Gloucester Cup Explained

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] 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. To compete for the Cup, each infantry battalion sends a team to the Lone Pine Barracks at Singleton.[27] These teams participate in a five-day competition demonstrating their training and endurance, from which the winning battalion is determined.[27] 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.[28]

Winning Battalions

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.[31] In 1991, No. 2 Airfield Defence Squadron became the first non-flying unit awarded the Cup.

Winning squadrons

Citations

[58]

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Duke of Gloucester's Cup .
  2. https://mobile.twitter.com/SOIAusArmy/status/1553118593692606464/photo/2
  3. Web site: The Duke of Gloucester's Cup . Royal Australian Navy . 1 June 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150801074940/http://www.navy.gov.au/history/traditions/gloucester-cup . 1 August 2015 .
  4. News: Gloucester Cup Won By Frigate. 15 December 1948. The Canberra Times. 29 July 2009.
  5. News: Honour for warship . 6 August 1952 . The Sydney Morning Herald . 3 . 27 May 2009.
  6. News: H.M.A.S. Australia Wins Cup . 25 March 1954 . The Sydney Morning Herald . 7 . 27 May 2009.
  7. News: Fleet Awards to Destroyer . 19 May 1962 . The Age . 3 . 27 May 2009.
  8. Book: Nott, Rodney . Payne, Noel . The Vung Tau Ferry: HMAS Sydney and Escort Ships . Rosenberg . Dural, NSW . 1994 . 2008 . 4th . 978-1-877058-72-1 . 254773862 . 56.
  9. News: Yo, ho, Hobart is Navy's top ship . 3 January 1976 . The Age . 3 . 27 May 2009.
  10. Book: Shaw, Lindsey . 2005 . HMAS Onslow: cold war warrior . Australian National Maritime Museum . Sydney, NSW . 0-9751428-4-4 . 225390609 . 6.
  11. News: Vice Regal – Federal . 14 January 1982 . The Age . 12 . 27 May 2009.
  12. Book: Davidson, Jon . Allibone, Tom . Beneath Southern Seas . University of Western Australia Press . Crawley, WA . 2005 . 1-920694-62-5 . 69242056 . 204.
  13. Book: Doolan, Ken . HMAS Tobruk: Warship for Every Crisis . Grinkle Press . Queanbeyan . 2007 . 978-0-9802821-0-8 . 225713122 . 89–101.
  14. Cassells, The Destroyers, p. 41
  15. News: Adelaide's pair of cups . 22 February 1999 . Navy News . 29 July 2009.
  16. News: Cup winners praised . Farynski . Jerzy . Navy News . 29 July 2009.
  17. News: Gloucester cup tops off Anzac's awards . Delaney . Chris . 18 March 2002 . Navy News . 29 July 2009.
  18. News: For the Governor-General, a personal pain . Gibbs . Stephen . 4 April 2005 . The Sydney Morning Herald . 29 July 2009.
  19. Presentation of the 2007 Gloucester Cup to HMAS Rankin . Michael . Jeffery . Michael Jeffery (Australian Army officer) . 8 April 2008 . HMAS Stirling, WA . 26 May 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090829120936/http://www.gg.gov.au/governorgeneral/speech.php?id=407 . 29 August 2009 .
  20. News: Tartan Terror Wins . Smith . Nigel . 8 March 2007 . Navy News . 29 July 2009.
  21. News: Hello sailor: the navy fleet's in town . Paver . Chris . 14 March 2009 . The Australian . 27 May 2009.
  22. News: Navy crew set sail on top gongs . 7 April 2010 . The Daily Telegraph. 20.
  23. News: Collection of awards for Anzac . 15 August 2013 . Navy News . 2 .
  24. Web site: HMAS Huon Presented Top Fleet Award by the Governor-General . Media release . Department of Defence . 1 May 2014 . 30 April 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140502004524/http://news.defence.gov.au/2014/04/30/hmas-huon-presented-top-fleet-award-by-the-governor-general/ . 2 May 2014 .
  25. News: Brooke . Michael . Annual awards reward success . 26 February 2015 . 23 February 2015 . Navy News . 4.
  26. Navy.gov.au, The Duke of Gloucester’s Cup
