1st Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=1st Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery


caption=Members of the 1st Field Brigade firing an 18 pounder gun during a night exercise
dates=1914 - Present
country=Australia
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branch=Australian Army
type=Artillery
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size=4 Artillery Batteries
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garrison=Enoggera Barracks
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nickname=
patron=
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The 1st Field Regiment is a close support regiment attached to the 7th Brigade at Enoggera Barracks in Queensland. It is equipped with the L119 Howitzer Field Gun. The 1st Field Regiment was formed in 1914 under the name 1st Australian Field Artillery Brigade, part of 1st Division Artillery.

Current formation

*1st Field Regiment (Regimental Headquarters)
**13th Field Battery
**41st Field Battery
**105th Medium Battery
**HQ battery
**RAA band (B)

Regiment history

World War I

The 1st Field Regiment was formed in 1914 following the outbreak of World War I. The Brigade saw action both on the Gallipoli Peninsula and in France. On cessation of hostilities in 1918, the 1st Australian Field Artillery Brigade returned to Australia where it was disbanded in 1919.

World War I formation

*1st Field Artillery Battery
*2nd Field Artillery Battery
*3rd Field Artillery Battery
*101st Field Artillery (Howitzer) Battery
*1st Brigade Ammunition Column

World War II

The 2nd/1st Regiment RAA was raised on 31 October 1939 at Ingleburn, New South Wales. The Regiment saw action in North Africa supporting the 6th Australian Division between 21 December 1940 and 23 March 1941. The Regiment served with distinction in the battles for Bardia, Tobruk and Derna. On 5 February 1941, the Regiment captured the town of Barce using only the accurate and timely application of Artillery fire. The 1st Field Regiment's barracks located at Enoggera is named Barce Lines to commemorate this victory. The Regiment served two tours in New Guinea. The first was 15 September 1942 to 13 August 1943, where the Regiment expanded existing doctrine for the deployment of artillery by deploying guns into forward areas by air. The Regiment returned to New Guinea on 4 January 1945 to support operations in the Wewak areas and was in occupation of these areas when the war ended on 15 August 1945. The last of the Regiment returned to Australia in January 1946 and was disbanded several weeks later as part of the post war demobilisation.

Post World War II

1st Field Regiment, as it is known today, was raised on 25 May 1949 at North Head, Sydney. At that time it was the only regular artillery regiment. On the eve of the Vietnam War the Regiment consisted of 101st Field Battery and 105th Field Battery (Independent), both equipped with the L5, 102nd Light (4.2 inch Mortar) Battery and a Headquarters Battery.

In April 1965 the decision was taken to deploy the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR) to Vietnam. This resulted in an expansion of artillery regiments by the addition of a third field battery. 1st Field Regiment's order of battle for deployment to Vietnam was 101st Field Battery, 105th Field Battery, 161st Field Battery Royal New Zealand Artillery and Headquarters Battery. When 1 RAR deployed to Vietnam in May 1965 with fire support initially provided by 161st Field Battery RNZA, in September 1965 105th Field Battery arrived to provide additional fire support. With the expansion of the Australian force to two Battalion Groups in June 1966, the remainder of the Regiment, less 101st Field Battery, deployed to Vietnam accompanied by 103rd Field Battery. In August 1966, the Regiment took part in the Battle of Long Tan in support of D Company, 6 RAR with the Regiment firing 3198 rounds in three hours of battle. In September 1966, 105th Field Battery was replaced by 101st Field Battery and returned to Australia. In May 1967, the Regiment completed its first tour of duty in Vietnam and was replaced by 4th Field Regiment. The Regiment, rejoined by 105th Field Battery, relocated to Sanananda Barracks, Wacol. The 103rd Field Battery was re-roled as a medium battery and moved to 12th Medium Regiment.

In February 1969, 105th Field Battery returned to Vietnam for a second tour of duty to be followed by the remainder of the Regiment a month later. On completion of their final tour of duty, the Regiment returned to Sanananda Barracks, Wacol in March 1970.

Post Vietnam

In February 1983, the Regiment was relocated to its current base at Barce Lines, Enoggera. In November 1985, the Regiment was integrated with the Army Reserve resulting in the re-raising of 104th Field Battery as an Army Reserve battery on 8 November 1985.

As part of the restructuring of the Army (RTA) program, 1st Field Regiment took command of 13th Field Battery on 1 May 1997 and amalgamated with 11th Field Regiment on 15 June 1997. As part of the RTA motorised Battalion trial, 101st Field Battery, to be known as Fire Support Company, was placed under command of 6 RAR on 1 July 1997.

In November 1999, Fire Support Company 6 RAR was disbanded, with the former 101st Field Battery members joining 105th Field Battery in anticipation of deployment on operations in East Timor. Although the entire sub-unit did not deploy to East Timor with 6 RAR Battalion Group in April 2000, many 1st Field Regiment members did deploy to East Timor with various units and distinguished themselves during their operational tour.

References

* [http://www.army.gov.au/1FDREGT/Index.htm Regiment Official Website]