The Royal Australian Artillery LIAISON LETTER 2025 - 2026 Edition The Official Journal of the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery Incorporating the Australian Gunner Magazine Published Continuously Since 1948 Edition Number 97
RAA LIAISON LETTER 2025 / 2026 Edition Print Version Incorporating the Australian Gunner Magazine CONTENTS Vale In Focus 1 Letters to the Editor 5 Editors Comment 9 Representative Colonel Commandant 19 Head of Regiment - Outgoing 21 Head of Regiment – Incoming 23 Regimental Master Gunner 25 Regimental Notes 29 Around the Regiment 57 Professional Papers 95 Cannonball Supplement 109 Associations & Organisations 149 Publication information Front Cover Theme: Major DT (Terry) Brennan, Staff Officer Grade Two Head of Regiment Compiled & Edited: Major DT (Terry) Brennan, Staff Officer Grade Two Head of Regiment Published: Lieutenant Colonel C (Chris) D’Aquino, Deputy Head of Regiment Desktop Publishing: Major DT (Terry) Brennan Front Cover & Graphic Design: Major DT (Terry) Brennan Printing Arranged: Defence Publishing Service Distribution: For issues relating to content or distribution contact the Editor on email: terry.brennan59@yahoo.com.au or terry.brennan@defence.gov.au Contributors are urged to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in their articles. The Royal Australian Artillery, Head of Regiment, Deputy Head of Regiment, and the RAA Liaison Letter editor accept no responsibility for errors of fact. The views expressed in the Royal Australian Artillery Liaison Letter are the contributors and not necessarily those of the Royal Australian Artillery, Australian Army, or Department of Defence. The Commonwealth of Australia will not be legally responsible in contract, tort or otherwise for any statement made in this publication. NEXT EDITION DEADLINE Contributions for the RAA Liaison Letter 2025 – 2026 should be forwarded to the Editor by no later than Wednesday 9th December 2026. Liaison Letter on-line The Liaison Letter is also available on the Royal Australian Artillery Historical Company (RAAHC) & Australian Artillery Association websites.
RAA Liaison Letter 2025/2026 Edition 1 VALE IN FOCUS ON TWO GUNNERS OF RENOWN FROM A DIFFERENT ERA PATRICK JOHN (PADDY) DURNFORD, OAM 30 JANUARY 1939 – 23 JANUARY 2026 Peter Bruce, OAM Patrick, or Paddy as everyone knew him, was born at Te-Teho on the Southern Alps of the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. His early schooling was in Auckland where he lived with his brother and father after his parents’ separation. In 1952, Paddy and his brother moved to Sydney to live with his mother and sister. At the age of 14, Paddy decided he had had enough of school and left home to work on a cattle and sheep property near Mittagong in NSW. On 8th August 1956, at the age of 17, Paddy enlisted in the Australian Regular Army (ARA). After completing recruit training at Kapooka he was allocated to the RAA. He completed initial gunnery training at the School of Artillery North Head, and his first unit posting was to ‘S’ Battery of 1st Field Regiment at Holsworthy. The Battery was at that stage equipped with 4.2-inch mortars. ‘S’ Battery was renamed 102nd Light Battery in 1959 and he stayed with the Battery until 1960. In May 1960, Paddy was posted to the newly raised 4th Field Regiment at Wacol in Queensland. He was allocated to 103rd Field Battey which had been warned out for service in Malaya. On 9th October 1961 Paddy and the Battery sailed from Sydney on board the ‘MV Flamina’ and arrived in Singapore 14 days later. The Battery was then transported to Terendak Camp, near Malacca on the Malaysian Peninsula. Even though the ‘Emergency’ was officially over, the Battery was involved in anti-terrorist operations on the Thai-Malayan border. During their two-year tour, 103rd Field Battery was attached to the British Army’s 26th Field Regiment in support of a British battalion, rather than the Australian 2nd Battalion, RAR. The Battery was issued with the new 105mm L5 Pack Howitzers and was the first Australian Gunner unit to lift and transport the L5s in RAF Whirlwind helicopters. Paddy and the Battery returned to Australia in November 1963 to join 1st Field Regiment at Holsworthy. The Australian Government had committee the ADF to support US forces in Vietnam and 105th Field Battery had deployed in September 1965. 1st Field Regiment had been warned out for duty in Vietnam and Paddy, with 103rd Field Battery deployed to Vietnam in May 1966. Paddy at this stage had been promoted to Sergeant. 103rd Field Battey was one of the batteries supporting D Company 6 RAR in the action at Long Tan in August 1966. 103rd Field Battery returned to Australia in May 1967 with the Regiment returning to Holsworthy. Paddy was part of the team retraining the Battery in the use of the 5.5 inch guns and 103 became 103rd Medium Battery. During 1968, Paddy was promoted to Warrant Officer Class Two and appointed Battery Guide (BG) of ‘A’ Field Battery, a sub-unit of 12th Field Regiment. This Regiment had been warned out for deployment to Vietnam. In January 1970, 12th Field Regiment moved to Townsville to take over the barracks of 4th Field Regiment which had deployed to Vietnam. In February 1971, ‘A’ Field Battery with Paddy as BG, deployed to Vietnam. For Paddy it was his second operational deployment to Vietnam. In October/November of
