561:(1962–66) the regiment patrolled the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea border and although there was only one shooting incident between the PIR and Indonesian troops, a number of incursions took place and these patrols—which were often conducted in rugged terrain—placed considerable demands on Australia's already limited defence resources. Amid growing Australian concern about Indonesian intentions the PIR began training for guerilla operations, and in September 1963 a second battalion was authorised, subsequently being raised in 1965. A third battalion, although proposed on a number of occasions, was never formed. The strength of regiment rose to 185 Australians and 1,188 PNG soldiers. Papua New Guinea Command was subsequently formed in 1965, thereby ending the link with Headquarters
68:
81:
615:. By 1970 there were 30 PNG officers serving in the PIR. Regardless until independence in 1975 the regiment was controlled from Australia, with no local influence or command, a situation which occasionally caused ill feeling towards the PIR from PNG citizens who were increasingly moving into positions of authority in the lead-up to independence. In January 1973 military units in Papua New Guinea were re-designated the
42:
485:
During the course of the war more than 3,500 Papuans and New
Guineans served in the ranks of the PIR, suffering casualties (both Europeans and natives) of 65 killed, 16 missing, 75 died of other causes, and 81 wounded. Losses inflicted on the Japanese included 2,201 killed, 110 probably killed, 118
553:
was introduced into the
Australian Army, PIR remained the only infantry battalion organised on the old establishment. Meanwhile, a further outbreak of indiscipline occurred in January 1961, this time over discriminatory pay scales. Although the disaffected soldiers were largely removed, pay scales
503:(CMF). In November 1950, after considerable debate, the raising of a locally recruited regular battalion was also authorised. Consequently, in March 1951 the Pacific Islands Regiment was reformed, with an initial strength of one battalion. The regiment remained a unit of the Australian Army until
477:
Despite this reputation there were some incidents of indiscipline—particularly on New
Britain during the raising of 2 NGIB—but these were usually related to pay and conditions or perhaps to perceived 'insensitivity' on the part of Australian officers. Regardless, in an expression of the colonial
545:
between soldiers and civilian, which had to be broken up by police. Ultimately 153 soldiers were fined and 15 discharged, while 117 civilians were also convicted. As a result of this incident the organisation of the PIR was reviewed and henceforth
Australian officers would be required to serve
494:
In the years immediately following the war much consideration was given by the
Australian Army to re-establishing a presence in Papua New Guinea; however, there was some opposition among white settlers to the raising of native units. As an interim measure, the re-establishment of the
316:
also began forming in 1945 but was soon disbanded, and the 5th New Guinea
Infantry Battalion—although authorised—was never raised. The battalions each had an establishment of about 77 Europeans and 550 native soldiers. In November 1944 they were grouped together into a single
554:
were increased, and efforts were made to break up the regional and tribal concentrations of soldiers within subunits. In 1961 the PIR was awarded the battle honours of the PIB and NGIBs. By 1962 the battalion numbered 75 Australians (officers and SNCOs) and 660 PNG soldiers.
258:
to help fight against the
Japanese. Disbanded after the war, the regiment was re-raised in 1951 as part of the Australian Army and continued to serve until Papua New Guinea gained its independence in 1975, when it became part of the PNGDF. Today, the RPIR consists of two
546:
between four and six years with the regiment, and a number would be returned as senior officers later in their careers, thereby avoiding the previous situation in which officers with little experience serving with PNG soldiers would be posted to the regiment.
733:
Figures for awards to PIR are difficult to accurately determine as most sources are incomplete, these figures are from
Sinclair 1990, p. 298 and Byrnes 1989, pp. 228–246. However, neither Sinclair or Byrnes seem to include complete
743:
Casualties listed here are from Byrnes 1989, p. 269. Other sources commonly cite PIR casualties as 38 killed, 13 died of wounds, 10 missing believed killed, 62 killed in accidents/sickness, and 98 wounded, see
Sinclair 1990, p.
