Adelaide Universities Regiment
Encyclopedia
Adelaide Universities Regiment (AUR) is an officer
training unit of the Australian Army
headquartered in Adelaide, South Australia
. Currently AUR maintains a cadre staff of trained Regular and Reserve personnel who oversee and administer the training of Reserve
officer cadets. The majority of the regiment is currently based at Hampstead Barracks
.
recipient, whose son, Richard
(a prominent lawyer and veteran of the Second World War), became involved with the regiment upon its establishment and later served as its commanding officer between 1955 and 1957.
Like other Australian university regiments, upon formation AUR was established as an infantry unit providing military training to tertiary students. Part of the Royal Australian Infantry Corps
(RA Inf), it consisted of a rifle company
, a support company (with transport, mortar, signals, anti-tank and intelligence subunits) and a headquarters company; this was later expanded as machine-gun and assault pioneer
section
s were also raised.
Personnel were drawn from universities and teaching colleges in Adelaide and the regiment's first parade took place on 27 September 1948, when nearly 100 personnel were enlisted. Although these personnel were all part time members, the regiment was assigned a small cadre of five regular personnel to undertake administrative functions.
At the regiment's first training camp, which was undertaken at Woodside
in January 1949, 88 personnel turned out. This represented 98 percent of the regiment's strength at the time. As interest started to grow, the regiment was authorised an establishment of 21 officers and 389 other ranks, however, actual numbers remained low initially.
In 1950, the regiment was part of Central Command, along with the 10th and 27th Battalions
. During this time it was headquartered at Adelaide University although parades were also undertaken at the Torrens Training Depot. Following the introduction of national service
in the early 1950s the regiment's numbers began to grow. By 13 April 1953, AUR had an actual strength of 515 personnel of all ranks. As a result of this expansion, a second rifle company was raised. Between 1955 and 1958, the regiment used the Warradale depot as its base camp.
On 20 January 1957, the regiment received its colours
. Presented by the then Governor of South Australia, Air Vice Marshal Sir Robert George, at the time they were the first colours to be presented to a South Australian unit in 30 years.
The end of national service in 1959 led to a rapid decrease in the regiment's size and by the end of the year AUR had only 116 personnel on its books. For the early part of the 1960s the regiment was maintained on a volunteer-only basis and as a result numbers remained low. In 1965, the regiment began to deliver part time commissioning courses, while at the same time continuing to undertake its role as a "conventional rifle battalion", remaining part of RA Inf. Between 1965 and 1972 the regiment also served as a training institution for national servicemen
who had chosen to serve in the CMF rather than the Regular Army. As a result of this, by 1968 AUR reached its "ceiling strength" of 650 personnel of all ranks.
In 1982, AUR established depots at Prospect
and St Marys in order to draw recruits from Flinders University
. This was short lived, however, as the St Marys depot was closed two years later. In 1991, the Australian Army underwent a Force Structure Review, the result of which was that AUR was reorganised to become solely focused upon the provision of training to Reserve officer cadets, under the banner of the Royal Military College of Australia. AUR relocated to Hampstead Barracks
in Greenacres
in 2001. In 2008, the regiment was assigned to the 2nd Division and tasked with the provision of commissioned officers to units from the 9th Brigade, which sees them train personnel from South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory. AUR conducts regular training in barracks on Tuesday nights and on various weekends each month, as well as periods of field training throughout the year at Murray Bridge
, Woodside and Cultana
. The regiment, supported by the Western Australia Universities Regiment, also conducts the second module of the Reserve General Service Officer course twice a year.
The regiment maintains an alliance with the Royal Irish Regiment
, which has its origins in the regiment's historical link with the Royal Ulster Rifles
. Up until 2010 AUR had a pipes and drums band, which wore Napier Tartan and had performed at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo
. The regimental quick march is Highland Laddie. In 2011, a former member of the AUR Pipes and Drums, Greg Bassani, was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Queens Birthday Honours list for his services to music.
