Monash University Regiment
Encyclopedia
The Monash University Regiment is a reserve
officer training regiment of the Australian Army
, based in Victoria
near Monash University
. It is a part of the 2nd Division's 4th Brigade. The Regiment is associated with the university, but this proved to be a difficult relationship during the Vietnam War-era when Monash University's Clayton campus was a hotbed of student activism. Recruiting on the campus ended when members of the student association stole three weapons during a recruiting campaign. The weapons referred to were recovered by the Victoria Police Force.
As for the APCs (Armoured Personnel Carriers, members of the Regiment did not "borrow" these as they never had access to these type of vehicles.
The incident referred to was when 4th/19th Prince of Wales Light Horse (an Army Reserve armoured unit) was asked to provide two or three APCs for a display at Monash's Depot, then in Huntingdale. The convoy was commanded by a former commanding officer of Monash Regiment, then Major, and eventually Lt Col, Graeme Rees Jones. The convoy entered the University's ring road via the rear entrance (which did not have a gate in those days) drove all the way around the ring road and exited via the same entrance and then drove to the depot. Their arrival was witnessed by a number of people (included this editor of this article) all of whom saw Major Rees Jones jump down from his APC saying "I did it" is a gleeful tone. His delight being in no small way because he had not been able to take any of the Monash vehicle's onto the University for almost all of the time he was the commanding officer.
The regiment is named in honour of General Sir John Monash, Australia's greatest soldier and probably the most effective commander on the Western Front
during World War I
.
The current Commanding Officer
is Lieutenant Colonel
Paul Galea, and the Honorary Colonel is Brigadier
John Deighton AM, MC who succeeded Major General
Jim Hughes AO, DSO, MC.
), traces its origins back to 8 March 1966, when Monash University Company was formed as a detachment of MUR.
The Regiment's shoulder insignia and it's abbreviated title is simply "MONASH" and NOT "MONUR". The reason being that if "MONUR" had been chosen it would rapidly have degenerated into the very derogatory "manure" and this would have been very disrespectful to Australia's greatest soldier.
On the 23 February 1970 it ceased to be the Monash University Company of MUR, and became its own regiment. MONUR recently celebrated its 39th birthday.
to complete the GSO FAC on a full-time basis. A return of service obligation of four years exists for this scheme, but does not apply for reservists.
Monash University Regiment sends approximately 10 people to RMC-D each year to complete the PT GSO FAC, graduates of which are commissioned as Lieutenants before being allocated to their Corps and posted to their first unit.
The Logistic Support Company provides training and logistic support to Cadet Company. Logistic Support Company consists of a catering cell, a rifle section, Q store, a transport section, and administration cell.
and translates as "I am still learning", which is also the University's motto. Members of the Regiment wear an Academic Blue (or Cambridge Blue) lanyard which signifies the unit's link with Monash University
, which in turn adopted many of the traditions of Cambridge University. The Regimental badge is backed by a red 'aura' which signifies the alliance of MONUR with the British Army's Light Infantry
, now amalgamated into The Rifles
. The mascot of MONUR is a black sheep (ram) indicative of the status and culture of the Regiment. MONUR's Regimental quick march is "Imperial Echoes", which was composed by Arnold Safroni in 1913 and used as the signature tune of the BBC Newsreel feature during WWII.
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...
officer training regiment 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...
, based in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
near Monash University
Monash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
. It is a part of the 2nd Division's 4th Brigade. The Regiment is associated with the university, but this proved to be a difficult relationship during the Vietnam War-era when Monash University's Clayton campus was a hotbed of student activism. Recruiting on the campus ended when members of the student association stole three weapons during a recruiting campaign. The weapons referred to were recovered by the Victoria Police Force.
As for the APCs (Armoured Personnel Carriers, members of the Regiment did not "borrow" these as they never had access to these type of vehicles.
