COLOURS - The Australian War Memorial Colours and... · a force of 25,000 Zulu warriors attacked...

VOLUNTARY GUIDES BACKGROUNDER

Number 78 Issue #2 January 2012

COLOURS and

BATTLE HONOURS

THE PARADE COMMANDER, LIEUTENANT COLONEL JASON HEDGES, CSC OVERSEES THE NEW QUEENS AND REGIMENTAL COLOURS THAT ARE DRAPED OVER THE DRUMS FROM THE ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE BAND THAT MADE UP THE ALTAR FOR THE BLESSING OF

THE COLOURS. HER MAJESTY, QUEEN ELIZABETH II, PRESENTED THE ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE WITH NEW QUEEN'S AND REGIMENTAL COLOURS AT THE PRESENTATION OF COLOURS PARADE IN CANBERRA ON 22 OCTOBER 2011.

This BACKGROUNDER replaces BACKGROUNDER # 78 Issue #1 December 2004 that should be destroyed

PJH

ISSUE #1 ( December 2004)

"Indeed a greater act of cowardice cannot be found

than to suffer the Colours to be lost"

Francis Grose Military Antiquities (1786-88)

ISSUE # 2 (January 2012)

BACKGROUNDER # 78

COLOURS and BATTLE HONOURS

FOREWORD As stated in the opening text of this BACKGROUNDER , the different ceremonial flags (generically termed ‘Colours’) of the Australian Defence Force, are a Services’ most cherished possession. They are the embodiment of Service traditions, achievements and history. Colours are a tangible recognition of the Services’ devotion to duty, the Sovereign and to Australia. Most military forces around the world have Colours and attach to them the reverence and ceremony similar to other Commonwealth Forces. The Memorial has an extensive collection of ‘Colours ‘ and to recognise these relics BACKGROUNDER # 78 – Colours and Battle Honours has now been updated as a soft copy document to reflect:

• The presentation to the Royal Military College Duntroon with new Colours by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 22 October 2011;

• Corrections to the earlier document originally issued in 2004 as suggested by Ian Stagoll ; • Some variations to the ‘Colour ‘relics now on display in the Memorial’s Galleries; and • The incorporation of an Enclosure titled Error of judgement or outright bigotry? The

colours controversy of the 1950's by Graham Wilson published in 2003,that might be of interest to some Guides.

For the purpose of this BACKGROUNDER Flags, Standards, Guidons , Colours, Banners and Streamers are referred to as ‘Colours’ except where otherwise indicated.

Any Guide requiring a copy of this BACKGROUNDER should contact me directly or by email: phugonnet@ bigpond.com. Hope this helps. Peter Hugonnet Voluntary Guide January 2012

ISSUE #2 (January 2012)

BACKGROUNDER # 78 COLOURS and BATTLE HONOURS

CONTENTS

Foreword

Section 1 Origins of Military Colours Origins of Military Colours Colours Battle Honours Customs and Traditions relating to Colours Flags,Standards,Guidons,Colours,Banners and Streamers Section 2 Royal Australian Navy Colours and Battle Honours The Queen’s Colours of the Royal Australian Navy Australian White Ensign RAN Policy on Award of Battle Honours for HMA Ships and Fleet Air Arm Squadrons Distinguished Unit Citations and Streamers Awarded to the RAN during the Vietnam War Section 3 Australian Army Colours and Battle Honours Colours of the Australian Army 3 Battalion Royal Australian Regiment Colours Presidential citation 3 RAR ,23 June 1951 Battle Honours of the Australian Army Battle Honours of current Regiments of the Australian Armoured Corps Battle Honours of current Regiments of the Australian Infantry Corps Distinguished Unit Citation Streamers Korean War 1950-53 Battle Honours and Distinguished Unit Citations Vietnam War 1962-72 Battle Honours and Distinguished Unit Citations Section 4 Royal Australian Air Force Colours and Battle honours Colour, Standards and Banners of the RAAF

Parading Queen’s Colours,Squadron Standards and Governor- General’s Banners Battle Honours of the Royal Australian Air Force Distinguished Unit Citations and Streamers Awarded to the RAAF during the Vietnam War

Section 5 Miscellaneous “Colours” at the Australian War Memorial The Richmond Colours Conservation of the 49th Battalion Regimental Colours The Men from Snowy River Banner The King’s Banner of the Royal Australian Artillery White Ensign presented to Captain C B W Radford, Salvation Army Enclosure: Error of judgement or outright bigotry? The colours controversy of the 1950's. Graham Wilson. Sabretache Vol XLIV September 2003

ISSUE #1 (December 2004)


SECTION 1

ORIGINS OF MILITARY COLOURS

Last stand of the 24th Regiment of Foot (South Wales Borderers) at Isandhlwana

during the Zulu War, 22nd January 1879.Charles Fripp.

Contents

• Origins of Military Colours

• Colours • Battle Honours

• Customs and Traditions relating to Colours • Flags,Standards,Guidons,Colours,Banners and Streamers


Battle of Isandhlwana

On the 11th January 1879, a British Force under the command of Lord Chelmsford crossed the Buffalo River into Zululand. A small garrison was left at Rorke's Drift. The force consisted of 1,600 British troops, mainly from the 1st and 2nd Battalions 24th Regiment, and 2,500 native soldiers. A tented camp was established at Isandhlwana Hill. At 4am on the morning of 22nd January, Lord Chelmsford took half his force to reconnoitre to southeast in search of main Zulu army. Just after 8am a force of 25,000 Zulu warriors attacked the remainder of the force in the camp. Surprised, outnumbered by more than six to one, in a position offering little defence, the defenders were soon overpowered and a dreadful slaughter ensued. A few men escaped and re-crossed the Buffalo River to safety. Victoria Crosses were awarded to Lieutenants Melvill and Coghill, who saved the Queen's Colour of the 1st/24th and to Private Wassell, 90th Foot who saved a comrade while escaping across the Buffalo River


ORIGINS OF MILITARY COLOURS

{ Reference: RAAF Australian Air Publication 5135.002 Manual of Ceremonial AL #3 11July 2002} INTRODUCTION The different ceremonial flags (generically termed ‘Colours’) of the Australian Defence Force, are a Services’ most cherished possession. They are the embodiment of Service traditions, achievements and history. Colours are a tangible recognition of the Services’ devotion to duty, the Sovereign and to Australia. Most military forces around the world have Colours and attach to them the reverence and ceremony similar to other Commonwealth Forces. EARLY HISTORY To trace the origin of the custom of carrying Colours, one must go back to the days of early man who fixed his family badge to a pole and held it aloft in battle for the dual purpose of indicating his position in action, as a rallying point should the occasion arise. Medieval chivalry followed the same idea when they placed their armorial bearings on their banners, so that their symbols would float on high, well above the melee. Once cloth had been invented, totem designs were transferred to the cloth and became flags. The earliest such flags are recorded in the Bible as belonging to the Children of Israel. In Genesis chapter 49, the devices are described, while in Numbers chapter 2, the instruction is given that everyone is to pitch their tent near their own ‘standard’. The first military organisation to adopt a unit device or standard, as distinct from a family or tribal totem, appears to have been the Roman Army. Their units carried a bronze or silver eagle on a staff and great veneration was given to these devices. Great shame (as well as physical punishment) was associated with the legion or unit that lost its ‘eagle’ in combat. With the disintegration of the Roman Empire, standing armies ceased to be organised by the State. The armies of the Middle Ages were composed of armed bands brought to the field by nobles, and, military badges reverted back to family devices. MODERN HISTORY When armies were beginning to adopt a system of regimentation at the start of the seventeenth century, each company was allotted a Colour; a custom that persisted for a hundred years. Although Colours of a type were carried at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, it was not until 1661, during the reign of Charles II, when the British Army, as we know it today, first began to take shape that the number of Colours to be carried by a unit was reduced to three, to correspond with the technical arrangements of a battalion for battle. The Colours were carried into battle in the centre front rank where they could easily be seen and recognized and to act as a guide and rallying point. Originally, when Colours were carried in companies, they were borne by the youngest officer of the company, who was known as the ‘Ensign’. As the importance of a victory was generally gauged by the number of guns and stands of Colours that were captured, the


Colour party became the obvious target and the scene of the most bitter hand-to-hand fighting. With a view to giving the ensigns some local protection, the rank of ‘Colour Sergeant’ was introduced in 1813. The Royal Warrant in respect of this stated “it is His Royal Highness’ pleasure that the duty of attending the Colours on the field shall be performed by the sergeants”. This escort to the Colour was formed by five Colour Sergeants, armed with half pikes, and was chosen from the senior and bravest sergeants as they had, to stand in the most exposed places in the field of battle. The practice of carrying Colours in battle gradually came to an end after 1879, when two subalterns of the South Wales Borderers received posthumous VCs for their endeavours to save the Colours at the Battle of Isandhlwana. The last time a Colour was taken into battle was in January 1881 when Lieutenant Ballie of the 58th Regiment of Foot (The Northampshire Regiment) lost his life while attending the Colour at Laings Nek. The Colour Party was in the past expected to fight to the death to defend the Colours. For the same symbolic reason, today, the Colours (carried by a junior officer with an escort of two sergeants and a warrant officer) are paraded in the centre of a Squadron when on the march. In 1747 the regimental colonel was no longer allowed to put his device on the Regimental Colour. Up to this time, Colours were personal standards and changed each time the colonel of the regiment was changed. At about the same time, the number of Colours was restricted to two for each regiment, being a King’s or First Colour and a Regimental Colour or second Colour. In 1751, a Royal Warrant laid down that the King’s Colour was to be the ‘Great Union’. This was the flag of the United Kingdom at that time, since it was not until 1801 that the red saltire of St Patrick of Ireland was added to the red cross of St George of England and the white saltire of St Andrew of Scotland. The Regimental Colour was to be the colour of the facings (the colour of the jacket lining) of the regiment, with a small ‘Union’ in the canton (first quarter). The Royal Warrant of 1751 did not apply to regiments of foot guards, whose Kings Colours have always been crimson, while the Regimental Colours are the ‘Union Jack’. An important event in the evolution of Colours was the decision to add battle honours to Regimental Colours. The first of these distinctions was ‘EMSDORF’ granted to the 15th Light Dragoons in 1768. It was to be another 10 years before the second battle honour ‘GIBRALTAR’ was awarded to those regiments who had served through the siege of 1783-84.


COLOURS Unit colours have their origins on the pre-modern battlefield, where they were used in the confusion of the action, accentuated by the dense smoke generated by black powder munitions, to signify the position of the regimental commander and his headquarters, and to rally men during or after the fighting. They carry the battle honours of a unit and, like guns in the artillery, are the most sacred and prized possession of a regiment. They have not actually been carried into battle in British-pattern armies since the late nineteenth century, although the last documented occasion is disputed. A regiment possesses two colours, Sovereign's (King or Queen's) and Regimental. They measure 3 feet 9 inches by 3 feet, not including the fringe which is 2 inches deep. The pike on which they are carried is 8 feet 72 inches long, including the royal crest which surmounts it. The Queen's Colour of every unit was originally the Union Flag, bearing a crimson circle with the name of the unit inscribed in gold. In 1969 these began to be replaced with a colour based on the Australian national flag, the first of the new designs being presented to RMC Duntroon (q.v.) by Queen E]izabeth II personally Regimental Colours are dark blue for Royal Regiments, dark green for all others. They bear a regimental badge or crest on a crimson background, encompassed in a wreath of leaves of a national plant, in the case of Australian regiments the wattle, and surmounted by a crown. The number of the battalion is embroidered in gold in the top-left hand corner. On the ground to either side of the crest are the battle honours(q.v.) awarded to the regiment.


Some colonial units were awarded colours before Federation, but these were often not standardised, either against each other or consistent with imperial practice. The infantry and pioneer battalions and light horse regiments of the AIF were presented with silk colours in1920; these were laid up or passed to their successor units in the CMF as appropriate after the demobilisation of the AIF was completed in 1921. Until 1921 very few CMF units were presented with colours (the first being given to the 1st Battalion of the Australian Infantry Regiment in May 1906). With the reorganisation of the army in 1921 permission was given for Australian units to carry colours, and the regimental colours carried the unit colour patch rather than a regimental crest. All of these had green fields because only one CMF unit before 1960 carried the 'Royal' title. Cavalry and armoured units carry guidons, while the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery (q.v.) parades the King's Banner, held in the custody of the 1st Field Regiment. The RAN carries two Queen's Colours, one held by the flagship of HMA Fleet, the other at HMAS Cerberus (q.v.). Permission to use colours in the navy was granted by George V in 1924, and the first King's Colours were presented to the RAN in March 1925. New colours were presented in 1957 and, based on the national flag, in 1968.The RAAF carries a Queen's Colour for the service as a whole. Individual squadrons carry standards with a skyblue field and the squadron crest embroidered on it, while other RAAF establishments have banners. Colours are now carried only on ceremonial occasions such as unit birthdays, beating of the retreat ceremonies or the exercise of the freedom of a city or town. .{ The Oxford Companion to Australian Military History 1997} Summary Royal Australian Navy Colours – The RAN carries two Queen's Colours –The Fleet Colour at Maritime Headquarters , Sydney and the Establishments Colour at HMAS CERBERUS in Victoria. Australian Army Colours – Regiment possess two colours, Sovereign's (King or Queen's) and Regimental. Regiments may also carry Standards, Guidons , Banners and Distinguished Unit Citation Streamers. Regimental Colours are dark blue for Royal regiments ,dark green for all others. Royal Australian Air Force Colours– The RAAF carries a Queen's Colour for the service as a whole. Individual squadrons carry Standards and Banners.


BATTLE HONOURS Battle Honours are a form of public commemoration of a campaign, battle, action, or engagement and recognise the presence of a unit at and its contribution towards the outcome of a particular battle. Honours are not generally awarded for defeats, and a unit must have taken an active part in the action in order to qualify; merely being present is generally insufficient. The headquarters and at least 50 per cent of the posted strength must be involved. In the army, only infantry , armoured and cavalry regiments are entitled to battle honours, while in the navy individual ships bearing the same name carry the battle honours of all previous ships of that name. The first battle honour awarded to an Australian unit was 'Suakin', earned by the New South Wales colonial contingent to the Sudan (q.v.) in 1885, and still carried by its lineal descendant, the Royal New South Wales Regiment. In the Boer War the general honour 'South Africa' was awarded to recognise the involvement of successive colonial contingents, and this honour too is now held by the Army Reserve (q.v.) regiment in each State. In the First World War militia units served only in Australia, and thus were ineligible for battle honours. As the units of the AIF did not have colours (q.v.) and were to be disbanded after the war, permission was given for the honours of the AIF to be transferred to the colours of militia counterparts. During the Second World War, militia units served in the South-West Pacific Area (q.v.) themselves, and thus were eligible for honours in their own right. The honours earned by the 2nd AIF were transferred after 1945 in the same manner as had occurred after the previous war. With the amalgamation of existing CMF units into State regiments in duly 1960, all these honours likewise were transferred to the colours of the successor units. Certain units of the Australian Regular Army (q.v.) have earned battle honours in the campaigns fought since 1945, principally for service in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. In 1994 a committee of inquiry into honours and awards recommended that battle honours be given in recognition of service during the Malayan Emergency and in Borneo during Confrontation, and that further honours be extended to include particular battles such as Maryang San in the Korean War.{ The Oxford Companion to Australian Military History 1997} Summary Royal Australian Navy Battle Honours – Displayed on a Battle Honour Board displayed in a suitable position in the ship or establishment. Australian Army Battle Honours – Normally emblazoned on the Regimental Colour ( maximum of 10). With the approval of the Chief of Army they may also be emblazoned on the Queen’s Colour if insufficient space is available on the Regimental Colour. Royal Australian Air Force – Displayed on a Battle Honour plaque and squadrons which have been awarded a Standard are to have all entitled Battle honours enscrolled on the Standard


CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS RELATING TO

COLOURS { References: RAAF Australian Air Publication 5135.002 Manual of Ceremonial AL #3 11July 2002 and Australian Army Ceremonial Manual Volume 1 Amend #1 dated 08 October 2003} CONSECRATION OF COLOURS Colours have always been regarded with great reverence. Before a Colour is taken into use, it is consecrated at a special religious ceremony which is usually performed during the parade at which the Colour is presented. The origin of the Consecration of Colours dates back well before the birth of Christ. Battle flags have been closely associated with religion from the earliest of times. The Israelites carried the sacred standard of the Maccabees, which bore the initial letters of the Hebrew text 'who is like unto thee O Lord the Gods’ (Exodus XVII). In the armies of pagan Rome the ensigns were worshipped with religious adoration. Pope Alexander II blessed a banner which William the Conqueror carried at Hastings and at the Battle of the Standard in 1138, the banners of St Peter of York, St John of Beverly and St Wilfred of Ripon were erected upon a wagon and moved with the Archbishop of York and his Yeomen of Yorkshire when they fought the Scottish clansmen. However, the consecration or blessing of Colours, as we now understand the ceremony, dates back to 1634 when it was laid down that, ‘the first thing a captain shall do is cause his Colours to be bleast’; much later, a standard form of service was laid down by the Principal Chaplain to the Forces. Today, it is a service carried out by the Principal Chaplains of all denominations. DRAPING OF COLOURS Colours are draped at funerals as a mark of respect. In the RAAF this custom is observed only at Service or State funerals. Colours are to be draped with a piece of black crepe 35cm wide and 2.5 metres long, tied in a bow around the foot of the gilt crown in such a manner that the span of the bow is 30cm. The ends, folded to a single point, should then hang about half way down the cloth of the Colour. LOWERING COLOURS - SALUTES The custom of lowering the Colour is of ancient origin and is regarded as saluting in a most respectful manner with the highest honours. An early reference to this custom is made by Sir John Smithe in his ‘Instructions, Observations and Orders Mylitarie’, published in 1591, in which he states “Also if any Ensigne bearer or Ensigne bearers in their hands, happen to march by an Emperor or King, or by the Lieutenant-General, they ought to carrie them displayed and advanced, and when they come almost over against such a Prince or his Lieutenant-General, they ought to pull downe their Ensignes lower and bowe downe forward the point and taffeta of their Ensigne, not directly towards the Prince or Lieutenant-General, but directly towards the waie that they are marching.....”. This custom of lowering Colours in salute was officially recognised in the earliest form of King’s Regulations of 1786. All subsequent regulations to those of 1837 have the same instructions, but in that year, owing to the recent accession of Queen


Victoria, a definite instruction was added to read “The Queen and other members of the Royal Family are to be saluted by Colours, Standards and Banners dropping; officers saluting and bands playing ‘God Save the Queen’. The Queen’s Regulations of 1868 are framed upon the modern model which reads “Her Majesty’s Forces are on all occasions to receive the Sovereign with the highest honours, viz, with a Royal Salute and all Colours, Standards and Banners lowered”. The salute of lowering the colour is only made when a Royal salute is given and, when receiving or marching past Her Majesty, members of the Royal Family, foreign Sovereigns, Vice-Regal personages and those persons entitled to a Royal salute .All other personages are accorded a General salute where the Colours are ‘let fly’ (the Colour being allowed to fly free). POINT OF WAR When Colours were taken into battle, they were usually positioned in the centre of the battle line which was normally the place from which the battle was controlled. Every unit took into battle its drummers, buglers, fifers and other musicians who might make up a band (they also doubled as stretcher bearers). Upon an attack developing, the commanding officer would order the various instruments to be beaten or blown as hard as their players could manage. The attention of the unit was drawn to the fact that the centre was threatened and the Colours were in danger. This action became the centre point of the war and the music became a rallying tune. Today, after Colours are marched on and are in position, the band plays the stirring ‘Point of War’. This is also played just prior to the Colours being marched off parade as a salute to the Colours. SHOWING THE COLOURS Showing the Colour is a custom observed during ceremonial parades and is not normally conducted in conjunction with ‘Trooping the Colour’. The Colour is shown at the discretion of the parade commander, with the Colour bearer acting alone. The bearer marches along the front of the parade with the Colour ‘free’ and at the slope to allow the assembled troops clear view of the Colour. TROOPING THE COLOURS The origin of Trooping the Colour dates to an ancient ceremony of ‘sending for and the lodging of the Colour’. As a ceremony, lodging the Colour has been traced back to the 16th century. In 1595 Sir John Smiths published his ‘Instructions, Observations and Orders Mylitaire’, wherein he stated that the ensigne (Colour bearer) should at all times ensure that when the Colour is lodged (put in the Colonel’s or Ensigne’s billet for safe custody) at the end of the day’s battle, it should always be under a strong and very convenient guard, and, likewise when it is brought on parade the following morning. A somewhat informal ceremony at first, lodging the Colour gradually acquired precision and dignity.Towards the middle of the 18th century it was an impressive performance, for at this time by order of the Duke of Cumberland, then commander in chief, it was definitely associated with, and made a part of the regular parade of mounting the guard.


LAYING UP OF COLOURS While the consecration of Colours has a long history, the laying up of Colours dates only from 1898. Prior to this date, Colours were virtually the property of the Colonel of the Regiment to do with as he saw fit. There are records of Colours being buried with the Colonel of the regiment. and one case where a unit being disbanded (2nd Battalion Kings Regiment (8th Foot)—1816) brought the Colours to the officers’ mess at the conclusion of dinner where they were stripped, cut up so that each officer obtained a piece and then burnt; the ashes of the Colours and pikes being buried in the centre of the parade ground and an armed sentry mounted over them through the night.

SYDNEY, NSW. 1944-04-23. THE COLOURS OF THE 17TH INFANTRY BATTALION, BEING LOWERED IN THE

STREET IN FRONT OF ST. THOMAS' CHURCH OF ENGLAND, NORTH SYDNEY, DURING THE CEREMONY OF THE "LAYING UP OF THE COLOURS".

Today, consideration may be given for Colours to be laid up in those buildings (churches, local Government or State Government buildings) where the unit has formed close associations such as being granted the Freedom of the City. Royal Australian Navy Colours are laid up in the Chapel at HMAS CERBERUS. Australian Army Colours may be laid-up at any of the following: * The Australian War Memorial; * a State war memorial or shrine; * a cathedral, church, or military chapel; * a military corps, regimental, or unit museum; or * a suitable civic building (eg a town hall). Royal Australian Air Force Colours are laid up in the Holy Trinity Chapel of the RAAF, RAAF Williams, Point Cook.


The Australian Army Ceremonial Manual Volume 2 Chapter 3 provides a Register of Standards,Colours,Guidons,Banners and other Honourable Insignia. This Register records that the following “Colours” are Laid-Up at the Australian War Memorial:

UNIT DATE PRESENTED

COLOURS ETC TYPE

BY WHOM PRESENTED

DATE LAID-UP

12th/16th Hunter River Lancers

Guidon

14th Light Horse Regiment (QMI)

28 Mar 1928 Guidon 20 Aug 1972

53rd Infantry Battalion (The West Sydney Regiment)

King’s and Regimental Colours

08 Mar 1970

3rd Infantry Battalion (Queensland Regiment)

Regimental Colour

9th Infantry Battalion (The Moreton Regt)

16 Mar 1927 King’s Colour BRIGGEN J.H.Cannon

16 Nov 1953

9th Infantry Battalion (The Moreton Regt)

13May 1928 Regimental Colour LTGEN Sir Harry Chauvel

16 Nov 1953

26th Infantry Battalion (The Logan and Albert Regiment)


13 Sep 1954

49th Infantry Battalion (The Stanley Regiment)


13 Oct 1958

51st Infantry Battalion (The Far North Queensland Regiment)


01 Sep 1957

Victorian Volunteer Rifles

1900 King’s Banner

Victorian Volunteer Rifles – Boer War

King’s Banner

Collingwood Infantry Battalion


Richmond Company Victorian Volunteer Rifles

02 Feb 1861 King’s and Regimental Colours

Mrs P. Johnson 1928

Victorian Volunteer Rifles Richmond Company

King’s Banner

3rd Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment

24 Apr 1956 Queen’s and Regimental Colours

HE Field Marshal Sir William Slim

20 Oct 1985

Papua/New Guinea Volunteer Rifles

17 May 1969 Queen’s and Regimental Colours

COL D.O Hay Administrator

25 Apr 1974

Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery

14 Nov 1904 King’s Banner HE Lord Northcote, Governor-General

25 Apr 1972

Royal Australian Army Medical Corps

14 Nov 1904 King’s Banner HE Lord Northcote, Governor-General

22 May 1956

Eastern Command King’s Banner


FLAGS ,STANDARDS,GUIDONS,COLOURS, BANNERS and

STREAMERS Flags have a common history with Colours in that they originated in the identifying banners of individual organisations. As these gradually grouped to form nations, flags were adopted as national symbols. Some flags have been modified over time to reflect the changing history of the nation, for example the British Union Flag incorporated at various stages the symbols of the separate elements of Great Britain—England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.

The Australian National Flag (ANF) is the emblem of the Australian Nation. By tradition the Australian Army is the protector of the Flag, however, the ANF is not the ‘Army Ensign’ and is not to be flown in an inferior position because of Service seniority. The ANF is not to be subjected to any indignity,nor is it to be displayed in a position inferior to any other flag, ensign or standard (with the exception of HM the Queen’s personal standard).

The ANF may be carried by all units who do not have Standards, Guidons, Colours or Banners. The procedures for carrying the ANF on parade are the same as for Colours. The ANF is not to be paraded with Standards, Guidons, Colours or Banners. This is because of difficulties with precedence (the ANF takes precedence over Colours) and musical salutes (ANF is saluted with the first four and last four bars of the National Anthem; Colours are saluted with ‘Point of War’). The ANF was proclaimed by the Flags Act 1953 and amended by Act 58 of 1954.

A Standard was the largest of the numerous flags flown in armies in the Middle


Ages. As its name implies, it was a flag made to stand, as opposed to being carried. Regiments of Household Cavalry had always carried Standards, which are practically square in shape. Hence today, in the British Army, Household Cavalry and Dragoon Guards carry Standards, while the junior arm, Dragoons, carry Guidons.

RAAF SQUADRON STANDARD

The term ‘Guidon’ is derived from the old French guydhomme, the flag carried by the leader of Horse. It has always been swallow-tailed and regarded as being junior to a Standard.

THE REGIMENTAL COLOURS (GUIDON) OF THE 13TH AUSTRALIAN LIGHT HORSE REGIMENT. THE COLOURS BEAR THE NAMES AND DATES OF FAMOUS BATTLE GROUNDS WHERE THE

REGIMENT FOUGHT.


ANZAC DAY MARCHING BANNER : 4 DIVISIONAL FIELD AMBULANCE C 1920’S

Summary:This banner was presented to the 4 Divisional Field Ambulance Association soon after the war by some of the former officers who had served in its units (4, 12 and 13 Field Ambulances). It was carried every year in Melbourne Anzac Day marches until 1948, when its deteriorating condition caused it to be offered by the Association to the Australian War Memorial. It was donated via Mr Harold Arthur Wiseman, formerly 13369 Private, of 12 Field Ambulance, an incapacitated veteran who was living at the Anzac Hostel in Brighton, Victoria. The hand coloured photograph featured on the reverse of the banner is said to show 'three Victorian members of the 12th Field Ambulance carrying a stretcher case. One of the three, Private Norm Sadlier (sic), was killed in action a few days later.' The man referred to is in fact 3373 Private Norman Henry Sadler, MM, of 12 Field Ambulance, a 21 year old who was killed at Contalmaison, near Pozieres, on 30 August 1916.

Distinguished Unit Citations and Streamers

The streamer of a Distinguished Unit Citation, awarded by a foreign government and approved by the respective Service Headquarters, is to be attached to the Guidon or Regimental Colour of the entitled unit at all times. Examples of Distinguished Unit Citations to Australian Units ,that all contain an emblem of the award to members of the unit and a streamer for display on the unit flag or guidon are as follows: US Presidential Unit Citation US Meritorious Unit Commendation US Navy Unit Commendation US Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation United States Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (With Combat V Device) Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm - Unit Citation United States Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Streamer



SECTION 2

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY


QUEEN’S COLOUR FOR THE RAN

Contents

• The Queen’s Colours of the Royal Australian Navy • Australian White Ensign

• RAN Policy on Award of Battle Honours for HMA Ships and Fleet Air Arm Squadrons

• Distinguished Unit Citations and Streamers Awarded to the RAN during the Vietnam War

Colours

The name by which the Australian National Flag and the Australian White Ensign is flown by a ship at sea. The term also signifies the naval ceremony of the daily hoisting and lowering of the Australian National Flag and/or Australian White Ensign. In the Royal Australian Navy, colours for ships alongside and naval establishments are always hoisted at 8 o'clock in the morning and are lowered at sunset. Ships at sea fly the ensign twenty fours a day. The Colours ceremony was instituted by Lord St. Vincent after the mutinies at Spithead and the Nore in 1797.


THE QUEEN’S COLOURS

OF THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY

{Reference : www.navy.gov.au and RAN Flag Ceremonial Manual ABR 1834 Volume # Edition #1 .1996 }

Royal Colours were first presented to HMAS CERBERUS by His Majesty King George V in 1927. They were the first Royal Colours; to be presented to an Australian Naval Unit. The Queen’s Royal Colours were presented in 1954 by His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh . At that time, the Queen’s Colour was the White Ensign made of silk , with a Royal Crown and Cipher superimposed ,with blue and gold cords and tassels attached. Two Queen’s Colours are now held in the RAN - one at Maritime Headquarters , Sydney , and the other in HMAS CERBERUS. The former is the Fleet Colour and the latter is fore use by all Shore Establishments. These two Queen’s Colours were originally presented on behalf of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second , by the Governor General of Australia at a ceremony conducted at Olympic Park Melbourne on 01 November 1968.These Royal Colours incorporated the Australian White Ensign that replaced the White Ensign in March 1967. The Soverign may, in special circumstances approve the issue and replacement of replacement Colours. The Establishment’s replacement Colour was presented by Her Majesty the Queen at HMAS CERBERUS on 7 March 1986 and the Fleet’s was presented by the Governor General of Australia , on behalf of the Queen at Fleet base Sydney on 17 April 1989.

Australian White Ensign By J.H. Straczek, Senior Naval Historical Officer On the morning of the 1 March 1967 the Australian National Line cargo ship BOONAROO was commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy for war service. This event in itself is not unusual as merchant ships have been requisitioned by navies for centuries. What made this particular commissioning noteworthy is that BOONAROO was the first vessel to be commissioned under a distinctly Australian White Ensign. Prior to the establishment of the Royal Australian Navy the Australian colonial navies had

ISSUE #1 December 2004)

Royal Australian Navy Memorial. ANZAC Parade Canberra.

RAN POLICY ON THE AWARD OF BATTLE HONOURS FOR HMA SHIPS AND FLEET AIR ARM SQUADRONS {Reference : Defence Instruction (Navy) Admin 8-2 31 December 1982}

Introduction This instruction states the policy for the award of battle honours to HMA ships and Fleet Air Arm Squadrons. The criteria used by the RAN for the award of battle honours are based on those of the Royal Navy. Battle honours are intended to foster esprit de corps among ships companies and encourage them to take a personal interest in the war time exploits of their present ships as well as those of the same name which distinguished themselves in the past. Folio 1 of the Captain's Ship's Book is to contain a record ofservice of ships of the same name. It is necessary, however, to distinguish between `record of service' and `battle honour'. There is a tendency to regard battle honours in terms of general naval events which, though meritorious in themselves, are not of sufficient importance to be ranked as battle honours. If awards are made too freely they lose much of their value. Moreover, limitations of space make it impossible for all actions to be included on a battle honour scroll. In many cases several incidents may have to be compressed into a single, short titled, battle honour. If a ship is renamed at any time she will assume any battle honours of her new name and will no longer be entitled to those previously worn under the old name. Award of Battle Honours Battle honours are awarded by the Governor -General for successful war service and are granted to those ships and parent ships which took part in actions or campaigns categorized as follows:


The White Ensign Before 1864 the British Fleet comprised 3 Squadrons using

the Red, White and Blue Ensigns respectively. The present design dates from

1801.

flow uniquely Australian ensigns. This was a Blue ensign defaced by the badge of the individual colony. During the 1909 Imperial Conference the question of what ensign the dominion navies would fly was first raised. The representatives from Australia and Canada proposed that the ensign should be a white ensign defaced by the emblem of the particular dominion. No decision was reached on this matter. In August 1910 the Admiralty raised the issue concerning the status of dominion warships and proposed that they should fly the white ensign. Shortly after this the Parramatta City Council sought advise as to the flag to be worn by PARRAMATTA as they wished to present her with one. They were informed that PARRAMATTA would fly the Australian Blue Ensign on her arrival in Australia and until the matter of an ensign had been resolved with the Admiralty. Australian opinion favoured a uniquely Australian ensign but the Admiralty continued to resist and insisted that the Dominion Navies use the white ensign. The Admiralty eventually won out and the ships of the newly formed Royal Australian Navy flew the white ensign. Here the matter rested until 1965.

