Adelaide Universities Regiment

Last updated

Adelaide Universities Regiment
Active1948–Present
CountryAustralia
Branch Australian Army Reserve
TypeTraining establishment
RoleArmy Reserve officer training
Part of 8th Brigade, 2nd Division
Garrison/HQ Greenacres, South Australia
Motto(s)Sapientia Omnia Vincit (Wisdom Conquers All)
MarchHighland Laddie (Quick)
Morag of Dunvegan (Slow time)
Anniversaries31 May 1948
Commanders
Honorary ColonelBrigadier Michael Burgess
Commanding OfficerLieutenant Colonel Scott Calvert
Regimental Sergeant MajorWarrant Officer Class One Micheal Edwards
Insignia
Unit colour patch AUR unit colour patch.png

Adelaide Universities Regiment (AUR) is an officer training unit of the Australian Army headquartered in Adelaide, South Australia. Currently AUR maintains a cadre staff of trained Regular and Reserve personnel who oversee and administer the training of Reserve officer cadets. The majority of the regiment is currently based at Hampstead Barracks.

Contents

History

The regiment was first formed in May 1948 as the "Adelaide University Regiment" under the command of Major (later Colonel) Rex J. Lipman when Australia's part-time military force, the Citizens Military Force (CMF) – which was later renamed the Army Reserve – was rebuilt following the end of the Second World War. [1] [2] The regiment's first honorary colonel was Arthur Blackburn, a Victoria Cross recipient, whose son, Richard (a prominent lawyer and veteran of the Second World War), became involved with the regiment upon its establishment and later served as its commanding officer between 1955 and 1957. [3] [4]

Like other Australian university regiments, upon formation AUR was established as an infantry unit providing military training to tertiary students. Part of the Royal Australian Infantry Corps (RA Inf), [5] it consisted of a rifle company, a support company (with transport, mortar, signals, anti-tank and intelligence subunits) and a headquarters company; this was later expanded as machine-gun and assault pioneer sections were also raised. [1]

Personnel were drawn from universities and teaching colleges in Adelaide and the regiment's first parade took place on 27 September 1948, when nearly 100 personnel were enlisted. Although these personnel were all part-time members, the regiment was assigned a small cadre of five regular personnel to undertake administrative functions. [6]

At the regiment's first training camp, which was undertaken at Woodside in January 1949, 88 personnel turned out. This represented 98 percent of the regiment's strength at the time. [7] As interest started to grow, the regiment was authorised an establishment of 21 officers and 389 other ranks, however, actual numbers remained low initially. [8]

In 1950, the regiment was part of Central Command, along with the 10th and 27th Battalions. [9] During this time it was headquartered at the University of Adelaide although parades were also undertaken at the Torrens Training Depot. [1] Following the introduction of national service in the early 1950s the regiment's numbers began to grow. By 13 April 1953, AUR had an actual strength of 515 personnel of all ranks. As a result of this expansion, a second rifle company was raised. [10] Between 1955 and 1958, the regiment used the Warradale depot as its base camp. [11]

On 20 January 1957, the regiment received its colours. [1] Presented by the then Governor of South Australia, Air Vice Marshal Sir Robert George, at the time they were the first colours to be presented to a South Australian unit in 30 years. [12]

The end of national service in 1959 led to a rapid decrease in the regiment's size and by the end of the year AUR had only 116 personnel on its books. [13] For the early part of the 1960s the regiment was maintained on a volunteer-only basis and as a result numbers remained low. In 1965, the regiment began to deliver part-time commissioning courses, while at the same time continuing to undertake its role as a "conventional rifle battalion", [14] remaining part of RA Inf. [5] Between 1965 and 1972 the regiment also served as a training institution for national servicemen who had chosen to serve in the CMF rather than the Regular Army. [14] As a result of this, by 1968 AUR reached its "ceiling strength" of 650 personnel of all ranks. [15]

In 1982, AUR established depots at Prospect and St Marys in order to draw recruits from Flinders University. This was short lived, however, as the St Marys depot was closed two years later. [1] In 1991, the Australian Army underwent a Force Structure Review, the result of which was that AUR was reorganised to become solely focused upon the provision of training to Reserve officer cadets, under the banner of the Royal Military College of Australia. AUR relocated to Hampstead Barracks in Greenacres in 2001. [1]

In 2008, the regiment was assigned to the 2nd Division and tasked with the provision of commissioned officers to units from the 9th Brigade, [1] which sees them train personnel from South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory. AUR conducts regular training in barracks on Tuesday nights and on various weekends each month, as well as periods of field training throughout the year at the Murray Bridge Training Area near Murray Bridge, Woodside and Cultana Training Area near Port Augusta. The regiment, supported by the Western Australia University Regiment, also conducts the second module of the Reserve General Service Officer course twice a year. [16]

