SINGAPORE ARTILLERY COMMEMORATES 125TH ANNIVERSARY

The Singapore Artillery marked 125 years of defending the Singapore island with a Trooping of Colours Parade officiated by Chief of Army Major-General (MG) Ravinder Singh at Khatib Camp on 22 Feb.

In his keynote address, MG Singh noted how the formation has come a long way in transforming into an effective modern fighting force as part of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

"One hundred and twenty-five years on, the Singapore Artillery is (now) a force of advanced sensors, shooters and networked systems, operated by highly-trained and committed Gunners."

He also noted how several of the formation's systems, such as the Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System are designed such that "the SAF (is able) to combine and coordinate its shooters to deal with a variety of threats in a responsive and calibrated manner".

MG Singh also commended its people: "Artillerymen have long exhibited an ethos of excellence. It is every single Gunner - the core of the Artillery - that will allow you to be 'a premier force that shapes and dominates the battle space'."

Chief Artillery Officer Colonel (COL) Terry Siow expressed similar sentiments: "Our proud legacy is strongly anchored on the quality and spirit of all our people: the Gunners spirit. It is the essence that defines us as men of steel."

The colours trooped were the Singapore Artillery Regimental Colours, which were presented by then-President Benjamin Sheares in January 1977.

As part of the celebrations, COL Siow inducted the gunners into the Gunners' Legacy - a roll of honour - in recognition of their contributions and for their many years of dedicated service to the Artillery formation.

Among the recipients was 1st Warrant Officer (1WO) (Vol) Vincent Koh, who served in the formation for 23 years and last held the appointment of Regimental Sergeant Major of the 283rd Battalion, Singapore Artillery (283 SA).

The 43-year-old noted that while advancements in technological capabilities were critical in the formation's progression into a 3rd Generation fighting force, the capability of the service personnel played an equally important role.

"With such technological advances, we also needed people who are equipped with the knowledge to operate these systems."

As a prelude to the 125th anniversary celebrations, a 125km commemorative round-island cycling relay event, known as the "Tracing of History", was held on 5 Feb.

Six gunners from each sub-unit of the Artillery formation took part in the relay, cycling through past and present Artillery camps and ending at Khatib Camp.

Throughout the event, the six cyclists carried three key ingredients of a concoction, called the Gunners' Spirit, which was presented by past leaders of the Singapore Artillery at the flag-off.

The three ingredients come in the form of three different colours: Gold symbolises loyalty to country, the President, unit and manoeuvre forces, Blue represents royalty and distinction, and Red signifies firepower. The concoction was mixed during the celebrations on 22 Feb.