LBdr Craig Hartnett and Sgt Bill Thurley with the newly restored Intrepid, back better than ever at 4 Fd Regt. Photo by Cpl Jason Weeding, 1JPAU(P)

Big bang back even better

By Sgt Bill Thurley

NO STRANGER to the deserts of the Middle East, a gun called Intrepid has been restored by 4 Fd Regt members and many other dedicated and zealous gun history buffs.

Operation Exporter was the name given to the restoration project – also the code name for the Australian-lead invasion of Syria in June 1941.

The famous 7 Div, 2AIF, including 2/4th Aust Fd Regt, undertook the operation to remove the Vichy French from controlling the gateway to the oil fields of Persia and opening up the fields to the Germans.

Prior to the invasion of Syria the 2/4th Aust Fd Regt took on charge 24 new 25-pounders for the operation.

Ten years ago a former member of the 2/4th, Eddie Cave identified and verified one of the guns in the regiment as one of those original guns used in Syria.

The gun, until last year, had sat for over 34 years in front of the guardroom with little or no maintenance.

Unlike the other guns in the regiment this one was made in England and the service date stamped on the recoil gives more weight to its authenticity, date and place of issue.

The ammunition limber was the worst for wear and required the most work. The limber had no wheels or axles fitted and the ammunition box, roof and base were badly rusted

The 25 pounder field gun and ammunition limber was presented to 4 Fd Regt on behalf of the 2/4th Aust Fd Regt on St Barbara’s day in December 2002.

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