The Royal Australian Artillery Association (Victoria) Inc.
If you're a Gunner, or an ex-Gunner, know that you're welcome here. Whether you were with Coastal, Field, Medium or Heavy; Ack-Ack or Air Defence; Divisional Locating or STA; we hope you'll find something here of interest to you.
MAJ David Osborne has scanned a lot of old Cascabels (#1 – #79) and we’ve uploaded them to the Cascabel page. These date from 1983 to 2004 and would make interesting reading for many of our members.
I’ve also uploaded the latest newsletter (#15) to the same page.
With lockdown, things are reasonably quite on the Association front, thus limited activity on the website. I have uploaded some notices from the Head of Regiment, the latest newsletter from our peer organisation in WA, and the last newsletter/cascabel I’d forgotten to upload when I sent it out.
I’ve been able to upload a few articles, letters and newsletters to the website today. Please see the Publications of Other RAA Associations page for the latest RAA Assoc of WA newsletter, the Communiques from The Regiment (RAA, RA) and CA page for letters WRT the 150th Anniversary from the Master Gunner St James’s Park, Head of Regiment and Chief of Army, and an article MAJ Garry Rolfe wrote on the first shots of WWI.
Good morning Victorian Gunners, friends and associates,
The 1st of August is the 150th Anniversary of Artillery in Australia. There are events being run around the country to celebrate our 150th birthday, commencing with a series of co-ordinated events on 1 Aug centred on a national Fireplan.
COVID-willing the 150th Anniversary events in Victoria will be going ahead on 1 Aug (two weeks time). This is a great opportunity to celebrate our 150 years of gunnery in Australia, and specifically in Victoria where we have some of the oldest artillery history and fired the first round of WWI.
In summary there are three locations for the events:
Details below. These events will be in accordance with VIC State Govt Covid-19 restrictions, a QR Code has been created for the three events.
The Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne – 1130-1300
The forecourt and firing point at the Shrine will host a number of activities including a static display (featuring 12lb Armstrong Gun for Werribee Half Bty, 2/4 Fd Regt 25lb gun) and firing by 2/10 Bty as part of the National Salute.
The timeline for the day is as follows:
If you would like to help setup we will be there from 9am, otherwise we will see you at ~1130.
A few 2/15 and 2/10 members will be meeting at the Botanical Hotel, Domain Rd, South Yarra for drinks at 11am.
The Bty has invited all back to Sargood Barracks for lunch and drinks following the activities at the Shrine. Timings TBA – will be after the activities but allowing for the Bty members to clean the guns. If you are thinking of attending the Bty after the Shrine, please RSVP so the Bty can plan for catering.
Fort Queenscliff (Fort and Museum) – 0930-1130
SGT Helen Janner and the 10 Mdm Regt Assoc have arranged for the Fort Queenscliff fort and museum to be open on the day. There will be an address, a tour of the museum and morning tea.
The timeline for the day is as follows:
Lunch at the local RSL has been organised following the events at the fort.
South West Cannon Trail – 0900-1500
The Warrnambool City Council has established the South West Cannon Trail (https://visitwarrnambool.com.au/itineraries-2/south-west-cannon-coastline-trail/) and is supporting the 150th Anniversary with a number of events. There are three gun emplacements, Warrnambool, Portland and Port Fairy, featuring 80lb rifled cannons dating back to 1860. There will be blank firings with re-enactment crews at each location across the day.
The timeline for the day is as follows:
The Flagstaff Hill location will be the main one and may host other activities.
This will be a great day for the gunner community in Victoria. All events will be supported by Army and local media. I encourage you to come out to one of the events and enjoy the history.
As we’ve mentioned in the past, 2021 is the 150th Anniversary of the establishment of permanent artillery in Australia. At the committee meeting this week there was much discussion around activities – whilst there are some nationally coordinated events with a focus on NSW, we are focussing on facilitating events in Victoria, especially given our rich Australian Artillery heritage.
The major activity currently scheduled is for our birthday – 1 August. There will be a nationally coordinated fireplan, based around the Shrine. 2/10 Bty will be firing an 18-gun salute with the M2A2s as part of the national fireplan. Supporting this will be static displays (perhaps firings) of current equipment, 25 Pdrs, the Armstrong Gun and anything else we can muster. Colonel Cooke and Brigadier Perry are co-ordinating with many organisations such as Army (School of A and the Bty), the Werribee Half Battery and other historical/re-enactment groups. We will be working with the Shrine to see what else can be included. This will be an exciting day and definitely something for the calendar.
