CONTENTS
Preface to the 2008 Edition by the Colonel Commandant
Preface to the 1990 Edition by the Colonel Commandant
1 Raising a Regular Infantry Force Morotai, 1945-46
David Chinn
Training and Peacetime Routine
2 British Commonwealth Occupation Force Japan, 1946–48
Wayne Klintworth
Enforcing SCAP Directives—65th Battalion
Guard Parades and Guard Duty—66th Battalion
Training in Japan—67th Battalion
MAP 1 (opposite): South-East Asia, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. The Royal Australian Regiment originated from three Australian infantry battalions formed in October 1945 for service in the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan. Troops for the 65th Battalion came from Balikpapan and Timor; for the 66th Battalion, from Labuan and Tarakan; and for the 67th Battalion from Bougainville, Wewak and Rabaul. The 34th Brigade, of which they were a part, was formed at Morotai. From 1955 to 1960, 2 RAR, 3 RAR and 1 RAR were based at Penang; from 1960 to 1971, 2 RAR, 3 RAR, 4 RAR, 8 RAR and 1 RAR were at Malacca; and from 1971 to 1973, 1 RAR and 6 RAR were at Singapore. All nine battalions served in Vietnam from 1965 to 1973. 3 RAR and 4 RAR served in Sarawak, near Kuching, in 1965 and 1966 respectively. From 1999 to 2003 1 RAR, 2/4 RAR, 3 RAR, 5/7 RAR and 6 RAR served in East Timor. 3 RAR, with elements of 1 RAR, 2 RAR and 4 RAR, returned there in 2006. From 2003 to 2006 1 RAR, 2 RAR and 5/7 RAR served in the Solomon Islands.
3 Formation of the Royal Australian Regiment Australia and Japan, 1948–50
Wayne Klintworth
Development of the Postwar Army
The 3rd Battalion in Japan—1949–50
4 The Regiment’s First War Korea, 1950–56
Jeffrey Grey
The United Nations Counteroffensive
The 1st Commonwealth Division in Action
5 The Malayan Emergency Malaya, 1955–60
Jim Molan
An Outline of the Malayan Emergency
Jungle Patrolling—2 RAR in Malaya
Denial Operations—3 RAR in Malaya
Maintaining Pressure—1 RAR in Malaya
6 Consolidation and Reorganisation Australia, 1950–65
John Blaxland
The Introduction of the Pentropic Organisation
The End of the Pentropic Organisation
7 Confrontation Malaysia and Borneo, 1960–66
David Horner
The Beginning of Confrontation
Rounding Up the Infiltrators—3 RAR in Malaya
Claret Operations—3 RAR in Borneo
8 A Nine-Battalion Regiment Australia, Malaysia and Singapore, 1965–73
John Healy
9 The Build-Up Vietnam, 1965–67
Bob Breen
1 ATF Establishes its Presence
Balancing Tactics and Techniques
Final 5 RAR and 6 RAR Operations
Operations of 2 RAR and 7 RAR in 1967
Resettlement and Reorganisation
10 Main Force Operations Vietnam, 1968–69
Rick Haines and Bob Breen
Keeping the VC Main Force Off Balance
The Last VC Main Force Offensive
11 Pacification in Phuoc Tuy Vietnam 1969–72
Jerry Taylor
Keeping the Pressure on the VC
Return to Main Force Operations
12 The Defence of Australia Australia, 1973–79
Peter Pedersen
13 Ready Reaction and Specialisation Australia, 1980–90
David Horner
The Operational Deployment Force
14 Upheaval, Uncertainty and Opportunity UN Operations and Australia, 1990–99
Craig Stockings
Strategic Direction and Cost-cutting
UN Deployments—Somalia, Cambodia and Rwanda
15 Near and Far Operations, 1999–2006
John Blaxland
Operations in Afghanistan, 2005–06
Return to the Pacific, November 2006
Hardened and Networked Army (HNA)
Reflections on the ‘Special’ Nature of the RAR
A. Awards and decorations to members on operations with the RAR
B. Honorary Colonels, Colonels Commandant and Regimental Colonels