Regiment has 70 distinguished and proud reasons for parade

TOMORROW marks the 70th year since the formation of the Royal Australian Regiment.

The Australian War Memorial in Canberra will be commemorated by a ceremonial parade with all Colours of the Regiment featured emblazoned with Battle Honours.

The parade will conclude with a minute of silence for the death of Corporal Kevin Cooper from the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment who was killed in action during the Battle of Samichon in 1953.

The Chinese People’s Volunteer Army made a last- ditch attempt to take strategically important territory from United Nations forces before the armistice was signed. Their attack, which began on the evening of July 24, 1953, fell against positions on the Hook that were held by 2RAR.

This year was also the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Fire Support Base Coral from the Vietnam War. The battle was a series of fierce attacks which took place between May 12 and June 6 in 1968 and was one of the largest and bloodiest fought in the Vietnam War.

This year also marked 25 years since the 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment was deployed to Somalia, one of first contemporary operational deployments.

The regiment expanded to nine battalions during the war to meet the demand.

The regiment’s birthday is being seen as an opportunity to reflect upon the achievements and infantry support provided to the Australian Defence Force.

The Royal Australian Regiment’s motto is “Duty First”.