288:
The regiment is descended from the
Australian Army infantry battalions formed in the territories of Papua and New Guinea during World War II to fight against the Japanese, following their invasion in 1942 and the subsequent
656:
in 1980 to put down a secessionist revolt there, and were again called out in aid of the civil power in Port Moresby in 1983. The regiment has also conducted operations against the OPM (Organisais Papua Merdeka or
1279:
711:: South West Pacific 1942–45, Kokoda Trail, Kokoda–Deniki, Nassau Bay, Tambu Bay, Finschhafen, Scarlet Beach, Liberation of Australian New Guinea, Sio–Sepik River, Kaboibus–Kiarivu and Bonis–Porton.
681:(RAMSI) in July 2003. PNGDF troops continued to serve in the Solomon Islands as part of the scaled down, rotational Pacific contingent until the military component of RAMSI was withdrawn in 2013.
584:, where the separatist Mataungan Association was illegally occupying land. He believed that the local police would be unable to maintain control if the situation turned violent. Both the
446:. Although often poorly equipped the native soldiers established a reputation for ferocity and tenacity in action. Indeed, PIR soldiers (both Europeans and natives) were awarded one
597:
1274:
1269:
1254:
627:
At the time of independence in 1975 the regiment became the main part of the new Papua New Guinea Defence Force. Since 1984, the Regiment's Colonel-in-Chief has been
691:
In 2019 the PNG Government adopted a plan to form a 3rd Battalion of the Royal Pacific Islands Regiment. It was decided in 2021 that the unit would be stationed in
522:(later Indonesian West Irian); and acting as a delaying force if required; and providing detachments for Australian units deployed to PNG. One company was based at
677:. More recently, following the passage of a constitutional amendment allowing the stationing of the PNGDF on foreign soil, 80 personnel joined the Australian-led
1073:
Green Shadows: A War History of the Papuan Infantry Battalion, 1 New Guinea Infantry Battalion, 2 New Guinea Infantry Battalion, 3 New Guinea Infantry Battalion
482:(ANGAU), which had opposed the raising of native units in the first place, used these incidents to 'prove' that their formation had been a mistake all along.
665:, which were involved in fighting the Indonesian armed forces across the border. From 1989 to 1997 the PNGDF was involved in fighting the secessionist
899:
596:
refused Gorton's request. He agreed to seek the approval of cabinet, which decided that the troops would only be called out if requested by the
1191:
1170:
1284:
479:
1264:
17:
293:. Its soldiers were primarily natives who fought under the command of Australian officers and non-commissioned officers (NCOs).
1193:
To Find a Path: The Papua New Guinea Defence Force & The Australians to Independence: Volume II—Keeping the Peace 1950–1975
603:
From 1963 NCO and junior officer ranks began to be filled with indigenous personnel, with junior officers being trained at the
1259:
1249:
1121:
246:
infantry battalions formed from native soldiers and Australian officers and non-commissioned officers in the territories of
984:
1116:. The Official History of Australia's Involvement in Southeast Asian Conflicts 1948–1975. St Leonards: Allen & Unwin.
508:
1229:
1201:
1180:
1159:
1099:
1080:
960:
496:
313:
309:
305:
301:
268:
1114:
Crises and Commitments: The Politics and Diplomacy of Australia's Involvement in Southeast Asian Conflicts 1948–1965
558:
592:
were opposed, and cabinet had not yet been consulted. After Fraser told him about the situation, Governor-General
666:
1172:
To Find a Path: The Life and Times of the Royal Pacific Islands Regiment: Volume I—Yesterday's Heroes 1885–1950
239:
133:
585:
562:
903:
459:
447:
1033:
1154:. The Australian Centenary History of Defence. Volume One. South Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
1109:
328:
Headquarters PIR was raised on 14 February 1945, occupying the old 1 NGIB camp site at Camp Diddy at
297:
182:
1010:
500:
467:
251:
696:
764:
187:
41:
194:
8:
670:
658:
612:
443:
290:
684:
The RPIR continues to train annually with the Australian Army, with activities such as
570:
550:
247:
1225:
1197:
1176:
1155:
1117:
1095:
1076:
956:
608:
581:
499:(PNGVR) was approved in July 1949, re-forming as a 'whites-only' reserve unit of the
688:
allowing for sub-unit exchange between the Australians and the Papua New Guineans.
