3rd Combat Engineering Regiment (3CER) is based in Townsville, Queensland as part of the Australian army’s Ready Deployment Force, and was deployed to the Solomon Islands under Operation Anode.

3CER sapper at the cutting edge, Cpl Sean Burton, Army – the soldiers’ newspaper, 14 August 2003

“A sapper from 3CER was at the cutting edge of the first Op Anode weapons destruction ceremony in Solomon Islands. Spr Craig Reedman destroyed 25 surrendered weapons in a flurry of smoke, sweat and sparks with an angle grinder in front of appreciative Solomon Islanders. Watching from the crowd of about 200 were Regional Assistance Mission officials including Head of the National Peace Council, Paul Tovua. Mr Tovua joined Spr Reedman in cutting up the first weapon, which he held aloft to a cheering crowd. During a speech he said weapons being destroyed had been handed in over the previous three days as the first of approximately 2000 police and troops serving with the RAMSI began arriving in the country.”

“The Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) operated an arms amnesty from 1 to 21 August 2003, and collected 3,730 weapons, including 700 high-powered military-style weapons, many improvised or modified guns, and over 300,000 rounds of ammunition. The weapons are seen in store at RAMSI’s military and police headquarters at Camp RAMSI, near Honiara. Many weapons were destroyed by Australian personnel from the 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment (3CER), who were deployed to the Solomon Islands as part of Operation Anode.”

3rd Combat Engineering Regiment, Australian War Memorial (AWM) photograph

“Members of 22 Section, 22 Troop, 18th Combat Engineer Squadron, 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment have produced a drawing and inscription on the rear wall, recording the name of their unit and its members, and a picture of a man with a dingo’s head. 3CER provided engineering services, including explosives decommissioning and construction works, as part of Operation Anode, Australia’s military contribution to the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI).”

3rd Combat Engineering Regiment, Australian War Memorial (AWM) photograph

“Sapper Martin of 3 Combat Engineer Regiment (3CER) stands in front of helicopter A2-508 at the Second World War airfield at Mbambanikera, on the Weather Coast of Guadalcanal, as it is refuelled…. Members of 3CER provided engineering support to the establishment of police posts and military facilities, and to the decommissioning of weapons and explosives.”