During 1971, 106 Field Battey which had returned from Vietnam in February, was warned out for deployment to Singapore. Major Jim Townley took over command during that year and pushed for several individuals to join the Battery. One of these was Warren Barnard. Jim Townley knew of Barny’s expertise and organisational ability and wanted him in the Battery. Barny joined 106 Battery in Townsville in December 1971, just prior to the Battery’s deployment to Singapore.
106 Battery became part of 28 Australian New Zealand United Kingdom Regiment (28 ANZUK Fd Regt) which supported Infantry units from Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. These units were the last surviving units of the Malaya campaign which first deployed to the Malayan Peninsula during the 1950’s.
While in Singapore, Barny was allocated as the Battery Commander’s Assistant (BC’s Ack) and was a vital part of the operational and training element of the Battery. Jim Townley relied on Barny immensely. Barny was involved in all operational, training, and social activities of the Battery. Being so far from traditional training schools in Australia, 106 Battery conducted their own training courses, and Barny was often selected as one of the key instructors of these courses. Singapore was an accompanied posting, ie families moved to, and lived in Singapore for the duration of the posting. Social life in Singapore revolved around the Battery and social events were a regular feature of the unit calendar.
A particular highlight of Barny’s time in Singapore was as the Manager of the Batterys’ Australian Rules Football team. Barny’s organisational skills came to the fore with this role. While others trained the team to eventually win the Grand Final in 1973, the behind-the-scenes operations of Barny and his team of helpers was instrumental in the social and on field success of the team.
On return to Australia in October 1973, Barny was posted to 23rd Field Regiment in Sydney. He had a brief posting to 8th/12th Medium Regiment at Holsworthy before returning to the School of Artillery in January 1975. He had returned to Regimental Training Wing (RTW) and as well as instructing on various courses, he was also nominated as the Senior Sergeant Major Instructor Gunnery (SMIG) and was instrumental in training the younger instructors. Barny’s technical knowledge and attention to detail made him the ideal candidate for this position.
In 1977, Barny’s professionalism and military knowledge saw him selected as a Prescribed Service Officer (PSO) commission and a posting to the Proof and Experimental Establishment (P&EE) Graytown. Here, Barny was a Gun Captain involved in proofing various equipment’s and ammunition.
In January 1981, Barny was posted to the Land Warfare Centre, Canungra in Southern Queensland. Here, Barny was the Senior Instructor of Warrant Officer and Non-Commissioned Officers Wing which presented military training courses to prospective NCOs and Warrant Officers. Again, it was here that Barny became involved with the local Canungra Golf Club and oversaw the growth and achievements of that club.
After two years at Canungra, Barny was posted to Melbourne and appointed Adjutant of 2nd/15th Field Regiment at Batman Avenue. This unit was an Army Reserve Unit and again Barny was instrumental in training and administration of soldiers in the unit. This unit also hosted the local Artillery Band and Barny became closely related to the band and a great supporter of their many appearances.
In January 1986, Barny remained in Melbourne for his next posting, and promotion to Major, to the 3rd Army Recruiting Unit. He was responsible for the recruiting office in the city as well as many country Victorian recruiting stations. After two years with Recruiting in Melbourne, Barny was posted to District Support Unit Hobart in January 1988, and took over as the Officer Commanding, 6th Military District Support Unit. Barny elected discharge on 12 January 1992 after spending nearly 28 years in the Australian Army with three years overseas including operational service in South Vietnam.
During 1987, Barny had married his second wife Robyn. After discharge from the Army, Barny and Robyn and their two sons Aaron and Tom, moved to central Tasmania to a property called Kalangadoo. Barny continued playing golf at the local Campbelltown Golf Club where he took on the role of Secretary. In this role, he was instrumental in rewriting the Clubs constitution, spearheading their liquor licence application, and obtaining wastewater for course irrigation. Australian Rules Football remained a passion with him and the boys and Sundays were spent watching as many games as they could on the TV.
| 
