Gun running to entice recruits

Gnr Mitch Haley pushes the barrel of the gun as the right wheel is taken off by Gnr Tim Barthelson and the rest of the B Tp team, representing the ACT, wearing Brumbies jerseys. Photo by David Sibley

By David Sibley

FOR the Brumbies of B Troop, 10 Fd Bty, losing a vital gun race by 1.5 seconds to the Waratahs of A Troop, 10 Fd Bty, was an ominous sign.

And, to their dismay, their loss did foreshadow the ACT Brumbies’ recent 6-10 defeat by the NSW Waratahs in the Super 12 provincial rugby union championship.

The gun race, held at half-time of the match between the two Australian provincial teams on April 16, was part of 23 Fd Regt’s annual contest to determine which troop could claim the title of Champion Gun Race team as part of the Commanding Officer’s Champion Battery competition.

B Tp, based at HMAS Harman, wore Brumbies jerseys to represent the ACT; A Tp, based at Holsworthy, wore sky blue jerseys similar to the Waratah strip.

10 Fd Bty’s Forward Observer and gun race commentator Capt Peter Woulfe said wearing the Super 12 jerseys was the battery’s contribution to the intense feeling between the Brumbies and Waratahs.

“We thought we would chime in to add to the Canberra-Sydney rivalry, which you saw on the [Canberra Stadium] field, through the gun race,” he said.

Both teams began with a foot race to their 105mm L119 Hamel gun, parked at either end of the field – A Tp was positioned at the northern end on the eastern sideline of the playing area; B Tp’s gun was at the southern end on the western Mal Meninga Stand) sideline.

They then manhandled the gun to their respective quarter-lines to take off a wheel and rotate the barrel before laying the gun and firing.

A Tp took the lead when B Tp lost vital seconds making the wheel change – firing the fireworks charge, in place of a blank round for safety reasons, first to win the right to take on 11 Fd Bty’s team.

But B Tp can take solace in the fact they lent two of their members to A Tp – Gunners Rowan Miller and Pat Harding, who plays lock for the Gungahlin Eagles in the ACT Rugby Union’s grade competition.

The race, which entertained the 27,040-strong crowd at Canberra Stadium, the vast majority of whom cheered on B Tp, was also a recruiting activity by 23 Fd Regt.

Capt Woulfe said the race, organised by Recruiting Officer WO2 David McGarry and 10 Fd Bty SM-Instructor Gunnery WO2 George O’Connell, highlighted the physical and technical skills necessary for gunners.