The Gloucester Cup is the common name for three awards of the Australian Defence Force. Formally referred to as the Duke of Gloucester’s Cup, the three awards are presented to the most proficient infantry battalion of the Australian Army, ship of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), and squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) during the previous year. The awards were created by Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester in 1946, while he was serving as the Governor-General of Australia, and were first presented in 1947.
The regular infantry battalions of the Royal Australian Regiment compete against each other for the Gloucester Cup in an annual military skills competition. To compete for the Gloucester Cup, each infantry battalion sends a team to the Lone Pine Barracks at Singleton. These teams participate in a five-day competition demonstrating their training and endurance, from which the winning battalion is determined. First held in 1947 between the Australian battalions then in Japan as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force, the inaugural cup was awarded to 67th Australian Infantry Battalion (now the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment). Between 1951 and 1971 the competition was not held due to operational commitments. Competition recommenced on a regular basis between 1972 and 1998; however, was again ceased as a result of operations in East Timor. The competition recommenced in 2003.
Royal Australian Regiment recipient of the Duke of Gloucester Cup
Year earned | Winner |
---|---|
1946 | 67th Bn |
1947 | 67th Bn |
1948 | 3 RAR |
1949 | 3 RAR |
1950 | 3 RAR |
1974 | 6 RAR |
1975 | 6 RAR |
1976 | 5/7 RAR |
1977 | 5/7 RAR |
1978 | 6 RAR |
1979 | 6 RAR |
1981 | 2/4 RAR |
1982 | 6 RAR |
1983 | 8/9 RAR |
1984 | 6 RAR |
1985 | 6 RAR |
1986 | 1 RAR |
1987 | 1 RAR |
1988 | 3 RAR |
1989 | 8/9 RAR |
1990 | 1 RAR |
1991 | 6 RAR |
1992 | 6 RAR |
1993 | 2/4 RAR |
1994 | 1 RAR |
1995 | 3 RAR |
1996 | 2 RAR |
1997 | 1 RAR |
1998 | 3 RAR |
1999 | 1 RAR |
2003 | 1 RAR |
2004 | 1 RAR |
2005 | 1 RAR |
2007 | 2 RAR |
2008 | 6 RAR |
2009 | 2 RAR |
2010 | 3 RAR |
2011 | 3 RAR |
2012 | 2 RAR |
2013 | 2 RAR |
2014 | 6 RAR |
2015 | 1 RAR |
2016 | 3 RAR |
2017 | 2 RAR |
2018 | 6 RAR |
2019 | 2 RAR |
2020 |