Official Newsletter of Royal Australian Artillery Association of WA (Inc), RAA Historical Society of WA (Inc) Web Site: http://www.artillerywa.org.au Email: [email protected] Edition 1 / 09 March 2009 REMEMBER ANZAC DAY - 2009 18 Pounder providing fire support to Australian attacks at Pozieres, July 1916 20 th Birthday - Foundation Members of RAAAHS Page 1 of 12 Mark these dates in your calendars ANZAC DAY – 25 April 2009 Dawn Service at Hobbs Artillery Park Memorial Wall Followed by Gunfire Breakfast. March through Perth Form Up Point – Cnr of St. George’s Tce & Irwin Street Opposite the Uniting Church Building Parade will finish at the Esplanade for the service. RAAHS BUSY BEES for 2009 LEIGHTON BATTERY OPEN DAYS The Leighton Battery Heritage Site is open on a 31st Jan 28 th Feb 28 th Mar 18 th Apr regular basis on the first Sunday of every month from 30 th May 27 th Jun 25 th Jul 29 th Aug 10 AM to 3:30 PM with tours of the tunnels every half 26 th Sep 31st Oct 28 th Nov No Dec hour. FRONT COVER Top: 18 pdr providing fire support to Australian attacks at Pozieres, July 1916 (Image AWM EZ0141) Below: 20 th Birthday of RAAHS showing foundation members at AGM Left to Right: Brian Hancock, Bruce Campbell, Bob Glyde, Ray Bird, Don Rae, Gabby D'Uva, Alan Newbey, Stan Davies. Inside this Issue – Main points RAA Association WA Aiming Post President’s Message 3 President’s Report 5 7 Fd Bty RAA News 4 Leighton Battery Heritage Site 7 Workshop Reopening 8 RAAHS Library 9 Truscott 10 3 New Members 11 Next Issue – June 2009 Subs to your Association or Society are now due – RAAA of WA (Inc) - $ 15 RAAHS - $ 25 We now have a Direct Debit facility – Please find the details in the relevant sections - The Editor gratefully acknowledges the contributions to the newsletter by the members, whose names appear with the corresponding articles. Articles, editorial comment or book reviews for publication should be submitted to the editor, at: Royal Australian Artillery Association of WA (Inc) PO Box 881, Claremont WA 6910. Phone: 92694544 Fax: 9269 4370 or E-mail the Editor at [email protected] Page 2 of 12 ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ARTILLERY ASSOCIATION WA (INC PRESIDENT’S REPORT Fellow Gunners, The Gunners’ Day 2008 service was held at Guildford, and celebrated the 80 th Anniversary of Gunners’ Day. It was pleasing to have Brigadier Phil White, Commander 13 Bde as our Reviewing Officer. Brigadier White attended his first military function as a Brigadier as Reviewing Officer for Gunners’ Day, and again as one of his last official functions as Commander 13 Bde. The committee is currently considering reverting back to the original Gunners’ Day format commencing with the Service in the church, then the march and memorial service. Besides reverting to the original format, it may attract more of the Gunner fraternity to attend, even if only for the march and memorial service. The Committee is also reconsidering the afternoon tea, and whether that may be held at another venue, but this is very much dependent upon the ability to involve the cadets. Any feedback would be welcome. I am sure we were all struck by the devastation of the Victorian Bushfires, and the loss of life and property. In response to this, the Committee decided to donate $1,000 from the welfare fund to the Victorian RSL Bushfires Relief fund to assist in rebuilding the lives of ex-service personnel who have suffered. On another front, the 2 nd /7 th Australian Field Regiment Association has been dissolved due to dwindling numbers. They have created a 2 nd /7 th Ex Members Association and 7 members have become affiliate members of the RAA Association WA. We welcome these members to our ranks. As to 2009, our next major event will be Anzac Day. There will be a Dawn Service at Hobbs Artillery Park, followed by a Gunfire Breakfast. This event was well attended last year, and I encourage all members to make the effort to attend. Details of the form up place in St George’s Terrace will appear in ‘The West Australian’. I look forward to seeing you there. Bob Farrelly LTCOL President, RAA Association You can Now pay your Membership Fees by Direct Debit! Members can go to any bank (or do it by electronic transfer) and make a deposit quoting The RAA Association’s BSB and Account Number and your Name. The Funds will automatically be transferred to the Association’s Account along with your name. Please do not forget to include It’s that Simple!! your name, so we know who the payment is from. Thank You. If you choose this method please quote: RAA Association of WA (Inc) – (Note: Some banks may required the full wording) Commonwealth Bank BSB Number: 066 163 Account