RAR parades Colours at AWM for 70th anniversary

23/11/2018 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3119 Views 0 Comments RAR, Royal Australian Regiment

The 70th anniversary of the raising of the Australian Army’s Royal Australian Regiment (RAR) was marked with a ceremonial parade at the Australian War Memorial today.

FILE PHOTO (1998): The Queen’s and Regimental Colours of all nine Royal Australian Regiment battalions were paraded together for the first time at the Australian War Memorial to mark the 50th Anniversary of the regiment. A photo from today’s parade will be uploaded when available.

Queen’s and recently updated Regimental Colours – featuring the 17 theatre and battle honours bestowed on the Royal Australian Regiment – were on display with their respective battalion colour parties.

Colonel Commandant of the RAR Major General Mark Kelly said the regiment’s birthday was a time to reflect on its rich history and achievements.

“The battalions of our regiment have provided the full-time infantry combat capability for the Australian Defence Force for the past 70 years,” Major General Kelly said.

“This parade, and the display of the Colours, helps us to reflect on the sacrifice and valour of those who came before us, including the 684 members of the regiment who died on operations.

“We remain committed to duty, ready to serve the Australian public as a key component of our modern and professional land force.

“We will continue to uphold the high standards set by infantry soldiers before us and look forward to continuing to serve our nation under the regimental motto of ‘Duty First’.”

In November 2008, to mark the 60th anniversary of the Royal Australian Infantry Corps, CONTACT produced this excellent and well-reviewed special infantry-only issue. You can review the contents and buy that publication here. — In November 2008, to mark the 60th anniversary of the Royal Australian Infantry Corps, **CONTACT** produced this excellent and well-reviewed special infantry-only issue. You can review the contents and buy that publication **here**.

The RAR, originally consisting of three ‘regular’ infantry battalions – the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions – was raised in 1948 for service in Japan after World War Two.

There are now seven RAR battalions, based in Adelaide, Brisbane, Townsville and Darwin.

Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove, Chief of Defence Force General Angus Campbell and Chief of Army Lieutenant General Rick Burr were all officers of the regiment.

Seven Victoria Cross recipients, including the four most recently serving in Afghanistan, were at one time RAR soldiers.

Members of the RAR have deployed on many operations including the Korean War, Malayan Emergency, Vietnam War, Somalia, Rwanda, East Timor, Solomon Islands, Iraq and Afghanistan.

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