Coastal Gunnery is also a critical piece of our history and we are working to get activities to run on that day at Point/Fort Nepean and Fort Queenscliff. We are also looking at an activity in Warrnambool.
Whilst 1 Aug is the most significant activity, there are a number of other events being discussed for the year:
As details firm up, we will share them.There are also some activities being organised by the Australian Artillery Association (the national body) and details can be found on the https://australianartilleryassociation.com website.Two calls to action:
Oh, and don’t forget the Shrine is running their Last Post every Sunday at 4:45. The Battery also fires salutes on key dates – the next one will the the Queens Birthday.
Good Afternoon Victorian Gunners, Associates and Friends,
Please find below several notices covering the 2020 AGM Replay, Newsletter, Vale and other Notices. As always we aim to maintain relevant information on the association website, https://artilleryvic.org.au and on our facebook page.
We have had two new members recently – SGT John Staples (ex 2 Fd Regt and 2/15 Fd Regt) and LBDR Stjepan Bosnjak (2/10 Bty and our new Treasurer). Welcome both.
The 2020 AGM was recorded and can be viewed on a private YouTube page: https://youtu.be/IGkWszl3LOw. It can also be found via the website https://artilleryvic.org.au/index.php/2021/01/16/2020-association-agm/.
The latest RAA Association (Victoria) newsletter (Nbr 12, Jan 2021) has been published and can be viewed on our websites Cascabel page: https://artilleryvic.org.au/index.php/cascabel/
I’d encourage you to read through the older cacabel’s on that page also. There’s some great articles in the older editions there. We are going through an exercise to scan and upload the older (missing) copies.
We receive Vale notices from Peter Bruce of the RAAHC. If you are on Facebook, I would suggest you follow the Australian Artillery Association group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/346818566245872) as Graham Hampton does a great job of posting timely notices.
03/01/21 – Ken (KJ) Slow
Alan Mears, via Graham Hampton, has advised of the death on 31 December 2020 of Ken Slow. Ken served in Vietnam with 4th Field Regiment from June 1967 until April 1968. He spent his later Army years with 16 Air Defence Regiment and the School of Artillery in a career spanning 25 years. No other details available at this stage. RIP Kenneth James SLOW.
09/01/21 – Peter Dinwoodie and WO1 Gordon Albert (Mick) Cole
Advice has been received of the death on 30 December 2020 or Peter Dinwoodie. WO2 Peter Dinwoodie was a Life Subscriber of RAAA(Q). He had served with 11 National Service Bn, 5th Fd Regt RAA, and 121 LAA Bty Darwin. Peter was a regular and very sociable attendee at RAAA(Q) luncheons when his health permitted. Unfortunately he was unable to attend the December function. Peter Gore last spoke to him shortly before that. Funeral details are not finalised, but it might be private – family only. I will advise if more information is available.
Advice has also been received of the death of WO1 Gordon Albert (Mick) Cole on 16 September 2020. Mick was 93 years young. Mick saw service with the RAAF towards the end of WWII and then in the ARA in Japan with the BCOF and later in Malaya. Mick also had service with 1st Fd Regt & then later as RSM of 7th Fd Regt. His step-son is asking for any old memories, photos etc for a memorial service shortly. If you can help, please phone Chris on 0407 632 077.
RIP Peter and Mick
20/01/21 – William (Bill) Tooke
I have been advised of the death on Tuesday 19 January of William (Bill) Tooke. Bill and Juliet had moved back to England late last year. Bill knew he was not well and wanted to spend time with family he not seen for some time including a new grandson. Bill’s health deteriorated rapidly and he required full time care towards the end. Juliet and their daughters were with Bill at his bedside until the end.
Bill Tooke had a distinguished career in the Royal Artillery and rose to become WO1 Master Gunner. He then migrated to Australia and joined the Australian Army and of course the RAA. Bill was well known and respected as an instructor on Gunnery Wing at the School of Artillery. Bill and Juliet were also the life of the party especially at Sergeants’ Mess functions.
Bill was a wonderful human being. He was smart, eloquent, and a wonderful family man. He will be sadly missed by all his family both in Australia and in England and by his many friends around the world.
Rest in Peace, Billy Tooke.
28/01/21 – Obituary for Clagg Wilkinson
An obituary for the late Clagg Wilkinson has now been posted on the RAAHC web site. Sincere thanks for all who responded to our initial call for information. It really is wonderful to see the RAA networks in action.
A link to the obituaries section of the web site is http://artilleryhistory.org/gunners_past_and_present/obituaries/obituaries_home_page.html or you can access the site via www.artilleryhistory.org.
