16 Field Battery History

The history of 16 Field Battery can also be described as the history of artillery in Tasmania with the Battery tracing its history back to units raised in both Hobart and Launceston in the middle of the 19th Century. The headquarters are in Launceston due to a longer continuous association with this City.

In December 1859 the Hobart Town Artillery Company was raised under the command of Captain A. F. Smith. On June 6th 1860 the Launceston Volunteer Artillery Company was created in the Launceston Hotel under the command of Captain Home. The Imperial Government withdrew its military support for colonies in 1870 and the Tasmanian Government made no provision for the funding of volunteer units. By 1875 the Hobart unit was ordered to be disbanded, but due to their dedication and the solicitation of the Governor, the Launceston unit remained in existence. An Act passed in 1878 allowed the reformation of the Southern Tasmanian Volunteer Artillery and later in this year all artillery units on the island were designated Tasmanian Volunteer Artillery. Members of the Tasmanian Artillery accompanied British troops to the Sudan in 1885 and to South Africa in 1899 as part of the Australian contingents

In 1914 the 9th Field Battery was formed from existing Tasmanian Volunteer Units and landed at Gallipoli five days after the first assault and was the last battery to leave the peninsula. The Battery then served in France as a Corps artillery unit. The militia batteries formed as 14 Field Brigade had little opportunity for training during the war years but still remained as functioning units during this period.

Compulsory military training was reintroduced in 1921 and saw 14 Field Brigade become 6 Field Brigade, with 16 Battery A. F.A. in Launceston and 106 (Howitzer) Battery A.F.A. in Hobart. Despite the abolition of compulsory military training in 1929 the Brigade managed to retain its personnel and to continue training even with the financial difficulties of the time.

With the declaration of war in September 1939 the now 6 Australian Field Regiment served in the defence of mainland Australia against invasion, but saw no overseas service. 16 Battery 2nd AIF was raised in Tasmania in May 1940 and left Australia as part of the 1st Australian Corps to Palestine. The Battery then moved to the Egyptian/Libyan border until November 1941. It then joined the 9th Australian Division at El Alamein in July 1942. It provided fire support for 9 Division units throughout the El Alamein battles and returned to Palestine in November 1942. The battery returned to Australia in 1943 and was concentrated in Queensland until the 1st Australian Corps conducted amphibious landings on Borneo in May 1945.

In 1948 as part of the Citizen's Military Forces the Battery became 'P' Battery of 6th Anti-Tank Regiment, with 'Q' Battery in Hobart. The Regiment was converted into a field regiment in 1950 and was equipped with 25 pounder guns until their replacement with the current M2A2 105mm howitzers in 1974. On 6th June 1970 the 6th Field Regiment was granted to Freedom of Entry to the City of Launceston to formalise the close association between the Artillery and City that had existed for 110 continuous years. In 1975 6th Field Regiment was reduced to battery strength, with 16 Field Battery split between Launceston and Hobart. The Battery has undergone a number of organisational changes but these have all been in regards to whom the Battery has been commanded by, be it the now disbanded 3rd Division or the current 9th Brigade. However with all these changes the Battery has remained for the last 25 years a unit split between Launceston and Hobart and in keeping with the traditions of the original volunteer units most of the personnel in Battery are volunteers, being members of the Army Reserve.

Points of Interest

The Volunteer-Militia-National Service-Army Reserve Artillery unit that has been associated with the City of Launceston has been serving for a continuous 140 years. The unit has undergone a number of name changes throughout this time but the essence of the unit has always been a volunteer artillery unit.

This makes the current Launceston Volunteer Artillery of 16 Field Battery the longest continuous-serving unit in the Australian Army. It is also the longest serving Artillery unit within the Commonwealth outside the United Kingdom.

The unit was formed at a meeting at the Launceston Hotel on 6th June 1960, the original reason for meeting was to form an Infantry company but a motion was forwarded to change this to an Artillery company, which was unanimously passed. The Launceston Hotel still stands and is adjacent to where the Challenge on 3 June 2000 will take place.

During the period of 1870 to 1878 the Government of the day made no provision for the upkeep of volunteer forces, all units with the exception of the LVA were disbanded. The unit was keep operating by the funds donated by the members. However due to the lack of funds for horses to haul the guns, the guns were manhandled up Windmill Hill for the firing of the Queen's Birthday Salute. With the re-introduction of funding in 1878 this practiced ceased much to the relief of the enthusiasts that kept the unit operating through this 'winter of neglect'.

Many of the gun emplacements that members of both the Launceston and Hobart artillery units manned are still in existence. The most numerous are those emplacements created for the defence of the Derwent River. The original 8-inch muzzle-loaders that were installed in Cormiston Fort to defend Launceston were moved to Patterson Barracks in 1869 where they still flank the entrance today.

Unit personnel have seen service in the Sudan in 1885, South Africa in 1899, the First and Second World Wars and Vietnam. The unit had personnel deployed in support of the Australian commitment to East Timor and had 11 personnel deployed to Malaysia.

FROM: 16 FIELD BATTERY RAA