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Association Unit History Association Unit’s History 1964 - 1995 ENCLOSURE 1 REGIMENTAL HISTORIES - 3RD/4TH CAVALRY REGIMENT B Squadron 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment based at Lavarack Barracks Townsville is the last remaining subunit from the amalgamation of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment and 4th Cavalry Regiment. The 3rd Cavalry Regiment The 3rd Cavalry Regiment has its historical origin with the Victorian Mounted Rifles raised in 1885. In 27 May 1965, 1 Troop, A Squadron, 4th /9th Princes of Wales Light Horse (direct lineal descendants of the Victorian Mounted Rifles), embarked for service in South Vietnam and arrived in June. On 1 July 1965 1 Armoured Personal Squadron was raised in Puckapunyal and was formed with a large proportion of National Serviceman. On the 14 September 1965 ( AAO 31/1972) the Troop was officially designated the 1st Armoured Personnel Carrier Troop, however neither the Troop Commander nor the men of the Troop ever recall any notification of the change until March 1966 when the troop was finally informed and was thereby redesignated 1st Armoured Personnel Carrier Troop. The troop expanded and in May of the same year became 1st Armoured Personnel Carrier Squadron. In January 1967 the Squadron was renamed A squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment. B Squadron was raised at Holsworthy in 1967 and both A and B Squadron's saw active service in South Vietnam until withdrawal in late 1971 and early 1972. The Armoured Personnel Carriers of 3rd Cavalry Regiment and its ancestors ( 1 APC SQN ) in South Vietnam participated in every major Australian Task Force operation, including the Battle of Long tan in 1966, the Tet offensive in 1968, the battle of Binh Ba in 1969 and the battles for Fire Bases Coral and Balmoral. In November 1971 the Squadron returned to Townsville as B Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, while the Squadron in Holsworthy was absorbed into 2nd Cavalry Regiment. In October 1981 B Squadron was linked with the 4th Cavalry Regiment. The 4th Cavalry Regiment The 4th Cavalry Regiment has its historical origin with the Queensland Mounted Rifles raised in 1860. In 1965 A Squadron, 2nd/14th Queensland Mounted Infantry (the successor to the Queensland Mounted Rifles) was designated A Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment and located at Enoggera. In November 1966 the Squadron was redesignated B Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment and in October 1971 was again redesignated; this time as A Squadron 4th Cavalry Regiment. On 1st March 1975 the Squadron was raised to Regimental status with the addition of Regimental Headquarters, Headquarters Squadron and B Squadron. The 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment On 31 October 1981, the 4th Cavalry Regiment was linked with B Squadron 3rd Cavalry Regiment to form the 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment consisting of a Regimental Headquarters, Headquarters Squadron, A Squadron and Technical Squadron located at Enoggera and B Squadron quartered at Townsville. The Guidon of 4th Cavalry Regiment was presented to the 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment on 15 May 1982. The Guidon of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment was presented to the 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment on 14 May 1986. Page 1 On 1st July 1986, the 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment was reduced to one Squadron, that being B Squadron in Townsville. The elements of the 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment at Enoggera were integrated with 2nd/14th Light Horse (Queensland Mounted Infantry). Since the Vietnam conflict B Squadron 3rd /4th Cavalry Regiment has been peacefully providing Armoured Mobility to the Operational Deployment Force (3 BDE) in particular the 1st Battalion and the 2/4th Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment (RAR). In December 1992 , B Sqn 3rd /4th Cavalry Regiment was tasked to supply APC's and troops to Support of UN Operation "OP Solace" to provide mobility and security for the UN Forces in Somalia. On the 15th January 1993, B Squadron 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment (minus) deployed as part of the 1 RAR Battalion group to support UN Operations in Somalia, in conjunction with the US Operation "Restore Hope". The Australian contribution was titled "Operation Solace". The Operation was for a duration of 17 weeks, with the mission to provide security for the delivery of Humanitarian Assistance . Tasks included security of major Airfields, Seaports, Key Installations and Food distribution points to provide open free passage of relief supplies. B Squadron (minus) deployed with 90 personnel and 36 M113 Variants principally Armoured Personnel Carriers. B Squadron once again redeployed to Townsville, with the first troops departing Somalia on the 15th May 1993 with the remainder of the Squadron home by mid