At 1200 hrs on 8 March 1971 following a memorial service for LT Garland and BDR Anton, CO LTCOL Forward handed over operational control of 1 ATF Arty to LTCOL B.R. Topfer of 12 Fd Regt. RHQ and HQ Bty departed Vietnam and 107 Bty came under command of 12 Fd Regt, returning to Australia on 7 May 1971. This last operational tour of 4 Field Regiment RAA in Vietnam included 142 572 rounds fired, two deaths and the following awards: OBE—LTCOL B.C. Forward; MID—MAJ D. Quinn, MAJ D.J. Gilroy, Capt P.J. Dunn, Capt B.J. Campbell, WO1 I.V. Rickerby, SSGT W.R. Bostock, SSGT B.H. Rudduck, SGT J.A. Brewer, SGT K. O’Sullivan (AACC); MSM — WO1 L.R. Wheeler, WO1 I.V. Rickerby. I caught up with Syd Farrow (BSM HQ Bty 70/71) for coffee today (Thursday 19 Feb) at our local club. Syd tells me that all his 101 Bty mates from Malaya have all gone. He is physically well but age does weary him. I mentioned that there might be a couple of our Old Boys coming to Laurieton for Anzac Day. He is not too good with names these days. With Anzac Day fast approaching, if you find yourself wondering where to attend, perhaps consider joining a few other Old Boys at Laurieton. Some have been here before, and the Laurieton RSL Sub-branch and the LUSC club will look after us. Please let me know if you plan on attending as I will have to arrange tickets to the post service luncheon etc. Those coming that I know of so far are staying in the North Haven area. Get in touch with me if you need help with accommodation or transport. Let me know of other Anzac Day activities that you know of and or meeting places and I will let everyone know closer to the day. The notice below is from the RAAHC regarding the Firepower Seminar Series. Some excellent papers originated from the first seminar which concentrated on the employment of Australian artillery in WWI. I commend the seminar to you all. Finally, on the last page is the March RAA Calander. Brigadier John Cox, (Retd) explains: “The idea of an Australian Artillery Calendar for serving and retired Gunners has been on agendas for decades. This year’s long trial intentionally only provides month size bites of calendar information. The trial’s previous distributions, over six months of an Australian Artillery Calendar for a calendar month have generated some helpful responses. Please keep them coming. Thank you for your support. A question that needs to be considered is how should the calendar information be made accessible after the trial period? There are many options, and management effort will be a factor.” Any comments or suggestions regarding the Calander, may be forwarded to me and I will pass on to John Cox. That’s it for this edition. Thanks again to all those who contributed and I look forward to further news from you all. Have a great Anzac Day and please let me know how you went and any photos would be of interest to all I am sure. Don’t forget that 11 March is nearly upon us and it marks the 55th anniversary of the date 4th Field Regiment deployed to Vietnam for the second time. It is also 54 years since the Regiment RTA. Best wishes to one and all. Pete
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