RAA Liaison Letter 2025/2026 Edition 2 that year, ‘A’ Field Battery and the rest of 12th Field Regiment, returned to Holsworthy in Australia as part of the wind down of ADF units in Vietnam. In January 1973, Paddy was posted back to Townsville and 4th Field Regiment. His initial appointment was as Battery Sergeant Major (BSM) of Headquarters Battery. He later moved to BSM of 108th Field Battery. During 1975, Paddy deployed to Canada for three months as the Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) of a two company formation from 3rd Brigade as an exchange group. Paddy elected discharge from the ARA in 1976 after 20 years’ service. His relationship with the military, especially 4th Field Regiment, would resume sometime later. After discharge, Paddy put his hand to a variety of jobs. He initially worked in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Markets in Townsville and later as the North Queensland Representative for Edgell’s Canned Food Division. Paddy and his wife Denise operated a very successful fast-food outlet – Paddy’s Fish Bar – in Townsville. During 1989, Paddy and Denise sold up in Townsville and became ‘Grey Nomads’ for 12 months. In 1990, they settled in Canberra where Paddy started work with the Department of the Senate. The following year he accepted a position as a Watch Officer / Security Officer with the Defence Intelligence Organisation (DIO). He was back in the ADF as a civilian. In 1996, Paddy and Denise moved to Port Macquarie where he found employment as a Warehouse Manager for Target. The following year, Paddy was classified as TPI by the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA). In 1996 they moved back to Townsville and Paddy worked as a volunteer welfare officer at the local RSL Sub-branch for three years. In 2000, Paddy was invited to fill the role of Curator of the 4th Regiment RAA Historical Collection at Lavarack Barracks. Paddy stayed with this role for over 22 years and oversaw the establishment of a significant collection of memorabilia and digital records. He eventually stood down on St Barbara’s Day 2022. In 2018, Paddy was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his services to the Veteran Community for over 20 years. In recognition of his service, the collection, has be named the Paddy Durnford, OAM 4th Regiment RAA Collection. His wife Denise had also been awarded an OAM in 2015 for service as an RSL Hospital Visitor and her work within the Veteran Community. Paddy had medical issues in his final years and succumbed to these on 23 January 2026 at the age of 86. He was surrounded by family and love to the end. A funeral service for Paddy was held in Townsville with a wake following at a local Leagues Club. Paddy had requested that at his funeral there be “no flowers and no ties and to dress comfortably and bright”. The daughter of lifelong friend Ken Burgess gave a eulogy on behalf of the family. A member of the TPI Association Far North Queensland, conducted a Poppy Service for Paddy. Acknowledgements: • Paddy’s life story in brief written by himself. • The Gunners, A History of Australian Artillery by David Horner. • Paul Durnford LIEUTENANT COLONEL JOHN ERIC JENVEY, MBE, PSC, JSSC (RETD) 26 April 1935 – 27 January 2026 Peter Bruce, OAM John was born in Brighton, Victoria on 26 April 1935. His early schooling was completed in Sydney with secondary school at Sydney Grammar. At the age of 17 he enlisted in the Australian Regular Army and passed the selection criteria to enter the Royal Military College (RMC), Duntroon in February 1953. It was while he was at RMC he became known as
RAA Liaison Letter 2025/2026 Edition 3 Jock and this stuck with him all his life. In 1955, Jock was selected in the First Eleven for the RMC Cricket Team as a medium pace bowler. Jock graduated on 11 December 1956 as Lieutenant, number nine in the Graduation Order of Merit. He was allocated to the Royal Australian Artillery (RAA), one of 12 Graduates who were so allocated. Jock’s first posting was to the School of Artillery where he completed the ROBC. In 1957, with National Service in full swing in Australia, Jock was posted as an instructor initially with 12th National Service Battalion (NSB) at Holsworthy and then to 13th National Service Battalion at Ingleburn. In June 1958, Jock was posted to his first RAA appointment when he joined 102nd Light Battery of 1st Field Regiment at Holsworthy. The Regiment had taken over the barracks vacated by 12th NSB. In September 1958 Jock married Marguerite and in November 1958, Jock moved to 101st Battery and as a Temporary Captain. In early 1959. 