6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment | |
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Active | 6 June 1965 – present |
Country | Australia |
Branch | Australian Army |
Type | Line infantry |
Part of | 7th Brigade |
Garrison/HQ | Enoggera Barracks |
Nickname(s) | Bluedog |
Motto(s) | "Duty First" |
March |
Spirit of Youth (Band) The Crusaders (Pipes and Drums) |
Mascot(s) | Australian Blue Cattle Dog |
Anniversaries | 18 August – Long Tan Day |
Engagements | |
Decorations |
Unit Citation for Gallantry Presidential Unit Citation (United States) |
Commanders | |
Colonel-in-Chief | HM The Queen (Australian Infantry Corps) |
Notable commanders |
Lieutenant Colonel C.M. Townsend Lieutenant Colonel David Butler |
Insignia | |
Unit colour patch |
Spirit of Youth (Band)
6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (6 RAR) is a motorised infantry battalion of the Australian Army. It was originally raised in Brisbane, Queensland, on 6 June 1965 and has since then served in a number of overseas deployments and conflicts including South Vietnam, East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan. During the Vietnam War the battalion earned a US Presidential Unit Citation from the United States, when members from 'D' Company participated in the Battle of Long Tan on 18–19 August 1966. The battalion is currently based at Gallipoli Barracks in Brisbane and forms part of the 7th Brigade.
6 RAR was raised on 6 June 1965 at Alamein Barracks at Enoggera in Brisbane, Queensland, when a cadre of officers and non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and two rifle companies were transferred from 2 RAR to form the nucleus of the new battalion. The battalion was then brought up to full strength when an intake of 250 national servicemen marched-in in September 1965. The battalion's complement of platoon commanders was rounded out shortly after this with the arrival of six Scheyville graduates.