbyasubbieinthelastcouple
Editor
of years which has the red sock worn on right foot.
AlthoughIhavenotseenthisdocument,Ihavechecked Telephone:[phone](h)
with a couple of medium gunners who collaborate red Mobile:[phone]
sock-rightfoot. Email:[email protected]
[email protected]
Your version remains more colourful and the custom
Postal:‘Stratford’BLACKALLQLD4472
appears to have ebbed and flowed over the years. I am
http://www.defence.gov.au/army/RRAA
sure that your wearing of a red and blue sock will
http://intranet.defence.gov.au/armyweb/Sites/RRAA/
re-initiate discussion and adherence to the custom. It
remainsunclearifall8th/12thMediumRegimentdress
in this manner or only those who have served in the Editor’sNote: RetiredorservingGunnerswhowould
mediumbattery?Iwouldbeinterestedintheoutcome.’ liketoreceivefuturecopiesoftheRAALiaisonLetter
should contact the editor by email or write to the
If there is any reader who can shed any more light
addressabovewiththeirmailingdetails.Converselyif
onthisparticulartraditionorquirkIwouldloveto
youwouldlikeyournameremovedfromthemailing
hearwhatyouhavetosayonthematter. listpleaseadvisetheEditor.
Further I would appreciate feedback on any other
‘local’or‘quirky’traditionwhichmaybelurkingout
there in the Regiment. One that was around in my
juniorofficerdayswaswearingyourGunnertieon
Friday’s.WhilstIappreciatethisisstillfollowedby
some Gunners I do not believe it is as strongly
implemented. On the same theme but probably
only a very personal tradition followed by myself
and Colonel Steve Goltz is the wearing of the
Gunner bow tie with our mess dress or black tie. I
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RAALiaisonLetter2008-SpringEdition
agenda. Hopefully, on the exercise some larger
Letters to
concentrationswillbefiredsothattoday'ssoldiers
canbetterobservetheeffectivenessofartilleryon
thebattlefield.
the Editor RAATroopAfghanistan
Howrefreshingtoreadthat15personnelfrom8/12
Medium Regiment are to be deployed to
Afghanistan as partof G Parachute Battery, 7 RHA.
It does raise the question of why only 15? For at
WideRangingObservations least ten years the RAA provided a field battery as
oneofthesub-unitsofaRoyalArtilleryregimentin
DearTerry
Malaya / Malaysia and Singapore. Why not now in
What good reading and, after all, that is what the
Afghanistan where the Gunners would have the
LiaisonLetterisallaboutirrespectiveofwhetherit
opportunityofputtingintopracticetheir‘coreand
isglossyandcolouredorblackandwhite.IfImayI
corpsskills’atsub-unitlevelonoperations.Whata
would like to comment on some aspects in the
pity that they are not deployed to support
AutumnEditionofthe2008Letter.
Australianoperations.
ArtilleryDirectorate
RegimentalFundSubscriptions
Which officer in the Australian Army has the
From your list of Regimental Funds allocations
primary and fulltime task of providing advice on
(page 109), it is obvious that the Fund is used for
artillery personnel, equipment, doctrine and
numerous purposes, many of them for the benefit
training and coordinates these matters? As I
ofRAAunits.Isupportyourpleatoindividualsand
understand it he has not existed since the
units / organisations to contribute. As you say on
disappearance of the Directorate of Artillery in
page6,itis‘…tosupporttheselectivegoodofthe
December 1997. So who fights for the Gunners?
Regimentratherthanfocusontheindividual.’
Bring back the Director and the Directorate of
Onthissubject,Inotethat8/12MediumRegiment
Artilleryorasimilarorganisationinsteadofhaving
last year and in 2006 commendably raised in the
functions,previouslyperformedbytheDirectorate,
order of $50,000 each year for the Royal Darwin
dealt with in the disparate manner of the current
Hospital.Iguessotherunitsalsoarecommittedto
Army structure. If so, maybe articles like the Battle
fundraising for worthwhile causes. I wonder how
forRelevancewouldnotbeneeded.
thepersonnelintheunitswouldfeelif,say,10%of
Headquarters1stDivisionArtillery the donations were to be provided for the unit's
I have just finished reading The Great War by Les regimental fund and the RAA Regimental Fund,
Carlyon. A constant theme throughout the book is providedthiswasmadecleartothosedonating?
that had the British early in World War I employed
TheLiaisonLetter
theirartillerycorrectlyandintherightamount,itis
I only hope that when you hang up your editorial
more than possible that the War would have
boots, your successor has the same interest,
finishedearlierandsavedmany,manythousandsof
enthusiasmandcommitment.