The regiment maintains an alliance with the Royal Irish Regiment, [17] which has its origins in the regiment's historical link with the Royal Ulster Rifles. [18] [19] As a symbol of this alliance, members of AUR previously wore a rifle green patch behind their hat badge. [2]

AUR Pipes and Drums

The AUR Pipes and Drums band was formed by the Regiment's first commanding officer in 1949. The commanding officer chose to form a pipe band based on his wartime experience of military bands sustaining heavy casualties whilst performing the role of stretcher bearers. The band's original instruments, 16 sets of bagpipes, and its blue and white Napier kilts appeared in mysterious circumstances in mid-1949. Their first appearance in public was as part of a parade along King William Street on 21 January 1952. In 1992 the band performed at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. It was disbanded on 1 February 2010. [2]

In 2009, ex Pipe Major, Ernest Dowler was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for his services to music. [20] In 2011, another former member of the AUR Pipes and Drums, Greg Bassani, was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Queens Birthday Honours list for his services to music. [21] The regimental quick march is Highland Laddie. [19]

Structure

The regiment currently consists of the following subunits:

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "History – Adelaide Universities Regiment – Forces Command". Department of Defence. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 "Unit History: Adelaide Universities Regiment". Anzac Day Adelaide 2010 & 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  3. ↑ Edgeloe, Victor (1983). "The Adelaide Law School 1883–1983" (PDF). The Adelaide Law Review (7): 1–42. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  4. ↑ Refshauge, Richard (2009). "Blackburn, Sir Richard Arthur (Dick) (1918–1987)". Australian Dictionary of Biography . National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISSN   1833-7538 . Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  5. 1 2 Kuring 2004, p. 366.
  6. ↑ Graeme-Evans 1973, pp. 9–11.
  7. ↑ Graeme-Evans 1973, p. 11.
  8. ↑ Graeme-Evans 1973, p. 21.
  9. ↑ Kuring 2004, p. 228.
  10. ↑ Graeme-Evans 1973, p. 44.
  11. ↑ Graeme-Evans 1973, p. 51.
  12. ↑ Graeme-Evans 1973, p. 59.
  13. ↑ Graeme-Evans 1973, p. 83.
  14. 1 2 McCarthy 2003, p. 159.
  15. ↑ Graeme-Evans 1973, p. 101.
  16. ↑ "Welcome – Adelaide Universities Regiment – Forces Command". Department of Defence. Archived from the original on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  17. ↑ Mills, T.F. "The Royal Irish Regiment". Regiments.org. Archived from the original on 1 September 2005. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  18. ↑ Mills, T.F. "The Royal Ulster Rifles (UK)". Regiments.org. Archived from the original on 28 October 2005. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  19. 1 2 Festberg 1972, p. 36.
  20. ↑ "Queens Birthday Honours – SA recipients". The Advertiser. 8 June 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  21. ↑ Frangos, Daniel (13 June 2011). "Queens Birthday Honours: Greg drums up success". Eastern Courier. Retrieved 24 June 2011.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Australian Regiment</span> Administrative regiment for regular infantry battalions of the Australian Army

The Royal Australian Regiment (RAR) is the parent administrative regiment for regular infantry battalions of the Australian Army and is the senior infantry regiment of the Royal Australian Infantry Corps. It was originally formed in 1948 as a three battalion regiment; however, since then its size has fluctuated as battalions have been raised, amalgamated or disbanded in accordance with the Australian government's strategic requirements. Currently, the regiment consists of seven battalions and has fulfilled various roles including those of light, parachute, motorised and mechanised infantry. Throughout its existence, units of the Royal Australian Regiment have deployed on operations in Japan, Korea, Malaya, Borneo, Vietnam, Somalia, Rwanda, Cambodia, East Timor, the Solomon Islands, Iraq and Afghanistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">51st Battalion, Far North Queensland Regiment</span> Australian Army unit

The 51st Battalion, Far North Queensland Regiment is an Australian Army Reserve Regional Force Surveillance Unit headquartered at Porton Barracks in Cairns. The battalion's primary role is to conduct reconnaissance and surveillance tasks in support of border security operations. Its area of operations includes the Torres Strait and the Cape York littoral environment. Additional tasks for 51FNQR include the collection and collation of military geographic information as well as community engagement and disaster relief operations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment</span> Military unit

