Newsletter 2J1993 October 1993

Duntroon - A More Recent Memory E.G. Vikingur

For years I have enjoyed and admired the articles by of Duntroon and were always referred to as the Dogs. I P.G. Heffernan and others published in the Duntroon hardly need add that the rest of the Corps regarded the Society Newsletter. The more Chronologically Challenged Dogs as beyond both the pale and salvation. Our OC was (I think it high time the Newsletter became more P.T.H. Thome (1962), a wonderful man who politically correct), with their fine articles on Duntroon, thought he would chastise us one tie,after a bad incident have been shaming the recent Graduates - in the case of of collective misdemeanour, by calling our block a bastion this one, all the way to his word processor. of barbarism. He did not realise that this phrase would My experience of Duntroon came in four doses become the Dogs' catch-cry and a source of great pride. administered in varying degrees of severity. Firstly there The Corps did five weeks' military training at the start was Fourth Class, a time which made such an impression of the year, during which time the Fourthies underwent that it must be described in its own compartment. a very intensive introduction to the Army in general and Secondly, there were the three years as a senior Duntroon in particular. One remembers it all as a classman, a time I loved greatly. Thirdly, I was in ;he first bewildering mixture of impossible demands and new group of undergraduate officers to complete their experiences, punctuated by events and personalities which degrees after being commissioned, in 1978. Fourthly, I made especially strong impressions. The CSC Mess was was on the staff as Instructor Artillery in 1983-4. So my a dreaded place. Firstly, the Army had received a windfall tenure spanned the core of Duntroon's time as an of tinned chemes at about that time and we were given independent university faculty. For all intents and those for dessert for weeks, always served with custard. purposes the College was a small private academy, with Enormous quantities of custard must have been prepared a unique and rich character. The College's intellectual at a time because a bottle of aftershave was emptied into stature and standing had risen greatly since 1969, but its the custard one day and this vile but fragrant batch lasted rigour and tribal customs had remained undamaged. The for several days. We always suspected one of the stewards cadets of those days had to perform well academically in (or Seals, as they were known in cadetspeak), but the truth order to survive, but the essential hardness of the place still never emerged. The second thing we Fourthies dreaded worked its wonders for the four years of the course. about the Mess was the need to excuse yourself I would like to record some of my memories of these correctly at a table, in accordance with an arcane set of adventurous years. It will naturally be a one-sided view, rules. The trick was to excuse oneself to the senior cadet but it might prompt others of my era to come forth and or cadets, by his name if there was only one cadet or to thus produce a more balanced picture. the 'Gmtlemen' if there were two of the same seniority I entered the RMC in January 1974 and was allottec present. As a Second Class with rank did not outrank a to Kokoda Company. There were five companies in the Second Class -~~ithoutrank and a First Class cadet Corps, each with its particular character. Alamein and outranked a Second Class with rank, there was room for Gallipoli were normally grouped together as being fairly error. Also, a single Second Class outpolled any number relaxed, although Gallipoli generally could be counted on of Third Class and one had to produce a name before for a greater effort. Long Tan, being brand new to the being permitted to sit down. So the first few weeks saw game, was yet to find its feet but was universally known most Fourthies wandering about the Mess with cdd food, as the Lepers. This unfortunate sobriquet arose because trying to master hundreds of names and the delicate the Company Commanders in 1973 had conspired to nuances of the system by which these names were to be transfer cadets they considered undesirable, to the new employed. Naturally we were also forced to lem the frst company. Although J do not know what sort of selection names of our classmates, of which there were some one criteria they used, I do know that Long Tan sported a hundred and thuzy. At the time, frightened out of his wits, number of interesting characters. The fourth company, the Fourthie thought of this as cruel and unusual Kapyong, had a reputation for toughness and punishment. In fact, this ritual was a very important part competitiveness and even strove for the honour of of the process of cementing the Corps together as a whole, becoming the Sovereign's Company, an attainment which and separately, Fourth Class in adversity. With survival Alamein would ever deny seeking. The last, Kokoda demanding it, we learned some four hundred names with Company, was the roughest and the most traditional in astonishing speed. A by-product was a training course in terms of discipline, class distinctions and raucous memorising people, a very useful skill for an officer. behaviour in the blocks. In Kokoda we were taught to The impressive setting of Duntroon makes its own despise Alamein as softies, Gallipoli as full of wind, contribution to the atmosphere at the foot of Mt Kapyong as uncouth and Long Tan as, well, lepers. On the Pleasant, but at any one time it is the personalities who other hand, we were the repository for all the old values really stamp the place. For most cadets, new to the Army, the RSM is the apotheosis of the soldier - a Field Marshal course, eating raw food along the way. So, we played at beating me about the head with his jewel-encrusted baton boat races and a game called 'Bottles', the purpose of would have made less of an impact in the first five weeks which was to cause huge volumes of beer to disappear. I than did one scowl from W01 L.A. (Len) Williams. He was a non-drinker and after much protest was permitted was a veteran of the Korea and Vietnam Wars and an to drink milk, which I imbibed in enormous quantities. extremely handsome and determined looking man with Supervised by a gleeful Third Class, we then sprinted a chin which was actually blue! He was always around a circuit eating slimy and squishy sausages, doing beautifully turned out and cut a perfect figure on the push-ups, gulping down raw eggs, drinking beer (or milk!) square as he strove to prepare the Corps for parades. He at a rapid rate and completing various other exertions in was also human, because he 'square-gaited" several paces a frenetic manner. Not surprisingly, the desired results in front of the whole Corps in December 1974. We loved came thick and fast, each one greeted as a success story him all the more for it. On the same rehearsal he awarded by the senior classes. I suspected the Ironman Race was me an extra drill for following with my eyes, the passage not officially sanctioned, a thought which proved not of the new Sovereign's Company in front of the Corps. I unfounded as I learned more about Duntroon. I made was guilty, as I should have been looking to the front, but some remarks earlier about personal degradation having I thought it harsh at the time. largely disappeared from the Corps and despite that day Our Adjutant was Captain S.A. Sainsbury (1965), an I still hold that view. My reason is that the event was officer I came to know a little, and like a great deal, many conducted with goodwill and good humour. Whilst the years later. He was the subject of an incident which senior classes were determined to make the Fourthies illustrates the extreme tension generated for Fourthies in perform, we were determined to show that we were men their first days at Duntroon. It was Week Zero and I was enough to take it all in good spirits. In the end, honour was sprinting around Ack Block with my Kokoda classmates satisfied on both sides and the afternoon is recalled on our way to FT, and we were lost and late and in a panic. without a grudge. Suddenly, from around a corner, I was confronted by an The second tradition of note was 'A Thousand Days angry Adjutant waving his cane at me. I am honoured to To Go', a violent festivity which celebrated Third Class's report that I momentarily lost control of my bladder, such not so imminent Graduation. On the day in question, Third was my alarm as I turned blindly and fled. The damage and Fourth Classes gathered at opposite ends of the was slight and I did not have to make any explanations, gymnasium with the rest of the Corps in attendance. The but I kept the incident to myself for 15 years. I must add BSM, from the safety of a balcony, tossed a sturdy, rag- here that my reaction on that occasion has not become a filled canvas bag into the centre of the floor and all hell habit. broke loose. The aim of the game was to get the bag to By all accounts, life at Duntroon before the the opposition's wall and there were no rules governing bastardisation enquiry in 1969 was pretty tough. In 1974 how this might be achieved. With nearly two hundred fit life was still hard, but the elements of