On 28 October 1965 the Member for Batman, Mr SJ Benson MP, whilst speaking on the Naval Estimates argued that Australia should have its own, distinctive white ensign. His point was that Australian ships

were engaged in a war flying the ensign of another country. The Minister for the Navy informed the House, on the same day, that the Navy was already looking at possible variants of the white ensign which would carry a distinctly Australian appearance. The Chief of Naval Staff subsequently sought the views of other members of the Naval Board and his senior officers. Following this consultation the matter was considered by the Naval Board on 21 January 1966. The Board decided to recommend to the Government "that the Royal Australian Navy should have its own unique white ensign". The ensign was described as being a "white flag with the Union Flag in the upper canton at the hoist with six blue stars positioned as in the Australian flag". The Minister for the Navy, Mr F Chaney MP, informed the Prime Minister of the Naval Board's decision and the formal approval of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was requested. Royal assent to the new ensign was granted on 7 November 1966. The formal announcement of the new ensign was made by the Prime Minister on 23 December 1966. Originally it was intended to introduce the new ensign on the 1 May 1967 but this was subsequently amended to 1 March 1967.


a. Fleet or squadron actions, b. single ship actions, c. major bombardments, d. joint operations, e. campaign awards, and f. area awards. Fleet or Squadron Actions. Fleet or squadron actions consist of: a. the sinking of enemy merchant ships in an escorted convoy; b. engagements with light enemy forces when both sides incur losses or heavy damage; and c. operations which resulted in frustrating the enemy's intention at the time, although no warship may have been sunk. In deciding which actions are to rank as battle honours the following general rules apply, although exceptional cases may require departure from rigid adherence to them: a. battle honours will be awarded for those actions which resulted in the defeat of the enemy or when the action was inconclusive but well fought and where outstanding efforts were made against overwhelming odds, and b. battle honours will not be awarded for a defeat or when the action was inconclusive or badly fought. The qualification entitling a ship to a particular battle honour is that the ship was present during this action. The word `present' is to be taken to mean presence at sea under the direct orders of the Service officer controlling the operation even though some ships may not have opened fire on the enemy. Single Ship Actions. Single engagements of particular significance between two ships (eg SYDNEY and EMDEN in 1914) which deserve to be highlighted may be eligible for a battle honour. Major Bombardments. Battle honours for major bombardments (naval gunfire support or air attacks) are granted only when there was appreciable opposition by the enemy. Other bombardments, where the enemy reply was negligible, are to be included among the various minor affairs for which a separate battle honour will not be awarded and which are merged, when appropriate, with a campaign or area award. Joint Operations. The capture of a fortified area or a large island, in conjunction with other military units, may be recognized with the award of the battle honour. When the Navy has little to do beyond safe conveyance of troops to the point of attack, a naval battle honour will not be awarded, notwithstanding that a participating military unit may wear the honour on its colour. Campaign and Area Awards. Battle honours may be awarded for certain campaigns as a whole rather than for individual actions during those campaigns. Battle Honours Approved for Use in the RAN Battle honours awarded by the Admiralty since ARMADA 1588 are approved for HMA ships bearing the same name. In addition, battle honours have been approved for HMA ships for service in the Pacific 1941 -45, New Guinea 1942 -44, the Indian Ocean 1941 -45 and Vietnam 1967 -71 as indicated at Annex A.


{Note by Ed: The Policy on Battle Honours awarded since ARMADA are under review and it is understood that thses will not apply in the future.} The criteria for campaign and area awards for World War I, World War II and subsequent campaigns are detailed below. The selection of battle honours for World War I is based on the award of clasps with the British War Medal, although not all of the campaign or area events which were distinguished by a clasp are suitable for the grant of separate battle honours. Also several clasp awards have been combined into a single campaign or area battle award. Battle honours, either those ìnherited' or those èarned', may only be acquired by units (past, present or future) of the following categories: a. commissioned ships, whether named or numbered and whether built for naval service or otherwise acquired, b. commissioned shore establishments (normally only having ìnherited' honours but HMAS WATERHENs award of VIETNAM 1967- 71 for CDT3s service is a special case), c. naval air squadrons, and d. Royal Australian Fleet Auxiliaries. List of Approved Battle Honours A list of approved battle honours is maintained by the Ships' Names,Badges and Honours Committee and will be promulgated from time to time. Display of Battle Honours Battle honours awarded to ships, submarines and establishments are to be mounted on a Battle Honour Board and displayed in a suitable position. The Honour Boards of Fleet Air Arm squadrons afloat should flank that of the aircraft carrier in which they are embarked and those of land based squadrons should be mounted near the quarterdeck to facilitate constant surveillance. Fleet Air Arm Battle Honour Boards are to be taken on squadron charge and transferred as necessary. The Battle Honour Board is to be carved from teak and is to incorporate the ship's name, badge and honour scrolls, also carved from solid teak. The dimensions of Battle Honour Boards may vary slightly in accordance with the number of honours to which a particular ship is entitled. Generally an Honour Board can be mounted in an area 1 120 mm x 720 mm. Honour Boards for submarines are an exception to this rule since they must be embarked through the deck access hatch and accordingly are restricted in size to 535 mm x 435 mm. If a unit entitled to display battle honours does not have a badge, a modified form of Battle Honour Board will be provided.

HMAS

HOBART Honour Board –

Naval Historical Collection


With the exception of those which comprise the name of an enemy ship, battle honours are to be displayed in block letters. Enemy ship names are to be displayed in lower case letters between single inverted commas (it may be noted that there is one instance of two honours which include a single common word but with different years, viz CHESAPEAKE 1781 - a place name and`Chesapeake' 1813 - an enemy ship name. The correct style for display of each battle honour is shown in the lists referred to above. Where necessary advice will be provided by the Chairman, Ships' Names, Badges and Honours Committee (Director Naval Personal Services see DI(N) ADMIN 4 -4).

HMAS WESTRALIA Honour Board on display in the WW 2 (Year of Victory) Gallery Supply Accounting and Disposal of Battle Honour Boards The manufacture of Battle Honour Boards is arranged by the Director of Naval Ship Design, who will provide the design drawing to HMA naval dockyards and prepare the detailed schedule for action by naval stores. Additional scrolls for battle honours may be demanded by inserting an item in the ship's or establishment's defect list. Battle Honour Boards in HMA ships and establishments are to be accounted for in the Presentations, Relics and Trophies account. Boards from ships paying off are to be disposed of in accordance with DI(N) ADMIN 8 -1.


BATTLE HONOURS APPROVED FOR USE IN THE RAN FROM WORLD WAR II ONWARD

Explanatory notes on Area Battle Honours for World War II awarded by the Admiralty (MOD(N)) are as follows: BATTLE HONOUR LIMITS OF AREA. SHIPS, ETC ELIGIBILITY ATLANTIC 1939 -45 The North Atlantic, from the Equator to the Arctic Circle. All ships and submarines which were employed as escorts to ocean convoys in the North Atlantic and also those ships of support groups which took part in a successful action. BISCAY 1940 -45 Between the latitudes of Ushant and Cape Ortegal from 12 W to the coasts of France. Ships and submarines which were employed on patrol duty in the area and took part in a successful action. The interception and sinking of enemy blockade runners is not a qualification for the award. NORTH SEA 1939 -45 The North Sea and all waters to the eastward between Southend and the Shetland Islands except coastal waters of Norway. All ships which were employed as escorts to coastal convoys on the east coast of the United Kingdom. Also ships and submarines which were employed on patrol duty in the area and took part in a successful action. ENGLISH CHANNEL 1939 -45 The English Channel a nd all waters on the south coast between Southend and Bristol, the western limit being a line drawn from Ushant to the Scily Islands and thence to the north coast of Cornwall. All ships which were employed as escorts to Channel and coastal convoys and also other ships and submarines which took part in a successful action in the area. Successes achieved in connection with Operation Neptune are recognized by NORMANDY. NORWAY 1940 -45 The coastal waters of Norway as far north as the latitude of Tromso. All ships and submarines which were engaged in the Norway operations from 8 April to 8 June 1940 and also those which took part in a successful action in these waters at later dates. Recognition of Fleet Air Arm attacks, such as those on TIRPITZ, is


normally restricted to the carriers and squadrons concerned; the covering escorts on those occasions are not eligible for the award. ARCTIC 1941 -45 Within the Arctic Circle except for the coastal waters of Norway southward of Tromso. All ships, including the covering forces, which were employed as escorts to, or in support of, the convoys running to and from North Russia; also those ships and submarines which operated in the area and took part in a successful action. MEDITERRANEAN 1940 -45 The whole of the Mediterranean, the western limit being a line joining Cape Spartel and Cape Trafalgar. All ships and submarines which took part in successful actions that are not covered by any of the named battle honours for the area. That is to say, the destruction of an enemy ship or submarine which was effected during and in connection with a recognized campaign, eg SICILY 1943, is regarded as an incidental item of the campaign and not as qualifying for a separate battle honour award. If however, the success was unconnected with any named operation for which a battle honour is granted, then it will qualify for the general award of MEDITERRANEAN with the year date(s). Minor bombardments will also qualify for this award. MALTA CONVOYS 1941 -42 The Mediterranean, as above. All ships and submarines which are mentioned in the published dispatches as having taken part in Operations Excess, Substance, Halberd, Harpoon and Pedestal; also those which took part in Operations MF3, MF4, MG1 and the supply of aircraft and stores to Malta. LIBYA 1940 -42 Inshore, between Port Said and Benghazi. All ships and vessels of the Inshore Squadron (formerly Force W), but excluding the heavier covering forces, which were employed in maintaining Tobruk and other places on the coast and generally in supporting the Army in the Western Desert. Fleet Air Arm squadrons, both carrier borne and shore based, are also eligible. AEGEAN 1943 -44 All waters of the Aegean Archipelagobetween 35o -42oN and 22o -30oE.Ships and vessels which were engaged withthe enemy in the area between 7 Septemberand 28 November 1943 and also during 1944. ADRIATIC 1944 All waters in the Adriatic northward of 40 oN.Ships and vessels which were engaged with the enemy in the area during 1944. MALAYA 1942 -45 Malacca Strait and waters adjacent to the Malay


Peninsula and Sumatra between 7 oN- 7o S and 95 o-108oE. Ships and submarines which took part in a successful action in the area. OKINAWA 1945 The Far East. All ships and submarines which are mentioned in the published dispatch as having taken part in Operation Iceberg. JAPAN 1945 The mainland of Japan. Fleet carriers and their aircraft which took part in the final attacks on Japanese warships and shore positions. Explanatory notes on Area Battle Honours for World War 11 awarded to the RAN are as follows: BATTLE HONOUR LIMITS OF AREA ,SHIPS ETC-ELIGIBILITY PACIFIC 1941 -45 {superseding RAN PACIFIC 1942-45 awarded by MOD(N)} The South -West Pacific area (as defined on 3 April 1942)with the exception of that part bounded on the west by the western boundary of the Area, on the north by 7oN,on the east by 108oE and on the south by 7oS. Ships which gave direct support to the guerilla campaign in Timor; or sank Japanese submarines; or took part in the Borneo operations in 1945; or operated in support of the Australian land forces in the Solomon Islands in 1945; or participated in minor bombardments (unless the battle honour NEW GUINEA 1942 - 44 is applicable); or were employed as escorts to convoys (unless the battle honour NEW GUINEA 1942 -44 is applicable), during the period 1 January 1942 to 14 August 1945. INDIAN OCEAN 1941 -45 All of the Indian Ocean north of 2 o 30'S with the exception of that part east of 95oE and south on 7oN. Ships which sank Japanese submarines or were employed as escorts to convoys in the area during the period 8 December 1941 to 15 August 1945. Explanatory notes on the Campaign Battle Honours for World War II awarded to the RAN are as follows: BATTLE HONOUR QUALIFYING PERIOD. SHIPS, ETC - ELIGIBILITY NEW GUINEA 1942 -44 21 July 1942 to 30 September 1944. (superseding RAN Ships which took part in the New Guinea PACIFIC 1942 -45 Campaign, ie operations against enemy held awarded by MOD(N)) territory in New Guinea (including Papua and Netherlands New Guinea), New Britian, the Bismarck Archipelago, New Ireland and Morotai Island and ships employed as escorts to convoys for this campaign.


Campaign Battle Honours awarded since 1945 are set out below: BATTLE HONOUR LIMITS OF AREA. SHIPS, ETC - ELIGIBILITY KOREA 1950 -53 The Korean Operational area. Awarded by the Admiralty MOD(N) to all ships and Fleet Air Arm squadrons allotted for duty in this area between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1953. VIETNAM 1967 -71 The Vietnam Operational Area. All HMA ships and Fleet Air Arm squadrons allotted for duty in this area during this period. Notes 1. In the above, the expression `all ships' includes Fleet Air Arm squadrons, both carrier borne and shorebased. 2. Ships employed as escorts to convoys should have completed at least 14 days in the area. Ships which did not complete the specific period of convoy duty in the area may still be awarded the battle honour as a result of an engagement with the enemy.

HMAS MANOORA 1945-10-09. THE SHIPS SHIELD LISTING ITS BATTLE HONOURS- TANAHMERAH BAY, WAKOE ISLAND, MOROTAI, HALMAHERAS, PANAON- PHILIPPINES, LINGAYEN- LUZON, TARAKAN- BORNEO, LABUAN-

BRUNEI BAY- BORNEO, BALIKPAPAN- DUTCH BORNEO, OCCUPATION OF RABAUL.


DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATIONS AND STREAMERS AWARDED TO THE RAN DURING THE VIETNAM WAR

UNITED STATES' NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION HMAS Hobart for her service in Vietnam between March and September 1967 HMAS Perth for her service from September 1967 to April 1968 . UNITED STATES' NAVY MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION The US Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation confers on the recipient the right to wear a distinctive pennant, a green pennant with yellow, blue and scarlet horizontal stripes top and bottom. In addition, members of the ship's company serving in the ship during the period for which the citation is awarded, wear a separate ribbon. The Commendation, established in July 1967, is a highly valued honour and during the period of the Vietnam war, had no equivalent in the Australian system of awards. The award may be made to any unit of the US Navy or US Marine Corps which has distinguished itself in combat or non-combat situations with valorous or meritorious achievements. The award ranks immediately below that of the US Navy Unit Commendation. The award may also be conferred upon units of armed forces of nations serving with the armed forces of the United States, providing that these units meet the standards established for US Navy and US Marine Corps units. HMAS Perth for service from September 1968 to March 1969. Australian Navy Clearance Diving Team for it's service in Vietnam from February to July 1967 . Citation for RAN Clearance Diving Team Three The Secretary of the Navy takes pleasure in presenting the Meritorious Unit Commendation to RAN Clearance Diving Team Three for service as set forth in the following citation: For meritorious achievement while conducting defence and surveillance operations in the harbors of Vung Tau, Cam Ranh Bay, Qui Nhon, and Nha Trang, in the Republic of Vietnam during the period 19 February through 30 June 1967. As a part of the Inshore Undersea Warfare Group ONE, Western Pacific Detachment, the Royal Australian Navy Clearance Diving Team THREE displayed well-coordinated effort and exemplary performance of duty during the planning and establishment phase of the counterinsurgency operations. Although operating in an environment where the United States Navy had virtually no past experience, detachment personnel were instrumental in denying enemy forces freedom of movement within assigned harbors. Harbor Defence units detected, boarded and searched large numbers of suspect junks and craft, contributing significantly to the curtailment of acts of sabotage and the flow of enemy supplies. Through their initiative, versatility, reliability and professional competence, the officers and men of the Royal Australian Navy Clearance Diving Team THREE reflected great credit upon themselves and the Royal Australian Navy, and upheld the highest traditions of the naval service.



