Among the ADF personnel involved in ceremonial activities during the royal visit, members of Army’s 1st Armoured Regiment had more reason than most to feel connected to the occasion as it led the Reception Guard at the Man O’War Steps in Sydney on October 22.
As the senior unit of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps (RAAC), the 75-year-old regiment has a long history with His Majesty King Charles III, who was appointed Colonel-in-Chief of the RAAC in 1979.
The Reception Guard in Sydney was the third time the 1st Armoured Regiment has presented before King Charles, and the first since he assumed the crown. The other two occasions were at the regiment’s previous home at Puckapunyal, Victoria – for the presentation of Army’s first Standard to the regiment in April 1981 and the opening of Hopkins Barracks in October 1985.
Commanding Officer 1st Armoured Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Jake Penly joined Regimental Sergeant Major Warrant Officer Class One Grant Gripske in forming the guard with members of the Royal Australian Corps of Military Police (RACMP), of whom the Queen is Colonel-in-Chief.
“It was a fantastic day for the men, women and veterans of the 1st Armoured Regiment as we formalised our position as a Special Relationship Organisation with His Majesty King Charles III and presented our Standard to him once again,” Lieutenant Colonel Penly said.
“Similarly, it was great to see members of the RACMP arrive from around Australia to continue their relationship with the Queen.”
He said the ceremony had been one of his proudest career moments, and was made more spectacular by being held at the iconic Sydney Opera House.
