The Gloucester Cup is the common name for three awards of the Australian Defence Force officially called the Duke of Gloucester's Cup,[1][2] the three awards are presented to the most proficient ship of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), infantry battalion of the Australian Army, 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.

Royal Australian Navy

The RAN Gloucester Cup was initially assessed on the gunnery accuracy of RAN ships, based on the number of sleeve targets hit as a proportion of shells fired.[3] This was quickly found to be impractical, and the criteria for the award was changed to "overall proficiency", based on each ship's level of operational efficiency during a calendar year; husbandry and seamanship; supply and administration; officer and sailor training; divisional systems, morale and discipline; and equipment reliability, maintenance and resourcefulness.[3][4] As well as the silver trophy, a winning ship is allowed to paint a yellow star on the superstructure of the ship, which remains until the Cup is passed to a new winner.[3]

Winning ships

Australian Army

The regular infantry battalions of the Royal Australian Regiment compete against each other for the Duke of Gloucester's Cup in an annual military skills competition.[27] To compete for the Cup, each infantry battalion sends a team to the Lone Pine Barracks at Singleton.[28] These teams participate in a five-day competition demonstrating their training and endurance, from which the winning battalion is determined.[28] 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.[29]

Winning Battalions

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Royal Australian Air Force

The RAAF's Gloucester Cup recognises the most proficient flying squadron during a calendar year. The winner is announced at the Air Force Awards night, held in April or May annually. Originally awarded for the most proficient squadron, the basis for the award changed in 1989 and again in 1993 and the Cup is now awarded annually to the most proficient Wing, Squadron or Operational Unit within the RAAF's Air Command.

The selection process considers the unit's achievement of objectives set for the year, initiatives taken to develop proficiency in operations, administration, dress and bearing, and morale.

The most-awarded unit is No. 36 Squadron, with seven Cups.[32] In 1991, No. 2 Airfield Defence Squadron became the first non-flying unit awarded the Cup.

Winning squadrons

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Citations

  1. ^ "The Duke of Gloucester's Cup".
  2. ^ https://mobile.twitter.com/SOIAusArmy/status/1553118593692606464/photo/2[bare URL]
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar "The Duke of Gloucester's Cup". Royal Australian Navy. Archived from the original on 1 August 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  4. ^ a b c Jeffery, Michael (8 April 2008). Presentation of the 2007 Gloucester Cup to HMAS Rankin (Speech). HMAS Stirling, WA. Archived from the original on 29 August 2009. Retrieved 26 May 2009.
  5. ^ "Gloucester Cup Won By Frigate". The Canberra Times. 15 December 1948. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
  6. ^ "Honour for warship". The Sydney Morning Herald. 6 August 1952. p. 3. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  7. ^ "H.M.A.S. Australia Wins Cup". The Sydney Morning Herald. 25 March 1954. p. 7. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  8. ^ a b "Fleet Awards to Destroyer". The Age. 19 May 1962. p. 3. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  9. ^ Nott, Rodney; Payne, Noel (2008) [1994]. The Vung Tau Ferry: HMAS Sydney and Escort Ships (4th ed.). Dural, NSW: Rosenberg. p. 56. ISBN 978-1-877058-72-1. OCLC 254773862.
  10. ^ a b c Smith, Nigel (8 March 2007). "Tartan Terror Wins". Navy News. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
  11. ^ "Yo, ho, Hobart is Navy's top ship". The Age. 3 January 1976. p. 3. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  12. ^ Shaw, Lindsey (2005). HMAS Onslow: cold war warrior. Sydney, NSW: Australian National Maritime Museum. p. 6. ISBN 0-9751428-4-4. OCLC 225390609.
  13. ^ "Vice Regal – Federal". The Age. 14 January 1982. p. 12. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  14. ^ a b Davidson, Jon; Allibone, Tom (2005). Beneath Southern Seas. Crawley, WA: University of Western Australia Press. p. 204. ISBN 1-920694-62-5. OCLC 69242056.
  15. ^ a b Farynski, Jerzy. "Cup winners praised". Navy News. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
  16. ^ Doolan, Ken (2007). HMAS Tobruk: Warship for Every Crisis. Queanbeyan: Grinkle Press. pp. 89–101. ISBN 978-0-9802821-0-8. OCLC 225713122.[page needed]
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  22. ^ "Navy crew set sail on top gongs". The Daily Telegraph. 7 April 2010. p. 20.
  23. ^ "Collection of awards for Anzac". Navy News. 15 August 2013. p. 2.
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  27. ^ Horner & Bou 2008, p. 27.
  28. ^ a b Sheridan, Greg (11 November 2007). "Slain hero deserves the gratitude of the entire nation". The Australian. p. 14.
  29. ^ "Chapter 10: Regimental Competitions". Royal Australian Regiment Standing Orders. Archived from the original on 1 June 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  30. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at "School of Infantry Duke of Gloucester Cup Honour Board". Military PhotosHost.
  31. ^ a b c "The battle of the battalions". Department of Defence.
  32. ^ a b "Double prize for 36SQN". Air Force. Vol. 57, no. 7. 23 April 2015. p. 7. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
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  34. ^ "Persistency on Korea failed". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. 16 August 1950. p. 3. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  35. ^ a b Eather 1996, p. 61.
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  37. ^ a b "Cup award to jet squadron". The Canberra Times. 31 July 1961. p. 2. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
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  42. ^ RAAF Historical Section 1995, p. 45–46.
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  60. ^ a b "Rising to the challenge". Air Force. Vol. 60, no. 6. 19 April 2018. p. 3. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
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References

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