4 Fd Regt Old Boys Newsletter - June 2020 Edition

Other events that have been disrupted include recruit training, all training at Larkhill, the events to mark the centenary of the Royal School of Artillery in July, memorial services to celebrate the lives of distinguished former members of the Royal Artillery, sports meetings, dinners and much more. However, the serving regiments remain busy and, in a number of areas, are providing support to the NHS and related organisations; I congratulate them, as always, for their professionalism and commitment as they go about their business, never seeking the limelight but still doing a first class job. Most importantly, I wish you and all your families continuing good health and wellbeing during these unprecedented and most challenging times. As Gunners we need to continue to look out for one another; please do that, especially where you know of hardship, for the Regiment can and would like to help. Lieutenant General Sir Andrew Gregory KBE CB Master Gunner St James’s Park …………………………………………………………….. I thought the following paragraph from an Article in the RAA Liaison Letter 2019 Summer Edition was interesting. The Introduction reads: “ The release of the Defence White Paper 2016 (DWP16) provided guidance to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to procure a long range surface to surface fires capability that was able to achieve ranges up to 300km. (not a misprint – yes 300km). In response, Army Headquarters (AHQ) commenced Land 8113 Long Range Fires (LRF), with the intent of introducing the capability into service by the middle of the next decade. In addition to the obvious requirement for launchers and weapons, (remember the weapon of Artillery is the projectile – the gun is just a delivery means), the capability will need to encompass several sub-systems to deliver a complete and effective capability. Chief amongst these essential sub systems are those which facilitate active and passive target acquisition, command and control (C2), and capability specific logistics. Understanding how to prepare for, and then deliver the LRF capability is an essential requirement for the optimisation of the capability to effectively support the ADF in future conflict.” Does your head in doesn’t it! If anyone would like the full article you can access the RAA Liaison Letter via the Australian Artillery Association website https://australianartilleryassociation.com/ or get in touch with me and I will send you the article. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I came across another interesting article in Army News of May 15, 2008 . The article was attributed to Cpl Jane Ashby-Cliffe and reads: “ First-Class travel is the order of the day for Darwin soldiers aboard 1st Brigades renovated rail accommodation car. The car was an add-on to the M1A1 rolling stock project designed by Bluebird Rail Operations to carry the M1A1 Abrams and other Defence key equipment along the Darwin to Adelaide corridor. It was built to the latest rail industry specifications and is equipped with the latest technology to maintain security during journeys. Capt Scott McMahon, S4 Transport, HQ 1st Brigade, said ‘escorts were sent on every train between Adelaide and Darwin to ensure the security of ADF equipment. In early rail moves, soldiers would travel in cattle class; today they get comfort’ he said. The accommodation car is equipped with two security cameras that zoom out to about 550m by day and night. It contains a strong room for securing weapons and communications equipment and was designed to run on its own power supply. The accommodation car was named after Major General John Dennis Stevenson (RIP) in recognition of his advocacy for the Alice Springs to Darwin rail link. Maj-Gen Stevenson believed the rail link was a ‘strategic enabler’ for the defence of Northern Australia.” (Maj-Gen Stevenson was CO of 4th Field Regiment from June 1964