Royal Queensland Regiment
Encyclopedia
The Royal Queensland Regiment (RQR) is a reserve light infantry
formation in the Australian Army
based in Queensland.
, which saw all CMF battalions in each state amalgamated into state regiments. Initially, the regiment simply had a 1st and 2nd Battalion. However, to perpetuate the old battalions of the 2nd Australian Imperial Force
, the two battalions were renumbered as the 9th Battalion and 31st Battalion. Three further battalions (25th, 42nd and 51st) were formed in 1965, with the 49th Battalion formed a year later. In 1985, the 51st Battalion was separated from the rest of the Royal Queensland Regiment and reformed as the 51st Battalion, Far North Queensland Regiment, while the 25th and 49th Battalions were amalgamated into a single battalion in 1997. The 31st and 42nd Battalions were amalgamated in 2008.
The Queensland Regiment was formed from seven other regiments:
Previous battalions include:
– Black Watch
– The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders – The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (King's Lancashire and Border) Canada – The Lincoln and Welland Regiment
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
formation in 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...
based in Queensland.
Current Structure
The regiment currently consists of three battalions:- 9th Battalion9th Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment9th Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment is a Reserve light infantry battalion of the Australian Army, raised and based in the state of Queensland. It is part of the Royal Queensland Regiment and is currently attached to the 11th Brigade of the 2nd Division...
(9 RQR) - 25th/49th Battalion25th/49th BattalionThis article deals with the First AIF/CMF/Militia/Army Reserve units known as the 25th/49th Battalion. For information on the Second AIF unit during World War II, see 2/25th Australian Infantry Battalion....
(25/49 RQR) - 31st/42nd Battalion31st/42nd Battalion, Royal Queensland RegimentThe 31st/42nd Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment is a Reserve infantry battalion of the Australian Army. Although it was officially formed as 31/42 RQR in January 2008 by the amalgamation of two previously existing infantry battalions—the 31st Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment and the 42nd...
(31/42 RQR)
History
The RQR was formed in 1960 as part of the reorganisation of the Citizen's Militia ForceAustralian 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...
, which saw all CMF battalions in each state amalgamated into state regiments. Initially, the regiment simply had a 1st and 2nd Battalion. However, to perpetuate the old battalions of the 2nd Australian Imperial Force
Second Australian Imperial Force
The Second Australian Imperial Force was the name given to the volunteer personnel of the Australian Army in World War II. Under the Defence Act , neither the part-time Militia nor the full-time Permanent Military Force could serve outside Australia or its territories unless they volunteered to...
, the two battalions were renumbered as the 9th Battalion and 31st Battalion. Three further battalions (25th, 42nd and 51st) were formed in 1965, with the 49th Battalion formed a year later. In 1985, the 51st Battalion was separated from the rest of the Royal Queensland Regiment and reformed as the 51st Battalion, Far North Queensland Regiment, while the 25th and 49th Battalions were amalgamated into a single battalion in 1997. The 31st and 42nd Battalions were amalgamated in 2008.
The Queensland Regiment was formed from seven other regiments:
- Moreton Regiment
- Darling Downs Regiment
- Wide Bay Regiment
- Byron Scottish Regiment
- Far North Queensland RegimentFar North Queensland RegimentThe 51st Battalion, Far North Queensland Regiment is a light infantry battalion of the Australian Army. The battalion serves as a Regional Force Surveillance Unit , carrying out reconnaissance and surveillance tasks as its primary role...
- Kennedy Regiment
- Capricornia Regiment
Previous battalions include:
- 25th Battalion (25 RQR)
- 31st Battalion31st Battalion, Royal Queensland RegimentThe 31st Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment was a Reserve infantry battalion of the Australian Army. Although it was officially formed as 31 RQR in 1965 the battalion can trace its lineage back to units formed in 1881 as part of the colonial defence forces of the state of Queensland.Over the...
(31 RQR) - 42nd Battalion (42 RQR)
- 49th Battalion (49 RQR)
- 51st BattalionFar North Queensland RegimentThe 51st Battalion, Far North Queensland Regiment is a light infantry battalion of the Australian Army. The battalion serves as a Regional Force Surveillance Unit , carrying out reconnaissance and surveillance tasks as its primary role...
