13th Field Battery History

13th Field Battery, 1st Field Regiment, traces its history back through 1st Field Regiment, 5th/11th Field Regiment, 5th Field Regiment, to 5th Field Brigade. 5th Field Brigade Australian Field Artillery was formed as part of 2nd Division Artillery at Fleurbiax, France (near Armentieres on the Belgium border) during World War I as the requirement for artillery increased on the Western Front battlefields. The Regiment was comprised of 13th, 14th, 15th and 105th Batteries. The Brigade was disbanded at the end of the war.

In 1921 the Citizen's Army was reconstructed based on the 1st AIF framework. As part of this, 5th Field Regiment was re-raised at Kelvin Grove, Brisbane and consisted of 13th, 14th, 105th Field Batteries. In 1938, 15th Field Battery was raised, making the Regiment the same composition as in World War I.

    During the Second World War, 5th Field Regiment amalgamated to form the newly raised 2nd/5th Field Regiment. This unit was later redesignated 2nd/1st Anti Tank Regiment. At the end of World War II this unit was disbanded. In 1955, 5th Field Regiment was reformed and was equipped with 25 Pounder Guns.

In 1960, 5th Field Regiment was re-organised as part of 1st Division. At this stage, 5th Field Regiment consisted of 14th Field Battery at Ipswich, as well a 13th Field Battery and Headquarter Battery at Kelvin Grove. In 1964 the Regiment changed to 105mm L5 Pack Howitzers and later to the 105mm M2A2.

    On the 1st July 1975, 5th Field Regiment amalgamated with 11th Field Regiment to form 5th/11th Field Regiment and as a consequence of the amalgamation 13th Field Battery was taken off the Army ORBAT. The new Regiment was to be based at Annerley where the Regimental Headquarters and Headquarter Battery were to be housed in the former 11th Field Regiment area, with 14th Field Battery at Ipswich and 41st Field Battery at Southport.