personal men on a small playing field, most people never touched degradation had largely been removed. Later, while I was the bag. Those who did, as was my fortune, soon found on the staff in 1983, I witnessed the next scandal. themselves engulfed in an extraordinary mixture of Although it was a storm in a teacup, strong action was violence and enthusiasm. In the meantime, plenty of action taken to change the Corps in such a way as to prevent a took place around the periphery, as scores were settled recurrence of bastardisation. The primary measure was to between Fourthies and those Third Class cadets who had, remove class seniority dependent upon rank, as in the rest in the preceding weeks of initial training, overstepped the of the Army. I disliked this move, but the Australian boundary between legitimate harshness and malice. Defence Force Academy was about to be established and Although serious injury had often resulted in the past, I knew the old Duntroon was about to pass away anyway nothing beyond bruising occurred in 1974. The score was and therefore there seemed no point in getting upset. disputed, which did not matter as the primary aim of the However, many other traditions were swept away in the activity, that is, letting off steam, had been achieved. I well rush to reform and it seems appropriate to record some of recall my feeling of euphoria for several days afterwards, the more interesting ones. It may well be that some of as I bragged of having touched the bag, of how I landed these still exist in one form or another. Further, older one on so and so and of how I had been the victim of a (sorry, Chronologically Challenged) Graduates might like Third Class drubbing on the sidelines. Most of my to compare our traditions with those of their day. classmates had similar tales to tell. An important side The Molonglo River Ironman Race, a Kokoda effect of 'A Thousand Days To Go' was that it increased Company special treat for its Fourth Class, was my the Fourthies shared experiences of Duntroon's unique life introduction to Corps horse-play. It took place only a few and thus brought my class closer and closer to acceptance weeks after arrival and was billed as our first chance to as fully fledged Cordies. At the time, nothing on Earth relax. It was anything but. The afternoon started well, in seemed more desirable than the increased status conferred a civilised way, with the OC and other officers on the staff by this robust ceremony. calling around briefly to our BBQ site between the Badge No tale of Duntroon in the Seventies would be Gates and the river. However, after the officers had left, complete without the Easter Bunny, the best kept corporate the real purpose of the afternoon became clear. We were secret in history. So intense was the desire of the senior to get drunk and then race around an improvised obstacle classes to make Fourth Class undergo this rite, that not a whisper of its true nature was heard by the new boys before the night of the Bunny. The sequence of events is I. Used to describe the action of the arm and leg on each outlined below. On the Friday before Easter Recreation side of the body moving together in the same direction Camp (an activity of enforced joy-through-work, which instead of in the opposite direction while marching. This would merit an article of its own), an oil (cadetspeak for is normally quite dificult to do unless the marcher is under a message yelled out around the blocks by Fourthies in considerable stress - as in the early drill lessons. Ed. a ritualistic manner) was passed to the effect that Fourthies' sleeping bags were to be collected in the Q Store for waterproofing before use at the Rec[reation] English It Sometimes Ain't Camp in the following week. It was also announced that Associate Editor the senior classes would go to the local watering holes with Fourth Class, to celebrate our coming of age as Cordies. This occurred, with seniors remaining strangely Some time ago, when I was editing the Newsletter, the sober throughout the evening whilst Fourth Class Chairman of the Society Council told me that, in his steadily became worse for wear as the jollities proceeded. opinion, the Newsletter held the Society together. He said Curiously, the BSM had announced curfew for 2300 that without it the Society would fold. That opinion may hours, for once strictly obeyed. I was not drunk, of course, be arguable today, but for many years the Editor, Ross but suspected nothing - I got into bed and read for a while Harding, and I have sometimes been amused andlor and was fast asleep by the time the Bunny struck at bemused by, but always grateful for, some of the articles midnight. My door was kicked open with a blood-curdling sent to us for publication. Bewilderment is probably our scream and a rubbish tin (a bish tin in cadetspeak) full of biggest problem, so perhaps a description of our modus water and paper waste was emptied over my head. Two operandi will illustrate it. Ross, ably assisted by his wife seniors yelled and screamed that I was to go and attack and son, does all the hard work. He collects the raw Kapyong, which was responsible for this outrage. In a fit material contributed, corrects what he considers necessary, of patriotism I raced out into the corridor and found my checks with the author if appropriate (or possible) and classmates similarly moved, egged on by Third and presents the results to our printer for the production of a Second Classes. Even First Class, normally as remote as first 'galley proof'. Armed with one of these proofs apiece, Olympian gods, lent their voices to the clamour. Within the two of us independently check them for syntax, seconds the Fourthies, in a righteous fury and bent on spelling, punctuation, et a1 and re-write according to our revenge, were halfway to Kapyong's block. At that point tastes. We then get together to swap notes, the resulting we met Kapyong's Fourthies on the same mission. I product going back to the printer for a second 'galley'. The realised at that stage that lights were on everywhere and process is then repeated - all very time consuming. saw the open windows, through which poured a constant Then follows the 'cut and paste' stage where articles stream of our bedding, clothing and assortment of rifles, and photographs with captions are fitted into the security trunks and other improbable items. Underneath number of pages we can afford (one single page is very each building industrious Third Class cadets with fire expensive to print!) so occasionally an article has to be put hoses provided a thorough soaking for everything as well aside for later publication. The printer then gives us the as those Fourthies who attempted to retrieve their gear. I 'page proof' in the form that the Newsletter gets to gamely got hold of my bedding and returned to my room. Members, but it is checked again before the thing is finally I then repeated the exercise with some of my clothes, only put to bed. Now, in a convoluted way, to the bewilderment to find that my bedding was on its second trip factor. downwards. After a time, sanity was restored by First Class and the purpose of the 'waterproof' sleeping bags This year we received two articles for publication became apparent as they were brought from the stores and written by different serving junior officers (one with the we were told to sleep on the recreation room floor. After apparent blessing of a more senior officer). In part, both a rather uncomfortable night, we faced many hours of verged on the incomprehensible - so much so that our initial reaction was to consign them to the 'bish tin', but cleaning up - and the chief topic of conversation was next year's Easter Bunny, who did visit, just as vengefully as because their basic content was interesting we persevered he did my class. with re-writing. (We also need to keep faith with contributors). Fortunately one of the authors was able to The outsider, reading of these activities, might clarify what he meant to say, but being grey-haired and consider them cruel or degrading. However, the best suspicious, we checked some of his facts and found them judges of this would surely be the recipients and they, for to be erroneous. This checking process is difficult if the the most part, accepted Duntroon's harsher traditions in author is serving in Somalia or Cambodia. (Not so in these good spirit. In fact, we all became enthusiastic exponents cases.) of these rather risky games as senior classmen. Fourth Class was a tough and effective school, teaching us the The message I need to get across is that we try to meaning of esprit de corps, team play, cheerfulness in produce a Newsletter of a standard Members should adversity and discipline. I loved it all and would not have expect. In your contributions to it please help us by being missed it for the world. factually correct and, as far as possible, by giving us old grey-haired codgers a minimum of re-writing andlor the If the spirit moves me again, I might record a few more need for interpretation of your stories. Keep them rolling of my impressions of Duntroon for the Newsletter. First in or the prophecy in the first paragraph may be realised. though, I hope this article induces others of my era to recount their memories.