The 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army, forming part of the Royal Australian Regiment and eventually Special Operations Command. The battalion was formed on 1 February 1964, converted to a special forces unit on 1 February 1997, and was renamed the 2nd Commando Regiment on 19 June 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queensland University Regiment</span> Military unit

Queensland University Regiment (QUR) is a training unit of the Australian Army Reserve. Based in Queensland, the regiment is currently assigned to the 8th Brigade. The regiment's history can be traced back to 1932 when the University Rifles was formed. During World War II, the regiment's predecessor unit did not serve overseas, but many of its personnel were deployed as part of the 7th Brigade or within units of the Second Australian Imperial Force. After the war, the regiment was formed under its current designation. Since then, its size has fluctuated as its role has changed. Currently, it is responsible for providing training for Reserve officer cadets, officers and soldiers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse</span> Australian Army unit

The 4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse is a cavalry regiment of the Australian Army. The regiment in its current composition was formed in 1948, when the Citizens Military Force (CMF) was re-raised after the completion of the demobilisation process following the end of the Second World War, through the amalgamation of three previously existing regiments. Through these predecessor units, 4/19 PWLH can trace its lineage back to the 19th century and today it is the custodian of the battle honours earned by these units. The regiment had a Regular squadron, 1 Troop 4th/19th Prince of Wales Light Horse Regiment, which was posted to South Vietnam in 1965 where it was attached to 1 RAR operating out of Bien Hoa Province. It returned to Australia on 28 May 1966 and became part of the Regular cavalry units that continue to exist in the Australian Army today. These units subsequently served during the Vietnam War and many of their personnel continued to wear regimental accoutrements while in South Vietnam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">5th/6th Battalion, Royal Victoria Regiment</span> Australian Army unit

The 5th/6th Battalion is one of two battalions of the Royal Victoria Regiment, and is an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. The battalion traces its lineage back to many units that existed prior to Federation, as well as units that fought during World War I and World War II and the battalion carries the battle honours of these units as a mark of respect. Today 5/6 RVR is part of the 4th Brigade, 2nd Division and is based at various depots around Melbourne, Victoria. Recently, members from the battalion have been involved in deployments to the Middle East, East Timor, the Solomon Islands and Malaysia as part of Rifle Company Butterworth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monash University Regiment</span> Military unit

The Monash University Regiment was an officer training regiment of the Australian Army, based in Victoria near Monash University. It was a direct command training unit of the 4th Brigade, and part of the 2nd Division, it was responsible for training of ARes officer cadets (OCDTs) for graduation as lieutenants, and provided driver training and promotion courses for junior non commissioned officers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sydney University Regiment</span> Australian Army Reserve officer training unit

Sydney University Regiment (SUR) is an officer-training regiment of the Australian Army Reserve. Its predecessor, the University Volunteer Rifle Corps, was raised in 1900 as a unit of the colonial New South Wales Defence Force. During the 20th century, several changes of name and role occurred. Sydney University Regiment is headquartered in Holsworthy Barracks and has detachments in Sydney, Canberra and Wollongong.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Melbourne University Regiment</span> Australian Army officer training unit

The Melbourne University Regiment (MUR) is an officer training unit in the Australian Army Reserve (ARes). It has a depot at Grattan Street, Carlton, Melbourne, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">12th/16th Hunter River Lancers</span> Australian Army Reserve unit

The 12th/16th Hunter River Lancers is an Australian Army Reserve cavalry regiment. It was formed on 1 May 1948, although it draws its lineage from units that were originally formed in the 1880s. It is currently a Heavy Cavalry unit equipped with Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles. The regiment forms part of the 11th Brigade, attached to the 2nd Division and draws its members from regional centres in northern New South Wales, hence the reference to the Hunter River. Since 2000 the regiment has provided individuals as reinforcements to round-out Regular Army units deploying overseas on peacekeeping operations and in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">45th Battalion (Australia)</span> Australian Army infantry battalion

The 45th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. Raised for service during World War I, the battalion served in the trenches on the Western Front in France and Belgium from mid-1916 until the end of hostilities in November 1918. Following this, it was disbanded in May 1919. Later, in 1921, the battalion was re-raised as a part-time unit of the Citizens Force, based in New South Wales. The battalion remained on the order of battle until 1942, when it was merged with the 1st Battalion as part of a force reduction that was undertaken at that time in response to an over mobilisation of the Australian military in the early part of World War II. In 1948, the battalion was re-raised again and remained on the order of battle until 1960 when it was absorbed into the Royal New South Wales Regiment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">32nd Battalion (Australia)</span> Military unit

The 32nd Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. It was first raised in 1915 as part of the all-volunteer Australian Imperial Force for service during the First World War, and was initially made up of personnel from South Australia and Western Australia. The battalion served in France and Belgium in 1916–1918 before being disbanded in 1919.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2/40th Battalion</span> WW2 Australian Army unit

