LIAISON LETTER Spring 2017
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The Royal Australian Artillery LIAISON LETTER Spring 2017 The Official Journal of the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery Incorporating the Australian Gunner Magazine First Published in 1948 CONTENTS Editor’s Comment 1 Letters to the Editor 2 Regimental 3 Professional Papers 15 Around the Regiment 35 Rest 55 RAA Capability & Personnel 63 Associations & Organisations 73 LIAISON NEXT EDITION DEADLINE Contributions for the RAA Liaison Letter 2018 – Winter Edition should be forwarded to the LETTER Editor by no later than Friday 11th May 2018. Liaison Letter on‐line The Liaison Letter is on the DRN and can be Spring Edition found on the Head of Regiment ‐ Royal 2017 Regiment of Australian Artillery (RRAA) Share Point Page: http://drnet/Army/RRAA/PublicationsOrders/Pa Incorporating the ges/Publications.aspx Unit Content Managers Australian Gunner Magazine are requested to add this to their links. It is also on the Royal Australian Artillery Historical Company (RAAHC) & Australian Artillery Association websites. Publication information Front Cover: A Snap Shot of Regimental Life Front Cover Theme by: Major DT (Terry) Brennan, Staff Officer to Head of Regiment Compiled and Edited by: Major DT (Terry) Brennan, Staff Officer to Head of Regiment Published by: Brigadier Craig Furini AM, CSC, Head of Regiment Desktop Publishing: Major DT (Terry) Brennan & Assisted by Michelle Ray Front Cover & Graphic Design: DT (Terry) Brennan Printed by: Defence Publishing Service – Victoria Distribution: For issues relating to content or distribution contact the Editor on email: [email protected] or [email protected] Contributors are urged to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in their articles. The Royal Australian Artillery, Deputy Head of Regiment and the RAA Liaison Letter editor accept no responsibility for errors of fact. The views expressed in the Royal Australian Artillery Liaison Letter are the contributors and not necessarily those of the Royal Australian Artillery, Australian Army or Department of Defence. The Commonwealth of Australia will not be legally responsible in contract, tort or otherwise for any statement made in this publication. RAA Liaison Letter 2017 – Spring Edition RAA Liaison Letter 2017 – Spring Edition RAA Liaison Letter 2017 – Spring Edition RAA Liaison Letter 2017 – Spring Edition RAA Liaison Letter 2017 – Spring Edition RAA Liaison Letter 2017 – Spring Edition Without his ongoing support, Editor’s Comment understanding and long suffering patience with me … Welcome to the I acknowledge and thank Big Sky Publishing for Liaison Letter 2017 – their continued support of the Liaison Letter. Spring Edition. This Further I would like to take a moment to edition may seem late recognise and thank Simon Giles from the but in reality the Defence Publishing Service - Victoria. Without apparent delay in his ongoing support, understanding and long publishing is due to a suffering patience with me as a consequence of decision to include as my recent challenges in preparing the journal, much of the end of Head of Regiment could not deliver our high year activities as possible in this edition. As well quality journal twice a year into your mail box it assists in reducing the number of ‘return to without the support of Simon and his staff. sender’ copies I receive due to the disruptions created by the end of year posting cycle. Most importantly I thank all those people who I am still very much on a learning curve as the have taken time to put pen to paper (or fingers to combined, compiler, desk top publisher a key board) and made a submission to this (oversight from Michelle Ray) and editor of the edition. Without your support there would be no combined journals. It is a challenging but journal. rewarding balance. I apologise for any mistakes that were inadvertently introduced into the If you have something that is on your mind I previous edition eg accidental duplication of strongly encourage you to contribute to the paragraphs. ‘Letter to the Editor’ area or if you have read book on a military related subject that you believe others will enjoy and contribute to their … my sincere apologises to anyone military education please draft a book review. offended, upset or annoyed with my failure to ensure the spelling of ‘John I encourage readers, regardless of rank, to make Carr Ewen’ and ‘Edward William a contribution to the next edition. Mattner’ was correct and consistent … Further I offer my sincere apologises to anyone offended, upset or annoyed with my failure to ensure the spelling of ‘John Carr Ewen’ and ‘Edward William Mattner’ was correct and consistent throughout the last edition. DT (Terry) Brennan In this edition I have received a wide range of Major excellent contributions for all the sections. I Editor draw your attention to submissions in the Email: terry.brennan59@ yahoo.com.au or Professional Papers Section and the unit reports [email protected] in the Around the Regiment Section. Mobile: 0419 179 974 I would like to thank Brigadier Neil Sweeney for agreeing to be part of the ‘Five Minutes With ….’ feature. He has provided frank, comprehensive and insightful answers to my SUBMISSION DEADLINE questions. I think you will enjoy reading what FOR NEXT EDITION his thoughts and views are on a range of topics. FRIDAY 11TH MAY 2018 The Head of Regiment has launched and ‘Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery’ facebook PLEASE SEND LIAISON LETTER page. The page manager and point of contact is CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE EDITOR - Major Adam White email MAJOR DT (TERRY) BRENNAN AT [email protected]. I encourage you ANY TIME. to contact him with contributions. 1 RAA Liaison Letter 2017 – Spring Edition I have wondered about the true number myself and a few months ago enquired of an ex intelligence corps officer who has some Letters to the expertise in the various actions in which the Australians fought in Vietnam. His advice to me was: “After some quite detail research, my best Editor guess is about 1,750.” Freedom of Entry – Facts Clarified Given the likely sizes of the various units involved, I believe this is a sensible and likely to The Autumn 2017 edition of the Royal be accurate figure. Australian Artillery Liaison Letter included an article (written by MAJ M Finnerty) which Yours sincerely, Greg Gilbert detailed 8th/12th Regiment’s achievement of being granted Freedom of Entry to the city of Arthur Burke Answers Palmerston on 19th April 2016. Whilst this occasion represents a significant milestone for As the prelude to my article says, it was based the men and women of the 8th/12th Regiment, it on Ian Darlington's notes. The 4000 was Ian's should be noted that the article incorrectly figure. referred to the 8th/12th Regiment as the first military unit to be granted Freedom of Entry to I agree with Greg that the number of enemy has the City of Palmerston. The commander, officers always been controversial so I will check with a and soldiers of the 1st Brigade were granted mate of mine, former Intelligence Corps Freedom of Entry to the City of Palmerston in Brigadier (Retd) Ernie Chamberlain AM who 2000 under the command of Brigadier David has done much research and writing on this Hurley. Both occasions represent the strong subject. He has also translated Vietnamese relationship which exists between the men and records so will give a balance opinion. women of the 8th/12th Regiment, the 1st Brigade and the City of Palmerston. Ubique, Arthur Best Regards, Max Williams Editor Adjutant. 8th/12th Regiment RAA Greg thank you for your interest and for taking time to write and to Colonel Arthur Burke for Editor answering the query. Thank you for clarifying the situation. It is essential the Royal Regiment’s history is captured and recorded accurately to avoid confusion and misrepresentation of the facts to future generations of Gunners not to mention historians. Long Tan Generates Discussion I have just received the autumn editions of the Liaison Letter and Cannonball. One of the first articles I read was the one penned by Arthur Burke. Once again Arthur has written a very interesting article which highlights the importance of artillery at Long Tan; a decisive contribution to the battle which is so often overlooked. However, I must take issue with his numbers. It seems that the number of enemy D/6RAR faced on 18th August 1966 keeps increasing with the passing of the years. I had seen 2,500 previously but never the 4,000 quoted by Arthur. 2 RAA Liaison Letter 2017 – Spring Edition Regimental Grant and Scott Fletcher) and Regimental Representative Colonel Sergeant Majors (Stephen Schuman, Dean Sinclair, Jason Jarvis and Damien Lindsay). Commandant Thank you for your leadership and collegiate approach that has allowed not only your units, Brigadier AG (Gerry) but the RAA to flourish. Thanks also to those Warner AM, LVO Gunners moving on from other Regimental and (Retd) Artillery staff appointments. You have all made significant contributions and we wish you well in your next appointments - Once a Gunner, Always a Gunner. The Royal Regiment welcomes the new Commanding Officers (Paul Duncan, Rod Lang, Lachlan Searle and Nick Wilson) and Regimental Sergeant Majors (Nathan Cole, Paul Boswell, Jaimie Cornwall, Reg Grundell and Stephen Head of Schuman) to the RAA senior leadership team. Congratulations on your appointments; the Regiment Regimental Colonel Commandant and I look forward to working with you over the next two Brigadier CD (Craig) years. Furini AM, CSC) Good luck also to all those assuming new appointments across the Regiment, and in Combined Forward particular welcome to those who have recently joined the Royal Regiment, whether young Welcome to the latest edition of Liaison Letter. officers or IETs.