Whose Name We Share

39 Holsworthy 1967 In May of 1967, the Battery were posted to Gallipoli Barracks in Holsworthy. On the 19 th June they became an independent Battery, much like the 53 rd Battery of today in terms of tasks and set up. The battery supported the School of Artillery throughout this time with gun salutes, trials and assisting with training. The Battery received 5.5 In Guns from 104 th Battery, which 103 used for field. The following year in 1968 the Battery became a part of 19 th Composite Regiment, which was in Kokoda Barracks. The moving wouldn’t be over however, for the following year in 1969 the Battery were adopted by yet another parent unit when the Composite Regiment formed into the 8 th Medium Regiment on August 4 th . The Battery served with the 8 th Medium Regiment for four years before the 8 th Medium and the 12 th Field Regiments formed together on the 16 th November 1973 This created the 8/12 Regiment today. The newly formed 8/12 played two major roles – first as depot support for the School of Artillery and played a direct support regiment role for the 1 st Task Force. This meant the work was plentiful and the days were as busy as they were long. In September of 1975 the decision was reached to help 8/12 achieve the dual role by issuing the battery with 6 M2A2 guns. This meant that the Battery now had six 5.5In Guns as well as six M2A2 Guns. In 1984 the 5.5In Guns were replaced by the M198 – after 40 years of being in the RAA. The battery still held six M2A2s in 1984 as well as the M198’s. This set up ended when the School of Artillery moved from North Head to Puckapunyal in 1998.