June 1993. From August 1994 to July 1995, B Sqn 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment was tasked to supply APC's and troops to Support of UN Operation "Op Tamar" to provide security to a medical support force in Rwanda. Four vehicles were sent to Rwanda and served with distinction with all troops returning safely home. The callsign issued for Rwanda was C/S 31. B Squadron 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment has and continues to uphold the reputation it has fought for and is justly proud of a fighting force, borne out of battle. We continue in the fine traditions of the Cavalry and as always will remain: Page 2 RESOLUTE AND TENACIOUS Battle Honours B Squadron 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment maintains both the 3rd and 4th Cavalry Regiments Guidons, with the following 3rd Cavalry Regiment Battle Honours emblazoned on the Guidon, 'Vietnam 1965 - 1972', 'Long Tan' and 'Coral - Balmoral'. The Battle Honours awarded to the 3rd Cavalry Regiment are: a) Vietnam 1965-1972 b) Long Tan - 18-19 Aug 66 c) Bien Hoa - 24 Jan - 1 Mar 68 d) Coral - Balmoral - 21 Apr - 7 Jun 68 e) Hat Dich - 3 Dec 68 - 19 Feb 69 f) Binh Ba - 31 May - 30 Jun 69 g) Somalia - CGS Commendation 21 Nov 1993 Colour Patch The Colour Patch of the B Squadron 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment is Sky Blue over Yellow and is directly linked to the colours of the 19th Light Horse. It was worn last by the 101 Motor Regt which was formed from the 19th Light Horse. Badge The badge worn is of a Black Scorpion encased by a wreath with the tail swung up as if to strike placed over a inverted boomerang which has the unit motto " Resolute" and finished in gunmetal colour to reflect that it had being designed and chosen in a combat area. The badge was designed by Lieutenant General John Grey, AO (Retd) and assisted by Charles Gaunt and Colonel Roger Kershaw both of whom where adjutants in succession during Gen Greys time in Vietnam. It was chosen as the Symbol of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment as it had already been adopted informally and painted on the sides of all M113 vehicles ( hence the tradition of the Scorpion on the sides of our current vehicles). The reason it was chosen was due to the prolific Black Scorpions that inhabited the Squadron area in Nui Dat. It also represented the sting that the Squadron could deliver at the crucial time in battle and to this day that reputation is maintained. The Scorpion Badge was approved by the Queen in 1972 and it took until 1977 -78 before the Regiment was badged correctly. Up until that time 3rd Cavalry Regiment wore the Corps Badge, except for the initial period in 27 May 1965 - 14 September 1965 when the 4/19th badge was worn. Page 3 Unit Mottos Celebrations a. 3rd Cavalry Regiment - Resolute, Battle of Binh Ba- 6 June b. 4th Cavalry Regiment - Tenacious. Affiliations Regimental Marches: The 3rd Cavalry Regiment is affiliated to 11 a. 3rd Cavalry Regiment - Old Comrades, Armoured Regiment United States Army b. 4th Cavalry Regiment - Light Cavalry Birthdays a. 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment - 31 October 1981 ( Beersheeba Day ) b. Corps Birthday - 7 July 1949 Page 4 HISTORY OF B SQN 3/4 CAV REGT (APC) Reference: A. MAJGEN R.N. L. Hopkins CBE, (Ret) Australian Armour A History of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps 1927 - 1972 Canberra 1978 1. B Sqn 3/4 Cav Regt (APC) draws most of its ancestry from the Vietnam War. 1 APC Sqn was raised in July 1965, to relieve the first APC Unit (1Tp A Sqn PWLH) deployed to Vietnam. The numerous and confusing reorganisation and renaming make ancestry difficult but the general progression of APC units appears to be as follows: Ser Date Event Notes 1.00 Late 1964 1 Tp A Sqn 4/19 PWLH raised for A Sqn 4/19 PWLH was the regular Sqn in service in Vietnam with 1 RAR Gp unit (Soldiers Regular) 2.00 June 1965 PWLH Tp arrives in Vietnam 8 APC only 3.00 July 1965 1 APC Sqn raised in Puckapunyal to Raised with two thirds National relieve PWLH Tp after 12 months Servicemen 4.00 March 1 Tp A Sqn 4/19 PWLH Tp renamed Same unit but increased to 13 APC and 1966 Tp 1 APC Tp two APC (M) 5.00 May 1966 1 APC Tp relieved by 1 APC Sqn after 12 months 6.00 January 1 APC Sqn renamed A Sqn 3 Cav 3 Cav Regt consisted only of A and B 1967 Regt. It's Australian detachment for Sqns reinforcement and relief was B Sqn 7.00 May 1969 B Sqn 3 Cav Regt relieved A Sqn 8.00 April 1971 A Sqn 3 Cav Regt relieved B Sqn Gradual withdrawal occurred from Vietnam, Tp remained until Mar 1972 9.00 March B Sqn 3 Cav Regt complete in Move Nov 1971 - Mar 1972. 2 Cav Regt 1972 Townsville. A Sqn 3 Cav Regt raised 1970 absorbed into 2 Cav Regt 10.00 31 October B Sqn 3 Cav Regt (APC) linked to 4 Regimental Birthday (Beersheba Day) 1981 Cav Regt and renamed 3/4 Cav Regt 11.00 June 1986 3/4 Cav Regt reduced to Townsville Independent Sqn to become B Sqn 3/4 Cav Regt (APC) 12.00 15 January Sqn Deployed to Somalia "OP Solace" 1993 Page 5 .
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