- 104th Field Battery, Royal Australian Artillery
Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=104 Field Battery, Royal Australian Artillery
caption=Men of 104th Field Battery line up for a hot tea ration inBelgium in1917
dates=1916 - Present
country=Australia
allegiance=
branch=Australian Army
type=Artillery
role=close fire support
size=
command_structure=1st Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery
current_commander=
garrison=Enoggera Barracks
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
identification_symbol=
march=
mascot=
battles=
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=
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battle_honours=104 Field Battery, Royal Australian Artillery was formed in the town of
Moascar inEgypt during March1916 as the 104th Field Artillery (Howitzer) Battery, part of 4th Field Artillery Brigade. The battery was disbanded, reformed and rerolled many times during its history and is now inactive.History
World War I
The 104th Field Battery, Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery, had its beginnings in Egypt, in March 1916. At this time the Battery was raised as a part of the general expansion of divisional Artillery prior to the AIF going to
France . In mid-March 1916 the battery sailed for France, and upon their arrival were issued with new 4.5 inch howitzers, reunited with their horses and commenced training. On21 April 1916 , 104th Howitzer Battery relieved C Battery of 176 BrigadeRoyal Field Artillery (RFA) on the line south east ofArmentieres , exchanging guns in the process. Shortly after this they deployed to Somme and saw their first real action on the Western front. After the Third Battle of Ypres, the Battery fired in support of theBritish 30th Division and theBritish 7th Brigade in theBattle of the Hindenburg Line .Over the next two years 104th field battery, as part of the 2nd Division Artillery saw intense and unrelenting action on the Western Front, with almost 58% of the total gunners deployed from
Australia being killed. After Victory was declared the Battery returned to Australia and was disbanded.Vietnam War
The battery served two tours of
South Vietnam ; the first was from May1968 to May1969 as part of 12 Field Regiment, supporting 4 RAR. On returning to Australia, the Battery regrouped in Holsworthy, and moved up toTownsville in preparation for it’s second tour ofVietnam . The battery’s second tour was from May1971 to December 1971, again supporting 4 RAR. 104th Field Battery was the last Australian Field Artillery unit to leave Vietnam. On returning to Australia the Battery was located at Coral LinesIngleburn with 12th Field Regiment.Post Vietnam
For a short period time the Battery participated in peacetime training and support activities, but with the formation of 8th/12th Medium Regiment, the Battery was disbanded in December
1973 .In November1977 the Battery was re-raised as part of the 8th /12th Medium regiment with 5.5 inch guns. Soon after the re-raising, the Battery took part in its most important peacetime action. In February1978 , following a bomb blast at theHilton Hotel in Sydney, the decision was made to call in the Army to secureBowral , the venue for theCommonwealth Heads of Government Meeting . However on15 June 1979 the Battery was once again formally disbanded.Recent history
In October
1985 the battery was re-raised as an Army Reserve Unit, as part of 1st Field Regiment inBrisbane , and again issued with the 105mmM2A2 Howitzer. The M2A2 was replaced in October1990 , with the 105mmL118 /L119 Hamel Gun.In January
1992 the Regiment converted to the Ready Reserve Scheme, attracting a large increase in numbers to the battery and Regiment. The scheme involved members undertaking a contract to work full-time for 12 months, then work 50 days a year for the next four years.In December
1996 , the Ready Reserve Scheme was completed, however the Battery continued to foster Ready Reserve Soldiers until2000 , when the Battery assumed the composition that it has today, as a general reserve unit.104 Field Battery was disbanded on 1 July 2005 during a parade held by 1 Field Regiment to retask 105 Field Battery to a Medium Battery role. Personnel were transferred to the reserve element of 105 Medium Battery and to other batteries within the regiment.
References
[http://www.army.gov.au/1FDREGT/104history.htm Official Battery Website]
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