1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1 RAR) is a regular
motorised infantry
Motorized infantry is infantry that is transported by trucks or other motor vehicles. It is distinguished from mechanized infantry, which is carried in armoured personnel carriers or infantry fighting vehicles, and from light infantry, which ...
battalion of the
Australian Army
The Australian Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of Australia, a part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. The Army is commanded by the Chief of Army (Austral ...
. 1 RAR was first formed as the 65th Australian Infantry Battalion of the
34th Brigade (Australia) on
Balikpapan
Balikpapan is a seaport city in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Located on the east coast of the island of Borneo, the city is the financial center of Kalimantan. Balikpapan is the city with the largest economy in Kalimantan with an estimated 2 ...
in 1945 and since then has been deployed on active service during the
Korean War
, date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...
, the
Malayan Emergency
The Malayan Emergency, also known as the Anti–British National Liberation War was a guerrilla war fought in British Malaya between communist pro-independence fighters of the Malayan National Liberation Army (MNLA) and the military forces o ...
, the
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...
,
Unified Task Force
The Unified Task Force (UNITAF) was a United States-led, United Nations-sanctioned multinational force which operated in Somalia from 5 December 1992 until 4 May 1993. A United States initiative (code-named Operation Restore Hope), U ...
in
Somalia
Somalia, , Osmanya script: 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘𐒕𐒖; ar, الصومال, aṣ-Ṣūmāl officially the Federal Republic of SomaliaThe ''Federal Republic of Somalia'' is the country's name per Article 1 of thProvisional Constituti ...
,
East Timor
East Timor (), also known as Timor-Leste (), officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, is an island country in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the exclave of Oecusse on the island's north-weste ...
,
Iraq War
{{Infobox military conflict
, conflict = Iraq War {{Nobold, {{lang, ar, حرب العراق (Arabic) {{Nobold, {{lang, ku, شەڕی عێراق (Kurdish languages, Kurdish)
, partof = the Iraq conflict (2003–present), I ...
and
Afghanistan
Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordere ...
. Additionally, the battalion has deployed on peacekeeping and other operations to a number of countries including
Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
,
Rifle Company Butterworth __NOTOC__
Rifle Company Butterworth is an Australian Army infantry company based at RMAF Base Butterworth in Butterworth, Penang, Malaysia. Rifle Company Butterworth was established in 1970 to provide a protective and quick-reaction force for RAAF ...
,
Timor Leste
East Timor (), also known as Timor-Leste (), officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, is an island country in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the exclave of Oecusse on the island's north-wester ...
,
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is an island country consisting of six major islands and over 900 smaller islands in Oceania, to the east of Papua New Guinea and north-west of Vanuatu. It has a land area of , and a population of approx. 700,000. Its capita ...
,
Tonga
Tonga (, ; ), officially the Kingdom of Tonga ( to, Puleʻanga Fakatuʻi ʻo Tonga), is a Polynesian country and archipelago. The country has 171 islands – of which 45 are inhabited. Its total surface area is about , scattered over in ...
and the
Philippines
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
. 1 RAR remains one of the Australian Army's most heavily deployed units sending individuals and detachments to domestic, regional and other enduring operations. The battalion is currently based in Coral Lines at
Lavarack Barracks
Lavarack Barracks is a major Australian Army base located in Townsville, Queensland. Lavarack Barracks is currently home to the Army's 3rd Brigade and 11th Brigade. Elements of the 3rd Brigade based at the Barracks include the Combat Signal ...
,
Townsville, Queensland
Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Queensland, Australia. With a population of 180,820 as of June 2018, it is the largest settlement in North Queensland; it is unofficially considered its capital. Estimated resident population, 3 ...
, where it forms part of the
3rd Brigade.
History
Formation
With the conclusion of the war in the Pacific in 1945, Australia was committed to provide troops for occupation duties in
Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
.
This commitment led to the formation of the
34th Australian Infantry Brigade. The brigade was made up of three battalions: the 65th, 66th and 67th Australian Infantry Battalions. On 12 October 1945 the 65th Battalion, later the 1st Battalion was formed out of
7th Division at
Balikpapan
Balikpapan is a seaport city in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Located on the east coast of the island of Borneo, the city is the financial center of Kalimantan. Balikpapan is the city with the largest economy in Kalimantan with an estimated 2 ...
and quickly sailed to
Morotai
Morotai Island ( id, Pulau Morotai) is an island in the Halmahera group of eastern Indonesia's Maluku Islands (Moluccas). It is one of Indonesia's northernmost islands.
Morotai is a rugged, forested island lying to the north of Halmahera. It ha ...
from where they undertook training prior to being sent to Japan as part of the
British Commonwealth Occupation Force
The British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF) was the British Commonwealth taskforce consisting of Australian, British, Indian and New Zealand military forces in occupied Japan, from 1946 until the end of occupation in 1952.
At its peak, t ...
.
In line with the formative plan to raise an Interim Army, the battalions were re-designated as of the Australian Regiment in 1948 and the 65th Battalion became the 1st Battalion, Australian Regiment.
On 31 March 1949 the regiment received the prefix "Royal", becoming the
Royal Australian Regiment
The Royal Australian Regiment (RAR) is the parent administrative regiment for regular infantry battalions of the Australian Army and is the senior infantry regiment of the Royal Australian Infantry Corps. It was originally formed in 1948 as a t ...
.