02/02/21 – David Adams and Graham Fredrick Hubbard
David Adams died on 16 January 2021 after several weeks of illness. His funeral was held on Monday 25 January 2021 in Mitchell ACT. Dave was the Battery Sergeant Major of ‘A’ Field Battery from 1963 until 1967, this included 2 years in Malaysia during Confrontation. Tex Bassan first met Dave when he was posted to 1 Field Regiment, at Georges Heights Sydney, straight from recruit training at the School of Artillery, North Head and was posted down to Middle Head, 3 Heavy Anti Aircraft Battery, where Dave was a gun Bdr. Dave’s son Phill advises that David was 90 years young and had been married for 70 years and will be sadly missed.
Graham Fredrick Lawrence Hubbard (Dadda to many) died on Friday 29 January. His funeral will be held on Wednesday 3 February at 1100 hrs (EDST) at Easton Funeral Service, 16 Florence Street, Tweed Heads. Friends are invited to gather at the Tweed Heads RSL Club after the funeral. A record of Service is not available as yet however Graham served in the ARA as a driver in RAASC in the 1950s and later joined 41 Battery, 11th Field Regiment at Southport in the late ‘60s.
RIP David and Graham.
06/02/21 – John Edward Irvine
I have been advised of the death on 3 February 2021 of 1731636 Cpl John Edward Irvine. John served in the Light Aid Detachment with 4th Field Regiment in South Vietnam from 8 Jun to 13 December 1967. John’s funeral will be held at Drysdale Funerals, 33 National Park Road, Nambour on Tuesday 9 February at 11.00am.
RIP John Edward Irvine.
2021 is the 150th year of permanent Artillery in Australia and various part of the Regiment are organising activities. This includes a synchronised firing of guns around Australia on 1 Aug, events in Canberra on that day, and the presentation of the new Banner at an event in Sydney. There will also be merchandise available from the various associations.
The committee is still building a consolidated list of events in Victoria and we will publish these as they develop. We hope to make the website calendar function more useful this year.
The 2021 Gunner Luncheon will be held on Wed 3rd March at the RACV Club in Melbourne.
From Brig Perry
My dear fellow Gunners and our supporting Arms,
This year will be our 16th lunch at RACV and despite the Covid Crisis it looks like we have missed the bullet, as last years event slipped in before the lockdowns and at this time it appears that we will be in the clear unless there is an unforeseen breakout.
Reg made this years booking, as we usually do, in the day after the last lunch and so far it is looking good and we have proceeded as usual.
It is my aim to ensure the continuum of this social activity at any cost.
At this early stage we have a good early response to our initial invitation and I expect a good turnout on the day. There will be some spacing and other restrictions however I am confidant that we can manage that.
In the circumstances I urge you to respond early and actively encourage as many of your old comrades as possible to attend.
We are inviting the family members of the WW2 Associations committees to attend even though their serving Fathers may no longer be able to attend. I will continue to host the RMC graduates who may be on course at the time and also canvas the staff at School of Artillery.
If you have any suggestions or names that can be pursued, please contact me or Reg
My warmest regards
Doug Perry
UBIQUE
Details, including reply slip, can be found in the latest newsletter (https://artilleryvic.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/RAA-Assoc-Newsletter-Number-12.pdf).
Please consider attending and responding by 21st Feb to Reg.
From Reg…
The attached The Royal Artillery Charities newsletter was forwarded through SSGT Ernie Paddon. https://artilleryvic.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/1222-Pres-Fwd-Newsletter-December-2020-2.pdf
On 6th Dec we held the 2020 RAA Association (Vic) Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Due to COVID restrictions the AGM was held as a hybrid event – most of the committee was in attendance at the Chapel St. Depot, and others attended via Zoom.
Congratulations to the new committee members: LBDR Stjepan Bosnjak being appointed to the Treasurer position and MAJ Garry Rolfe being appointed to the committee. Thanks to SGT James Overell (outgoing Treasurer), LT Sandra Hodgson (committee) and SSGT Reg Morrell (long term committee member and Museum manager).
Congratulation to MAJ Neil Hamer for his Honorary Lifetime Membership.
For those that missed the AGM, we have recorded it and you can view it at https://youtu.be/IGkWszl3LOw. The minutes for the meeting can be found here: https://artilleryvic.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/20201206-43rd-AGM-Minutes.pdf.
We have uploaded the latest Association newsletter (Nbr. 11) to the Cascabel page.
Also we have uploaded two newsletters from our colleagues in the WA Artillery Association to the Publications of other RAA Associations page.
Enjoy.