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
training unit of the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
headquartered in Adelaide, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. Currently AUR maintains a cadre staff of trained Regular and Reserve personnel who oversee and administer the training of Reserve
Australian Army Reserve
The Australian Army Reserve is a collective name given to the reserve units of the Australian Army. Since the Federation of Australia in 1901, the reserve military force has been known by many names, including the Citizens Forces, the Citizen Military Forces, the Militia and, unofficially, the...
officer cadets. The majority of the regiment is currently based at Hampstead Barracks
Hampstead Barracks
Hampstead Barracks is an Australian Army base in the Adelaide suburb of Greenacres, located about to the north of the Adelaide central business district. Situated on the corner of Hampstead and Muller Roads, it is only a small suburban base, sitting on less than 24 acres of land...
.
History
The regiment was first formed in May 1948 as the "Adelaide University Regiment" under the command of Major (later Colonel) Rex J. Lipman when Australia's part time military force, the Citizens Military Force (CMF) – which was later renamed the Army Reserve – was rebuilt following the end of the Second World War. The regiment's first honorary colonel was Arthur Blackburn, a Victoria CrossVictoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
recipient, whose son, Richard
Richard Blackburn
Sir Richard Arthur Blackburn OBE was a judge, prominent legal academic and former military officer in Australia. He became a judge of three separate courts in Australia, and eventually became chief justice of the Australian Capital Territory. In the 1970s he decided one of Australia's earliest...
(a prominent lawyer and veteran of the Second World War), became involved with the regiment upon its establishment and later served as its commanding officer between 1955 and 1957.
Like other Australian university regiments, upon formation AUR was established as an infantry unit providing military training to tertiary students. Part of the Royal Australian Infantry Corps
Royal Australian Infantry Corps
The Royal Australian Infantry Corps is the parent corps for all infantry regiments of the Australian Army. It was established on 14 December 1948, with its Royal Corps status being conferred by His Majesty King George VI. At her coronation in 1953, Queen Elizabeth II became Colonel-in-Chief of the...
(RA Inf), it consisted of a rifle company
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
, a support company (with transport, mortar, signals, anti-tank and intelligence subunits) and a headquarters company; this was later expanded as machine-gun and assault pioneer
Assault Pioneer
An Assault Pioneer is an infantry soldier who is responsible for:* The construction of tools for infantry soldiers to cross natural and man-made obstacles as well as breaching of enemy fortifications;...
section
Section (military unit)
A section is a small military unit in some armies. In many armies, it is a squad of seven to twelve soldiers. However in France and armies based on the French model, it is the sub-division of a company .-Australian Army:...
s were also raised.
Personnel were drawn from universities and teaching colleges in Adelaide and the regiment's first parade took place on 27 September 1948, when nearly 100 personnel were enlisted. Although these personnel were all part time members, the regiment was assigned a small cadre of five regular personnel to undertake administrative functions.
At the regiment's first training camp, which was undertaken at Woodside
Woodside, South Australia
Woodside is a town in the Adelaide Hills region of South Australia. The town is between Balhannah and Lobethal, from the state capital, Adelaide. Amenities include a swimming pool, , second hand store, grocery store, tennis club, bowls club and playing fields. The Johnston family of Oakbank...
in January 1949, 88 personnel turned out. This represented 98 percent of the regiment's strength at the time. As interest started to grow, the regiment was authorised an establishment of 21 officers and 389 other ranks, however, actual numbers remained low initially.
In 1950, the regiment was part of Central Command, along with the 10th and 27th Battalions
27th Battalion (Australia)
The 27th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. It was initially raised in 1915 as part of the First Australian Imperial Force for service during World War I. During the conflict, the battalion saw action briefly at Gallipoli before later fighting on the Western Front between...
. During this time it was headquartered at Adelaide University although parades were also undertaken at the Torrens Training Depot. Following the introduction of national service
Conscription in Australia
Conscription in Australia, or mandatory military service also known as National Service, has a controversial history dating back to the first years of nationhood...
in the early 1950s the regiment's numbers began to grow. By 13 April 1953, AUR had an actual strength of 515 personnel of all ranks. As a result of this expansion, a second rifle company was raised. Between 1955 and 1958, the regiment used the Warradale depot as its base camp.
On 20 January 1957, the regiment received its colours
Colours, standards and guidons
In military organizations, the practice of carrying colours, standards or Guidons, both to act as a rallying point for troops and to mark the location of the commander, is thought to have originated in Ancient Egypt some 5,000 years ago...
. Presented by the then Governor of South Australia, Air Vice Marshal Sir Robert George, at the time they were the first colours to be presented to a South Australian unit in 30 years.