Colonel WJ. Slocombe, OBE entered the RMC on 24 February 1945 and graduated on 10 December 1947 into Colonel Einar Vikingur was commissioned the RAA. Following a term as Director Army Aviation from the RMC in 1977 into the RAA and graduated with (1969-1974) he became Acting Chief, Service honours in science in 1978. After four years of Laboratories and Trials Division, Defence Science and regimental duty he returned to Duntroon as Instructor Technology Organisation (a two-star appointment) Artillery in 1983-4. Vikiagur is whence he retired on 23 February 1982. From October currently on attachment to the British Army's Technical 1983 until he had to step down for health reasons in Intelligence Directorate as a Special Projects OfJicer. December 1986, he was Editor of the Newsletter. Since This is his first contribution to the Newsletter. then he has been Associate Editor. Fifty Years On

Thirty seven people gathered in on Thursday closing stages of the 1945 Wewak campaign and the 10 June 1993 to celebrate the anniversary of their arrival subsequent Japanese surrender - events in which many of at Duntroon more than 50 years earlier. Of the original 45 those present were intimately involved. who entered the College on 27 February 1943, 17, That day closed with a cocktail party at Parliament including three New Zealanders, attended the reunion, House during which two over-adventurous wives seeking representing better than a 50% turn out of survivors. to have a smoke found themselves locked out on a The group (wives, widows and former cadets), also verandah on a sub-zero Canberra evening and were forced included two former members of the Women's Royal to beg for re-admittance. Australian Naval Service who had been on HMAS Harman in our time. We declared them associate On Saturday the Class was specially seated for the members. Queen's Birthday Parade. The day was unkind and for an On Friday morning we visited the RMC and at noon hour or so The Chosen became The Frozen on what turned gathered at the flagpole where, after the recital in full of out to be the coldest day in Canberra for four years. In the Ode and the playing of the Last Post, each member of spite of the weather we agreed unanimously that this the group took a poppy and went forward individually to parade was as good as we had ever seen and that it made place it on the memorial stone. The ceremony then ended us very proud of our connection with the College. with the playing of Reveille. Dinner on Saturday night at the Lobby Restaurant and After lunch at Dur~troonHouse, we went to the Sunday church at the RMC Chapel followed by 'Cuny Museum where we were given copies of our personal Tiffin' lunch at Yamba Sports Club, brought proceedings records compiled during our days at the College. Then it to an end, but not before the New Zealand members had was on to the War Memorial to view a film showing the asked us to gather again in February 1995 in their country.

Under their Class Orderly, D.O.A. (Owen)Magee, the Class of 1943 debus before attending the Queen's Birthday Parade on 12 June 1993. Staff Cadets and Horses R.R. McNicoll

[Many of those who have written in the Newsletter spectacular event, with two six-horse teams drawing about life at Duntroon before 1941 make at least some limbered wagons crossing each other at a walk, then a trot, mention of their horses. Indeed, their time with them was then a gallop. Other events at the gymkhana were the an integral part and memorable element of their training tilting at the ring with sword and tent-pegging with sword as staff cadets. With the permanent demise of riding and with lance - all individual events - and the musical instruction at the RMC in late 1946 a major change in the ride at the end to show off the skill of the Corps. life of the RMC was effected. Something of that earlier In our third and fourth years we were allowed to take life is described here. Ed.] out remounts for recreational riding on Sundays after church parades, usually in pairs. We explored the still sparsely inhabited countryside and called on friends at From the beginning in 191 1, the mounted nearby stations. The Cunninghams at Lanyon were too far establishment must have been an important element of the away, but it was possible to visit the Arthur Campbells at Royal Military College, Duntroon. Cavalry, then, was Woden, the people at Hill Station and there was always horsed; the field artillery's guns and wagons were drawn Gungahlin where lived Helen Crace, the Corps' reigning by horse teams, as were the tool carts and pontoon wagons beauty in my time. Nearer home, on the paddock which of the field engineers; the infantry moved on their feet but ran down to Woolshed Creek, we could practise polo field officers and staff officers were mounted. shots. It could have been Ray Broadbent who lent us sticks Of none of this was I aware when I amved at Duntroon and balls. Of course no remount could be as agle as a polo on a cold February morning in 1923, a boy of 16, intent pony, so there was no riding off. upon getting somehow to university and gaining an But the best part of life with horses was the cavalry trek engineering degree. My first entry to the stable area was towards the end of each year. This lasted five days with a week later when, on the orders of some senior cadet, as bivouacs each night, not far from water, and often near a a fourth-class task, I went to ask the assistant riding station homestead where perhaps the officer instructor instructor for the key of the half-passage. The Warrant would be a welcome visitor. A wagon would meet the Officer gravely informed me that I must ask Mr mounted party at pre-arranged places, with supplies. In Charlesworth. (CSM Charlesworth (1920) was the 1925 we crossed the bare plains of future Canberra to the senior cadet.) This I conveyed to my taskmaster, in all Cotter, then via Uriarra we reached Condor Creek and innocence. It was not until a year later that I learned that thence Brindabella Station. In 1926 we rode to Tharwa, a half-passage is a movement in equitation, when the then to Naas, up the Orroral Valley and over the gap (very horse, responding to the proper aids, moves forward and rough) entering the Cotter Valley. Then on to Kangaroo to one side or the other, crossing its forelegs. I do not think Creek, over the divide to Gibraltar Creek and Brindabella, that any of our mounts was capable of this. coming home by way of Cotter Junction. There was Remounts joined the RMC already broken and hardly any traffic in the country to bother us and no schooled, to some extent, perhaps at the remount depot bitumen! in South Melbourne. They varied in quality and Graduation Day came and we were presented with not disposition. All had names, with initial letters one, but two pieces of paper. One was the certificate of corresponding to the Commandant under whom they graduation. The other had a curious origin. When R.G.H. joined. In 1924 the most recently joined began with an H, Irving (1 91 6), a cavalry specialist and a good rider from for Heritage; but there were still some with L for Legge boyhood, went abroad for his normal tour of duty after and even P for Parnell. We cadets rarely used the names. graduation, he joined a British cavalry regiment in India. We used numbers. Nos 14 and 79 were keenly sought He was promptly ordered to join the other new after. I recall that No 26 had a particularly hard mouth. (It subalterns (second fresh from Sandhurst) in is surprising that all of them didn't have hard mouths!). the riding school each day for instruction by the riding- For instructional parades one could not choose one's own master. No amount of protest would spare him this mount - the instructor put up a list. indignity. Never again, he vowed. By 1926 he was Not all of us relished our training in horsemanship and Adjutant at the RMC and he personally signed my horsemastership. I, for one, looked askance at the riding certificate for having passed the final examination in school, where the instructor would sometimes give the riding. dreaded order, Quit your stirrups. One folded one's There was another thing Ronald Irving did for us. We stirrups across the pommel of one's saddle. Walk all had to buy our initial uniforms from the Government march. This was comfortable enough. Tar-rot. One had Clothing Factory, Melbourne, because it was too to rise in the saddle just as if the feet were in stirrups, using expensive and too difficult to go to a private tailor. But the sheer power of thigh muscles. The alternative was an Clothing Factory breeches were two-dimensional, undignified jog, with grave risk of falling off. acceptable for wearing with puttees as infantry but not for In our second class year there was less time in the mounted use. Cavalry breeches should have three riding school. The artillery instructors taught us to be dimensions. Irving persuaded his Indian tailor to let him drivers, using six-horse teams with drivers postillion have a set of his patterns and he gave these to the Clohng fashion on the near side. We learned how the centre driver Factory. I received a wearable pair which sewed until I must keep traces taut and the wheel driver must be ready reached London. to act as a brake. As wheel dnvers we became used to the The riding skills which we all acquired so painfully steel-reinforced legging on the right leg, necessary for were put to good use by graduates posted to Light Horse protection from the pole. At each year's gymkhana, regiments. There was less scope with other Arms. I rode following the sports, the artillery drive was the most in 1929 as Adjutant of Field Regiments in and in 1930 as a subaltern in the 54th Field Company, Royal This That and the Other Engineers. But even then one of our brother field companies was already mechanised and I doubt whether [One of the values of the Newsletter is its catalytic I have mounted a horse, on duty, since then. Back at effect in the discovery of historic photographs and the Duntroon in 1943, for a brief term as Director of Military generation of reminiscences about Duntroon. Colonel Art, I saw no remounts. I wonder when the establishment N.R. Bergin (1953) has been moved to add to this was scrapped? worthwhile trend. Part of his letter follows and the implied request in it is endorsed by the RMC Archivist and your Editor. Some hundreds of ex-staff cadets would immediately recognise those on the flanks of the front row and the look in the eyes from the second on the left of the centre row. However many of the others are not so well Major General R.R. McNicoll, CBE, AM, entered the known and information about their identity would be RMC on 1 March 1923 and graduated on 14 December much appreciated. Ed.] 1926. For the next two years he studied engineering at University. He returned, as a lieutenant colonel, to the RMC as its Director of Military Art from While visiting a relative in Sydney my wife and I 2 July 1943 to I March 1944. As Master General of the discovered, among family memorabilia, an interesting Ordnance he retired on 24 January 1964. He is the photograph taken at the RMC in 1930. A copy of the author of the fwst three books of the four-volume history, original is enclosed as it may be of interest to readers of The Royal Australian Engineers. the Duntroon Society Newsletter.

