8th/9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment

History

8/9 RAR was formed on 31 October 1973 by linking 8th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment and 9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment as part of cutbacks to the army following the end of the Vietnam War. Upon formation the unit was based at Enoggera Barracks in Brisbane where it formed part of the 6th Brigade. The battalion's first major task came in the wake of the 1974 Brisbane flood, when it assisted with the subsequent disaster relief and cleanup efforts.

During the 1980s the battalion lost a large number of its personnel to the 1st and 2nd Battalions, Royal Australian Regiment as part of the Operational Deployment Force, but nevertheless undertook the task of maintaining the Army's amphibious and urban operations specialisations. In 1990, it took on a further role of training Papua New Guinea Defence Force personnel.

In January 1992, the battalion took on the role of a Ready Reserve unit. and shortly after this, as part of a restructuring of the Army, 8/9 RAR was disbanded on 30 June 1997.

On 24 August 2006, Prime Minister John Howard announced the Enhanced Land Force plan that the battalion would be re-raised under a new plan to increase the size of the Army. The battalion would continue to be called the 8/9th Battalion and would be based in South East Queensland. On 2 October 2007, the Prime Minister announced that 8/9 RAR would be operationally deployable by 2010, be based in Brisbane at Enoggera Barracks and would be equipped with Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles.

The battalion was officially re-raised on 31 October 2007 and was rapidly established as a motorised unit. Although originally it was intended that the battalion would consist of two motorised rifle companies, a support company and an administration company, this structure was deemed unworkable and the battalion was subsequently reorganised.

East Timor

In late-February 2010, 130 soldiers from the battalion's 'A' Company took over responsibility of the Timor Leste Task Group, replacing 2 RAR in East Timor. This force was rotated back to Australia in June 2010 after a four-month deployment, and was replaced by 'B' Company, 8/9RAR.

Afghanistan

Between January 2012 and June 2012, 8/9 RAR deployed to Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan as the core of MTF-4.

Iraq

In 2015–16, members of 8/9 RAR deployed on two consecutive rotations of Operation Okra in Iraq and Operation Highroad in Afghanistan.

Minor operations and individual deployments

The battalion has also contributed small numbers of personnel to Operations Slipper, Anode, and Pakistan Assist, and was heavily involved in search and rescue efforts during the 2010–11 Queensland floods, deploying to its emergency support force on short notice to Grantham in the Lockyer Valley. By mid-2011, 8/9 RAR had grown to comprise a battalion headquarters, three rifle companies and an operational support company.

Traditions

The battalion lanyard is coloured slate grey and beech brown and these colours are used elsewhere in sporting uniforms and the like. The official battalion march is The Brown and Grey Lanyard, but the unofficial march is Black Bear with a boisterous 'HOI' inserted in the appropriate places.

The 8/9 RAR mascot is a stud merino ram officially named John Macarthur (currently John Macarthur VIII), after the Australian wool pioneer, but known affectionately to the diggers as 'Stan the Ram'. Elizabeth 'Lizzie' Macarthur arrived in the Battalion in 2020 as Stan's companion.

Current role & composition

In 2017 the battalion commenced the transition to the motorised role with the adoption of the Bushmaster protected mobility vehicle.

The battalion currently consists of:

• Battalion Headquarters
• Three 3 Rifle Companies – Alpha, Charlie and Delta
• Support Company, comprising Mortar, Direct Fire Support Weapons, Reconnaissance, Sniper, and Pipes and Drums Platoons
• Combat Service Support Company

Commanding Officers

The following table lists the Commanding Officers of 8/9 RAR. Only those post-nominals held at the time of holding the appointment of CO 8/9 RAR are shown.

Regimental Sergeant Majors

The following table lists the Regimental Sergeant Majors of 8/9 RAR. Only those post-nominals held at the time of holding the appointment of RSM 8/9 RAR are shown.

8th/9th Battalion Association

The Battalion Association was created to perpetuate the memory of the unit when it was initially disbanded in 1997. With resurrection in 2007, the association now serves as the conduit for past, present and future members.

Alliances and Relationships

• United Kingdom – The Parachute Regiment
• Fiji - Fiji Infantry Regiment, Republic of Fiji Military Forces

Notes

References

References

1. "Annex L to Chapter 6: 8th/9th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment—A Brief History". Royal Australian Regiment.
2. "8/9 RAR". Digger History.
3. Howard]] [[Howard Government. government]],Smith 2006, p. 35.
4. (7 September 2006). "Troop boost". Department of Defence.
5. (2 October 2007). "A Stronger Army for Australia".
6. (2 October 2007). "Another Army battalion for Brisbane". ABC News.
7. "Two Years On: The 8th/9th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment". Australian Infantry Magazine.
8. regular]] motorised formation, following the transfer of its reserve infantry battalions to [[11th Brigade (Australia). 11th Brigade]]. By 2010, 8/9 RAR was established as a motorised infantry battalion, and with [[6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. 6 RAR]] and [[2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment. 2/14 Light Horse (QMI)]] is one of three deployable Battle Groups in the brigade.Belham & Dehnam 2009, p. 195.
9. (4 February 2010). "Force reduction". Australian Department of Defence.
10. (9 June 2010). "Media Release: Brisbane troops home from East Timor". Department of Defence.
11. (21 July 2012). "Brisbane welcomes home troops returning from Afghanistan". Department of Defence.
12. "The 8th/9th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment: Four Years On". Australian Infantry Magazine.
13. (15 June 2017). "Force Structure". Australian Army.
14. Horner & Bou 2008, p. 444.
15. Horner & Bou 2008, p. 451.
16. "About the 8th/9th Battalion Association". 8th/9th Battalion Association.