Prime Minister Gorton announced that, despite the British withdrawing from the Far East, Australian forces would remain in Malaysia/Singapore. 108 Bty was farewelled on 30 September for its new home in Singapore. In exchange, 107 Bty (MAJ D. Quinn) arrived home to under command 4th Field. Both 106 and 107 Btys had their final exercises at Shoalwater Bay in the latter part of 1969. Vietnam Again On 4 February 1970, 106 Bty (MAJ D.J. Gilroy) relieved 105 Bty in Vietnam and came under command of 1 Fd Regiment (LTCOL H.J.C. Beck). RHQ (2IC MAJ D. Quinn) and HQ Bty (CAPT K.R. Hall) arrived on 5 March and at 1200 hrs on the 7th, LTCOL B.C. Forward assumed operational control of 1 ATF Arty. This included 101 Bty (MAJ J.F. Bertram) in direct support (DS) 6 RAR/NZ, 106 Bty in DS 7 RAR, 161 Bty RNZA (MAJ R.J. Andrews) in DS 8 RAR, det 131 Div Loc Bty (CAPT B.W. Kennedy) and C/2/35 Bty US Arty-155 mm SPs (CAPT W. Cleavin). At that time A/7/8 US Arty (175 mm SP) were also supporting 1 ATF. Approximately 60 percent of Australian Gunners were National Servicemen. Operations were now generally smaller (battalion level and independent company groups) and far more dispersed than in 1967-68. It was not uncommon for batteries to operate in three gun sections and a battery/section to perform daily artillery raids. Single 105 mm L5 Pack Hows were also deployed to support engineer land clearing teams and LOs were regularly dispatched to II FFV Arty, Bearcat, Baria and Xuan Loc for artillery clearance duties. The Horseshoe position 8 km south-east of Nui Dat was almost constantly manned by at least a section of guns. There were also regular naval gunfire support shoots as USN and RAN ships were available off the south coast. Op Toan Thang IV denying enemy access routes and destroying any enemy camps located was current. A US 23-inch searchlight detachment was attached to 1 ATF Arty. On 22 March, BDR R.D. Anton died accidentally from a grenade detonation in HQ Bty lines. Anton was a well-liked, happy-go-lucky soldier and his loss was a sobering welcome back to active service for 4th Field. A regimental fire plan was called by BC 161 Bty on 16 April 1970 based on a Hoi Chanh (surrender for freedom) informer. 106 and 161 and US C/1/8 Fd Btys, and B/7/8 (175 mm SP) participated. This was one of the very few such missions fired by 4 Fd Regt during 1970 -71. 1 ATF Op Concrete commenced on 20 April and operated in the Xuyen Moc area (22 km east of Nui Dat) to destroy the HQ of D445. 4th Field's Arty Tac deployed forward for the first time this tour to a TFHQ base 5 km SE of Xuyen Moc. The three field batteries and C/2/35 Bty US Arty (155 mm SP) all deployed to FSBs. This was 6 RAR/NZ's last op and on 22 April 1970 as A Coy was coming into an LZ 7 km south of Xuyen Moc to be flown back to Nui Dat, a mine detonated killing 101 Bty FO LT B.A. Garland and wounding four others. Garland had been a popular young officer in 1 Fd Regt and official pall bearers at his funeral at RMC Duntroon included fellow LT’s A.R. Burke and J.P. Stevens. 107 Bty (MAJ G.T. Salmon) relieved 101 Bty in Nui Dat on 7 May 1970. Awards to the departing battery included MIDs for MAJ J.F. Bertram, Capt M.J. Wilson and SGT B.F. Ranson. In early May a section of US Dusters (twin 40 mm Bofors on a tank chassis) joined the 1 ATF firepower. On 18 and 19 May 1970, the two mortar locating radars of det 131 Div Loc Bty closed down in preparation for the start of withdrawing Australian troops from Vietnam. It had also been announced that 8 RAR would not be replaced when it returned home in November. 2 RAR/NZ had replaced 6 RAR. It commenced its only true battalion operation (Capricorn) on 26 May to find and destroy the enemy in the Hat Dich area (11 km NW of Nui Dat). The five companies deployed with 107 Bty in DS flying into FSB Nola (10 km
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