The 81st Annual Gunner Dinner was held at Parramatta RSL Club on Saturday, 9th August 2008.
The Guest of Honour was Major General Ashe Power AM CSC, GOC Training Command in the company of Major General Tim Ford AO, Representative Colonel Commandant, Colonel Allan Piercey, Colonel Commandant Eastern Region joined with gunners from many units spanning the period WW2 to the present to mark this annual occasion.
The Dining President for the evening was Colonel Don Tait, President, RAA Association (NSW).
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(Left) An Ensign and Escort from 23 Field Regiment parades the Banner of Queen Elizabeth, Captain General of the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery into the Dining Room.
(Below) The Banner was placed in its holder behind the Dining President and Guest of Honour |
This year was the fortieth anniversary of the Battle of CORAL/BALMORAL in South Vietnam in May, 1968 and the Dinner had as its theme "The Battle of CORAL".
A number of short speeches by CORAL veterans were interspersed throughout the dinner.
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(Left) Rob Costello, President of 12 Field Regiment Association and member of 102 Fd Bty recalled the early hours of May 13 as the attack was mounted repeatedly on the gun position. (Right) Gordon Malcolm who at the time was a member of the Radar Detachment gave a Locator's perspective of the battle.spoke of the |
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(Left) Laurie Bird reflected on the service of members of the battery over the period 12 May - 6 Jun 1968. (Right) Following the Loyal Toast and Toast to the Regiment, COL Ian Ahearn, who was the GPO at CORAL, summed up the operation and put into perspective the distictive award to 102 Field Battery of the Honour Title CORAL. |
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This is the scroll of the Honour Title CORAL. 102nd (CORAL) Field Battery is unique in the history of the Australian Army to have been so honoured. As 102nd (CORAL) Field Battery is not presently an active unit of the Australian Army this scroll is held by 8th/12th Medium Regiment as 102 Fd Bty had been a sub-unit of 12 Fd Regt during its 1968 tour of South Vietnam. For more information visit the 12th Field Regiment Association site. |
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