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Lest We Forget

Cooktown Airfield 1942, Ops Base 27 and a Story Worth the Telling.

12/04/202512/04/2025 Geoff Clarke 342 Views 1 Comment

He left school in grade three to go to work with his father on the bullock wagons pulling huge logs

A newly acquired M1A2 Abrams main battle tank arrives at Lavarack Barracks in Townsville. Photos by Corporal Guy Sadler.

Many problems hindering 3 Brigade’s new roles

11/04/2025 Bruce Cameron 353 Views 0 Comments 1 Armd Regt

Defence Press Release, 28 September 2023… “The 3rd Brigade, based in Townsville, will be an armoured combat brigade.” The Defence

Australian Army soldiers from the 1st Armoured Regiment conduct manoeuvre training on an M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank in Puslatpur, Indonesia during Exercise Super Garuda Shield 2023. Photo by Corporal Dustin Anderson.

Australian Army Letters to the Editor News

Army Cut Back – Why?

05/04/202505/04/2025 Bruce Cameron 1627 Views 2 Comments

Army has recently removed a squadron of tanks from its order of battle; no reason has been offered. FILE PHOTO

An Australian Army M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank from the 1st Armoured Regiment, drives through the Cultana Training Area, SA during Exercise Rhino Run 24. Photo by Corporal Johnny Huang.

Letters to the Editor Veterans

The Unjust Treatment of 1st Armoured Regiment: Who Should Apologise?

30/03/202530/03/2025 Bruce Cameron 814 Views 0 Comments

FILE PHOTO (May 2024): An Australian Army M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank from the 1st Armoured Regiment, drives through the

A Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornet lands at the Australian International Airshow 2025. Story by Flying Officer Rose Gigliotti. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Campbell Latch.

History News Royal Australian Air Force

Salute to 15 years of Super Hornet combat excellence

26/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1277 Views 1 Comment Australian International Airshow, F/A-18F Super Hornet

Fifteen years have flown by since the Royal Australian Air Force welcomed a game-changing addition to its air combat fleet—the

Warrant Office of the Air Force Ralph Clifton, Gary Walsh, Rodney Ticler, David Gardner, and Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Stephen Chappell at the unveiling of the restored P-40E Kittyhawk. Story by Squadron Leader Richard Briedis. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Maddison Scot.

History News Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF restores Ming the Merciless

26/03/202505/04/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 843 Views 0 Comments Australian International Airshow, Chief of Air Force, RAAF Museum, RAAF Point Cook, WWII

Bringing a World War II aircraft back to life is a labour of love – especially when that aircraft’s namesake

Commanding Officer HMAS Encounter Commander Tony Ryder presents veteran Able Seaman Colin Cherry with his medals for naval service during the Korean War, surrounded by Lieutenant Commander Gavin Colgan, Petty Officer Warren Sanders and Leading Seaman Dylan Sanders.

ADF People History

Separated by decades, connected by Korea

21/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 823 Views 0 Comments HMAS Encounter, HMAS Sydney III, Korean War

After more than seven decades, 92-year-old veteran Able Seaman Colin Cherry received his medals for service in HMAS Sydney III

RAAF musician Corporal Robert Scott plays the bagpipes during the Anzac Day dawn service in Villers-Bretonneux, France. Story by Flight Sergeant Vicki Shelley. Photo by Corporal Robert Whitmore.

ADF People History Lest We Forget

Pack your bagpipes, tour the world

21/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 753 Views 0 Comments Air Force Band, Villers-Bretonneux, WWI

In 2015 Corporal Rob Scott was studying at the Conservatoire de Versailles, only a few hundred metres as the crow

1st Armoured Regiment conduct manoeuvre training on an M1A1 Abrams tanks in Puslatpur, Indonesia, during Exercise Super Garuda Shield 2023. Photo by Sergeant Jarrod McAneney.

Australian Army Letters to the Editor Veterans

The Bond Formed by Tank Crews

16/03/2025 Bruce Cameron 1556 Views 3 Comments 1st Armoured Regiment

Admiral Johnston, the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF), graduated as a naval officer in 1982. His career has involved

Elinor Thomas and Thomas Watkins, centre, thank HMAS Canberra personnel for saving Mr Watkins' life, and receive a tour of the ship while alongside Fleet Base East in Sydney. Story by Lieutenant Marcus Middleton. Photos by Leading Seaman Daniel Goodman.

