Image Gallery: December 2006
Army Reserve receive Operation ANODE brassard
22 December 2006
Veterans of the ferocious battles of Milne Bay and Sanananda passed on the baton to a new generation of Army Reserve soldiers at a parade by the Enoggera-based 25th/49th Battalion, the Royal Queensland Regiment on Friday, December 22.
Six veterans of the original Battle of Milne Bay, fought in New Guinea in August 1942, will present soldiers deploying to the Solomon Islands in January 2007 with their Operation ANODE brassard.
The symbolic presentation signals a new era for operational service in what is the largest deployment of Army Reserve soldiers on operations since World War Two.
The parade ended more than six weeks of force preparation for soldiers from all corners of South Queensland, who then departed on a small Christmas and pre-embarkation break with families.
CO 25/49 RQR Lt-Col Rowan Martin said it was a watershed moment for an Army Reserve operation that will deploy without the overarching command of an ARA unit.
“This is the first time in recent history that we have ever had a principally Army Reserve sub-unit deploy on operations more or less independently,” Lt-Col Martin said.
“It is a reflection of what the CA has articulated in his recent Hardened and Networked Army initiative that he has a growing expectation of what the Army Reserve will provide to Army’s overall capability.”
Operation ANODE is the name given to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) contribution to the Regional Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI). It is the 11th rotation of the operation since RAMSI was deployed on July 24, 2003.
| 20061222adf8222937_001 49th Battalion World War veteran Allan Hooper presents the Operation ANODE brassard to Private Owen Bambrick from the 25th/49th Battalion, The Royal Queensland Regimen. The new generation of Army Reserve soldiers to see operational service will deploy to the Solomon Islands in January. (Date taken: 22 December 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20061222adf8222937_002 49th Battalion World War Two veteran Allan Hooper has a laugh with Private Wayne Bryant, the Roma Police Sergeant in his civilian job. The new generation of Army Reserve soldiers will deploy to the Solomon Islands in January. (Date taken: 22 December 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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