2/12th Field Regiment Royal Australian Artillery

	Gunners from the Australian 2/12th Field Regiment manning a captured Italian gun at Tobruk AWM photo P01260 008
	25 Pounder Barrage of Japanese positions that had a 2/28th Battalion patrol pinned down 6 Jul 1944 AWM photo 111804
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Brief History

Formed initially in Pukapunyal as the 2/2nd Medium Regiment from personnel recruited in Victoria, its title was changed to 2/12th Field Regiment prior to embarking for the Middle East in November 1940. Initial training was with 60 pound guns, but with a shortage of artillery pieces they converted to 18 and 25 pound guns. On arrival in Egypt they were to join the Australian 9th Division.

On arrival in Egypt they were to join the Australian 9th Division. Sub units included 2/23rd and 2/24th Australian Field Batteries, with Z Field Battery formed following their arrival in Qastina, Palestine in early 1941. Initial training had been with 60 pound guns, but with a shortage of artillery pieces they converted to 18 and 25 pound guns.

During the Western Desert Campaign the 2/12th were involved in the Seige of Trobuk (using captured Italian guns), the first and second Battles of El Alamein, and garrison duties in Lebanon. On their withdrawl from Tobruk they moved to Hill 93 in Palestine and then back to Qastina in October 1941 wher Z Field Battery was renamed 2/60th AUstralian Field Battery

The Regiment returned to Australia in February 1943, based at Seymour. In August 1943 the Regiment moved to Milne Bay in Papua New Guinea, before landing at Red Beach the following month supporting the move along the coast to capture Lae. By February 1944 they had reached Kelanoa and from there they returned to Australia in march for leave. They reassembled in Ravenshoe (Qld) in May and began training for a role in the AUstralian landings in Borneo. In this theatre he Regiment supported the 24th AUstralian Infantry Brigades landings at Labuan Island in June 1945 and later at Weston on the mainland. At the time hostilities ceased the Regiment was based at Beaufort, with detachment spread all over North Borneo assisting with the infantry 'mop up'.

One member of this unit was captured in North Africa, and six men were captured by the Japanese in the Pacific theaqtre of operations. Sixty four men died while posted to this unit.

Unit Shoulder Patch

Unit Personnel

Graeme Patrick Benson 19 Aug 1942 - 31 Mar 1943

Battle Honours

Tobruk
1st El Alamein
2nd El Alamein
New Guinea
Borneo

Individual Honours

2 x Member of the Order of the British Empire
3 x Distinguished Service Order
5 x Military Cross
1 x Bar to Military Cross
1 x Distinguished Conduct Medal
6 x Military Medal
46 x Mentioned in Despatches

Notes

For more information try "Gunfire - a history of 2/12 Australian Field Regiment 1940 - 1946", Max Parsons, Globe Press, 1991, and "Take Post - the 2/12th Australian Field Regiment 1940 - 1946", Max Parsons, 1993

External Links