Brief History of the Eighth Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment

Formation and Early Years

The Eighth Battalion of The Royal Australian Regiment (8RAR) was raised at Enoggera, Brisbane, on 14th July 1966. The foundation members included the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel J.O. Langtry, DCM, the Regimental Sergeant Major, Warrant Officer Class One G.J.C. Lee, and 150 ex-members of the First Battalion of The Royal Australian Regiment, which had just returned from Vietnam. At 8:00 a.m. on 8th August 1966, the General Officer Commanding Northern Command, Major General T.F. Cape, CBE, DSO, reviewed the official inauguration parade.

The Battalion strength rose rapidly from 123 all ranks in July to 370 in August. With successive Regular Army and National Service intakes, the unit quickly reached full strength, completing its C and D companies.

Under Command 6 Task Force

On 2nd December 1966, a parade at Enoggera was reviewed by the Commander of 6 Task Force, Brigadier R.L. Hughes, DSO, marking the occasion of the Eighth Battalion coming under the command of 6 Task Force. The Battalion remained under this command until September 1967.

Preparation for Service in Malaysia

In early 1967, the Eighth Battalion was warned for service in the Far East Strategic Reserve. By the Battalion’s first birthday on 8th August 1967, the unit had completed its training for this role. The birthday celebrations were modest, consisting of a post-exercise party in the Rockhampton training area, Queensland.

Farewell Parade and Movement to Malaysia

After a brief leave period, a Farewell Parade reviewed by Brigadier R.L. Hughes, DSO, was held at Enoggera on 1st September 1967. The Battalion moved from Brisbane to Malaysia between 24th August and 6th November 1967 by sea and air, relieving the Fourth Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment at Terendak.

Under Command 28 Brigade

On 16th October 1967, the Battalion officially came under the command of the 28th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade. Brigadier P.L. Tancred, OBE, the Brigade Commander, reviewed a parade by the Eighth Battalion at Canberra Lines, Terendak Garrison, on 24th November 1967.

Service in Malaysia was marked by a series of exercises beginning in February 1968 with “Warm Up” and continuing with “Sheer Hell,” “All Back,” and “Lath,” as well as Adventure Training. The unit received its Queen’s and Regimental Colours on 25th September 1968, in front of 1000 guests and visitors. This marked the first time that Colours had been presented to a Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment outside Australia.

Further exercises, including “Darling Point,” “Fast Move,” and “Crowning Glory,” were conducted, culminating in the Battalion’s return to Australia. The Advance Party left for Australia on 27th March 1969, and late in April, the Battalion handed over its lines to the First Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment. On this day, Lieutenant Colonel Langtry handed over command to Lieutenant Colonel K.J. O’Neill.

Preparation for Service in Vietnam

While completing its tour in Malaysia, the Australian Component was preparing for the Vietnam tour of duty. The 13th National Service intake joined the Battalion on 6th January 1969, followed by the 14th on 28th March 1969, and the 15th on 6th April 1969.

Training for Vietnam began earnestly after the Battalion returned from leave, with specialist courses for the Anti-Tank, Pioneer, Mortars, and Signals platoons. The rifle companies focused on minor infantry tactics and marksmanship. A valuable mine warfare course was conducted by the Royal Australian Engineers, commencing on 30th June.

Intensive training continued, with companies cycling through training at Canungra and Wiangaree, culminating in Exercise “Schaden Freude.” Infantry/Armour training began on 11th August at Wide Bay with B Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, followed by helicopter familiarization.

Exercises continued with “Tune Up” at Spring Mountain, “Fix Fast,” and final exercises at Shoalwater Bay, designed to represent Phuoc Tuy Province. The Battalion’s training concluded with Exercise “Tropic Glow,” followed by “Straight Kris.”

The unit began pre-embarkation leave on 15th October, returning for a final Church Parade at the end of the month. A large crowd witnessed HMAS Sydney leaving Hamilton Wharf at 12:00 on 17th November 1969, with the main body of the Battalion on board. The Advance Party flew out the following day, arriving in South Vietnam to greet the Battalion’s arrival at Nui Dat.

Vietnam Diary of the Eighth Battalion

The Eighth Battalion served with distinction in Vietnam, engaging in various operations and contributing to the overall mission of the Australian forces in the region. The Battalion’s experiences in Vietnam are recorded in its unit diary, detailing the challenges and achievements of its members during this critical period.

Linking the Battalions

In the early 1970s, the withdrawal from Vietnam and the reduction of the Australian Army to 38,000 personnel necessitated structural changes. The opinion of the Colonel Commandant of the Royal Australian Regiment, Lieutenant General Sir Thomas Daly, and the Regimental Colonel, Colonel A.V. Preece, was that the cuts might be temporary. Instead of disbanding battalions, they decided to link them, with the possibility of future separation.

On 25th May 1973, Colonel Preece mandated the linking of the Second and Fourth Battalions at Townsville, the Fifth and Seventh Battalions at Holsworthy, and the Eighth and Ninth Battalions at Enoggera.

The linking of the units was a sensitive issue, given the pride of the members in their respective Battalions. Lieutenant Colonel Essex-Clark, Commanding Officer of the Ninth Battalion, advised his unit that the Eighth/Ninth Battalion would adopt the ram Private John Macarthur as its mascot. Lieutenant Colonel Adrian Clunies-Ross, Commanding Officer of the Eighth Battalion, assured the senior non-commissioned officers of the Ninth Battalion that the linking would not simply be a case of their joining his unit. Both commanders arranged for officers and soldiers from both Battalions to be evenly distributed throughout the new Battalion’s ranks.

On 31st October 1973, a church service was held to commemorate the Ninth Battalion’s dead. Lieutenant Colonel Essex-Clark read the lesson and then wept as the colours and a reluctant mascot passed through the battalion gate for the last time. They joined the Eighth Battalion on its parade ground, where chaplains conducted a simple inauguration ceremony. Lieutenant Colonel Clunies-Ross then addressed the men as the Eighth/Ninth Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment, marking the end of an era as the Eighth Battalion ceased to exist.