RAA Liaison Letter 2024 - 2025 Edition

RAA L I A I SON L ETTER – 2024 – 2025 E D I T I ON C ANNON BALL S UP PLEMENT 133 earlier, RTA to attend Staff College. He was succeeded by the BC HQ Bty (then Capt. Paul Jones) who was promoted to Major to command the Battery until its RTA in Mar 1968. 12 Fd Regt. There are no War Diaries available for 12 Fd Regt on the AWM Website. The reason for this is speculative but I can say from personal experience that 1 Fd Regt who followed 12 Fd Regt did not submit any War Diaries for their first 5 months. Suffice to say, I was complicit in “the fix” when I became the Adjutant in Jun 1969. The only item in the 102 Bty account that raises the odd eyebrow is that they occupied 30 Fire Support Bases (FSB) in their 12-month tour. The 102 Bty narrative only mentions two; Coral and Harrison while their sister battery 104 lists four; Concord, Dyke, Wattle and Flinders which is consistent with my memories from 6 months in the battery. 30 Fire Bases in 12 months is 2.5 fire bases per month? Suffice to say, I was complicit in “the fix” when I became the Adjutant in Jun 1969. P.S. A late disclaimer: In the 4 RAR history (“Mission in Vietnam”) claimed they were in 17 FSB’s which is inconsistent with my recollections, but I guess raises the question what was a FSB? Was it a roadside stop or a brief return to an old site where you got away a few rounds or a defended locality where you meant to stay for a while in support of an operational mission? Like truth, hyperbole is a well-known feature of making War. 1 Fd Regt. The only comment is that 105 Bty (not to be outdone by 102 Bty) occupied 31 FSB in their 12 months while only listing Polly and Cape in their narrative (that was 2 documented FSB ‘s in 10 weeks) so they were clearly very busy for the other 42 weeks. Their sister battery (101) like 104 had a much quieter time listing four FSB’s (Virginia, Discovery, Picton and Peggy). I also think FSB Nola was also in the picture at some stage. 4 Fd Regt (Second Tour). The CO (Lieutenant Colonel BC Forward) an eminent Gunner is not mentioned at all. I am not at certain about the significance of the picture of the HQ Bty 12 Fd Regt sign under the 4 Fd Regt opening entry? 106 Bty. (Second Tour). Major PC Jones is incorrectly listed as the BC which has been the subject of earlier comment. Major David Gilroy commanded the Bty from 27 Jan to 10 Nov 1970 when he also RTA to attend Staff College. His BK. (Captain Barry Campbell) commanded the Bty for the remainder of the tour until 4 Feb 191971. 107 Bty. The record shows two BCs in Major George Salmon (21 Apr to 8 Jul 1970) and then Major Ken MacKenzie. In fact, the Bty was commanded by Major Keith Hall from 8 Jul 1970 to 15 Feb 1971. Keith Hall was BC HQ Bty but assumed command after George Salmon’s accident on 8 Jul 1970 which led to his RTA. Major Ken MacKenzie came up from Australia to replace Keith Hall as BC HQ Bty on 20 Aug 1970. When Keith Hall RTA on 15 Feb1971, Ken MacKenzie commanded 107 Bty until its RTA on 8 Mar 1971. 12 Field Regiment / 104 Field Battery (both Second Tour) / A Field Battery. No comments on this entry but the overall narrative on key Regimental postings is defined by its inaccuracy in so many places. Some BC’s HQ Bty are mentioned (but not all) and the same applies to TFAIO’s. As has been made clear in other contributions, these were key appointments in the newly emerging organization known as Arty Tac. A list of these appointments over the period of conflict is shown as Attachment 1.