2008
A Day To Be Proud of
The first Sunday in November is celebrated as Gunners Day (2 Nov 08) and is a day revered by current and past Army Reserve members of 7 Field Battery and its traditional links with other elements of 3 Field Regiment.
This year was the 80th consecutive celebration of the event which is organised by the RAA Historical Society, a small band of hard working members who put their heart and souls as well as a great deal of pride in preserving it as a premium date on the Artillery calendar in Western Australia.
Current serving members of 7 Field Battery attend the service which combines a short march, a memorial service, a church service and a buffet afterward.
Support comes from the Australian Army Band Perth, the Cadets at 59 ACU Rockingham and members of the Fire and Rescue Service.
President LTCOL Bob Farrelly was taking part in that role for the first time and was involved in the acceptance of a standard from an Anti Aircraft Regiment.
Guest of honour was Brigadier Phil White and the Parade Salute was taken by the 13 BDE COMD.
CLICK ON THE RESPECTIVE IMAGE TO ENLARGE
80th Celebration
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116th Air Defence Regiment banner |
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25 Pounder restored by Council |
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Australian Army Band - Perth |
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Band on the run |
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Bandmaster WO1 Renfrey |
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Battery in the shade |
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Battery on parade |
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Battery on the right path |
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BC with wreath |
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Cadet colours |
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Cadets carrying colours |
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Collection of wreaths |
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Fire and rescue |
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Guests |
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Guests |
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Just great to see them |
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Lest we forget |
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LTCOL Farrelly and BRIG White |
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Monumental view |
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Old and bold head for the church |
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Old and bold on Parade |
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Parade Salute |
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RAAHS and RAA Assn members |
History of Gunners' Day at Guilford
BANNER
In September 1914, the late Mr. James Frederics presented to Military Headquarters, a silk Australian Ensign with a request that it should be handed to one of the Commanding Officers proceeding overseas.
The Commandant of the day, COL Kyndon, presented the Banner to the Commanding Officer of the 8th Battery AIF, MAJ A.J. Bessell-Browne DSO, which was gratefully accepted and became the Battery Banner.
The Banner was first flown at Blackboy Hill Camp during preliminary training. Then at Mena Camp Egypt, during intensive training in the field at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, and later taken to France and flown on the Somme in 1916 and early 1917 in Eypres Salient. It was then put away until the termination of the war.
After demobilisation it was decided to deposit the Banner in St. Matthews' Church, Guildford, for safekeeping. The sentiment behind depositing the Banner in the Church was to follow the custom in Garrison Churches in England.
Artillery Headquarters, both prior to and after the Great War of 1914/18, were situated at Guildford, and the Banner was unveiled on Sunday the 21st of September 1919, by the 8th Battery's first Commanding Officer, BDEGEN AJ Bessell-Browne, CB,CMG,DSO,VD.
"GUNNERS' DAY"
In 1928 the Artillery Comrades' Association decided with the co-operation of the Church of the Municipality of Guildford, to hold the first ceremony of "Gunners' Day". After discussion it was decided to hold the ceremony on the nearest Sunday to the 8th of August. The factor in arriving at this date was that it was considered that the Artillery units in France had reached the Zenith of their training when the Australian Forces broke the line at Villiers Brettoneaux on the 8th of August 1917.
On the day of the first ceremony about 60 Ex Gunners marched from the railway station headed by the RSL Band to the church, where a short service was held, and at the termination of this service they formed up round the Guildford War Memorial. Wreaths were laid, the 'Last Post' sounded, and the column marched back to the Guildford Railway Station and dismissed.
This procedure has been carried out every year since, except that there has been a change in the starting point due to increased traffic density.
MEMORY GATES
In 1932 the Municipality of Guildford erected gates on the West boundary of the Church Square to the memory of the men who trained in the district in 1914. In addition to the Gunners, in 1914 the 10th Light Horse trained in the district, and they were invited to join in the ceremony of Gunners' Day. This they did for many years until eventually discontinuing their attendance.
On Gunners' Day the 14th of August 1932, the gates were named "The Memory Gates" and were opened and the tablet unveiled, by BDEGEN AJ Bessell-Browne.
