Whose Name We Share

67 Afghanistan – Brumby Troop 2009 On the 12 th of March 2009, 15 more members from 8/12 would be deployed to the UK to form the 4 th iteration of the RAA Troop, known as Brumby Troop. This time they were embedded into 1RHA at Tidworth Barracks, Wiltshire – just down the road from the Royal School of Artillery. In mid-August forward elements of the troop deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan and were to completely occupy FOB Armadillo by mid-September. Brumby troop provided fire support to Danish Tank Forces in constant missions across numerous planned operations, which included troops in contact in the Green Zone – specifically the Adin Zai AO. Brumby Troop – which was chiefly comprised of 103 members – held a fierce reputation for accurate, aggressive and timely responsive fires in support of all those who required it. They fired 1027 rounds utilising smoke, HE and Illum from the L118 guns during the 6 month tour. In Mid-March the Brumby Troop left Hemland to go back to Tidworth Barracks, arriving in April where a well-deserved decompression commenced in Cyprus. The Troop were presented with British Operational Service Medals with the Afghanistan clasp and formally farewelled by 1RHA during what has been described as a very moving parade and church service. Operation Herrick XI experienced some of the wost losses of British and Danish troops since operations commenced. The Troop arrived back in Darwin on the 23 rd April 2010. Meanwhile, back at home, in March of 2010 the 103 rd Battery JFECC concentrated with the 5 th Battalion as part of its lead-up training for the second rotation of the Mentoring Task Force. They would deploy in October 2010. Additionally, in April the 101 st Battery played a significant role in establishing the Afghan School of Artillery as a part of the Second Artillery Training Team – Kabul. The 101 st Battery was supported by officers, warrant officers and senior NCOs from the 103 rd Battery. The Second Artillery Training Team came into operational theatre in November of 2010. In the new year of 2011 the RAA decided to change the regimental structure to increase the batteries to accommodate a lone Gun Battery and three Observer Batteries. The currently deployed members of 103 Battery (part of MTF-2) formed 115 Battery. This tour held an extremely high tempo, 300 rounds of the US M777 Howitzers, 200 rounds of the Afghan D- 30’s and 200 rounds of the Australian 81mm mortars were fired. One FO Ack received heavy wounds during this tour, as well as Bombardier D. Robertson of 102 Battery being awarded the Medal of Gallantry for his actions. All 8/12 Regiment members left Afghanistan in June or July of 2011 to finally take some leave, that was well overdue and rightly earned.