105th Medium Battery, Royal Australian Artillery

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=105th Medium Battery, Royal Australian Artillery


caption=A 105th Field Battery gun team in 1955
country=Australia
allegiance=
type=Artillery
branch=Army
dates= March 1916 - 28 February 1919
1921 - December 1940
1 July 1955 - Present
specialization = Close Fire Support
command_structure=1st Field Regiment
size=
current_commander=
garrison=Gallipoli Barracks
ceremonial_chief=
ceremonial_chief_label=
nickname=The Mighty Tigers
motto=Ubique (Everywhere) (Latin)
colors=
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label=
identification_symbol_2=
identification_symbol_2_label=
march=
mascot=
battles= World War I
* Egypt
* Sinai
* Western Front
Vietnam War
* Battle of Long Tan
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=

The 105th Medium Battery is a unit of the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery that can trace its history back to March 1916 when it was raised as 105th Howitzer Battery in Egypt.

The Battery is based at Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera, Queensland, as a full-time, regular army unit and is one of three batteries that make up the 1st Field Regiment, part of 7 Brigade. [cite web | title = 105th Field Battery | url = http://www.defence.gov.au/army/1FDREGT/105bty.htm | accessdate = 2006-12-11]

History

The 105th Howitzer Battery was raised in March 1916 in Egypt as a part of the 22nd Howitzer Brigade, following a decision to equip each infantry division with a Howitzer Brigade,cite web | publisher = Australian Defence Force Academy| title = World War I Artillery | url = http://www.unsw.adfa.edu.au/~rmallett/Artillery.html | accessdate = 2006-12-26] and shortly thereafter embarked for Marseilles, France.

World War I

By 11 May 1916, the Battery joined 13th, 14th and 15th Batteries at Fleurbiax, France (near Armentieres) to form 5th Field Brigade Australian Field Artillery of 2nd Division Artillery, after a reorganisation of the artillery saw each field brigade having 12 x 18 pounders and 4 x convert|4.5|in|mm|sing=on howitzers. The Howitzer Brigades then became Field Artillery Brigades also, seeing the 105th Howitzer Battery become the 105th Field Artillery (Howitzer) Battery.

In January 1917, batteries were increased in size from four to six guns each in order to economise on battery and brigade commanders.

The Battery was disbanded following cessation of hostilities on 30 March 1919.

1921 to 1940

Following a restructure of the Citizen's Army, based on the framework of the 1st AIF, in 1921, the 105th Field (Howitzer) Battery was re-raised, along with the rest of the 5th Field Regiment, except for 15th Battery, which wasn't re-raised until 1938. The Battery was based at Gona Barracks at Kelvin Grove, Queensland at this time.

During the ensuing years prior to World War II, the Battery conducted several training camps around Brisbane. The Battery embarked on their first annual training camp, held on the southern shores of the Brisbane River at Lytton in 1927.

During 1930, two training camps were conducted. The first commenced on 4 April at Enoggera, with the second, commencing on 30 June, being conducted at Lytton. A training camp during March 1931 was conducted at Bellevue Station, near Ipswich. At this time, the Battery was still using horses for transportation of personnel and its guns.

A new artillery range was opened by Assistant Minister for Defence Mr J. Francis in September 1934 at Mound Walker (near Rosewood). The Battery trekked convert|50|mi|km to attend the opening of the new range, as well as conduct a joint exercise with the 111th Battery. This exercise was held annually until 1939, when the Caloundra Range was established on a beach convert|64|mi|km to the north of Brisbane.

During the 1937 exercises, cars and utilities were used for transportation by Battery staff, with other Battery personnel utilising horses. The introduction of Fordson Gun Tractors in 1938 saw the Battery's guns being towed by the tractors, with the staff reverting to riding horses. The Battery was fully mechanised from November 1939.

The Battery was again disbanded in December 1940, with members of the 5th Field Regiment amalgamating to form the newly raised 2nd/5th Field Regiment. This unit was later re-designated 2nd/1st Anti Tank Regiment.

1955 to present

The Battery was re-raised on 1 July 1955 as an independent battery of 1st Field Regiment at Holsworthy Barracks. Shortly thereafter, the Battery was deployed on a tour of Malaya, lasting from September 1955 to June 1957.

The Battery remained as a unit of the 1st Field Regiment until 1960, when the Battery moved to Sanananda Barracks, Wacol to become a founding member of 4th Field Regiment.

Vietnam

The Battery was involved in two tours of Vietnam. The first from 14 September 1965 to October 1966. It was during this tour, on 18 August 1966, that the Battery was involved in the Battle of Long Tan.

The second and last tour of Vietnam lasted from February 1969 to March 1970.

In 1976, the Battery detached from the 4th Field Regiment and moved to its current home at Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera to join 1st Field Regiment.

Recent history

On 1 July 2005, after 50 years of continuous service as a field battery, 105th Battery's 105mm L119 Hamels were replaced with 155mm M198 Howitzers, with the Battery being re-raised as 105th Medium Battery on 2 July 2005. [ cite news | last = WO2 McBean | first = Warren | title = Rolling out the big guns | publisher = The Soldier's Newspaper (Australian Army) | date = 2005-07-14 | url = http://www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews/editions/1124/topstories/story04.htm | accessdate = 2006-12-27 ] At the same time the Gun Troops and other sub-units of the Battery were named:Command Troop "Somme":Gun Troop "Perak" (Malay Theatre):Gun Troop "Kedah" (Malay Theatre):Joint Offensive Support Team (JOST) "Dekker" [BDR Gerry Dekker a Military Medal winner from Vietnam who was 105 Btys most highly decorated soldier from the Vietnam War]

References