Gloucester Cup

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.

Australian Army

The regular infantry battalions of the Royal Australian Regiment compete against each other for the Gloucester Cup in an annual military skills competition.[1] To compete for the Gloucester Cup, each infantry battalion sends a team to the Lone Pine Barracks at Singleton.[2] These teams participate in a five-day competition demonstrating their training and endurance, from which the winning battalion is determined.[2] 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.[3]

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.[4] 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.[4][5] 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.[4]

Winning ships

Royal Australian Navy recipients of the Gloucester Cup
Year	Winner	Class and type	Reference
1947	HMAS Hobart	Leander-class cruiser	[4]
1948	HMAS Shoalhaven	River-class frigate	[6]
1949	HMAS Arunta	Tribal-class destroyer	[4]
1950	HMAS Sydney	Majestic-class aircraft carrier	[4]
1951	HMAS Murchison	River-class frigate	[7]
1952	HMAS Hawkesbury	River-class frigate	[4]
1953	HMAS Australia	County-class cruiser	[8]
1954	HMAS Quadrant	Q-class destroyer	[4]
1955	HMAS Quadrant	Q-class destroyer	[4]
1956	HMAS Queenborough	Q-class destroyer	[4]
1957	HMAS Anzac	Battle-class destroyer	[4]
1958	HMAS Melbourne	Majestic-class aircraft carrier	[4]
1959	HMAS Quickmatch	Q-class destroyer	[4]
1960	HMAS Vampire	Daring-class destroyer	[9]
1961	HMAS Vampire	Daring-class destroyer	[9]
1962	HMAS Melbourne	Majestic-class aircraft carrier	[4]
1963	HMAS Vampire	Daring-class destroyer	[4]
1964	HMAS Vendetta	Daring-class destroyer	[4]
1965	HMAS Sydney	Majestic-class fast troop transport	[4]
1966	HMAS Sydney	Majestic-class fast troop transport	[10]
1967	HMAS Hobart	Perth-class destroyer	[4]
1968	HMAS Stalwart	Destroyer tender	[4]
1969	HMAS Supply	Tide-class replenishment oiler	[4]
1970	HMAS Hobart	Perth-class destroyer	[4]
1971	HMAS Brisbane	Perth-class destroyer	[4]
1972	HMAS Melbourne	Majestic-class aircraft carrier	[4]
1973	HMAS Stuart	River-class destroyer escort	[11]
1974	HMAS Swan	River-class destroyer escort	[4]
1975	HMAS Hobart	Perth-class destroyer	[12]
1976	HMAS Stuart	River-class destroyer escort	[11]
1977	HMAS Onslow	Oberon-class submarine	[13]
1978	HMAS Torrens	River-class destroyer escort	[4]
1979	HMAS Hobart	Perth-class destroyer	[4]
1980	HMAS Brisbane	Perth-class destroyer	[4]
1981	HMAS Perth	Perth-class destroyer	[14]
1982	HMAS Hobart	Perth-class destroyer
1983	HMAS Stalwart	Destroyer tender	[4]
1984	HMAS Adelaide	Adelaide-class frigate	[4]
1985	HMAS Orion	Oberon-class submarine	[4][15]
1986	HMAS Sydney	Adelaide-class frigate	[4]
1987	HMAS Jervis Bay	Training ship	[4]
1988	HMAS Hobart	Perth-class destroyer	[4]
1989	HMAS Derwent	River-class destroyer escort	[4]
1990	HMAS Success	Durance-class tanker	[16]
1991	HMAS Darwin	Adelaide-class frigate	[4]
1992	HMAS Hobart	Perth-class destroyer	[4]
1993	HMAS Tobruk	Round Table-class landing ship logistics	[17]
1994	HMAS Hobart and HMAS Darwin	Perth-class destroyer Adelaide-class frigate	[18][4]
1995	HMAS Darwin	Adelaide-class frigate	[4]
1996	HMAS Brisbane	Perth-class destroyer	[4]
1997	HMAS Canberra	Adelaide-class frigate	[4]
1998	HMAS Adelaide	Adelaide-class frigate	[19]
1999	HMAS Success	Durance-class tanker	[16]
2000	HMAS Arunta	Anzac-class frigate	[4]
2001	HMAS Anzac	Anzac-class frigate	[20]
2002	HMAS Arunta	Anzac-class frigate	[4]
2003	HMAS Kanimbla	Kanimbla-class landing platform amphibious	[21]
2004	HMAS Rankin	Collins-class submarine	[15]
2005	HMAS Sheean	Collins-class submarine	[5]
2006	HMAS Stuart	Anzac-class frigate	[11]
2007	HMAS Rankin	Collins-class submarine	[5]
2008	HMAS Parramatta	Anzac-class frigate	[22]
2009	HMAS Newcastle	Adelaide-class frigate	[23]
2010	HMAS Melbourne	Adelaide-class frigate	[4]
2011	AUSCDT 4	Clearance Diving Team	[4]
2012	HMAS Anzac	Anzac-class frigate	[24]
2013	HMAS Huon	Huon-class minehunter	[25]
2014	HMAS Success	Durance-class tanker	[26]
2015	HMAS Melbourne	Adelaide-class frigate	[27]
2016	HMAS Rankin (SSG 78)	Collins-class submarine	[27]
2017	HS BLUE	Hydrographic Crewing Division	[27]
2018	HMAS Melbourne	Adelaide-class frigate	[27]

