12th australian infantry regiment

[tarabelle]

Hey

So can someone tell me why I can't find out much about this regiment

T

And it's not mine and it might be for sale at some point

[Wmr-RHB]

Maybe because you ask the wrong question?

In my opinion the better question would be: Can you tell me something about this regiment?

As far as I know (but I live at the wrong side of the globe), this is a 1903-1908 badge. The 12th Australian Indantry Regiment was in 1903 created from 2nd Battalion, Tasmanian Infantry Regiment. In 1912 it became 92nd Infantry (Launceton Battalion) with a badge that had 92 instead of XII.

After the Great War it perpetuated the 12th Australian Infantry Battalion, AIF as 12th Battalion. In 1927 12th Battalion (Launceton Regiment. The badge then got the XII back.

1936 linked into 12th/50th Battalion, becoming 12th/50th Australian Infantru Battalion (AIF) in 1943

In 1945 unlink and linked into 12th/40th Australian Infantry Battalion (AIF). Disbanded in 1946

Resurrected in 1948, perpetuating 2/12th Australian Infantry Battalion, AIF and 2/40th Australian Infantry Battalion, AIF.

In 1953 split up: 12th Infantry Battalion (The Launceton Regiment).

The 1960 reorganisation made it "A" Company (The Launceton Regiment), 1st Battailon, Tasmania Regiment (which became Royal Tasmania Regiment the same year).

In 1972 the 1st Battaion was split and one of the new Battalions was 12th Battalion, Royal Tasmania Regiment.
In 1975 reduced to 12th Independent Rifle Company, Royal Tasmania Regiment.

In 1987 the old comrades were merged again in 12t/40th Battalion, Royal Tasmania Regiment.

I hope those from down-under will correct me.

[tarabelle]

LOLZ, yeah thats the right question
and that looks like the right answer too
Thank you
T

[Jackhr]

I don't like the badge ........ sand cast ????

Jack

1899 the first contingent of Tasmanians departed for the Boer War. The first two Victoria Crosses to be awarded to Australian Infantrymen were won by Pte Bisdee and Lt Wylly of the Tasmanian Bushman, in the same action near Warm Bad in 1900. For this campaign and following contingents, the Regiment holds the Honorary Distinctions of South Africa 1899-1902 and 1900-1902. In 1903 the titles of the Battalions were changed; in the South to the Derwent Infantry Regiment (Derwent Regiment), in the North to the 12th Infantry Regiment (Launceston Regiment) and in the North-West to the Tasmanian Rangers.
During WWI the 12th and 40th Battalions were raised as part of the Australian Imperial Force and served with distinction overseas. Their sacrifice earned the two Battalions three Theatre Honours and 25 Battle Honours. After the war the two Battalions were demobilised and reformed as Militia units.

At the outbreak of WWII the 2/12th and 2/40th Battalions were raised and once again deployed for overseas service. During the war the Battalions earned two Theatre Honours, a Campaign Honour and 13 Battle Honours. The 2/12th Battalion was present at the Defence of Tobruk and also at Milne Bay where the first defeat on land was inflicted on the Japanese.

The 2/40th Battalion gave distinguished service but was captured in Timor and suffered tremendous hardship in various prisoner of war camps. Read a personal account of this time at Timor POW.

The militia was maintained during WWII and the direct descendant of the 12th Battalion, the 12th/50th Battalion, served in York Force and the Northern Territory. During this same time the 40th Battalion served in Darwin. On 2 May 1945 the 12th/50th Battalion was amalgamated with the 40th Battalion and became the 12th/40th Battalion. This Battalion formed the bulk of Timor Force that accepted the surrender of the Japanese forces from the commander of the 48th Japanese Division at Koepang on 3 October 1945. It returned to Australia on 19 March 1946 and was disbanded on 29 May 1946.

On 1 July 1948 the 12th/40th Battalion was raised again as part of the Citizen Military Forces. On 30 June 1951 this Battalion was separated and became the 1st and 2nd Battalions, The Tasmania Regiment. On the 1 July 1960, The Tasmania Regiment was granted the Royal prefix and became The Royal Tasmania Regiment. In 1960 a reorganisation of the CMF reduced the Battalions to two companies: The Launceston Company and The Derwent Company. In January 1965 both Companies were amalgamated to form the 1st Battalion, The Royal Tasmania Regiment, however, in 1972 this Battalion was split and formed the 12th and 40th Battalions. In 1975, as a result of the Miller Report on the CMF, they were reduced to the 12th and 40th Independent Rifle Companies (IRC). These two units continued to operate until 30 November 1987.

[slick_mick]

The badge is a horrible sand cast thing. But I have seen some legit sandcast badges out of Tasmania from that period. The 12th Light Horse had a sand cast badge during that time as well.

Mick

[akiko]

Were they lugs on the back like the one on the left and the right has been repaired?