2/4th Field Regiment (Australia)

The 2/4th Field Regiment was an Australian Army artillery regiment formed on 2 May 1940, as part of the 7th Division in 1940 during World War II. The regiment was part of the North African Campaign, Syria-Lebanon Campaign, Salamaua-Lae campaign, Finisterre Range campaign and the Borneo campaign. 31 artillerymen of the 2/4th parachuted with two short 25 Pounder guns in the airborne landing at Nadzab airstrip in support of the US Army's 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment. The regiment was disbanded on 7 February 1946.

History
Raised on 7 May 1940, as part of the 7th Division at Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne, Victoria. Formed with two batteries, 7th and 8th Battery, it trained at Puckapunyal, Victoria. Each battery consisted of three troops and four QF 18 pounders. On 21 October the regiment embarked from Port Melbourne for the Middle East and disembarked at El Kantara, Egypt on the Suez Canal in November arriving without artillery. Its next destination was Deir Suneid, Palestine traveling by train, where it undertook training, receiving some artillery guns in January 1941. After moving to Ikingi Maryut, Egypt in mid April it finally was equipped with 25-pounders, 18-pounders, and 4.5 inch howitzers.

After Tobruk became besieged the regiment moved to the fortress at Mersa Matruh, Egypt with four guns being deployed forward in an anti-tank role. In May the regiment received new 25-pounders at Tel el Kebir, Egypt from the 9th Division before the Allies Syria-Lebanon Campaign and moved to Affula, Palestine. As part of the invasion of Vichy French held Syria and Lebanon, the regiment supported the 21st Brigade's advance along the coast. Crossing the border on 8 June, 7th Battery, as part of the advance guard which overlooked the Litani River, fired the first artillery shots of the campaign.

During the Syria-Lebanon Campaign the regiment undertook anti-tank, direct-fire tasks, counter battery fire and came under enemy air and naval attack.

Commanders

 * Brigadier Lewis Ernest Stephen Barker
 * Dudley Grahame MacDougal
 * Walter Louis Rau

Units

 * 7th Battery
 * 8th Battery
 * 54th Battery