1st Brigade (Australia)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

1st Brigade
Active1903–present
CountryAustralia
BranchAustralian Army
TypeCombined arms
Size3,500[1]
Part of1st (Australian) Division
Garrison/HQRobertson Barracks, Darwin RAAF Base Edinburgh
EngagementsWorld War I

East Timor

Iraq
Afghanistan

Michael Jeffery
John Sanderson
Frank Hickling
David Hurley
Ash Power
John Cantwell
Jim Molan
David Butler
Insignia
Brigade Colour Patch[2]

1st Brigade is a combined arms formation of the

Adelaide, South Australia. It is the first of the Australian Army brigades to be re-organised as a combat brigade under Plan Beersheba
.

History

Formation

Originally formed in 1903 as a

Brisbane.[4]

World War I

The 1st Brigade was re-constituted in

Sydney, New South Wales, shortly after the start of World War I in August 1914 for service overseas as part of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). Upon formation it consisted of four infantry battalions—the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th[5]—however, later it received organic fire support when the 1st Australian Machine Gun Company (February 1916 to February 1918) and 1st Australian Trench Mortar Battery (from April 1916) were added to its order of battle.[6] Assigned to the 1st Division, the brigade's first commanding officer was Colonel Henry MacLaurin.[7]

During the war, the 1st Brigade took part in the fighting at

George Howell, Thomas Kenny, Leonard Keysor and Alfred Shout.[11]

Inter war years and World War II

In 1921, the Australian military part-time forces were re-organised to perpetuate the numerical designations and structures of the AIF.

41st Battalions.[13]

Initially, the brigade was staffed through the compulsory training scheme, which meant that the brigade was able to maintain its numbers, however, in 1922, following the signing of the Washington Naval Treaty, Australia's security concerns were reduced. As a result, the Army's budget was halved and the scope of the compulsory training scheme was scaled back; with this the authorised strength of each infantry battalion was reduced to just 409 men of all ranks.[14] In 1929, the compulsory training scheme was suspended by the newly elected Scullin Labor government and was replaced by a voluntary system,[15] under the new name of the "Militia".[16] This, coupled with the financial hardships of the Great Depression, meant that there were few volunteers available for service and many units had to be amalgamated or disbanded.[17]

As a result, the 1st Brigade was reduced to just three infantry battalions. Upon the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, the 1st Brigade consisted of the 13th, 33rd and 41st Battalions.

Parramatta, New South Wales,[19] where it formed part of the 1st Division.[20] Later the brigade became part of the Newcastle Covering Force and then the 10th Division.[21] In 1942, the brigade moved to Sydney, and from 1943 it was reduced to meet operational manpower needs elsewhere. In September 1944, the brigade moved to Singleton, New South Wales, where the two of its three infantry battalions were disbanded. By the end of hostilities, it consisted of only one battalion—the 41st/2nd Battalion—as other units had been transferred, amalgamated or disbanded.[18][21] Between May 1942 and August 1945 it was commanded by Brigadier Frederick Burrows.[22]

Post World War II

Following the end of hostilities in August 1945, the existing structures were disbanded throughout 1945 and into 1946 and the Interim Army was raised.[23] As a part of this, the 34th Brigade was raised for occupation duties in Japan.[24] In 1948, with the establishment of the reformation of the Regular Army and the raising of the Australian Regiment (later known as the Royal Australian Regiment), the 34th Brigade was renamed the 1st Brigade following its return to Australia.[25] During the Korean War, individual elements of the brigade were detached for combat in Korea, although they were subsequently placed under the command of other formations.[9]

In 1960, the Australian Army adopted the Pentropic divisional establishment.[26] This saw the adoption of the five battalion division and resulted in the disbandment of the old three battalion brigade formations.[27] As a result, the 1st Brigade, including its headquarters, was disbanded.[28] In late 1964, however, the decision was made to end the experiment with the Pentropic establishment,[29] partly because of the difficulties it created with allied interoperability.[30] Early the following year the brigade formations were re-established, although they were designated "task forces" instead of brigades.[31][32]

In mid-1965 1 RAR, was sent to Vietnam as part of Australia's commitment to the

Victoria.[11]

In 1982, the "brigade" designations were readopted.[9][34] Brigadier John Sheldrick was in command of the brigade at the time and early the year the 1st Armoured Regiment was placed under the 1st Brigade's command as part of the Army's mechanisation trials. The new role of the 1st Brigade as a mechanised force was confirmed in 1983 and following this the capability was developed. This saw the 5th/7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (5/7 RAR), re-equipped with armoured personnel carriers, which they began to receive in July 1983.[35] During the 1980s, one of the brigade's other infantry battalions, the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, began developing the Australian Army's parachute capability, and by late 1983 it had become a specialised parachute infantry battalion.[36] They were later transferred to the 3rd Brigade.[37]

Recent years

A soldier of the 5/7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, conducts fire and movement during training.

In 1992, the brigade began the process of moving to Darwin as part of a force structure review focused upon relocating defence assets in the north. By 2000, the brigade had completed its move and was headquartered in Robertson Barracks in Darwin.