101st Battery had been warned out to replace 100 ‘A’ Field Battery in Malaya. The following year in September 1959, Jock and 101st Battery boarded the MV Flaminia on route to Malaya. They arrived in Singapore on 1 October 1959 and moved to Butterworth to take over from ‘A’ Battery. Their first son Gordon was born in December 1959. Jock at this time was Troop Commander of Charlie Troop. He was appointed Captain in December 1960 while in Malaya and spent time working at the Headquarters, 17th Gurkha Division. A second son, Charles, was born in June 1961. In October 1961 the Battery returned to Australia to become part of 4th Field Regiment at Wacol in Brisbane. Jock was then posted as Adjutant of 11th Field Regiment in Brisbane. This was a Citizens Military Force (CMF) Regiment with a Regular Army Cardre staff. During 1963, Jock was detached to 34th Construction Squadron, Royal Australian Engineers, for Operation Blowdown. Operation Blowdown was an explosives test carried out in the Kutini-Payamu jungle of Australia's Cape York Peninsula in 1963, to simulate the effects of a nuclear weapon on tropical rainforest. After this detachment, Jock was posted as an Instructor at the Officer Cadet School (OCS) Portsea. A daughter, Susan, was born in September 1963. The following year, 1964 he was promoted to Major and appointed Senior Instructor, OCS. Towards the end of 1965, Jock’s promotion to Major was confirmed and he was posted as Battery Commander (BC) of 108th Field Battery, 4th Field Regiment, then barracked at Wacol in Brisbane. Australia had committed troops to the Vietnam war and 105th Battery had deployed there in September 1965 with RAA resources eventually increased to Regimental Level. 1st Field Regiment had deployed in May 1966 and were to be replaced by 4th Field Regiment, with 106th and 108th Batteries. Jock took 108th Battery to Vietnam in May 1967 after a long battle with shortage of personnel and limited time for training a battery for war. Many of the new Gunners joining his Battery were National Servicemen. During the Battery’s 12-month deployment, they fired 68,159 rounds. Jock was awarded a Member of The British Empire (MBE) for his services as BC of the Battery in Vietnam. Jock and his Battery returned to Australia in May 1968 to their old lines at Wacol. In June, elements of 4th Field Regiment moved to Townsville. Jock was appointed Second in Command (2IC) of the Regiment and from August 1968 until January 1969, was appointed Admin Commander of the Regiment. He was then posted to the Headquarters of 1st Division in Sydney as Staff Officer Grade 2. In 1970 Jock was posted to Staff College in the England. He remained there for just under two years before a posting back to
RAA Liaison Letter 2025/2026 Edition 4 Australia and promotion to Lieutenant Colonel with the Directorate of Artillery in Canberra. In November 1973, 12th Field Regiment and 8th Medium Regiment were combined to form 8th/12th Medium Regiment, at Holsworthy. Jock was appointed as the new units first Commanding Officer. He remained with the Regiment until December 1975. In 1976 Jock attended the Joint Services Staff College. Twins, John and Michael joined the family in June 1976. The following year he was posted as Staff Officer Grade One (SO1), Headquarters Field Force Command. This was to be his last posting as a Regular Officer. Jock transferred to the Army Reserve in October 1978. Jock remained a member of the Army Reserve until 1985 with appointments at Headquarters 2nd Division and 7th Brigade. He stood down from military service in 1985 after a total of 30 years’ service. In a post military career, Jock took on a position as Director of the Queensland Police Academy in Brisbane and remained with them for ten years. An interesting time for Jock and Marguerite as they watched the rise and fall of Terry Lewis, a former Queensland Police Commissioner from 1976 to 1987. Looking for a tree change, Jock purchased 120 acres near Valla on the mid north coast of NSW, about 15mins from the nearest beach. He planted a few thousand macadamia trees and farmed them to full maturity and production. Jock and Marguerite stayed farming until the early 2000's. Jock and Marguerite then moved back to Brisbane to a large home and acreage in Pullenvale. In 2013, they downsized from Pullenvale to a riverside apartment in St Lucia (Brisbane). They did a lot of cruises and world travel for the next few years and played a lot of social and semi-competitive Bridge. Jock stayed fit with long daily treks from the St Lucia apartment along the Brisbane River around the University of Queensland. Often these walks were 10+ Km, and he kept this up until 87 years old when his health declined rapidly with Leukemia and regular falls and lack of energy became a part of life and severely limited his ability to get out and about. Jock passed on 27 January 2026, three months shy of his 91st birthday. A farewell service for Jock was held at Centenary Gardens, Wacol on Friday 30 January 2026. This service was followed by drinks and refreshments at the United Service Club, Wickham Terrace, Brisbane. Joining the family at his service were several members of the battery Jock took to Vietnam as well as members of the RAA Association of Queensland of which Jock was a Life Member. Honours and Awards • The Order of the British Empire (Military) • AASM (Malaya & Vietnam) • GSM (Malaya) • Vietnam Medal ASM (SE Asia) • Defence Force Service Medal (2 Clasps) • National Medal (1Clasp) • Australian Defence Medal • Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal • Pinjat Jasa Malaysia Medal • Returned from Active Service Badge • Army Combat Badge Acknowledgements: • David Troedel’s records of 101st Battery in Malaya. • RMC Duntroon Class of ’56 Compendium. • Journal of RMC Volume 34 Number 42 (May 1956). • Roger…Ready – The Story of 108 Field Battery in the Vietnam War. • RAAHC Web Site www.artilleryhistory.org • Mrs Marguerite Jenvey (Jock’s widow). Mr Michael Jenvey (Jock’s son).
