2/12th Field Regiment (Australia)

Edit links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
2/12th Field Regiment
Gunner Keith Corby (pictured middle) from the 2/12th man a captured Italian gun at Tobruk, 1941
Active1940–46
CountryAustralia
TypeRegiment
RoleArtillery
Size3 batteries
~ 700 personnel
Part of9th Division
EngagementsWorld War II
  • North Africa campaign
  • Syria–Lebanon Campaign
  • New Guinea Campaign
  • Borneo Campaign
Insignia
Unit colour patch

The 2/12th Field Regiment was an

Borneo Campaign
in 1945.

History

Because of the Australian government's decision to raise a second infantry division – the

60-pounder medium guns, and throughout their initial training the regiment's recruits were trained on weapons borrowed from Militia units; however, the weapons were scarce and in October 1940, because of the lack of appropriate guns, it was decided to convert the regiment into a field artillery unit. It was consequently redesignated as the "2/12th Field Regiment",[4] and at the same time it was reallocated from I Australian Corps to the 9th Division,[5] although it would not come under its control until it had moved to the Middle East in early 1941.[6] Upon conversion to a field unit, the regiment's two batteries were redesignated: No. 3 became 23 Battery and No. 4 became 24 Battery.[7]

No guns were received following its conversion to the field artillery establishment, as the regiment was to be equipped upon its arrival overseas, so training was undertaken at

18-pounders borrowed from the 2/8th Field Regiment.[7] After completing training at Puckapunyal in mid-November, the regiment embarked upon the transport Stratheden and deployed to the Middle East, with a war establishment of just over 700 personnel.[8] They arrived in Palestine in December 1940 and until March 1941, they were based at Qastina.[9] That month, the regiment was reorganised into three batteries, each of two troops. The third battery was initially designated as 'Z' Battery,[10] but it later came to be redesignated as 62 Battery.[11]

The regiment subsequently undertook three major battles in the

25-pounders and 36 tractors.[18]

In January 1943, the regiment returned to Australia aboard the transport Ile de France as part of the

Cairns upon several transports including HMAS Manoora, Van Heutz, W Ellery Channing, USS Henry T Allen and the Van Der Lijn, bound for New Guinea where they were to join the fighting against the Japanese.[20] After arriving at Milne Bay in August,[20] they subsequently took part in landings around Lae and then Finschhafen in September, and saw action during the Huon Peninsula campaign. Supporting the 20th Infantry Brigade during the initial landing around Scarlet Beach,[21] once Finschhafen was secured, the regiment's guns support the attack on Sattelberg from the coastal plain,[22] before supporting further advances north as part of the drive towards Sio before returning to Australia in early 1944.[23] After a year-long interlude training around Ravenshoe, Queensland, the regiment undertook its final campaign of the war in 1945, providing fire support during the Battle of North Borneo.[24] Assigned to support the 24th Infantry Brigade,[25] during the landing on Labuan two troops of the 2/12th came ashore alongside the assaulting infantry in LVTs,[26] something the Australian Army had not done before.[27] Later, during June, 14 guns from the regiment were moved by barge to support operations around Weston and Beaufort.[28] The swampy ground in the area posed problems for the gunners, who had to shore up the ground with coconut palms.[29] At the end of the war, the regiment was disbanded with its last war diary entry being made on 1 March 1946.[30]

Throughout its existence, the regiment used a variety of guns including captured Italian pieces as well as Allied equipment. The British and American guns used by the regiment were: 60-pounder medium guns, 18-pounder field guns,

Mentions in Despatches.[34] A plaque commemorating the regiment's personnel is included in Anzac Square in Brisbane.[35]

Commanding officers

The following officers commanded the 2/12th Field Regiment:[36]

  • Lieutenant Colonel Shirley Thomas William Goodwin (1940–43);
  • Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Dudderidge Houston (1943–45).

References

Citations
  1. ^ Parsons 1991, p. 11.
  2. ^ Horner 1995, p. 230.
  3. ^ Parsons 1991, pp. 11–13.
  4. ^ Johnston 2002, p. 9.
  5. ^ Parsons 1991, pp. 24–25.
  6. ^ Maughan 1966, pp. 8–9.
  7. ^ a b Parsons 1991, p. 25.
  8. ^ Parsons 1991, p. 27.
  9. ^ Parsons 1991, p. 30.
  10. ^ Parsons 1991, p. 34.
  11. ^ Parsons 1991, pp. 194–195.
  12. ^ Parsons 1991, pp. 12 & 91.
  13. ^ a b Staff (24 May 2010). "Honouring Tassie Rat of Tobruk". The Mercury. Hobart, Tasmania. p. 10.
  14. ^ Maughan 1966, p. 257.
  15. ^ Maughan 1966, p. 265.
  16. ^ Horner 1995, p. 270.
  17. ^ Wilmot 1993, p. 284.
  18. ^ Maughan 1966, p. 375.
  19. ^ Parsons 1991, pp. 143–145.
  20. ^ a b Parsons 1991, p. 151.
  21. ^ Dexter 1963, p. 450.
  22. ^ Long 1963, pp. 648–649.
  23. ^ Parsons 1991, pp. 12 & 209.
  24. ^ a b Parsons 1991, p. 12.
  25. ^ Long 1963, p. 459.
  26. ^ Horner 1995, p. 415.
  27. ^ Long 1963, pp. 465–466.
  28. ^ Long 1963, p. 479.
  29. ^ Horner 1995, p. 417.
  30. ^ Parsons 1991, p. 256.
  31. ^ Parsons 1991, pp. 265–271.
  32. ^ Parsons 1991, pp. 275–276.
  33. ^ Parsons 1991, pp. 279–282.
  34. ^ Parsons 1991, pp. 277–278.
  35. ^ "2/12 Field Regiment RAA Plaque". Queensland War Memorial Register. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  36. ^ Parsons 1991, pp. 2 & 6.
Bibliography

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2/12th_Field_Regiment_(Australia)&oldid=1229352153"