Queensland University Regiment
Encyclopedia
Queensland University Regiment (QUR) is an officer training unit of the Australian Army Reserve
, based on the campus of the University of Queensland
at St Lucia, Brisbane
. North Queensland Company (NQC) is a sub-unit of the regiment and is based at Lavarack Barracks
in Townsville.
QUR conducts field training at the Enoggera Close Training Area (ECTA), Greenbank Training Area (GBTA), Wide Bay Training Area (WBTA), High Range Training Area (HRTA) and Canungra.
In May 1948 QUR was formed, initially as an independent company, and then in 1 May 1950 as an infantry battalion. It was not until 1962 that the Regiment commenced officer training for other CMF units in South-east Queensland, and the unit retained this dual-role for the next 30 years when in 1992 its sole role became officer training as part of the 1st Officer Training Unit (OCTU). In 1997 all the University Regiments were brigaded under the Royal Military College, Australia.
QUR was present the Queens Colour and a Regimental Colour on 19 July 1959 by His Excellency, The Governor of Queensland, Colonel Sir Henry Abel Smith
.
During the time of the Vietnam War
(1962–1972) its strength was boosted by students who saw the relatively easy part-time service as a good substitute to being eligible for conscription. After the end of the war, it declined to company strength and less.
In January 1974 the depot in Walcott Street was submerged in the Brisbane flood caused by Cyclone Wanda, damaging the regimental colours beyond repair. The old colours were subsequently laid-up in the Emmanuel College
Chapel located at the University of Queensland.
A major focus of the next three years was the recruitment and training of enough soldiers to put together a creditable parade for the presentation of new Queen's and Regimental Colours, which occurred on 9 July 1978. The colours were presented by Governor-General Sir Zelman Cowen
, who had recently been the Vice-Chancellor of Queensland University. They are presently displayed in the QUR Officers' Mess.
The Regiment was granted the Freedom of the City of Brisbane on 12 July 1986 by the Lord Mayor Sallyanne Atkinson
. QUR was the first University Regiment to be granted this honour and last exercised its right in 1995 as part of the Australia Remembers celebrations.
In 1996 and 1997 OCTU and the Regional University Regiment of Queensland (RURQ), formally based at Gatton
were disbanded and their role subsumed by QUR. As a result, for a while QUR maintained a detachment at Gatton. In October 2000 the formerly independent North Queensland Company (NQC) came under the command of the Regiment.
As of July 2008 all University Regiments became part of the 2nd Division.
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...
, based on the campus of the University of Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
at St Lucia, Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
. North Queensland Company (NQC) is a sub-unit of the regiment and is based at Lavarack Barracks
Lavarack Barracks
Lavarack Barracks is a major Australian Army base located in Townsville, Queensland. Lavarack Barracks is currently home to the Army's 3rd Brigade and 11th Brigade. Elements of the 3rd Brigade based at the Barracks include the Combat Signals Regiment, 3rd Combat Services Support Battalion and the...
in Townsville.
Role
The role of the regiment is to train officers for the Army Reserve and to provide military training for undergraduates. It is organised as an infantry battalion with the addition of a Training Company where members undergo instructional courses aimed at promotion. QUR is one of eight University Regiments that comprise the Royal Military College of Australia (RMC-A).Organisation
QUR is spread across three main locations and currently consists of the following sub-units:- Regimental Headquarters (RHQ) - St Lucia
- Training Company - St Lucia
- Jacka Company of Staff Cadets (JCC) - St Lucia
- Logistics Company - Witton Barracks, Indooroopilly
- North Queensland Company - Lavarack Barracks, Townsville
QUR conducts field training at the Enoggera Close Training Area (ECTA), Greenbank Training Area (GBTA), Wide Bay Training Area (WBTA), High Range Training Area (HRTA) and Canungra.
