Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery A
ustralian artillery marked its 150th anniversary on 1 August 2021 – a century-and-a-half of continuous service. The formation of an Australian artillery capability 150 years ago marked an initial step in Australia becoming a sovereign nation, according to the Head of Regiment Brigadier Richard Vagg. The first permanent Australian artillery unit was established on 1 August 1871, when the NSW colonial government raised and funded a permanant battery. The history of Army’s longest continuous-serving permanent unit, A Battery, can be traced to that original NSW battery. Commemorative services were held around the country on 1 August to mark the 150th anniversary. Brigadier Vagg told those gathered at Mount Pleasant in Canberra that the enduring story of Australian artillery began after 1870 when the last British forces left the colonies of Australia. “This anniversary is therefore a special day for every Australian, not just for gunners, as 1871 marks the year from when Australia’s colonial governments made a permanent commitment to their own self-defence – one of the hallmarks of sovereignty and nationhood,” Brigadier Vagg said. “Today, Australia’s gunners continue to serve proudly across the nation.” A sequential national salute, which fired from locations around Australia, used a mix of M2A2 105mm and M777 155mm howitzers, with firing locations chosen as COVID-19 restrictions permitted. While most of the planned firings, including a live fire at Mount Bundey Training Area in the NT, went ahead, firings at Brisbane’s historic Fort Lytton and Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance
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were postponed until later in the year, when the full national salute of 150 rounds will be completed. The first guns fired for the national salute were fired from Mount Pleasant, where more than 180 people gathered for the commemorative service, including current and former serving artillery members. Speaking about the continued relevance of artillery on the battlefield, Brigadier Vagg said artillery remained a vital blend of the science and art of war. “Today, the realm of the 21st century gunner extends across multiple disciplines and domains. “Ready now as always, the artillery’s critical capabilities are essential to winning battles – including not just guns and mortars, but rockets, missiles, drones, radars and, most vitally, the provision of essential joint-fires coordination. “Looking ahead, the future-ready RAA is unquestionably at the forefront of the Australian Army’s modernisation program, with projects delivering new air-defence systems, self-propelled artillery, long-range rockets, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting systems, digital terminal control and new artillery ammunition.” Commemorations ended with a Last Post ceremony at the Australian War Memorial honouring the life of Corporal Frank Matt, a gunner who was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions at the Battle of Pozieres during WWI. More events marking the anniversary have been planned, with a new Queen’s Banner and Captain General’s Sword to be presented, dependent on COVID-19 restrictions. 57