RAA Liaison Letter 2025/2026 Edition 5 Letters to the Editor Positive Feedback Got the above today. It must be a nightmare bringing this together from such a vast array of contributors. The result is a very professional production that you can be justly proud of. I look forward to being able to visit the Army Museum Puckapunyal next year. Great Work, LTCOL Bob Lowry (Retd) Editor. Thank you for your wonderful feedback, yes at times it can be a tad frustrating, however comments like yours make it all worthwhile. Widow’s Message On the passing of John Elliott. I would like to record that John always enjoyed the Liaison Letter. Read it cover to cover, and appreciated the work involved by you. Many thanks Margaret (Maggie) Elliott A Proud Gunner For many years I have been on the mailing list for RAA Liaison Letter. I have also been a member of RAAHC. I am a retired Army Reserve officer. Although commissioned as an infantry officer in Melbourne University Regiment about two thirds of my army career was spent in artillery, until I reached the rank of LTCOL. After that it was all non-corps postings. However I remain a gunner and that’s where my friends still are. In civilian life I practised as a solicitor in Melbourne for over 50 years. I turn 80 years of age this year. I now struggle to keep up with what is going on in the Royal Regiment. I am part of a quarterly gunner luncheon group that Colonel Jason Cooke is a member of, and Jason keeps us up to date and that really is sufficient for me. I am conscious of the cost (not to mention the enormous effort) that must go into putting the Liaison Letter together and circulating it and feel uncomfortable that sending it to me adds in a small way to that cost. For the benefit I get from it the cost is not justifiable. I ask that I be removed from the mailing list but thank you for keeping me on it for so long. Kind Regards LTCOL John Henry (Retd) RAA National Memorial Update Dear fellow gunners and supporters on behalf of the Regimental Committee, many thanks again for your contribution to the Royal Australian Artillery National Memorial extension project. I write to provide a brief update. In retrospect, 2025 was a very good year for us. We began with an agreed concept for an extended Memorial but not much beyond that. We now have a: • group of eminent Australians including two former Governors General, an Australian Senator, and the President of RSL Australia, who have lent their names and support to the project; • network of working level supporters from Army and the corporate sector; • developing understanding of regulatory requirements; • maturing suite of drawings and technical specifications; • more refined order of magnitude fundraising target of $600,000; • good understanding of the DVA grants under the Saluting Their Service program; and • growing bank balance that is approaching the level we need to apply for a DVA grant. Our next steps include: • finalising our document suite; • securing necessary regulatory approvals; • going to tender to identify a preferred builder and confirm a price for the works; and • finalising fundraising including applying for a DVA grant. While there is still much to do, we are hopeful that we’ll commence construction in late 2026 or early 2027 and plan to rededicate the Memorial in 2027, the 50th year since its original opening. As the project has unfolded, we have been greatly encouraged by the support of the gunner community and some extraordinary generosity from several private and corporate benefactors. That said, we’re not there yet on fundraising, and we’d very much welcome any further taxdeductible donations you might be able to make. We’d also greatly appreciate you continuing to talk about the project and encouraging other donors. May I also acknowledge the efforts and achievements of our very hard-working project team. Many thanks again for your support and warm regards, Michael Crane DSC & Bar, AM
RAA Liaison Letter 2025/2026 Edition 6 EXTENDING THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL: GREAT PROGRESS BUT MORE HELP NEEDED! AS LIAISON LETTER READERS WILL ALREADY KNOW, THE REGIMENTAL COMMITTEE IS EXTENDING OUR NATIONAL MEMORIAL TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CONTRIBUTION OF GUNNERS OVER THE PAST 50 YEARS AND PROVIDE FOR RECOGNITION OF FUTURE SERVICE. Our goal is to re-dedicate the Memorial in 2027, the 50th anniversary year of its opening. A design was agreed in 2024, and drawings and specifications are now well advanced. The project team aims to obtain necessary approvals and seek tenders for construction by mid-2026. Whether the team can proceed to construction this year will depend largely on the success of fundraising efforts. The estimated cost of the project is now $600,000. A grant of up to $150,000 may be available from DVA, but we need to have the balance of the required funds before we can apply. That means we need to raise $450,000. Many serving gunners have already provided financial support to the project and it has been wonderful to see gunner veterans and associations remaining connected to our community and identity by giving so willingly, including extraordinarily generous individual donations by Paul Winter and Daimien Patterson. Lieutenant Colonel Jacob Beale Commanding Officer 8th/12th Regiment RAA thanking Major Paiul Winter (Retd) for his generous donation towards the RAANM extension project.
RAA Liaison Letter 2025/2026 Edition 7 L-R: MAJGEN Craig Furini (RCC), Daimien Patterson, BRIG Andrew Langford (HOR) Daimien reflected when making his donation “I am extremely proud of the time I served in the RAA. The lessons, experience and skills I gained as a gunner have proved extremely valuable both in business and when dealing with … life’s challenges. So it made sense that I donated to this important project.” The team has also been successful in securing major contributions from RSL Australia, the RAA Historical Company and corporate benefactors including CEA Technologies, Canberra Airport, Konsgberg and Humanihut – and we’re still talking to others. But there is still some way to go, and the team would very much welcome more tax-deductible donations. Please help as much as you can. You can also assist by talking about the project to friends and family to encourage other donors For more information about the project, and to make a donation, go to the website raanm2027.com and click on the Donate Now button, or follow the EFT instructions. “Once a Gunner Always a Gunner” The RAA National Memorial Extension Project Seeks the financial support of every Gunner. The RCC, HOR and RMG explain why your support is critical. The Memorial is an important national place of reflection and commemoration for us. It provides tangible recognition of service, a meaning for all Gunners and their families, and serves as a place of connection. But, as you know, the Memorial has not been updated to include recognition of the significant post-Vietnam service of the Gunners, and hence its meaning has potentially eroded. As the recent Royal Commission found, recognition, such as that provided by the Memorial, is critical for the mental health and well-being of veterans, whether retired or still serving. This is why the Regimental Committee agreed to extend the Memorial to enable our most recent service to be added to those conflicts and campaigns already recognised. It is envisaged that Somalia, East Timor/Timor Leste, Iraq, Afghanistan, Peace Operations and Domestic Operations will be added along with sufficient space to allow for the easy recognition of service in potential future campaigns and operations. Extending the Memorial in this way will