Is 1st Armoured Regiment a priority for new Chief of Army?

It’s too early to expect the new Chief of Army to make a decision about the future of 1st Armoured Regiment, i.e. whether or not it should be relocated to Townsville to command Army’s tank assets, as recommended by the RAAC Representative Honorary Colonel (a change which would have the distinct benefit of creating a new battle-group headquarters for 3 Brigade).

The Representative Honorary Colonel has been asked if he will be meeting with the new Chief to request that 1 Armd Regt be returned to combat duties.  He has declined to respond; implying that either discussions are taking place, or it’s none of my business!

Others might well ask what right a retired junior officer has to ask such questions?  The abysmal treatment meted out to 1 Armd Regt, should of course, make the response to such a question entirely predictable. 

Could it be a case of those who have not served on operations with 1 Armd Regt … not understanding the depth of feeling involved?  If so, how does one explain?

How can one adequately describe the sense of camaraderie that comes about as a result of placing your life on the line for your Regiment?  There’s no doubt, that it’s your unit that holds your allegiance. Camaraderie, however, is not the right word.  A deeper feeling is involved; a belief in contributing to something that, while intangible, is nevertheless very worthwhile. 

In the case of those fighting on behalf of 1 Armd Regt in Vietnam … if you were killed, you gave your life for a noble cause.  A warrior could do no less. Those who were lost, are remembered and honoured at all times.

However, the unit they once belonged to, has changed.  After 75 years, it is no longer the tank regiment that once held pride of place on the ‘right of the line’ … the senior unit of the senior corps!  Sadly, its tanks were stripped and it’s now a non-combatant experimentation unit.

Those who gave their lives, retain their pride of place in the memory of their comrades-in-arms; as they do on the honour rolls of the fallen.  They were the ones who did everything they were asked to do.  Their officers and comrades couldn’t be prouder of them; but now we’ve failed them.

Why is their unit no more? 

Purely and simply … money!  The enormous cost of the AUKUS submarines, means that savings have to be found in the defence budget.  The cheapest option was for 1 Armd Regt to remain in Adelaide and be converted to an experimentation unit.  

Unit esprit-de-corps, heritage, traditions, loyalty … all count for nothing, in the face of the need for Defence savings.  Surely this can’t be right?  Surely our fallen comrades deserve better!  As incredible as it seems, however, the unit they fought with and the close bonds they formed as tank crews, have simply been tossed aside.  

When has this ever happened before?  A unit which was awarded three battle honours and a Unit Citation for Gallantry, in Vietnam … suddenly becomes a non-combatant, without any notice being given!  Do those in Defence HQ have no understanding of honour and respect?

Despite 1 Armd Regt being the first RAAC unit and the oldest by decades, it was the first to be disbanded.  Although this was all a matter of cost, it doesn’t explain why there was no consultation with those affected.  We now know that no-one cared about 1 Armd Regt’s honour roll, nor its heritage. 

It is hoped that the new Chief of Army reads this and shares in the shame that veterans of 1 Armd Regt feel.  Of course, the new Chief could implement the recommendations of the RAAC Rep Hon Col and reinstate 1 Armd Regt as part of 3 Brigade. The cost of raising RHQ 1 Armd Regt and splitting 2 Cav Regt into tank and recon units would be minimal. The experimentation unit could be renamed and continue on, as is. 

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

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