Melbourne University Regiment
Encyclopedia
The Melbourne University Regiment (or MUR) is an officer training unit in the Australian Army Reserve
. It has a depot at Grattan Street, Carlton
, Melbourne
, Australia.
MUR traces its origins to 1884 as D company, 4th Battalion of the Victorian Rifles
, at which time it was known as the University Company. General Sir John Monash
was a Colour Sergeant
of this unit before taking a commission in the colonial and later Commonwealth militia.
The unit became the Melbourne University Rifles in 1910, providing military training for members of Melbourne University and the public schools of Melbourne
and Geelong.
As a University Regiment the unit did not deploy with the AIF
in either of the world wars and as such, it carries no Battle Honours on its Colours
. However, many officers and soldiers of AIF units had received their initial military training or commissions with the University Rifles.
In the post war structure of the Australian Army
the University Rifles was reformed as the present Melbourne University Regiment, officially raised on April 1948.
Currently MUR is a sub unit of 4th Brigade which is located at Simpson Barracks, Watsonia, in the north east suburbs of Melbourne. MUR is a direct command training unit of 4 Bde and as part of the 2nd Division, responsible for training of ARes OCDTs and ORs. MUR conducts training at 2 separate facilities. OCDT training at the Gratton St Carlton depot and OR training at Building 6 at Simpson Barracks at Watsonia.
Australian Army Reserve
The Australian Army Reserve is a collective name given to the reserve units of the Australian Army. Since the Federation of Australia in 1901, the reserve military force has been known by many names, including the Citizens Forces, the Citizen Military Forces, the Militia and, unofficially, the...
. It has a depot at Grattan Street, Carlton
Carlton, Victoria
Carlton is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Melbourne...
, Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia.
MUR traces its origins to 1884 as D company, 4th Battalion of the Victorian Rifles
Royal Victoria Regiment
The Royal Victoria Regiment is an Infantry Regiment of the Australian Army, consisting of two battalions, the 5th/6th Battalion and the 8th/7th Battalion.-History:...
, at which time it was known as the University Company. General Sir John Monash
John Monash
General Sir John Monash GCMG, KCB, VD was a civil engineer who became the Australian military commander in the First World War. He commanded the 13th Infantry Brigade before the War and then became commander of the 4th Brigade in Egypt shortly after the outbreak of the War with whom he took part...
was a Colour Sergeant
Colour Sergeant
Colour sergeant or colour serjeant is a non-commissioned title in the Royal Marines and infantry regiments of the British Army, ranking above sergeant and below warrant officer class 2....
of this unit before taking a commission in the colonial and later Commonwealth militia.
The unit became the Melbourne University Rifles in 1910, providing military training for members of Melbourne University and the public schools of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
and Geelong.
As a University Regiment the unit did not deploy with the AIF
Australian Imperial Force
The Australian Imperial Force was the name given to all-volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and World War II.* First Australian Imperial Force * Second Australian Imperial Force...
in either of the world wars and as such, it carries no Battle Honours on its Colours
Colours, standards and guidons
In military organizations, the practice of carrying colours, standards or Guidons, both to act as a rallying point for troops and to mark the location of the commander, is thought to have originated in Ancient Egypt some 5,000 years ago...
. However, many officers and soldiers of AIF units had received their initial military training or commissions with the University Rifles.
In the post war structure of the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
the University Rifles was reformed as the present Melbourne University Regiment, officially raised on April 1948.
Currently MUR is a sub unit of 4th Brigade which is located at Simpson Barracks, Watsonia, in the north east suburbs of Melbourne. MUR is a direct command training unit of 4 Bde and as part of the 2nd Division, responsible for training of ARes OCDTs and ORs. MUR conducts training at 2 separate facilities. OCDT training at the Gratton St Carlton depot and OR training at Building 6 at Simpson Barracks at Watsonia.
Prominent former members of MUR
- Sir Robert MenziesRobert MenziesSir Robert Gordon Menzies, , Australian politician, was the 12th and longest-serving Prime Minister of Australia....
, the former Australian Prime Minister and founder of the Liberal Party - Sir Ninian StephenNinian StephenSir Ninian Martin Stephen, is a retired politician and judge, who served as the 20th Governor-General of Australia and as a Justice in the High Court of Australia.-Early life:...
, the former judge of the High Court and Governor-General of Australia - Sir Henry WinnekeHenry WinnekeSir Henry Arthur Winneke AC, KCMG, KCVO, OBE, KStJ, QC was a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria and Governor of Victoria.- Early life and career :...
, the former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria and Governor of Victoria - Barry HumphriesBarry HumphriesJohn Barry Humphries, AO, CBE is an Australian comedian, satirist, dadaist, artist, author and character actor, best known for his on-stage and television alter egos Dame Edna Everage, a Melbourne housewife and "gigastar", and Sir Les Patterson, Australia's foul-mouthed cultural attaché to the...
, the comedian - Andrew PeacockAndrew PeacockAndrew Sharp Peacock AC, GCL , is a former Australian Liberal politician. He was a minister in the Gorton, McMahon and Fraser governments, and was federal leader of the Liberal Party of Australia 1983–1985 and 1989–1990...
, the former Minister for the Army, Liberal Opposition Leader and Australian Ambassador to the US