ensure that respect and recognition is extended to our most recent veterans, and that the Memorial continues to resonate with contemporary Gunners and enable the Memorial to continue to be a place of enduring connection that spans the generations of proud Gunners for years to come. The Memorial also serves as an important place for the wider Australian community to understand and commemorate their nation’s history and the significant role the Gunners have played in it since 1871, so it is important that our story is displayed in full. We seek your financial support no matter how small to enable the Royal Regiment to achieve this extremely worthy goal on every Gunners behalf. In these challenging economic times you may wish to band together with a group of mates or an organisation or association and collectively raise funds – no doubt you know best what will work in your local area. You may also have broader fundraising ideas or suggestions about potential high-value individual or organizational benefactors from within your own network. We would welcome you sharing these ideas with the Project Team or your assistance in making introductions. DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE AND DETAILS ON HOW TO DO THIS ARE AVAILABLE ELSEWHERE IN THIS LIAISON LETTER AND CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.RAANM2027.COM
RAA Liaison Letter 2025/2026 Edition 8 Australian Artillery’s CUTLER RESEARCH CENTRE The RAA Historical Company’s library at North Head holds thousands of artillery-related documents, books, photographs, manuals, videos, and maps. To make access to this collection easier, the Company has transformed the library into a volunteer run facility with on-line access known as the Cutler Research Centre (CRC). Persons interested in what the CRC holds in relation to a particular topic can search at: https://ehive.com/collections/201005/cutlerresearch-centre Once logged in, the enquirer can enter their search topic, and the system will display the items in the CRC catalogue relating to that field. For example, if the enquirer entered ‘Fort Scratchley’ the system would display catalogue references for 25 maps, 16 technical drawings, and two box files. At this stage, most catalogue items cannot be read on-line. Having found an item, the enquirer sends an email request to the CRC - cutlerresearchcentre@artilleryhistory.org - for more information. Major General (Retd) Tim Ford manages the CRC and the team of volunteers who curate the collection and answer enquiries. The CRC is a valued repository of Australian artillery history. • If you have a query, get in touch. • If you believe you have something that might add to its collection, email an electronic version to managercrc@artilleryhistory.org for evaluation. • If you would like to become a CRC volunteer, contact the manager at the same email address. The CRC is still seeking additional volunteers, particularly those with gunner experience living in the Sydney area. • If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to the running of the centre, you can do so at: https://www.artilleryhistory.org/donations.html The Royal Australian Artillery Historical Company is a Not-for-Profit Organisation Royal Australian Artillery Historical Company ABN 66 084 470 539 Email: raahcoffice@gmail.com Website: www.artilleryhistory.org.au
RAA Liaison Letter 2025/2026 Edition 9 Editors Comment Hello and welcome to the Liaison Letter 2025 / 2026 edition. Whilst not wishing to sound like John Farnham and his many retirements … I thought this would be my last Liaison Letter as the editor when I started drafting it. It has been a journey that commenced in 2000 and has continued ever since for 26 years and 42 editions. I started as editor whilst I was still serving full-time at the School of Artillery and have continued throughout my part-time service. After a chat with Brigadier Andrew Langford the new HOR over a cup of coffee it now looks like I will be continuing as editor for a few more editions as the honorary editor. The Liaison Letter has afforded me enormous pleasure and reward over the years with the occasional sprinkle of frustration and a dash of ‘why am I doing this’ especially during the time I co-owned and operated a 32, 500 acre cattle property in Central Western Queensland. My colleague Major Gary Down who is also retiring at the end of this year, likewise has agreed to stay on in an honorary role, as the Regimental Gunners Fund treasurer. It is now some 25 years since Army Headquarters realised that with the disbandment of the Corps Directorates, they had lost a key aspect of ensuring Corps were able to maintain and manage those aspects of Regimental life that did not sit comfortably in strategic and capability plans, namely Esprit de Corps and the importance of all that comes with this concept including those unwritten intangible factors and how it contributes to capability. Sadly there are people who cannot grasp that what the HOR and their staff bring to the table is a very important part of capability. In my view this contribution to capability has never really been fully understood or embraced by those in command. Certainly there is regular talk about taking care of the Regimental family, but where the rubber meets the road when it comes to resources for the role it is always at the bottom end of the priority list. I must say that there are a few individuals who do appreciate the importance and are prepared to resource this capability such as our new HOR and DHOR. From the beginning the HOR staff has been a “rag tag” bunch comprising initially two SO2s (one SERCAT 5 and one SERCAT 7) who were tasked with supporting several senior SERCAT 7 appointments who were allotted essentially HOR “Extra Regimental” appointments. These were HOR, DHOR and RMG. About eight years ago the SO2 SERCAT 7 position was disbanded and the position used elsewhere. The RAA has the current HOR to thank for being the motivating force behind creating another SO2 SERCAT 5 position. The downside to this very proactive move was the position came without additional HOR ARTS from AHQ. There must come a time when the Army realises it cannot have it both ways. The HOR cannot be expected to deliver both the tangible as well as the intangible goals of their CA Head of Corps Directive if they are not resourced correctly. The resourcing of the HOR area has basically not changed in many years, however the expectations of what HOR and their staff are expected to deliver increases. A casing point is the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. Whilst I feel we have been well ahead of the pack in regard supporting some of the findings, this takes time and resources Whilst I am more than happy to continue in an honorary role as is Major Gary Down, the reality is it should not be necessary. In addition to SO2 staff even today HOR is supported in delivering his responsibilities for both the serving and retired members of the Royal Regiment by other SERCAT 5/7 individuals and most critically volunteers e.g. RAAHC, Regimental History Committee, national and state associations along with a range of miscellaneous heritage and history organisations as well as unit and subunit’s associations. It is not just about supporting HOR but volunteers under pin and / or assist with the preservation of history and heritage along with welfare for retired members especially for their mental health, general well-being and Esprit de Corps. Whilst volunteers are exactly that ‘volunteers’ there comes a times where if not carefully nurtured, volunteer fatigue can set in and if not managed will have a detrimental effect on the wider Royal Regiment.
