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In 1927 the officers of the garrison and field
artillery units in the Newcastle area commenced holding gunner dinners. It was
not until Friday 15 November 1952, that a meeting was held at the United
Services Club to form a sub- branch of the RAA Association in Newcastle. The
meeting was attended by Mr B.B. Watchorn and other members of the Sydney
committee. The Sydney association approved the formation of a sub- branch.
Lt-Col Woodward (Woodell?) who organised the meeting was elected as the
inaugural President.
The first Annual General Meeting was held on
the 27th January 1953 and the committee was elected as follows
President Lt-Col
P.W. Dobson MC
Vice President Lt-Col J. Howard
Secretary Maj H. Farquharson
Treasurer Capt Cunnigham
Committee
Maj Sharpcott
Maj Saddington
Capt Kennaway
Capt Dellow
Lt Franks
Membership was limited to serving and ex-
officers until the constitution of the Association was amended in February 1977
to widen membership qualifications to include all gunners regardless of rank.
This also includes all overseas personnel who have served with an artillery
unit. Service personnel who are / were attached to an artillery unit are also
eligible for membership.
In 2000, the words Sub-Branch were deleted
from the title and it is now a Branch of the New South Wales RAA Association
with a permanent representative on the NSW committee.
The Newcastle branch conducts the Local Gunner
Dinner in August each year. The Branch also has presented The Newcastle Battery
with photographs of all the Battery Commanders since 1952. Annually since 1988
the Association has presented an Efficiency Shield and a book prize to the most
proficient battery member below the rank of sergeant.
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