1 RAR was initially based at
Ingleburn, but later moved to
Enoggera and
Holsworthy
Holsworthy is a market town and Civil parishes in England, civil parish in the Torridge District, Torridge district of Devon, England, some west of Exeter. The River Deer, a tributary of the River Tamar, forms the western boundary of the paris ...
and is now based at
Lavarack Barracks
Lavarack Barracks is a major Australian Army base located in Townsville, Queensland. Lavarack Barracks is currently home to the Army's 3rd Brigade and 11th Brigade. Elements of the 3rd Brigade based at the Barracks include the Combat Signal ...
, Townsville.
Occupation of Japan
Under an agreement signed between the
Allied
An alliance is a relationship among people, groups, or states that have joined together for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out among them. Members of an alliance are called ...
nations, Australia would contribute troops towards the
occupation of Japan
Japan was occupied and administered by the victorious Allies of World War II from the 1945 surrender of the Empire of Japan at the end of the war until the
Treaty of San Francisco took effect in 1952. The occupation, led by the United States wi ...
. The Australian contribution was a brigade element, the
34th Brigade, consisting of three infantry battalions each with their own area of responsibility.
[Horner & Bou 2008, p. 23.] By the middle of June 1946 the Australian brigade was in place, with the 65th Battalion located at
Fukuyama–
Onomichi
is a city located in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, facing the Inland Sea. The city was founded on April 1, 1898. As of April 30, 2016, the city has an estimated population of 141,811 and a population density of 497.8 persons per km2. The total a ...
, south of
Osaka
is a designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the third most populous city in Japan, following Special wards of Tokyo and Yokohama. With a population of 2. ...
.
The battalion was charged with enforcing the directives of the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, which involved various tasks such as ceremonial duties, escorting displaced persons, restoring law and order and overseeing the disarmament process.
During this time they participated in the search and destruction of wartime materials.
In April 1946 the battalion took part in the surveillance of Japanese elections. The battalion also kept a close watch on a number of repatriation centres in the area. At the end of 1948, the 1st Battalion left Japan, while all Australian troops had left Japan by 1951 with the signing of the
San Francisco Treaty.
Korea
![1 RAR soldier manning a position in Korea during 1952](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/1_RAR_soldier_manning_a_position_in_Korea_during_1952.jpg)
1RAR was in Australia when the
Korean War
, date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...
began in 1950; however, the battalion was not deployed immediately as Australia's initial commitment consisted of
3RAR. By September 1950 seven officers and two hundred and fifty other ranks trained in the battalion and moved to reinforce 3 RAR in Korea. In 1951, in anticipation of deployment to Korea, 1RAR was brought up to strength with volunteers from
2RAR and new enlistments from the 'K' Force recruiting campaign which brought a large number of men with experience from
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
into the battalion. In September 1951 the battalion received orders to move to Korea and after a farewell march through
Sydney
Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...
1RAR departed for Japan on 18 March 1952 onboard HMT ''Devonshire''.
After a period of training in Japan, 1RAR arrived in
South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...
on 6 April 1952, joining the
28th Brigade on 1 June. On 19 June 1952 1 RAR moved into the line taking over from the 1st Battalion,
Royal Leicesters.
In July 1952 1RAR was detached to the
29th Brigade, relieving other battalions on Hills 159, 210 and 355.
It took part in general patrolling along the Jamestown Line, which involved securing defences, repairing minefield fences, and undertaking reconnaissance of enemy positions to gather information on them.
Other major operations that 1RAR took part in usually aimed at capturing a prisoner or destroying enemy defences.
Operation Blaze
Operation Blaze (2 July 1952) was a United Nations Command (UN) operation near Kangao-ri during the Korean War to capture a prisoner.O'Neill 1985, p. 243. The raid involved a company-sized attack from the newly arrived 1st Battalion, Royal Austr ...
was 1RAR's first major action, which involved an attack on Hill 227 in order to capture a prisoner.
The attack failed in its objective and the battalion suffered four killed and 33 wounded in action.
On the night of 13–14 September the battalion captured its first prisoner as it continued to conduct patrolling operations.
By the end of the month 1 RAR was relieved and whilst one company was detached to 1st Battalion, Welsh Regiment to occupy the Yong Dong hill feature the rest of the battalion was placed into the brigade reserve.
This lasted until November when as part of Operation Nescala, 1RAR relieved the 1st Battalion,
Royal Canadian Regiment
The Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) is an infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. The regiment consists of four battalions, three in the Regular Force and one in the primary reserve. The RCR is ranked 1st in the order of precedence amongst Canadian A ...
on Hill 355.
The position had been poorly maintained and over the course of the next ten days 1 RAR had to regain control of the approaches and re-establish security in the area, suffering 50 casualties in the process.
At the same time, the battalion also supported the
Royal Fusiliers
The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in continuous existence for 283 years. It was known as the 7th Regiment of Foot until the Childers Reforms of 1881.
The regiment served in many wars ...
in Operation Beat Up by launching a diversionary attack on Hill 227 on 25–26 November 1952.
On the night of 11–12 December 1952 1RAR was involved in Operation Fauna, which was only a partial success as the Australians failed to capture a prisoner, although they did manage to destroy an enemy position.
The battalion suffered 22 wounded and three missing as a result of this action. Operation Fauna turned out to be 1RAR's last action of the war was they were relieved by 3RAR on 29 December 1952.
On 21 March 1953, 1RAR was relieved by 2RAR at
Camp Casey, near
Tongduchon
Dongducheon () is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.
The city, to the north of Seoul, is strategically important for the defense of the Korean capital. The main camps of the United States Second Infantry Division are in the city, and the d ...
, and returned to Australia later that month on the MV ''New Australia''. The battalion suffered 42 killed and 107 wounded during the nine months that they served on combat operations in Korea, however, 1RAR members also received the following decorations: two
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, as well as formerly of other parts of the Commonwealth, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typ ...
s, two
Officers of the Order of the British Empire
An officer is a person who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization. The term derives from Old French ''oficier'' "officer, official" (early 14c., Modern French ''officier''), from Medieval Latin ''officiarius'' "an officer," fro ...