SECTION 3

AUSTRALIAN ARMY


Colours of the 10/27 Battalion,Royal South Australia Regiment

Centenary of the Army Parade Canberra 2001

Contents

• Colours of the Australian Army • 3 Battalion Royal Australian Regiment Colours

Presidential citation 3 RAR ,23 June 1951 • Battle Honours of the Australian Army

Battle Honours of current Regiments of the Australian Armoured Corps Battle Honours of current Regiments of the Australian Infantry Corps

Distinguished Unit Citation Streamers Korean War 1950-53 Battle Honours and Distinguished Unit Citations Vietnam War 1962-72 Battle Honours and Distinguished Unit Citations


10/27 Battalion, Royal South Australia Regiment Battle Honours

All Battle Honours emblazoned on the Battalion's Queen's and regimental Colours are a result of our Battalion's participation in the respective battles or campaigns. As a result of the linking of the battalions, we possess two sets of Colours. Both sets of the Battalion's Colours display 21 individual Battle Honours, however the Battalion holds over forty such honours. (Because the Battalion has so many Battle honours in its proud history, permission was sought to display some of these honours on the Queens Colour. For this to be granted is a great honour in itself for the Battalion.) The Battle Honours on the Queen's and Regimental Colours of the Battalions that make up the Royal South Australia Regiment are identical. (ie. 10th Battalion and 27th Battalion make up the RSAR at present.) The only differences between Colours of the battalions are the Battalion's number in Roman numerals, and 43rd Battalion's Queen's Colours being on an Australian flag, rather than the Union flag. 43rd Battalion's Queen's Colours are on an Australian flag because of changes to the Queen's Colour's design approved by HRH, Queen Elizabeth II in 1969. (WWW.DEFENCE.GOV.AU}


COLOURS OF THE AUSTRALIAN ARMY

{ Reference: Australian Army Ceremonial Manual Volume 1Amend #1 dated 08 October 2003 }

Colours were used in the British Army originally as a means of identifying the location of the headquarters of regiments in battle. In time the Colours became a focal point of regimental esprit de corps and there are many stories of exploits of great heroism by soldiers defending the colours from loss. When battle honours were added to Colours they became a record of the military achievements of a regiment and were held in even higher esteem by members of the regiment. The consecration of Colours was seen to add religious significance to them, and through the Colours, to the Regiment and its duties.

Colours were carried only by the infantry and cavalry regiments. Other regiments which were responsible for skirmishing ahead of the major formations did not carry Colours because they did not always wish their location to be known and also because of the greater risk of loss of any Colours to the enemy.

In the Australian Army, Standards or Guidons are carried by Armoured units or Regiments. Queen's and Regimental Colours are carried by the Royal Military College, Duntroon, Infantry Battalions and University Regiments. Banners are carried by those Corps or Units that have had them presented by Royal or Vice-Regal personages. The Army Banner is the Senior Device of the Australian Army and can be Paraded by all military units.

The general practice by a linked unit, if in possession of the Standards, Guidons or Colours of parent units is to parade them together, however, they may be paraded separately at activities specific to one of the former units, for example memorial days.

The guns are the Colours of the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery (one or more guns on a parade constitute a Colour Party.


Top:Queen's Colour of the Eighth Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment Bottom:Regimental Colour of the Eighth Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment

3 BATTALION

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN REGIMENT COLOURS

The Colours are the focal point of the Battalion. They are consecrated symbols embodying the loyalty, spirit and traditions of the Battalion and The Regiment to which they belong. The practice of carrying symbolic flags and banners by military organisations has been present for centuries. A good example of this can be seen in the use of the Eagle Standards of the Roman Legion, implemented by Julius Caesar in order to provide easy identification and esprit de corps within his army. More pertinent to the current colours carried by the Battalion, the roots can be traced back from medieval times, where by family crests and insignia of sovereign note were carried into battle and used for unit identification and rallying points. It wasn’t until the 17th Century, when the British military forces began the transition to regimentation, that a Royal Warrant was issued detailing the composition and requirements to be adhered to by serving regiments in regard to the carriage of colours. By the September of 1743, a Royal Warrant detailing the carriage of two colours, the Sovereign and Regimental colour was

introduced, a tradition that stills remains today. The King's/Queen's Colour is a reminder to all ranks of their loyalty and duty to their Sovereign and their Country, while the Regiment Colour is the symbol of Regimental tradition and of the duty owed by each member to The Regiment.

In the early 1960’s due to a number government departments applying to use defaced versions of the Australian National Flag (ANF), it was proposed that the ANF be used to replace the Union Jack as the Kings/Queens Colour. On the 29 September 1969, after consultation with the Garter King of Arms, the Governor General informed the Prime Minister's office that the Army's application was successful, and that the Queen's Colour had been endorsed by Her Majesty the Queen. (Australian Army Guidons and Colours, P. 123) The composition of the regimental colour is blue as the Regiment is prefixed by ‘Royal’. In the case of 3 RAR’s Regimental Colour, the Battalion's motto of "Duty First" is embroidered on the colour below The Royal Australian Regiment’s badge. (Note that "Duty First" is the motto of the Royal Australian Regiment but 1RAR claim it as their Battalion motto as well because it, like the RAR Badge was created by a 1RAR soldier-See Note below0.


In addition to the customary features present on Regimental colours, battle and theatre honours may also be emblazoned on the colour. As is the case of 3 RAR’s current Regimental Colour, theatre honours for Korea and Vietnam have been awarded, and the battle honours of Kapyong, Long Tan and Coral - Balmoral have each respectively been placed on the regimental colour. In addition to the battle honours received by 3RAR, the Battalion also carries on the Regimental colour a distinguished Unit Citation Streamer. The streamer represents a United States of America Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), presented to the Battalion for active service with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in South Vietnam, between 1965 – 67. . NOTE: The design of the regimental badge was selected from a number of suggestions considered by the Director of Infantry, Brigadier I.R. Campbell in early 1949. The design was drawn up by Sergeant E.J. O'Sullivan of 1 RAR Intelligence Section and had originally been intended for 1 RAR only. The design featured the kangaroo and wattle wreath as distinctly Australian symbols; the boomerang, which had been used in the tactical signs of the 2nd AIF from which the original units of 34 Brigade were raised; the crossed rifles signifying the personal weapon of the infantryman; and the crown because of the royal title of the Regiment. The simply but highly appropriate motto 'Duty First' was suggested by Major K.B. Thomas MC of 1 RAR. This motto was adopted and included on the badge. Although the badge was reproduced on Christmas cards in 1949, it was not until early 1954 that the hat badge was issued to replace the rising sun badge.

QUEENS AND REGIMENTAL COLOURS PRESENTED TO THE BATTALIONS

Unit Date Place By Whom 1 RAR 30 March 1957 Brisbane The Governor-General, Field Marshal Sir William Slim, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, GBE, DSO, MC, KstJ 3 RAR 24 April 1956 Sydney The Governor-General, Field Marshal Sir William

Slim GCB, GCMG,GCVO, GBE, DSO, MC, KstJ 1 RAR 5 July 1976 Townsville The Governor-General, The Honourable Sir John Kerr, AK, GCMG, KstJ, QC 1 RAR 12 May 1988 Townsville The Governor-General, Sir Ninian Stephen,

AK, GCMG, GCVO, KBE,KStJ 2 RAR 2 September 1955 Brisbane The Governor-General, Field Marshal Sir William

Slim, GCB, GCMG GCVO, GBE, DSO, MC, KstJ 2 RAR 17 September 1976 Townsville The Governor-General, The Honourable Sir John

Kerr, AK, GCMG, KstJ, QC 3 RAR 24 April 1985 Sydney The Governor-General, Sir Ninian Stephen,

AK, GCMG, GCVO, KBE, KStJ


4 RAR 11 April 1965 Adelaide The Governor-General, The Right Honourable Viscount De Lisle, VC, GCMG, GCVO

4 RAR 11 October 1984 Townsville The Governor-General, Sir Ninian Stephen, AK,

GCMG, GCVO, KBE, KStJ 5 RAR 29 October 1967 Holsworthy The Governor of New South Wales Sir Roden

Cutler, VC, KCMG CBE 6 RAR 10 May 1968 Townsville The Governor-General,

The Right Honourable Lord Casey, GCMG, CH, DSO, MC 7 RAR 6 October 1968 Holsworthy The Governor-General, Sir Roden Cutler, VC,

KCMG, CBE 8 RAR 25 Sep 1968 Terendak,Malaysia The Colonel Commandant, Lieutenant

General Sir Reginald Pollard, KBE, CB, DSO 8 RAR 1 October 1989 Enoggera The Governor-General, The Honourable Bill

Hayden, AC 9 RAR 29 April 1971 Enoggera The Governor-General, The Right Honourable Sir

Paul Hasluck, GCMG, GCVO 9 RAR 1 October 1989 Enoggera The Governor-General, The Honourable Bill

Hayden, AC ------------------------------------------------------------------------

DUTY FIRST

The Colours presented to the Battalion on the 24 April 1985 by His Excellency The Right

Honourable Sir Ninian Stephens, AK, GCMG, GCVO, KBE, Governor General of the

Commonwealth of Australia.


Australian Army National Memorial. ANZAC Parade.Canberra

BATTLE HONOURS OF THE AUSTRALIAN ARMY

{Reference: Australian Army Ceremonial Manual Volume 2 Chapter 2 Amend #1 dated 03 October 2003}

In the Australian Army Honorary Distinctions, Theatre and Battle Honours (generally known as Battle Honours) are only awarded to the regiments of The Royal Australian Armoured Corps and The Royal Australian Infantry Corps. The Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery claims its motto as its sole battle honour—Ubique: Everywhere. Battle Honours have usually only been awarded on a regimental basis, eg the infantry battalions of World War I and World War II listed were, in reality, single battalion regiments. Honours to be awarded are determined at the conclusion of a conflict by a Battle Honours Nomenclature committee which recommends those honours which should be recognised. Consequently those approved are the most significant of the conflict. A further committee then considers regimental (or association) submissions and recommends which of the approved honours should be awarded to which regiments. In the case of the Vietnam conflict both functions were fulfilled concurrently by the one committee. Final approval is by the Sovereign, whose authority for the issue of Battle Honours for the Vietnam conflict was delegated to the Governor-General. A regiment is not limited in the number of Honours that may be awarded, however, as noted, the number that may be emblazoned on the Standards, Guidons and Colours is restricted, eg 10 Honours may be emblazoned on the Guidons and regimental Colour for World War I. Within these limits it is the particular regimental committee (or association if the regiment has been disbanded) which selects those Honours to be emblazoned. The Royal Australian Armoured Corps retains the individual Guidons and Honours of the units from which the present day units are derived.


The State Infantry Regiments, formed in 1960, claim the Honours awarded to the regiments from which they were formed and their Colours reflect a composite of those Honours selected for emblazonment. Part 3 of this chapter gives additional information on the inheritance of Honours by State regiments. Terminology 2.7 Terminology used in regard to honours to regiments for participation in operations includes: *Honorary Distinctions. The criteria for Honorary Distinctions, as were awarded for participation in the Sudan and South Africa, did not demand distinction in battle. Conversely an Honorary Distinction did not preclude participation in battle as occurred in South Africa, a conflict in which many significant actions occurred. The Distinctions for South Africa are qualified by dates (years) of involvement of the recipient regiments. *Theatre Honours. The immense geographical parameters of some conflicts required the division of hostilities into theatres, eg in World War II North Africa and South West Pacific. The dates (by years) of participation qualify the Honour awarded. Although the conflicts in Korea and Vietnam were not on the same geographic scale, the use of a Theatre Honour prevailed. The award of a Theatre Honour is not dependent upon the award of Battle Honours. *Campaign Honours. Campaign Honours is a term which may be encountered and is used in a general sense. It is not used in this chapter because it is not employed in anyof the references from which the information was obtained. However, by way of explanation, some actions which occurred in a particular theatre may have comprised more than one battle. These were subsequently grouped as a campaign. The Honour ‘Liberation of Australian New Guinea’ depicted in this document could reasonably be described as a Campaign Honour since it involved many battles over a protracted period *Battle Honours. Battle Honours, as the name implies, recognises participation in a particular battle. In differing cases the battle may comprise one significant action, eg Hamel (World War l) or a series of actions spread over a period of time, eg Shaggy Ridge (World War II). It is of note that participation in a battle/operation does not, in itself, entitle a regiment to a Battle Honour. The criteria for the award of a Battle Honour requires significant involvement in the battle. There are many examples of regiments which took part in battles but which were not subsequently awarded the related battle Honour. Additionally a Battle Honour has not previously been awarded without the appropriate Theatre Honour also being awarded. The Army Ceremonial Manual Volume 2 Annexes A-E inclusive list the Battle Honours awarded to, or inherited by Australian Army Units. This BACKGROUNDER only contains Annexes D (Korean War 1950-53) and E Vietnam War1962-72 ,as examples of the data available.


BATTLE HONOURS OF CURRENT REGIMENTS OF THE

AUSTRALIAN ARMOURED CORPS 2. 9

During the period of the late 1940s/early 1950s the current regiments of the Royal AustralianArmoured Corps were raised based on pre-existing regiments. The current regiments retain the Guidons of the World War I regiments from which they derive with the appropriate Battle Honours detailed in the preceding tables. The current regiments are: a. 1st Armoured Regiment. b. 1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers comprising: (1) 1st Royal New South Wales Lancers; and (2) 15th Northern Rivers Lancers. c. 2nd Cavalry Regiment. d. 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry) comprising: (1) 2nd Light Horse Regiment, Moreton Light Horse (Queensland Mounted Infantry); and (2) 14th Light Horse Regiment, West Moreton Light Horse (Queensland Mounted Infantry). e. 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment, comprising: (1) 3rd Cavalry Regiment, and (2) 4th Cavalry Regiment. f. 3rd/9th South Australian Mounted Rifles, comprising: (1) 3rd Light Horse Regiment, South Australian Mounted Rifles; and (2) 9th Light Horse Regiment, Flinders Light Horse. g. 4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse, comprising: (1) 4th Light Horse Regiment, Corangamite Regiment; (2) 17th Light Horse Regiment Prince of Wales's Light Horse; and (3) 9th Light Horse Regiment, Yarrowee Light Horse. h. 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles, comprising: (1) 8th Light Horse Regiment, Indi Light Horse; (2) 13th Light Horse Regiment Gippsland Light Horse; and (3) 20th Light Horse Regiment, Victorian Mounted Rifles. i. 10th Light Horse raised from 10th Light Horse Regiment, Western Australian Mounted Infantry. j. 12th/16th Hunter River Lancers, comprising: (1) 12th Light Horse Regiment New England Light Horse; and (2) 16th Light Horse Regiment, Hunter River Lancers.


