7RAR awarded Iraq theatre honour
7th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (7RAR) was honoured for the unit’s achievements in Iraq during a formal parade at the Torrens Parade Ground in Adelaide on September 30.
CAPTION: Members from the 7th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (7RAR), march on parade as part of the 7RAR Iraq Theatre Honour Parade, on the Torrens Parade Ground, Adelaide. Story by Captain Adrienne Goode. Photos by Private Johnny Huang.
The theatre honour recognises the contributions of the battalion to the Iraq campaign from 2003 to 2011.
About 300 soldiers marched in the parade in the presence of the Colonel Commandant of the Royal Australian Infantry Corps Major General (retd) Shane Caughey and the Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Jane Lomax-Smith.
After formally accepting the Iraq theatre honour, the unit affixed the streamer to the battalion colours and fired three volleys.
CAPTION: Australian Army officer Major General (retd) Shane Caughey attaches the Iraq banner to the 7th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment’s colours.
Second in Command 7RAR Major Rupert Hindle said it was a proud day for current and former members of the battalion.
“The battalion has a proud and storied history,” Major Hindle said.
“This parade recognises the significant contributions of the 7th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, to the Iraq campaign.
“It is a very proud day for our current members, former members and our community.”
From October 2008 to June 2009, 7RAR led Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force One in Afghanistan, and during 2007-2010 deployed two additional company groups to Afghanistan and Iraq.
The battalion again deployed to Afghanistan from November 2012 to July 2013 and Iraq in May 2016.
Most recently, the unit has supported domestic operations Resolute, Bushfire Assist, Flood Assist and COVID-19 Assist, as well as international Operation Kudu.
“We remain vigilant in our preparation for future tasks and operations domestically and overseas,” Major Hindle said.
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