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CONTACT magazine

CONTACT BLOG SPOT

THE BATTLE OF CAMBRAI, NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1917 (Q 6284) A British Mark IV tank at Wailly. This shows how it would appear to occupants of the German trenches during the Battle of Cambrai. This was the first occasion on which tanks were launched en masse in a surprise attack and it clearly demonstrated the potential of the armoured vehicle. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205124999
Letters to the Editor 

The Values of Cambrai: Recognised Today?

18/10/202518/10/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 436 Views 0 Comments

“It remains for unit Commanders and for Tank crews to complete the work by judgement and pluck in the battle

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Lieutenant Commander Travis Robinson while deployed on Operation Paladin. Story by Lieutenant Commander Jonathan White.
ADF ADF People Health and Wellbeing Middle East News 

Bravery on the battlefield and beyond

14/10/202514/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 491 Views 0 Comments improvised explosive device (IED), Operation Paladin, United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO)

“Lima, this is Victor … CAPTION: Lieutenant Commander Travis Robinson while deployed on Operation Paladin. Story by Lieutenant Commander Jonathan

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Defence personnel conduct a climb during the rock phase of Rock and Ice at Mt Arapiles. Story by Corporal Michael Rogers. Photos by Lieutenant Sebastian Ashton.
ADF ADF People Health and Wellbeing Military Fitness News 

Between a rocky and an icy place

14/10/202514/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 496 Views 0 Comments ADF Sport, Rock and Ice

When Midshipman Stephanie Hudson fell during her first rock-climbing trip, she didn’t think much of it – she just got

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Veterans of the 1st Armoured Regiment during the Cambrai Parade at Edinburgh Defence Precinct. Photo by Corporal Adam Quinn.
Letters to the Editor 

A primer for Cambrai Day:  The enduring legacy of the tank – or is it?

13/10/202513/10/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 332 Views 0 Comments

“Special Order No. 6 H J Elles, Commander Tank Corps19th November 1917” 0630hrs, 20 Nov 1917.   “A predicted bombardment

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An Australian Army soldier from 1st Armoured Regiment briefs Chief of Army on some of his units new experimental fighting equipment in Shoalwater Bay training area in Queensland during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025. Photo by Captain Joanne Leca.
Letters to the Editor 

Experimentation and the Australian Army: What’s Going on?

10/10/202510/10/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2844 Views 2 Comments

“From commanding armoured vehicles in land combat to operating emerging technology, robotics and autonomous systems, soldiers from the 1st Armoured

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Major Mike Fitzpatrick, left, and his late father Keith Fitzpatrick. Story by Sergeant Matthew Bickerton.
ADF People History Lest We Forget 

Three generations of military service

10/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 662 Views 0 Comments WWII

Of the nearly one million Australians who served in World War 2, Keith Fitzpatrick was believed to be among the

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An Australian Army soldier from 1st Armoured Regiment demonstrates hyper-teaming with uncrewed aerial systems on Project Convergence Capstone 5 at Fort Irwin, California, on 11 March 2025. Photo by Corporal Nakia Chapman.
Letters to the Editor 

A Battle Laboratory AND a Combat Experimentation Group – why? 

10/10/202510/10/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 470 Views 0 Comments

Most of us thought, based on information from the Chief of Defence Force, that 1st Armoured Regiment had been specially

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Phillip 'Monro' Preuss celebrates his century with his great-grandchildren and 1 Recruit Training Unit members, from left, Squadron Leader Shannon Monk, Wing Commander Jodie Mason, Sergeant Nick Harrison, Corporal Tahlia Stockley and Warrant Officer David Harding. Story and photos by Flying Officer Belinda Barker.
ADF People History Royal Australian Air Force 

WW2 veteran celebrates a century

08/10/202508/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 617 Views 0 Comments 1RTU, RAAF Wagga Wagga, WWII

Nearly 80 years after his discharge from the Royal Australian Air Force, Phillip ‘Monro’ Preuss remains a celebrated member of

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Captain Manning Field (right) from Battle Lab talks with Captain Thomas James from the 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (QMI) during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025. Photo by Sergeant Dustin Anderson.
Letters to the Editor 

Armour gets the short end of the straw – again

03/10/202507/10/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 580 Views 0 Comments

It really didn’t matter that 3RAR is still to receive its ‘Redback’ mechanised infantry fighting vehicles (MICVs), 3 (Armoured) Brigade

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An Australian Army M1A1 Abrams tank from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment hits the shore during a combined amphibious assault activity on Exercise Alon in the Philippines. Story by Squadron Leader Courtney Jay. Photos by Lance Corporal Riley Blennerhassett.
Letters to the Editor 

Is it possible to meet Defence priorities AND fund the AUKUS subs?

