Shake-down exercise for gunners DPR/TV/959

Conducting an artillery sheet in Malaysia is not without its drawbacks as Gunners of Australia's 107 Field Battery discovered during an exercise which has just ended. Code-named Last Journey, the Exercise was conducted by the British 14th Light Artillery Regiment of which 107 Battery is part. The Exercise was basically a shakedown exercise for the Battery which later this month will take part in Exercise Darling Point which will involve the whole of 28th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade including troops from the 8th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, and 2 Field Troop, Royal Australian Engineers. Last Journey was in two phases and involved the Battery travelling more than 300 miles apart from the towing, pushing, manoeuvring and unhooking of the unit's 105mm howitzers. The first phase of the Exercise, conducted near Bentong in Pahang Province, involved logistic support and included the movement and resupply of guns and ammunition by RAF Belverdere helicopters. With this phase completed the artillerymen returned to Malacca, the home of 28th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade, for live firing. For many of the Australian gunners the Exercise merely refreshed drills they had carried out during operations in Borneo and Vietnam, but for others it was realistic training for future exercises and possible operations. (Also identified: Gnr Les Nathan of Nedlands, WA, with bren (L); Gnr Brian Jones of Girraween, NSW; Gnr Allen Betts of Bundaberg, Qld; Gnr Sid Armistead of Orbost, Vic; Second Lt Dick Lawler of Salters Point, WA, with megaphone; Gnr Nick Nadycz of Harden, NSW; Sgt John McConnell of Bargo, NSW; Signaller Bdr Bill Klas of Wynnam, Qld; Gnr Noel Patterson of Ivanhoe, Vic; Sgt Peter Van Der Meer of Holsworthy, NSW; Gnr Ron Anderson of Alberton, Vic; Gnr George Petrowsky of St Marys, NSW).