Whose Name We Share

53 Chapter 5: The Modern Gunner Operation Citadel 2002 On return from the tour in East Timor, the battery began focussing on moving into the new facilities of Robertson Barracks and the reforming of the 101 st Battery, where it would eventually be established in the 1 st Brigade in the year 2000. The battery supported other units within the 1 st Brigade as well as the Deployable Battle Group – as the situation in East Timor was not yet at a stage where it could be deemed safe. East Timor was now governed by the UN who oversaw the country’s transition into independence. Members of the battery, including Major Haebich – BC 103- would continue to periodically deploy to East Timor on Operation Citadel throughout late 2002. Operation Citadel was a major deployment of Australian Combat Battalion Groups (AUSBATT) to support the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNIMISET) Peacekeeping Force from 2000 until May 2005. The 103 rd Battery’s specific contribution to Operation Citadel went from September 2002 until May 2003 as a part of AUSBATT VII and provided a Civil Military Affairs Group as well as being based with the 5/7 RAR Battle Group. The 5/7 Battle Group assumed the role of AUSBATT VII from 3 RAR (AUSBATT VI) on the 25 October 2002. Initially, the deployment saw FO parties take up traditional security roles, such as supporting the Fijian Infantry Companies as well as establishing security in destabilised regions towards the western borders, however this changed approximately half way through the deployment in around December 2002. They fell under the command of the existing CO of the Battalion LTCOL Mick Tucker and the first phase consisted of a simple organisation where each of the FOs in their respective infantry companies were rerolled as a CMA team. The roles and responsibilities of AUSBATT VII were extremely wide and so in addition to this, a party was integrated into the Battalion QRF as well as an element of a Humanitarian Assistance (HA). According to CAPT Paul Winters, who was chiefly involved in the Humanitarian Assistance elements, the attitude the locals had towards the ADF had shifted almost immediately and the people in his area of operations were at times amongst the most warm and welcoming. The HA element’s role concerned working closely with the locals in order to rebuild certain structures, but this didn’t come without challenges because the sudden change of focus was disruptive to the original role CAPT Winter’s party would be playing and now the responsibility of rebuilding had been thrust into the Captain’s hands. Reorganising and motivating his team of FOs, he was suddenly destined to move out of his AO back to Dili to acquire funds. With his FO Party in tow, he moved back to Dili via a Russian helo and set to work visiting various embassies, including the British and New Zealand embassies, as well as the World Bank in order to secure donations for the mission. It totalled near a million dollars in cash, which was stuffed into every pocket, pouch or bag the FOs had on them. This funding was vital to completing the HA mission, which was used to secure local materials and hire local