The incident referred to was when 4th/19th Prince of Wales Light Horse (an Army Reserve armoured unit) was asked to provide two or three APCs for a display at Monash's Depot, then in Huntingdale. The convoy was commanded by a former commanding officer of Monash Regiment, then Major, and eventually Lt Col, Graeme Rees Jones. The convoy entered the University's ring road via the rear entrance (which did not have a gate in those days) drove all the way around the ring road and exited via the same entrance and then drove to the depot. Their arrival was witnessed by a number of people (included this editor of this article) all of whom saw Major Rees Jones jump down from his APC saying "I did it" is a gleeful tone. His delight being in no small way because he had not been able to take any of the Monash vehicle's onto the University for almost all of the time he was the commanding officer.
The regiment is named in honour of General Sir John Monash, Australia's greatest soldier and probably the most effective commander on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
The current Commanding Officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
is Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
Paul Galea, and the Honorary Colonel is Brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
John Deighton AM, MC who succeeded Major General
Major General (Australia)
Major General is a senior rank of the Australian Army, and was created as a direct equivalent of the British military rank of Major General. It is the third-highest active rank of the Australian Army, and is considered to be equivalent to a two-star rank...
Jim Hughes AO, DSO, MC.
History
The regiment, which is known as MONUR (not to be confused with MUR which is Melbourne University RegimentMelbourne University Regiment
The Melbourne University Regiment is an officer training unit in the Australian Army Reserve. It has a depot at Grattan Street, Carlton, Melbourne, Australia....
), traces its origins back to 8 March 1966, when Monash University Company was formed as a detachment of MUR.
The Regiment's shoulder insignia and it's abbreviated title is simply "MONASH" and NOT "MONUR". The reason being that if "MONUR" had been chosen it would rapidly have degenerated into the very derogatory "manure" and this would have been very disrespectful to Australia's greatest soldier.
On the 23 February 1970 it ceased to be the Monash University Company of MUR, and became its own regiment. MONUR recently celebrated its 39th birthday.
Structure
The Regiment is structured into a Regimental (Battalion) Headquarters and two sub-units: Cadet Company and Logistic Support Company. Cadet Company contains all the Staff Cadets, who are completing the Part Time General Service Officer First Appointment Course (PT GSO FAC) to become commissioned officers in the Australian Army. Cadet Company also contains a number of SCDTs who are part of the Officer Tertiary Recruitment Scheme (OTRS) which involves training at the Regiment while completing a university degree, then being posted to the Royal Military College of Australia's full-time facility at Duntroon (RMC-D) in CanberraCanberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
to complete the GSO FAC on a full-time basis. A return of service obligation of four years exists for this scheme, but does not apply for reservists.
Monash University Regiment sends approximately 10 people to RMC-D each year to complete the PT GSO FAC, graduates of which are commissioned as Lieutenants before being allocated to their Corps and posted to their first unit.
The Logistic Support Company provides training and logistic support to Cadet Company. Logistic Support Company consists of a catering cell, a rifle section, Q store, a transport section, and administration cell.
Traditions
The Regiment's motto is Ancora Imparo which is attributed to MichelangeloMichelangelo
Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni , commonly known as Michelangelo, was an Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect, poet, and engineer who exerted an unparalleled influence on the development of Western art...
and translates as "I am still learning", which is also the University's motto. Members of the Regiment wear an Academic Blue (or Cambridge Blue) lanyard which signifies the unit's link with Monash University
Monash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
, which in turn adopted many of the traditions of Cambridge University. The Regimental badge is backed by a red 'aura' which signifies the alliance of MONUR with the British Army's Light Infantry
Light infantry
Traditionally light infantry were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. Light infantry was distinct from medium, heavy or line infantry. Heavy infantry were dedicated primarily to fighting in tight...
, now amalgamated into The Rifles
The Rifles
The Rifles is the largest regiment of the British Army. Formed in 2007, it consists of five regular and two territorial battalions, plus a number of companies in other TA battalions, Each battalion of the Rifles was formerly an individual battalion of one of the two large regiments of the Light...
. The mascot of MONUR is a black sheep (ram) indicative of the status and culture of the Regiment. MONUR's Regimental quick march is "Imperial Echoes", which was composed by Arnold Safroni in 1913 and used as the signature tune of the BBC Newsreel feature during WWII.