, three
Members of the Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,
and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
, seven
Military Cross
The Military Cross (MC) is the third-level (second-level pre-1993) military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and formerly awarded to officers of other Commonwealth countries.
The MC i ...
es, one
British Empire Medal
The British Empire Medal (BEM; formerly British Empire Medal for Meritorious Service) is a British and Commonwealth award for meritorious civil or military service worthy of recognition by the Crown. The current honour was created in 1922 to ...
, 21
Mentions in Despatches and three Commander-in-Chief Commendations.
In April 1954, 1RAR returned to Korea as part of the UN forces stationed in the country after the armistice, and was involved in training and border patrols. It would remain there until March 1956.
Malaya
In order to crush a pro-independence uprising led by the
Malayan Communist Party
The Malayan Communist Party (MCP), officially the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM), was a Marxist–Leninist and anti-imperialist communist party which was active in British Malaya and later, the modern states of Malaysia and Singapore from 1 ...
, and their armed wing the
Malayan National Liberation Army (MNLA), the
British Commonwealth Far East Strategic Reserve was established, with
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
contributing a rotating battalion group. On 20 September 1959, the battalion embarked on MV ''Flaminia'' for Malaya.
After arriving at
Singapore
Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, borde ...
the battalion trained at
Kota Tinggi
Kota Tinggi is a town and capital of Kota Tinggi District, Johor, Malaysia. Kota Tinggi is also the name of the district, Kota Tinggi District, where the town is situated.
Kuala Sedili or Tanjung Sedili, a small fishing town located 37 km n ...
and moved to base camps at
Kuala Kangsar
The Kuala Kangsar (Perak Malay: ''Kole Kangso'') is the royal town of Perak, Malaysia. It is located at the downstream of Kangsar River where it joins the Perak River, approximately northwest of Ipoh, Perak's capital, and southeast of ...
,
Sungei Siput,
Lasah, Lintang and
Grik
Gerik ( Jawi: ڬريق; ; Tamil: கிரிக் ; alternate spelling: Grik) is a mukim and the district capital of Hulu Perak District, Perak, Malaysia. The town is also known as Rest Town owing to its strategic location next to East-West ...
where they undertook a month of acclimatisation.
The battalion began Operation Bamboo on 16 November 1959 in the Thai/Malay border area in
Perak
Perak () is a state of Malaysia on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula. Perak has land borders with the Malaysian states of Kedah to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, and Selangor to the south. Thailand's ...
, relieving the 1st Battalion,
The Loyal Regiment.
For the next 18 months 1RAR operated in area of dense jungle searching MNLA guerrillas.
The area was largely inaccessible except by helicopter, boat or on foot. Platoon-sized patrols would be sent for three-week long search operations before returning to the base camps for ten days rest. Even though there were 117 official 'finds' during these operations, no kills were recorded by the battalion at this time MNLA communist guerrillas began to negate the Australian patrols by crossing the border into Thailand where they could not be followed.
In April 1960 1RAR took part in Operation Magnet, which involved FESR units crossing the border for the first time in the conflict in an attempt to drive the MNLA back into Malaya where other units were ready to carry out ambushes upon them.
Later in June, Operation Jackforce was launched, using similar tactics and during this 1RAR finally was involved in one contact.
In July 1960, the
Malayan Emergency
The Malayan Emergency, also known as the Anti–British National Liberation War was a guerrilla war fought in British Malaya between communist pro-independence fighters of the Malayan National Liberation Army (MNLA) and the military forces o ...
was officially declared over, although 1RAR remained on operations until the following year when it was withdrawn and began a period of intensive training as part of the FESR, including a number of brigade level exercises.
On 29 October 1961, the battalion left
Penang
Penang ( ms, Pulau Pinang, is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia, by the Malacca Strait. It has two parts: Penang Island, where the capital city, George Town, is located, and Seberang Perai on the Malay ...
for
Sydney
Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...
on the MV ''Flaminia'', having suffered two men killed in action.
The battalion returned to
Malaysia
Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...
in early 1969, after two major exercises, 'Jumping Wallaby' and 'Sheer Hell', the unit withdrew from Malaysia, joining the Selarang garrison in Singapore in December 1969. The unit remained in Singapore until July 1971 when it returned to Lavarack Barracks in Townsville.
Vietnam
![1 RAR soldiers after disembarking US helicopters in July 1965](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72/1_RAR_soldiers_after_disembarking_US_helicopters_in_July_1965.jpg)
Two tours of
South Vietnam
South Vietnam, officially the Republic of Vietnam ( vi, Việt Nam Cộng hòa), was a state in Southeast Asia that existed from 1955 to 1975, the period when the southern portion of Vietnam was a member of the Western Bloc during part of th ...
were completed by 1 RAR during the
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...
, the first one being between March 1965 and June 1966 and the second between April 1968 and February 1969.
In March 1965 advanced elements of 1 RAR deployed for Vietnam by charter aircraft, whilst the rest of the battalion followed later on
HMAS ''Sydney''.
The battalion arrived at
Bien Hoa Air Base
Bien Hoa Air Base (Vietnamese: ''Sân bay Biên Hòa'') is a Vietnam People's Air Force (VPAF) military airfield located in South-Central southern Vietnam about from Ho Chi Minh City, across the Dong Nai river in the northern ward of Tân Phon ...
in June and was placed under command of the US
173rd Airborne Brigade
The 173rd Airborne Brigade ("Sky Soldiers") is an airborne infantry brigade combat team (IBCT) of the United States Army based in Vicenza, Italy. It is the United States European Command's conventional airborne strategic response force for Eu ...
