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Battery proves a show stopper
By Bdr Matthew Stuart

Volume 11, No. 60, February 22, 2007
 
Guns ablaze: Soldiers from 48 Fd Bty demonstrate the “dark art” of artillery during Australia Day near one of Adelaide’s major shopping centres.
Photo by Capt Adam Thomson
IT WAS a case of something old being new again when 48 Fd Bty, based at Keswick Barracks in Adelaide, went on a fire mission of a different kind.

In the week leading up to the Australia Day celebrations, shoppers were taken by surprise as a detachment from South Australia’s only Reserve artillery battery took up a gun position in the middle of Adelaide’s major shopping centre – Rundle Mall.

The main aim of this initiative was to promote the part-time career opportunities that exist in the Royal Australian Artillery, and introduce the public to the “dark art” of artillery – especially its role within the Australia Day celebrations.

The centrepiece of the display was a M2A2 105mm howitzer, which is currently in service at 48 Fd Bty. Though this piece is old and only in service with a few Reserve batteries, it managed to attract waves of people. In the three days that 48 Fd Bty were in the city, more than 1000 people took time to wander through the recruiting display.

This major recruiting activity culminated with the traditional 21-gun salute on Australia Day.

Against the breathtaking backdrop of the city, the guns fired from the Morphett Street Bridge over the River Torrens towards the celebrations in Elder Park.