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| 2/14th Field Regiment | |
|---|---|
| Unit name | 2/14th Field Regiment |
| Dates | 1939–1946 |
| Country | Australia |
| Branch | Australian Army |
| Type | Artillery |
| Size | Regiment |
| Garrison | Perth |
| Notable commanders | Lieutenant Colonel R. J. King |
2/14th Field Regiment was an Australian Army Reserve artillery regiment formed for service during World War II. Raised in 1939 and mobilised in 1940, the regiment trained in Western Australia before deploying to domestic defence and later to the South West Pacific theatre of World War II, where it supported operations alongside Australian Army divisions and Allied formations. The unit's lineage reflects connections with pre-war militia structures and wartime reorganisations that involved coordination with units from New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland.
The regiment was authorised under the mobilisation of the Second Australian Imperial Force following the outbreak of Second World War and drew cadres from existing militia batteries linked to Royal Australian Artillery depots in Perth, Fremantle, and surrounding districts. Early commanding officers included officers who had served in the First World War and in colonial garrisons such as Gallipoli, Western Front, and postings to Egypt and India. Initial training was conducted at camps influenced by doctrine from the British Army, with staff attending courses at the School of Artillery (Australia) and liaising with instructors from the Royal Artillery and the United States Army coastal defence advisers. The regiment participated in continental defence preparations during the Japanese invasion of Malaya and the fall of Singapore, which precipitated redistribution of forces to protect ports like Fremantle, Darwin, and supply routes to Papua New Guinea.
Structured along typical Commonwealth artillery lines, the regiment comprised batteries modelled after establishments used by the Royal Artillery and the New Zealand Artillery, including gun batteries and an observation party. Equipment initially included the Ordnance QF 18-pounder, later supplemented by the Ordnance QF 25-pounder field gun-howitzer, and vehicles such as Chevrolet WB trucks and Ford CMP soft-skinned transport. Fire control utilised instruments like the No. 4 Mark I telescope and the Vickers range clock, with forward observation parties coordinating with infantry brigades from formations such as the 6th Division (Australia), 7th Division (Australia), and later the 9th Division (Australia). Signals support was provided in conjunction with the Royal Australian Corps of Signals and air observation liaison with the Royal Australian Air Force squadrons operating in the South West Pacific.
During World War II, the regiment undertook coastal defence duties and mobile training before being committed to offensive operations in the Pacific alongside formations engaged in the New Guinea campaign and the Borneo campaign (1945). It provided close and general support in actions coordinated with infantry units from the 2/14th Battalion, 2/3rd Machine Gun Battalion, and brigade elements such as the 21st Brigade (Australia), although command relationships shifted with operational requirements directed by higher headquarters including I Corps (Australia) and II Corps (Australia). The regiment's batteries fired in support of amphibious landings coordinated with naval gunfire from vessels like HMAS Australia, HMAS Australia (II), and USS Phoenix, and integrated reconnaissance with elements of the Papuan Infantry Battalion and the New Guinea Infantry Battalion. Throughout campaigns such as the Huon Peninsula campaign, the regiment confronted terrain, logistics, and tropical disease challenges similar to those experienced by formations in the Kokoda Track campaign and the Battle of Buna–Gona.
Following the end of hostilities after the Pacific War's conclusion and Surrender of Japan, demobilisation policies administered by the Australian Military Forces led to the regiment's disbandment during 1945–1946 as part of wider reductions that affected units raised under the Second Australian Imperial Force. Former members returned to civilian life in communities including Perth, Albany, and regional centres, where veterans joined organisations such as the Returned and Services League of Australia and contributed to civic institutions like the Royal Perth Hospital and the University of Western Australia. The regiment's lineage influenced postwar artillery reorganisation in the Australian Army Reserve and is commemorated at memorials including the Australian War Memorial and local war memorials in Western Australia.
The regiment's service earned recognition through mentions in despatches and individual decorations awarded to members, including the Military Medal, the Distinguished Conduct Medal, and appointments to the Order of the British Empire. Personnel received campaign recognition related to the New Guinea campaign and the Borneo campaign (1945), contributing to collective battle honours held by successor batteries and territorial artillery units in Western Australia. Senior officers who commanded or trained the regiment were acknowledged by institutions such as the School of Artillery (Australia) and featured in postwar unit histories produced by the Australian War Memorial and veteran organisations.
Category:Artillery regiments of Australia Category:Military units and formations of Australia in World War II