Letters to the Editor Archives

An Australian Army soldier from the 1st Armoured Regiment with an uncrewed ground vehicle equipped with a prototype communications system and experimental drone launcher during Project Convergence Capstone 5 at Fort Irwin, California. Photo by Corporal Nakia Chapman.

Letters to the Editor

Why is 1st Armoured Regiment Still an RAAC Unit?

09/06/202509/06/2025 Bruce Cameron 229 Views 0 Comments

The Chief of Army has stripped 1 Armd Regt of its tanks, reduced it in size by two thirds, and

Letters to the Editor

Comments on the Demise of 1st Armoured Regiment

07/06/2025 Bruce Cameron 717 Views 1 Comment

A number of articles have been published in Contact Magazine as part of a campaign to have 1st Armoured Regiment

Letters to the Editor

CONTACT paper issues 1-40 for sale

06/06/202506/06/2025 Andrew Thompson 212 Views 0 Comments

I have for sale, CONTACT magazines issues 1 to 40, in excellent condition. They were bought new and stored in

An Australian M1A2 SEP v3 main battle tank at Puckapunyal Military Area, Victoria. Photo by Corporal Michael Currie.

Letters to the Editor

Are Tanks Obsolete?

05/06/2025 Bruce Cameron 289 Views 0 Comments

A video is circulating, the proposition of which is that the tank is dead. Drones and anti-tank missiles, coupled with

Members of the public have a close look at an M1A1 Abrams main battle tank at the Gallipoli Barracks Open Day 2023. Photo by Corporal Nicole Dorrett.

Letters to the Editor Thought provoking

Defence Open Day’s Purpose

19/05/2025 Greg Jarosch 929 Views 0 Comments

Dear Contact Editor. Open days such as at Simpson Barracks are always thought provokers for some visitors, civilians, but it

An M1A2 Abrams tank arrives at Lavarack Barracks, Townsville on 14 November 2024. Photo by Corporal Guy Sadler.

Letters to the Editor Veterans

What Will the Chief of Army’s Reply be?

17/05/202517/05/2025 Bruce Cameron 1291 Views 2 Comments

The following is the letter I sent to Lieutenant General Simon Stuart on 10 May 2025: “Dear General, I have

Letters to the Editor

A Lesson in Artificial Intelligence

09/05/202509/05/2025 Bruce Cameron 685 Views 0 Comments

“Artificial intelligence (AI) is technology that enables computers and machines to simulate human learning, comprehension, problem solving, decision making, creativity

Australian Army soldiers from the 1st Armoured Regiment conduct manoeuvre training on an M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank in Puslatpur, Indonesia during Exercise Super Garuda Shield 2023. Photo by Corporal Dustin Anderson.

Letters to the Editor Veterans

“Publicly criticising an official Army position amounts to insubordination”

09/05/202509/05/2025 Bruce Cameron 815 Views 0 Comments

1st Armoured Regiment has been stripped of its tanks, reduced to one third of its strength and made a ‘new

An Australian Army Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 main battle tank fires during a training serial as part of a soldier qualification course at Puckapunyal Military Area, Victoria. Photo by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

Letters to the Editor Veterans

List of ‘Firsts’ for Australian Armour

06/05/2025 Bruce Cameron 760 Views 0 Comments

“The Australian Army has officially welcomed a second tank squadron to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, marking the first time in

Commander 3 Brigade Brigadier Ben McLennan addresses executives from the Australian Industry Group (AIG) during a visit to Lavarack Barracks, Townsville on 13 March 2025. Photo by Major Gabrielle Taylor.

Letters to the Editor Veterans

Update for Commander, 3rd Armoured Brigade

06/05/202506/05/2025 Bruce Cameron 846 Views 0 Comments

Brigadier Ben McLennan, Commander 3 Brigade, congratulated two of his Brigade’s units in his ‘X tweet’ for 27 April 2025

Brigadier Dave McCammon and W02 Robert Munro conduct a lap of 3rd Brigade in an M1A2 at Lavarack Barracks, Townsville, Queensland. Photo by Private Jess Gray.

Letters to the Editor Veterans

What’s the Chief of Army up to?