The 2/40th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. Formed in mid-1940 from personnel recruited from Tasmania, the battalion was assigned to the 23rd Brigade, which formed part of the 8th Division. After completing basic training, the 2/40th was sent to Darwin to form part of the defensive garrison there as tensions with the Japanese grew throughout 1941. Following Japan's entry into the war, the battalion was deployed to Timor as part of Sparrow Force and in early 1942 they took part in the fighting on the island against the Japanese. Outnumbered and lacking supplies, the majority of the 2/40th's personnel were captured and spent the rest of the war as prisoners of war, although some were able to wage a guerrilla campaign across the island before being withdrawn by the end of year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2/12th Battalion (Australia)</span> Military unit

The 2/12th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army which served during World War II. Raised in late 1939 as part of the all volunteer Second Australian Imperial Force, the battalion's initial recruits were drawn primarily from the states of Queensland and Tasmania. Assigned to the 18th Brigade, the battalion completed basic training in Australia before embarking for overseas in May 1940.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">59th Battalion (Australia)</span> Australian Army infantry battalion

The 59th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. Initially raised for service during World War I, the battalion fought on the Western Front in France and Belgium between 1916 and 1918, before being disbanded in 1919. In 1921, it was re-raised as a part-time unit of the Militia in Victoria. They remained in existence until 1942 when, due to a manpower shortage in the Australian economy, the decision was made to amalgamate the battalion with the 58th Battalion to form the 58th/59th Battalion. Together they remained linked throughout World War II, serving in New Guinea and Bougainville in 1943–1945. In 1952, the 59th Battalion was re-raised and subsequently was absorbed into the Royal Victoria Regiment in 1960.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">47th Battalion (Australia)</span> Australian Army infantry battalion

The 47th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. It was originally raised in 1916 for service during the First World War. The battalion then took part in the fighting in the trenches of the Western Front in France and Belgium, before being disbanded in early 1918 to provide reinforcements for other Australian units that were suffering from a manpower shortage following the German spring offensive. In 1921, it was re-raised as a part-time unit of the Citizens Force, which later became the Militia. During this time it was based in south-east Queensland and in 1927 it became known as the "Wide Bay Regiment". During the Second World War the 47th Battalion took part in fighting in New Guinea and Bougainville, before being disbanded again in January 1946. Later, the battalion was re-raised before eventually being subsumed into the Royal Queensland Regiment in 1960.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">10th Light Horse Regiment (Australia)</span> Regiment of the Australian Army

The 10th Light Horse Regiment is a "mounted infantry" regiment of the Australian Army Reserve, raised in Western Australia (WA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">50th Battalion (Australia)</span> Military unit

The 50th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. It was originally raised in Egypt in early 1916 for service during World War I, drawing a cadre of experienced personnel from the 10th Battalion. After the unit's formation, it was transferred to Europe where it took part in the fighting in the trenches of the Western Front in France and Belgium. Following the end of hostilities, the battalion was amalgamated with the 51st Battalion in early 1919 as demobilisation reduced the numbers in both battalions. In the inter war period, the battalion was briefly reformed in 1921 as a part-time unit based initially in South Australia and then later in Tasmania. At different periods it was amalgamated with both the 10th and 12th Battalions. The battalion did not see combat during World War II, being employed as garrison troops in Australia instead, and it was disbanded in mid-1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">56th Battalion (Australia)</span> Military unit

The 56th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. It was originally raised in 1916 for service during the World War I and took part in the fighting in the trenches of the Western Front in France and Belgium before being amalgamated with the 54th Battalion in late 1918 following the German spring offensive reduced the numbers in both battalions. After the war, the battalion was re-raised as a part-time unit in New South Wales. During World War II the battalion was mobilised and undertook garrison duties in Australia until it was disbanded in 1944. It was briefly re-raised in 1956, but was disbanded the following year and its personnel used to re-raise the 4th Battalion, which later became part of the Royal New South Wales Regiment.

The 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles was an armoured regiment of the Australian Army Reserve. Formed in 1948, the regiment initially operated M3 Grant medium tanks, but was later re-equipped with Centurion tanks in the late 1950s. Operating out of several depots across northern Victoria and southern New South Wales, throughout the 1950s, 60s and 70s the regiment undertook both an armoured and reconnaissance role operating both tanks and armoured cars before being re-equipped with M113A1 armored personnel carriers in the early 1970s. In 1976, the regiment was reduced to a squadron sized element. It was eventually merged with the 4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse in 1992.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.