Read it here   http://www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews/

A LEVEL ABOVE: Don’t miss our eight-page special feature on the new Helicopter Aircrew Training System – LIFT-OUT

ON TRACK: Task Group Taji 4 completes its deployment in Iraq as the fifth rotation takes over the training mission - PAGES 1, 3 and CENTRE

JOINING THE FORCES: We investigate what the implementation of the ADF Headquarters means for the Army and our personnel - PAGE 2       

COMBINED ATTACK: 3 Bde soldiers team up with multinational forces to test warfighting capability during Exercise Brolga Strike – PAGES 6-7

And in sport

FIGHTING SPIRIT: Meet our soldiers selected to represent Australia later this year at the Invictus Games in Toronto – PAGES 30-32

7RAR INFANTRY SECTION EQUIPMENT AND CAPABILITY DEMONSTRATION AT

RARA CLUB ROOMS, BEATTY STREET, LINDEN PARK

FRIDAY 30^TH JUNE 2017 – COMMENCING 1700HRS

Further details are here 7RAR INFANTRY SECTION EQUIPMENT AND CAPABILITY DEMONSTRATION

Please be advised that the AGM will be held in July

Agenda and nomination forms attached

Agenda AGM

Notice AGM

In PDF

Agenda AGM

Notice AGM

For those of you interested in the RSL SA, you can read RSL SA Board Member’s Colonel Steve Larkins’ comprehensive rebuttal of statements made by Mr Rod Murray (RSL SA Southern Metro Regional Coordinator), and Mr Murray’s retraction.

Email from RSL

The Casualty List has been off line for some time, here it is revived.

Note by clicking on the sub-headings, unit or coy/pl for example, you can then filter your searches.

http://www.thecasualtylist.com/

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/26/us/for-army-infantrys-1st-women-heavy-packs-and-the-weight-of-history.html?emc=edit_th_20170527&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=26642543&_r=0

An interesting article in the New York Times concerning women who have just completed their Infantry training.

Here is the April 2017 edition Infantryman April 2017

You can view the November 2016 edition here Infantryman November final 16.11.2016

the August 2016 edition here Infantryman August

and the April 2016 edition here Infantryman+April+2016

There are numerous excellent articles and a list of activities at HQ for the foreseeable future.

Archived Infantryman are under the Infantryman tab.

Courtesy of the 5RAR website, here is some historical information which may help revive a number of fading memories

http://www.5rar.asn.au/history/information-book-for-nashos.pdf

The collection of video clips was produced by Malcolm McKinnon for a project called Ripples of Wartime, coinciding with the season of Verity Laughton’s play Long Tan. 

http://www.brinkproductions.com/productions/ripples-of-wartime

The stories all hold up on their own, but they also have a collective impact and meaning that is more than the sum of their parts.   Courtesy of  Malcolm McKinnon.

Of particular interest are the clips involving Frank Clarke (5 RAR First Tour) and RARA SA Member Di Fairhead

Please be advised that 2/4 RARA will be conducting our 2017 AGM (Mercure Canberra – 26 Aug) and AWM Plaque Dedication Ceremony (AWM – 25 Aug). Specific details are provided on the 2/4 RARA Website at www.24rarassociation.com and will be updated as further info is provided.  

All former 2/4 RAR Officers and Soldiers, and RARA members who have an affiliation with the battalion are invited to attend. 

 Max Walker, OAM

President 

2/4 RARA

The 100th contribution comes from  The Hon Martin Hamilton-Smith MP, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs.   An interesting read concerning a close call Martin had whilst serving with the SAS.  You can read it here This week marks a milestone for the Veterans SA Think Piece Series

Dave Beacham arrived at Torrens Parade Ground yesterday 31 March to a good sized welcoming committee, including his Mum & Dad.

Rod Graham presented a cheque for $1,000 from the RARA SA Welfare Fund.  The 3 RAR Assn SA also presented cash to Dave.

In his speech, Dave advised that over $10,000 had been raised thus far.  This amount will be sufficient to commence construction of the retreat.

Click on the photos for captions and improved viewing.

