9 episodes
Duty First Pivot Studios
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- History
This is Duty First, a podcast about the history of the Royal Australian Regiment (RAR). Bear witness as the regiment rises from the ashes of the Second World War to become Australia’s first ever professionalised infantry force. Told by members of the regiment who were there, enter a world where courage takes centre stage and history comes alive.
Tim Russell, Writer & Producer
Slade Gibson, Audio Producer & Composer
Paul Larter, Host
Harry Windsor, Writer
Produced by Pivot Studios for The Department of Veterans Affairs and The Royal Australian Regiment Foundation.
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Keeping the Spirit Alive
The Royal Australian Regiment has evolved over the past 75 years with improvements in technology, equipment and structure, but one thing remains the same: Duty First. In this episode, we'll hear from the wider RAR family including RAR Foundation and support systems for veterans, family support, and what the future holds for the RAR.Featured interviews: Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley (nee McMartin) Major General Shane. Caughey, AM, CSC, Colonel Commandant (Rtd) - 2/4RAR, 6RAR, Chair...
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The Longest War
After the peacekeeping missions of the 1990s, the RAR experienced an unprecedented period of operational service, most notably in Iraq and Afghanstan in what would become the Regiment's longest ever war.Featured interviews:Lieutenant General David Lindsay Morrison AO, the Chief of Australian Army - 2RAR, 8/9RARDaniel (Dan) Keighran VC - 2RAR, 6RAREpisode cover image:Defence image assets: https://images.defence.gov.au//fotoweb/cache/v2/V/p/defenceimagery/2019/s20193118/20191114adf8611998_003.j...
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The Big Peace
After seven long years in Vietnam, the Regiment went through an unprecedented period of peace, however this was all about to change as the international peacekeeping missions in Somalia, Rwanda and East Timor in the 1990s.Featured interviews:General Sir Peter John Cosgrove, AK, CVO, MC - 9RAR, 1RARHis Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia - 1RAR, 5/7thBRIG Pat Mcintosh AM, CSC (retd) - 2/4RARMAJGEN Stuart Smith AO, DSC (...
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Vietnam, Part Two
After a bloody start to the Vietnam War, the RAR’s tour continues as the shadow of Long Tan looms large.Featured interviews:General Sir Peter John Cosgrove, AK, CVO, MC - 9RAR, 1RARMAJGEN Brian Howard AO, MC, ESM (retd) - 3RAR, PIRFrancis Peter (Peter) SCOTT DSO, MID - 3RAREpisode cover image: During Operation Smithfield troops moving off in Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) of 1 APC Squadron in a sweep in pursuit of retreating Viet Cong in Phuoc Tuy Province. The chase followed a savage bat...
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Vietnam, Part One
After serving valiantly in the jungles of Malaya and Malaysia, the Royal Australian Regiment is about to face it’s toughest and bloodiest test - The Vietnam War. Join us for part one, detailing the start of the war and how the men of 6RAR fought The Battle of Long Tan.Featured interviews:Dave Sabben - 6RARMike von Berg OAM - 1 & 5 RAR, SASR, 2 CDO COYLTCOL Edward Chitham MC, OAM (retd) aka, ”Ted” - 9RAR, 8/9RAREpisode cover image: Signalman John McKenzie on guard in a weapon pit on a swee...
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Welcome to the Jungle
After the Korean War, the battalion is growing and set for a new challenge in the Malayan Emergency and the Indonesian Confrontation. Join us as we discover a period of history that would serve as a warm-up for the kind of jungle fighting the regiment would later experience in Vietnam.Featured interviews:Wallace Thompson (Wally) - 4 RAR, AATTVBRIG George Mansford (Snow) AM (retd) - 2RARLTCOL Barry Caligari - 1RAR, 3 RARBrigadier David Thomson, MC - 1RAR, 4RAREpisode cover image:MALAYA, C1954....