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

Winning squadrons

Royal Australian Air Force recipients of the Gloucester Cup
Year earned	Winner	Reference
1947	No. 38 Squadron	-
1948	No. 87 Squadron	[29]
1949	No. 30 Squadron	-
1950	No. 77 Squadron	[30]
1951	No. 1 Squadron	[31]
1952	No. 36 Squadron	[32]
1953	No. 23 Squadron	-
1954	No. 38 Squadron	-
1955	No. 1 Squadron	[31]
1956	No. 10 Squadron	-
1957	No. 11 Squadron	-
1958	No. 11 Squadron	-
1959	No. 1 Squadron	[33]
1960	No. 1 Squadron	[33]
1961	No. 2 Squadron	-
1962	No. 36 Squadron	[34]
1963	No. 79 Squadron	-
1964	No. 79 Squadron	-
1965	No. 5 Squadron	-
1966	No. 2 Squadron	-
1967	No. 35 Squadron	-
1968	No. 9 Squadron	[35]
1969	No. 9 Squadron	[35]
1970	No. 9 Squadron	[35]
1971	No. 2 Squadron	-
1972	No. 75 Squadron	[36]
1973	No. 3 Squadron	[36]
1974	No. 38 Squadron	-
1975	No. 38 Squadron	-
1976	No. 37 Squadron	[37]
1977	No. 11 Squadron	-
1978	No. 12 Squadron	-
1979	No. 6 Squadron	-
1980	No. 5 Squadron	-
1981	No.2 Squadron	-
1982	No. 35 Squadron	-
1983	No. 34 Squadron	[38]
1984	Australian Contingent to the Multinational Force and Observers (Egypt)	-
1985	-	-
1986	No. 9 Squadron	-
1987	No. 38 Squadron	-
1988	No. 10 Squadron	-
1989	No. 36 Squadron	[39]
1990	No. 76 Squadron	-
1991	No. 2 Airfield Defence Squadron	-
1992	No. 492 Squadron	-
1993	No. 486 Squadron	-
1994	No. 82 Wing	[40]
1995	Air Transportable Telecommunications Unit	-
1996	No. 1 Radar Surveillance Unit	-
1997	No. 86 Wing	[41]
1998	No. 1 Squadron	[42]
1999	No. 395 Expeditionary Combat Support Wing	-
2000	No. 36 Squadron	[43]
2001	No. 37 Squadron	[44]
2002	No. 92 Wing	[45]
2003	No. 38 Squadron	-
2004	No. 86 Wing	-
2005	No. 92 Wing	[46]
2006	No. 33 Squadron	[47]
2007	No. 36 Squadron	[48]
2008	No. 75 Squadron	[49]
2009	No. 11 Squadron	[50]
2010	No. 34 Squadron	[51]
2011	No. 37 Squadron	[52]
2012	No. 36 Squadron	[53]
2013	No. 37 Squadron	[54]
2014	No. 36 Squadron	[28]
2015	No. 33 Squadron	[55]
2016	No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit	[56]
2017	No. 1 Squadron	[56]
2018	No. 2 Squadron	[57]
2019	No. 34 Squadron	[58]

Citations

1. Horner & Bou 2008, p. 27.
2. Sheridan, Greg (11 November 2007). "Slain hero deserves the gratitude of the entire nation". The Australian. p. 14.
3. "Chapter 10: Regimental Competitions". Royal Australian Regiment Standing Orders. Archived from the original on 1 June 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
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5. 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.
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27. Navy.gov.au, The Duke of Gloucester’s Cup
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30. "Persistency on Korea failed". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. 16 August 1950. p. 3. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
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32. RAAF Historical Section 1995, pp. 57–59.
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38. RAAF Historical Section 1995, p. 45–46.
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References

• Cassells, Vic (2000). The Destroyers: their battles and their badges. East Roseville, NSW: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0-7318-0893-2. OCLC 46829686.
• Eather, Steve (1996). Odd Jobs: RAAF Operations in Japan, the Berlin Airlift, Korea, Malaya and Malta, 1946–1960. RAAF Williams, Victoria: RAAF Museum. ISBN 0-642-23482-5.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Horner, David; Bou, Jean, eds. (2008). Duty First: A History of the Royal Australian Regiment (2nd ed.). Crows Nest, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 978-1-74175-374-5.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• RAAF Historical Section (1995). Units of the Royal Australian Air Force: A Concise History. Volume 4: Maritime and Transport Units. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. ISBN 0-644-42796-5.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)