lives.Thelackofgunsandtheincorrectuseofthem
hadatellingeffectonthoseearlierbattles.Contrast ThanksTerryandbestwishes
this with the beneficial use of artillery by such
ColonelMickCrawford(Retd)
commanders as Monash and Plumer. Leading on
from this, I note from the Letter that this year the
Editor:IsoughtthesupportofLieutenantColonelSean
Regiment is holding its first ‘divisional artillery’
Ryantoansweryourletter–seebelow:
concentrationformanyyears. Howis the fire from
the different field / medium regiments to be DearColonel
coordinated? Who is advising the Commander 1st
Once again the sharpness of our sage Regimental
Division on the effectiveness of the exercise and
tribal elders comes to the fore with your letter to
where he needs to invest resources to ensure the
theeditor.WhoisinchargeoftheRAAandwhohas
SupportedArmsarewellserved?Whoisproviding
theirguidinghandontheRegimentallanyard?This
the function of Headquarters 1st Division Artillery
isaverygoodquestionandonethecurrentserving
at a time when fire support coordination or joint
fires (American terms!!) appears to be back on the
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RAALiaisonLetter2008-SpringEdition
Gunnersaskeverydayaseachandeverynewcrisis is showing innovation on how to overcome this
hitstheRegiment. significantinadequacy.However,thisinnovationis
coming at a price in terms of staff effort and time
Thereisnosimpleanswertoyourquestion.Yes,the
and the innovation is not as good as having a
Directorate of Artillery, Commander Land
dedicated organisation responsible for personnel,
Command Artillery, Commander 1st Division
training,equipmentanddoctrinemattersaffecting
Artillery and Commander 2nd Division Artillery
the Regiment. Unfortunately the return of the
havegoneandmaybenevertoberesurrected.Asa
DirectorateortheestablishmentofaGunnerForce
result of their demise there is no organisation or
Element Group (FEG), like the one you once
organisations with the responsibility to advise the
commanded at Field Force command, is highly
Chief of Army, Land Commander and Divisional
unlikely and the RAA has to deal with the hand it
Commanders on personnel, training, equipment
hasbeendealt.
and doctrine matters affecting the Regiment. In
their place is a suite of agencies in disparate On the matter of the Regimental Fund
locations trying to bring together the Regiment as contributions I will take your sensible suggestion
besttheycanandletmesaytheyaredoingagreat to the RAA Executive and Regimental Committee
job in these trying conditions. The new order has forconsideration.
not been without its advantages as well. The
Regards
artilleryisincreasinglybecomingbetterintegrated
LieutenantColonelSeanRyan
inthecombinedarmsaftertwentyyearsofDefence
DeputyHeadofRegiment
of Australia doctrine. The other Corps are starting
to realise how much more capacity the RAA has
over their own Corps with 50% less people and
BattlesofCoral&Balmoral
units. While they are subjects we Gunners knew, it
Now the Coral / Balmoral 40th anniversary events
isrefreshingtoseetheotherCorpsrealisehowfar
are past us we all must pause to reflect the
theyarebehind.
significance of that wonderful three days that was
However in saying this the RAA has been better
had by all Artillery participants of that time all
served in this new rationalised environment than
those years ago. Not a bad word was said by any
other Corps or Regiments. Our Head of Regiment,
Gunner as to how the functions were carried out.
BrigadierWinter,playsanactiveroleinguidingthe
However there has been heaps of praise to our
Regiment on a daily basis. Commanding Officers
artillery committee under the great leadership of
regularly seek his advice and direction, and he
Colonel Don Tait (retired). The artillery figured
constantly walks the halls of Canberra driving the
heavily in the Coral / Balmoral committee
RAA agenda. This is all on top of his day job of
representing all Corps, other than that of infantry,
protecting Australian sailors, soldiers and airman
in the Brigade action at Coral / Balmoral. The
from Improvised Explosive Devices. The RAA
artillery team on that committee certainly paved
Commanding Officers have complemented the
the way for the great success that it was, for ALL
Head of Regiment's work through establishing an
Corpsinvolvedinthebattle.
era of a collegiate approach towards manning,
Attheforefrontofourmindsmustbetheworkthat
equipping and training the Regiment. An approach
the teams from the Department of Veteran Affairs
that has seen the establishment of the RAA
and the Australian War Memorial has done for us
Executive, which meets quarterly, to steer the
all,andtheydidalot,lookatalltheprograms,look
personnel,training,equipmentanddoctrineissues
attheorganizationandlookatthebook!!!!!!!These
that effect the running of the Regiment. The
few people were just great, and more than that,
Division's artillery concentration was the brain
great to work with. We thank them all!!!!!! A man
child of this group and has become a model for
thatreallystandsoutformefortheorganizationof
other areas of the Army for remediating core
the Coral events is, ex RSM Ceremonial, Mr Chris
warfightingskills.Whiletheseareafarcryfromthe
Jobson. Chris organized many things and did it
initiativesthattheleadershipofaDirectoratecould
easily, no fuss, no worry, he just did it, and got on
provide they are nonetheless significant
with it. At every meeting Chris had it all under
achievements that cannot or have not been
control.IbettheArmymisseshim,ascrankyashe
achievedbyotherCorpsandRegimentsinthesame
issometimes.
circumstances.