RAA Liaison Letter 2025/2026 Edition 10 In my view it is time the Army had a serious look at the contribution these people make and with regard those individuals who directly support the HOR, how to support them. For those in senior appointments managing volunteers ‘might feel like herding cats’ at times but our voluntary organisations and people are an asset to the preservation of and promotion of our history and heritage, especially if used wisely. British System Whilst I do not profess to understand how it works, the RA and I assume all the British Army have a system whereby retired officers and warrant officers are given paid employment and to fill non-operational appointments in their equivalent of HOR. To me this is a ‘win win’. Defence Estate I read with more than a passing interest the recent announcement of the sell off of surplus Defence estate assets. I can understand whilst not agreeing with the decision, the disposal of a few establishments and areas made some sense, however there are other locations which leave me questioning the motivation behind why they have been selected. I recently watched an interview on Sky News with Brigadier Ian Langford (Retd) on the sale of the Defence assets. He summed up the situation succinctly when he observed “Defence did not lack heritage but rather memory”. It never ceases to amaze me especially when I hear and read about how much Defence and especially the Army values its heritage and history. The casing point is the sale of Victoria Barracks in Sydney and Melbourne and to a lesser extent Brisbane. The Victoria Barracks in Sydney is the home of the Australian Army and in my view this decision is tantamount to showing total disregard for the Army’s heritage. Equally so is the sale of Point Cook the home of the RAAF. The airfield was sold off years ago. A frustrating aspect of this decision is the rationale for it is based on reinvesting the profit back into capability. There seems to be a total lack of appreciation that ‘total’ capability is not just equipment and munitions, but it is the whole capability that delivers a lethal winning warfighting capability which includes culture, history and heritage. RAA Regimental Gunners Fund The RAA Regimental Gunners Fund was the brainchild of MAJGEN John Whitelaw. Its purpose was to do “good things” for the Royal Regiment, that could not be funded out of public monies. The fund was established about the time I was doing my ROBC course in 1980. Unfortunately I did not fully grasp the importance of supporting the fund at the time. During my early career the only contribution I made to support the fund was through my mess bill as part of a consolidated officer’s mess annual contribution based on rank. I first became fully aware of the goals and importance of the fund as a junior major serving in HQADF when I was offered the opportunity to become a life subscriber. The informal ‘marketing’ slogan was if you became a life subscriber you would never be formally asked to make an annual subscription in the future. I accepted the offer and like many other Gunners since I have paid at least another life subscription, some individuals more. At the beginning of a young officer or soldier’s career I do not believe the realisation of how special it is to be part of the Gunner family is appreciated. As you journey through your career and life you will grow to appreciate what it means to be a ‘Gunner’ in its true sense. Once you do the sense of pride will be with you for the rest of your life, remember the adage ‘Once a Gunner Always a Gunner’. Recent examples of my point are Major Paul ‘Blackie’ Winter (Retd) and Major Damien Patterson (Retd) who have both made substantial donations to the RAANM expansion project. You can find more about their donations and the project and how you can donate at www.raanm2027.com. A significant Gunners Fund initiative in recent years has been the establishment of the Urquhart Trophy (RMC graduating class artillery prize), Ewen and Mattner Awards (best SERCAT 7 JNCO and Gunner) and the Citizen Gunner of the Year (SERCAT 5). Along with the honour and prestige of the Ewen and Mattner awards the recipients also receive a substantial overseas prize for their personal and professional development. The force behind the establishment of these trophies and awards was the current Representative Colonel Commandant, Major General Craig Furini during his tenure as the HOR.
RAA Liaison Letter 2025/2026 Edition 11 To all young officer’s, SNCOs as well as JNCOs and Gunners if you have not contributed to the Gunners Fund, I would encourage you to consider doing so. To paraphrase President John F Kennedy … ‘Ask not what the Gunners Fund can do for you, but what your contribution can do for other members of the Royal Regiment.’ Please don’t be a late bloomer in coming to the party to financially support the ‘Gunners Fund’ and consider contributing now to support all the ‘Good Things’ the fund is doing for members of the Royal Regiment. I appreciate there are tugs on your funds from many directions within the Regiment starting with your Battery Funds. You do not have to become a life subscriber if that does not suit your situation, a small financial contribution helps. I congratulate Lieutenant Chhai Ung from 20 Regiment for choosing to become a Life subscriber in August last year. I encourage other young officers to follow the example and support ‘your’ Royal Regiment. Sword cabinets Under construction Most readers will recall that to mark our 150th Anniversary the Royal Regiment was presented two artillery swords to mark the occasion. The first was the ‘Captain General’s’ sword presented by the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeht II and the second was the ‘Royal Artillery’ sword presented by the Master Gunner Saint James Park Lieutenant General Andrew Gregory on behalf of the Royal Artillery. The RC agreed the swords would be displayed with the new Queens Banner in the Regimental Officers Mess. To do this it was necessary to have two sword cabinets constructed. After some delay the construction has started and will be completed this year. The boxes are being made from the wood of the old Queens Banner transportation box leaving the patina on the external side of the box which has the story of its journey. This idea came from WO1 Tony Hortle during his tenure as RMG. The concept was agreed by the RC executive. There is an article on the story of the sword box construction elsewhere in this edition. Defunct Defence Library Books A few years ago I became aware from the Puckapunyal Defence Library librarian that it was too close. At the time she was unsure what would happen to the contents of the library. On a subsequent visit she asked me if I would like to take any of the books for the School of Artillery. Appreciating the value of paper especially military related