THE LAST POST; A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE 9Th BATTALION, THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN REGIMENT.
9RAR was the youngest battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment. LTCOL A.L. (Alby) Morrison formed the battalion on 13th November 1967 in South Australia and completed its raising and training in nine months. This is the shortest period in which any Australian Infantry battalion has ever gone to war. The unit left Australia for service in Vietnam, fully trained and operational, in November 1968.

In Australia the battalion trained in Woodside, Cultana and the Flinders Ranges in South Australia. Specialist piatoons of the battalion trained in New South Wales. All soldiers underwent the compulsory individual training in Canungra and the battalion successfully completed its testing exercise in Shoalwater Bay in Queensland.

In addition, in order to meet deadlines for the time of depaature for Vietnam, the battalion found it necessary to complete, in unit lines, the basic-to-corps training of 140 of its national servicemen. As a result these national servicemen were trained and allotted to companies some seven weeks earlier than if they had followed the normal training system. It was a very valuable saving of time.

During its tour of duty in South Vietnam the battalion took part in twelve main operations over four provinces. In broad terms these were:

A;. operations involving the location and destruction of major enemy force groups and their supply bases;
B;. operations aimed at denying enemy Main Force elements access to large installations in the Bien Hoa and Xuyen Moc areas; and
C;. pacification tasks - in conjunction with local authorities and South Vietnamese forces -to train local forces to protect the civilian popuiation and to isolate the enemy from the population.

9RAR continued on operations until it left South Vietnam on 28 November 1969. It had many heavy contacts with the enemy during its tour of duty and, sadly, 35 of its members were killed and over 150 were wounded in action. The battalion's service in Vietnam resulted in the award of one DSO, two MC's, seven MM's and eight Mw's to members of the battalion.

On return to Australia in December 1969 the battalion reformed at Enoggera under the command of LT. COL E.R. Phillip. 9RAR was the "next to go" again when Australia's commitment in South Vietnam fmished.

The battalion remained in Enoggera until it linked with 8RAR to for 819RAR on 31 October 1973. On parade 819RAR always carried the Queens and the Regimental Colours of both 8RAR and 9RAR.

THE ARMY AUSTRALlA~ Sadly, on the Friday 13th June 1997 819RAR was disbanded. With equal sadness, on Wednesday the 17th June the CO, the President of the 9RAR Association (NSW), several foundation members of 9RAR and many members of SRAR paid a fmal tribute to the Queens and Regimental Colours of both battalions before they were iaid up at the Infantry Corps museum at the Infantry Centre, Singleton NSW.

Fittingly, the weather, a contingent from 8I9RAR from Brisbane and members of the Infantry Centre did us proud. Everyone attending including some soldiers who were about to receive their regimental badges for the first time lined the road whilst the Colours were marched to a small but fitting parade ground assigned immediately outside the Museum. The sound of the bagpipes and the display of the Colours saw veterans stiffen quickly to attention, align themselves and pay their own personal tribute to deeply ingrained memories. Memories that included a brief reminder that they were Australia's best.

The ceremony, although brief was well conducted but sad in the extreme. We witnessed the removal of two extremely proud battalions from the Order of Battle. The Colour Party, the Honour Guard and the band were provided by 819RAR, all of whom expressed a great sense of loss after the parade. The Blessing was conducted by the SI9RAR chaplain and the address by the Commandant of the Infantry Centre. All expressed their sadness but none were able to prevent the Colours from being "put behind glass" in the museum. The final act was for Albie and his loyal lieutenants to hear a brief presentation by the Curator as to the care to be afforded the Colours.

The Infantry Centre provided an enjoyable lunch, served from hot boxes (much to the delight of Doug McGrath). This gave all of us a chance to mix with members of SI9RAR and reaquaint ourselves with ~SM) Jock Gordon who made the trip down from Brisbane specially for the occasion. Jock is well and although he turns 70 this year he is still in great shape despite suffering from the after effects of the broken leg he sustained with the battalion at Canungra.

The details for the care and maintenance of the Colours will be provided in a separate article. Anyone who has visited the Infantry Centre Museum will at least be confident in the fact that the Colours will be cared for in the best possible manner and they are at least at the home of all infantrymen.

[ Sign my Guestbook] - [Read my Guestbook ]
[Guestbook by TheGuestBook.com]

HOME PAGE