Royal Australian Army Pay Corps
Encyclopedia
The Royal Australian Army Pay Corps is a Corps
of the Australian Army
. Its role is to provide financial advice and assistance to the Australian Army.
The Australian Army Pay Corps (AAPC) was originally formed on 21 September 1914 with MAJ Albert G. Farr being appointed as the Commanding Officer
of the 1st Australian Army Pay Details Unit. It consisted of three officers and 22 Other Ranks who deployed to the Middle East
on 21 October 1914. The first Chief Paymaster was LTCOL Thomas W. Jolliffe, CMG.
The AAPC served in all theatres of World War I
as well as staffing the Paymaster’s Branch in London
. Authority to raise Home Forces Citizen Pay Units was provided in 1916, which is currently celebrated as the origin of the Corps. However, it was disbanded on 21 June 1921 with pay duties reverting to civilian employees in military districts and to Pay Sergeants in the Militia.
As the threat of a new war approached a small nucleus of the AAPC was reformed consisting of 40 part time Citizens Military Force
officers. It would be the basis for expansion although there was a significant shortage of suitably trained personnel until 1943. Correcting this shortage is best illustrated by a true story of a group of recruits at the time: “Prove anyone who worked in a bank”. One man stepped forward and was promptly transferred to the AAPC. It was later discovered that he was a lift driver in the city headquarters of a bank. However he proved his worth, later being commissioned.
The Chief Paymaster of the 2nd AIF was BRIG G.N. Moore, CBE, DFC, ED, FCA who was appointed on 13 November 1939. He and the advance party of the AAPC departed for the Middle East on 15 December 1939. The initial Imprest Account was £
1 000, raised to £50 000 upon arrival in Jerusalem. AAPC personnel accompanied each division and by June 1940 opened in London to service 9th Division.
In addition to the Divisional Field Pay Offices AAPC personnel served in a total of 103 Cash offices and distributed over £202 000 000 by the end of the war. Over 7 000 soldiers served in the corps, providing services to 3 200 units. With the exception of those required for service with the occupational forces
in Japan
, the Corps was again disbanded in 1946.
May 1948 saw the re-raising of the AAPC within the CMF as Detachments in each state. On 27 October that same year the title ‘Royal’ was granted to the corps in recognition of the services provided by the Pay Corps personnel in both wars.
During the Vietnam War
the RAAPC provided pay support to Australian soldiers in Saigon, Nui Dat
and Vung Tau
. The first Financial Adviser posted to Vietnam was LTCOL W.T.A. Murphy with CAPTs Parker, Gow and Mahomet being the first Paymasters in the Cash Offices. Simultaneously Corps personnel served in Cash Offices located in Singapore
and Malaya
. Later this support was extended to cover SEATO exercises in Thailand
, the Philippines
and the survey operations conducted throughout Indonesia
and West Irian.
In 1990 the Australian Regular Army component formed. Since then its personnel have served in Iraq
, the Western Sahara
, Cambodia
, Somalia
, Rwanda
, Irian Jaya and Papua New Guinea
. Currently the Corps has members in Bougainville
, East Timor
, Sinai, Malaysia, Afghanistan
and the Middle East. Interestingly, it also provided the first Financial Adviser to Australia’s contingent to Afghanistan
, a Reserve Officer in keeping with its early traditions.
Corps
A corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...
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...
. Its role is to provide financial advice and assistance to the Australian Army.
The Australian Army Pay Corps (AAPC) was originally formed on 21 September 1914 with MAJ Albert G. Farr being appointed as the Commanding Officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
of the 1st Australian Army Pay Details Unit. It consisted of three officers and 22 Other Ranks who deployed to the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
on 21 October 1914. The first Chief Paymaster was LTCOL Thomas W. Jolliffe, CMG.
The AAPC served in all theatres of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
as well as staffing the Paymaster’s Branch in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Authority to raise Home Forces Citizen Pay Units was provided in 1916, which is currently celebrated as the origin of the Corps. However, it was disbanded on 21 June 1921 with pay duties reverting to civilian employees in military districts and to Pay Sergeants in the Militia.