We the Veterans of Coral, thank the Royal
In concluding the absence of a Directorate is
AustralianArtilleryforthegreateffortputintothe
hurtingtheRAA,andtheotherCorps,buttheRAA
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RAALiaisonLetter2008-SpringEdition
event by them in our commemorations, where To make this even more confusing the 2/2
wouldwehavebeenwithoutyouall?Theparadeby (Second/Second) Field Regiment and the 2/4
you all on Anzac Parade was magnificent and the (Second/Fourth)FieldRegimentwereraisedduring
effortsbyyouallatMountPleasantweremorethan WW2. The ‘2’ in this case, as far as I understand,
spectacular.Imadeaparticularefforttohaveachat referstothesecondraisingoftheseunits.
withthecatafalquepartyof8/12MediumRegiment
The sub-unit numbers as a general rule appear to
atMountPleasantandwhatagreatgroupofyoung
be expressed as Three Eight (38), One Owe Seven
Gunners they are, the manners were impeccable
(107)etc.
even to the point of calling me Sir, that was very
If the above appears to be disjointed and
embarrassingtomeandIsoonsetthemstraightas
confusing,itisbecauseIamconfused.
to my mongrel background. They were more
relaxed after that. They certainly did us proud by Perhaps somebody who knows could explain the
their actions on the mountain and all the other reasoninganddispelmyconfusion.
dutiesthattheycarriedout.IdohopetheGunners
MajorNeilHamer(Retd)
of 8/12 have their certificate of appreciation from
President
12 Field hanging in their mess now as I did
RAAAssociation(Victoria)
particularly want to give it to the boys from the
catafalquepartybuttheyhadleftbeforeIcoulddo
so. Editor: I sought the support of Colonel Arthur Burke
(Retd)toansweryouquery–seehisanswerbelow:
In conclusion we members of 12 Field Regiment
DearNeil
thank you all for your great efforts to make our
commemoration, one to remember for the rest of With the deftness of a half-back dodging being
our lives and without your participation it would pulverised by an onrush of opposing forwards,
not have been possible. You all have done a great Terry flicked your question to me. This one raises
jobandwethankyouallforyourgreatandtireless itsheadeverysooftenandImustadmitthatIhave
efforts. never been able to find a definitive and concise
explanation.However,hereareafewfacts:
Yoursfaithfully
(cid:129) CEWBean'sOfficialHistoryofAustraliaintheWar
RobCostello
of 1914-18 uses the terms 1st Field Artillery
President
Brigade(sicRegiment)and1stBattery.
12FieldRegiment(Vietnam)Association
(cid:129) ThefirstbookintheseriesAustraliaintheWarof
1939-1945 (To Benghazi) uses the terms 1st
Editor: On behalf of the Regiment thank you for your
kind words. I can assure you the recognition and Anti-Aircraft Regiment whilst the first use of a
accoladesshowered on the ‘Coral’ veteransin May this numbered battery appears to be in the second
year from the Governor General and Prime Minister volume (Tobruk and El Alamein) - 8th Light
downwereverydeservedandlongoverdue. Anti-AircraftBattery.
(cid:129) ToBenghazialsogivesagoodexplanationofthe
Terminology–Unit&SubUnitTitles prefix ‘2/’ being used to designate units of the
2nd AIF, for example, 2/1st Field Regiment.
DearMajorBrennan
(However,thisispronounced‘Second-FirstField
For some time now I have become increasingly
Regiment’.)
confused about the correct manner in which unit
(cid:129) When units combined, and an example was the
and sub-unit numbers should be written and
55th and the 53rd Infantry Battalions from New
pronounced.Inmyexperiencethereappearstobe
South Wales cited in South-West Pacific Area First
no real logic in the way that these numbers are
Year (McCarthy), the official history records the
expressed. For example: should 4 Field Regiment
amalgamationasthe55th/53rdBattalion.
be four (4) or fourth (4th)? 2 Field Regiment was
two (2) and 10 Medium Regiment was ten (10). (cid:129) Finally, the last ‘Stud’ book (The Army List of
Howeverwhentheunitswerecombined,forsome OfficersoftheAustralianMilitaryForces)produced
reason the new unit became known as in 1970 lists under Titles for Regiments and
Second/Tenth(2nd/10th)MediumRegiment.Thisis Corps,thecombinedunits2nd/14thQueensland
notthesecondtimethat10MediumRegimenthas MountedInfantryand4th/19thPrinceofWales's
beenraised. LightHorse.