BATTLE HONOURS OF CURRENT REGIMENTS OF THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY CORPS

.10 On 1 July 1960 the current State Regiments of the Royal Australian Infantry Corps were raised based on pre-existing regiments. The basis of formation later increased by the addition of further units, ie 49 RQR, 19 RNSWR (later 1/19 RNSWR) and 22 RVR (Australian Army Orders 85/1962 and 29/1963 refer). The current regiments claim the Battle Honours which derive from the units (single or linked unit regiments) from which they were formed. The Colours of the current regiments are emblazoned with Battle Honours (in the manner prescribed for the particular conflict), which are a representative grouping of those awarded to the units from which the regiments derive. In 1986, 51 RQR returned to its previous status as a single unit regiment, ie 51st Battalion The Far North Queensland Regiment, consequently resuming appropriate Battle Honours. Existing regiments, the regiments from which derived and the Battle Honours emblazoned on their colours are: a. The Royal Australian Regiment: as detailed for Korea and Vietnam. b. The Royal Queensland Regiment, derived from: (1) 9 Inf Bn (The Moreton Regiment); (2) 25 Inf Bn (The Darling Downs Regiment); (3) 31 Inf Bn (The Kennedy Regiment); (4) 41 Inf Bn (The Byron Scottish Regiment); (5) 42 Inf Bn (The Capricornia Regiment); (6) 7 Inf Bn (The Wide Bay Regiment); (7) 49 Inf Bn (The Stanley Regiment); and (8) 51 Inf Bn (The Far North Queensland Regiment) Emblazoned Battle Honours: South Africa 1899–1902, Pozieres, Bullecourt, Ypres 1917, Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Passchendaele, Ancre 1918, Amiens, Hindenburg Line, Landing at Anzac, Defence of Tobruk, Syria 1941, Merjayun, Kokoda Trail, Cape Endaiadere—Sinemi Creek, Milne Bay, Liberation of Australian New Guinea, Tsimba Ridge, Borneo and Balikpapan c. The Royal New South Wales Regiment, derived from: (1) 1 Inf Bn (Cdo) City of Sydney's Own Regiment); (2) 2 Inf Bn (City of Newcastle Regiment); (3) 3 Inf Bn (Werriwa Regiment); (4) 4 Inf Bn (Australian Rifles); (5) 13 Inf Bn (Macquarie Regiment); (6) 17/18 Inf Bn (North Shore Regiment) previously 17 Inf Bn (North Sydney Regiment) and 18 Inf Bn (Kuring-gai Regiment); (7) 19 Inf Bn (South Sydney Regiment); (8) 30 Inf Bn (New South Wales Scottish Regiment); (9) 34 Inf Bn (Illawarra Regiment); (10) 35 Inf Bn (Newcastle's Own Regiment); (11) 41 Inf Bn (Byron Scottish Regiment); (12) 45 Inf Bn (St George Regiment); and (13) 6 New South Wales Mounted Rifles (Allotted from RAAC to RA INF by AHQ directive


of 0I July 1956). Emblazoned Battle Honours: Suakin 1885, South Africa 1899–1902/Somme 1916'18, Pozieres, Bullecourt Ypres 1917, Passchendaele, Amiens, Hindenburg Line, Landing at Anzac, Rumani, Palestine 1917–18, North Africa 194042, Bardia 1941, Defence of Tobruk, ElAlamein, Syria 1941, Greece 1941, Malaya 1941–42, Kokoda Trail, Buna-Gona and Borneo. d. The Royal Victoria Regiment, derived from: (1) 5 Inf Bn (Victorian Scottish Regiment); (2) 6 Inf Bn (Royal Melbourne Regiment); (3) 8/7 Inf Bn (North Western Victoria Regiment) formerly 7 Inf Bn (North West Murray Borderers) and 8 Inf Bn (City of Ballarat Regiment); (4) 22 Inf Bn (Richmond Regiment); (5) 38 Inf Bn (Northern Victoria Regiment); (6) 58/32 Inf Bn (City of Essendon Regiment) formerly 32 Inf Bn (FootscrayRegiment) and 58 Inf Bn (Essendon-Coburg-Brunswick Rifles); and (7) 59 Inf Bn (Hume Regiment). Emblazoned Battle Honours: South Africa 1899–1902, Somme 1916'18, Pozieres, Bullecourt Ypres 1917, Polygon Wood, Amiens, Albert 1918, Mont St Quentin, HindenburgLine, Landing at Anzac, Bardia 1941, Capture of Tobruk, El Alamein, Greece 1941, South West Pacific 1942–45, Bobdubi II, Lae-Nadzab, Finisterres, Hari River and Borneo. e. The Royal South Australia Regiment, derived from: (1) 10 Inf Bn (Adelaide Rifles); (2) 27 Inf Bn (South Australian Scottish Regiment); and (3) 43/48 Inf Bn (Hindmarsh Regiment) formerly 43 Inf Bn (Hindmarsh Regiment) and 48 Inf Bn (Torrens Regiment). Emblazoned Battle Honours: South Africa 1899–1902, Somme 1916'18, Pozieres, Bullecourt, Messines 1917, Ypres 1917, Menin Road, Passchendaele, Amiens, HindenburgLine, Landing at Anzac, Defence of Tobruk, El Alamein, Damour, Kokoda Trail, Buna-Gona, Milne Bay, Finschhafen, Sattelburg, Shaggy Ridge and Borneo. f. The Royal Western Australia Regiment, derived from: (1) 11/44 Inf Bn (City of Perth Regiment) formerly 11 Inf Bn (City of Perth Regiment) and 44 Inf Bn (West Australian Rifles); (2) 16 Inf Bn (Cameron Highlanders of Western Australia); and (3) 28 Inf Bn (Swan Regiment). Emblazoned Battle Honours: South Africa 1899–1902, Somme 1916'18, Pozieres, Bullecourt, Messines 1917, Ypres 1917, Passchendaele, Amiens, Mont St Quentin, Hindenburg Line, Landing at Anzac, Capture of Tobruk, Defence of Tobruk, El Alamein, Damour, Brallos Pass, Kokoda Trail, Lae-Nadzab, Liberation of Australian New Guinea, Borneo and Labuan. g. The Royal Tasmania Regiment, derived from: (1) 12 Inf Bn (Launceston Regiment); and (2) 40 Inf Bn (Derwent Regiment). Emblazoned Battle Honours: South Africa 1899–1902, Somme 1916'18, Pozieres, Bullecourt, Messines 1917, Ypres 1917, Passchendaele, Amiens, Hindenburg Line, Landingat Anzac, Gallipoli 1915, North Africa 1941, Defence of Tobruk, South West Pacific 1942–45, Koepang, Buna-Gona, Milne Bay, Goodenough Island, Shaggy Ridge, Borneo andBalikpapan. h. 51 Battalion, The Far North Queensland Regiment, derived from 51 Inf Bn (Far


NorthQueensland Regiment). Battle Honours (those emblazoned indicated by an asterisk): Somme 1916'18, Pozieres*,Bullecourt, Messines 1917*, Ypres 1917, Menin Road, Polygon Wood*, Passchendaele*,Ancre 1918*, Villers Brettoneux*, Hamel, Amiens*, Albert 1918, Hindenburg Line*, Epehy, France and Flanders 1916–18*, Egypt 1916, Liberation of Australian New Guinea*, Tsimba Ridge*, Bonis-Porton* and South West Pacific 1943–45* State infantry regiments inherited those Battle Honours awarded to the battalions which were active at the time of the raising of the State regiments. It was later found that there were a number of Honours which had not been included because they had been awarded to battalions which were inactive at the time of raising the State regiments. These have now been identified and advised to the appropriate regiments. The allocation of the Honours of the inactive units to regiments can be found in the Army Ceremonial Manual Volume Chapter 2.

DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATIONS AND STREAMERS AWARDED TO THE AUSTRALIAN ARMY DURING THE

VIETNAM WAR The streamer of a distinguished Unit Citation, awarded by a foreign government and approved by AHQ, is to be attached to the Guidon or Regimental Colour of the entitled unit at all times. Citations currently approved are: *4/19 PWLH—United States of America Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), for active service with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in South Vietnam 1965–66; *1 RAR—United States of America Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), for active service with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in South Vietnam 1965–66; *3 RAR—United States of America Presidential Unit Citation (for the Battle of Kapyong); *6 RAR—United States of America Presidential Unit Citation (Army), (for the Battle of Long Tan); and * 8 RAR—Republic of Vietnam Cross of gallantry with gold palm Unit Citation (for operations in the Minh Dam Special Zone).

Guidons and Colours are to be marched both on and off parades with the streamer in place. When new Guidons or Regimental Colours are presented they are done so with a new streamer. {Reference: Australian Army Ceremonial Manual Chapter 5 October 2003} Note by Ed The Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) was awarded the following Distinguished Unit Citations in Vietnam: REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM CROSS OF GALLANTRY WITH PALM UNIT CITATION Units awarded this citation receive a unit citation streamer, coloured the same as the Gallantry Cross with Palm, for display on the unit colours. Members of the unit during the period of the award are conferred with the right to wear the ribbon of the Gallantry Cross with Palm, mounted in a gold frame. In addition, the Commanding Officer of the unit is granted an individual award of the decoration, Gallantry Cross with Palm.


The citation, as follows, was conferred by the Chief of the Joint General Staff, Armed Forces of the Republic of Vietnam: Citation for The Australian Army Training Team, Vietnam The Australian Army Training Team, Vietnam distinguished itself by exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services from July 1962 to October 1971. Throughout the foregoing period,the members of this valiant Team consistently manifested professional competency and the highest degree of dedication in their advisory efforts on behalf of a beleaguered nation - the Republic of Vietnam. As an operational entity composed on individually selected volunteers, the Australian Army Training Team, Vietnam displayed unexcelled initiative, relentless perseverance, and undaunted courage in providing advice and assistance which enhanced the ability of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Vietnam to successfully engage and defeat the enemy on the battlefield. In addition to furnishing technical knowledge with respect to complex tactical operations, this motivated organisation offered its expertise to aid in the implementation of the Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development Support program. The United States Army Meritorious Unit Commendation – See separate article at Section 5 Annex E to Chapter 2 of the Ceremonial Manual when addressing the Vietnam War 1962-72 Battle honours does record that the AATTV was awarded the United States of America Meritorious Unit Commendation and the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm. It is presumed that these citations awarded to the AATTV are a not included in the Army Ceremonial listing above on the basis that no Colours have been awarded to the unit.

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218. KOREA 1950–53 1 Aug 1950–26 Jul 1953 Royal Australian Regiment* a. One Theatre and one Battle Honour to be emblazoned on the Regimental Colour. Approval for emblazonment of additional Battle Honour Maryang San given 31 Oct 94.

b. Units shown with an asterisk selected the particular Honour for emblazonment.

c. Australian Army Orders 24/1959, 102/1960, 112/1961, 113/1961 and 135/1961 refer.

d. In chronological sequence.

e. A United States of America Distinguished Unit Citation was awarded to 3 RAR at the Battle of Kapyong. Citation streamer flown on the Regimental Colour (Australian Army Order 54/1952 refers).

f. Serials 219, 220, 223, 225, 226A and 228 are Honours unique to the Royal Australian Regiment.

g. Battle Honour Maryang San was approved by the Governor-General on 16 Mar 1994.

219. Sariwon 17–18 Sep 1950 Royal Australian Regiment

220. Yongyu 21–22 Oct 1950 Royal Australian Regiment

221. Chonju 25–30 Oct 1950 Royal Australian Regiment

222. Pakchon 4–5 Nov 1951 Royal Australian Regiment

223. Uijongbu 1 Jan 1951 Royal Australian Regiment

224. Chuam-Ni 14–17 Feb 1951 Royal Australian Regiment

225. Maehwa-San 7–12 Mar 1951 Royal Australian Regiment

226. Kapyong 22–25 Apr 1951 Royal Australian Regiment*

226A. Maryang San 5–9 Oct and 5 Nov 1951 Royal Australian Regiment*

227. Kowang-San 3–12 Oct 1953 Royal Australian Regiment

228. The Samichon 24–26 Jul 1953 Royal Australian Regiment

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b. Royal Australian Regiment*

a. Chronological sequence.

b. Approved by the Governor-General June 1983.

c. One Theatre and two Battle Honours to be emblazoned on the Standard, Guidon or Regimental Colour.

d. Units shown with an asterisk selected the particular Honour for emblazonment.

e. Unit citations were awarded as follows:

(1) United States of America Presidential Unit Citation (Army)—D Coy 6 RAR at the Battle of Long Tan. Citation streamer flown on the Regimental Colour (Australian Army Order 36/1968 refers).

(2) United States of America Meritorious Unit Commendation:

AATV 1962–69 (Australian Army Order 35/1971 refers).

b. VIETNAM 1968–72 1st Armoured Regiment*

230. Long Tan 18–19 Aug 1966 a. 3rd Cavalry Regiment*

b. Royal Australian Regiment*

231. Bien Hoa 24 Jan–1 Mar 1968 a. 3rd Cavalry Regiment

b. Royal Australian Regiment

232. Coral-Balmoral 21 Apr–7 Jun 1968 a. 1st Armoured Regiment

b. 3rd Cavalry Regiment*

c. Royal Australian Regiment*

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c. Royal Australian Regiment

234. Binh Ba 31 May–30 Jun 1969 a. 1st Armoured Regiment*

b. 3rd Cavalry Regiment

c. Royal Australian Regiment

1 RAR Group 1965–66 Citation streamer flown on the 1RAR Regimental Colour.(3) Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm—AATV 1962–71 (Australian Army Order 33/1974 refers).

(4) Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation—8 RAR 1969–70. Citation streamer flown on the 1 RAR Regimental Colour (Australian Army Order 33/1974 refers).

f. Those Honours relating to Vietnam are unique to the Australian Army.

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SECTION 4

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE


Contents

• Colour, Standards and Banners of the RAAF • Parading Queen’s Colours,Squadron Standards and Governor-General’s Banners

• Battle Honours of the Royal Australian Air Force • Distinguished Unit Citations and Streamers Awarded to the RAAF during the Vietnam

War

A moth eaten rag on a worm-eaten pole, It does not look likely to stir a man’s soul;

Tis the deeds that were done ‘neath the moth-eaten rag, When the pole was a staff and the rag was a flag. Sir Edward Hamley


COLOUR, STANDARDS AND BANNERS OF THE RAAF

COLOURS AND STANDARDS As the Royal Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force had their founding’s in the British and Australian Armies, it was only natural that they both should adopt the army custom of awarding Colours. It was not until 1943, on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the RAF, that King George VI announced his intention to award a ceremonial flag (to be known as the ‘Standard’) to operational squadrons. Later, the King made it known that there should be Colours for the RAF as well as Standards. The first Colour was presented to the Royal Air Force College at Cranwell in 1948 and the first Standard was presented to No 1 Fighter Squadron (RAF) in 1953. The RAAF was the first Commonwealth Air Force to have Colours and Standards awarded. In 1948 when His Majesty King George VI approved the Ensign for the RAAF, he agreed in principle to a King’s Colour for the Service. The design for the RAAF King’s Colour was approved by His Majesty in 1950. However, before the Colour could be presented the King died. In May 1952, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II consented to the original Colour, bearing the King’s cypher (GVIR), being presented to the RAAF as the Queen’s Colour. The Queen’s Colour for the RAAF, as it is now known, was presented to the RAAF on behalf of Her Majesty by the then Minister for Air, the Honourable W. McMahon MP, on the direct command of the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, Sir William J. McKell GCMG, who was delayed in Canberra at the last moment. Her Majesty wishes were that no changes be made to the cypher until the Colour wore out and then it should be replaced with a Colour bearing the cypher of the Sovereign of the day. On 2 March 1982, Her Majesty approved a new design for the Queen’s Colour for the RAAF. This Colour was presented by Her Majesty on 5 March 1986 at RAAF Base Richmond. The original award of the Queen’s Colour for the RAAF also saw the creation of a new tradition for Colours for Commonwealth Air Forces. In approving Colours, because of the distances between RAAF bases and as at that time Colours could only be transported by road, facsimiles of the Colour were also approved. These facsimiles were accorded the same precedence and ceremony as the original Colour. The original Queen’s Colour (GVIR) is laid up at RAAF Williams, Point Cook, in the Holy Trinity Chapel. The facsimiles are on display at Air Command Headquarters, Headquarters Logistic Command, the RAAF Museum and the Australian War Memorial. In requesting approval for the new Queen’s Colour for the RAAF, Her Majesty was advised that by tradition and usage, transporting of Colours in Australia was now by Service air. Facsimiles therefore were no longer required. When the new Queen’s Colour for the RAAF was presented, the use of facsimiles ceased. The Queen’s Colour for the RAAF is presently located within the Air Force Headquarters in the Russell Offices , Canberra. UNIT QUEEN’S COLOURS A Queen’s Colour may be awarded by order of the Sovereign to an establishment or unit but only in exceptional circumstances. The Queen’s Colour is awarded by order of Her Majesty to non-operational units that have completed 25 years of service in the Royal Australian Air Force or the Australian Flying Corps, and have earned the Sovereign’s appreciation for


especially outstanding service. The first unit Queen’s Colour was presented to RAAF School of Technical Training, WAGGA WAGGA NSW, in 1971.

SQUADRON STANDARDS A Squadron Standard is awarded by order of the Sovereign to an operational squadron for having completed 25 years of service in the RAAF or the Australian Flying Corps, or for having earned the Sovereign’s appreciation for especially outstanding operations. The Standard is inscribed with battle honours an example of which is shown udre the discussion on RAAF Battle Honours. The first Squadron Standards awarded in the RAAF were presented to Nos 1, 3 and 77 squadrons in 1957. GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S BANNERS Approval for a RAAF ceremonial flag known as The Governor-General’s Banner was announced on 15 January 1981 by His Excellency The Right Honourable Sir Zelman Cowen AK, GCMG, GCVO, KStJ, the Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia. The Banner is awarded by order of the Governor-General to nonoperational units that have completed 25 years of service in the Royal Australian Air Force or the Australian Flying Corps, or to non-operational units that have earned the Governor-General’s appreciation for especially outstanding service.