History
QUR was initially formed in 1932 as the "University Rifles" by two UQ graduates who were officers of the 15th Battalion (the Oxley Regiment). Previously university students had to complete their compulsory military training in the Citizens Military Forces. The University of Queensland was unable to raise enough men to form an entire unit, with its total strength only several hundred men. As a consequence in 1933 university sub-units were attached to existing militia units, with the first platoon attached to the 9th/15th Battalion (Moreton and Oxley Regiment).In May 1948 QUR was formed, initially as an independent company, and then in 1 May 1950 as an infantry battalion. It was not until 1962 that the Regiment commenced officer training for other CMF units in South-east Queensland, and the unit retained this dual-role for the next 30 years when in 1992 its sole role became officer training as part of the 1st Officer Training Unit (OCTU). In 1997 all the University Regiments were brigaded under the Royal Military College, Australia.
QUR was present the Queens Colour and a Regimental Colour on 19 July 1959 by His Excellency, The Governor of Queensland, Colonel Sir Henry Abel Smith
Henry Abel Smith
Colonel Sir Henry Abel Smith KCMG KCVO DSO was a British Army officer and a Governor of Queensland.-Biography:He was born in London, on 8 March 1900, the son of Francis Abel Smith and wife Madeline St. Maur Seymour...
.
During the time of the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
(1962–1972) its strength was boosted by students who saw the relatively easy part-time service as a good substitute to being eligible for conscription. After the end of the war, it declined to company strength and less.
In January 1974 the depot in Walcott Street was submerged in the Brisbane flood caused by Cyclone Wanda, damaging the regimental colours beyond repair. The old colours were subsequently laid-up in the Emmanuel College
Emmanuel College, University of Queensland
Emmanuel College, University of Queensland is a residential college of the University of Queensland in St Lucia, Queensland, Australia. It was the first residential college established at the University of Queensland and the ninth college nationally...
Chapel located at the University of Queensland.
A major focus of the next three years was the recruitment and training of enough soldiers to put together a creditable parade for the presentation of new Queen's and Regimental Colours, which occurred on 9 July 1978. The colours were presented by Governor-General Sir Zelman Cowen
Zelman Cowen
Sir Zelman Cowen, was the 19th Governor-General of Australia. He is currently the oldest living former Governor-General of Australia.-Early life:...
, who had recently been the Vice-Chancellor of Queensland University. They are presently displayed in the QUR Officers' Mess.
The Regiment was granted the Freedom of the City of Brisbane on 12 July 1986 by the Lord Mayor Sallyanne Atkinson
Sallyanne Atkinson
Sallyanne Atkinson AO is an Australian politician, former Lord Mayor of Brisbane and former chair of ABC Learning, a bankrupted Australian childcare operator.She is Special Representative for the Queensland Government in South-East Asia....
. QUR was the first University Regiment to be granted this honour and last exercised its right in 1995 as part of the Australia Remembers celebrations.
In 1996 and 1997 OCTU and the Regional University Regiment of Queensland (RURQ), formally based at Gatton
Gatton
Gatton may refer to:Places:*Gatton, Queensland, Australia**Shire of Gatton, former administrative region*Gatton, Surrey, former village in England** Gatton , rotten borough based in the villagePeople:...
were disbanded and their role subsumed by QUR. As a result, for a while QUR maintained a detachment at Gatton. In October 2000 the formerly independent North Queensland Company (NQC) came under the command of the Regiment.
As of July 2008 all University Regiments became part of the 2nd Division.
Trivia
The regimental march is "Pour Bacchus". The regimental colours are slate grey and scarlet. Lanyard colour is slate grey.Prominent former members of QUR
- Major-General Denis Luttrell
- Major-General Steven Golding
- Brigadier Trevor Luttrell
- Brigadier Sam Harrison
- Justice H. Fryberg
- Justice J. Dowsett
- Justice J.A. Logan, RFD
- Justice J. Byrne, RFD
- Chief Justice P. de Jersey, ACPaul de JerseyPaul de Jersey, AC, QC was appointed Chief Justice on 17 February 1998 of the Supreme Court of Queensland, which is the highest ranking court in the Australian State of Queensland.-Education:...