digrar
06-05-2004, 09:28 AM
History of the Sixth Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment, celebrating it's 39th birthday today.
6RAR was raised under Lieutenant Colonel C.M. Townsend in Brisbane at Enoggera on 6 June 1965. Initially the Battalion consisted of a nucleus command structure of Officers and NCOs, two rifle companies and some specialists provided by 2RAR. The Battalion was brought up to full strength when a large draft of soldiers from the first National Service intake arrived in September 1965.
It went on to see service in Vietnam in 1966/1967 including the battle of Long Tan on August 18, 1966, where a Presidental Unit Citation was awarded to D Company by then President of the United States, Lyndon B. Johnson.
18 August is now commemorated each year as Long Tan Day (as well as Vietnam Veterans day in Australia), in memory of the eighteen soldiers who gave their lives in battle.
So quick was the Battalion raised for service in Vietnam that it wasn't untill 10 May 1968 that His Excellency, the Governor General of Australia, The Right Honourable Lord Casey, GCMG, CH, DSO, MC, K St J, presented 6RAR with the Queens and Regimental Colours.
The Battalion then commenced another period of intensive training for war.
6RAR embarked on HMAS Sydney for it's second tour of duty in South Vietnam from Townsville in May 1969, to relieve 4RAR. Once in Vietnam the Battalion was renamed 6RAR/NZ (ANZAC) Battalion on 19 May 1969. This reflected the inclusion of a New Zealand component of two rifle companies, two sections of mortars and two assault pioneer sections.
The third anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan was commemorated by a memorial service on the original battle ground during which a large cross was erected.
After returning from Vietnam the Battalion then began training for its forthcoming tour of duty in Singapore. The Battalion Colours were trooped on 18 August 1970 to mark the fourth anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan and on 4 June 1971, 6RAR was granted the Freedom of the City of Townsville.
By the end of August 1971, 6RAR established itself in Selerang Barracks, Singapore. 6RAR joined the 1st Battalion, The Royal New Zealand Regiment and 1st Battalion, The Royal Highland Fusiliers (replaced by the 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders in 1973) in the 28 ANZUK Brigade based at Kangaw Barracks, Sembawang Garrison (ex-HMS Simbang).
Early in 1980, 6RAR was directed to form a parachute group based on an infantry rifle company. This role was given to Delta Company 6RAR. By February 1981 the Battalion had it reached its target of 180 parachutists and the first full-scale deployment was undertaken near Ross in Tasmania, in Exercise DISTANT BRIDGE.
The significant contribution by 6RAR in the development of parachute doctrine for the training and operations in the Australian Army came to an end in late 1983. The final Delta Company jump was conducted at Mount Walker on 8 November 1983, with the parachute role now passing to 3RAR.
In January 1989 6RAR became the first unit in the Australian Army to be issued with the new service rifle, the F88 Austeyr. In March 1989, the Battalion deployed to California, USA, to exercise with the American 7th Light Division. This was the first time since the Army's withdrawal from Singapore that a complete Battalion had deployed outside of Australia. 6RAR were appointed ambassadors for the City of Brisbane in Monterey, California.
In April 1990, 6RAR became the first unit in the Australian Army to be issued with the Section Light Support Weapon, the F89 Minimi.
In 2000 the Battalion disbanded the Motorised Battalion structure and commenced training for active service in East Timor as a regular Infantry Battalion. The Battalion was brought up to full strenght with Regular and Reserve soldiers and later deployed to East Timor as the 6RAR Group. At the end of the Battalion's six month tour of duty in East Timor the Battalion returned to Long Tan Lines, Gallipoli Barracks Enoggera.
2001 saw the Battalion providing security for the Commonweal Heads Of Government Meeting held on the Sunshine Coast.
In 2003 and 2004 the Battalion supplied the last Australian Company Group troops for UN service in East Timor.