02/10/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 425 Views 0 Comments

‘The Cove’ is the Army’s Professional Military Education platform, offering online units, podcasts, and articles to facilitate continuous learning and connect

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Four CA-27 Sabres from the 75 Squadron 'Black Diamonds' aerobatic team perform a display over RAAF Base Richmond during the Air Force Week airshow in September 1961. Photo from the RAAF Museum.
History News Royal Australian Air Force 

Airshow’s flight through Richmond’s history

30/09/202530/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 867 Views 0 Comments RAAF Richmond

Over 100 years, RAAF Base Richmond has recorded more than 1.28 million visitors at airshows, flying displays and community events.

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Air Commodore Bill Kourelakos (rtd) signs 'The Air Mobility Workhorse: C-130 Hercules Aircraft in Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Service'. Story by Squadron Leader Eamon Hamilton. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Aiesha White-Kratz.
History News Royal Australian Air Force 

Feats of Hercules recorded

30/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 909 Views 0 Comments C-130 Hercules, RAAF Richmond

The flightline at RAAF Base Richmond has launched countless C-130 Hercules missions around the globe – and now it has

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Members of the public excitingly enter the RAAF Richmond Air Show 2025. Photo by Aircraftman Jonathon McCaffrey.
History News Royal Australian Air Force Videos 

A wrap on RAAF Richmond Airshow 2025

30/09/202530/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1301 Views 2 Comments RAAF Richmond

About 80,000 people flocked to Royal Australian Air Force Base Richmond over the weekend of September 27 and 28 to

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Cadet Katelyn Wichman, left, and Cadet Oscar Brown, right, stand either side of former Royal Australian Air Force C-130 Hercules loadmasters Bob Pearman, Herman ‘Dave’ Jones, Cole Coyne, Stue Hablethwaite and his service dog at the RAAF Richmond Airshow. Story by Flight Sergeant Mark Eaton.
History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Air Force 

A century of service, a lifetime of memories

30/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1160 Views 0 Comments RAAF Richmond

The roar of jet engines, the thrill of aerial displays and a century of proud history came together at RAAF

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Personnel from RAAF Base Richmond on the Out of the Shadows Lifeline walk. Story by Flight Lieutenant Madeleine Magee. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Maddison Scott.
ADF People Health and Wellbeing Lest We Forget Royal Australian Air Force 

Bringing suicide prevention Out of the Shadows

30/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1030 Views 0 Comments Lifeline, National Suicide Prevention Day, RAAF Richmond

Earlier this month, RAAF Base Richmond participated in Lifeline’s Out of the Shadows Walk, to remember the lives of those

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Two 2nd Cavalry Regiment M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks conduct a live-fire serial at Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland. Photo by Lance Corporal Caitlyn Davill.
Letters to the Editor 

Top Priority: Tank Regiment or a Combat Experimentation Group (CXG)?

30/09/202530/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 438 Views 0 Comments

Let’s look at 1st Armoured Regiment from the viewpoint of someone presently serving in the unit… “If you have been

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Sir Jeffrey Armiger 

Anthony Albanese might secretly prefer AUKUS to fail

28/09/202528/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1737 Views 0 Comments

When Scott Morrison unveiled the AUKUS pact in 2021, he framed it as a masterstroke of statesmanship – tying Australia’s

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Letters to the Editor Uncategorized 

The RAAC: No one home (sadly)

27/09/202527/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1471 Views 0 Comments

It’s unbelievable, but true … at first it was thought that 1st Armoured Regiment had been temporarily prevented from joining

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Members of the 1st Armoured Regiment during their Guidon and Standard relocation parade in Adelaide. Photo by Private Sophie Hartley.
Letters to the Editor 

The RAAC: To whom do we owe allegiance?

26/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1998 Views 0 Comments

While serving, our commitment and allegiance is to our Commanding Officer (or immediate superior). After we retire, however, everything changes.

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Bomana War Cemetery, located near Port Moresby, is the final resting place of more than 3300 Australians. Photos by Leading Seaman Daniel Goodman.
Australian Army History Lest We Forget Overseas Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy 

Bomana visit a moving moment for ADF members

25/09/202527/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 3197 Views 0 Comments HMAS Choules, Operation Wantaim, PNG, WWII

Two ADF members paid a special visit to their relatives’ graves at the Bomana War Cemetery in Papua New Guinea

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