519:
504:
86:
631:. The regiment became a 'Royal' regiment in 1984, changing its name to become the
340:. The Commanding Officers of Headquarters PIR during this period were as follows:
1135:
486:
wounded and 196 captured. The regiment was officially disbanded on 24 June 1946.
471:
272:
243:
988:
1131:
589:
463:
451:
115:
514:
It was envisioned that the PIR would have four roles in war-time: garrisoning
1243:
692:
1147:
640:
619:, while formal defence powers were subsequently transferred in March 1975.
593:
542:
523:
515:
455:
255:
172:
144:
336:. On 1 January 1946 they occupied the new headquarters site at Yunakanau,
674:
662:
628:
604:
577:
439:
216:
177:
1222:
Guarding the Periphery: The Australian Army in Papua New Guinea, 1951–75
531:
332:. They remained there until September, when they moved to Bumbu River,
538:. The establishment of the regiment was initially limited to 600 men.
260:
73:
438:
Units of the regiment fought in the campaigns in Papua, New Guinea,
1280:
Military units and formations of the British Empire in World War II
566:
235:
232:
105:
639:
1st Battalion, Royal Pacific Islands Regiment — Taurama Barracks,
1090:
Dennis, Peter; Grey, Jeffrey; Morris, Ewan; Prior, Robin (1995).
653:
264:
1011:"Image Galleries 2006: Papuan New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF)"
645:
2nd Battalion, Royal Pacific Islands Regiment — Moem Barracks,
535:
527:
337:
329:
322:
678:
646:
149:
321:(PIR). A depot battalion was also established at Erap, near
573:
to fight in Vietnam was resisted by the Australian Army.
518:
and other similar areas; patrolling the land border with
333:
27:
Infantry regiment of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force
1094:(First ed.). Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
635:. Currently, the regiment consists of two battalions:
1089:
580:
sought to call out the PIR to keep the peace on the
1275:
Military units and formations of the British Empire
1092:
The Oxford Companion to Australian Military History
695:. A forward operating base is to be established at
679:Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands
534:(1954, but later abandoned for Cape Moem), and at
1270:Military units and formations established in 1951
1255:Military units and formations of Papua New Guinea
1241:
840:
838:
836:
1130:
808:
806:
804:
802:
526:, while others were based at outstations at
242:(PNGDF). The regiment is descended from the
800:
798:
796:
794:
792:
790:
788:
786:
784:
782:
833:
478:politics of the time some segments of the
1224:. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
480:Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit
46:Cap badge of the Pacific Islands Regiment
1189:
1168:
985:"Janes Worlds Armies – Papua New Guinea"
779:
569:. Meanwhile, a proposal to send a rifle
1108:
14:
1242:
1070:
942:Fraser & Simons 2011, pp. 204–207.
432:Note: 392 recruits at Lae and Goroka.
1140:Malcolm Fraser: The Political Memoirs
1013:. Department of Defence. 21 June 2006
325:in the Markham Valley, at this time.
1219:
1196:. Brisbane: Boolarong Publications.
1175:. Brisbane: Boolarong Publications.
1146:
622:
541:In December 1957 riots broke out in
489:
300:(PIB) was raised in 1940, while the
1031:
902:. Army History Unit. Archived from
892:
699:as the first element of this plan.
24:
1212:
1034:"Hela to host new PNGDF battalion"
900:"Indonesian Confrontation 1964–64"
757:
35:The Royal Pacific Islands Regiment
25:
1296:
1142:. Melbourne: The Miegunyah Press.
702:
497:Papua New Guinea Volunteer Rifles
314:4th New Guinea Infantry Battalion
310:3rd New Guinea Infantry Battalion
306:2nd New Guinea Infantry Battalion
1285:1951 establishments in Australia
924:Edwards 1992, p. 272 and p. 477.
559:Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation
79:
66:
40:
1265:Infantry regiments of Australia
1051:
1025:
1003:
977:
968:
953:The Royal Year, 1984: Volume 11
945:
936:
927:
918:
883:
874:
865:
667:Bougainville Revolutionary Army
652:Units of RPIR were deployed to
283:
263:and has seen active service in
955:, Windward, 1984, p. 76,
856:
847:
824:
815:
737:
727:
633:Royal Pacific Islands Regiment
629:The King of The United Kingdom
617:Papua New Guinea Defence Force
353:
344:Colonel W.M. Edwards (1944–45)
240:Papua New Guinea Defence Force
229:Royal Pacific Islands Regiment
134:Papua New Guinea Defence Force
13:
1:
1063:
350:Colonel A.M. Macdonald (1946)
1260:Regiments of Pacific Nations
1250:Military of Papua New Guinea
1032:Mou, Freddy (11 June 2021).
460:Distinguished Conduct Medals
347:Colonel H.T. Allan (1945–46)
308:both formed in 1944 and the
7:
448:Distinguished Service Order
10:
1301:
1075:. Newmarket: G.M. Byrnes.
812:Dennis et al 1995, p. 449.
765:"Pacific Islands Regiment"
600:; this did not eventuate.
278:
767:. Australian War Memorial
598:territorial administrator
431:
356:
298:Papuan Infantry Battalion
212:
207:
165:
155:
139:
129:
121:
111:
101:
93:
61:
51:
39:
34:
1190:Sinclair, James (1992).
1169:Sinclair, James (1990).
715:
576:In 1970, Prime Minister
358:Pacific Islands Regiment
319:Pacific Islands Regiment
183:Solomon Islands campaign
18:Pacific Islands Regiment
686:Exercise Wantok Warrior
501:Citizen Military Forces
362:(as at 27 October 1945)
1220:Moss, Tristan (2017).
933:Sinclair 1992, p. 165.
871:Sinclair 1992, p. 303.
844:Sinclair 1990, p. 305.
830:Sinclair 1990, p. 231.
821:Sinclair 1990, p. 273.
468:Mentions in Despatches
1071:Byrnes, G.M. (1989).
889:Sinclair 1992, p. 82.
588:and Defence Minister
530:(from October 1952),
188:Bougainville campaign
974:Dennis 1995, p. 455.
862:Byrnes 1989, p. 269.
605:Officer Cadet School
195:New Britain campaign
1152:The Australian Army
1057:Byrnes 1989, p. ii.
991:on 18 December 2008
659:Free Papua Movement
291:New Guinea campaign
906:on 28 October 2009
880:Grey 2001, p. 194.