, becoming the first Australian unit to serve in a US formation.
Initially, the Australian contingent was restricted only to providing security to the airbase, however, these limitations were later removed by the Australian government and in September 1965 began conducting offensive operations against the
Viet Cong
,
, war = the Vietnam War
, image = FNL Flag.svg
, caption = The flag of the Viet Cong, adopted in 1960, is a variation on the flag of North Vietnam. Sometimes the lower stripe was green.
, active ...
(VC) including search and destroy missions, security operations and conducting fighting patrols around the Bien Hoa area of operations.
Throughout the remainder of 1965 the battalion conducted a number of operations along with the rest of the 173rd Brigade in areas such as
Ben Cat,
War Zone D
War Zone D was the area in South Vietnam around the Dong Nai River, north of Bien Hoa which served as a Viet Cong (VC) and People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) base area and infiltration route during the Vietnam War.
Geography
War Zone D, located ...
and the
Iron Triangle.
In January 1966 1 RAR took part in
Operation Crimp
Operation Crimp (8–14 January 1966), also known as the Battle of the Ho Bo Woods, was a joint US-Australian military operation during the Vietnam War, which took place north of Cu Chi in Binh Duong Province, South Vietnam. The operation tar ...
, a search and destroy mission in the
Ho Bo Woods Hố Bò woods are located in Bình Dương Province 20 km north of Củ Chi, 4 km to the west of the Iron Triangle and the Saigon River and some 56 km northwest of Saigon. The woods consist of rubber plantations, sparse to dense wo ...
, north of
Saigon
, population_density_km2 = 4,292
, population_density_metro_km2 = 697.2
, population_demonym = Saigonese
, blank_name = GRP (Nominal)
, blank_info = 2019
, blank1_name = – Total
, blank1_ ...
, during which the battalion conducted an air assault and uncovered the
Cu Chi tunnel complex which was serving as the underground hideaway for a VC higher command element.
A large stockpile of weapons and a large number of documents were found in the tunnel complex which was the deepest and most elaborate system that had been found up to that time.
1RAR continued operations until April 1966, taking part in a number of joint operations with US troops until the arrival of the
1st Australian Task Force. On
Anzac Day
, image = Dawn service gnangarra 03.jpg
, caption = Anzac Day Dawn Service at Kings Park, Western Australia, 25 April 2009, 94th anniversary.
, observedby = Australia Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Cook Islands New ...
, as the battalion was preparing to return to Australia, they were visited by
Prime Minister
A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...
Harold Holt
Harold Edward Holt (5 August 190817 December 1967) was an Australian politician who served as the 17th prime minister of Australia from 1966 until his presumed death in 1967. He held office as leader of the Liberal Party.
Holt was born in S ...
.
They were finally relieved in June and they returned to Australia that same month.
![1 RAR patrol near Fire Base Coral in 1968](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/1_RAR_patrol_near_Fire_Base_Coral_in_1968.jpg)
The battalion's second tour came two years later when it arrived at
Nui Dat
Nui Dat (Núi Đất) is a former 1st Australian Task Force (1 ATF) base now part of Ba Ria city in Ba Ria–Vung Tau province, Vietnam. It is not the name of an official ward, it just means "dirt hill" ( núi đất).
History 1966–1972
In ...
on 9 April 1968 to relieve
7 RAR.
Operating out of
Phuoc Tuy Province
Phước ( vi, Phước) is a common gender-neutral name originating from Vietnam. It means "blessing" or "lucky". Notable people with this name include:
Given name
*Lưu Hữu Phước
Lưu Hữu Phước (12 September 1921 in Cần Thơ, Coch ...
the battalion was mainly involved in patrols, searches, reconnaissance and security operations before being redeployed in May to an area north of Saigon where throughout April it participated in
Operation Toan Thang, which was aimed at cutting off the withdrawal of VC and
People's Army of Vietnam
The People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN; vi, Quân đội nhân dân Việt Nam, QĐNDVN), also recognized as the Vietnam People's Army (VPA) or the Vietnamese Army (), is the military force of the Vietnam, Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the ...
(PAVN) forces following the
Tet Offensive
The Tet Offensive was a major escalation and one of the largest military campaigns of the Vietnam War. It was launched on January 30, 1968 by forces of the Viet Cong (VC) and North Vietnamese People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) against the forces o ...
.
After conducting two small operations in
Long Khanh Province, 1 RAR moved to Fire Support Base Coral. Whilst they were there, the
base was attacked twice. The first attack which on the night of 15 May was only a probing attack by a battalion-sized element, whilst the second attack came on the night of 16 May 1966, when the base was attacked by a force later identified as the PAVN 141st Regiment.
After fierce fighting with the help of accurate artillery fire from the 102nd Field Battery the attack was beaten off and on 6 June 1966 the fire base was closed and 1 RAR returned to Nui Dat.
Later it was estimated that 162 PAVN were killed as a result of Operation Toan Thang.
The Battalion was awarded the
Unit Citation for Gallantry
The Unit Citation for Gallantry is a collective group decoration awarded to members of Australian military units. It recognises extraordinary gallantry in action. The Unit Citation for Gallantry was created in 1991, along with the Meritorious Uni ...
in 2018 on the 50th anniversary of the battle.
Between July and September several more operations were carried out including a follow up mission called
Operation Toan Thang II
Operation Toan Thang II ("Complete Victory") was an operation conducted by the US Army and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) during the Vietnam War between 1 June 1968 and 16 February 1969. It was designed to keep pressure on the Viet Co ...
that saw the battalion move to the Bien Hoa–Long Khanh border and conduct sweeps through the
Hat Dich
A hat is a head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorporate mecha ...
