1st Commando Regiment

A Short History

The term Commando is 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. Australian commandos evolved from similar unconventional units formed in Australia during WW2. These centered around the Independent Companies and M and Z Special Units.

2 Commando Company was raised in Victoria on 24 Feb. 1955.

1 Commando Company was raised in New South Wales on 25 June 1955.

301 Signal Squadron was raised in NSW in Jan 1960 then renamed as 126 Signal Squadron (Special forces) in Victoria in 1965.

All Australian Commandos wear the Sherwood green beret adopted from the British Commando's. It was first used by the Commando Companies and 126 Sig Sqn and later continued with the formation of the 1st Commando Regiment.

Originally the Commando units wore the traditional Australian Rising Sun Badge, around 1956 it was decided to have a competition in which both 1 and 2 Company members could enter a new design. The Officer Commanding 2 Company decided on a design, a sword and boomerang, by Warrant Officer Ronald Nordhoff (this is one version of how the badge was designed and there is some disagreement as to how the final design was selected). The motto is "Strike Swiftly".

All 3 units functioned independently of each other until the forming of 1st Commando Regiment on 1 Feb. 1981, this included 126 Signal Squadron (Special Forces) until in 1999 they became part of 4RAR (Cdo), at this time 301 Signal Squadron was re-raised to support the 1st Commando Regiment.

Later 4RAR (Cdo) was renamed the 2nd Commando Regiment with 126 Commando Signal Squadron as their signals support.

The HQ of the 1st Commando Regiment is currently located in Sydney NSW with 1 Cdo Coy in NSW and 2 Cdo Coy in Vic, a troop of 301 Signal Squadron is located with each Cdo Coy for communications support.