551:Pentropic division
1123:978-1-86373-184-3
623:Post-independence
586:Defence Committee
582:Gazelle Peninsula
549:In 1960 when the
490:Post-World War II
470:(MID) and one US
436:
435:
363:
222:
221:
16:(Redirected from
1292:
1235:
1207:
1186:
1165:
1143:
1136:Simons, Margaret
1127:
1105:
1086:
1058:
1055:
1049:
1048:
1046:
1044:
1029:
1023:
1022:
1020:
1018:
1007:
1001:
1000:
998:
996:
987:. Archived from
981:
975:
972:
966:
965:
949:
943:
940:
934:
931:
925:
922:
916:
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913:
911:
896:
890:
887:
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872:
869:
863:
860:
854:
851:
845:
842:
831:
828:
822:
819:
813:
810:
777:
776:
774:
772:
761:
745:
741:
735:
731:
563:Northern Command
520:Dutch New Guinea
505:Papua New Guinea
452:Military Crosses
361:
354:
213:Colonel-in-Chief
148:2nd Battalion –
143:1st Battalion –
87:Papua New Guinea
85:
83:
82:
72:
70:
69:
44:
32:
31:
21:
1300:
1299:
1295:
1294:
1293:
1291:
1290:
1289:
1240:
1239:
1238:
1232:
1215:
1213:Further reading
1210:
1204:
1183:
1162:
1132:Fraser, Malcolm
1124:
1102:
1083:
1066:
1061:
1056:
1052:
1042:
1040:
1030:
1026:
1016:
1014:
1009:
1008:
1004:
994:
992:
983:
982:
978:
973:
969:
963:
951:
950:
946:
941:
937:
932:
928:
923:
919:
909:
907:
898:
897:
893:
888:
884:
879:
875:
870:
866:
861:
857:
852:
848:
843:
834:
829:
825:
820:
816:
811:
780:
770:
768:
763:
762:
758:
749:
748:
742:
738:
732:
728:
718:
705:
625:
492:
472:Legion of Merit
464:Military Medals
360:
286:
281:
273:Solomon Islands
244:Australian Army
225:
203:
147:
80:
78:
77:
67:
65:
56:
47:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1298:
1288:
1287:
1282:
1277:
1272:
1267:
1262:
1257:
1252:
1237:
1236:
1230:
1216:
1214:
1211:
1209:
1208:
1202:
1187:
1181:
1166:
1160:
1144:
1128:
1122:
1110:Edwards, Peter
1106:
1100:
1087:
1081:
1067:
1065:
1062:
1060:
1059:
1050:
1024:
1002:
976:
967:
961:
944:
935:
926:
917:
891:
882:
873:
864:
855:
846:
832:
823:
814:
778:
755:
754:
753:
747:
746:
736:
725:
724:
723:
722:
717:
714:
713:
712:
704:
703:Battle honours
701:
650:
649:
643:
624:
621:
590:Malcolm Fraser
491:
488:
466:(MM) and nine
434:
433:
429:
428:
425:
421:
420:
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413:
412:
409:
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397:
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389:
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352:
351:
348:
345:
285:
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223:
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210:
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204:
202:
201:
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192:
191:
190:
169:
167:
163:
162:
160:To Find a Path
157:
153:
152:
141:
137:
136:
131:
127:
126:
125:Two battalions
123:
119:
118:
116:Light infantry
113:
109:
108:
103:
99:
98:
95:
91:
90:
89:(1975–Present)
63:
59:
58:
53:
49:
48:
45:
37:
36:
26:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1297:
1286:
1283:
1281:
1278:
1276:
1273:
1271:
1268:
1266:
1263:
1261:
1258:
1256:
1253:
1251:
1248:
1247:
1245:
1233:
1231:9781107195967
1227:
1223:
1218:
1217:
1205:
1203:1-86333-062-3
1199:
1195:
1194:
1188:
1184:
1182:0-7316-9120-2
1178:
1174:
1173:
1167:
1163:
1161:0-19-554114-6
1157:
1153:
1149:
1148:Grey, Jeffrey
1145:
1141:
1137:
1133:
1129:
1125:
1119:
1115:
1111:
1107:
1103:
1101:0-19-553227-9
1097:
1093:
1088:
1084:
1082:0-7316-6716-6
1078:
1074:
1069:
1068:
1054:
1039:
1035:
1028:
1012:
1006:
990:
986:
980:
971:
964:
962:9780711204003
958:
954:
948:
939:
930:
921:
905:
901:
895:
886:
877:
868:
859:
850:
841:
839:
837:
827:
818:
809:
807:
805:
803:
801:
799:
797:
795:
793:
791:
789:
787:
785:
783:
766:
760:
756:
751:
750:
740:
730:
726:
720:
719:
710:
707:
706:
700:
698:
694:
693:Hela Province
689:
687:
682:
680:
676:
672:
668:
664:
660:
655:
648:
644:
642:
638:
637:
636:
634:
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618:
614:
610:
606:
601:
599:
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583:
579:
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572:
568:
564:
560:
555:
552:
547:
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539:
537:
533:
529:
525:
521:
517:
512:
510:
506:
502:
498:
487:
483:
481:
475:
473:
469:
465:
461:
457:
456:George Medals
453:
449:
445:
441:
430:
426:
423:
422:
418:
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414:
410:
407:
406:
402:
399:
398:
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359:
355:
349:
346:
343:
342:
341:
339:
335:
331:
326:
324:
320:
315:
312:in 1945. The
311:
307:
303:
299:
294:
292:
276:
274:
270:
266:
262:
257:
253:
249:
245:
241:
237:
234:
231:(RPIR) is an
230:
224:Military unit
218:
215:
211:
206:
196:
193:
189:
186:
185:
184:
181:
180:
179:
176:
175:
174:
171:
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146:
142:
138:
135:
132:
128:
124:
120:
117:
114:
110:
107:
104:
100:
96:
92:
88:
75:
64:
60:
54:
50:
43:
38:
33:
30:
19:
1221:
1192:
1171:
1151:
1139:
1113:
1091:
1072:
1053:
1041:. Retrieved
1037:
1027:
1015:. Retrieved
1005:
993:. Retrieved
989:the original
979:
970:
952:
947:
938:
929:
920:
908:. Retrieved
904:the original
894:
885:
876:
867:
858:
853:Byrnes 1989.
849:
826:
817:
771:29 September
769:. Retrieved
759:
739:
729:
709:World War II
708:
690:
685:
683:
671:Bougainville
661:), based in
651:
641:Port Moresby
632:
626:
616:
602:
594:Paul Hasluck
575:
556:
548:
543:Port Moresby
540:
524:Port Moresby
516:Manus Island
513:
509:independence
493:
484:
476:
458:(GM), three
444:Bougainville
437:
416:PIR Depot Bn
357:
327:
318:
295:
287:
284:World War II
269:Bougainville
256:World War II
228:
226:
173:World War II
159:
145:Port Moresby
130:Part of
57:1951–Present
29:
1017:22 February
663:Irian Barat
578:John Gorton
557:During the
507:gained its
450:(DSO), six
440:New Britain
424:PIR Trg Coy
217:Charles III
178:Pacific War
166:Engagements
140:Garrison/HQ
1244:Categories
1064:References
532:Los Negros
462:(DCM), 20
454:(MC), two
261:battalions
252:New Guinea
208:Commanders
995:5 January
752:Citations
721:Footnotes
669:(BRA) on
371:Strength
76:(1951–75)
74:Australia
1150:(2001).
1138:(2011).
1112:(1992).
613:Victoria
567:Brisbane
271:and the
236:regiment
233:infantry
156:Motto(s)
106:Infantry
654:Vanuatu
609:Portsea
571:company
279:History
265:Vanuatu
254:during
238:of the
62:Country
55:1944–46
1228:
1200:
1179:
1158:
1120:
1098:
1079:
1043:4 July
959:
734:lists.
536:Kokopo
528:Vanimo
408:3 NGIB
400:2 NGIB
392:1 NGIB
376:HQ PIR
338:Rabaul
330:Nadzab
323:Nadzab
94:Branch
84:
71:
52:Active
910:4 May
716:Notes
647:Wewak
368:Unit
248:Papua
150:Wewak
1226:ISBN
1198:ISBN
1177:ISBN
1156:ISBN
1118:ISBN
1096:ISBN
1077:ISBN
1045:2021
1038:Loop
1019:2010
997:2009
957:ISBN
912:2009
773:2008
744:306.
697:Tari
675:Buka
673:and
442:and
419:144
411:481
403:500
395:538
387:574
304:and
296:The
250:and
227:The
122:Size
112:Role
102:Type
97:Army
611:in
607:at
565:in
427:34
384:PIB
379:67
334:Lae
302:1st
1246::
1134:;
1036:.
835:^
781:^
511:.
474:.
275:.
267:,
1234:.
1206:.
1185:.
1164:.
1126:.
1104:.
1085:.
1047:.
1021:.
999:.
914:.
775:.
20:)
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