, Tua Tich and
Ba Ria
BA, Ba, or ba may refer to:
Businesses and organizations
* Bangladesh Army
* Bibliotheca Alexandrina, an Egyptian library and cultural center
* Boeing (NYSE stock symbol BA)
* Booksellers Association of the UK and Ireland
* Boston Acoustics, ...
areas.
Between 28 September and 12 October, 1 RAR was once again sent into the Hat Dich area when they undertook Operation Windsor.
This operation was later followed by a sweep mission through the north-western areas of Phuoc Tuy Province, before 1 RAR participated on
Operation Goodwood
Operation Goodwood was a British offensive during the Second World War, which took place between 18 and 20 July 1944 as part of the larger battle for Caen in Normandy, France. The objective of the operation was a limited attack to the south, ...
, rotating on this operation with
9 RAR and 4 RAR until the battalion's tour of duty finally ended in February 1969.
In between these operations the battalion continued to carry out the normal duties of an infantry battalion in Vietnam, conducting cordon and search missions, escorting convoys, patrolling and security operations.
1 RAR was officially relieved by
5 RAR on 15 February 1969 and it departed Vietnam the following day.
Total 1 RAR casualties for both tours were 50 killed and 411 wounded.
[Note there appears to be some discrepancy with these figures, as the Royal Australian Regiment Association 1 RAR History cites figures of 54 killed and 295 wounded.] Balanced against this, the battalion was credited with having killed 404 PAVN/VC.
Members of the battalion also received the following decorations: three Distinguished Service Orders, three Members of the Order of the British Empire, six Military Crosses, three
Distinguished Conduct Medal
The Distinguished Conduct Medal was a decoration established in 1854 by Queen Victoria for gallantry in the field by other ranks of the British Army. It is the oldest British award for gallantry and was a second level military decoration, ranki ...
s, 10
Military Medal
The Military Medal (MM) was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other arms of the armed forces, and to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land. The award ...
s, four British Empire Medals and 21 Mentions in Despatches.
Rhodesia
In 1979, 18 personnel from the Battalion were sent to then Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) as part of a Commonwealth Monitoring Force Rhodesia (CMFR) named Operation Agila. This force was for the protection and evacuation of Australian Nationals during the rising violence between Rhodesian armed forces and African communist guerrillas. Additionally, the multinational force was there to keep the peace before the 1980 general elections. During this period, a large part of Rhodesia was under martial law due to battles between the Rhodesian forces and the Patriotic Front's guerrilla forces. The CMFR was tasked along the lines of a UN peacekeeping force however their duties were more extensive as agreed to under the Lancaster House Agreement between the Government of Southern Rhodesia and the guerrilla forces of the Patriotic Front. Members were awarded the
Rhodesia Medal
The Rhodesia Medal was initiated by the British Government in consultation with Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Kenya, whose forces took part in Operation AGILA ( Operation MIDFORD for the New Zealand forces). The role of the multi-national forc ...
on their return.
Somalia
![Op Solace DN-ST-93-02615](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/34/Op_Solace_DN-ST-93-02615.jpg)
In 1991, the sub-Saharan African nation of Somalia was gripped by a deadly civil war, which coupled with widespread famine, that threatened a humanitarian disaster on a massive scale.
[Dennis et al 1995, p. 359.] Initially the global response was slow, but in late 1992 the United Nations requested assistance in securing the nation as it went about the task of reconstructing the shattered nation's infrastructure and delivering humanitarian assistance.
In response Australia pledged to deploy a 937-strong battalion group in
Operation Solace
Operation Solace was the Australian Defence Force's main contribution to the Unified Task Force (UNITAF) which was a United States led, United Nations sanctioned, multinational force which operated in the Republic of Somalia from 9 December 1992 ...
under the auspices of the wider US-led
Operation Restore Hope
The Unified Task Force (UNITAF) was a United States-led, United Nations-sanctioned multinational force which operated in Somalia from 5 December 1992 until 4 May 1993. A United States initiative (code-named Operation Restore Hope), U ...
as part of the
Unified Task Force
The Unified Task Force (UNITAF) was a United States-led, United Nations-sanctioned multinational force which operated in Somalia from 5 December 1992 until 4 May 1993. A United States initiative (code-named Operation Restore Hope), U ...
(UNITAF) in Somalia.
1RAR, as part of the Operational Deployment Force, was chosen as the main unit upon which the Australian battalion group would be based and on 17 December 1992 was warned out for deployment.
[The battalion group also included armoured personnel carriers, artillery, field engineers, signals and a company-sized battalion support group. See Odgers 1994, p. 530.] Deploying onboard
HMAS ''Tobruk'',
HMAS ''Jervis Bay'' and charter aircraft, the battalion group was committed for a finite period between January and May 1993, and was given responsibility for a area centred upon
Baidoa
Baidoa (, Somali: Maay.html"_;"title="f-Maxaa:_Baydhabo,_Maay">f-Maxaa:_Baydhabo,_Maay:_''Baydhowy)''_is_the_largest_city_of_the_South_West_State_of_Somalia.
Between_2002_and_2014,_Baidoa_was_the_capital_of_the_South_West_State_of_Somalia.html ...
, which was a provincial town in the south-western area of Somalia.
During its deployment, 1RAR took part in seven major operations and on 17 February 1993, they had the first of 11 contacts with Somali gunmen.