04/05/202504/05/2025 Bruce Cameron 1445 Views 0 Comments

Once upon a time … the Chief needed a ‘unit’ to come on-line quickly and manage ‘emerging technologies’. 1st Armoured

2nd Cavalry Regiment welcome its second tank squadron at the T4 (D Squadron) Raising Ceremony at Lavarack Barracks, Townsville, Queensland. Photo by Private Jessica Gray.

Letters to the Editor

The Housing Situation in Townsville: How Bad is it?

04/05/2025 Bruce Cameron 1159 Views 1 Comment

Is it stopping 3 Brigade getting up to full strength as an armoured brigade or is that due to other

An Australian Centurion Mk V/1 tank of the 1st Armoured Regiment, Royal Australian Armoured Corps, guarding the approaches to the 1 Australian Task Force base located at Courtenay Hill. A hootchie has been set up over the turret as a sun screen and a sand bagged observation post is visible on the hill top. Photo by Brian Wood – AWM P07256.031

Letters to the Editor Veterans

The Plight of Australia’s Military: Its Armour at least

02/05/2025 Bruce Cameron 1345 Views 0 Comments

The Plight of Australia’s Military was the title of an email to me from Professor Geoffrey Blainey, AC, arguably Australia’s

An Australian Army soldier from 1st Armoured Regiment talks to a British Army soldier from 2nd Battalion, Royal Yorkshire Regiment, about emerging technologies during Project Convergence Capstone 5 (PCC5) in Fort Irwin, California, 9 March 2025. Photo by Corporal Nakia Chapman.

Australian Army Letters to the Editor

Army Experimentation: Is There a Better Way?

30/04/202530/04/2025 Bruce Cameron 908 Views 2 Comments

The Chief of Army stripped 1st Armoured Regiment of its tanks, reduced it in size by two thirds, and made

Australian Army recruits in training at 1st Training Battalion, Kapooka, NSW. 1RTB photo.

Letters to the Editor Thought provoking

Rebuilding Australia through improving Defence preparedness

27/04/2025 WGCDR Wayne (Noddy) Parsons, RAAF Retd 937 Views 1 Comment

Professor Geoffrey Blainey posits Australia was better prepared to help confront the challenge facing the Empire in 1914 at the

Letters to the Editor

Townsville’s Armoured Brigade: Why Isn’t it Ready?

27/04/2025 Bruce Cameron 912 Views 0 Comments

The 2024 National Defence Strategy (and the Defence Strategic Review before it) changed the ADF’s readiness from a joint force

Letters to the Editor Veterans

Why Hasn’t the Australian Public Been Told?

26/04/2025 Bruce Cameron 1353 Views 3 Comments

Extracts from the 2023 Defence Strategic Review: “Army’s combat brigades must be reroled and select capabilities postured in northern Australia.”

An Australian Army M1A1 Abrams Tank is loaded onto a Royal Australian Navy light landing craft, during Exercise Sea Explorer, Cowley Beach, Queensland. Story by Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Jacqueline Forrester.

Letters to the Editor Veterans

An Open Letter to Prospective new Defence Ministers

23/04/2025 Bruce Cameron 823 Views 2 Comments

Eighteen months ago, the Defence Strategic Review stipulated that an armoured brigade should be located in Townsville. This requirement has

Centurion tanks from 1st Armoured Regiment, and armoured personnel carriers from B Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, move along the main road of Binh Ba village. Over three days, armour and infantry dislodged a strong North Vietnamese Army group that had entered the village, for the loss of one Australian killed in action. AWM BEL/69/0389/VN. Binh Ba.

Letters to the Editor Veterans

Letter to 95-Year-Old Professor Who’s Seen it All Before

22/04/2025 Bruce Cameron 629 Views 0 Comments

Dear Professor Blainey, Thank you for your article (in the Weekend Australian) ‘We were better prepared for war in 1914

Members of Overwatch Battle Group–West get ready to participate in an ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Talil, Iraq, 2008. Photo by Brian Hartigan.

Lest We Forget Letters to the Editor Veterans

Recognising Recent Sacrifices

21/04/2025 Bruce Cameron 842 Views 0 Comments

The NSW government has released the design and location for a new war memorial to honour the service and sacrifice

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