8th Brigade (Australia)
| 8th Brigade | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1981–Present |
| Country |
 Australia |
| Branch |
 Australian Army |
| Type | Infantry with supporting arms |
| Size |
100 (Active) 1,900 (Reserve) 40 (Civilian)[1] |
| Part of | 2nd Division |
| Headquarters | Sydney |
| Motto(s) | Generating Real-time Capability from Northern NSW / Deeds Prove / Facta Provant |
| Commanders | |
| Commander 8th Brigade (2015-Current) | Brigadier Peter Connor, AM |
| Commander 8th Brigade (2012-2014) | Brigadier Allan A. Murray, CSM |
8th Brigade is an Australian Army Reserve infantry formation with supporting arms under command. It is located across northern New South Wales from the Parramatta River to the Tweed River.
8th Brigade traces it origins to 1912 when it was formed as a Militia Brigade. The 8th AIF Brigade fought as part of the 5th Division in World War 1. In World War 2, the 8th Brigade was a Militia Brigade that was part of the Defence of Australia (1942–44) and fought in the New Guinea campaign in 1944–45.
The 8th Brigade is one of six brigades of the Australian Army's 2nd Division, and includes units and personnel from Armoured, Artillery, Engineers, Infantry, Transport, Ordnance (Supply), EME, Medical and Nursing Corps as well as the Chaplains Department.
Under Plan Beersheba, 8th Brigade will generate Battle Group WARATAH to reinforce the 7th Brigade of the Regular Army from mid-2015.
Units of 8th Brigade
- Headquarters 8th Brigade. Located in Dundas (Sydney).
- 12th/16th Hunter River Lancers. Located in Tamworth (Headquarters), Armidale and Muswellbrook. Provides protected mobility. Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Adam King RAAC.
- 8th Engineer Regiment. Located in Newcastle (Headquarters), Dundas (Sydney) and Singleton. Provides combat and construction engineers. Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Adrian Harding RAE.
- 2nd/17th Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment. Located in Sydney (Pymble (Headquarters), Dee Why, Kensington, Blacktown), Erina and Newcastle. With under command, 7th Light Battery, RAA with Troops in Adamstown, Erina and Dee Why (Headquarters). Provides light infantry and mortars. Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel James McGann RAInf.
- 41st Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment. Located in Lismore (Headquarters), Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Kempsey, Grafton and Tweed Heads. Provides light infantry. Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Don Quinn RAInf.
- University of New South Wales Regiment. Located Kensington (Headquarters), Adamstown, Coffs Harbour, Armidale and Pymble. Provides training courses for officer cadets and soldiers. Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Alain Dunand RAA.
- 8th Combat Service Support Battalion. Located in Dundas, Sydney (Headquarters) and Newcastle. Provides 1st and some 2nd line logistics and health support. Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Jodie Lording.
Facilities
8th Brigade occupies facilities across northern NSW. The largest being:
- Timor Barracks, Dundas (Sydney)
- Suakin Depot, Pymble (Sydney)
- Bullecourt Barracks, Adamstown (Newcastle)
All of the depots occupied by 8th Brigade are grouped into the Northern NSW Base for management of security, safety and facilities maintenance. The Base also includes the Cadet-only depots of Taree, Rutherford and Murwillumbah.
The one facility occupied by 8th Brigade elements that is not within the Northern NSW Base is at Lone Pine Barracks, Singleton.
The major training facility utilised by 8th Brigade elements is the Singleton Military Area. All courses conducted by the University of New South Wales Regiment are delivered at the Singleton Military Area.
Key Personnel
Commander. Brigadier Peter Connor was born in Wagga Wagga and completed his schooling in Sydney. He was commissioned in 1988 through Sydney University Regiment while completing a Bachelor of Arts. He was allocated to the Royal Australian Infantry Corps. His regimental service was with 4th Battalion Royal Green Jackets in London and then a series of postings with 2nd /17th Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment (2/17 RNSWR) in Sydney.
Brigadier Connor has served in staff roles including as a Liaison Officer, operations, personnel staff officer and OC HQ Company at Headquarters 8th Brigade (HQ 8 BDE), RAINF Corps Adviser, Army Personnel Agency Sydney. On promotion to Lieutenant Colonel in 2003, he was posted as SO1 Recruiting and Retention, HQ 2nd Division (HQ 2 DIV). In 2005 he was appointed Commanding Officer of 2/17 RNSWR. In 2007 he commanded Rotation 12, CTF 635 deploying to the Solomon Islands. In 2007 he returned to HQ 2 DIV as SO1 Regional Operations, where he was responsible for the coordination of future deployments to the Solomon Islands. In June 2008 Brigadier Connor was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for his command and leadership of 2/17 RNSWR and CTF 635.
On promotion to Colonel in 2009 he served as Assistant Commander HQ 8 BDE and from 2012 to 2013 as the Plans Colonel (G5), HQ 2 DIV with a focus on the implementation of Plan BEERSHEBA and modernisation. On promotion to Brigadier in 2014 he commanded 9th Brigade and in January 2015 he was appointed as Commander 8th Brigade.
Colonel Capability and Plans. Colonel Anthony McBride.
Colonel Training. Colonel Peter Docwra.
Chief of Staff. Lieutenant Colonel David Charlton.
See also
References
- ↑ The Australian Army. Modernisation from Beersheba and Beyond (PDF). Commonwealth of Australia. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2014.