Approximately 1,100-foot patrols were undertaken whilst the battalion group was deployed, ensuring the safe delivery of 8,311 tonnes of humanitarian relief supplies. Additionally, 935 weapons including 544 rifles and 145 machine guns were seized. Seven Somali gunmen were killed, four were wounded and 70 were detained and turned over to the Auxiliary Security Forces.
On 14 May 1993, the battalion handed responsibility for the Humanitarian Relief Sector to the French element of the United Nations Force. 1RAR returned to Australia on 22 May 1993 and marched through the streets of
Townsville, Queensland
Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Queensland, Australia. With a population of 180,820 as of June 2018, it is the largest settlement in North Queensland; it is unofficially considered its capital. Estimated resident population, 3 ...
.
Operation Solace was the first active service deployment of Australian soldiers since the Vietnam War. Members returning to Australia were awarded the
Australian Active Service Medal
The Australian Active Service Medal (AASM) is an Australian military decoration. It was authorised on 13 September 1988 to recognise prescribed service in "warlike" operations, backdated to February 1975. It is awarded with a clasp to denote ...
(AASM) and
Infantry Combat Badge (ICB).
Solomon Islands
During a battalion defensive exercise at High Range Training Area in 2000, elements of 1 RAR (CO Tac and C Coy) were recalled back to Coral Lines to assist with evacuation operations out of the Solomon Islands. Operation Plumbob ensued but the battalion group did not leave
HMAS ''Manoora''.
On Christmas Eve 2004, following the shooting death of Australian Protective Services Officer Adam Dunning, 1 RAR was ordered to deploy the Ready Company Group (RCG), based on Battalion HQ (Tac) and 'A' Company to the Solomon Islands. This was achieved within 18 hours of being ordered to deploy. Calm was quickly restored to the Solomon Islands, and the RCG returned to Australia in late January 2005.
In April 2006, riots flared in the capital Honiara after a non-favourable Prime Minister was appointed. The headquarters from 1 RAR and 'D' Company were deployed to assist the RAMSI to control the violence.
[Blaxland 2013, p. 193.] 'D' Company spent a majority of their time providing stability to the China Town region which was almost completely destroyed during the riots. Once the security situation had improved in the capital, the Task Force began sending patrols to the regional areas of the country. Some of the more remote communities had not seen an Australian patrol for almost two years.
East Timor
On 25 October 2000 a battlegroup based upon 1 RAR took over the role of the Australian Battalion of
UNTAET
The United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET), ( pt, Administração Transitória das Nações Unidas em Timor Leste), was a United Nations mission in East Timor that aimed to solve the decades long East Timorese cri ...
from
6 RAR. 1 RAR assumed control over 1500 km
2 of
East Timor
East Timor (), also known as Timor-Leste (), officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, is an island country in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the exclave of Oecusse on the island's north-weste ...
. The battalion's mission was to provide security to the people of East Timor so that civil infrastructure and government systems could be re-established under the guidance of the
UN in order to help the East Timorese transition to an independent nation. Actions taken by the battalion resulted in one militia killed and one friendly
wounded.
In April 2001, 1 RAR was relieved by
4 RAR. The battalion deployed on its second tour of East Timor with
UNMISET
The United Nations Mission of Support to East Timor (UNMISET) lasted from 20 May 2002 to 20 May 2005, when it was replaced by United Nations Office in Timor Leste (UNOTIL). It was established when East Timor became an internationally recognised ind ...
in May 2003, taking over from
5/7 RAR.
In May 2006, Australian forces returned to East Timor following a resurgence in violence and an increase in civil unrest. 'A' Company 1 RAR deployed from Townsville in mid-May on HMAS ''Manoora'', flying into Dili by Blackhawk on 27 May. 'A' Company conducted sustained security, stability and public order operations in Dili for approximately two months. Operation Chindit saw the company conduct airmobile operations to Manatuto and Baucau to conduct further security operations, before returning to Australia in August.
In September 2006, further violence flared in Dili which resulted in the deployment of 'B' Company 1 RAR to East Timor to reinforce the efforts of the Battle Group already in country. 'B' Company took up a blocking position in the hills behind Dili, operating mostly in and around Gleno. The platoons of 'B' Company were often required to conduct Air Mobile Operations to other parts of the country. Early in 2007, a battlegroup consisting of 1 RAR's Battalion Headquarters and two rifle companies ('B' and 'C') deployed to Timor Leste (as East Timor has since become).
Iraq
In 2006, a detachment of 109 soldiers from 'B' Company, 1 RAR, were deployed on the eighth rotation of
SECDET, during which they were tasked to provide protection and escort for Australian government personnel working in the Australian Embassy in Baghdad. Early in 2007, 'A' Company, 1 RAR, deployed to Iraq as part of SECDET 11 and conducted operations throughout the capital city of Baghdad. The unit was awarded the Theatre Honour
Iraq 2003–11 for service in the
Iraq war
{{Infobox military conflict
, conflict = Iraq War {{Nobold, {{lang, ar, حرب العراق (Arabic) {{Nobold, {{lang, ku, شەڕی عێراق (Kurdish languages, Kurdish)
, partof = the Iraq conflict (2003–present), I ...
.
Afghanistan
'D' Company, 1 RAR, deployed to Afghanistan in 2007
as force protection for Australian and coalition forces as part of the Security Task Group assigned to the
3rd Combat Engineer Regiment led 2nd Reconstruction Task Force (RTF2). In this role, D Coy soldiers undertook vital asset protection and several long range patrols during which they encountered numerous
improvised explosive devices
An improvised explosive device (IED) is a bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action. It may be constructed of conventional military explosives, such as an artillery shell, attached to a detonating mechan ...
and experienced several engagements with
Taliban
The Taliban (; ps, طالبان, ṭālibān, lit=students or 'seekers'), which also refers to itself by its state (polity), state name, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a Deobandi Islamic fundamentalism, Islamic fundamentalist, m ...
forces.
