New look, same values
Volume 11, No. 44, June 01, 2006

Sharp edge: Soldiers of 7 CSS Bde on parade. Photo by Pte John Ainley

Unfurled: The new brigade flag is displayed in public for the first time. Photo by Phil Barling

A NEW-LOOK flag, a ceremonial parade of about 500 soldiers and the chance for brigade mascot Danny the Clydesdale to have an official gallop have marked a significant turning point in the history of Army’s Logistic Support Force (LSF).

The LSF, whose origins date back to the Vietnam War, has been re-named
17 CSS Bde. It is the Army’s only deployable combat service support formation.

The new flag and mascot Danny were just two features of the May 20 ceremonial parade at Victoria Barracks in Paddington.

Vehicles and equipment of 17 CSS Bde were on display and soldiers dressed in period uniform represented past conflicts in which solders have served.

The 500 soldiers on parade represented units from Randwick, Richmond, Holsworthy, Darwin, Townsville, Brisbane, Adelaide, Tasmania and rural Victoria.

The brigade consists of more than 2000 regular and reserve soldiers whose role is to provide the full suite of combat service support in an operational theatre.

“In addition to being specialists in their own areas of expertise, these people are trained soldiers, able to provide support as part of a deployed force,” brigade commander Brig Mick Kehoe said.

“The type of combat support the brigade will provide includes distribution by road, sea and air, warehousing, equipment repair, casualty evacuation and surgery, and a range of personnel services vital to the maintenance of a force.”

Even Danny the Clydesdale will retain his niche in unit history. Danny weighs more than one tonne and represents reliability and dependability, and the ability of the formation to do the heavy lifting on operations. Where Danny once occupied pride of place on the old unit flag, he has retained a secondary role on the new flag.

The new flag is red with a yellow emblem and crossed swords as its centrepiece. The original Clydesdale emblem is in the top right-hand corner on a white background.