Royal Pacific Islands Regiment

Last updated

The Royal Pacific Islands Regiment
RPIR.jpg
Cap badge of the Pacific Islands Regiment
Active1944–46
1951–Present
CountryFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia (1951–75)
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea (1975–Present)
BranchArmy
Type Infantry
Role Light infantry
SizeTwo battalions
Part of Papua New Guinea Defence Force
Garrison/HQ1st Battalion – Port Moresby
2nd Battalion – Wewak
Motto(s)To Find a Path
Engagements
Commanders
Colonel-in-Chief Charles III

The Royal Pacific Islands Regiment (RPIR) is an infantry regiment of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF). The regiment is descended from the Australian Army infantry battalions formed from native soldiers and Australian officers and non-commissioned officers in the territories of Papua and New Guinea during World War II to help fight against the Japanese. Disbanded after the war, the regiment was re-raised in 1951 as part of the Australian Army and continued to serve until Papua New Guinea gained its independence in 1975, when it became part of the PNGDF. Today, the RPIR consists of two battalions and has seen active service in Vanuatu, Bougainville and the Solomon Islands.

Contents

History

World War II

The regiment is descended from the Australian Army infantry battalions formed in the territories of Papua and New Guinea during World War II to fight against the Japanese, following their invasion in 1942 and the subsequent New Guinea campaign. [1] Its soldiers were primarily natives who fought under the command of Australian officers and non-commissioned officers (NCOs). [2]

The Papuan Infantry Battalion (PIB) was raised in 1940, while the 1st and 2nd New Guinea Infantry Battalion both formed in 1944 and the 3rd New Guinea Infantry Battalion in 1945. The 4th New Guinea Infantry Battalion also began forming in 1945 but was soon disbanded, and the 5th New Guinea Infantry Battalion—although authorised—was never raised. [3] The battalions each had an establishment of about 77 Europeans and 550 native soldiers. In November 1944 they were grouped together into a single Pacific Islands Regiment (PIR). [2] A depot battalion was also established at Erap, near Nadzab in the Markham Valley, at this time. [4]

Headquarters PIR was raised on 14 February 1945, occupying the old 1 NGIB camp site at Camp Diddy at Nadzab. They remained there until September, when they moved to Bumbu River, Lae. On 1 January 1946 they occupied the new headquarters site at Yunakanau, Rabaul. The Commanding Officers of Headquarters PIR during this period were as follows: [5]

Pacific Islands Regiment
(as at 27 October 1945) [5]
UnitStrength
HQ PIR67
PIB574
1 NGIB538
2 NGIB500
3 NGIB481
PIR Depot Bn144
PIR Trg Coy34
Note: 392 recruits at Lae and Goroka.

Units of the regiment fought in the campaigns in Papua, New Guinea, New Britain and Bougainville. [6] Although often poorly equipped the native soldiers established a reputation for ferocity and tenacity in action. Indeed, PIR soldiers (both Europeans and natives) were awarded one Distinguished Service Order (DSO), six Military Crosses (MC), two George Medals (GM), three Distinguished Conduct Medals (DCM), 20 Military Medals (MM) and nine Mentions in Despatches (MID) and one US Legion of Merit. [note 1]

Despite this reputation there were some incidents of indiscipline—particularly on New Britain during the raising of 2 NGIB—but these were usually related to pay and conditions or perhaps to perceived 'insensitivity' on the part of Australian officers. Regardless, in an expression of the colonial politics of the time some segments of the Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit (ANGAU), which had opposed the raising of native units in the first place, used these incidents to 'prove' that their formation had been a mistake all along. [2]

During the course of the war more than 3,500 Papuans and New Guineans served in the ranks of the PIR, [2] suffering casualties (both Europeans and natives) of 65 killed, 16 missing, 75 died of other causes, and 81 wounded. [note 2] Losses inflicted on the Japanese included 2,201 killed, 110 probably killed, 118 wounded and 196 captured. [7] The regiment was officially disbanded on 24 June 1946. [5]

