What CAN be Done to Return 1 Armd Regt to a Combat Role?

Those who permitted tanks to be stripped from 1 Armd Regt have really got the RAAC into a mess! They will say, of course, that they were powerless to counter the Chief of Army’s direction.

The then RAAC Representative Honorary Colonel, Major General Craig Orme, AM, DSC, CSC, as well as Major General Roger Powell, AM, and the then RAAC Head of Corps, Brigadier Chris Gardner, AM, DSM, wrote to the Chief of Army (CA) requesting that he reconsider his decision. The CA told them his mind was made up.

On 19 Oct 24, Brig Ted Acutt, the Patron of the 1 Armd Regt Assn, told the Assn’s AGM that “It has been a pretty tough 12 months for the Regiment and the Association since the Defence Minister’s announcement about the future of the Regiment.” The fact that it was a hard year for the Regiment is interesting.

According to the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF), morale in the regiment (which is being measured carefully) improved in 2024, compared to what it had been in 2023. This doesn’t mean, of course, that they weren’t still doing it tough. But who to believe? The fact that the morale of the unit was being closely monitored is also interesting.

Brig Acutt went on to say: “The Corps and senior members have exhausted the formal paths. We need to decide which unofficial action, e.g. the media, we will take from here”. Sadly, no media campaign eventuated and the Assn’s anger just fizzled out. Previously it had been advised that it’s members “should try and remain calm, rather than undertake a campaign of advocacy which could inflame a sensitive situation.” (One has to wonder where this advice came from.)

The possibility of a mass media campaign to raise awareness of the issue was canvassed a while ago. The idea was something along the lines that which took place in the UK where a proposal had been put forward to merge the Royal Marines and the Parachute Regiment (to save money in the Defence budget). When made known, public outrage forced the Government to back down. Unfortunately, there was no appetite for a wide-spread media campaign of this sort, re 1 Armd Regt.

Former members of the unit, who are devastated at ‘their’ Regiment being made a non-combatant after 75 years’ service crewing tanks and having been awarded three Battle-honours and a Unit Citation for Gallantry, wrote to around twenty senior military and political figures from the Commander-in-Chief, down. They also initiated a Petition to Parliament and have had numerous letters published in newspapers and defence magazines.

The petition “urges the Defence Minister, Richard Marles, to reinstate 1st Armoured Regiment as the nation’s tank regiment, overturning the decision of the Department of Defence to remove the Royal Australian Armoured Corps’ oldest and most decorated regular army unit from the ORBAT”. Having received more than three times the number of signatures needed for the Minister to have to respond, the opening of the 48th Parliament is awaited.

The Minister, in response to an earlier letter to him, said that 1 Armd Regt had a new role “shaping how the Army fights”. There’s been no reply to a second letter to him, asking what this means.

In what was a nice letter, the CDF stated that “adapting the Regiment’s role” was necessary “to meet the Government’s direction”. So, really nothing to do with him. He also mentioned that the CA “sought advice from the [RAAC] Head of Corps”. The impression given here is that the HOC gave his approval, whereas the then HOC actually wrote to the CA, “requesting that he reconsider his decision”. [As did the then RAAC Rep Hon Col.]

The CA has stated that “Army is living its values of service, courage, respect, integrity and excellence, in real and meaningful ways, every day”. What a pity that the values of honesty and openness were forgotten; while one has to wonder why no respect was shown for the battle-honours and heritage achieved during 1 Armd Regt’s 75-years’ service crewing tanks.

Integrity – really?

What CAN be done?

By not giving up … Armoured Corps determination might just carry the day.

Lieutenant Colonel Bruce Cameron, MC, RAAC (Ret’d)

 

FILE PHOTO (7 June 2025): Australian Army soldiers from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, conduct a live fire danger close serial in an M1A2 Abrams main battle tank at Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland. Photo by Lance Corporal Caitlyn Davill.

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