PARADING QUEEN’S COLOURS, SQUADRON STANDARDS AND GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S BANNERS

THE QUEEN’S COLOUR FOR THE RAAF The Queen’s Colour for the RAAF may be paraded on its own when the occasion is seen to be representational of the RAAF, eg RAAF Anniversary Church Service. The Queen’s Colour for the RAAF is only to be paraded on a review parade when the RAAF is seen to be parading as a whole or when all Unit Queen’s Colours , Squadron Standards and Governor-General’s Banners are paraded at the same time. The Queen’s Colour for the RAAF is to be paraded only on the following occasions: a. by a RAAF Guard of Honour or ceremonial parade mounted for: (1) Her Majesty the Queen, Her Majesty the Queen Mother or other members of the Royal Family; (2) the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia; (3) the Governor-General of another Commonwealth Country; (4) the Governor, Lieutenant-Governor or Administrator of an Australian State or Territory within that State or Territory; (5) the Sovereign of a foreign State; (6) the Head of State of a foreign country; or (7) a member of a reigning foreign Imperial or Royal Family. b. a parade in celebration of the birthday of the Sovereign; c. a parade on the anniversary of the formation of the RAAF; d. a parade for the laying up and/or replacement of the Queen’s Colour to the RAAF; and


e. on any other ceremonial occasion with considerable Service significance, with the approval of Air Force Headquarters . UNIT QUEEN’S COLOURS, SQUADRON STANDARDS AND GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S BANNERS Excepting for guards of honour, a Unit Queen’s Colour, Squadron Standard and Governor-General’s Banner may be paraded with the Queen’s Colour to the RAAF when the occasion is seen to be representational of the Unit concerned and not of the RAAF as a whole. Unit Colours may also be paraded on any appropriate ceremonial occasion, including: a. ceremonial parades; b. route lining; c. Service funerals; d. significant National occasions (Anzac Day marches etc); and e. as detailed in Chapter 6 (only one Colour is to be paraded for a Guard of Honour). PARADING COLOURS, STANDARDS AND BANNERS WITH THE ANF AND RAAF ENSIGN Unless otherwise specified Colours, Standards and Banners are not to be paraded with the ANF or the RAAF Ensign.


Royal Australian Air Force Memorial . ANZAC Parade,Canberra.

BATTLE HONOURS OF THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE

{Reference :Defence Instruction (Air Force) ADMIN 10-13 August 84 Battle Honours of the RAAF} In 1954 Her Majesty the Queen graciously approved a list of Battle Honours to the Royal Australian Air Force for conflicts in which the RAAF was engaged in the two World Wars. In 1982, under authority from Her Majesty, His Excellency the Governor-General approved Royal Australian Air Force Battle Honours for the conflicts in Korea and Vietnam. All Royal Australian Air Force Battle Honours are shown below Battle Honours in respect of operations in which RAAF squadrons took part. Battle Honours for operations in which the RAAF personnel who took part did so when serving with RAF squadrons are not included in the following list as those RAAF personnel did not constitute actual RAAF units. His Excellency the Governor-General will approve the award of Battle Honours as official honours from the list at Annex A to squadrons according to the campaigns in which they have taken part. Squadrons are to apply to DEFAIR (ATTN: DGPS-AF) through normal channels for those Battle Honours to which they consider they are entitled. DEFAIR will then progress the submission to His Excellency. Each squadron allotted Battle Honours is entitled to one Battle Honour plaque at public expense. The squadron is to display this plaque at its headquarters. Squadrons which have been awarded a Standard are to have all entitled Battle Honours enscrolled on the Standard. In addition to the display by squadrons of Battle Honours which they have won, the collective list of Battle Honours of the Royal Australian Air Force may be displayed in war memorials and other appropriate places as approved by His Excellency the Governor-General.


BATTLE HONOURS OF

THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE (Note: The dates shown below are limiting dates. The dates inscribed against a Battle Honour of a particular squadron are to be within those limiting dates, eg a squadron which went to Darwin in1942 and stayed until 1944 would be entitled to the honour - `Darwin 1942-1944´.)

SCHEDULE I - FIRST WORLD WAR 1914-1918 Battle Honour Conditions of Eligibility Mesopotamia 1915-1916 For operations over Mesopotamia and Persia in the liberation of Mesopotamia from the Turks. Palestine 1916-1918 For operations over Palestine, Transjordan and Syria, in the liberation of those territories from the Turks. Egypt 1916 For operations by squadrons based in Egypt during the Turkish advance on the Suez Canal across Sinai; and for operations in the Western Desert against the Senussi. Western Front 1917-1918 For operations in support of the Allied Armies in Belgium and France.

SCHEDULE II - SECOND WORLD WAR 1939-1945 Battle Honour Conditions of Eligibility Defence of Britain 1940-1945 For interception operations after the Battle of Britain, in defence of Great Britain and Northern Ireland against enemy aircraft and flying bombs (November 1940 to 1945). Atlantic 1939-1945 For operations by aircraft of Coastal Command and others employed in the coastal role over the Atlantic Ocean from the outbreak of war to VE day. Bismarck For operations by aircraft of Coastal Command associated with the action against the Bismarck (24th to 29th May 1941). English Channel and North Sea 1939-45 For ship attack, anti-submarine and mining operations over the English Channel and North Sea from the outbreak of war to VE day. Tirpitz For operations resulting in the sinking of the Tirpitz. Baltic 1939-1945 For operations over the Baltic and its approach by squadrons of Bomber and Coastal Commands from the outbreak of war to VE day. Fortress Europe 1940-1944 For operations by aircraft based in the British Isles, against targets in Germany, Italy and enemy-occupied Europe, from the fall of France to the invasion of Normandy. France and Germany 1944-1945 For operations over France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany, during the liberation of North- West Europe and the advance into the enemy´s homeland from the initiation of air action preparatory to the invasion of France to VE day (April 1944 to 8th May 1945). Biscay Ports 1940-1945 For operations over the Bay of Biscay ports


from the fall of France to VE day. Ruhr 1940-45 For bombardment of the Ruhr by aircraft of Bomber Command. Berlin 1940-45 For bombardment of Berlin by aircraft of Bomber Command. German Ports 1940-1945 For bombardment of the German ports by aircraft of Bomber Command and Coastal Command. Normandy 1944 For operations supporting the Allied landings in Normandy, the establishment of the lodgment area, and the subsequent `break-through´ (June to August 1944). Walcheren For operations in support of the capture of the Island of Walcheren (3rd October to 9th November 1944). Rhine For operations in support of the battle for the Rhine crossing (8th February to 24th March 1945). Biscay 1940-1945 For operations over the Bay of Biscay by aircraft of Coastal Command and Fighter Command, and Bomber Command aircraft loaned to Coastal Command, between the fall of France and VE day 25th June 1940 to 8th May 1945). South-East Europe 1942-1945 For operations over Yugoslavia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Greece. Egypt and Libya 1940-1945 For operations in the defence of Egypt and the conquest of Libya, from the outbreak of war against Italy to the retreat of the Axis Forces into Tunisia (10th June 1940 to 6th February 1943). El Alamein For operations during the retreat El Alamein and subsequent actions (June 1942 to November 1942). El Hamma For operations at El Hamma in support of the Battle of the Mareth Line by squadrons operationally controlled by Air Headquarters, Western Desert (including No. 205 Group Squadrons engaged in tactical bombing), during the period 20th-21st March to 28th March 1943, inclusive. North Africa 1942-1943 For operations in connection with the campaign in French North Africa, from the initial landings in Algeria to the expulsion of the Axis Powers from Tunisia (8th November 1942 to 13 May 1943). Mediterranean 1940-1943 For operations over Italy, Sicily and the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas by aircraft based in the Mediterranean area (including reconnaissance, convoy protection, mining, and attacks on enemy ports and shipping), between the entry of Italy into the war and the initiation


of air action preparatory to the Sicilian campaign (10th June 1940 to 30th June 1943). Sicily 1943 For operations in furtherance of the conquest of Sicily (1st July to 17th August 1943) by aircraft based in Africa, Malta, and Sicily. Italy 1943-1945 For operations over Italy. Anzio and Nettuno For operations in support of the Allied landings at Anzio and Nettuno (January 1944). Gustav Line For squadrons participating in the operations against the Gustav Line (May 1944). Gothic Line For air operations in support of the breaching of the Gothic Line (August to September 1944). Eastern Waters 1941-1945 For operations over waters east of the Mediterranean and Red Sea, including the Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal, the Java Sea, and South China Sea, throughout the war with Japan (this honour not only for coastal squadrons). Arctic 1940-1945 For operations over the Arctic by squadrons of Coastal Command based in Iceland, Russia and the Shetlands. Russia 1941-1945 For operations from Russian bases (1941-1945) Syria 1941 For operations over Syria during the campaign against the Vichy French (8th June to 12th July 1941). Pacific 1941-1945 For operations against the Japanese in the Pacific theatre, throughout the war with Japan (8th December 1941 to 15th August 1945). Malaya 1941-1942 For operations against the Japanese in Malaya, Sumatra and Java from 8th December 1941 until the final capitulation in Java on 12th March 1942. Darwin 1941-1944 For operations in defence of Darwin and offensive operations from bases in North-West Australia from8th December 1941 until the capture of Morotai on 4th October 1944. Rabaul 1942 For squadrons, directly participating in the defence of Rabaul - January 1942. Coral Sea For operations against Japanese aircraft and naval units in connection with the Coral Sea action between 20th April 1942 and 10th May 1942. New Guinea 1942-1944 For operations against the Japanese by squadrons based in New Guinea from 8th December 1941 until the capture of Morotai on 4th October 1944. Moresby 1942-1943 For operations against the Japanese in defence of Moresby and by offensive operations from Moresby from 8th December 1941, until the capture of Lae on16th September 1943. Milne Bay For squadrons operating against the Japanese from Milne Bay in the defence of Milne Bay


from 25th July 1942 until the last Japanese large scale attack on Milne Bay on 19th May 1943. Bismarck Sea For those squadrons who directly participated in the Bismarck Sea Battle between 1st and 5th March 1943. New Britain 1943 For squadrons employed on operations against New Britain from the first attack on Rabaul on 24th January 1942, until the landing in the Admiralty Islands on 29th February 1944. Markham Valley 1943-1944 For squadrons participating in the recapture of Lae, Nadzab, Finschhafen and in subsequent operations from Markham Valley aerodromes until the landing at Hollandia on 22nd April 1944. Dutch New Guinea For squadrons directly participating in the capture of Hollandia, Biak, Noemfor and in subsequent operations from Dutch New Guinea aerodromes until the capture of Morotai on 4th October 1944. Morotai For squadrons directly participating in the capture of Morotai and in subsequent operations from Morotai against the Japanese until the landing at Tarakan on1st May 1945. South China Sea 1944-1945 For squadrons employed on bombing and mining attacks on sea communications in the South China Sea from 9th November 1944 until 15th August 1945. Borneo 1945 For operations in direct support of the capture of Labuan, Balikpapan and Tarakan, and for subsequent operations over Borneo from 16th April 1945 until 15th August 1945.

SCHEDULE III - KOREA 1950-1953 Battle Honour Conditions of Eligibility

Korea 1950-1953 For operations in Korea between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1953.

SCHEDULE IV - VIETNAM 1964-1973 Battle Honour Conditions of Eligibility

Vietnam 1964-1973 For operations against communist forces in South Vietnam between 12 August 1964 and 27 January 1973.


DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATIONS AND STREAMERS AWARDED TO THE RAAF DURING THE VIETNAM WAR

THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM CROSS OF GALLANTRY WITH PALM UNIT CITATION Number Two Squadron,Royal Australian Air Force (as part of 35th Tactical Fighter Wing) Units awarded this citation receive a unit citation streamer, coloured the same as the Gallantry Cross with Palm, for display on the unit colours. Members of the unit during the period of the award are conferred with the right to wear the ribbon of the Gallantry Cross with Palm, mounted in a gold frame.In addition, the Commanding Officer of the unit is granted an individual award of the decoration, Gallantry Cross with Palm. The ribbon coloured Gallantry Cross with Palm is also presented to all personnel of supporting, attached, and subordinate units of the 35th Tactical Fighter

Wing during the period. Citation for 35th Tactical Fighter Wing, US Air Force, Including No 2 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force The award was made on the 9th of October 1970, as follows: The 35th Tactical Fighter Wing, United States Air Force, operating in the Republic of Vietnam from September 1968 to the present, has performed in a fantastic manner because of its dedicated support personnel - and heroic pilots, who, under extremely difficult mission situations, and with personal disregard for the dangers involved, have conducted air strike missions against communist strongholds and provided air support to operations organized by both the armies of the Republic of Vietnam and the United States of America in Military Regions Two, Three and Four. Heavy losses to the enemy were inflicted by over fifty-three thousand air strike and air support missions flown by the F-100 and Canberra units of the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing. These extremely hazardous missions account for over two thousand, five hundred enemy killed in action, thousands of enemy installations, artillery towers, boats, crew-served-weapons locations destroyed and many miles of communication trenches completely disrupted. Moreover in another area of achievement, the dispensary established by the 35th Tactical Fighter Wings has assisted the medical civic action programs at Thap Chan, Hai Chu, Dong Yang, and Ann Xuan villages as well as the Phan Rang village orphanages, so that thousands of people have been provided life- giving medical treatment.



SECTION 5

MISCELLANEOUS ‘COLOURS’ AT THE AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL

The Victorian Volunteer Rifles Colours.

{Colonial Gallery}

Contents • The Richmond Colours

• Conservation of the 49th Battalion Regimental Colours • The Men from Snowy River Banner

• The King’s Banner of the Royal Australian Artillery • The United States Army Meritorious Unit Commendation AATTV • White Ensign presented to Captain C B W Radford, Salvation Army

• Flags Various at the AWM


THE RICHMOND COLOURS {COLONIAL GALLERY}

Single sided Colour made from two pieces of cream silk, satin weave fabric joined with a single seam 28-31cm below upper edge. The machine stitched seam joins two selvedges together. The upper edge of the flag is also a selvedge; the width of the bolt of fabric being approximately 110cm. The lower edge of the flag has a cut, raw edge with no hemming or turning before being encorporated into the silk borders, except at the hoist edge. The fly edge is turned and hemmed towards the face of the flag. The hoist edge has been unevenly cut and folded once along the edge, wrong sides together. The colour is bordered on three sides with strips of emerald green silk satin; the upper and lower fly sections joined with a diagonal seam. The inner and outer edges of the borders are edged with narrow gold Russia braid, although there are sections missing. A line of Russia braid also extends along the inner edge of the hoist. The centre of the colour is richly decorated with silk, gold and silver bullion embroidered appliques, all handstitched and most backed with paper or linen. The applique at the top is a green silk banderole bearing 'VICTORIAN VOLUNTEER RIFLE CORPS' in bullion thread. Below this, an applique of the Royal Standard in in blue and red silk, gold lace and bullion thread and beneath this, a pair of embroidered bullion rifles, two upward pointed bayonets and a blue silk banderole bearing the Company's motto in Latin, 'FAMAM EXTENDERE FACTIS' which translates as 'fame will extend our good deeds'. In the centre are two crossed lengths of brown silk ribbon with two gold bullion wire tassels extending down from trefoil shaped plaited gold braid. At the bottom is an apricot silk banderole bearing 'RICHMOND COMPANY' embroidered in gold bullion wire. The lower left fly corner has been previously repaired using khaki green silk and cotton sateen. Summary This Regimental colour is one of a pair presented to Captain Septimus Martin of the Richmond Volunteer Rifles on 2 February 1861, at the Richmond cricket ground by the ladies of Richmond. This committee of women were wives, relatives and influential people


connected with the Corps. The colours are believed to have been made by a Mrs Campion from Sandridge, Melbourne, a noted seamstress, also credited with making at least one other set of colours for the Castlemaine company and possibly also the Kyneton colours. The colours were designed by George Bourchier Richardson. Only four sets of colours were issued to the volunteer forces in Victoria after they were raised in 1859. The colours may have been used at the yearly volunteer encampments but their use was limited and they remained at the Company's drill hall following the demise of the Corps in 1884. Later army units raised in Richmond used the colours in parades and they made an appearance at the unveiling of the 22 Battalion roll of honour for the First World War in July 1923. The colours were eventually laid up at St Phillip's Church, Collingwood in 1928 and were moved to the Richmond Town Hall in 1967. The Richmond Colours are the oldest surviving Australian Colours.( (AWM website January 2012) See also: Esteemed beyond any value’ the Richmond Colours. Catherine Challenor