Post-World War II

In the years immediately following the war much consideration was given by the Australian Army to re-establishing a presence in Papua New Guinea; however, there was some opposition among white settlers to the raising of native units. As an interim measure, the re-establishment of the Papua New Guinea Volunteer Rifles (PNGVR) was approved in July 1949, re-forming as a 'whites-only' reserve unit of the Citizen Military Forces (CMF). In November 1950, after considerable debate, the raising of a locally recruited regular battalion was also authorised. [2] Consequently, in March 1951 the Pacific Islands Regiment was reformed, with an initial strength of one battalion. The regiment remained a unit of the Australian Army until Papua New Guinea gained its independence. [8]

It was envisioned that the PIR would have four roles in war-time: garrisoning Manus Island and other similar areas; patrolling the land border with Dutch New Guinea (later Indonesian West Irian); and acting as a delaying force if required; and providing detachments for Australian units deployed to PNG. One company was based at Port Moresby, while others were based at outstations at Vanimo (from October 1952), Los Negros (1954, but later abandoned for Cape Moem), and at Kokopo. The establishment of the regiment was initially limited to 600 men. [9]

In December 1957 riots broke out in Port Moresby between soldiers and civilian, which had to be broken up by police. Ultimately 153 soldiers were fined and 15 discharged, while 117 civilians were also convicted. As a result of this incident the organisation of the PIR was reviewed and henceforth Australian officers would be required to serve between four and six years with the regiment, and a number would be returned as senior officers later in their careers, thereby avoiding the previous situation in which officers with little experience serving with PNG soldiers would be posted to the regiment. [2]

In 1960 when the Pentropic division was introduced into the Australian Army, PIR remained the only infantry battalion organised on the old establishment. [2] Meanwhile, a further outbreak of indiscipline occurred in January 1961, this time over discriminatory pay scales. Although the disaffected soldiers were largely removed, pay scales were increased, and efforts were made to break up the regional and tribal concentrations of soldiers within subunits. [2] In 1961 the PIR was awarded the battle honours of the PIB and NGIBs. [10] By 1962 the battalion numbered 75 Australians (officers and SNCOs) and 660 PNG soldiers. [2]

During the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation (1962–66) the regiment patrolled the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea border and although there was only one shooting incident between the PIR and Indonesian troops, a number of incursions took place and these patrols—which were often conducted in rugged terrain—placed considerable demands on Australia's already limited defence resources. [11] Amid growing Australian concern about Indonesian intentions the PIR began training for guerilla operations, and in September 1963 a second battalion was authorised, subsequently being raised in 1965. A third battalion, although proposed on a number of occasions, was never formed. [2] The strength of regiment rose to 185 Australians and 1,188 PNG soldiers. [12] Papua New Guinea Command was subsequently formed in 1965, thereby ending the link with Headquarters Northern Command in Brisbane. [2] Meanwhile, a proposal to send a rifle company to fight in Vietnam was resisted by the Australian Army. [13]

In 1970, Prime Minister John Gorton sought to call out the PIR to keep the peace on the Gazelle Peninsula, where the separatist Mataungan Association was illegally occupying land. He believed that the local police would be unable to maintain control if the situation turned violent. Both the Defence Committee and Defence Minister Malcolm Fraser were opposed, and cabinet had not yet been consulted. After Fraser told him about the situation, Governor-General Paul Hasluck refused Gorton's request. He agreed to seek the approval of cabinet, which decided that the troops would only be called out if requested by the territorial administrator; this did not eventuate. [14]

From 1963 NCO and junior officer ranks began to be filled with indigenous personnel, with junior officers being trained at the Officer Cadet School at Portsea in Victoria. By 1970 there were 30 PNG officers serving in the PIR. Regardless until independence in 1975 the regiment was controlled from Australia, with no local influence or command, a situation which occasionally caused ill feeling towards the PIR from PNG citizens who were increasingly moving into positions of authority in the lead-up to independence. [2] In January 1973 military units in Papua New Guinea were re-designated the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, while formal defence powers were subsequently transferred in March 1975. [2]

Post-independence

At the time of independence in 1975 the regiment became the main part of the new Papua New Guinea Defence Force. [2] Since 1984, the Regiment's Colonel-in-Chief has been The Prince of Wales. The regiment became a 'Royal' regiment in 1984, changing its name to become the Royal Pacific Islands Regiment. [15] Currently, the regiment consists of two battalions:

Units of RPIR were deployed to Vanuatu in 1980 to put down a secessionist revolt there, and were again called out in aid of the civil power in Port Moresby in 1983. The regiment has also conducted operations against the OPM (Organisais Papua Merdeka or Free Papua Movement), based in Irian Barat, which were involved in fighting the Indonesian armed forces across the border. From 1989 to 1997 the PNGDF was involved in fighting the secessionist Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) on Bougainville and Buka. [16] More recently, following the passage of a constitutional amendment allowing the stationing of the PNGDF on foreign soil, 80 personnel joined the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) in July 2003. PNGDF troops continued to serve in the Solomon Islands as part of the scaled down, rotational Pacific contingent until the military component of RAMSI was withdrawn in 2013. [17]

The RPIR continues to train annually with the Australian Army, with activities such as Exercise Wantok Warrior allowing for sub-unit exchange between the Australians and the Papua New Guineans. [18]

In 2019 the PNG Government adopted a plan to form a 3rd Battalion of the Royal Pacific Islands Regiment. It was decided in 2021 that the unit would be stationed in Hela Province. A forward operating base is to be established at Tari as the first element of this plan. [19]

Battle honours

Notes

Footnotes
  1. Figures for awards to PIR are difficult to accurately determine as most sources are incomplete, these figures are from Sinclair 1990, p. 298 and Byrnes 1989, pp. 228–246. However, neither Sinclair or Byrnes seem to include complete lists.
  2. Casualties listed here are from Byrnes 1989, p. 269. Other sources commonly cite PIR casualties as 38 killed, 13 died of wounds, 10 missing believed killed, 62 killed in accidents/sickness, and 98 wounded, see Sinclair 1990, p. 306.
Citations
  1. "Pacific Islands Regiment". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 29 September 2008.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Dennis et al 1995, p. 449.
  3. Sinclair 1990, p. 273.
  4. Sinclair 1990, p. 231.
  5. 1 2 3 Sinclair 1990, p. 305.
  6. Byrnes 1989.
  7. Byrnes 1989, p. 269.
  8. Sinclair 1992, p. 303.
  9. Grey 2001, p. 194.
  10. Sinclair 1992, p. 82.
  11. "Indonesian Confrontation 1964–64". Army History Unit. Archived from the original on 28 October 2009. Retrieved 4 May 2009.
  12. Edwards 1992, p. 272 and p. 477.
  13. Sinclair 1992, p. 165.
  14. Fraser & Simons 2011, pp. 204–207.
  15. The Royal Year, 1984: Volume 11, Windward, 1984, p. 76, ISBN   9780711204003
  16. Dennis 1995, p. 455.
  17. "Janes Worlds Armies – Papua New Guinea". Archived from the original on 18 December 2008. Retrieved 5 January 2009.
  18. "Image Galleries 2006: Papuan New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF)". Department of Defence. 21 June 2006. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  19. Mou, Freddy (11 June 2021). "Hela to host new PNGDF battalion". Loop. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  20. Byrnes 1989, p. ii.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Papua New Guinea Defence Force</span> Military of Papua New Guinea

The Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Papua New Guinea. It originated from the Australian Army land forces of the territory of Papua New Guinea before independence, coming into being in January 1973 and having its antecedents in the Pacific Islands Regiment. The PNGDF is a small force, numbering around 3,600 personnel, and consists of a Land Element, an Air Element and a Maritime Element. It is a joint force tasked with defending Papua New Guinea and its territories against external attack, as well as having secondary functions including national-building and internal security tasks.

HMAS <i>Aitape</i> (P 84) Papua New Guinea Defence Force vessel

HMAS Aitape was an Attack-class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). It was named for the small town of Aitape, Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea. Completed in 1967, the vessel was one of five assigned to the RAN's Papua New Guinea (PNG) Division. The patrol boat was transferred to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force in 1974 as HMPNGS Aitape. She remained active until 1982, when she was removed from service for use as a parts hulk. Aitape was scuttled off Port Moresby for use as a dive wreck in 1995.

