2/4th Field Regiment (Australia)
| 2/4th Field Regiment | |
|---|---|
 A 2/4th Short 25-pounder firing at Balikpapan, July 1945 | |
| Active | 1940–46 |
| Country | Australia |
| Branch | Australian Army |
| Type | Regiment |
| Role | Artillery |
| Size | 3 batteries |
| Part of | 7th Division[1] |
| Engagements | World War II
|
| Insignia | |
| Unit colour patch |  |
The 2/4th Field Regiment was an
Borneo. After training in Victoria, the regiment deployed to North Africa in late 1940. After being deployed in the defence of Mersa Matruh in Egypt in early 1941, the regiment took part in the fighting against the Vichy French in Syria and Lebanon, before undertaking garrison duties there. It returned to Australia in early 1942 following Japan's entry into the war, and in September 1943, a small group of artillerymen from the 2/4th parachuted with two short 25 Pounder guns in the airborne landing at Nadzab airstrip in New Guinea in support of the U.S. Army's 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment
. Later, the regiment took part in the 7th Division's advance through the Finisterre Range before returning to Australia in early 1944. Its final involvement in the war came around Balikpapan in 1945. After the war, the regiment was disbanded on 7 February 1946.
History
Raised on 7 May 1940, as part of the
4.5 inch howitzers.[2]
After
Affula, Palestine. As part of the invasion of Syria and Lebanon held at the time by the Vichy French, the regiment supported the Australian 21st Brigade's advance along the coast. Crossing the border on 8 June, the 7th Battery, as part of the advance guard which overlooked the Litani River, fired the first artillery shots of the campaign,[2] subsequently providing critical fire support which allowed a bridgehead to be secured.[3] During the fighting that followed the regiment undertook anti-tank, direct-fire tasks, counter battery fire and came under enemy air and naval attack. At the conclusion of the campaign, the 2/4th remained in Syria undertaking garrison duty. During its time there the regiment was expanded to include a third battery, which was designated the 54th Battery.[2]
As part of the transfer of Australian combat troops to the Pacific, the 2/4th was withdrawn from Syria in December 1941 and subsequently transported back to Australia to help bolster the garrison there following Japan's entry into the war. In May 1942, after a period of leave, the regiment concentrated around
Finisterre Range campaign,[2] during which its fire played a significant role in the successful capture of Shaggy Ridge by the Australian infantry on 27 December.[5]
The regiment was withdrawn to Australia in February 1944 for rest and reorganisation. A period was spent at
Borneo. It was over a year before the regiment was deployed again, transiting through Morotai Island in June 1945 before supporting the division's landing at Balikpapan in July.[2] Landing on the second day of the operation, the regiment operated in support of the Australian 18th Brigade.[6] After a short campaign, the war came to an end in August 1945 and the demobilisation process began. Personnel were transferred from the unit for subsequent service, or were repatriated to Australia for discharge, before the regiment was finally returned to Australia for disbandment. This occurred on 7 February 1946, while the regiment was based at Chermside, in Brisbane. A total of 30 personnel from the regiment were killed in action during the war, or died while on active service.[2]
Commanders
The 2/4th was commanded by the following officers:[2][7]
- Lieutenant Colonel Lewis Ernest Stephen Barker
- Lieutenant Colonel John Reddish
- Lieutenant Colonel Dudley Grahame MacDougal
- Lieutenant Colonel Walter Louis Rau
Sub-units
The 2/4th Field Regiment consisted of the following sub-units:[2]
- 7th Battery
- 8th Battery
- 54th Battery
Notes
- ^ "2/4 Field Regiment: Superiors". Orders of Battle. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "2/4th Field Regiment". Second World War, 1939–1945 units. Australian War Memorial. Archived from the original on 16 April 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
- ^ Johnston 2005, p. 49.
- ^ Johnston 2005, p. 82.
- ^ Horner 1995, pp. 371–372.
- ^ Horner 1995, p. 419.
- ^ "2/4 Field Regiment: Appointments". Orders of Battle. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
References
- Horner, David (1995). The Gunners: A History of Australian Artillery. St Leonards, New South Wales: Allen and Unwin. ISBN 978-1-86373-917-7.
- Johnston, Mark (2005). The Silent 7th: An Illustrated History of the 7th Australian Division 1940–46. Crows Nest, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-74114-191-5.
Further reading
- Goyne, Rohan (2014). "'The green light is on': Jump at Nadzab - Australian Para-Artillerists in Action". Sabretache. LV (2, June). Garran, Australian Capital Territory: Military Historical Society of Australia: 40–42. ISSN 0048-8933.
- Henry, R.L (1950). The Story of the 2/4th Field Regiment: A History of a Royal Australian Artillery Regiment During the Second World War. Melbourne: Merrion Press. OCLC 35516566.