.WARTIME # 9


Conservation of the 49th Battalion Regimental Colours {ANZAC Hall}

Background Regimental Colours are the focal point of all the loyalty, spirit and traditions that made their regiment great. Emblazoned with Battle Honours, they are expensive and precious items, intricately hand embroidered on silk with metal and silk threads. Before being presented, Colours are always consecrated at a religious ceremony where God's blessing is requested. In earlier days the colours were trooped through the ranks prior to an engagement so that they could be recognised by all ranks as a rallying point during the battle. Today the Trooping of the Colours through the ranks of the Regiment continues as a ceremonial tradition. Customarily, when a Regimental Colour was too old to be used, or no longer required it was hung in a church. Today it is more common for Regimental Colours to be given to a museum for long term care. The Regimental Colour of the 49th Battalion was given to the Australian War Memorial in 1958.

http://www.awm.gov.au/images/conservation/colours/flag_image2.jpg 49th Battalion Regimental Colours Construction The regimental colour is made from one layer of green silk, edged with gold. The 49th Infantry colour patch is appliqued onto the center of the colour and is encircled by embroidered gold metal thread. Rich silk embroidery depicting a garland of flowering wattle and the King's crown surround the colour patch. The motto 'SEMPER FIDELIS' (Always Faithful) is embroidered in gold metal thread onto green silk that is appliqued onto the colour beneath the wattle garland. Yellow Battle Honours embroidered with the names of 10 battles are appliqued onto the flag on either side of the central colour patch and embroidery.

http://www.awm.gov.au/images/conservation/colours/flag_image4.jpg Flag parts


Condition Given its age and original use, the colour was in remarkable condition. The major damage consisted of tears to the top and bottom edges of the colour along the hoist seam. The upper corner had suffered earlier damage and had been repaired with a matching square of green silk attached to the face of the colour with machine zigzag stitching. Some yellow scroll ends had damaged stitching and were lifting from the green ground fabric of the colour. Other minor damage consisted of loose embroidery threads, and the loss of metal coating from some areas of the fringing. Due to the large amount of embroidery and applique work, the ground fabric of the colour was slightly wrinkled from uneven tension and is also creased due to previous folded storage. Treatment In all conservation work, objects are fully documented before any treatment can begin. Photographs, diagrams and written reports give detailed information on the materials, construction and condition of the object prior to conservation. Treatment is also fully documented so that conservators in the future have a treatment history that details specific materials and techniques that have been used. During treatment of the 49th Battalion Regimental colours, the tears along the hoist seam were repaired with specially dyed silk backings. Loose embroidery threads and appliqued pieces were secured with stitching where necessary, and treatment to reduce the creases was carried out. Mounting for Vertical Display The regimental colour is displayed vertically on a fabric-covered board in ANZAC Hall. To lessen the problem of creasing caused by the tension of the embroidery and metal thread fringe, a pillow was made to sit underneath the colour. The colour was laid over the pillow and secured to the fabric covered board with a row of running stitch. Stitching in the areas of green silk was avoided due to the tight weave and fragile nature of the fabric. The hoist edge was secured to the backing board by a length of specially dyed crepeline ribbon that was threaded through the hoist channel and stitched to the backing board at the top and bottom edges. The metal thread fringe also needed to be secured to prevent it from drooping along the top edge on vertical display. This was achieved using a common textile conservation technique called 'couching'. A length of silk thread was passed through the looped ends of each fringe. Another length of silk thread was then passed under the backing fabric and over the first thread every 2.5cms to secure it to the backing board and hold the fringe in place.


THE MEN FROM SNOWY RIVER BANNER {Western Front Gallery}

MEN FROM SNOWY RIVER' RECRUITING BANNER. THE BANNER IS MADE FROM A LARGE BRITISH RED ENSIGN HANGING FROM A HORIZONTAL HOIST, WITH A SMALLER AUSTRALIAN RED ENSIGN SEWN NEXT TO THE UNION JACK IN THE UPPER PROPER LEFT CORNER. BENEATH

THESE THE TEXT 'THE MEN FROM SNOWY RIVER' IS APPLIQUED IN WHITE FABRIC. Summary A recruitment method that enjoyed popularity during the First World War was the 'snowball' recruiting march. Beginning with a small group of men, a march would follow a chosen route, usually through rural communities, finishing at a town or city with a training camp. At each town or community visited civic receptions and recruitment meetings would be held to welcome the marching volunteers and encourage local men to enlist, and so the march would 'snowball' in size. After the publicity from the first recruitment march by the 'Gilgandra Coo-ees' in October 1915, several other marches took place in December 1915 and January 1916. One of these was 'The Men From Snowy River' march from Delegate, near the New South Wales / Victorian border, to the training camp at Goulburn, New South Wales. On Thursday 6 January 1916 a large crowd saw off the first fourteen volunteers in front of the Delegate School of Arts. The volunteers were presented with this banner, sewn by the women of Delegate, to carry during the march. The volunteers marched 23 miles to Bombala, arriving on Saturday evening. On the way they camped at Craigie and Mila, both small rural communities. At Bombala the volunteers were met by local dignitaries. There were recruitment meetings and a church parade and several men enlisted. The marchers stayed at Bombala for three nights, camping at the showground before departing on 11 January with a total of 22 volunteers. That same day the march arrived at Bibbenluke. The local school children, led by their teacher, Les Allen, left the village to meet them. The children formed up


behind the recruits and marched with them into Bibbenluke. Six men volunteered in Bibbenluke and Les Allen himself enlisted later that day at Holts Flat, where the marchers camped overnight. The marchers then made their way to Cooma, via Nimmitabel, Summer Hill and Rocks Flat. At Nimmitabel the call for recruits resulted in 30 men volunteering, including Ernie Corey, who would later be awarded the military medal four times for bravery as a stretcher bearer. The marchers arrived at Cooma on 15 January where a further 40 men volunteered, bringing the total to 100. The march left Cooma for Queanbeyan on 17 January, which was reached on 22 January. After two nights in Queanbeyan the march headed towards its final destination, Goulburn. After 23 days of marching the recruits reached Goulburn on 29 January 1916 with 144 volunteers. The enlistment figures for snowball marches tended to be low considering the amount of effort that went into organising them and they soon fell out of favour. An effort was made to revive them in 1918 to boost falling enlistment numbers, when a series of 'Freedom' marches were held, but they were largely unsuccessful. Re-enactments of the Men from Snowy River March On 6 July 1940, 15 volunteers set off from Delegate to recreate the first recruitment march, using the original banner from the First World War march. The second march generally followed the route of the original, although it diverted to the developing National Capital, Canberra. This march was completed in a much faster time than the original, with the volunteers travelling by car or truck between towns and only marching through the towns. This meant that the entire 1940 'march' took only five days. The final tally of recruits raised from this march was approximately 108 men. As part of the bicentennial celebrations in 1988, Cooma and other communities that had been involved in the original march took part in a re-enactment during Anzac week. This time they traveled more quickly. They started on 18 April 1988 and finished in Goulburn on 21 April, having participated in numerous wreath-laying ceremonies on the way. At the conclusion of the re-enactment, the original banner from the Snowy River March was presented to the Australian War Memorial ( and is now on display in the Western Front Gallery). The March was commemorated again in January 2006 on the 90th anniversary of the first march, with a reenactment of the march and a civic reception at the hall at Delegate, although the banner was not carried, then being part of the national collection held by the Australian War Memorial. A young Adaminaby man, Private William Francis Baragry, ( AWM ROH Panel 160) initiated the march and asked others to join him to 'fill the gaps made in Gallipoli.' By the time they reached Goulburn, 141 men had joined the march. Unfortunately, Private William Baragry,a young Adaminaby man, who organised the march died of pneumonia at Goulburn while he was waiting to embark for overseas.(AWM ROH Panel 160) His brother Edmund Joseph Baragry ( AWM ROH Panel 160) who had joined the march with William, was killed on 9 May 1917. See also BACKGROUNDER #55-The Snowball Marches of World War 1 and The Men from

Snowy River .Dianne Ruthreford.WARTIME # 26


THE KING’S BANNER OF THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ARTILLERY

{Boer War Gallery} The Royal Australian Artillery was represented in South Africa by ‘A’ Battery from New South Wales. This banner was one of twenty presented to Australian regiments and corps at a royal review in Melbourne on 14 November 190, on behalf of the King in recognition of their service in the war. ‘Presented by His most Glorious Majesty the King Emperor to the Royal Australian artillery in recognition of service rendered to the Empire in South Africa.1904.’ The Union Flag, or Union Jack, is the national flag of the United Kingdom and it is so called because it embodies the emblems of the three countries united under one Sovereign - the kingdoms of England and Wales, of Scotland and of Ireland (although since 1921 only Northern Ireland has been part of the United

Kingdom). The term Union Jack possibly dates from Queen Anne's time (reigned 1702-14), but its origin is uncertain. It may come from the 'jack-et' of the English or Scottish soldiers; or from the name of James I who originated the first union in 1603, in either its Latin or French form Jacobus or Jacques; or, as 'jack' once meant small, the name may be derived from a royal proclamation issued by Charles II that the Union Flag should be flown only by ships of the Royal Navy as a jack, a small flag at the bowsprit. The flag consists of three heraldic crosses. The cross of St George, patron saint of England since the 1270's, is a red cross on a white ground. It was the national flag of England until James I succeeded to the throne in 1603, after which it was combined in 1606 with the crosses of St. Andrew and St. Patrick; The cross saltire of St Andrew, patron saint of Scotland, is a diagonal white cross on a blue ground. The cross saltire of St Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, is a diagonal red cross on a white ground. This was combined with the previous Union Flag of St George and St Andrew, after the Act of Union of Ireland with England (and Wales) and Scotland on 1 January 1801, to create the Union Flag that has been flown ever since. The Welsh dragon does not appear on the Union Flag. This is because when the first Union Flag was created in 1606, the Principality of Wales by that time was already united with England and was no longer a separate principality. The Union Flag was originally a Royal flag (when the present design was made official in 1801, it was ordered to be flown on all the King's forts and castles, but not elsewhere); it is today flown above Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and Sandringham when The Queen is not in residence. The Union Flag has particular significance to the Armed Forces as the basis for their Colours

BANNER ON DISPLAY IN THE BOER WAR

GALLERY

BANNER ON DISPLAY IN THE BOER WAR GALLERY


as the focus of loyalty to the Crown (and to the regiment). {www.royal.gov.au}

The United States Army Meritorious Unit Commendation Australian Army Training Team Vietnam

{Vietnam Gallery}

The US Army Meritorious Unit Commendation confers on members of the AATTV the right to wear a scarlet ribbon 1-3/8 inches wide and 2/8 inches long in a gold coloured metal frame. In addition, the AATTV was awarded a scarlet streamer upon which is embroidered in white, VIETNAM 1962-69. The commendation is awarded to a unit for the degree of achievement required to that which would warrant the award of the Legion of Merit to an individual. The Meritorious Unit Commendation is awarded by direction of the Secretary of the Army to the Australian Army Training Team, Vietnam, with citation as follows:

Citation for

The Australian Army Training Team, Vietnam The Australian Army Training Team, Vietnam distinguished itself by exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services from July 1962 to August 1969. Throughout the foregoing period,the members of this valiant Team consistently manifested professional competency and the highest degree of dedication in their advisory efforts on behalf of a beleaguered nation - the Republic of Vietnam. As an operational entity composed on individually selected volunteers, the Australian Army Training Team, Vietnam displayed unexcelled initiative, relentless perseverance, and undaunted courage in providing advice and assistance which enhanced the ability of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Vietnam to successfully engage and defeat the enemy on the battlefield. In addition to furnishing technical knowledge with respect to complex tactical operations, this motivated organisation offered its expertise to aid in the implementation of the Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development Support program. Its accomplishments in this latter area were reflected most vividly in the remarkable progress achieved within the social and cultural spheres of life among the Vietnamese people. Through its dynamic participation as a staunch member of the Free World Military Assistance Forces, the Australian Army Training Team, Vietnam contributed conspicuously to the development and maintenance of a stable and viable nation while operating in a hostile environment. The Australian Army Training Team, Vietnam performed in consonance with the highest traditions of the military and has brought distinct credit to itself and to the Commonwealth of Australia.

STREAMER AWARDED TO THE AATTV ON DISPLAY IN THE VIETNAM GALLERY.ALSO SHOWN IS THE UNIT CITATION OF THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE CROSS OF GALLANTRY AWARDED TO THE TEAM


WHITE ENSIGN PRESENTED TO CAPTAIN C B W RADFORD, SALVATION

ARMY, BY ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY COMMANDO BEACH GROUP B {World War II Gallery-Final Campaigns}

Captain Clifford Bernard W 'Cappy' Radford, a Salvation Army lay member, accompanied Australian troops to Balikpapan and Tarakan in 1945 as a Red Shield representative. He had previously served in New Guinea. His Cafe de Balik in Balikpapan, dispensing tea, coffee and comradeship, was a well-known land mark. He was renowned for his practical Christianity and often accompanied 'his boys' on patrol. Radford was wounded in the back at Tarakan when a group of local inhabitants accidentally pulled the pin on a grenade they were playing with. He was invalided back to Australia and the commanding officer of 2nd Beach Group, Royal Australian Navy Commandos, Lieutenant Commander B J B Morris, had every man in the group sign the unit's White Ensign before sending it to Cappy. Radford was Mentioned in

Despatches for his 'exceptional service in the field'. The Tarakan landing was the first operation undertaken by an RAN Beach Commando Group. Beach Group 'B' was was divided into parties at Red, Green and Yellow beaches at Tarakan and Blue Beach at Sadau Island, a signal section and boat repair and recovery section. The parties landed with the first wave of each forward battalion, carried out reconnaissance, marked beaches, maintained signal communications, organised the unloading of craft, salvaged craft and generally controlled all work on the beaches. Until 17 May they also controlled all port direction work.

THE RADFORD WHITE ENSIGN ON DISPLAY IN THE WW2 ( YEAR OF VICTORY) GALLERY


Error of judgement or outright bigotry? The colours controversy of the 1950's

Graham Wilson

Sabretache Vol XLIV September 2003

As Australians, we are extremely fortunate to live in one of the most tolerant societies in the world (far more tolerant then many commentators would have us believe). This has not, of course, always been the case. One group in Australian society who have in the past suffered discrimination is Catholics. Things are certainly better today than they were when I was a small boy in the 1950's, when I end my brothers end parents experienced outfight bigotry end intolerance in various places due to our religion. Days now long gone, thankfully. But, the 1950's were definitely days of sectarian bigotry (not all one-sided of course) and this paper looks back to an event, or actually a sequence of events, which saw Australian Catholic military placed in a position where they could have been faced with a choice between their Faith and their careers. This was the so-called "Colours Controversy."

"Colours" in the context of this article are a flag or flags in heraldic colours, bearing designs relevant to a particular military organisation and embroidered with battle, campaign and theatre honours if awarded. Modern Australian colours are the descendants of the banners carried into battle by the British Army right up until the last quarter of the 19th century. Currently, the Australian Army issues Queen's and Regimental Colours to infantry battalions and the Royal Military College; regimental guidons to armoured units; and various royal banners and ensigns to the different corps of the Army. (1) The Royal Australian Navy is at the opposite end of the spectrum, the RAN's colours consisting of two Queen's Colours, one in possession of the Maritime Headquarters, the other held by the Navy's main training establishment, HMAS Cerberus in Victoria. The colour held by MHQ is the "Fleet" colour, while that at Cerberus is for the use of shore establishments. (2) The RAN's battle honours are actually vested in its ships, not its colours. The Royal Australian Air Force lies somewhere between the other two services in the matter of colours. The RAAF has a single Queen's Colour, held on behalf of the entire Air Force. In addition, "Queen's Colours" are held by a number of major Air Force units and commands; squadron standards are issued to qualifying squadrons and units; and Governor-General's Banners are issued to a number of non-operational units. (3)

Colours had been issued to Australian colonial units as far back as the middle of the 19th century. (4) While the consecration of colours had apparently been the exclusive domain of Anglican clergy, there do not appear to have been any complaints from Catholics or from other denominations about this exclusivity. Complaints from Catholic military personnel that is. It was a different matter for the Catholic hierarchy. As early as 1904, Archbishop Carr (5) had voiced his concerns at this form of Anglican exclusivity to the Minister for Defence. (6) The timing of Archbishop Carr's complaints leads me to surmise that they were voiced at the time of the presentation of "King's Banners" to Australian units for service in the Boer War. (7) If so, the Archbishop's complaints appear to have paid off. The relevant Government Order outlining the program of parade for the presentation of banners on 14 November 1904 specifically refers to the "Consecration of the King's Colours (sic) by the senior and other chaplains of the Military Forces of the Commonwealth." (8) Presumably, the term "other chaplains" included Catholic.

