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 141 Because his next posting was to a Royal Horse Artillery regiment in an armoured division with the British Army on the Rhine, he used this time to complete a squadron leaders tactics course at the RAC Centre, Lulworth, and a regimental officers gunnery course at Lark Hill. Much to his distress this posting was cancelled because it took too long to organize a medical board. As compensation he was posted as a troop commander with the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF) 2 Field Battery in newly independent Ghana – formerly the Gold Coast, 1957-1959. Before departing he visited the designated tailor who tried to convince him that, befitting the former colony’s name, RWAFF officers wore sold gold buttons on their dress uniforms. Neville side stepped this suggestion and was next offered 12 shirts again beyond his meagre resources and needs and finally left with a pair of putties much to the chagrin of the old tailor. The RWAFF comprised three infantry battalions and the field battery. In 1958, the battery was converted to the reconnaissance role comprising a headquarters and two troops to respond rapidly to constant unrest and rebellion. Initially they used machinegun mounted Land Rovers with a crew of six replaced towards the end of his tour by Saladin armoured cars. They then officially became the Ghana Reconnaissance Squadron with Neville as the second in command. In 1960 he was accepted for pilot training at the Army Air Corps Centre, Middle Wallop, fulfilling a lifelong ambition. He graduated at the end of the year as a light aircraft pilot and was posted to 6th Flight Army Air Corps in Middle Wallop. For the next three years he undertook flight missions across the UK, Europe, and the Middle East. He also did a helicopter conversion course whilst there and regularly flew both types of aircraft. The vagaries of weather, busy skies, and the limitations of technology presented many challenges. His most harrowing incident occurred while returning from the 1962 Paris Air Show when engine failure forced him to ditch an Auster in the English Channel. Fortunately, air sea rescue quickly came to his aid. It transpired that this was the Auster’s fourth and final crash landing. He was also engaged in some intense operations with MI5 and MI6 involving the covert tracking of vehicles by helicopter and the insertion and extraction of field agents in western Europe by fixed wing aircraft. The latter were conducted in blackout conditions at night relying on agents to pick suitable landing sites and mark them correctly for landing and take-off. During these years he met a couple of Australian army aviators, Captain Harry Benson - in the UK for air operations training - and Paul Lipscombe. The former suggested he move to Australia where army aviation was in its infancy. However, it was not until the prospect of a staff appointment loomed and a prolonged period of inclement weather set in that Sally suggested he talk to the Australians again about moving there. Australian Experience It was initially intended that he undertake Bell 206 Kiowa helicopter conversion and instructor courses in the US, but a medical examination found that he had high tone deafness, so his flying career was over. Nevertheless, he was readily accepted into the Royal Australian Artillery. His initial posting was as a troop commander and then battery captain of A Field Battery, 1 Field Regiment at Holsworthy commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Peter Falkland. In September 1964 he was promoted to command 103 Field Battery. By the end of 1965 he had also completed the staff college entrance examinations and a battery commanders’ course. Headquarters 1 Field Regiment and 103 Battery were deployed to South Vietnam in May 1966. 105 Field Battery and 161 Field Battery RNZA, already in SVN, joined the regiment thereafter under the command of Lieutenant Colonel RMC Cubis. There being only two infantry battalions in country, 103 Battery became the general support battery with the BC heading the newly formed 1st Australian Task Force Fire Support