Oficers and Civil StafR.M.C. with Guv. Gen., Lord Stonehaven, outside OfJicers' Mess Duntroon on occasion of His Excellency's farewell visit & garden party 1930. (From the handwritten annotation on the back of the original photograph.) We believe that the photograph was given to his family Commandant's Report by the late Colonel Malcolm McArthur (my wife's uncle). By coincidence, a photograph of his class, Fourth Class 1930, was included in Newsletter 111 993. [In Newsletter 211 987 was begun an arrangement with the As the occasion was well before my time as a Staff Commandant to publish a series of articles about the Cadet, the identities are unknown to me. I have no doubt, RMC. This is the fifth. Ed.] however, that other members of the Duntroon Society will be able to put names (and memories!) to the faces. Indeed, I am sure that all would be well remembered by the You will recall from Newsletter 111992 that I briefly members of Fourth Class, 1930. outlined the organisational changes affecting the Corps of Staff Cadets, and that those changes were made along functional lines. That restructuring, together with the Commandant being appointed the Training Adviser for From D.M. Swan (1951) all first appointment officer training, has led to further ... not having been a soldier, restructuring at the RMC. It is these issues that I wish to address. Whilst not literally correct, Samuel Johnson's words* may be thought apposite for a graduate who resigned in Reserve Officer Training December 1958 after four quite undistinguished years of commissioned service. Retaining, as I do, affection for the The Commandant was appointed on 1 September 1993 institution and not yet having lost my memory, I read the as the training adviser for all first appointment officer reminiscences of others with somethlng amounting to awe. training in the . The RMC will Was it really like that? My recollections are vivid but commence Army Reserve Full Time Commissioning, different and if the editor thinks them not subversive, or Ready Reserve and Direct Entry courses in 1994, the first prejudicial to good order etcetera, he may pass them on. being the Full Time Commissioning Course commencing After boarding school, four years at 'clink' was, to me, on 2 January 1994. Training for these courses will be the one long holiday. What was, and perhaps still is, known responsibility of the newly formed Officer Training Wig as 'bastardization' was never physical (ignoring press-ups) (OTW), and will be based on Anzac Hall. OTW will be and, at meals, served to inculcate quite arcane service commanded by a major. The current course of training for information not covered in any written curricula. With a the Corps of Staff Cadets (the General Service Officer), civil tongue in one's cheek it was informative and, has been used as the basis for developing the Ready frequently, entertaining. Reserve Course of 20 weeks. This course will begin on Camp training was always strenuous, frequently 14 February 1994 following four weeks of training at bewildering and occasionally dangerous (more of this if 1 Recruit Training Battalion, Kapooka. I'm given a second chance). College rules were subject to one overriding rule: don't get caught. With vehicle Facilities ownership, wet canteen (I'm told) and other freedoms, few of today's cadets would appreciate the excitement and Accommodation. The rolling upgrade and refurbishment apprehension of illicit weekends in Sydney - and the programme for cadet accommodation is continuing, with hitch-hiking undertaken to get there, or the incredibly slow Ack and Cork Blocks having been completed, and Beer and often late trains back when one had enough money Block due for completion by Christmas 1993. Renovations for a ticket after a night out. to Building A61, currently occupied by Gallipoli It may not be prudent to test either editor or readers Company, will begin in July 1994, and will be followed with this particular line of nostalgia. by A60 in July 1995. Clothing Store. The Defence Regional Support Review *Every man thinks of himselffor not having been a soldier, and the Commercial Support Programme led to Australian or not having been to sea. Defence Industries (ADI) assuming responsibility on 11 Samuel Johnson, 10 April 1778. October 1993 for the functioning of the RMC Clothing Store, Sports Store and certain items previously sold through the Corps Shop. The RMC Store will service Army for the Canberra region by a combination of direct Obituary sales and mobile van service. Graduations Since publication of the last Newsletter we have been notified of the deaths of the following: The reduction of the ADF flowing from the Force Structure Review, has resulted in a reduced cadet intake Dec 1984 Lieutenant Colonel C.A.D. Blackburn and only one graduation per year in December, of the (1917) once-a-year July intake. As can be seen from the Profile 3 1 Mar 1993 Lieutenant Colonel T.G. Martin (1 95 1 ) of the Corps of Staff Cadets, the intake of Australian 12 Jun 1993 Lieutenant Colonel P.W.F. Joplin (1943) cadets for 1993 has been substantially reduced from that of previous years. In the July 1993 intake RMC 7 Aug 1993 Brigadier P.L. Tancred (1 938) received its first cadets from Fiji and Kuwait. A host Aug 1993 Lieutenant Colonel B.W. Brighouse (1947) family programme for non-Australian cadets has been re- 8 Oct 1993 Brigadier R.K. Roseblade (1 939) introduced with the latest intake. Senior Staff Appointments Profile of the Corps of Staff In December 1993, Brigadier S.V.L. Willis (1967) Cadets becomes Commandant vice Brigadier R.G. Curtis (1960) who moves to as Commander of the Current (20 Oct 1993) strength Defence Centre. The other key appointments of DMA and First Class CO CSC remain the same, being filled by Colonel M.W. Meecham (1969) and Lieutenant Colonel G.C. Hughes Third Class (1972) respectively. Following Lieutenant Colonel G.D. Bryant's (1966) resignation in July, Lieutenant Colonel Fiji I.R. Gregg (1 973) became the Chief of Staff. Kuwait Malaysia Sporting Achievements New Zealand Whilst the primary objective of sport at the RMC is not Papua New Guinea merely to win premierships, the achievement of such goals Philippines enhances team performances and the profile of the RMC RAAF in the Canberra community. In 1993 the RMC won the Singapore ACT Rugby Union Monaro Division First Grade Thailand premiership from Yass and was runner up in the other two grades. The RMC Rugby team was also successful in its Vanuatu annual Hachet Trophy match against the Australian ADFA Graduates National University. The First Grade Men's Hockey team ADFA Transfers won its premiership, whilst the First Eighteen made the Married Monaro Australian Football League Grand Final for the Females fourth year in a row, but was narrowly beaten by the Australian National University. In the Disher Cup [see Cadets with previous military experience Newsletter 1/1992]the men's eight came third, the men's four came second, and the women's eight, competing for Note: Third Class will be joined by approximately 90 the first time, came second. All in all a very successful ADFA graduates in January 1994 to form Second year for the RMC sporting teams. Class.