Health and Wellbeing News Royal Australian Navy

Training saves life of tourist in trouble

14/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1232 Views 1 Comment HMAS Canberra, rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB)

“Without their help … I wouldn’t be here.” CAPTION: Elinor Thomas and Thomas Watkins, centre, thank HMAS Canberra personnel for saving

d guests attend the HMAS Perth I memorial foundation ceremony, commemorating the Battle of Saunda Strait, at Training Ship Perth in Fremantle, WA. Story by Petty Officer Keigan Gunther. Photos by Able Seaman Connor Morrison.

ADF People History Lest We Forget Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Perth I Memorial unveiled

07/03/202511/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1229 Views 0 Comments HMAS Perth, HMAS Perth I, WWII

The HMAS Perth I memorial was inaugurated in East Fremantle recently by the Governor of Western Australia Chris Dawson and

Health and Wellbeing News Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF aims high in combat casualty care

07/03/202516/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1000 Views 0 Comments C-17A Globemaster III, C-27J Spartan, No. 1 Security Forces Squadron., No. 3 Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (3AMES), RAAF Amberley, RAAF Reserve

Getting ‘comfortable with the uncomfortable’ was the objective for specialist reserve and permanent Royal Australian Air Force health clinicians of

The Rats of Tobruk memorial band members at the Rats hall in Melbourne. Story by Corporal Luke Bellman.

ADF People History

Band gives a shout-out for new members

05/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 646 Views 0 Comments Edinburgh Tattoo, WWII

The Rats of Tobruk memorial band has carried its music across the globe, from the renowned Edinburgh Military Tattoo, to

A medical team from Army’s 2nd Health Battalion during Operation Render Safe 24-2, Solomon Islands. Story and photo by Corporal Luke Bellman.

Australian Army Health and Wellbeing News Pacific

Army medics treat and train locals in Solomons

04/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 764 Views 0 Comments 2nd Health Battalion, Operation Render Safe, Solomon Islands

Crocodile and pig attacks are not the typical injuries orthopaedic surgeon Major Darren Paterson is accustomed to. CAPTION: A medical team

Brigadier Deane Limmer holds a Blue Bar Cock pigeon at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. Story and photos by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

Australian Army History News

Flying in the face of danger

04/03/202505/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 994 Views 0 Comments Dickin Medal, National Day for War Animals, Royal Australian Corps of Signals

In 1944, a small patrol of US marines hacked through dense jungle towards a waiting enemy. CAPTION: Brigadier Deane Limmer holds

Gunners from 102nd Battery, 8th/12th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery participate in the re-enactment of the Bombing of Darwin. Story and photo by Sergeant Matthew Bickerton.

Australian Army History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Darwin bombing a call to defend the north

04/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 776 Views 2 Comments 8th/12th Regiment RAA, RAAF Darwin, WWII

From RAAF Base Darwin, a young Brian Winspear saw Japanese bombs glinting in the sun like confetti above Darwin on

Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Stephen Chappell, speaks with guests at the Bombing of Darwin memorial unveiling at RAAF Base Darwin. Story by Flight Lieutenant Kayla Walliss. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Campbell Latch.

ADF People Lest We Forget Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF salutes sacrifice in WWII attack

28/02/202514/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 979 Views 0 Comments Bombing of Darwin, Chief of Air Force, No. 13 Squadron, RAAF Darwin, WWII

Two memorials honouring the sacrifice of aviators killed in a Japanese attack have been unveiled in Darwin. CAPTION: Chief of Air

Military Public Affairs Officers gather at Russell Offices, Canberra, to celebrate Navy's newest employment category. No photographer credited (good start Navy).

Sir Jeffrey Armiger

Is Navy’s PR “innovation” a belated copycat catchup

26/02/202526/02/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 860 Views 0 Comments

The Royal Australian Navy has finally realised that public affairs matter. The only problem is – Australian Army figured that

Army soldier Sergeant Brent Power, a preventative medicine technician, remembers working on Operation Flood Assist at his home town of Casino, NSW, three years ago. Story and photo by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

ADF People Australian Army History

Remembering devastating floods, three years on

25/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 872 Views 0 Comments Operation Flood Assist 2022

In 2022, then-Corporal Brent Power saw his home town of Casino, NSW, transformed into a river of diesel, rotting animal

Karen Curtis and her grandchildren with the World War 2 service medals of her great uncle Sergeant William O’Shea at the Timaru War Memorial in New Zealand, after the medals were returned by Chaplain Haydn Lea. Story by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

ADF People History Lest We Forget

Medals land in safe hands

25/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 547 Views 0 Comments Chaplains, No. 25 Squadron, RNZAF, WWII

As New Zealander aviator Sergeant William O’Shea’s Wellington bomber barrelled through heavy flak over Germany, a cone of light tracked

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