East Timor and in October 1999, 5/7 RAR began deploying.[38] They returned to Australia in April 2000.[39]

As part of the Hardened and Networked Army initiative 5/7 RAR was de-linked in 2006 to form two mechanised battalions. 5 RAR remained in Darwin, while the 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (7 RAR), along elements of the 1st Combat Service Support Battalion was moved to Adelaide, where they are now based at

Adelaide–Darwin Railway can be used to transport heavy vehicles and equipment north. In its current configuration, the brigade is currently capable of operating three battlegroups, one formed around 1st Armoured Regiment as an armour-heavy formation and the other two around 5 RAR and 7 RAR operating as mechanised infantry formations.[41]

In the first decade of the 21st century, units of the brigade have undertaken deployments to East Timor,

Afghanistan.[41]

Planned restructure

In late 2011, the Australian government announced that under a restructuring program known as Plan Beersheba, the 1st, 3rd and 7th Brigades would be reformed as combined arms Combat Brigades.[42] Each will have a similar structure and capabilities, consisting of: a Brigade Headquarters, an Armoured Cavalry Regiment, two Standard Infantry Battalions, an Artillery Regiment, a Combat Engineer Regiment, a Combat Service Support Battalion and a Combat Signals Regiment.[43] Under the new plan, the 2nd Cavalry Regiment was transferred to the 3rd Brigade in October–November 2014, transitioning to the ACR structure.[44]

Organisation

As of 2023 1st Brigade is made up of the following units:[40][45]

In October 2017, the 1st Armoured Regiment moved from Robertson Barracks in Darwin to RAAF Base Edinburgh,[46] joining 7 RAR which moved there in 2010–2011.[47]

In late October 2022, the 1st Armoured Regiment and the 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment were transferred to the 9th Brigade.

Notes

  1. ^ The Australian Army: An Aide Memoire (PDF). Commonwealth of Australia. p. 13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 March 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  2. ^ "Colour patch : Headquarters 1 Infantry Brigade and 1 Light Trench Mortar Battery, AIF". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  3. ^ Kuring 2004, p. 39.
  4. ^ Australian Military Forces 1912, p. 15.
  5. ^ a b "2nd Battalion". Australian War Memorial. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  6. ^ "1st Australian Division 1914–1918". The Long Long Trail. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
  7. ^ Grey 2008, p. 88.
  8. ^ "AWM 4/23/1/46 Australian Imperial Force unit war diaries: 1st Infantry Brigade (March – April 1919)" (PDF). Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  9. ^ a b c "1 Brigade". Digger History.info. Archived from the original on 17 June 2007. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  10. ^ "1st Battalion". Australian War Memorial. Archived from the original on 14 May 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  11. ^ a b c "History – HQ 1st Brigade – Forces Command". Australian Army. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  12. ^ Grey 2008, p. 125.
  13. ^ "Australian Infantry Unit Colour Patches 1921–49". Digger History. Archived from the original on 12 July 2007. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  14. ^ Palazzo 2002, pp. 65–67.
  15. ^ Grey 2008, p. 138.
  16. ^ Palazzo 2001, p. 110.
  17. ^ Keogh 1965, p. 44.
  18. ^ a b "1 Australian Infantry Brigade: Subordinates". Orders of Battle.com. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  19. ^ Dunn, Peter. "Composition of the Australian Army in April 1943". Australia @ War. Archived from the original on 2 June 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  20. ^ "1 Australian Infantry Brigade: Superiors". Orders of Battle.com. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  21. ^ a b McKenzie-Smith 2018, pp. 2057–2058.
  22. ^ "1 Australian Infantry Brigade: Appointments". Orders of Battle.com. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  23. ^ Horner and Bou 2008, pp. 41–42.
  24. ^ Grey 2008, p. 203.
  25. ^ Kuring 2004, p. 219.
  26. ^ Grey 2008, p. 227.
  27. ^ Kuring 2004, p. 262.
  28. ^ Blaxland 1989, p. 64.
  29. ^ McNeill 1993, p. 22.
  30. ^ Grey 2008, p. 228.
  31. ^ McCarthy 2003, p. 131.
  32. ^ Blaxland 1989, p. 108.
  33. ^ Horner and Bou 2008, p. 152.
  34. ^ Horner and Bou 2008, p. 268.
  35. ^ Horner and Bou 2008, p. 270.
  36. ^ Horner and Bou 2008, p. 274.
  37. ^ Horner and Bou 2008, p. 291.
  38. ^ Horner and Bou 2008, p. 312.
  39. ^ Horner and Bou 2008, p. 314.
  40. ^ a b "Home – 1st Brigade (Adelaide) Relocation – Forces Command". Australian Army. Archived from the original on 2 April 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  41. ^ a b "Home – HQ 1st Brigade – Forces Command". Australian Army. Archived from the original on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  42. ^ "Defence announces major Army restructure". ABC Online. 12 December 2011. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
  43. ^ "Multi-role Combat Brigades". Australian Army. Archived from the original on 8 April 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  44. ^ "2nd Cavalry Regiment Arrives in Townsville". Oye! Times. 29 November 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  45. ^ "1st Brigade Units – HQ 1st Brigade – Forces Command". Australian Army. Archived from the original on 2 June 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  46. ^ Hartigan, Brian (31 October 2017). "1st Armoured Regiment leaves Darwin". Contact. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  47. ^ Reid, Khama (21 January 2011). "Soldiers move from Darwin into Adelaide's Base Edinburgh". ABC Adelaide. Retrieved 14 February 2015.

References

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