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RAALiaisonLetter2008-SpringEdition
Fromtheseofficialprecedents,Ihaveconcluded However, there is one point in the article that
that: causes me concern. The article repetitively refers
(cid:129) The full written title of a unit uses the ordinal to the previous location of the School as being at
numberformat,thatis,1stFieldRegiment. NorthFort,Manly.NorthFortismerelytheareaon
the eastern side of the stone wall that provided a
(cid:129) Thefullwrittentitleofasubunitusestheordinal
landwardboundarytothe9.2inchGunBatteryon
numberformat,thatis,101stFieldBattery.
North Head and is now occupied by the RAA
(cid:129) Whentwounitsamalgamate,thefullwrittentitle NationalMuseumandtheRAAHistoricalCompany.
uses the ordinal number format for both units, It is true that, at various times this area was
thatis,2nd/10thFieldRegiment. occupiedbyelementsoftheSchoolofArtillery:for
manyyearsLocatingWingwaspositionedthere,as
(cid:129) Second AIF units use the prefix ‘2/’ followed by
also was the 14.5 mm Trainer Range and it was
the full written title using the ordinal number
frequently used for local exercises such as
format,thatis,2/1stFieldRegiment.
practicing deployment, live firing out to sea and
Rules for staff duties abbreviations in the Army
survey.ButtheprincipallocationoftheSchoolwas
reduce unit and subunit titles to their shortest
notinNorthFortbutinNorthHeadArmyBarracks:
possibleformats,thatis,1FdRegt,101FdBtyand
there were the School's Headquarters, its
2/10 Fd Regt. This acknowledges that the 2nd AIF
instructional wings (other than Locating wing for
10th Field Regiment is abbreviated 2/10 Fd Regt
some years as mentioned above), its parade
which could be confused with the combined 2nd
ground,itspersonnelaccommodation,itsQstores,
and 10th Field Regiments. In cases where the
workshops,messesandplayingfields.
differenceisnotobvious,theofficialhistoriesseem
I would not like present and future gunners to be
torefertothe2/10thFdRegttodenotetheAIFunit.
broughtupwithabeliefthattheSchoolcamefrom
It is acknowledged that the use of the ordinal
North Fort to Puckapunyal. It came from North
number format can be somewhat of a mouthful in
HeadArmyBarracks!
speech, so with the typical Aussie trait of
abbreviating everything, the 101st Field Battery is
MediaRelease–OpeningCeremonyfortheSchool
moreoftenthannotspokenofas101(one-oh-one)
ofArtilleryPuckapunyal14March1997
Field Battery and the 1stField Regimentas 1 (one)
Field Regiment. Australian Diggers have thus Yourightlypickedupthemistakeinthetitleofthe
complicated ‘our’ version of the English language release that ‘1997’ should have been ‘1998’ but
yet again by writing our units in one format and there is another significant mistake. The article
pronouncingtheminanother. erroneously refers to Major General Sir William
Throsby Bridges being ‘killed in action while
Nowonderpeoplebecomeconfused!
commanding the 1st Division at Gallipoli’. Bridges
Ubique wasnotkilledinaction!Toquoteextractsfromthe
OfficialHistoryofAustraliainthe Warof1914-18,
ColonelArthurBurke,OAM(Retd)
VolII,TheStoryofANZACbyC.E.W.Bean:
ColonelCommandantNorthernRegion&
RAAHistoricalSubCommitteeMember ‘(on 15thMay 1915) … Thompson ran out to find
Bridgeslyingwithalargebullet-holethroughhisthigh.
Bothfemoralarteryandveinhadbeencutand,though
CorsotoCorso
Thompson stopped the bleeding, the loss of blood had
It was very pleasing to read of Lieutenant Colonel beenverygreat.
Ryans'satisfactionwiththeevolutionover10years
….. Bridges was taken at once to the hospital ship
ofTheSchoolofArtilleryatPuckapunyal.Itbrought
Gascon.Butthewholebloodsupplytothelimbhadbeen
home to me my address to the RAA Association
cutoff,andnothingcouldsavehislifeexceptcomplete
(NSW)Dinneron9August1997ontheoccasionof
amputation at the thigh, an operation which, it was
the last Annual Gunner Dinner to be held at North
considered, to a man of his years, must prove fatal.
Head.Anextractfromthataddressis:
Before the Gascon left for Alexandria he knew he was
‘Well, Puckapunyal is going to be different, a lot dying. “Anyhow,” he said to Colonel Ryan, “anyhow I
different(toNorthHead).ButIaminnodoubtthatfrom have commanded an Australian Division for nine
the point of view that really matters, excellence in months.”Hediedbeforetheshipreachedport.’
training, Puckapunyal is going to be worth sacrificing
allthatManlyoffered.’
6