'R' Australian Heavy Battery (Coast)

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Brief History

Original unit title was 'A' Heavy Battery. Formed in Townsville in July 1942, it established Magazine Battery with two 155mm US guns. In September they were relieved by 'F' Heavy Battery to allow them to go to Port Moresby. However, before they arrived they were diverted to Milne Bay following an attempt by the Japanese to land there. They placed their guns in a position known as Gili Gili Battery at the head of the bay to cover the port. With the very high rate of malaria, they were relieved by 'B' Heavy Battery in May 1943, and they moved to Port Moresby where they were renamed 'R' Heavy Battery.

Issued with new guns, they established Boera Battery to cover the northern approaches to the port, and by June 1943 they were again operational. In April 1944 they were relieved by 'O' Heavy Battery (Coast), and they returned to Australia for a period of leave and retraining. Returning from leave the men gathered at Fort Lytton in Queensland. With no further role found for them due to the diminished threat of Japanese attacks, they moved to Narellan in New South Wales where they were disbanded in January 1945

Battery Personnel

• Jack Bell 31 Jul 1942 - 13 Oct 1944