Forwards of the RMC Firsts showing the form and determination that enabled them to win the Rugby Premiershipfiorn Yass during an exciting extra time. Council Column Regiment. The other bands present on that occasion - the Band of the Royal Military College and the Australian At its meeting at Duntroon House on 10 September Army Band Kapooka - are Australian Army Band Corps. 1993 Council, in addition to routine business, dealt with 1RAR is the only battalion in the Regiment to possess other matters including those noted here. a 'military band', the other battalions use Pipes and Drums. The 1RAR band is not a 'brass band' as stated in RMC Historical Collection the article. A brass band does not have woodwind instruments (e.g. clarinet, saxophone, flute), whereas a The Chairman of the Duntroon Society Museum military band has woodwind and brass instruments (e.g. Committee, Brigadier Roberts, advised that the objective comet, trombone, tuba). The Regular Army changed from of the Committee as set out in this column in Newsletter brass to military bands in the 1960s. 111993 has been endorsed by the RMC Historical The musicians of 1RAR Band are selected from both Executive Committee. Members for the Museum the Infantry and Band Corps. In March 1993 the Infantry Committee are now needed from NSW, Queensland, WA Corps members of the lRAR band were serving in and ACT. The appointment of proxies may be necessary. Somalia in their primary role as infantry. Unfortunately Display cabinets cost approximately $1,000 each and there had not been the aircraft space available to send the will be used in the eventual Museum that will be designed Band as a sub unit to Somalia. The Band Corps soldiers and built to house them. of the IRAR Band remained on duty in and The Australian Taxation Office has agreed that were available to play at Duntroon. The 1RAR Band donations of both money and kind to the RMC Museum Corps felt that they should have been serving in will be tax deductible. Somalia with their Battalion, which is quite Even at this early stage the Collection is developing understandable. quite well. It is attracting visitors and it is soon to be Returning to the brass bandlmilitary band point opened to the public on a daily basis. The Collection is mentioned above. At the Beating the Retreat on 11-12 to be open for display during the Duntroon House Open March the Prelude to the Evening Hymn was Matilda Day. Although no entry fees are charged, donations are Sunset (arranged by Corporal G. Rogers, RMC Band). encouraged. The Prelude included a superb alto saxophone solo (Sergeant I. Bray, RMC Band). I was seated with some Duntroon Society Charter Amendments of the 'old guard' - all brass band buffs - and they were expecting a comet solo. I was told that Fango Watson The amendment noted in this Column in Newsletter would not have approved of the saxophone but that is 111993 has been further simplified to avoid potential wrong. The RSM (1944-54) knew his music and the anomalies and now reads: importance of atmosphere. Above all else he demanded excellence. The saxophone solo certainly met the "Being Society members associated for 50 Watson criteria, as did the whole massed bands years with the objectives of the Society, or performance. their widows or, any other person the Council sees fit to honour for the award of Life Membership. .." Branch Reports

National Secretary Australian Capital Territory

With the assumption by Major S.C. Gillett of the Fred's Tree again observed the convivial gathering of appointment of Officer Commanding, Officer Training a good attendance of Members and friends, including Wing, Major P.M. Standen has replaced him as National representatives of the Campbell family, for the Autumn Secretary. The option of this role being filled from outside Luncheon at Duntroon House on 23 April 1993. One the RMC staff is being explored. visitor would be well known to many who have come under her 'thumbs'. Mrs Francoise Gilroy from the NSW Society President Branch was Physiotherapist at 5 Camp Hospital from 1968 to 199 1. It was good to have her among us again. Council acknowledged the consistent efforts of its Over 60 Members and friends were treated to a most departing Chairman, Brigadier Curtis, in promoting the entertaining evening at the combined dinner and lecture Duntroon Society and for his service to it during a period on 30 September 1993 at the Sky Lounge, Yamba Sports of major changes to the RMC. Club in Phillip. Emeritus Professor Ralph Elliott was in fine form for his discourse on his experiences in the War of 1939-45 as acute observer, active participant and Letters to the Editor casualty.

From Brigadier J.J. Shelton ( 1944)

The article in Newsletter 111 993 on the Beating the For once the Annual Buffet and Raceday at the AJC's Retreat and the 18 12 Overture was appreciated because Randwick Racecourse (held on Monday 14 June 1993) the parade and the concert that followed were excellent. was accompanied by almost perfect weather. On that basis The information given on the Pipes and Drums was the attendance of 72 was slightly disappointing. However correct but the remark on the massed bands was not it was pleasing to have with us Brigadier J.G. (Garth) complete. The Pipes and Drums and the Band of the First Hughes (1953) from the ACT Branch, Lieutenant Battalion ( 1 RAR) were from The Royal Australian Colonel J.A. (John) Sanders (1955) newly arrived from the SA Branch and some of the younger brigade with their Life Membership Certificates by Major General Lieutenant A.J. (Andy) Muscatia (1 988). K.W. Latchford. Due to the unavoidable absence of our Convener, Major General K.W. Latchford (1945), a volunteer was Queensland sought to do the honours with the winner of the Duntroon Society Handicap. An obvious choice was that of an old During 22-23 May 1993 a total of 36 Members and horseman, current owner, trainer and occasional track- partners attended some of the activities of our Gold Coast work rider, Colonel E.L. (Leo) Cook (1930). He even had Weekend. These included a boat trip from Southport to the distinction of being the oldest Member present, but to Sanctuary Cove and return, dinner at the Southport Yacht no avail! As he declared to all within earshot, he could not Club and breakfast followed by golf at the Arana Hills possibly present the Society's sash as he would be Country Club. Lieutenant Colonel J.J. (Jim) MacFarlane presenting it to himself. A frantic examination of the race (1 953) was the local co-ordinator for the weekend which book revealed that No 6 in the race, Red John, was jointly was an unqualified success. owned by C.S. Lovel and E.L. Cook. Perhaps it was the weight of Duntroon Society money The Chief of the General Staff, J.C. (1957), that sent Red John out as hot favourite at 514. Indeed, Red Grey was the guest speaker at the Black Tie John did lead from the start until 200 metres to go, but Dinner in the Officers' Mess, Victoria Barracks on 7 July was run down to finish third. A little later the Colonel was 1993. Among those attending were all members of the CGS Advisory Committee who were in Brisbane for a seen informing a certain young apprentice that his meeting held on the following day. knowledge of riding must have been left in the stable and that his failure to adhere to riding instructions was a disaster second only to Dunkirk. A great day. On Tuesday, 5 October 1993 an extra function was organised at Victoria Barracks. All Life Members of the The planned luncheon at Leeuwin Barracks could not Branch were invited, together with their ladies or guests. be held because of renovations being carried out to the Including one proxy, 19 attended and were presented with Officers' Mess.

