Origins Derived from the South African/Dutch word used by the Boers identifying their irregular sized raiding forces employed against the British during the South African Wars, the term "commando" was adopted by newly formed British raiding forces during World War II, and subsequently used by Australian special units raised to fight in the South-west Pacific and Indian Oceans. By the close of World War II, Australian special forces units included the
Independent Companies (later Commando Squadrons),
Z Special Unit under
Special Operations Australia and
M Special Unit under
Allied Intelligence Bureau. By the early 1950s, it was deemed necessary by the Army to maintain the techniques and skills that had been developed during the war. Consequently, on 16 September 1954, the Military Board issued the authority to raise two Citizen Military Force (CMF) commando companies: the 1 Commando Company (1 Cdo Coy) in Sydney and the 2 Commando Company (2 Cdo Coy) in Melbourne. Both would be commanded by regular army officers and regular army would form the training and administrative cadre. Major Grant was a World War II commando veteran having served in the 2/5 Independent Company and 2/12th Commando Squadron. 2 Cdo Coy was raised in Victoria on 24 February 1955 under the command of Major Peter Seddon and first paraded on 7 July 1955. The
Australian Secret Intelligence Service had earlier been formed in 1952 within the Department of Defence whose role included ".. plan for and conduct special operations..". Commando courses included basic parachutist, diving, small scale raids, demolitions, climbing and roping and unarmed combat. 1 Cdo Coy held the first diving course in November/December 1957 using a pure oxygen re-breather the
Swimmer Canoeist Breathing Apparatus borrowed from the
Navy based on training received from the SBS. In 1957, as the unit already had the designation "1st" within its title, the Army thought it would be a convenient framework on which to re-form the
Australian Imperial Force's
1st Battalion. 2nd Commando Company developed a Mountain Leader's Course in ski patrolling, as well as rock, ice and snow climbing. In 1968, 2 Cdo Coy moved to
Fort Gellibrand at Williamstown from
Ripponlea. The company had originally been based at
Sandringham then sometime between 1957 and 1958 moved to
HMAS Cerberus before moving to Ripponlea in 1958.
301st and 126th Signal Squadrons The requirement for long-range communications can be traced back to WWII and units such as
Coastwatchers,
New Guinea Air Warning Wireless Company, the
Independent Companies, and
Z Special Unit. On 30 April 1958, a decision was made to raise No 1 Independent Signals Squadron to support clandestine operations and this led to the formation of 301st Signal Squadron (Home Defence) in 1960 at
Lidcombe, New South Wales. This new squadron was to meet the requirement for 'special communications' and was charged with the responsibility of providing long-range communications for commando-type operations and was augmented with regular army members in 1963. In December 1964, 301st Signal Squadron was re-designated 126th Signal Squadron, later to 126th Signal Squadron (Special Forces) in January 1966 and subsequently relocated to Albert Park, Victoria and in 1972 to
Simpson Barracks in Watsonia, Victoria.
Women had been serving in the signals squadron since 1964 as
cipher clerks and from 1968 as radio operators. In 1978, the signals squadron was provided with approval to wear the green beret with the
Corps of Signals badge. In 1981, signaller Kerry Hiam became the first woman to qualify and be awarded a green beret.
Borneo and Vietnam Prior to formation as a regiment, the sub units deployed individuals and small teams to the
Borneo confrontation and the
Vietnam War. During the Borneo confrontation, Sergeant Ted Blacker of 126th Signal Squadron (Special Forces) was awarded the
British Empire Medal. From 1965 the Commando Companies contributed numerous instructors, including from their reserve part-time component, to the
Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV). Two lost their lives with the AATTV, with Warrant Officer Class II John Durrington being killed in action, and Warrant Officer Class II Ron Scott dying of wounds. Whilst serving with the AATTV, Warrant Officer Class II
Ray Simpson, formerly from both the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) and the 1st Commando Company, was awarded the
Victoria Cross for an action in the Kontum Province on 6 May 1969. In 1991, a 1 Cdo Coy commando who had joined the British Army
Special Air Service was in the well-known
Bravo Two Zero patrol in Iraq as part of
Operation Desert Storm. In 1992, 126 Signal Squadron qualified signallers were given approval to wear the commando badge. Commencing in February 1997, 1 Cdo Regt provided the initial training for the re-role of the
4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (4RAR) from an infantry battalion into commando
4RAR (Cdo) raising the Commando Training Wing (the predecessor to the Special Forces Training Centre) commanded by Major Hans Fleer. In July 1997, three women officers, Lieutenants Fellows, Warren-Smith and Woods, became the first women to complete the commando officer selection course. The women were barred from serving in combat roles. In 2000, the squadron transitioned to a Regular Army unit based at
Holsworthy Barracks under the command of 4RAR Cdo. In June 2002, 301 Signal Squadron was re-raised at Randwick Barracks to provide communications and information systems and electronic warfare to facilitate the command and control of special operations conducted by the regiment. In 2006, 1 Cdo Coy relocated from Georges Heights in Mosman to
HMAS Penguin in Balmoral.
Recent operations vehicle In recent years, the regiment has provided small detachments and individuals to peacekeeping missions. and to the
Solomon Islands as part of
Operation Anode. In May 2006, following unrest in Timor Leste, a Special Forces component consisting of a commando company from 4RAR Cdo and a SASR troop deployed to Timor Leste as peacekeepers as part of
Operation Astute. The Special Forces component was later reduced and supplemented by 1 Cdo Regt teams often commanded by a member of the 1 Cdo Regt. In March 2007, the Special Forces component was bolstered to form an Apprehension Task Group with the purpose of apprehending ex-Timorese Army Major and rebel leader,
Alfredo Reinado, at the request of the Timor Leste government. Reinado was located in the village of Same and approval was given to assault his compound. Force Element Charlie provided the main SOTG element for the following winter rotations in 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 conducting population-centric operations. A rotation ranged between four and five months. It was commanded by the Major OC 1 Cdo Coy and arrived in November 2008 for a four-month tour of duty until February 2009. On 27 November 2008, Lieutenant Michael Fussell, a specialist Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) from 4RAR Cdo serving in the Commando Company Group, was killed in action after he stood on an IED during a night infiltration onto a target. Following Fussell's death several senior personnel asked to be relieved of their positions due to concerns over the Major and after an inquiry into the death, the Major was relieved of his command and returned to Australia. The inquiry raised issues into the Commando Company Group outside the scope of its terms that instigated the appointment of Vice Admiral (retired)
Chris Ritchie to conduct a further inquiry that found that the Group had been inadequately trained and prepared for its deployment, and that concerns over the Major's leadership should have been acted on before the Group deployed. On 4 January 2009, the regiment suffered its first combat fatality when Private Gregory Sher (2 Cdo Coy) was killed by a rocket attack into a patrol base. On 12 February 2009, the Group conducted a night compound clearance in the Sorkh Morghab region with elements of the
Afghan National Army and with Afghan interpreters. Corporal W saw, through a window, a male holding an AK-47 rifle pointed at a door that his team was preparing to use to enter the room to clear and fired at him through the window with his rifle. The male returned fire and ignored calls made for him to come out. With fire continuing, and the team being unable to retreat, two grenades were thrown by Lance Corporal M to clear the room. The charges against the two soldiers were dismissed pre-trial by the Judge Advocate in June 2011. Charges against Lieutenant Colonel M who, based in Kandahar, ordered the clearance of the compound, were withdrawn in August 2011 for disobeying standard operating procedures to prevent innocent Afghan nationals in their homes being wrongfully targeted. ==Customs and traditions==