X-Nico

33 unusual facts about Australian army


Australia in the Korean War 1950–53

The book's account of the Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force's operations in Korea is highly detailed.

Australian cricket team in Australia in 1946–47

Bradman volunteered for the RAAF in 1940, but transferred to the Australian Army as a lieutenant in the Army School of Physical Training.

Australian Service Nurses National Memorial

The memorial honours past and present nurses of the Australian Defence Force, serving in the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army, and Royal Australian Air Force and associated services.

Australian Stock Horse

The "station horse" that was an ancestor of both breeds was used by the Australian Army in the First World War and was renowned for its toughness and endurance.

Barrallier Books

When Ian Gordon retired from the Australian Army in 2009, the focus on deluxe productions and the evocative book designs by Peter Gamble sharpened and in 2010 Barrallier Books published Vietnam on Canvas, a biography of Australia's official Vietnam War artist, Ken McFadyen, by Melbourne based author and artist Sandra Finger Lee.

Belmont Anti-Tank Ditch

The 8th Garrison and 32 Brigade of the Australian Army were responsible for the defence from Adamstown, Dudley, Redhead to Blacksmiths of the southern perimeter defensive system of the Port of Newcastle.

Cabarlah, Queensland

Since the Second World War, Cabarlah has also had a significant role as a base for the Australian Army.

City of Randwick

The Australian Army has a major presence in Randwick, with the headquarters of the 2nd Division being located in Randwick Barracks, Avoca Street, Randwick.

Combat boot

Since 2000, the Australian Army (As well as other its other Defence branches), primarily uses the Redback Terra Combat Boot as a replacement for the Vietnam War-era General Purpose combat boots.

Division of Jagajaga

The area is predominantly residential and light industrial, and includes the Australian Army's Simpson Barracks, the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital, the Mercy Hospital for Women and the Austin Hospital.

Edmund Arthur Harvey

In World War II, Harvey served in the Australian Army (22 April 1942 – 21 April 1944) in the Volunteer Defence Corps as a Gunner.

Hay Internment and POW camps

  They were interned in Camps 7 and 8 (located near the Hay showground) under the guard of the 16th Garrison Battalion of the Australian Army.

Hillarys, Western Australia

During the Second World War, the Australian Army used the area, and named it "Hillary's Beach" on their maps.

HMAS Nyanie

She was used by the Services Reconnaissance Department and was paid off in 1945, before being transferred to the Australian Army.

Individual Movement Techniques

In some military forces, such as the Australian Army, the entire British Armed Forces and the United States Marine Corps all units in the field force regardless of corps, regiment, trade or specialty are supposed to undergo annual refresher training in IMTs, on the basis that all soldiers can be expected to at least provide local security for their unit.

Ingleburn Army Camp

Ingleburn Army Camp was a purpose built camp constructed in 1940 for the Australian Army at Ingleburn, New South Wales, Australia.

Keswick, South Australia

Keswick is home to the Keswick Barracks, which is an Australian Army Barracks.

Larrakeyah, Northern Territory

Features of Larrakeyah include the Larrakeyah Barracks (an Army barracks combined with HMAS Coonawarra Naval Base) that takes up most of the suburb, Larrakeyah Terrace (a pleasant harbour-front street with an open park for picnics and walks), as well as being close by to the tourist attractions in Darwin City, Cullen Bay, Mindil Beach and the George Brown Botanical Gardens.

Larrimah, Northern Territory

The 8th Australian Staging Camp, built by the Australian Army was set up in Larrimah for troops making the journey by road from Adelaide before transferring onto rail at Larrimah siding for the rest of the journey to Darwin.

Mataranka, Northern Territory

The Australian Army set up No. 42 Australian Camp Hospital near Mataranka.

North Cronulla Beach

The Army’s beach fortifications during World War II affected the seawall foundations and the clubhouse had to be demolished after heavy seas in 1946.

NRL Grand Final

After the pre-game entertainment it is traditional for the NRL trophy to be delivered to the field by an Australian Army helicopter shortly before kick off.

Oodnadatta

Oodnadatta's busiest era was World War II when Australian Army and Air Force set up local facilities to service troop trains and fighter aircraft en route to Darwin.

Peace Monitoring Group

Four UH-1 Iroquois helicopters supplied by the Australian Army, which were painted bright red for visibility, were utilised to ferry personnel to inland villages inaccessible by foot or vehicle.

Pine Creek, Northern Territory

During World War II, the Australian Army set up 65th Australian Camp Hospital near Pine Creek.

Rats of Tobruk Memorial

The replica memorial is based on the 1941 memorial in the Tobruk War Cemetery, built by Australian soldiers during the siege, which has since been destroyed.

Regional Special Forces Counter-Terrorism Conference

The inaugural conference was held in June 2004, hosted by the Australian Army.