HMAS <i>Ladava</i> (P 92) Papua New Guinea Defence Force vessel

HMAS Ladava was an Attack-class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). It was named after the small village of Ladava situated on the shore of Milne Bay in Alotau District, Papua New Guinea. Completed in 1968, the vessel was one of five assigned to the RAN's Papua New Guinea (PNG) Division. The patrol boat was transferred to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force in 1974 as HMPNGS Ladava. The patrol boat was decommissioned in 1988, although her fate is unknown.

HMAS <i>Madang</i> (P 94) Australian, then PNG, naval vessel

HMAS Madang, named for the settlement of Madang in New Guinea, was an Attack-class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Completed in 1968, the vessel was one of five assigned to the RAN's Papua New Guinea (PNG) Division. The patrol boat was transferred to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force in 1974 as HMPNGS Madang. She was decommissioned in 1989.

HMAS <i>Samarai</i> (P 85) Australian, then PNG, naval vessel

HMAS Samarai, named after the island of Samarai and its former town, was an Attack-class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Completed in 1968, the vessel was one of five assigned to the RAN's Papua New Guinea (PNG) Division. The patrol boat was transferred to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force in 1974 as HMPNGS Samarai. She remained in service until 1987, when she was paid off and used as a parts hulk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Singirok</span>

Jerry Singirok was the commander of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force throughout the Sandline affair of 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">25th/49th Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment</span> Australian Army infantry battalion

The 25th/49th Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment is a Reserve light infantry battalion in the Australian Army, based in the state of Queensland. Although it was officially formed in 1997, the unit can trace its lineage back to units that were formed in 1875 as part of the colonial defence force of the state of Queensland. Additionally, in order to preserve the honours and traditions of the Australian Imperial Force, the battalion is the custodian of the battle honours awarded to two battalions that were formed for service during World War I. Following the end of the war, these units were raised again as militia units. During World War II, these battalions were called upon to participate in the fighting in the Pacific. Following the end of the war, these units were disbanded although they were later re-raised as part of the Citizen Military Forces, which was the forerunner to the Australian Army Reserve that exists today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Guinea Volunteer Rifles</span> Military unit

The New Guinea Volunteer Rifles (NGVR) was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. It was initially raised as a unit of the Militia from white Australian and European expatriates in New Guinea upon the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, before being activated for full-time service following the Japanese landings in early 1942. NGVR personnel then helped rescue survivors of Lark Force from Rabaul in February and March 1942. Between March and May, the NGVR monitored the Japanese bases which had been established in the Huon Gulf region, being the only Allied force in the area until the arrival of Kanga Force at Wau in May. The battalion subsequently established observation posts overlooking the main approaches and reported on Japanese movements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Papuan Infantry Battalion</span> WWII Australian infantry unit

The Papuan Infantry Battalion (PIB) was a unit of the Australian Army raised in the Territory of Papua for service during the Second World War. Formed in early 1940 in Port Moresby to help defend the territory in the event of a Japanese invasion, its soldiers were primarily Papuan natives led by Australian officers and non-commissioned officers. Following the outbreak of the Pacific War, the PIB served in many of the Allied campaigns in New Guinea; however, due to the nature of its role its sub-units mainly operated separately, attached to larger Australian and US Army units and formations. Slow in forming, the first members of the PIB were not officially posted in until March 1941. By 1942 it consisted of only three companies, all of which were under-strength and poorly equipped. It was subsequently employed on scouting, reconnaissance and surveillance patrols against the Japanese, where the natural bushcraft of its native soldiers could be used to their advantage. The PIB was sent forward in June 1942 to patrol the northern coast of Papua and was dispersed over a wide area. These small parties were the first to make contact with the Imperial Japanese forces upon their landing in Papua, before participating in the Kokoda Track campaign. As part of Maroubra Force, the PIB fought alongside the Australian 39th Battalion at Kokoda, Deniki, and Isurava as the Japanese forced them back along the Kokoda track, but was withdrawn before the campaign finally turned in favour of the Australians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st New Guinea Infantry Battalion</span> Battalion of the Australian Army during World War II