It would appear, however, that complaints about Anglican exclusivity had struck a raw nerve with the authorities and in the years following, no set arrangements for consecration of colours were made or


specified. Indeed, when regulations for the presentation of Militia Infantry colours were promulgated in 1908, it was stated that "The ceremony of presentation is not imperative, and is regarded as a private arrangement between the unit and individual invited to make the presentation." (9)

When Lord Kitchener presented the Countess of Dudley's Banners to the Commonwealth Cadet Corps in 1910, no provision for consecration of colours was made at all, despite the fact that in all other respects the instructions for presentation were the same as those for King's and Regimental colours. (10) Later still, when the time came to present King's Colours to the battalions and regiments of the AIF for service in the Great War, Festberg records that the "Colours were not consecrated at the presentation ceremonies, all units had to make their own arrangements." (11)

Lack of guidance from higher authority unfortunately caused further trouble. In 1924, Catholic voices were again raised in protest when the Commanding Officer of the 59th Infantry Battalion ordered a compulsory parade for the presentation of colours and then invited a Methodist Minister to consecrate the colours. The Australian Catholic Federation protested this arrangement in no uncertain terms to the Minister for Defence. The Catholic Federation stated that to force Catholic soldiers to attend a compulsory parade where a religious ceremony was to be performed by a non-Catholic Minister was in direct violation of Section 123B of the Defence Act of 1903-1915. This section of the Act states: "No member of the Defence Force who has conscientious objection shall be compelled to answer any question as to his religion, nor shall any regulation or other order compel attendance at any religious service." Unfortunately, it has not proved possible to ascertain the outcome of this particular incident.

Twenty-three years after the presentation of the King's Banners for the Boer War, Archbishop Mannix (12) voiced his concerns at the time of the presentation of colours to the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 1927. (13) In this instance, however, representations by the Catholic prelate were unsuccessful. The ceremony went ahead with the colours being consecrated by the Anglican Chaplain General. (14) An interesting point to note is that in 1927 Catholics represented approximately 200 of the membership of the Corps of Staff Cadets. (15) Presumably the percentage of Catholics represented in the military and civilian staff of the College were similar.

The matter now languished for 25 years. Very few new colours were issued after 1927 and then the Second World War and its aftermath intervened. (16) The situation finally came to a head in 1952 with the "Colours Controversy". This incident arose out of the granting of colours to the Royal Australian Air Force. In 1952, as one of her many duties as the newly crowned sovereign, Queen Elizabeth II approved the grant of colours to the RAAF. The new colours had in fact been approved by the Queen's late father King George VI in 1950, but the King had died before the colours could be presented. In memory of her late father the new Queen directed that the original colours as manufactured for the RAAF, bearing the King's cipher of "GVIR" rather than her own cipher of "EIIR", should be issued and used until they wore out and were replaced.

The colours were to be presented to the RAAF by the Governor General at a ceremony at RAAF Base Laverton in Victoria. So far so good, as all of the ceremonial, drill etc involved in the presentation of colours was and is quite straightforward. The problem arose when it came time to consecrate or bless the new colours, an integral part of the presentation. Either deliberately or out of ignorance, the RAAF hierarchy decreed that the new Queen's Colour was to be consecrated by the Anglican Chaplain General. (17) Given the importance of the occasion, all personnel serving at Laverton and Point Cook were directed to take part in the parade. Sometime before the event, however, a number of Catholic servicemen and women requested to be excused from the parade as it was against the teachings of their faith, not to mention their own consciences, to attend a non-Catholic religions service. The request was based on Canon Law, which stated, quite unequivocally, that; "It is forbidden to actively participate in the worship of non-Catholics (communicatus in sanetis)." (18) The Code of Canon Law went even further than this, stating: "One who cooperates communicatus in sanctis contrary to the provision of Canon 1258 is suspected of heresy." (19) It is more than likely that some readers, especially non-Catholic readers, might say that interpreting the consecration of colours as a "non-Catholic religious


service" was drawing a very long bow. It doesn't matter, however, what those readers or, for that matter, the author of this article might think. The fact is that under the teachings of the time and by what they knew and believed, those Catholic personnel at Laverton and Point Cook who had been ordered to attend the colours presentation honestly felt that to attend the parade, compulsorily or otherwise, was to risk commission of the sin of heresy. It was in fact what is referred to as "an occasion of sin."

Faced with the reality of the situation, ideally, the Air Force should have either accepted the request of the Catholic personnel and excused them from the parade, or arranged for a Catholic priest (and preferably a minister of another Protestant denomination) to cooperate in the religious dedication of the Colour.

Unfortunately, neither of these was done. Not only that, but the Air Force command, with incredible tactlessness and lack of understanding, not to mention stupidity, threatened the Catholic personnel, who included several reasonably senior officers, with disciplinary action and even, in at least one case, with dismissal. Catholic cadets at the RAAF College at Point Cook were advised that if they continued with their actions they would be putting their future careers in jeopardy. Officers were threatened with courts martial and airmen and women with severe disciplinary action. (20) The crowning moment came when the Catholic chaplain at Laverton was accused of violating his Oath of Allegiance for refusing to attend the parade. (21)

Faced with orders from above that clashed with both their consciences and the laws of the Church, several of the affected personnel pointed out that such an order was contrary to Section 116 of the Australian Constitution. Section 116 is worth quoting in full, as follows:

The Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance, or for prohibiting the free exercise of any religion, and no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the Commonwealth.

Catholic personnel effected by the orders of their superior officers to attend the colours parade pointed to s. 116 and offered the opinion that in ordering them to attend a non-Catholic religious service the Air Force and thus the Commonwealth were in contravention of the Constitution. To take it a step further, the opinion was also offered that in reserving to the Anglican Church the right to consecrate the colours, the Commonwealth, through its agent the Air Force, was in fact setting up a State Religion. Certainly it cannot be denied that by its actions the Air Force was trying to impose a religious observance on some of its members, while at the same time prohibiting the free observance of their own religion by those same members. While the motives of the Air Force were probably not in any way sinister, the stance taken and the steps taken to enforce that stance were totally unacceptable to Catholics (and probably other faiths and denominations affected as well). Both Johnstone and Festberg record that discussions at the highest level could not solve the impasse. In the end, faced with the threats to the careers of the Catholic personnel and with great reluctance, Mannix permitted the Catholics to take part in the parade. (22) The parade went ahead and the RAAF Queen's Colour was duly presented and consecrated on 17 September 1952 by the Anglican Chaplain General. (23) It was unfortunate that the situation had not been resolved at the time as, less than two years later, the problem was to rear its head again. In 1954, new colours were issued to the Royal Military College, Duntroon. (24) Once again, the orders for the parade specified that the new colours were to be consecrated by the Anglican Chaplain General and once again Dr. Mannix leaped to the fray. This


time, Archbishop Mannix had finally had enough. In an effort to make sure that government and the armed forces once and for all understood the Catholic position and Catholic concerns, the Archbishop went so far as to ban Catholic cadets from attending the parade. (25) The ban was no light matter for the Army to consider, as Catholics represented 22.9% of the membership of the Corps of Staff Cadets at the time. (26) Negotiations to end the ban went as high as the Prime Minister, with Mr Menzies making personal representations to Archbishop Mannix. The fact that the colours were to be personally presented by the Queen doubtless had some bearing on the involvement of the Prime Minister! Steinbach records that negotiations between Menzies and Mannix dated as far back as 1952, at the time of the RAAF Queens Colour debacle. Records indicate the Menzies on several occasions promised action but never delivered. Certain references in Menzies papers indicate that while Menzies himself was prepared to be reasonable, a number of members of his cabinet took a very hard line anti-Catholic view and he was forced to follow suit. With Menzies continuing to fob him off, Mannix finally took the drastic step of providing copies of correspondence between the Archbishop and the Prime Minister to the press. This release of private correspondence was designed to both goad the Prime Minister into action and to stem a rising tide of calumny being directed at Archbishop Mannix by sections of the press who were blaming the Archbishop, rather than the government, for the problem. (27) Menzies responded to Mannix' publication of their correspondence in aggrieved tones, attempting to shift the blame onto the Archbishop's shoulders. But Mannix stood firm and Menzies was finally forced to provide assurances that the situation would be resolved. Mannix accepted these assurances and lifted the ban on the Catholic cadets. The lifting of the ban was conditional upon a review of colour dedication procedures. (28) In a nice piece of theological hairsplitting, however, the Archbishop stated that the participation of the cadets would be only "in a physical and military sense." (29) Thus the Catholic cadets were on parade at Duntroon on 17 February 1954 when the Queen presented the new colours, which were then consecrated by the Rt Rev C L Riley, Chaplain General (ANG) of the AMF. (30) An interesting footnote on the matter of the RMC colours is the fact that in 1954 new colours were issued to the RAN as well. In his coverage of the issue of these new colours in his excellent book on RAN heraldry, Festberg includes the bald statement: "No presentation ceremonies were held." (31) While no details on the reason for this decision have come to light, the author considers it highly likely that the colours were issued without ceremony in order to avoid another bruising round of the seemingly interminable "Colours Controversy." If this supposition is correct, it is a sad indictment on just how far the problem had been allowed to go. Despite assurances by the Prime Minister, however, the Chaplains-General's Committee failed to resolve the key issue, that is, the canonically based restriction on Catholics not to attend nonCatholic religious services. The interim solution applied was that for presentation of colours, the battalion or regiment's chaplain, or his Chaplain General, would perform the ceremony. (32) This was really no solution at all since, unless the chaplain happened to be Catholic, then the battalion or regiment's Catholics were left in the same untenable position. Although always intensely interested in the spiritual needs of the Australian military and naval Catholics entrusted to him in his role as Chaplain General, Archbishop Mannix had always delegated the actually running of the position to a deputy. In 1955, the Deputy Chaplain General (RC), Fr Tim McCarthy, resigned his position. (33) His position was taken by Fr John Aloysius Morgan who took up his appointment on 8 September 1955. (34) The choice of Fr Morgan as Deputy Chaplain General was nothing short of inspired. A priest of wide experience, Fr Morgan was also a very experienced military chaplain, having served full time with the AIF during World War Two, including operational service in the South West Pacific, and then continued his involvement as a part time CMF chaplain after the war. So he was no stranger to the peculiar world of the military ecclesiastic and his flock. Beyond that, however, "Alo" Morgan was (and still is) a man of great intelligence and intellect, wide learning and


deep compassion, tact and understanding. All of these attributes were to be of enormous use to him in the first months of his service as Deputy Chaplain General. No sooner had Fr Morgan taken up his position than he was faced with the delicate problem of the presentation of colours to the 2nd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, scheduled to be presented to the battalion by the Governor General Field Marshal Sir William Slim on 28 September 1955. (35) The problem from the point of view of the Catholic Church was that the Regimental Chaplain of 2RAR was a minister of a Protestant Denomination. Fr Morgan entered into urgent discussions with the Commanding Officer of 2RAR who was himself fully aware of the delicate nature of the situation. Between the two of them they worked out a compromise whereby the Catholics in the battalion were posted as picquets "holding ground" for the presentation ceremony. (36) Thus the Catholics were on the parade but technically not part of it. While this. compromise had worked well, it was still just that, a compromise. No sooner had Fr Morgan got over the presentation of colours to the Regular Army 2RAR, than he was faced with the same problem for the CMF 2nd Battalion, City of Newcastle Regiment, whose colours were scheduled to be presented in April 1956. (37) Because the chaplain of this battalion was Catholic, Fr Morgan was to officiate. But, while this would have suited the Catholics in the unit, Fr Morgan foresaw problems with the non-Catholic members of the battalion. For various reasons, he was keen to avoid this. He was also keen to solve the problem once and for all. At this point, the problem appeared so intractable that there was talk of having no religious element to the Newcastle parade at all and, by inference, any further parades. In an interview with the author, Bishop Morgan recalled that he had privately decided that he would not abide by the compromise solution then in place but would in fact refuse to officiate unless the other two major denominations were represented. Fr Morgan firmly believed that all members of the Chaplains General's Conference were as desperate for a solution as he was and only needed a small push to guide them onto the correct path. (38) Fortunately for all concerned, the Adjutant General of the Army, Major General Mervyn Brogan, the officer responsible for religious matters in the Army, took a hand. After discussion with Fr Morgan he called a conference of Chaplains General in Canberra to thrash out a solution. At the conference Fr Morgan stated openly that he did not want to go to Newcastle alone. His preference was for all three Chaplains General to jointly officiate at a consecration, dedication and blessing of the colours. The other Chaplains General and the Adjutant General, just as keen as Fr Morgan to solve the problem, readily agreed, conditional upon an acceptable form of service, compatible with military ceremonial, being produced. A minor but still significant procedural point that was ironed out at the conference was the Catholic objection to the use of the word "consecration." As Fr Morgan pointed out to the conference, Catholics do not consecrate non-sacred objects. While, for example, a church altar or a chalice may be consecrated, a set of colours could not. Thus it was agreed that the Anglican Chaplain General or his representative would "consecrate" the colours, the Catholic Chaplain General or his representative would "bless" the colours and the OPD Chaplain General or his representative would "dedicate" the colours to God and the country. From the strict theological point of view, blessing of colours was and is quite acceptable to the Catholic Church. (39) The Secretary of the Chaplains General Committee, Major Dimpsey, drafted a form of service that was accepted by the Committee and then referred to their respective denominational hierarchies. All denominations accepted the new form without demur. Mgr. Fox on behalf of Archbishop Mannix outlined the new procedure in a letter to the Australian Catholic Bishops, who apparently accepted the procedure with pleasure and probably not a little relief. At the Colour Parade in Newcastle on 15 April 1956, the new colours of 2nd Battalion, City of Newcastle Regiment were consecrated by Bishop Riley, Chaplain General (ANG), blessed by Fr Morgan, Deputy Chaplain General (RC), and dedicated by Rev Brooke, Chaplain General (OPD). The ceremony was a great success and in a newspaper


interview the next day the Anglican Bishop of Newcastle acknowledged the immense difficulties experienced in the past by Catholic servicemen and women and praised the new procedure. Just over one week later, on 24 April 1956, the fifth anniversary of the Battle of Kapyong, the 3rd Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment was presented with its colours in a splendid ceremony incorporating the new procedure. (40) Moreover, when the new Hall of Remembrance at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra was dedicated in 1959, an Anglican chaplain (representing the RAN), a Catholic chaplain (representing the Army) and a Protestant chaplain (representing the RAAF), blessed, consecrated and dedicated the Hall. This ceremony, carried out at the invitation of the Governor General, Field Marshal Slim, was in stark contrast to the opening of the War Memorial on 11 November 1941, which Catholics had been forbidden to attend for exactly the same reasons as the "Colours Controversy." Although the matter of denominational exclusivity had finally been laid to rest, its memory lived on, generally not happily. As an example of how deeply the "Colours Controversy" had effected the psyche of the ADF, one needs only to turn to Neville Lindsay's 1994 history of the Officer Cadet School, Portsea. When reading Lindsay's account of the presentation of the first (and in the end only) set of colours to OCS in 1968, one can quite palpably feel the sense of relief as the author writes: Fortunately, at this stage it was possible to have an ecumenical blessing of the colours, in stark contrast to the religious problems of the 1954 presentations at the Royal Military College. (41) So the "Colours Controversy" was finally resolved. It is a great pity, but perhaps a reflection of the times, that it ever occurred in the first place. That it was eventually resolved with minimum fuss and rancour is a tribute to the strength and stability of Australia's institutions, both political and military. It is also a tribute to the tact and diplomacy of a great Australian Catholic cleric, John Aloysius Morgan. Bibliography (See original text)

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