Life Membersfrom the NSW Branch afer receiving their certijicates at Victoria Barrack, i Uudin~.v,, on 5 October 1993. From the lefr; Rear rank: B.A. Andrews (1941),J.W. Norrie (1941), I.D. Dunsmore (1941) C.J. Miles (1938),R.S. Plater (1940), Mrs V. Swan (Wife of N.E. Swan (1940) who was absent on sick leave), T.W. Young (1939), D. Barnes (1940), C.M.I. Pearson (1937), J. Scott-Stevenson (1940) Front Rank: E.L. Cook (1930),A.L. Nyman (1924), 7: J. Daly (1930), G.H. Hardcastle (1939), K.E. Gallard (1941),H.A. Hind (1939),J.K. Hart (1938),J.A. Oliver (1937),R.G. Fagg (1941). Mr L. W. Harpley, the owner of 'Golden Dragon', the winner of the Duntroon Sociev Handicap, the strapper and Lieutenant Colonel R.D. Hamlyn (1954)shortly afrer his sashing of the horse on 14 June 1993.

Taking advantage of the Queensland environment on the ferry between Southport and Sanctuary Cove, Brisbane Branch Members at the Gold Coast during 22-23 May 1993. From the lefr, W.B. James (1948), D. Keith (195.5), TR. Gibson (1943),Barbara James, & L.A. Reinhold (1953). Retiremei~tWoes P.G. Heffernan

This may not be a suitable article for the Duntroon George Pape but was about to retire, so would I like the Society Newsletter, but I write it to illustrate some of the job? The Judge had been in the RAAF as an problems confronted by a middle aged ex-serviceman administrative officer during the War of 1939-45 so I knew when he reaches the 'Age of Statutory Senility', i.e. him well. Later I visited the Supreme Court and left as the retirement. Whether the same problem exists today, I Associate-designate, to start on 1 February 1961. To get know not, but those which I have recorded certainly some idea of what was required of me, I attended a few existed in my time, so I may get some sympathy from my trials as an onlooker and, having read the manual of contemporaries. instruction for Associates, I realised that it would be a On 1 1 April 1956 I received the usual Mulrooneygram piece of cake. informing me that on 16 April 1957 I would reach the age The various rituals for swearing in juries, witnesses and of retirement and be placed on the Retired List. For the others were all straightforward, so all I had to do was to benefit of the uninitiated, a Mulrooneygrarn was an official learn what the Judge required of me and the peculiarities document signed by the then Secretary of the Air Board. of the members of the Bar. An Associate's official job was The letter expressed appreciation of my services in the to act as a link between members of the Bar and the Judge RAAF but, reading between the lines, it also hinted that and at the same time to let him get on with the job of being the sooner I departed the happier the Air Board would be. Judge without continual interference from outsiders. Some Having been superseded in promotion to higher rank, I members of the legal profession needed a war club to was prepared for this joyful news, so I set about planning bring them into line; other soon realised that bull couldn't my future. baffle brains. So, having sorted all this out, I realised that Being one of those who preferred to remain single for my sole responsibility was to one man alone, not the usual the betterment of the Air Force, I manied rather late in life, multitude who drove me mad in the Services and civilian so was in the unfortunate position of having an eight-year world. I settled into a very happy life. The pay was not so gap between my two daughters. This meant that as soon good but, added to the bit I got from the DFRBF (and as I had safely disposed of the elder one, the younger one luckily having a friendly bank manager), I managed to had to be escorted through the teenage years - together maintain a reasonable standard of living. Incidentally, the with the higher cost of living and other such problems. pay and the DFRBF pension were gradually increased as Add all this to the letter which I received from the DFRB the years rolled by. Board informing me that, as an expression of gratitude for my services, I would receive the magnificent pension of By way of company, 1 had A.M. (Alan) Charlesworth £1,3000 p.a., out of which I had to pay school fees etc. I (1920), A.S. (Arthur) Wilson (1916), G.H. (George) realised that desparate measures were called for. O'Brien (19 1 8) and several ex-RAN officers to keep me I searched the daily papers and eventually saw on the straight and narrow path which kept the wheels of something which could have suited my capabilities. It was law turning. the post of training officer with one of the country's air I believe that the age of retirement has been raised lines. So, having been Director of Training for some four slightly over the years which, if so, is an improvement years, I put pen to paper. Some days later I answered the from my time. Also, the terms of the pension have phone to be told that I was not acceptable. Naturally I improved dramatically. Nowadays, on reaching retirement asked why and was told that they wanted an officer of age, the serviceman or woman could receive a pension junior rank as they could not afford the pay for a senior equivalent to 71% of his or her pay at the time of officer. So that fixed that! retirement. This is vastly better than the conditions Time marched on - I grew more desperate. Out of the prevailing at the time of my retirement from the RAAF. blue I had a phone call from the president of the Victorian There is one other form of income, but the prospective Aero Club, Laurie Johnson, telling me that the current recipient has to be almost a physical wreck to get it. I refer manager was leaving, so would I like the job? Too bloody to the repatriation benefits and the problems involved in right, says I. So I arranged to leave the RAAF some six convincing the Department of Veterans' Affairs that one's months before my 50th birthday and move into the new medical condition is the result of injuries received whilst job, where I found chaos unlimited. After treading on a serving in HM Forces. Just look at the problems which lot of corns, added to a lot of hard work, I managed to get survivors of the Melbourne-Voyager disaster are up against things sorted out, doubling the flying hours to 16,000 a and compare them with the payout the politicians can year and increasing membership by 25%. Unfortunately receive for falling off a bicycle! The tragedy of Vietnam Laurie departed this unhappy world where he had ruled veterans has to be studied to appreciate the attitude of the the Club Committee with a rod of iron. Thereupon the rot Pensions Board. set in and the 'weekend wing commanders', as the committee members were known, wanted all sorts of This article is not intended to be the grumbling of a expensive luxuries for their own benefit, thereby dissatisfied ex-service man, as I knew what I was letting changing the Club to a weekend country club instead of myself in for. After I joined the RAAF in 1929 I knew a flying school. At the same time they took over that: management to the detriment of all Club operations. I a. I might get a permanent commission into that decided to call it quits and look for another job. Service, but if I didn't I would go back into the Army Once again I was saved by the bell. Colonel E.W. and retire probably as a major around 40 years of age, Latchford, OBE, MC (who will be remembered by some with a small sum of deferred pay. In both cases of the older graduates from the School of Musketry at superannuation was only paid to one's dependants in the Randwick) had been the Associate to the Honorable event of having the honour of dying for one's country. b. Promotion would be very slow in either Service Leahy remembers Ian at thls time as full of ideas, it being because of the long line of officers from the War of not unusual to be rung up by Ian at midnight with 1914-18 still ahead on the Seniority List. enthusiasm for an idea. He was forceful in expressing his c. The only chance of a career of any kind would be the ideas and the people there never forgot him. outbreak of war in which we were involved. In 1939 this happened and I went from to group Ian not only developed a wide range of friends captain in two years. Although the ranks were war-time amongst the ex-patriots but, more importantly, with the 'temporary', the pay was better than in peace time! Papua New Guinea national community. He was Now, as I approach the age of 86 years, I realise that I enormously respected by them. For the rest of his life he have been out of the Services longer than I was in! I only maintained contact with many of the people and always have memories to fall back on, some of which I have supported them in projects when they visited Australia. recorded in the Newsletter. In 1972 Ian's luck ran out when the Papua New Guinea government resumed Kilabi for a gravel pit. He left New Guinea and built his little loft over the garage in Tivoli Street, Balmoral. He swapped this for residence in Air Commodore HefSernan is now into his 12th year of Government House, Sydney, for three months in 1972 as contributing to the Newsletter. Perhaps the title of this temporary aide-de-camp to Sir Roden Cutler. article contains a hint about the future. Whatever the outcome his informative and entertaining efforts over Between 1974 and 1977 Ian lived and worked in many years have, inter alia, encouraged others to fohw Malaysia and Indonesia. He was based in Kuala suit as this and recent issues of the Newslet& will testifl. Lumpur, first as a consultant to Eric White and Associates, a public relationslmarketing firm, and later he worked for the United Nations in Family Planning. These years have been fully described by some as his Golden Years. He made real efforts to meet and talk with all sorts of people and studied the local etiquette so as never to offend. Extensive travel enabled him to develop lasting The Prodigal Son's Corner friendships and contacts, ranging from the Malaysian rulers to the Malaysian jungle people. It was during some [In Newsletter 211989 was begun a series of personal of his hiking trips that Ian met the Bumi Putra stories about those 'who, as young men or as old men, Malaysians and the Orang Asly jungle people who used physically left the Duntroon Family, only to be mentally blow pipes and darts. He documented how they lived and retained by it, like a moth to a light'. The series was found developed a great knowledge of them. He also played to be interesting but since Newsletter 211991 no stories some polo but a fall left him with a damaged hip which have appeared. What follows generally fits the criteria for was eventually replaced. this series and is about Ian Morton Hudson who entered the RMC on 7 March 1950 and graduated into Infantry Ian's mother was by now in a wheelchair, so he on 8 December 1953. Unfortunately, it was written by a resigned from his work in Asia about 1980 to return to friend after the subject's death. (Newsletter 111993.) Ed.] care for her. The land in Tivoli Street, Balmoral was subdivided and Ian's beloved Falesa sold and the new house built where subsequently they both lived. His energy I first met Ian when we were both at St Paul's College, and curiosity was used once again to good effect in the University of Sydney and rowed together in the College community. He became a keen preserver of the area and Crew in the 1960's. He was some ten years older than the discovered and wrote about Aboriginal history in rest of us, had been at Shore School, graduated from Sydney, particularly of Mosman. He was an avid Duntroon, served in the Australian Army in Japan, Korea amateur historian and until his last days in hospital was and in the 13th National Service Battalion in Ingleburn, sought out to dictate his recollections and memories about followed by a term as aide-de-camp to the Governor of people in Australia, Asia, Papua New Guinea and the NSW. He retired out of a highly promising Army career, Army. with no pension, to start law. He took our rowing orders Ian Hudson's vision, his sense of history, his with a smile and we won the race. This meant a lot to Ian organisational ability, his network of contacts and his who, at 32, had given up smoking, did push-ups in the persistence to see a job through all came to the fore in the park and stirred us younger innocents on. restoration of the 1830's Wyndham Homestead, Dalwood He never finished law but, in 1966, went to Mt Hagen in the Hunter Valley. The opening which Ian organised in in Papua New Guinea where his lifestyle quickened and the Bicentenary Year, included the Australian Light Horse expanded. For a couple of years he managed a large with trailing banners, an Army band, the arrival of the United Kingdom-Malaysian company in Mt Hagen and Governor in an 1840's horse-driven coach, a dinner and later purchased and developed his own coffee plantation. a cricket match next day. Ian's attention to detail included He built, in one month, a delightful Papuan style house the planting of oak trees from Petworth, the Wyndham's in which he lived. This home he called Kilabi. ancestral home in England, the flying of special flags, the While in Mt Hagen, Ian became interested in Papua ringing of special bells and the sitting of Ian's father's old New Guinea history and its people. He made several big driver from the Forestry Commission next to the Chef of walks from there, becoming friendly with Dan Leahy who Police. was nearly 80 years old and one of the highland pioneers. He spent a great deal of time talking to another pioneer As if to fill in the unforgiving minute, he wrote and had family, the Fox brothers, and going through their small published a novel, The Gecb and the Moon. In all a very patchy diaries whch described one of their early epic hips full life outside the Duntroon Family but always one of made from Mt Hagen to nearthe Dutch border. Richard its Prodigal Sons. The Campbells are coming - all 23 of them -- ji-om 93-year-old Mrs Nancy (Nan)Campbell, seated on the right, to her great grand-daughter 2-year-old Lucy Campbell (being held) at Duntroon House on 9 October 1993.

