A Brief History

3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment Formation

Australian Infantry Battalion

In 1945 Australia sent three units to Japan as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF). Originally known as the 65th, 66th and 67th Infantry Battalions, they were raised from Australian Divisions stationed in New Guinea at the end of the Second World War. On 23 November 1948, the battalions were renamed the First, Second and Third Battalions, The Australian Regiment, respectively.

The prefix "Royal" was granted by King George VI on 31 March 1949.

Korean War

The Korean War began on 25 June 1950 when North Korean forces launched an invasion of South Korea. The bitter struggle that followed saw 21 countries, under the auspices of the United Nations, come to South Korea's aid, while the People's Republic of China and the Soviet Union sided with North Korea.


Malaya

The Australian Government first committed a battalion in 1955 to assist Malayan Government counter incursion of communist terrorists (CTs). 3 RAR arrived in October 1957 and commenced a period of acclimatisation then moved to company base camps at Kuala Kangsar (BHQ), Lasah, Sungei, Siput, Penang and Lintang. The unit was engaged in anti-communist terrorist operations in northern Malaya. Operations began in November 1957 and as a result many terrorist camps and food dumps were located and destroyed. (1957-1959)

Malaya and Borneo 1963-1965

3 RAR also served in Malaysia and Borneo during the Indonesia-Malaysia Confruntation and was involved in a series of highly successful cross-border missions under Operation Claret. During these operations the battalion had four major contacts with Indonesian forces on the Sungei Koemba river, at Kindau and again a Babang between May and July 1965.

Vietnam 1st Tour 1967 / 68

In 1965 the Australian Government decided to increase its support and deployed 1 RAR initially. With coincidental operational commitments in Malaya and South Vietnam from 1964 to 1966, the Regiment expanded significantly from the original three to nine battalions. Each new unit raised was sequentially numbered from the 4th to the 9th Battalion.

Vietnam 2nd Tour 1971

3RAR returned to Vietnam in 1971 and relieved 7RAR on 25 February. It was based at Nui Dat and the Horseshoe. 3RAR joined with the work of pacification. 1ATF had adopted the "Pacification Program" as its first priority in April, 1969. Pacification involved seeking out and destroying the enemy in its base areas, preventing enemy access to the civilian population and helping to create a secure climate for South Vietnamese social, political and military life to develop. This work was demanding, dangerous and monotonous for the troops. It was the primary task carried out by the battalion during its second tour.

East Timor

3 RAR played a key role in the Australian-lead intervention into East Timor in 1999.

In August 1999, following a democratic vote for independence in East Timor, armed militias and Indonesian troops carried out violence and destruction against the population of East Timor. In September 1999, the United Nations authorised the establishment and deployment of a multi-national peace-enforcement force to restore peace and security to the country.

Solomons

In July 2003, after rising lawlessness in the country, their Prime Minister requested Australia's assistance to help restore order to a lawless and bankrupt nation, plagued by ethnic violence and years of conflict between rival armed militia.

Iraq

On the 18 March 2003, Australia committed its Defence Force personnel to the international coalition to disarm Iraq. The coalition undertook to enforce Iraq's compliance with its obligations under successive resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, with a view to restoring peace and security to that area of the Middle East.

Afghanistan

Australia's contribution to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan is an important component of the Australian Government's commitment to working together with the international community to help prevent acts of terrorism around the world.