Brief History of the Regiment

 

On the 7th of July 1949 the Armoured Car Squadron was renamed the 1st Armoured Regiment. The main Battle Tanks that have seen service in the Regiment have been the Churchill, the Centurion, the Leopard and now the Abrams. Various other vehicles have been utilised in the Regiment, in surveillance, support and Regimental Command the 1st Armoured Regiments first home was Kapyong Barracks at Puckapunyal; this was later changed to Robertson Barracks.  The Barracks was named after LTGEN Sir Horace Robertson.  October 1967 the Government decided to send Tanks to Vietnam.  The Regiment rotated Squadrons up until the Australian Government withdrew the Tanks in 1971. The Centurion Tank first saw service early in 1954.  The Centurion served up until the Leopard replacement in 1976, the centurion has seen active service in Vietnam. The last Squadron to change over to leopard was B Squadron in 1977. The last of the Centurions left the Regiment in the same year. Over the period 1977 to present the Regiment been has involved in most major Peace Time Operations.

 

Since Vietnam members of the Regiment has seen both Active Service and Peacekeeping duties. Some of the locations were Namibia, Somalia, Cambodia, MFO Sinai, and more recently Timor, Afghanistan, Iraq and the Solomon Islands, whilst still maintaining their Training for War at home.  

 

On the 13 of November 1979, TPR Paratus was enlisted into the Regiment as Regimental Mascot. TPR Paratus is housed at the Melbourne Zoo. In October 2011 a new TPR Paratus, a Lion was enlisted into the Regiment, he is housed at Crocodylus Park in Darwin. And attends most parades held by the regiment.

 

The Regiment moved to Darwin 1995 as part of the 1st Brigade redeployment.   The Regiment settled into the new Robertson Barracks and Mt Bundy became its new Training Area.  The Regiment is has now re equipped with the Abrams M1A1 AIM SA Tank ASLAV,M113AS4 and M88.  In 2014 the regiment was re rolled into an Armoured Cavalry Regiment.  With Tank, Cavalry, APC , and Support SQNS.

 

 

The 1st Armoured Regiment Association

 

The 1st Armoured Regiment Association INC was formed in 1996 by Lou Walker and John Brooker with the ideals keeping in touch with mates from the past, making friends with others that have served in the regiment. Other benefits include regular newsletters and updates of association and regimental activities, joining in on discussions on social media, obtaining welfare assistance through state contacts. The association runs its own Q Store with many items for purchase and runs a regimental reunion usually every three years and march under the association banner on ANZAC day with after march gatherings.