8 RAR arrival at Singapore DPR/TV/713

Three hundred and thirty eight fit, sun-tanned Australian troops arrived in Singapore recently (3 Oct 1967) on the landing ship Sir Lancelot to replace Australian units in the 28th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade at Terendak Garrison, Malacca, Malaysia. The new troops are from the Eight Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, 107 Field Battery, Royal Australian Artillery and 2 Field Troop, Royal Australian Engineers. 8 RAR is replacing 4 RAR and 107 Battery is replacing A Field Battery and 2 Field Troop is turning over its personnel. The Sir Lancelot arrived in Singapore after an 11 day direct voyage from Brisbane, Queensland. The troops were brought ashore in landing barges and moved from Singapore to Malaysia by train. The brigade area at Terendak Garrison is the most modern cantonment in South East Asia. Normal duty tour for Australian troops in the brigade is two years. Principal Australian component in the brigade, 8 RAR, was raised at Enoggera, Brisbane, on August 8, 1966. It is commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel J.O. Langtry. Many battalion members have already seen service in South Vietnam. There is a percentage of National Servicemen in the Battalion. For most of these this is their first trip overseas.