Shorts

On 17 November 1993 the Major General Sir James Major C.C. Tognon (1975) and the PMC of the Officers' Harrison Memorial Lecture will be delivered by Sir Mess, Lieutenant Colonel R.I. Gregg (1973) and his wife William Keys, AC, OBE, MC. Anne walked the gathering through the House. This The following information about the Newsletter enabled them to see the way their ancestral home is being repaired, restored and fitted out. They would also not have address labels may be useful to Members. Above the name is printed a set of numbers. The digits before the oblique missed the skilful care given to the gardens now at their seasonal best. stroke is the membership number, while the digits after the oblique stroke indicate the year up to which the More than two thousand visitors took advantage of Member's subscription has been paid. This is taken to the Open Day at Duntroon House on Sunday, 10 October December of that year. 1993. In addition to viewing the House and its surrounds By Saturday, 9 October 1993, Duntroon House and with the help of volunteer guides, they were entertained its gardens had been prepared for the annual Open Day by the Band of the RMC. Refreshments were available, mentioned below. The Commandant had invited members the sale of which increased the proceeds which are put of the Campbell family to gather there that morning. towards the costs of restoration of the House and the Included in the 23 that did so were four generations from purchase of appropriate period furniture. two-year-old Lucy Campbell to her great grandmother 93- As an insert in this Newsletter is an advertisement for year-old Mrs Nancy Campbell who had first visited a watch featuring the badge of the Corps of Staff Cadets. Duntroon House in 1929. Brigadier R.C Curtis, with the It should be noted that a small proportion of the profits of second-in-command of the Corps of Staff Cadets, each watch sold is passed to Society funds. 14 Exercise 'Grand Slams - A Reminiscence or Two 'Ubique'

