Moem Barracks prepares for Royal Pacific Island Regiment Parade

The Royal Pacific Island Regiment (RPIR) in the country will be turning 65 on the 11th of March this year as celebrations are underway in Wewak’s Second Battalion Royal Pacific Island Regiment (2RPIR) Moem Barracks.
PNGDF 2nd Lieutenant BADE Joseph says activities taking place are Platoon Attacks, Navigation and Orders and also sporting activities of soccer, volleyball and touch footy.
2nd Lieutenant BADE says the winning Company from the Moem Unit will be declared on the 11th of March and will then troop the Queens Colour during the regiment’s parade to mark the day after 64 years of the infantry regiment in Papua New Guinea.
The Regiment was disbanded after World War II and was re-raised in 1951 as part of the Australian Army and served until the Independence in 1975 when it became part of the PNGDF and today the RPIR consists of two Battalions actively serving PNG, SI and Vanuatu.
This is a historical event of the PNG Defence Force in remembering the descending of the regiment by native soldiers and Australian officers and non-commissioned officers in the territories of Papua and New Guinea during World War II to help fight against the Japanese.