B Squadron, 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment - Badges and Insignia

History of the Regimental Badge
  3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment hat badge

The badge worn by this unit is a representation of a black South East Asian scorpion encased by a wreath with the tail swung up as if to strike and placed over an inverted boomerang that has the unit motto “Resolute”. It is finished in gunmetal grey colour to reflect that it had been designed and chosen in a combat area. 

The badge was assumed to be designed with input supplied by many Officers who were involved in the Vietnam War.  However, Lieutenant General John Grey (A O -Retd), Charles Gaunt and Colonel Roger Kershaw whom where adjutants in succession during Lieutenant General Greys time in Vietnam may have been the driving force into the badge’s implementation.  It was chosen as the symbol of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment as it had already been adopted informally and painted on the sides of all M113 vehicles (hence the tradition of the Scorpion on the sides of our current vehicles).

The reason it was chosen was due to the prolific Black Scorpions that inhabited the Squadron area in Nui Dat.  It also represented the sting that the Squadron could deliver at the crucial time in battle and to this day that reputation is maintained.  The following were some other ideas for the badge:

  1. Similar to the RAAC badge, except the MK1 Mother Tank was replaced by an M113 APC; and

  2. A scorpion wrapped around a globe of the world, with the words “cleanse the world with steel” under it. The 1996 – 98, 6TP (Mortars) used this badge as their troop logo


The Queen approved the Scorpion Badge in 1972 and it took until 1977 – 1978 before the Regiment was ‘badged’ correctly.  Up until that time 3rd Cavalry Regiment wore the RAAC Badge, except for the initial period in 27 May 1965 – 14 September 1965 when the 4/19th Badge was worn.

(Source - Rocky Hema - 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment)

 



2 Troop Group, B Squadron, 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment - East Timor AUSBAT 6 - 2001

(www.3cav.asn.au)