Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

2nd / 4th Field Regiment - 7th Division, 2nd AIF WW2

Extract from AWM Unit Records (see link to the right of this page) and other sources

The 2nd/4th Field Regiment served with distinction in WW2, in campaigns in North Africa, Syria–Lebanon in the Middle East, then Salamaua–Lae and the Finisterre Ranges in New Guinea and finally in Borneo.

Following the formation of the 6th Division, in early 1940 it was decided that the 2nd Australian Imperial Force (AIF) would be expanded. The decision to raise the 7th Division was made in February 1940.  This involved the re-allocation of some units from the 6th Division, some of which had already embarked for oveseas service.

In Australia, new units began to be raised and, following the appointment of its first commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Lewis Barker, the 2/4th Field Regiment began recruiting at Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne, on 7 May. Many of its first officers and men came from the 4th Australian Field Artillery Brigade, of the pre-war Militia, based at St Kilda, Melbourne. The regiment was formed and trained at Puckapunyal, Victoria, where it had two batteries - 7th and 8th- each consisting of three troops and four 18-pounder guns (so called becasue of the weight of the projectile).

After training in Victoria, the regiment deployed to North Africa in late 1940, initially without its guns!  It was re-equipped with a mix of 18 and 25 pounder field guns and 4.5 inch howitzers.  Eventually the 25 pounder, arguably the best field artillery piece (it was actually a gun/howitzer which made it so effective) of the 2nd World War, became the regiment's sole equipment.

After being deployed in the defence of Mersa Matruh in Egypt in early 1941, the regiment took part in the fighting against the Vichy French in Syria and Lebanon in Operation Exporter (see link) (/explore/campaigns/16), before undertaking garrison duties there.

It returned to Australia in early 1942 following Japan's entry into the war, and was soon deployed to New Guinea, where it helped make good the deficiency in artillery that had so disadvantaged the defenders along the Kokoda Track.  It was eventually re-equipped with the Short 25 pounder, an adapted lightened and stripped down version of the ubiquitous field gun to be more deployable in rough terrain.

In September 1943, a small group of gunners from the 2/4th parachuted with two short 25 Pounder guns in the airborne landing at Nadzab airstrip in New Guinea in support of the US Army's 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment.

Later, the regiment took part in the 7th Division's campaign through the Finisterre Range before returning to Australia in early 1944 to consolidate reinforce and retrain on the Atherton Tablelands in Queensland in preparation for the final phase of the War.

Its final involvement in the war came around Balikpapan in Borneo in July 1945. After a short campaign, and the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan, the war came to an end in August 1945 and demobilisation began. Personnel were transferred from the unit for subsequent service with the Occupation Force in Japan, or were repatriated to Australia for discharge, before the regiment was finally returned to Australia for disbandment. This occurred on 7 February 1946. A total of 30 personnel from the regiment were killed in action during the war, or died while on active service.

We would particularly like to encourage individual historians researchers or members of unit associations to contribute to the development of a more detailed history and photographs pertaining to this unit and its members.

Please contact [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])  for details on how to contribute.