12th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery
| 8th/12th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1973–present |
| Country | Australia |
| Allegiance | Commonwealth of Australia |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Artillery |
| Role | Field Artillery |
| Size |
2 Medium Artillery Batteries 1 Observer Battery 1 Headquarters Battery |
| Part of | 1st Brigade |
| Garrison/HQ | Robertson Barracks, Darwin |
| Colours | Blue and red |
| March | Quick – Royal Artillery Quick March Slow – Royal Artillery Slow March |
| Anniversaries | 16 November |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Lieutenant Colonel D.A. Ryan |
| Ceremonial chief | Elizabeth II |
| Insignia | |
| Unit Colour Patch |  |
| Abbreviation | 8/12 Regt |
2 Medium Artillery Batteries
1 Observer Battery
The 8th/12th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, was formed at the Holsworthy Barracks on 16 November 1973 through the amalgamation of the 8th Medium Regiment (RAA) and the 12th Field Regiment (RAA). The Regiment provides field artillery support to the 1st Brigade based in Darwin. It is currently equipped with 155mm M777 Howitzers.
The 8th Medium Regiment, known in the 1950s as the 19th Composite Regiment, was created in February 1968 to provide a united administrative command of several independent artillery units in the Holsworthy Barracks area and had the primary role of providing support to the School of Artillery. The 12th Field Regiment had been reformed at Holsworthy in April 1966, and its elements served in Vietnam in 1968 and 1971. Before relocating to Darwin, the regiment was stationed in Townsville (Queensland) and Ingleburn (New South Wales).
The three of the regiments current Gun batteries reflect their formation in Egypt as part of the First Australian Imperial Force 21st Field Artillery (Howitzer) Brigade, which used 4.5-inch (110 mm) howitzers. The 101 and 103 Batteries, including the 102 Battery, served in France, also as part of the 1st Division.
The 101st Medium Battery was originally formed as the 101st Howitzer Battery on 8 March 1916, at Tel-el-Kebir, from the members of the 1st Field Artillery Brigade, which formation served at Gallipoli. Although disbanded after the war, in the early 1920s, the Battery was reformed as a militia unit in the Newcastle area, but in 1946 it was again disbanded. In 1957, it was established again as the 101st Field Battery, at the Holsworthy Barracks, as part of the 1st Field Regiment (RAAC). It served in Malaya (1959/61), and was deployed twice to South Vietnam (1966–67 and 1969–70). It relocated to Wacol in 1970 before moving again to Enoggera in 1982 to rejoin the 1st Field Regiment.
The 102nd Field Battery was formed in 1957 at Holsworthy Barracks, Sydney, as part of the 1st Field Regiment.
The battery served during the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation between May and August 1965. While in Malaysia, the battery provided fire support during the Kesang River incursion by Indonesian forces. While serving in North Borneo, equipped with L5 Pack Howitzers, the battery provided defensive support to the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, as well as Ghurkha, and British Battalions undertaking operations; it also fire support for secret Claret operations in Indonesian territory.
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Wikipedia