Thread: A brief history of RAR Batallions

Interesting!
I'll offer one observation as a current serviceman serving in a Battalion of the RAR:
Members of the RAR have little to no CORPS loyalty .

I am constantly awed by their loyalty to the 'RAR' and disdain for the other Regiments of the RAINF Corps.

To my mind, this is unique in the Army as all other Units I have served in talk up 'their Regiment' as part of 'their Corps'.

Again, interesting.

Cheers
Ralph

Story by defence analysis Ross Eastgate.

Every individual carries for a lifetime the consequences of personal actions. Perhaps none so more than those who have experienced military combat first hand,when instant decisions do not always end with intended consequences. At 0735hrs on Monday,October 23,1967, 2 Platoon A Coy 2RAR initiated an ambush in AO Petre,Phuoc Tuy Province in Vietnam when 14 individuals walked into the killing zone. The ambush was situated 2000m into a restricted area and the individuals were observed wearing packs and carrying what were later indentified as sticks. There were no Australian casualties but four Vietnamese were killed,six wounded plus three unhurt who were reported to be 'hysterical'. The following day another wounded Vietnamese was located and medically evacuated. The incident is clearly recorded in the war diaries of both 2RAR and HQ 1ATF,and was reported to both the Deputy Chief of the General Staff and Minister for the Army in November 1967.

Despite this clear evidence last week journalist Matthew Benns claimed there was "an official cover-up that wiped any record of the incident from the official history," "the published official histories sanitised(the incident)";which(was removed)from the official history";and "had been air-brushed from the official history". Further he claimed the company commander the late Peter White MC suggested placing weapons on the bodies would have somehow added credibility to the ambush outcome. Peter White died in 2005 and cannot defend himself but this slur on the reputation of an honourable man cannot go unchallenged. Benns could have,but obviously did not,check the reports of the ambush which are readily accessible on the Australian War Memorial website. There are no deletions,removals or cover-ups in the digitised copies of the original reports. The incident has been accurately reported in subsequent histories.

Even if the already overloaded 2RAR infantrymen had the capacity to carry 'spare' weapons to throw down beside the bodies,there was absolutely no benefit in doing so because the incident was not subject to coronial inquiry in Vietnam or Australia. In the same week Benns'article was published ,at a Brisbane coronial inquiry a senior lawyer experienced in arguing both sides of criminal matters threw down an equally damaging allegation that an Australian army officer had somehow "irresponsibly" failed to perform his duties when three soldiers were murdered by a rouge Afghani colleague. "There are three families grieving here because you didn't do your job!" thundered Peter Bodor QC until cautioned by deputy Queensland coroner John Lock. Emotional damage to the witness was irreparably done,because just like the Benns'article,once uttered they cannot be undone. Nor can the 2RAR diggers undo the events on that fateful 1967 morning despite then Major White's commendations of their actions once the situation had been clarified.

The current Queensland coronial inquiry will not alter past events in Afghanistan but merely bring more anguish to the survivors. Guilt is a difficult companion; however truth even when unpalatable remains a loyal friend.

Which brings me to this, Legacy. Doesn't have to be Legacy week to support them Bob


Home - Legacy

Originally Posted by bob10

Rwanda [ warning, not for the faint hearted] Bob


https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v...type=3&theater

Veterans of the UN assistance mission to Rwanda reunited in Townsville last week for a special commemorative dinner at the Townsville RSL. Twenty years have passed since the full-time soldiers and reservists were sent to Rwanda to set up medical support services and assist the UN. More than 600 Australian troops,primary from Townsville's 2nd Battalion,were deployed to the African continent to help organise humanitiarian assistance activities in the international peacekeeping mission and provide integral support and protection for field hospitals and Rwandan citizens. Rwanda veteran Paul Jacobson,who served with the first contingents,said the Rwanda mission had left its mark on many of the returned veterans,who witnessed unimaginable horrors. "It was an eye opener," Mr Jacobson said. "Everyone who went there would have been affected by it in some ways and there are still a lot of blokes out there that are still struggling with it. "The reunion,for many,is a way to get some closure and to catch up with some mates we haven't seen in many years." The Rwanda reunion also included a visit to Lavarack Barracks for a commemorative BBQ and tour of the recently reopened 2nd Battalion museum.

Originally Posted by disco man

Story by defence analysis Ross Eastgate.

Every individual carries for a lifetime the consequences of personal actions. Perhaps none so more than those who have experienced military combat first hand,when instant decisions do not always end with intended consequences. At 0735hrs on Monday,October 23,1967, 2 Platoon A Coy 2RAR initiated an ambush in AO Petre,Phuoc Tuy Province in Vietnam when 14 individuals walked into the killing zone. The ambush was situated 2000m into a restricted area and the individuals were observed wearing packs and carrying what were later indentified as sticks. There were no Australian casualties but four Vietnamese were killed,six wounded plus three unhurt who were reported to be 'hysterical'. The following day another wounded Vietnamese was located and medically evacuated. The incident is clearly recorded in the war diaries of both 2RAR and HQ 1ATF,and was reported to both the Deputy Chief of the General Staff and Minister for the Army in November 1967.

Despite this clear evidence last week journalist Matthew Benns claimed there was "an official cover-up that wiped any record of the incident from the official history," "the published official histories sanitised(the incident)";which(was removed)from the official history";and "had been air-brushed from the official history". Further he claimed the company commander the late Peter White MC suggested placing weapons on the bodies would have somehow added credibility to the ambush outcome. Peter White died in 2005 and cannot defend himself but this slur on the reputation of an honourable man cannot go unchallenged. Benns could have,but obviously did not,check the reports of the ambush which are readily accessible on the Australian War Memorial website. There are no deletions,removals or cover-ups in the digitised copies of the original reports. The incident has been accurately reported in subsequent histories.

Even if the already overloaded 2RAR infantrymen had the capacity to carry 'spare' weapons to throw down beside the bodies,there was absolutely no benefit in doing so because the incident was not subject to coronial inquiry in Vietnam or Australia. In the same week Benns'article was published ,at a Brisbane coronial inquiry a senior lawyer experienced in arguing both sides of criminal matters threw down an equally damaging allegation that an Australian army officer had somehow "irresponsibly" failed to perform his duties when three soldiers were murdered by a rouge Afghani colleague. "There are three families grieving here because you didn't do your job!" thundered Peter Bodor QC until cautioned by deputy Queensland coroner John Lock. Emotional damage to the witness was irreparably done,because just like the Benns'article,once uttered they cannot be undone. Nor can the 2RAR diggers undo the events on that fateful 1967 morning despite then Major White's commendations of their actions once the situation had been clarified.

The current Queensland coronial inquiry will not alter past events in Afghanistan but merely bring more anguish to the survivors. Guilt is a difficult companion; however truth even when unpalatable remains a loyal friend.

Called, looking for a scape goat. Truth is indeed a loyal friend. That inquiry, and the performance by Bodor, par for the course, unfortunately, Bob

The music is a bit over the top, most veterans would cringe. I post this because my cousin is 4th in line boarding the helicopter. 4 boys, all joined the Army, 3 infantry, one sapper. 2 left. Bob


https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v...type=3&theater

Clearance divers, Bob


https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v...type=3&theater

Originally Posted by bob10

The music is a bit over the top, most veterans would cringe. I post this because my cousin is 4th in line boarding the helicopter. 4 boys, all joined the Army, 3 infantry, one sapper. 2 left. Bob


https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v...type=3&theater

Yep **** music,but a good video.