HORSE DRAWN ARTILLERY BATTERY IN HYRYLÄ GARRISON 1944-1957

The years between 1944 and 1957 were the last years of the artillery garrison era in Hyrylä. This era was known as the age of Field Artillery Regiment 2s 2^nd battery (KTR2 2. Ptri). This regiment was formed post-war, as the Defence Forces were demobilized after the peace treaty of 1944. The 1^st battery of the Regiment was in Turku while the 3^rd was stationed in Dragsvik.

In addition to nearby areas in Tuusula, the Artillery Battery 2 trained their unit in both Niinisalo and Rovajärvi firing ranges. Among many other various tasks, the 2^nd battery took part in the state funeral of Marshall CGE Mannerheim in 1951, maintaining the infrastructure and public order of the Olympic Games of 1952 and the return of the Porkkala military base from Soviet occupation to Finnish hands in 1956.

The horse was still an important fixture at the military garrison, and in addition to the regular tasks of artillery towing, the horses were used for horse riding training and other equestrian events. The 2^nd battery had approximately 120 horses. The basic training for artillery men still included horse riding and horse care in the 1950s, both in the support personnel as in the artillery teams themselves. Artillery regiments were motorized and mechanized slowly, the last artillery regiments in the war time reserves lost their horses in the early 1980s, and widespread horse training for conscripts was ended in the early 1970s

During the era of KTR2s 2^nd battery, many new buildings were built to the Hyrylä garrison area. These included Olympiakasarmi (1951), Mess Hall and kitchen (1956), and the first two apartment buildings at Kirkonmäki (1957). The 2^nd battery celebrated its departure from Hyrylä garrison on the 23^rd of June 1957 and it moved to the artillery garrison of Niinisalo. To replace the artillery troops and equipment that left the Hyrylä garrison, the Helsinki Anti-Aircraft Regiment arrived from Santahamina, Helsinki. The island base had grown over-extended by the 1950s so some units were moved away from Santahamina, and the emptying artillery base was very suitable for AA units. However, with the last vestiges of Field Artillery departing from Hyrylä, also the horses moved to Niinisalo, as the AA units were already completely motorized during the war.

PICTURES (from left to right):

Artillerymen dining at the Mess Hall in Hyrylä. Museo Militaria archives.

Lieutenant Lauri Vilkko working in Hyrylä garrison won the bronze medal in the modern pentathlon in the Olympic Games of 1952.

Horse drawn Gun carriage in Rovajärvi training area during combat training. Museo Militaria archives.

Soldiers Oath of service taking place in the Hyrylä garrison on 25^th of September 1948. Museo Militaria archives.

Hyrylä garrison soldiers training with artillery

Since 1949, the troops at Hyrylä garrison went on exercises in the Rovajärvi training area in Lapland. Museo Militaria archives.

The Hyrylä garrison took part in the state funeral of Marshal C.G.E. Mannerheim in 1951. Museo Militaria archives.