Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

Catalogue and Notes - Royal Australian Garrison Artillery Honour Roll

« Prev Item Next Item »

Overview

Catalogue and exhibit notes prepared for the Royal Australian Garrison Artillery (RAGA) Honour Roll as part of a series of events at the Australian Army Museum of Western Australia to commemorate the centenary of World War 1. The RAGA Honour Boards were featured in March 2016 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the Australian Heavy Batteries in France.

Historical information

Unlike other formations of the AIF, the heavy batteries had been formed mostly from permanent artillerymen of the Royal Australian Garrison Artillery. When war was declared, these gunners were prevented from enlisting for overseas service. Following the destruction of the German raider Emden at Cocoas Island by HMAS Sydney, it was decided that there was little direct seaborne threat to the coastal cities. Orders were issued and the brigade drawn together in Melbourne from the different states. The assembled unit sailed for overseas service in July 1915 on HMAT A67 Orsova.
Only one Australian battery – the 55th Heavy Artillery Battery – was equipped with the 9.2-inch (233-millimetre) howitzers. The battery, and the 54th Heavy Artillery Battery, which had 8-inch (203-millimetre) howitzers, on wheels, were placed together as the Australian Heavy Artillery Group (HAG). These two siege batteries, and their headquarters, moved from Britain to France in March 1916 and became the first Australian units to go into battle on the Western Front.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-54-281

Contextual Information

The Royal Australian Garrison Artillery is currently located in Hobbs Artillery Park, Irwin Barracks, Karrakatta.

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

Organisation Details
View Collection
Item Feedback