The 1st New Guinea Infantry Battalion was a battalion of the Australian Army during World War II. One of four infantry battalions raised in New Guinea, 1 NGIB was formed in March 1944. In late 1944, the battalion began deploying company-sized elements in support of combat operations on Bougainville, New Britain and on mainland New Guinea. It later became part of the Pacific Islands Regiment before being disbanded in June 1946.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2nd New Guinea Infantry Battalion</span> Battalion of the Australian Army during World War II

The 2nd New Guinea Infantry Battalion was a battalion of the Australian Army during World War II. One of four infantry battalions raised in New Guinea, 2 NGIB was formed in September 1944. Formed late in the war, the battalion played only a minor role in the Allied campaign in New Guinea, supporting the 6th Division during the final stages of the Aitape–Wewak campaign. In 1945, it became part of the Pacific Islands Regiment, but was disbanded in June 1946.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3rd New Guinea Infantry Battalion</span> Battalion of the Australian Army in World War II

The 3rd New Guinea Infantry Battalion was a battalion of the Australian Army during World War II. One of four infantry battalions raised in New Guinea to fight against the Japanese, 3 NGIB was formed in June 1945, and spent the remainder of the war training. After becoming operational, it was sent to New Britain where it undertook garrison duties around Rabaul in the post war period. It later became part of the Pacific Islands Regiment before being disbanded in November 1947.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">4th New Guinea Infantry Battalion</span> Battalion of the Australian Army during World War II

The 4th New Guinea Infantry Battalion was a battalion of the Australian Army. One of four infantry battalions raised in New Guinea, 4 NGIB was formed in the final stages of World War II to fight against the Japanese. It eventually became part of the Pacific Islands Regiment, but due to the abrupt ending to the war, the battalion did not see action against the Japanese and was disbanded in October 1945 without seeing active service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Papua New Guinea Defence Force mutiny</span>

The 2012 Papua New Guinea Defence Force mutiny took place on 26 January 2012 when a group of military personnel headed by retired Colonel Yaura Sasa took the commander of the defence force, Brigadier General Francis Agwi, prisoner. The mutiny was related to a dispute over the prime ministership between Sir Michael Somare and Peter O'Neill which had begun in December 2011 when the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea ordered that Somare be reinstated as the prime minister while the country's parliament supported O'Neill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bougainville conflict</span> 1988–1998 armed conflict in Papua New Guinea

The Bougainville conflict, also known as the Bougainville Civil War, was a multi-layered armed conflict fought from 1988 to 1998 in the North Solomons Province of Papua New Guinea (PNG) between PNG and the secessionist forces of the Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA), and between the BRA and other armed groups on Bougainville. The conflict was described by Bougainvillean President John Momis as the largest conflict in Oceania since the end of World War II in 1945, with an estimated 15,000–20,000 Bougainvilleans dead, although lower estimates place the toll at around 1,000–2,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gilbert Toropo</span>

Major General Gilbert Toropo CBE is a Papua New Guinean Army officer who is the current Commander of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF).

Grand Chief Brigadier Edward Ramu (Ted) Diro, GCL, CBE is a Papua New Guinean politician and soldier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commander of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force</span>

The Commander of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force is the highest-ranking military officer of in the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, who is responsible for maintaining the operational command of the military. The current commander is Brigadier general Gilbert Toropo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">8th Field Survey Squadron</span> Military unit

8 Field Survey Squadron was a unit of the Australian Army and the Royal Australian Survey Corps, being raised in December 1971 at Popondetta, Territory of Papua New Guinea and disbanded twenty-four years later on 1 December 1995 in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG). The squadron's initial role was to establish geodetic survey control, establish topographic survey control for mapping, compile and field complete preliminary topographic maps, and conduct other surveys and mapping including acquiring air photography. In 1980 the role changed to provide support and advice to the PNG Defence Force and PNG National Mapping Bureau on all aspects of survey and mapping and to provide liaison support for Australian based survey units on operations in the country.

Rochus Lokinap, CBE was a military officer in Papua New Guinea. He held the rank of brigadier general in the Papua New Guinea Defence Forces (PNGDF) and was the PNG Defence Commander, in March 1990 when Police Commissioner Paul Tobian tried to execute a coup against government of Sir Rabbie Namaliu. According to the Canberra Times Lokinap and Ted Diro, then Minister of State Security, rallied forces to thwart the coup.

References

Further reading