Today the Sixth battalion continues to train at section, platoon, company and battalion levels preparing for what ever tasks may come up in the future. The Sixth Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment has a proud and distinguished history. It will continue so.
http://www.defence.gov.au/army/6rar/images/rar1.gif
`Duty First`
6RAR was raised under Lieutenant Colonel C.M. Townsend in Brisbane at Enoggera on 6 June 1965. Initially the Battalion consisted of a nucleus command structure of Officers and NCOs, two rifle companies and some specialists provided by 2RAR. The Battalion was brought up to full strength when a large draft of soldiers from the first National Service intake arrived in September 1965.
It went on to see service in Vietnam in 1966/1967 including the battle of Long Tan on August 18, 1966, where a Presidental Unit Citation was awarded to D Company by then President of the United States, Lyndon B. Johnson.
18 August is now commemorated each year as Long Tan Day (as well as Vietnam Veterans day in Australia), in memory of the eighteen soldiers who gave their lives in battle.
So quick was the Battalion raised for service in Vietnam that it wasn't untill 10 May 1968 that His Excellency, the Governor General of Australia, The Right Honourable Lord Casey, GCMG, CH, DSO, MC, K St J, presented 6RAR with the Queens and Regimental Colours.
The Battalion then commenced another period of intensive training for war.
6RAR embarked on HMAS Sydney for it's second tour of duty in South Vietnam from Townsville in May 1969, to relieve 4RAR. Once in Vietnam the Battalion was renamed 6RAR/NZ (ANZAC) Battalion on 19 May 1969. This reflected the inclusion of a New Zealand component of two rifle companies, two sections of mortars and two assault pioneer sections.
The third anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan was commemorated by a memorial service on the original battle ground during which a large cross was erected.
After returning from Vietnam the Battalion then began training for its forthcoming tour of duty in Singapore. The Battalion Colours were trooped on 18 August 1970 to mark the fourth anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan and on 4 June 1971, 6RAR was granted the Freedom of the City of Townsville.
By the end of August 1971, 6RAR established itself in Selerang Barracks, Singapore. 6RAR joined the 1st Battalion, The Royal New Zealand Regiment and 1st Battalion, The Royal Highland Fusiliers (replaced by the 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders in 1973) in the 28 ANZUK Brigade based at Kangaw Barracks, Sembawang Garrison (ex-HMS Simbang).
Early in 1980, 6RAR was directed to form a parachute group based on an infantry rifle company. This role was given to Delta Company 6RAR. By February 1981 the Battalion had it reached its target of 180 parachutists and the first full-scale deployment was undertaken near Ross in Tasmania, in Exercise DISTANT BRIDGE.
The significant contribution by 6RAR in the development of parachute doctrine for the training and operations in the Australian Army came to an end in late 1983. The final Delta Company jump was conducted at Mount Walker on 8 November 1983, with the parachute role now passing to 3RAR.
In January 1989 6RAR became the first unit in the Australian Army to be issued with the new service rifle, the F88 Austeyr. In March 1989, the Battalion deployed to California, USA, to exercise with the American 7th Light Division. This was the first time since the Army's withdrawal from Singapore that a complete Battalion had deployed outside of Australia. 6RAR were appointed ambassadors for the City of Brisbane in Monterey, California.
In April 1990, 6RAR became the first unit in the Australian Army to be issued with the Section Light Support Weapon, the F89 Minimi.
In 2000 the Battalion disbanded the Motorised Battalion structure and commenced training for active service in East Timor as a regular Infantry Battalion. The Battalion was brought up to full strenght with Regular and Reserve soldiers and later deployed to East Timor as the 6RAR Group. At the end of the Battalion's six month tour of duty in East Timor the Battalion returned to Long Tan Lines, Gallipoli Barracks Enoggera.
2001 saw the Battalion providing security for the Commonweal Heads Of Government Meeting held on the Sunshine Coast.
In 2003 and 2004 the Battalion supplied the last Australian Company Group troops for UN service in East Timor.
Today the Sixth battalion continues to train at section, platoon, company and battalion levels preparing for what ever tasks may come up in the future. The Sixth Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment has a proud and distinguished history. It will continue so.
http://www.defence.gov.au/army/6rar/images/rar1.gif
`Duty First`