RAR and BN Associations - Royal Australian Infantry Corps

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This page provides:

A brief history of the Royal Australian Regiment, and
Links to ARA and ARES Regimental and Battalion association web pages

Before 1901 Australian soldiers had deployed overseas to such places as The Sudan and South Africa participating in the Boer War. On the 1st January 1901 Australia celebrated the Federation of the Commonwealth of States united under one Constitution and one of the first Bills passed by the first Federal Parliament was to provide for the "Defence of the Commonwealth". That said, there was no standing army during the period in which Australian Military Forces deployed to two World Wars. A nucleus of a standing army comprised the Australian Staff Corps, a cadre of trained cadre officers, the Australian Instructional Corps (other rank instructors) and coastal artillery. A voluntary, part-time militia and the enlistment of thousands of volunteers filled the ranks in the First AIF (Australian Imperial Force) of the First World War and again the Second AIF of World War II.

Formation

After World War II it was decided that a small regular army was to be established. At the same time the Government of the day made a commitment to contribute an Australian component to the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces (BCOF) in Japan. The 34th Infantry Brigade was raised on Mortal Island in the North Moluccas specifically for this purpose. It comprised the 65th, 66th and 67th Battalions. As this new Brigade was formed mostly from volunteers from Australian World War II Divisions the new brigade carried forward the outstanding traditions of the World War II infantry battalions. On the 23rd of November 1948 the three battalions were designated the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the Australian Regiment. Shortly thereafter, on 10th March 1949, His Majesty, King George VI granted the title "Royal" to the Regiment and thus the Royal Australian Regiment (RAR) was born.

Overseas Service

From its beginning in Japan in 1948, approximately 65,000 plus volunteer and national service infantrymen have served in the Regiment, on active service, as a part of Australia's commitment to:

· Korea	· Malay Emergency	· Confrontation in Borneo
· South Vietnam	· Somalia	· Rwanda
· Bougainville	· Cambodia	· East Timor
· The Solomon Islands	· Iraq	· Afghanistan

Korea

Forming part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF), in post World War II Japan, the 3rd battalion (3 RAR) was the initial unit deployed to Korea. All three battalions at that time 1 RAR, 2 RAR and 3 RAR all served in the Korean War in the early 1950s.

Malayan Emergency

South Vietnam

With coincidental operational commitments in Malaya and South Vietnam from 1964 to 1966, the Regiment expanded significantly from the original three to nine battalions. Each new unit raised was sequentially numbered from the 4th to the 9th Battalion. All units, less the 8th and 9th Battalions being last raised, undertook two operational tours in South Vietnam. Had Australia's commitment in Vietnam continued then 8 RAR and 9 RAR conceivably would have deployed more than once. During this period of growth, and to meet enlistment figures, national servicemen supplemented the battalions' regular soldiers.

"Downsized to Six Battalions"

After the withdrawal of Australian forces from South Vietnam in 1972, and as ADF manpower ceilings were reduced (National Service also ceased), in 1973 the Regiment downsized from nine to six battalions by linking six of its units to form the 2nd/4th, 5th/7th, and 8th/9th Battalions. The 1st, 3rd and 6th Battalions remained. Later, and in response to the Australian Government's changing Defence Policy and capability requirement, the 2nd and 4th Battalions were delinked in 1996 and with the 8th/9th Battalion disbanding in 1997, the Royal Australian Regiment then comprises the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5/7th, and 6th Battalions.

On 3 December 2006 5/7 RAR was delinked to re-form 5 RAR and 7 RAR. Currently both battalions are based in Darwin however 7 RAR will move to Adelaide when new facilities are completed. On 31 Oct 07 8/9 RAR was re-raised bringing the total number of battalions in the Regiment to eight.

Iraq

Information being updated.

Afghanistan

Information being updated.

Associations

The RAR Association and ARA Battalion Associations Links

The Royal Australian Regiment Association
In 1969 the Royal Australian Regiment Association was formed nationally and with some later-added state-specific roles aims to:

perpetuate the close bonds of comradeship and esprit de corps created by past and present members of the Royal Australian Regiment;
Guard the good name and preserve the interests of the Regiment in the community;
Preserve the memory of those who died on service with the Regiment;
Assist the sick, wounded and needy among those who have served the Regiment;
Assist widows and children of deceased members of the Regiment;
Assist the dependants of serving members of the Regiment, where the Regiment cannot give assistance.
Upkeep and maintain the RAR National Memorial Walk at Gallipoli Barrack, Enoggera. (The RAR National Memorial Walk, maintenance of which is vested with the RAR Association Queensland, was featured in the April 2004 Australian Infantry Magazine - editor)
Foster and develop, for historical purposes, papers, photographs, journals, memorabilia, artefacts and similar items accruing from the existence of the Royal Australian Regiment, and
Foster ANZAC Day and its purposes.

The Association consists of a National Executive with branches in each state as well as the Australian Capital and Northern Territories. It provides a parent organization for all Battalion Associations, which exist Australia-wide. The National Executive comprises:

National President - Colonel Commandant of the Royal Australian Regiment,
Executive Officer - Regimental Colonel of the Royal Australian Regiment, and
Secretary-Treasurer - Regimental (and School of Infantry) Adjutant.

Membership of the RAR Association is open to all surviving members of the 65th, 66th and 67th Australian Infantry Battalions and persons who have been, or are, posted to the current or former battalions of the Regiment. Membership is also open to persons of corps other than the Royal Australian Infantry Corps who have been posted to unit establishments of the Regiment. Members of Philanthropic Organisations attached to units of the Regiment are also eligible for membership.