 A Gunner's Poem
Always a Gunner by Murray Quinlan
Murray Quinlan was a Bombardier with 161 Divisional Locating Battery RAA between 1977 and 1983. He regarded his time as a Gunner a special experience and as an expresion of Esprit de Corps he has dedicated the following poem to the RAA.
The FO on the spurline, glasses to his eye Our guns a thousand yards behind, barrels to the sky "Fire Mission Battery" the call we've waited for Once a start to practice, now a call to war
Gunners bred of every rank, race to ready guns Art sigs and plotters, hats on number one's Elevation 38, traverse to 319 Range set at 5500, as we bring the six in line
Bubble line bubble, level on ready,our drill has made us keen The charge is set, the bearing checked, the round is punched home clean "At my command" the one's all hear, bush hats o the spike One round, adjust fire, crackles loudly on the mike
"Fire over ", "Fire out" the voices work as one "Shot over", "Shot out" is echoed by the guns
FO calls, hats back on, six rounds fire for
effect
Cordite clouds, lanyard foul, two gun won't eject
The gunners aim is deadly and the rounds all find their mark The target more than neutralised, a silence now like dark "good shooting" calls the FO so we clean and prep the gun When next were called from stand down by the Fire Mission Run
A gunner then, a gunner now and always shall I be Proud of the white lanyard, and the Corp of Artillery The Badge's gallant motto, the gunner's lifelong creed "Whrever in right and glory", I know that "I shall lead"
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There are two workshops at North Head: the Armco and North Head. The Armco team recently refurbished a 25 Pounder for Manly Council (see sep arate report) and I'll let them report on their projects separately. Both workshops are under the management, and are located in facilities, of the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust (SHFT). The intention is to co-locate both workshops at the Armco in the future. Our refurbishment work directly supports the SHFT as the equipment will be displayed in a Defence of Sydney Museum to be established at North Fort by SHFT.
30 foot Box Range Finder, originally off the HMAS Sydney and subsequently used for coastal ranging finding. It was recovered from Katoomba in the Blue Mountains where it was a tourist attraction. The project has involved the complete stripping down of the equipment and refurbishment of the optic s.
Head. Mechanical skills are welcome but not necessary, as evidenced by a few retired officers who volunteer. More importantly volunteers only need enthusiasm and an interest preserving our artillery heritage. If you are interested and have a few free hours a week or just wish to visit the workshops please drop in (Wed - North Fort and Thu - Armco). Alternatively, 