6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment


caption=Badge of the Royal Australian Regiment
country=Australia
allegiance=
type=Line Infantry
branch=Army
dates=6 June 1965-Present
specialization=Motorised Infantry
command_structure=Australian 7th Brigade
size=
current_commander=
garrison=Enoggera Barracks
ceremonial_chief=HM The Queen (Australian Infantry Corps)
ceremonial_chief_label=Colonel-in-Chief
nickname=
motto=Duty First
colors=
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label=Unit Colour Patch
march="Spirit of Youth" (Band); "The Crusaders" (Pipes and Drums)
mascot=
battles=
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=

6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (6 RAR) is part of the Australian Army. 6RAR is based at Gallipoli Barracks in Brisbane. The battalion's D Company distinguished itself at the Battle of Long Tan on 18 August-19, 1966, during the Vietnam War.

Brief history

*Raised in Brisbane at Alamein Barracks, Enoggera on 6 June 1965 under LTCOL C.M. Townsend.
*George Chinn DCM was the Battalion's first RSM.
*First deployment to South Vietnam between May 1966 and June 1967.
*Second deployment to South Vietnam between May 1969 and May 1970.
*Based in Singapore between August 1971 and December 1973 as part of 28 ANZUK Brigade.
*D Company was reorganised as a parachute company group in early 1980 and continued in this role until November 1983.
*Began conversion to a motorised organisation in February 1992 and added a Ready Reserve company later the same year.
*Reverted to an integrated-regular/reserve battalion in February 1997 and trialed the experimental Army 21 organisation.
*Deployed to East Timor between April and October 2000.
*The GEORGE CHINN DCM museum is a living reminder of the proud history and traditions of the 6th Battalion.

References

[http://www.defence.gov.au/army/6rar/ 6 RAR Official Website]