books, I accepted her offer and over a couple of days I selected a range of books and journals and transported them to my office. I was careful not to appear greedy as I assumed other people such as the School of Armour would come and take books as well. I am unsure if anyone else ever did but I was surprised at the recent Kilmore Historical Society annual bookfair when I came across a wet first edition set of the Winston Churchill’s ‘History of the Second World War’. This set is advertised for sale for as much as $300 on the internet. I turned over the front cover of the first volume and there it was stamped “Defence Library Service Puckapunyal”. How the set got there is anyone’s business but the only conclusion I can draw is that most of these defence library books were disposed of with little or no understanding of their intellectual worth or financial value. No doubt there are second-hand book shops around Australia rubbing their hands with glee at the bargains they secured at a defence library disposal sale where the booked were dumped. If I knew this was going to be the “final solution” for the Puckapunyal library book’s I would have taken a lot more than I did for the School of Artillery. As a footnote the lady at the sale in Kilmore gave me the set of ‘wet’ books for free, which I have had much pleasure in learning how to dry the volume’s without destroying them. Missing Regimental Trophies The search for the missing Regimental Trophies goes on but has slowed to a crawl. I have received some very useful research on the background of two of the trophies but no leads on as to where they may be currently residing. I suspect that they are in a unit or sub-unit trophy cabinet, walked past every day and no one is aware of their significance to the Royal Regiment. A fate even worse is if during one of the many unit and / or sub-unit upheavals that have taken place over the years, they have been ‘taken’ by a well-intended individual for safe keeping. Within the Reserve there have been many changes, disbandment’s and amalgamations. I suspect this is the case of the Heath Trophy.
RAA Liaison Letter 2025/2026 Edition 12 History Conference Address Wow the DCA address at the Chief of Army’s History Conference at the end of 2025 was so refreshing to hear, especially for someone like me who joined the Army in January 1979. I encourage all readers to visit ‘You Tube’ and listen to his address. It is 30 minutes long and when I started, I thought I will watch this for a few minutes. Before I knew it the half hour was over and I had just viewed an excellent speech that was in touch with warfighting and soldering more generally. I was so impressed that finally someone who was prepared to call it as it is!!!! ANZAC Centennial 18 Pounder Gun (ACG) The most lasting project to mark the contribution that the Royal Regiment made to World War One was the Centennial 18 Pounder Quick Firing Gun. This project was solely an initiative of the RAAHC and the project manager Colonel Ian Ahearn DSM, OAM (Retd), with no input from the serving Regiment. This project was more than a restoration of a gun simply to be placed in a museum as an exhibit alongside other guns to display the evolution of artillery. It was and still is, a living memorial to all those Gunners who served in the Great War and especially those who paid the supreme sacrifice. It was meticulously restored by volunteers, under the supervision of Fred Frecklington. in the years leading to 2015. Throughout the five centenary years it was paraded around Australia with an actual gun detachment and horses. In all it was shown at 42 events throughout NSW, VIC and QLD. Its ammunition limber contains an actual (restored) round from every battlefield that the Australians fought on the Western Front, I have the greatest respect for the work of those managing the Artillery and Armoured Museum at Puckapunyal and I appreciate that they have limited space and resources. That said, when I visited the museum in November last year, I was disappointed that there seemed to me that there was no understanding by those involved of the significance of the gun aside from it being yet another item by which to teach ‘equipment principles. In my view this ‘Memorial Gun’ should not be tucked away in the corner of an open hanger and exposed to the elements and weather but rather it should take centre stage along with the old Queens Banner in the main indoor display area. Personally I feel the current situation does not highlight the significance of the Gun and is disrespectful to the memory of those Gunners it represents. Personal Era Closes Whilst I am not big on change, I appreciate it will happen regardless …. not always for the best .. in my opinion. I will leave the observations and comments on the capability changes to others including the RCC and HOR. I simply would like to acknowledge that there are times when the baton must change or at least start to change. I was in a meeting / discussion which among others included the HOR, DHOR and RMG. I was interested to hear the views of the DHOR (who I observed had not joined the Army when I was transitioning to the Reserve) on communication and messaging. Whilst the Gunner message had not changed, I was impressed with his thoughts and understanding on how best to engage with the younger soldiers and officers. Personally I have never embraced social media and how to sell and spread the message. I feel an entire mindset change is necessary to appreciate how to engage with the younger generation of Gunners, whilst of course not losing the old and bold. My only observation about social media and the electronic correspondence more generally is that unlike paper it only has a short shelf life. There are paper documents and books that have been around for years, even centuries. They have survived wars, fires, floods etc. I am not so sure the ‘cloud’ will have the same longevity! As Gary Down and I move from the Reserve to our newly anointed honorary appointments in 2027 I have had reason on multiple occasions to reflect on the future of the HOR team. I learnt very early in my career that no one is indispensable regardless of appointment or rank. That said I believe there is a danger that in these demanding times things will slip through the cracks as they did with the closure of DARTY at the end of 1997. The DARTY oversight was addressed in 2001 with the creation of the HOR staff including a SO2 fulltime position. Unfortunately in these times of conflicting manpower demands these positions were easy