(51 RQR)
Battle honours
- Boer War: South Africa 1899–1902
- World War I: Somme 1916, Pozières, Bapaume, Bullecourt, Messines 1917, Ypres 1917, Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Broodseinde, Poelcappelle, Passchendaele, Ancre, Villers Bretonneux, Lys, Hazebrouck, Kemmel, Hamel, Amiens, Albert, Mont St. Quentin, Hindenburg Line, Épèhy, St. Quentin Canal, Beaurevoir, France and Flanders 1916–18, Anzac, Landing at Anzac, Defence of Anzac, Suvla, Sari Bair, Gallipoli, Egypt 1915–16
- World War II: North Africa, Giarabub, Defence of Tobruk, The Salient, Syria, Syrian Frontier, Merjayun, Jezzine, Chehim and Rharife, Damour, Mazraat ech Chouf, Hill 1069, Bandarene, South West Pacific 1942–45, Kokoda Trail, Ioribaiwa, Eora Creek-Templeton's Crossing II, Oivi-Gorari, Buna-Gona, Gona, Cape Endaiadere-Sinemi Creek, Sananda-Cape, Killerton, Milne Bay, Mount Tambu, Tambu Bay, Komiatum, Lae-Nadzab, Lae Road, Liberation of Australian New Guinea, Ramu Valley, Shaggy Ridge, Finisterres, Tsimba Ridge, Bonnis-Porton, Artillery Hill, Pearl Ridge, Mawaraka, Mosigetta, Puriata River, Darara, Slater's Knoll, Hongorai River, Mivo Ford, Borneo, Balikpapan, Milford Highway
Alliances
– The Royal Scots BorderersRoyal Scots Borderers
The Royal Scots Borderers is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.Two infantry regiments ; the Royal Scots and the King's Own Scottish Borderers merged on the 28 March 2006, and with the other Scottish infantry regiments amalgamated into the single seven battalion strong Royal...
– Black Watch
Black Watch
The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The unit's traditional colours were retired in 2011 in a ceremony led by Queen Elizabeth II....
– The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders – The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (King's Lancashire and Border) Canada – The Lincoln and Welland Regiment
The Lincoln and Welland Regiment
The Lincoln and Welland Regiment is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces based in St Catharines and Welland, Ontario.The Regimental Colonel-in-Chief is The Countess of Wessex and...
See also
- Royal Australian RegimentRoyal Australian RegimentThe Royal Australian Regiment is the parent regiment for regular infantry battalions of the Australian Army and is the senior infantry regiment of the Royal Australian Infantry Corps...
- Royal New South Wales RegimentRoyal New South Wales RegimentThe Royal New South Wales Regiment is a reserve infantry regiment of the Australian Army based in the state of New South Wales. The regiment consists of four battalions:-Organisation:*1st/19th Battalion*2nd/17th Battalion*4th/3rd Battalion...
- Royal Victoria RegimentRoyal Victoria RegimentThe Royal Victoria Regiment is an Infantry Regiment of the Australian Army, consisting of two battalions, the 5th/6th Battalion and the 8th/7th Battalion.-History:...
- Royal Tasmania RegimentRoyal Tasmania RegimentThe Royal Tasmania Regiment is a Reserve infantry regiment within the Australian Army consisting of a single battalion. Formed in 1960 following a review of military formations in Australia, the Regiment can trace its lineage back the late 19th Century and as served Australia in a number of...
- Royal South Australia RegimentRoyal South Australia RegimentThe Royal South Australia Regiment is a reserve regiment of the Australian Army consisting of a single battalion, the 10th/27th Battalion, part of the 9th Brigade. It was raised on 1 July 1960, as The South Australia Regiment.-History:...
- Royal Western Australia RegimentRoyal Western Australia RegimentThe Royal Western Australia Regiment is a reserve infantry regiment of the Australian Army consisting of two battalions, the 11th/28th Battalion and the 16th Battalion...
- Far North Queensland RegimentFar North Queensland RegimentThe 51st Battalion, Far North Queensland Regiment is a light infantry battalion of the Australian Army. The battalion serves as a Regional Force Surveillance Unit , carrying out reconnaissance and surveillance tasks as its primary role...
- Pilbara RegimentPilbara RegimentThe Pilbara Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Australian Army Reserve and is one of three Regional Force Surveillance Units employed in surveillance and reconnaissance of the remote areas of northern Australia...
- NorforceNORFORCEThe NORFORCE is an infantry regiment of the Australian Army Reserve. Formed in 1981, the regiment is one of three Regional Force Surveillance Units employed in surveillance and reconnaissance of the remote areas of Northern Australia.-History:In the late-1970s and early 1980s the need for a...
- Special Air Service Regiment