Number: 0090 2583 Page 3 of 12 7 Field Battery RAA News Notes from X-Ray. 2009 began with several Battery officers actively deployed on overseas operations in the Solomon Islands, and it is becoming more and more apparent that opportunities for capable reservists are increasing within the Army. It is common knowledge that the days of the Battery's "main effort" being the provision of fire support and targeting to infantry and other manoeuvre units are long gone. While this may cause some ructions amongst ex-members, it is merely a reflection of the different world Australia as a country, and the ADF as an organisation, find ourselves in. The prospects of our participation in a conventional war seem as remote as they have ever been over the last 50 years of so. Therefore the value of massed artillery on the battlefield is questioned by many, and is one of the reasons why Army has decided to re-equip its reserve artillery units with mortars, which could be considered a more flexible and economical close-support weapon to our troops. So 2009 will see the Battery continue to operate with a "wait out" basis for the mortar transition. The proposal for the transition has been accepted at the most senior levels within Army and now it's down to determining the finer details of making it work. June 2009 will see the last shoot of the M2A2 in WA, and plans are already well advanced remembering that we had to cancel last years "last shoot" due to issues out of our control. All associations and ex-members will be invited to attend to ensure that we provide a fitting farewell to the guns. 7 Fd Bty is the incumbent holders of the Mount Schanck trophy, the competition for which is being placed on hold pending the release of a new competition based around mortar-equipped small units. This year will see many competing priorities for the Battery. Reserve Response Force (RRF) training is our main focus, that being our contribution to provide a capability in domestic and other security operations to Army. Per capita we maintain the largest RRF element of any 13 Brigade unit, which is a credit to our gunners. By most measures, 7 Field Battery remains the most capable Battery within 2 Div and all personnel can be proud of this. As always, the support of our past members through the activities of the various associations has been enthusiast and consistent. We welcome the continue presence of the tinkerers of the RAAHS(WA) and it is my earnest desire that links between serving members and our associations continue to be strengthened. I again look forward to working with you all over 2009, in what will be an exciting year for 7 Field Battery. Ubique. Steve Mathers MAJ BC 7 FD BTY WELFARE FUND and OFFICER John Walsh is the contact person as the Association’s Welfare Officer. Anybody that needs to discuss any Welfare Funding can contact John via email at [email protected] or [email protected] or by phone on 9269 4544, Wednesday mornings. Access to Funds can be made by applying in writing using the Welfare Fund Form, which is available on request. (From the Treasurer) The Association reminds Members that access to the Fund to help Gunners financially at a time of need is strictly confidential and all applications are treated as such. Page 4 of 12 THE AIMING POST The Royal Australian Artillery Historical Society Of Western Australia (Inc) President’s Report: Our AGM was held on Sunday 8th March 2009 with a record attendance. The highlight of this Meeting was the presentation of Long Service Achievement Badges to the following members. 10 YEAR MEMBERS FOUNDATION MEMBERS Matthew Adams Ray Bird Heidi D'Uva Bruce Campbell John Costa Doug Collins Andrew Dunjey Stan Davies John Down Gabby D'Uva Bob Glyde 15 YEAR MEMBERS Brian Handcock Robert Farrelly Steve Holloway Mal Guerin Ron Mason Murray Lampard Alan Newbey Michael More George Papa lan Randles Don Rae Scott Sullivan A few apologised as they were unable to attend. The Presidents Address appears hereunder: Royal Australian Artillery Historical Society Inc A.G.M Presidents Address The year 2009 represents an important date in this Society as twenty years have now been reached since its original formation. This has only been achieved by the dedication and support of you, the members. In particular we owe to the Curator a special mention for this drive, determination and at some times pure pigheadedness for the position the Society funds itself in today. Don Rae, a few days ago, celebrated his 80th Birthday - our congratulations. As you will note in the financial section the Society as at 12.2.2009 has funds just in excess of $65 000.00 and these will be required to assist in the Tunnel work programme.