Duty First

Feb 28 2024
Duty First Podcast artwork

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 & ProducerSlade Gibson, Audio Producer & ComposerPaul 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

Feb 28 2024 38 mins  
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 Hurl

The Longest War

Feb 14 2024 68 mins  
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 a

The Big Peace

Jan 31 2024 79 mins  
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

Vietnam, Part Two

Jan 17 2024 81 mins  
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

Vietnam, Part One

Jan 03 2024 88 mins  
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,

Welcome to the Jungle

Dec 20 2023 68 mins  
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) -

The Forgotten War

Dec 06 2023 68 mins  
The Korean War may not be as well-known as other conflicts in the RAR's history, but it was a pivotal moment for Australian soldiers in establishing the culture, role and prestige of the RAR.Featured interviews:Major General Alan Lindsay "Alby" Morrison, AO, DSO, MBE (2RAR, 3RAR, 9RAR)James 'Blue' Newell (3RAR)Ronald 'Ron' Perkins (3RAR)Episode cover image:Korea, c. 1950-10. A memb

From The Ground Up

Nov 22 2023 55 mins  
The RAR rises from the ashes of the Second World War to become Australia’s first ever professionalised infantry force. We’ll hear from soldiers who were on the ground during the occupation of Japan in 1946 as the RAR and its purpose came into view, meeting challenges of its time, and preparing to head into the RAR’s first theatre of war in the Korean War.Interviews:His Excell

Trailer

Nov 13 2023 2 mins  
This is Duty First, a podcast about the history of the Royal Australian Regiment (RAR). Bare 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. Episodes of Duty First will be rel