MEMORIAL PLAQUES
On the 21st of April 1938 our beloved Chief, LTGEN Sir JT Talbot Hobbs KCB KCMG VD, died and it was decided by the Artillery Comrades' Association with the co-operation of the Rector of the Diocese, to erect a memorial wall plaques to GEN Hobbs and to GEN Bessell-Browne in St Matthews' Church, Guildford, to perpetuate their memories.
When the suggestion came forward, the 10th Light Horse Association desired to participate, but the Gunners were adamant that the late General was their Chief, so as a compromise it was suggested that the Association should join in by erecting a Memorial Plaque to their own beloved leaded, COL TJ Todd, CMG, DSO. This was agreed to, and the two plaques were duly erected. It is interesting to note that the background is in chromium plate, and in LTGEN Sir JJ Talbot Hobbs' plaque the filling is in Navy Blue and Red wax, and in COL TJ Todd's plaque, the filling is in Black and Yellow wax, thereby representing the Regimental Colours of the two arms.
On "Gunners' Day" 1938, the plaques were unveiled by His Excellency, the LTGEN Sir James Mitchell, KCMG, who has always taken great interest in our ceremony. He has for many years been kind enough to be present and to take the Salute during the March.
The object of writing this story is so that the Traditions will be placed on record by St Matthews' Church, Guildford, the Municipality of Guildford, The Artillery Comrades' Association, and the 10th Light Horse Association
ARTILLERY COMRADES ASSOCIATION
In the early 1920s the 112th Howitzer Bty Association and many members of other units combined to form the Artillery Comrades Association; however the 8th Bty preferred to retain its own association. Gunners from other states then also joined the Artillery Comrades Association.
Over a number of years, by means of regular entertainments and bequests, a trust fund was developed and invested as a means of producing income to enable the Association to render assistance to Gunners who were in need. This fund is still in existence and is assisted by an annual donation from the Anzac Day Trust. After WW2 through the efforts of the late Major General Whitelaw, the Artillery Comrades Association became affiliated with the Royal Artillery Association of Woolwich in England. Over the years 103rd Bty joined the Association. After WW2 the 2/3rd and 2/7th Field Regiments, Associations, the Heavy AA, the 2/4th Light AA, and the Coastal Artillery Associations joined the Artillery Comrades Association.
CURRENTLY
On November 16th 1975, Gunners from five wars were in attendance. This never to be repeated.
In August 1975 the Association's constitution was re-drafted and it's title changed to the Royal Australian Artillery Association (WA). The date for the Gunner's Day Parade was changed to the first Sunday in November to bring it into warmer and more reliable weather, and to bring it closer to Remembrance Day. The Association maintains the original aims of Gunners' Day, with the hope that younger Gunners will follow on to maintain the traditions that have been handed down to us.
THE FLAG
The original flag, which was hung from St. Matthews ceiling in the tradition of English Churches, was in the 1970s, knocked from the rafters by a tradesman, and due to the rigours of time and service, it disintegrated. All efforts to piece it together and repair it failed. A brand new flag (Australian as had been the original) was purchased as a replacement, and permission was sought to hang it from the rafters as previously. This was refused by the Anglican Church, as was permission to hang it from any other part of the Church. Eventually permission was given for the flag to be placed vertically in a stand rolled up.
It stands at present in the North East corner of the North Nave, or Soldiers' Chapel, adjacent to the Artillery wall plaques and next to the position where the Laurel Wreath is hung at the Gunners' Day Service. The remnants of the original flag were ceremonially burned at Buckland Hill in the presence of an Army Padre and placed in an urn, which is at present in the safe keeping of the Royal Australian Artillery Historical Society.
Thanks to Ron Jager for providing this article.
Gunners'Day Highlights
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80 years of celebration |
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Afterservice1 |
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AfterService1 |
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AfterService2 |
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Afterservice2 |
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Afterservice3 |
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AfterService3 |
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AfterService4 |
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Among guests |
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An proud bearer |
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BRIG White does the reading |
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Church colours |
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CPL Drover and BDR McAuliffe |
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GNR Spurgeon and Alf Matthews cutting the cake |
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Good to see you blokes |
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Handover |
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Kitchening |
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Many in the mews |
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Ministering |
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Mr and Mrs Rae |
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Our flag |
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Ronnie and Bruce |
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Ronnie and Enid |
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Special guests |