The significance of 1st Armoured Regiment’s Standard

On 29 June 2026, the outgoing Chief of Army gave an address at the Australian War Memorial.  He referred to “our Colours, Guidons and Standards”.  

It is obviously not something of significance to him … but the Australian Army has only ever had one Standard.

“The 1st Armoured Regiment is the only unit in the Australian Army to carry a Standard, in the tradition of heavy armoured units.” 

Sadly, 1st Armoured Regiment no longer has an entitlement to carry it … having had its tanks stripped from it and being made into an experimentation unit.  It’s no longer a ‘heavy armoured unit’, in the sense that heavy dragoon guards used to be.

The history of the Banner is as follows …

On 10 March 2002, a parade was held at the Australian War Memorial to mark the centenary of the Australian Army. The English red-silk Australian Army banner was placed on the Stone of Remembrance before being presented by the governor general, Sir William Deane, and received by the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army.

It features a gold fringe, gold and crimson cords and tassels and is mounted on a pike with a British royal crest finial. On the obverse, it bears the Coat of Arms of Australia and the dates “1901–2001” in gold in the upper hoist. The reverse bears the rising sun badge of the Australian Army along with seven campaign honours on small gold-edged scrolls: South Africa, World War I, World War II, Korea, Malaya-Borneo, South Vietnam, and Peacekeeping.

The CA referred to the Army Banner (which was unfurled behind him at the time of his address), saying it was “the grandest item we possess”.  This was disappointing … why so?

Because, although it might be the ‘grandest thing ever’ to the CA, and, as important to the Army as the Army Banner is … it is still a recent invention.  

Not only that, it doesn’t directly represent the courage and bravery of service men and women who have actually fought for their country. 

The 1 Armd Regt Standard, however, does exactly that; by being emblazoned with the three Battle-Honours and ‘flying’ the pennant of the Unit Citation for Gallantry, awarded to 1 Armd Regt for its service in Vietnam (as do the Guidons of the 3rd and 4th Cavalry Regiments).  

“The 1st Armoured Regiment, formed on 7 July 1949 as part of the Australian Regular Army’s armoured capability, transitioned to the Centurionmain battle tank in the early 1950s to replace the earlier Churchill and Matilda vehicles.”

“On 6 February 1956, the then Governor General, Field Marshal Sir William Slim, presented the regiment with its Guidon at a Regimental Parade held in Puckapunyal.” 

The Australian Army’s first-ever Standard was presented to 1 Armd Regt by HRH Prince Charles in April 1981 at Puckapunyal, Victoria.  (A replacement Standard was presented on July 13, 2002, by then-Governor General.) 

Of course, it won’t be long before those who won the Battle-Honours awarded to 1 Armd Regt are no longer with us.  Maybe other Battle-Honours will have been awarded by then (though one hopes that peace may be lasting).

The Army Banner is, of course, important.  It represents a Century of actions fought in defence of our nation, by those who’ve sacrificed themselves on behalf of their country.  Theirs can be no higher honour. 

It is a different sort of representation, however, that is provided by 1 Armd Regt’s Standard. 

A tank regiment forms bonds between crews … these extend throughout the unit as a whole; making it a unique entity.  When the Chief of Army stripped the tanks from 1 Armd Regt, he also stripped it of its heritage; that which had been built up as a tank regiment over 75 years.  

A tank regiment has been lost in an Army re-structure.  

How will its members and its achievements be remembered?  Is it possible that they’ve already been lost; and history begins again?

Lieutenant Colonel Bruce Cameron, MC, RAAC (Ret’d)

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FILE PHOTO: Soldiers of the 1st Armoured Regiment honour their unit’s Standard in Adelaide. Photo by Private Sophie Hartley.

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