Members involved with Exercise 'Grand Slam' will bird watcher so, while I was trying to sort out the recall that it was the first large(ish) exercise held by the mysteries of logistics, he would loll on a log, binoculars Regular Army in Australia after the War of 1939-45. If in hand, looking up in the book a Pink-Eyed Belly my memory is correct it was designed to exercise an Scratcher or some such bird whch had just flown by.After infantry brigade (less one battalion) with supporting Arms two weeks or so on the road we gathered, with our copious in an open country advance to contact, including a river notes, at the CMF Drill Hall in Mackay to put it all crossing, culminating in rain-forest with a minor attack together for presentation to the ED. With a few minor against a token enemy. The area chosen for the exercise amendments he accepted it, so it was time for celebration. was the hinterland from Mackay in Queensland in 1959. It so happened that the CO of the Mackay CMF Given the task by his AHQ masters, the Exercise battalion lived in a magnificent old house on the south Director (ED), was the GOC Northern Command, Major bank of the Pioneer River, to which he invited a few of us General T.J. Daly (1930). He, in turn, gave the job of for dinner when the writing was done. The food and the writing and co-ordinating the exercise to Lieutenant booze were memorable, but around about midnight, when Colonel W.J. Morrow (1939), the Regular Army CO of the port had been round three or four times, our host a CMF battalion in Central Queensland. He, in turn, called suddenly pricked up his ears and said, It's those bastard for an exercise writing team to consist of a major or possums afer myfruit. Let's get 'em. He then armed each equivalent officer from each of the existing Army Schools, of us with a .22 high powered rifle and a box of cartridges including the School of LandIAir Warfare, (the Naval apiece - he carrying a rather dim flashlight to illuminate member of whlch was good-humouredly averse to having the predators we were to shoot. You may imagine four or his cabin in the scrub). I was the School of Artillery five people, full of good food and booze, totally un- representative and met the others in Mackay. We all knew coordinated (in more ways than one), each armed with a each other, excepting the Armoured School representative lethal weapon and a maniac shouting, There he is, shoot who was a Brit-exchange cavalryman. More of him later. the bastard. That night the Australian Army very nearly Having briefed us on the way he wanted the exercise lost a few middle-ranking officers. written, the Exercise Co-ordinator (EC) sent us on our way During the writing, I had reason to spend a lone night in jeeps. The writing modus operandi was to drive the in a Bowen hotel where, at breakfast, I shared an course the exercise was to follow, stopping when and enormous dining-room with the only other guests - two where necessary, taking notes as we went for a co- cattlemen who, when I arrived, were tucking into their ordinating conference each evening. 112kg steak with eggs. As they passed me on their way The writing of the Armour and Artillery plots was not out, one of them looked disdainfully down at my plate of too time consuming, so the EC gave us two reps the task bacon and eggs and more in sorrow than in anger said, Yer of writing the Administrative Instruction, which in those gotta support the beef industry, mute. I was to remember days was no mean task. Most of the team had come this a little later, on the night before the exercise began, encumbered with a variety of Army books and manuals when a few of us had a beer or two in Collinsville. so that we could get it right, but my cavalry mate came Knowing that it was our last chance of a good steak for with only one, titled What Bird is That?. He was an avid a while, we repaired to the local cafe at about 2300 hours where the proprietor said, I'm just about out of steak. If any more of your fellas are goin' to be comin' in tonight, 1'11 have to go out the back and slaughter another beast. I think the beast lived to see another day. A day or two before the exercise was to begin, the Brigade Commander and his staff were given the privilege of flying over the exercise area, together with the writing team. For the purpose, a civilian owned and operated clapped-out WW2 was chartered to fly from the Collinsville airstrip, close to which our overnight camp had been established - cooks and all. On the day of the flight, in their best tradition, the aforesaid cooks produced a magnificent breakfast consisting mostly of baked beans and greasy mince on toast. The weather was warm, with thermals arising. Smooth flying close to the ground, which was exactly where the reconnaissance had to take place, was impossible. Ancient, the aircraft had almost no ventilation in the passenger department which was full of officers who were full of baked beans and greasy mince. The flight could be described as somewhat bumpy. That, combined with lack of ventilation and a hearty breakfast, set off a chain reaction of air-sickness the like of which I had never seen before, nor wish to see again. Being a canny Army aviator I foresaw this carnage as did the Brigade Commander, who hastily retreated with me to the very cramped cockpit, shutting the door firmly Coming Events behind us. I do believe that that particular reconnaissance was somewhat abortive. A.C.T. Branch As an aside, a large number of the participating troops travelled from Holsworthy to the exercise area in trucks 1994. The proposed visit to the Hunter Valley has been through central NSW, spending their nights outside postponed. Planning is continuing and it is requested that country towns where some of the local girls were pleased NSW Branch Members forward expressions of interest, to see them. Members of a certain infantry battalion, who without commitment at this stage, to the ACT Branch were in the vanguard of the movement, warned the girls Secretary, that one or two days behind were soldiers who the health Lieutenant Colonel John Bullen, authorities had ordered to wear white lanyards to indicate P.O. Box 3284, that they suffered from a rather nasty social disease. The Weston Creek, Gunners were not impressed. A.C.T. 261 1. The planning proceeded, but we discovered on D- Queries after hours to (06) 288 73 12. When planning is Minus One that because of the number of radios we had, further advanced, information about it will be sent to those their types, frequency restrictions and all the bits of wire who are interested. they needed to operate, interference was unacceptable. Something had to go, the first of which was my Gunner N.S.W. Branch Control Net, so I was left like a shag on a rock with nothing to do but go home. The ED had other ideas. Tuesday, 14 December 1993. Annual buffet luncheon Some idiot in the Federal Government decided that a and General Meeting at the Officers' Mess, Victoria mixed party of Parliamentarians (MPs) should visit the Barracks, Paddington. Members from other Branches are 'War' - and mixed they were. Booted out of my nice cosy most welcome. job of Gunner Control, I was appointed OC MPs. My new command consisted of six jeeps, six subalterns from Queensland Branch various Corps and God knows how many MPs, all Gung- Ho to see the 'War'. Carefully briefed by me, the six Friday, 3 December 1993. Annual General Meeting young men drove off with their charges to do so but, by and Happy Hour at the Officers' Mess, 1 st Division. the time they reached it, the river crossing was beginning and the light was fading. South Australian Branch Staff College river crossing exercises are difficult enough, but this one in the flesh at dusk was sheer chaos Thursday, 18 November 1993. Duntroon Society and my six subaltems each needed several sheep dogs and Postal Golf Match at the Royal Adelaide Golf Club. a stock-whip to round up the Gung-Ho MPs by the time Tuesday, 30 November 1993. Graduation Luncheon the river crossing was all over. As a result, in total darkness in the Officers' Mess, Keswick Barracks. and having been in the area for only 24 hours or so, my subalterns became temporarily unaware of their Western Australian Branch whereabouts (i.e. lost). Meanwhile, back at the ranch, (Exercise HQ) the ED November 1993. Lunch in the Officers' Mess, was not only impatiently awaiting dinner but also the Leeuwin Barracks. arrival of his VIP guests, late by an hour or more. They arrived wet, muddy and calling for double Scotches. The RMC Ceremonial Parades ED, fixing me with a very stem eye, said, You'll get no medals for this. Thursday, 9 December 1993. The Sovereign's Banner Nonetheless, our MPs dined, wined and slept well. Parade After breakfast they were escorted by me, (sans medals) Tuesday, 14 December 1993. The Graduation Parade. to the first exhibit of the day which was the PW cage. Thursday and Friday, 11 - 12 March 1994. Beating the Here, behind a large barbed-wire enclosure, the Brigade Retreat11 8 12 Overture. Intelligence staff had collected some motley 'prisoners' Further Information can be obtained from the SO3 who had been captured the previous day. They were (Ceremonial), Captain K.W. Scheuermann on (06) 275 dressed in olive-green trousers, Mao tunics and Mao-type 9539. baggy caps bearing a large red star in front. Seeing this spectacle, one of the extreme left-wing MPs demanded very vociferously to know why we depicted the enemy thus. Whilst he was in full cry on the subject, I slunk off into the bushes to organise my subalterns to get those MPs to wherever they were going. My last exhortation to the young men was, Don't drive too carejxlly andplease try to get them lost just one more time. In the course of writing the exercise we made many friends with the cattle-country people whose properties we traversed. There was always a cup of tea with scones, or a cold beer, both with a bit of a yam, when we called on them. They were delightful people.