An informative newspaper article here  http:/www.transcontinental.com.au/story/4558203/david-rides-for-good-cause/

 Here is the latest Holdfast.  There is a very interesting article about FSB Andersen during February 1968.  Many of our 3RAR comrades will remember this Operation http://tunnelrats.com.au/pdfs/newsletters/Holdfast-30.pdf

Here is the link to the Tunnel Rats Newsletter page

http://tunnelrats.com.au/newnewsletters.php

The RSM and CO of 7RAR presented a flag to the RARA SA on 14 December 2016.  This flag represents one of the 7RAR soldiers Killed In Action and was flown over the 7RAR base in Iraq during September 2016.

A number of photos to view, as ever, click on the photo to increase the size

Mike had this to say: ” Proud to speak to the 5 RAR Recon Platoon and then present the Student of Merit prize to Private Howard after the recent Recon Selection Course. Its great to see a young bright soldier like Private Howard who has only been in the Battalion for six months blitz the field.”    As always, click on the photo to enlarge.

The RARA National Conference was held in Adelaide Monday and Tuesday 3 & 4 October.

Here are a few photos of a number of the participants;

An interesting article concerning Jock Buchan, KIA 11 December 1969, his ashes found in Scotland!

You can read it here  Buchan Article

========================

Further to the above article, comments and a link from Paul Jackson, Jock’s Platoon Commander.

Hi Fred, 

What a special journey. It is hard to believe that after almost 50 years we have finally completed Jock’s story. We have come so far over the past year or so. A little over 12 months ago those involved in the action, Jock’s closest mates, did not even know where his body had gone after watching him being wrapped in a hutchie, tied on to a jungle penetrator and then winched slowly up to the hovering Dustoff chopper. Due to the tireless and dedicated work of a group of committed brothers-in-arms, Jock’s sacrifice has now been properly recognised, first with a Last Post Ceremony at the Australian War Memorial and now with your special service at his gravesite in far off Scotland. 

Most of you reading this email would not be aware that Jock Buchan’s death holds a very special place in our Vietnam war history. On the day of the action, an official Army photographer was moving with the company and took a series of photographs immediately after the contact. Of the many thousands of photographs taken during the Vietnam War, these are the only ones that actually record the death of an Australian soldier. For this reason I believe that Jock’s death has become symbolic of all those Australians who lost their lives in that conflict. Too graphic and politically sensitive to be publicly released at the time, the images are a poignant reminder of the human cost of war. 

The importance of this series of photographs is also well recognised by the AWM who have been corresponding with me recently seeking help identifying other members of the platoon captured in those iconic images. With your agreement Fred I would like to send your article to the Head Curator, Photographs, Film and Sound at the AWM. She has already expressed interest in the Dundee ceremony. I believe that this would also be an appropriate place for ‘Jock’s Story’ to be recorded.   

On behalf of all Jock’s 12 Platoon brothers, well done and thank you. 

Regards 

Paul 

ps For those interested, the AWM link to those photographs is attached below: 

https://www.awm.gov.au/search/all/?query=11+december+1969&submit=&op=Search&format=list&section%5B0%5D=collections&filter%5Btype%5D=Photograph 

Here is the final copy of  A DUTY DONE Addendum   The Addendum describes a number of new operations, including;  three by 1RAR in 1965 (Iron Triangle, New Life and Smash), two by 9RAR in 1969 (Matthew and Hat Dich), one by 5RAR in 1969 (Kings Cross) and the one by 6RAR/NZ (ANZAC) Battalion on 17/18 August 1969 when the original Long Tan Cross was erected. It is necessary to have a copy of A Duty Done to read the Addendum.

And here is a name index to be used in conjunction with the original A Duty Done A Duty Done Index of Names

Here is the Price List for A Duty Done and Addendum

To order this excellent book, please view this  A Duty Done Order_Form_Sep

If paying by EFT, please ensure you place your initials and surname as the reference.  If you have a specific book number, also please insert that ,e.g.  VX Smith 591

You can also read the original A Duty Done here.

Please note the erratum for A Duty Done A Duty Done Erratum