Rhyndarra

During World War Two the Australian Army established a military hospital at the property, with Rhyndarra becoming the Officers' mess and quarters.

Six-wheel drive

These may be six-wheel drive (such as the 6x6 version of the Australian Army's Perentie Land Rover Defender and the 6x6 Australia company's "Landcruiser Sherman"), but are commonly 6x4 (with only front and rear or front and middle axles driven), a technically simpler construction with stock components.

Swanbourne, Western Australia

The census does not identify Swanbourne's largest employer, the Australian Army.

Scotch College, a major independent school for boys, is the suburb's largest employer after the Army.

Tom Uren

In 1941, Uren joined the Australian Army and served in the 2/40th Infantry Battalion.

Yosl Bergner

He served for four and a half years in the Australian Army, and later continued his studies at the Art School.


1966 in the Vietnam War

The Battle of Long Tan was fought between the Australian Army and Viet Cong forces in a rubber plantation near the village of Long Tần, about twenty seven kilometres north east of Vung Tau, South Vietnam on 18 August 1966.

1969 in the Vietnam War

Operation Camden was an Australian Army military operation in support of the 501 Land Clearing Company, United States Army Corps of Engineers who were undertaking land clearing operations in the Hat Dich Area.

1st Australian Logistic Support Group

The 1st Australian Logistic Support Group (1 ALSG) was a ground support unit of the Australian Army during the Vietnam War located at Vũng Tàu.

2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment

The 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry) is a regiment of the Australian Army and forms part of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps.

6th New South Wales Mounted Rifles

The 6th New South Wales Mounted Rifles was a former unit of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps (RAAC), part of the Australian Army.

ABCA Armies

ABCA Armies (formally, the American, British, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand Armies' Program) is a program aimed at optimizing interoperability and standardization of training and equipment between the armies of the United States of America, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, plus the United States Marine Corps and the Royal Marines.

Alan Ramsay

Major General Sir Alan Hollick Ramsay CB, CBE, DSO, ED (12 March 1895 – 19 September 1973) was a soldier in the Australian Army, who served in the First World War and was a general during the Second World War.

Arthur Samuel Allen

Major General Arthur Samuel "Tubby" Allen CB CBE DSO VD (10 March 1894 – 25 January 1959) was an Australian soldier.

Australian Army Training Team Vietnam

The Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) was a specialist unit of the Australian Army that operated during the Vietnam War.

Australian Intelligence Community

The Australian Army Intelligence Corps (AUSTINT, AIC) is a corps of the Australian Army which serves as the principal military intelligence unit of the Australian Defence Force and provides staff to the Defence Intelligence and Security Group and major Australian Defence Force commands and staff organisations.

Cooma Correctional Centre

When not in use, the Cooma Correctional Centre has also been a storage space for the Australian Army and for the Snowy Mountains Scheme.

Derwent Barracks

Derwent Barracks is an Australian Army barracks in the Hobart suburb of Glenorchy, near the Elwick Racecourse and Hobart Showgrounds.

Ghillie suit

The Australian Army sniper's outfits are nicknamed "yowies", named for their resemblance to the Yowie, a mythical hominid similar to the Yeti and Bigfoot which is said to live in the Australian wilderness.

Greta Army Camp

Greta Army Camp was an Australian army camp built in 1939 near Greta, New South Wales, Australia.

John McKinna

Brigadier John Gilbert McKinna CMG, CBE, DSO, LVO, ED (11 December 1906 - 28 January 2000) was a senior officer in the Australian Army during World War II.

Maylands Airport

Between 6 April 1942 and 5 August 1943, No. 35 Squadron, flying Avro Ansons, was based at Maylands to transport supplies and passengers to Allied units throughout Western Australia, as well as supporting the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Army.

Muirhead Collins

Collins died in 1927 and was survived by his wife and their son, Major Howel Collins (graduated from Royal Military Academy in Woolwich) of the Australian Army.

Parap Airfield

No. 6 Communications Flight RAAF was based at the aerodrome from August 1942 and delivered mail and food supplies to army and RAAF outposts, as far afield as the Wessel Islands.

Paul Starling

It was as an Australian Army officer himself that Paul Starling developed his early leadership skills and the self discipline that helped him build the reputation of Gōjū-ryū via the Sydney Goju Kai Dojo and the Macquarie University Karate Club, into successful traditional Japanese Dojo.

Sybil Irving

She was the oldest of three children and her father, Godfrey Irving, was an Army officer who later held senior positions in the Australian Army.

Victoria, Labuan

Having been occupied by the Japanese Army in World War II, Labuan was liberated by the Australian Army in September 1945 and placed under British military administration until 15 July 1946, when it was incorporated into British North Borneo.

Woodside Barracks

Woodside Barracks is an Australian Army base located in South Australia near Inverbrackie and Woodside in South Australia.