In 2009, 1 RAR deployed as a Battle Group to Afghanistan as the 2nd Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force (MRTF2). MRTF-2 was engaged in reconstruction, mentoring and security operations in Uruzgan Province.
In January 2014 soldiers from 'C' Company 1RAR and B SQN 3/4 Cavalry Regiment deployed to Kandahar and Kabul as part of FPE-1, they returned July 2014.
In 2014–15, soldiers from 'A' Company 1 RAR and B Squadron 2nd Cavalry Regiment deployed to Afghanistan to provide security to mentors working with the Afghan National Army in Kabul and in Kandahar. They made up Force Protection Element - Two (FPE 2) and returned home in February 2015.
In August 2020, 'C' Company deployed to Kabul as Force Protection Element - 14 (FPE - 14), providing security to mentors and officials working with the Afghan National Army. They returned to Australia in February 2021.
In January 2021, 'Support' Company deployed to Kabul as Force Protection Element - 15 (FPE - 15), providing security to mentors and officials working with the Afghan National Army. They also assisted with the withdrawal of the Australian Embassy, as well as other ADF personnel and equipment; returning to Australia in June 2021.
In August 2021, 1 RAR's Tactical Headquarters and the Ready Combat Team (B Coy) deployed to Kabul to conduct a
Non-combatant Evacuation Operation (NEO) of Australian citizens, approved foreign nationals and visa holders. 1 RAR evacuated 4168 people from Kabul to temporary safety in the United Arab Emirates. The 1 RAR Ready Battle Group then facilitated the onward processing and movement of these evacuees to Australia.
Tonga
On 18 November 2006, a platoon from 'A' Company was deployed to
Tonga
Tonga (, ; ), officially the Kingdom of Tonga ( to, Puleʻanga Fakatuʻi ʻo Tonga), is a Polynesian country and archipelago. The country has 171 islands – of which 45 are inhabited. Its total surface area is about , scattered over in ...
as a result of
violence and a break down of law and order in the capital city, Nuku Alofa. The platoon conducted security operations in conjunction with the Tongan Defence Services for three weeks prior to returning to Australia.
Philippines
In 2017, the Australian Government commenced deploying 1 RAR training contingents after the Government of the Philippines accepted offers of Australian assistance. Operation Augury saw elements of 1 RAR join
3 CER,
4 REGT, 3rd Combat Signals Regiment and selected health specialists, as well as
RAAF
"Through Adversity to the Stars"
, colours =
, colours_label =
, march =
, mascot =
, anniversaries = RAAF Anniversary Commemoration ...
and
RAN
Ran, RaN and ran may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Ran'' (film), a 1985 film directed by Akira Kurosawa
* "Ran" (song), a 2013 Japanese song by Luna Sea
* '' Ran Online'', a 2004 MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role playing game)
* ...
personnel, in the provision of Mentor Training Teams (MTT) to the
Armed Forces of the Philippines
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ( fil, Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas) are the military forces of the Philippines. It consists of three main service branches; the Army, the Air Force, and the Navy (including the Marine Corps). The P ...
. The land MTTs provided expert training in urban close combat to many veterans of the
Battle of Marawi
The siege of Marawi ( fil, Pagkubkob sa Marawi), also known as the Marawi crisis (), and the Battle of Marawi (), was a five-month-long armed conflict in Marawi, Philippines, that started on May 23, 2017, between Philippine government security ...
.1 RAR was tasked with leading the Joint Task Force and the commitment covered the period October 2017 to June 2018 where the mission was handed over to
8/9 RAR. As of 2020, the mission has transformed into an enhanced Defence Cooperation Program.
Ready Battalion Group deployments
Ready Battalion Group deployments are short notice operational taskings that occur within a specified timeframe. Although they are considered operational service, they were not determined as warlike and members of the Battalion did not deploy into country.
*
Fiji
Fiji ( , ,; fj, Viti, ; Fiji Hindi: फ़िजी, ''Fijī''), officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about north-northeast of New Zealand. Fiji consists ...
On 21 May 1987, after
a military coup in Fiji, 1RAR received orders to deploy a rifle company from the Operational Deployment Force as part of
Operation Morris Dance
Operation Morris Dance was an Australian military operation conducted in May 1987 in response to the first of the 1987 Fijian coups d'état.
On the morning of 14 May 1987 the Military of Fiji took control of the country in a bloodless coup d' ...
. In the end the force was not deployed on the ground, however, a large naval task force was established off the Fijian coast to intervene if necessary and 'B' Company was flown to
Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island (, ; Norfuk: ''Norf'k Ailen'') is an external territory of Australia located in the Pacific Ocean between New Zealand and New Caledonia, directly east of Australia's Evans Head and about from Lord Howe Island. Together with ...
where it embarked upon
HMAS ''Tobruk''.
From there elements of the company were spread across the task force to assist in the evacuation of Australian nationals and expatriates from the island before returning to Townsville on 3 June 1987, after the Australian government decided against taking more active measures to intervene.
*
Bougainville Island
Bougainville Island (Tok Pisin: ''Bogenvil'') is the main island of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, which is part of Papua New Guinea. It was previously the main landmass in the German Empire-associated North Solomons. Its land area is ...
During the
Bougainville conflict
The Bougainville conflict, also known as the Bougainville Civil War, was a multi-layered armed conflict fought from 1988 to 1998 in the North Solomons Province of Papua New Guinea (PNG) between PNG and the secessionist forces of the Bougainvill ...
in 1988–89, the Australian Government placed
2/4 RAR on standby for a short notice deployment to the fractured isle. A significant number of soldiers from 1 RAR bolstered 2/4 RAR for the possible deployment. This deployment did not occur, however.