  27. News: Slain hero deserves the gratitude of the entire nation . Sheridan . Greg . 11 November 2007 . The Australian . 14 .
  28. Web site: Chapter 10: Regimental Competitions. Royal Australian Regiment Standing Orders. 1 June 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140601055143/http://www.24rarassociation.com/rarstandingorders/10.doc. 1 June 2014.
  29. Web site: School of Infantry Duke of Gloucester Cup Honour Board. Military PhotosHost.
  30. Web site: The battle of the battalions . Department of Defence.
  31. Double prize for 36SQN. Air Force . 57 . 7. 23 April 2015. 7. 20 April 2015.
  32. News: Mr. McKell Presents Duke's Cup at Fairbairn . The Canberra Times . 27 September 1948 . 2. 7 December 2014.
  33. News: Persistency on Korea failed . . 16 August 1950 . 5 September 2014 . 3 .
  34. News: Cup award to jet squadron . . 31 July 1961 . 5 September 2014 . 2 .
  35. News: Gloucester Cup. The Sydney Morning Herald. 4 April 1963. 9.
  36. Web site: No. 9 Squadron RAAF awarded Duke of Gloucester Cup 1969-70 . 2009-10-20 . 23 April 1971 . AWM Collection . https://web.archive.org/web/20120806095239/http://cas.awm.gov.au/photograph/F02801 . 6 August 2012 . dead .
  37. Web site: Presentation of Gloucester Cup 1973 . 2009-10-20 . 14 December 1973 . AWM Collection . https://web.archive.org/web/20120806095314/http://cas.awm.gov.au/photograph/F10454 . 6 August 2012 . dead .
  38. RAAF News . 33 . 2. Recognition for 36SQN. March 1991. 1.
  39. RAAF News . 37 . 8. September 1995. Proficient 82WG proves its performance. 14.
  40. Recognition for 501 Wing. Air Force News . 40 . 3. April 1998. 6.
  41. Notable dates in the history of the F-111. Air Force. 19 June 2002. 5 September 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151102003654/http://www.defence.gov.au/news/raafnews/editions/4510/features/feature03.htm. 2 November 2015.
  42. Web site: Annual awards recognise RAAF personnel and heritage. Department of Defence. 8 March 2001. 15 September 2013.
  43. Web site: BEST OF THE BEST: 2001 AIR FORCE AWARDS . 2008-10-24 . 21 May 2002 . Minister for Defence Media Release . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080805144410/http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/2002/239210502.doc . 5 August 2008 .
  44. Web site: Prize performances . 2008-10-24 . 22 May 2003 . Air Force News.
  45. Web site: Oh, what a night . 2008-10-24 . 1 June 2006 . Air Force News.
  46. Good as gold. Paton. Simon. Air Force. 49. 9. 31 May 2007. 2 July 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20161009000037/http://www.defence.gov.au/news/raafnews/editions/4909/features/feature1.htm. 9 October 2016.
  47. Web site: 87th Night of Nights . 2008-10-24 . 17 April 2008 . Air Force News. 5.
  48. Trophy list. Air Force . 51 . 9. 28 May 2009. 15. 24 March 2016.
  49. Trophy list. Air Force . 52 . 9. 27 May 2010. 12. 24 March 2016.
  50. Web site: No. 34 Squadron. Royal Australian Air Force. 4 December 2013.
  51. Best of 2011. Air Force . 54 . 6. 12 April 2012. 4. 24 March 2016.
  52. Our best of 2012 awarded. Air Force . 55 . 6. 11 April 2013. 4–5. 18 September 2013.
  53. Proficiency and leadership awards 2013. Air Force . 56 . 6. 10 April 2014. 16. 24 March 2016.
  54. And the winners are. Air Force . 58 . 4. 24 March 2016. 3. 24 March 2016.
  55. Rising to the challenge. Air Force . 60 . 6. 19 April 2018. 3. 16 April 2018.
  56. Dedication to Duty. Air Force . 61 . 6. 18 April 2019. 2. 17 July 2020.
  57. Delivering to the highest standard as the tempo climbs. Air Force . 62 . 7. 30 April 2020. 5. 17 July 2020.
  58. Web site: Rogers . Michael . 'Superhuman' soldiers vie for coveted cup . defence.gov.au . Australian Defence Force . 20 August 2024.

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