RAA Liaison Letter 2024 - 2025 Edition

RAA Liaison Letter 2024 / 2025 Edition 9 • Brigadier Royal Artillery, Army Headquarters • Commander Royal Artillery, 3rd Australian Infantry Division • Commander Royal Artillery, Northern Territory Force • Brigadier Royal Artillery, Advanced Land Headquarters • Corps Commander Royal Artillery, II Australian Corps. The award was originally presented to the student achieving the highest marks in practical examinations for First Appointment Field Branch Artillery (Subject 1C Special to Arm - Tactical Examination). On reactivation of this award, it was presented to the NSW Reserve student achieving the highest marks on the Regimental Officers Basic Course OS. RAA Standing Orders states that the CO/CI of the School of Artillery administered this award and that it has now lapsed. The mystery is that the historical connection of the award to the School of Artillery has been lost with the passage of time. In fact despite research by myself and others it is still not clear what was the actual form the Brigadier Chalmers award. These historical connections with our past are currently just words in RAA SO with no tangible evidence of their existence. Please take a few minutes to review the display cabinets of your Regiment or Battery; association or kindred organisations or anywhere you recall seeing trophies on display. Saint Barbara’s Day Gunner’s Race An initiative of the Head of Regiment in 2024 was the launch of the annual Saint Barbara’s Day Gunner’s Race. The race is designed to promote the Regimental (Gunners’) Fund and encourage spirited competition between the Regiments and Batteries of the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery. The race will be conducted between the 1st November each year when financial contributions can be made to the Gunners’ Fund in support of a chosen Regiment or Battery. On Saint Barbara’s Day, the Regiment or Battery with the most money pledged to it is awarded the trophy. The inaugural “Gunner’s Race” was won in 2024 by the School of Artillery. In the spirit of repurposing “old trophies”, Head of Regiment agreed to repurpose the former Saint Barabara’s Day Gymkhana trophy which was originally presented to 1st Field Regiment in 1959 by Brigadier Sir John Pagan. In 1994 1st Field Regiment repurposed this trophy as the 1st Division Artillery Rugby competition second grade trophy. It now, for the third time, with its original connection to Saint Barbara’s Day, has been given a new purpose as the Saint Barbara’s Day Gunner’s Race trophy. Regimental Gunners Fund The financial support for the Regimental Gunners Fund from Gunner’s both serving and retired during 2024 was a mere trickle. Only 11 individuals and one association took up the invitation to be a life-subscriber, a welcome improvement on the three from 2023. Even more disappointing is the number of individuals, especially from those serving, who subscribe fortnightly has reduced to two in 2024. I encourage you to support the Royal Regiment by becoming a life-subscriber or fortnightly contributor. There is a form in the Associations and Organisations Section of this edition. Regimental Farewells There will be Officer, WO and SNCO farewells in November this year. Please see the advertisements in this edition for more information including dates. The Officer farewells dining out night will be held on Friday 7th November and the WO & SNCO function will be on Saturday 8th November. EOI to Join the HOR Team My Compulsory Retirement Age (CRA) extension is only for two years, as is that of Major Gary Down, therefore if you are a Reserve Officer or Warrant Officer or someone who has recently transitioned to the Reserve and are interested in becoming part of the Head of Regiment team contact myself, please. Whilst there is still a good while before we finish time does fly by and can catch you napping. It is a professionally and personally rewarding appointment.