As the threat of a new war approached a small nucleus of the AAPC was reformed consisting of 40 part time Citizens Military Force
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...
officers. It would be the basis for expansion although there was a significant shortage of suitably trained personnel until 1943. Correcting this shortage is best illustrated by a true story of a group of recruits at the time: “Prove anyone who worked in a bank”. One man stepped forward and was promptly transferred to the AAPC. It was later discovered that he was a lift driver in the city headquarters of a bank. However he proved his worth, later being commissioned.
The Chief Paymaster of the 2nd AIF was BRIG G.N. Moore, CBE, DFC, ED, FCA who was appointed on 13 November 1939. He and the advance party of the AAPC departed for the Middle East on 15 December 1939. The initial Imprest Account was £
Australian pound
The pound was the currency of Australia from 1910 until 13 February 1966, when it was replaced by the Australian dollar. It was subdivided into 20 shillings, each of 12 pence.- Earlier Australian currencies :...
1 000, raised to £50 000 upon arrival in Jerusalem. AAPC personnel accompanied each division and by June 1940 opened in London to service 9th Division.
In addition to the Divisional Field Pay Offices AAPC personnel served in a total of 103 Cash offices and distributed over £202 000 000 by the end of the war. Over 7 000 soldiers served in the corps, providing services to 3 200 units. With the exception of those required for service with the occupational forces
British Commonwealth Occupation Force
The British Commonwealth Occupation Force , was the name of the joint Australian, Canadian, British, Indian and New Zealand military forces in occupied Japan, from 21 February 1946 until the end of occupation in 1952...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, the Corps was again disbanded in 1946.
May 1948 saw the re-raising of the AAPC within the CMF as Detachments in each state. On 27 October that same year the title ‘Royal’ was granted to the corps in recognition of the services provided by the Pay Corps personnel in both wars.
During the Vietnam War
Military history of Australia during the Vietnam War
Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War began as a small commitment of 30 men in 1962, and increased over the following decade to a peak of 7,672 Australians deployed in South Vietnam or in support of Australian forces there. The Vietnam War was the longest and most controversial war Australia...
the RAAPC provided pay support to Australian soldiers in Saigon, Nui Dat
Nui Dat
Nui Dat in Phuoc Tuy Province was the location of a prominent Australian military base in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. The site was chosen by Lieutenant General John Wilton in 1966 and was built mainly by men from the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment...
and Vung Tau
Vung Tàu
Vũng Tàu is a city in southern Vietnam. Its population in 2005 was 240,000. The city area is including 13 urban wards and one village. It is the capital of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, and is the crude oil extraction center of Vietnam. It is also known as one of the most beautiful cities of tourism...
. The first Financial Adviser posted to Vietnam was LTCOL W.T.A. Murphy with CAPTs Parker, Gow and Mahomet being the first Paymasters in the Cash Offices. Simultaneously Corps personnel served in Cash Offices located in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
and Malaya
Federation of Malaya
The Federation of Malaya is the name given to a federation of 11 states that existed from 31 January 1948 until 16 September 1963. The Federation became independent on 31 August 1957...
. Later this support was extended to cover SEATO exercises in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and the survey operations conducted throughout Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
and West Irian.
In 1990 the Australian Regular Army component formed. Since then its personnel have served in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, the Western Sahara
Western Sahara
Western Sahara is a disputed territory in North Africa, bordered by Morocco to the north, Algeria to the northeast, Mauritania to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Its surface area amounts to . It is one of the most sparsely populated territories in the world, mainly...
, Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
, Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
, Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
, Irian Jaya and Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
. Currently the Corps has members in Bougainville
Bougainville Island
Bougainville Island is the main island of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville of Papua New Guinea. This region is also known as Bougainville Province or the North Solomons. The population of the province is 175,160 , which includes the adjacent island of Buka and assorted outlying islands...
, East Timor
East Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
, Sinai, Malaysia, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and the Middle East. Interestingly, it also provided the first Financial Adviser to Australia’s contingent to Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, a Reserve Officer in keeping with its early traditions.