Domestic operations
*
1949 Australian coal strike
The 1949 Australian coal strike was the first time that Australian military forces were used during peacetime to break a trade union strike. The strike by 23,000 coal miners lasted for seven weeks, from 27 June 1949 to 15 August 1949, with troops ...
Soldiers from 1 RAR assisted the Commonwealth Government in breaking the coal miners strike. It was the first time the army had been used in peacetime to break such an activity.
*
2019 Townsville flood
In 2019, a monsoonal trough caused significant flooding in the Townsville area. 1 RAR was rapidly deployed to assist the local community, using their Protected Mobility Vehicles to evacuate people through flood waters, and checking for people trapped in their homes.
*
COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, identified in Wuhan, China, in December ...
In September 2020, A Company was deployed to Perth, Western Australia, to support the COVID-19 response in the state as part of Operation COVID-19 Assist. The company worked with WA Police and State Government. 1 RAR troops returned to Townsville in December 2020. The unit has continued to support the COVID Task Force by providing personnel in 2021 to assist at hotel quarantine for the returning Afghan NEO personnel as well as assisting with managing the QLD and NSW border from the Gold Coast to the QLD, SA, NSW border.
*
2022 eastern Australia floods
Widespread flooding on the east coast, particularly in South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales, has left large scale devastation to the region. The ADF response includes elements from 1 RAR
Current role & composition
![Machine gun team from 1 RAR during RIMPAC 2012](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/01/Machine_gun_team_from_1_RAR_during_RIMPAC_2012.JPG)
In 2017 the battalion commenced the transition to the motorised role with the adoption of the
Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle
}
The Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle or Infantry Mobility Vehicle is an Australian-built four-wheel drive armoured vehicle. The Bushmaster was primarily designed by the then government-owned Australian Defence Industries (ADI), and is cur ...
. In 2020, the battalion commenced using the
Hawkei
The Hawkei is a light four-wheel-drive protected mobility vehicle originally designed to meet an Australian Defence Force (ADF) requirement for a light armoured patrol vehicle to replace some of its Land Rover Perentie variants. The Hawkei is ...
Protected Mobility Vehicle - Light, and converting a rifle company from motorised to air-mobile light company.
1 RAR currently consists of:
* Battalion Headquarters
* 3 Rifle Companies – 'A', 'B', 'C'
* D Company continues with a rehabilitation and transitions function
* Support Company
* Administration (Logistic Support) Company
1RAR also features its own battalion band, which consists of
Australian Army Band Corps
The Australian Army Band Corps (AABC) is the Australian Army's musical branch. It is roughly the equivalent of the Music Branch (Canadian Forces) and the Royal Corps of Army Music of the British Army. The Corps was formed on 2 August 1968 an ...
(AABC) Musicians providing general and ceremonial support functions.
Battle and Theatre honours
![MelbourneAnzacDay2009March1RAR](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/MelbourneAnzacDay2009March1RAR.JPG)
* Korea:
Korea 1950–53.
* Vietnam:
Vietnam 1965–72,
Coral–Balmoral,
Hat Dich
A hat is a head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorporate mecha ...
,
Bien Hoa
Bien may refer to:
* Bien (newspaper)
* Basic Income Earth Network
* Bień, Poland
{{disambiguation ...
.
* East Timor:
East Timor 1999-2003.
* Iraq:
Iraq 2003-11.
Commanding officers
The following table lists the Commanding Officers of 1 RAR:
[Horner & Bou 2008, pp. 438–439]
Alliances
* United Kingdom –
Grenadier Guards
"Shamed be whoever thinks ill of it."
, colors =
, colors_label =
, march = Slow: " Scipio"
, mascot =
, equipment =
, equipment ...
.
Affiliations
* Papua New Guinea – 1st Battalion,
Royal Pacific Islands Regiment
Freedoms
1 RAR has been granted the following freedoms:
* City of
Normanton, Queensland
Normanton is an outback town and coastal locality in the Shire of Carpentaria, Queensland, Australia. In the the locality of Normanton had a population of 1,257 people, of whom 750 (60%) identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander pe ...
,
Carpentaria Shire – 12 October 1974
* City of
Charters Towers
Charters Towers is a rural town in the Charters Towers Region, Queensland, Australia. It is by road south-west from Townsville on the Flinders Highway. During the last quarter of the 19th century, the town boomed as the rich gold deposits under ...
– 23 June 1977
* City of
Townsville
Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Queensland, Australia. With a population of 180,820 as of June 2018, it is the largest settlement in North Queensland; it is unofficially considered its capital. Estimated resident population, 3 ...
– 25 August 1996
See also
*
Royal Australian Regiment
The Royal Australian Regiment (RAR) is the parent administrative regiment for regular infantry battalions of the Australian Army and is the senior infantry regiment of the Royal Australian Infantry Corps. It was originally formed in 1948 as a t ...
*
Military history of Australia
The military history of Australia spans the nation's 230-year modern history, from the early Australian frontier wars between Aboriginals and Europeans to the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan in the early 21st century. Although this h ...
Notes
; Footnotes
; Citations
References
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Further reading
*
*
*
*
*
External links
*
Official Regimental website*
Australian War Memorial*
*
*
{{Australia in the Korean War
Infantry units and formations of Australia
Military units and formations established in 1945
Military units and formations of Australia in the Korean War
Military units and formations of Australia in the Vietnam War
Cold War history of Australia
Military units involved in UN peacekeeping missions
Military units in Queensland