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COLONEL COMMANDANTS

OF THE

ROYAL REGIMENT of AUSTRALIAN ARTILLERY

EASTERN REGION

COLONEL DONALD MONTAGUE TAIT

       

Colonel Tait was commissioned into the Royal Australian Artillery Corps in June 1961 and was posted as a troop leader to the 4th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, at Wacol in Southern  Queensland. After several appointments in the Regiment he was posted to ‘A’ Field Battery, Royal Australian Artillery in Holsworthy, New South Wales and accompanied the Battery to Malayain 1965 as the Gun Position Officer.

The Battery joined 45 Light Regiment, Royal Artillery and then 6 Light Regiment, Royal Artillery on rotation. He returned to Australia in 1966, was promoted to Captain and was posted as a tactics instructor at the Officer Training Unit, Scheyville in New South Wales. At the end of 1967, he was posted as a forward observer to 102 Field Battery, 12th Field Regiment Royal Australian Artillery for active service in Vietnam.

After returning to Australia in 1969 he joined 108 Field Battery, 4th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery in Townsville, North Queensland as its Battery Captain. He accompanied the Battery to Singapore in mid 1969. He returned to Australia in 1971, was promoted Major and appointed Brigade Major Royal Australian Artillery, Second Division in Sydney. Shortly afterwards, he was posted as the Battery Commander of 103 Medium Battery, Royal Australian Artillery at Holsworthy.

He attended the Australian Army Staff College at Queenscliff in 1974 and was appointed Staff Officer Grade Two Land, Papua New Guinea Defence Force in 1975. He returned to Australia in 1977 as the Second in Command of the 1st Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery at Wacol. After a short time in Headquarters, First Division in Brisbane, he was promoted Lieutenant Colonel in 1979 and took up a staff officer’s appointment responsible for all overseas establishments for the Australian Defence Force. He attended the Joint Services Staff College in Canberra in 1982.

Following Staff College he commanded the 1st Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery in 1983 and 1984 in Brisbane.  After a short posting in the Personnel Division of Army Office in Canberra he was promoted Colonel in 1986 and commanded the Land Command and 1st Division Artillery. In 1988 he was appointed Chief of Staff of the Second Division. After a year in this appointment, he commanded the Fifth Brigade for two years. He was posted to Headquarters Training Command in Sydney as the Colonel Operations in 1991.From July 1993 to February 1996 Colonel Tait was appointed as Army Adviser (London). On return from London he retired from the Regular Army in March 1996 and commenced a consulting business. Since 1997 he has been President of the RAAHS and RAAHC. Colonel Tait was appointed Colonel Commandant Eastern Region in November 2000.

         
       
       
       
         
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