The end of national service in 1959 led to a rapid decrease in the regiment's size and by the end of the year AUR had only 116 personnel on its books. For the early part of the 1960s the regiment was maintained on a volunteer-only basis and as a result numbers remained low. In 1965, the regiment began to deliver part time commissioning courses, while at the same time continuing to undertake its role as a "conventional rifle battalion", remaining part of RA Inf. Between 1965 and 1972 the regiment also served as a training institution for national servicemen
Conscription in Australia
Conscription in Australia, or mandatory military service also known as National Service, has a controversial history dating back to the first years of nationhood...
who had chosen to serve in the CMF rather than the Regular Army. As a result of this, by 1968 AUR reached its "ceiling strength" of 650 personnel of all ranks.
In 1982, AUR established depots at Prospect
Prospect, South Australia
Prospect is a suburb located to the north of the centre of Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia.Surrounding suburbs include Kilburn, Fitzroy, and Medindie. Prospect is a middle to upper class suburb of Adelaide...
and St Marys in order to draw recruits from Flinders University
Flinders University
Flinders University, , is a public university in Adelaide, South Australia. Founded in 1966, it was named in honour of navigator Matthew Flinders, who explored and surveyed the South Australian coastline in the early 19th century.The university has established a reputation as a leading research...
. This was short lived, however, as the St Marys depot was closed two years later. In 1991, the Australian Army underwent a Force Structure Review, the result of which was that AUR was reorganised to become solely focused upon the provision of training to Reserve officer cadets, under the banner of the Royal Military College of Australia. AUR relocated to Hampstead Barracks
Hampstead Barracks
Hampstead Barracks is an Australian Army base in the Adelaide suburb of Greenacres, located about to the north of the Adelaide central business district. Situated on the corner of Hampstead and Muller Roads, it is only a small suburban base, sitting on less than 24 acres of land...
in Greenacres
Greenacres, South Australia
Greenacres is a north eastern suburb of Adelaide, South Australia in the City of Port Adelaide Enfield. Considered as one of the inner suburbs of Greater Adelaide, Hampstead Road and Mullers Road, intersect at Greenacres, making it a bustling area during rush hour...
in 2001. In 2008, the regiment was assigned to the 2nd Division and tasked with the provision of commissioned officers to units from the 9th Brigade, which sees them train personnel from South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory. AUR conducts regular training in barracks on Tuesday nights and on various weekends each month, as well as periods of field training throughout the year at Murray Bridge
Murray Bridge, South Australia
Murray Bridge is the fourth most populous city in South Australia after Adelaide, Mount Gambier and Whyalla. It is located east-southeast of Adelaide and north of Meningie....
, Woodside and Cultana
Cultana, South Australia
The Hundred of Cultana is a cadastral unit of hundred on the Eyre Peninsula of South Australia in the local government area of the City of Whyalla. It is one of the seven hundreds of the County of York, and was proclaimed in 1940 by Governor Barclay-Harvey....
. The regiment, supported by the Western Australia Universities Regiment, also conducts the second module of the Reserve General Service Officer course twice a year.
The regiment maintains an alliance with the Royal Irish Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
The Royal Irish Regiment is an infantry unit of the British Army.-1992 creation:With an antecedence reaching back to 1689, the regiment was formed in 1992...
, which has its origins in the regiment's historical link with the Royal Ulster Rifles
Royal Ulster Rifles
The Royal Ulster Rifles was a British Army infantry regiment. It saw service in the Second Boer War, Great War, the Second World War and the Korean War, before being amalgamated into the Royal Irish Rangers in 1968.-History:...
. Up until 2010 AUR had a pipes and drums band, which wore Napier Tartan and had performed at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Edinburgh Military Tattoo
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is an annual series of Military tattoos performed by British Armed Forces, Commonwealth and International military bands and display teams in the Scottish capital Edinburgh...
. The regimental quick march is Highland Laddie. In 2011, a former member of the AUR Pipes and Drums, Greg Bassani, was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Queens Birthday Honours list for his services to music.
Structure
The regiment currently consists of the following subunits:- Regimental Headquarters (Adelaide);
- Training Company (Adelaide);
- Recruit Holding Company
- Beersheba Company (Adelaide);
- Northern Australia Platoon (Darwin);
- Tasmania Company (Hobart).