Catalogue and Notes - Royal Australian Garrison Artillery Honour Roll

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.