RAA Liaison Letter 2025/2026 Edition 13 pickings for the bookkeepers. This time it will be not through neglect but simply a combination of conflicting priorities of those tasked with the HOR responsibilities and a combination of the incumbent SERCAT 5 SO2’s not able to dedicate sufficient time and the Army not providing sufficient ARTS. Good ideas and good intentions are only as good as a posting cycle unless there is some form of continuity. The display cabinets are full of trophies that capture a raft of good ideas that lasted a posting cycle only to be shelved. The conundrum is that it is the unwritten intangible things that these staff do that will be around in the memories of people long after their time serving in the Royal Regiment. Army needs to embrace volunteers and provide them support and make their contribution is easier to deliver. NOTE: THIS EDITORIAL AND ITS CONTENT IS THE PERSONAL VIEWS OF THE EDITOR AND NOT NECESSARILY THAT OF THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ARTILLERY OR AUSTRALIA ARMY. 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. Conclusion I would like to thank those units and individuals who have made time in their busy professional and personal lives to contribute to this edition. The content is only as good as what you provide me. Ubique DT (Terry) Brennan Major Email: terry.brennan59@yahoo.com.au Email: terry.brennan@defence.gov.au Mobile: 0419 179 974. “I AM FOND OF PIGS. DOGS LOOK UP TO US. CATS LOOK DOWN ON US. PIGS TREAT US AS EQUALS” – WINSTON CHURCHILL Anzac Day Brisbane 2026 Commanding Officer 1st Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Maxwell Williams & RHQ lead the Regiment in rain and overcast skies. Leading Division commanded by Battery Commander A Battery, MAJ Wade Higgins. Rear Division commanded by MAJ Stephen Bowles 1st Regiment Band
RAA Liaison Letter 2025/2026 Edition 14 L-R: 1st RSM, 2IC and OPSO The Gunner Section of the March lead by Brigadier Don Roach AM Colonel Commandant 1st Regiment RAA 105 Battery Association lead by Major Dick King RAA Association (QLD) lead by Lieutenant Colonel Ron West
RAA Liaison Letter 2025/2026 Edition 15 PTIs Retire the Red Shorts Defence News 27 February 2026 By Corporal Michael Rogers The familiar scene of a red and white tracksuitclad figure running the boots off a platoon of soldiers has changed forever with the roll-out of new physical training instructor uniforms. Red and white uniforms that haunted the dreams of many recruits were replaced with updated athletic designs, marking the first refresh in more than 30 years. The current outfit had been in service since 1994, when it replaced the sleeveless muscle-shirt, and was starting to show its age when compared to modern athletic clothing. New garments include cold and wet weather clothing, lightweight long and shortsleeve activity wear and polo shirts for the office. According to Corporal Reanne Sloane, a PTI at the School of Armour in Puckapunyal, the step up in quality and range was a game changer. “The new dress shirts are quite thick and feel like a nice material, and the activity shirts, which we wear for PT, are a dry-fit material, which fits the body a lot better than the current uniform,” she said. “It's also nice to have options on what you want to wear depending on the weather, especially here. It's freezing in winter, so having three different jackets is great.” It will also have a broad-brim hat, baseball cap, lightweight running cap and compression garments. For Corporal Sloane, one of the most anticipated changes is the inclusion of femalespecific clothing cuts. “With the current PTI uniform, a lot of it was male sizing and not shaped for our bodies, so you're often adjusting the uniform or having to go get it tailored out of your own pocket,” she said. “It’s nice to be getting into female-specific clothing that actually fits everywhere nicely.” The iconic Army red shorts have been replaced with more practical black shorts in common with the other services, but PTIs will still be identifiably Army by their new red shirts. Corporal Sloane was among the last cohort to receive the current uniform and said while there is excitement for the new gear, it was tinged with some sadness. “PTIs are known for the red and white, but times change and everything modernises. It’s a positive change for the uniform. They feel great and we’ll get used to it,” she said. “Ninety-nine per cent of PTIs that are in these days have always had this uniform, so it's just saying goodbye to what they've always known and the history behind the uniform.”
RAA Liaison Letter 2025/2026 Edition 16 Today, the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Personnel released the Government’s Response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide Final Report. This Royal Commission is the most significant and comprehensive inquiry ever conducted into suicide and suicidality in the Defence and veteran communities. This is our blueprint for real, meaningful and enduring reform. The death by suicide of any ADF member or veteran is a tragedy, one felt deeply by their families, the ADF, the veteran community and the wider community. The Royal Commission was a watershed in examining this most difficult and distressing issue. The Royal Commission made 122 recommendations in its Final Report. The Government has agreed or agreed in principle to 104, noted 17 recommendations, and one recommendation is not supported in part. Defence and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs will lead the implementation of a majority of the recommendations. Defence has already undertaken work to improve our culture, policies and processes, but there is much more to do to prevent suicide, and to support the mental health and wellbeing of our people. Delivering reforms will require significant work over the coming weeks, months and years that will ultimately change the way we work and support our workforce and their families. This will see closer integration with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and a new taskforce within the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet that will provide advice to Government on the prioritisation and sequencing of the implementation of the Royal Commission’s recommendations. A new oversight body will be established by September 2025 to independently monitor our progress on implementing the recommendations. Defence is already a better place to work than it was before. We can and must do better to ensure we are stronger, and better able to defend Australia and our national interests. The Final Report and the Government’s response may raise mental health and wellbeing issues for some of our people. Where the Royal Commission has raised issues that are personally challenging for people in our Defence community, please know that support is always available. Once again, we thank everyone for their commitment to the work of the Royal Commission. Learn more about the Government’s response to the Final Report here. Thank you Greg Moriarty AO David Johnston AC RAN Secretary Admiral Department of Defence Chief of the Defence Force
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjE4NTMz