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 142 Coordination Centre (FSCC). Having been an anti-aircraft gunner and a qualified army pilot, Neville was well qualified for the job. He visited several US formations to find out how air space and fire support was coordinated and wrote the initial 1 ATF standard operating procedures and employed his BC Party to run the FSCC for the first few months. His battery, as part of the regiment, participated in the Battle of Long Tan in August 1966 and went into direct support of 5 RAR thereafter. In late November the battery was involved in a fire mission for 5 RAR while on operations that was stopped by the Commanding Officer of the regiment. This led to a dispute about who had final authority to authorize the firing of the guns resulting in the CO being relieved of command. Neville was not present at the time because he had taken his replacement, Major Mick Burge, back to Nui Dat to show him around the base. He returned to Australia on 11 December and attended the Army Staff College, Fort Queenscliff, in 1967 graduating in second place. He was then posted to the Jungle Warfare Centre (JTC), Canungra, as a tactics instructor. While at JTC the Director of Artillery visited and said he was looking for someone recommended for promotion to lieutenant colonel, passed staff college, and with service in SVN to take command of 108 Field Battery (equipped with 105mm Pack Howitzers) which was scheduled to deploy to Singapore in September 1969. Unlike previous batteries it would not be part of a British regiment but independent and the first to serve in Singapore rather than Terendak. As the only officer qualified at that time, he readily accepted the offer knowing that he would not be considered for regimental command thereafter. The battery came under command of the 28 Commonwealth Infantry Brigade, relocated to Singapore from Terendak. The Brigade comprised of only two battalions and one field battery plus associated units. Apart from the two batteries in SVN, 108 was the only other battery on war establishment and all the regular officers and NCO had served in SVN. Neville’s main frustration, apart from ill-prepared local administrative support, was that he could get no guidance on what contingencies he should prepare for. As of 1 August 1971 the battery came briefly under command of the newly formed 28 ANZUK Field Regiment a unit of the 28 ANZUK Infantry Brigade. The battery had an intense exercise program in L-R: Lieutenant Colonel Bruce Trennery, Commanding Officer 1st Battalion Royal Australian Regiment; Major Neville Gair, Battery Commander 108th Field Battery; and Hon Andrew Peacock, Minister for the Army; at Selerang Barracks 1971. On right in in background Captain Don Tait.