RUSI VIC NEWSLETTER Volume 15 Issue 3 – September 2016 Editor: Bob Hart ISSN 1446 – 452

The Royal United Services Institute of Victoria, Inc. Promoting National Security and Defence A constituent body of The Royal United Services Institute of Australia

Patron: The Honourable Linda Dessau AM Governor of Victoria President: Major General (retd) Mike O’Brien CSC Secretary: Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Bob Hart RFD

Victoria Barracks Phone: (03) 9282 5918 B Block 256-310 St Kilda Road www.rusivic.org.au Southbank, Victoria 3006 Email: [email protected] ABN 46 648 764 477 RUSI VIC NEWSLETTER Volume 15 Issue 3 – September 2016 Editor: Bob Hart ISSN 1446 – 452

The RAAF completes a fuel transfer with the air refuelling boom from a RAAF KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) to a US Air Force (USAF) F-35A Joint Strike Fighter at Edwards Air Force Base in California. (Commonwealth of Australia/Department of Defence)

October Speaker Major General David J. McLachlan AO (Retd) State President, Victorian RSL The Returned Services League – 100 Years On

Website: www.rusi.org.au email address: [email protected]

2 Royal United Services Institute of Victoria Incorporated

September Newsletter RUSI VIC Council 2016 President Contents: Major General (retd) Mike O’Brien CSC 3 From the President

Immediate Past President 4 From the Secretary / Geelong Branch Notes Commander Warren Kemp RFD RANR (Retd) Vice Patrons 5 Special Interest Groups Captain Stephen Bowater OAM, RAN Neil Graham Major General David Coghlan AM 6 Obituary – Major General Jim Hughes

Vice Presidents Air Commodore Mike Rawlinson RAAF (Retd) 7-8 Opinion: Agility and Adaptability Brigadier Ian Lillie AM, CSC Mike Rawlinson Lieutenant Commander Roger Buxton CD, RCN Book Reviews:

9 The Australian Imperial Force, Councillors by Jean Bou, Peter Dennis, Paul Dalgleish Major General Ian Freer CB, CBE Reviewer Neville Taylor Lieutenant Commander Jim Eldridge RFD, RD RAN (Retd) Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Neville Taylor RFD 10 Charles Bean by Ross Coulthart Captain Martin Holme Reviewer Marcus Fielding Captain Peter Wickham RAN (Retd) The Fair Dinkums by Glenn McFarlane Brigadier Neil Graham AM Reviewer Roger Buxton

Geelong Branch Representative 11 Monica’s War by John P. McMahon Lieutenant Commander Jim Eldridge RFD, RD RAN Reviewer Neville Taylor You’ll be Sorry! by Ann Howard Service Representatives Reviewer Neville Taylor RAAF: Wing Commander John Fisher, RAAFR 12 Dodging the Devil by George Martindale Secretary Reviewer Neville Taylor Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Bob Hart RFD Australia 1943: The Liberation of New Guinea Peter Dean (ed), Reviewer Roger Buxton

Treasurer 13 Defending Country by Noah Riseman and Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Ian George OAM, RFD, ED Richard Trembath, Reviewer Neville Taylor SIMMO by Michael J Malone and Peter D Lutley, Honorary Librarian Reviewer Neville Taylor Flight Lieutenant Brian Surtees, RAF 14 Library Notes

Cyberlinks

RUSI AUST www.rusi.org.au RUSI Whitehall www.rusi.org Dept of Defence defence.gov.au Aust Strategic Policy Institute www.aspi.org.au Australia Defence Association www.ada.asn.au RAAF Assoc ‘Williams Foundation www.williamsfoundation.org.au Defence Reserves Association www.dra.org.au Defence Force Welfare Association www.dfwa.org.au Opinions expressed in the RUSI VIC Newsletter are those Military History and Heritage Victoria www.mhhv.org.au of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Department of Veteran’s Affairs www.dva.gov.au Institute. Shrine of Remembrance www.shrine.org.au

3 From The President: Our New Home - ‘B’ Block Victoria Barracks Melbourne Major General Mike O’Brien CSC ‘B’ Block was originally the Guard House for the South Gate on St Kilda Road.  1862 Constructed as a guard house with cells  Late 19th Century – converted to an ammunition store  1910-12 Altered to Chemical Adviser’s Laboratory which tested and monitored the manufacture of explosives  1916-22 Central Research Laboratory of the Commonwealth Government Arsenal  Later, Defence Regional Library, Printing Section and Barracks Officer’s staff  1997 Completely refurbished, houses the VBM

Heritage display. Office of the Corps of Guides.

 2016 Office and Library of the During this month our national body, now re-titled Royal Royal United Services Institute of Victoria United Services Institute for Defence and Strategic Studies- Australia (RUSIDSS) Limited, will have its first Annual General Meeting at Victoria Barracks, Melbourne.

The name follows the British example. There is an independent Board and the members of the company are the constituent RUSI bodies in each state and the ACT. I will be our representative at the AGM. My view is that we will see little change in our relationship with the national body. The Department of Defence will continue to support the Institute with accommodation and some other services, but is tightening the conditions for direct financial subsidies. RUSIDSS will continue to represent us in negotiations with the Department.

In the last few weeks we have lost one of our most valued members, Major General Jim Hughes. An obituary appears elsewhere in this Newsletter. His memory will be On 15 September - Chief of Navy, commemorated (in part) by the donation made in his Vice Admiral Tim Barrett speaks on memory of his books to our Library. Several of the The Navy: A National Enterprise volumes, including some he annotated, are unique in Australian libraries.

Our move to B Block in the Barracks is complete and I thank those who provided the help we needed. Though Bequests we hope for improved access conditions, at present the same rules apply as with H Block - 24 hours’ notice to Royal United Services Institute of Victoria security through our Secretary. You will need to bring photo ID such as a driver’s license. I would encourage all The Royal United Services Institute of Victoria was established in members to visit us in this new location. 1890. It seeks to promote informed debate on, and improve public awareness and understanding of defence and national security. We have had several generous donations to the Library, The Institute maintains a specialist library to assist in this, as well also noted elsewhere. We have applied for a grant from as scheduling regular lectures and visits of interest. The costs of the National Library of Australia to assess the significance doing so, however are becoming burdensome and are exacerbated of our collection. I am confident that it will be classed as by an ageing and declining membership. a collection of national importance. To allow us to continue to provide services to members and the community into the future, you could greatly assist us by Mike O’Brien remembering the Institute in your will. Should you desire assistance in adding an appropriate codicil to your will, please contact the Secretary at [email protected]. If you have added a bequest to your will, it would be of assistance to be advised of it (not the specific amount) in case we need to communicate with you or your executors.

4 From the Secretary: Navy Week Dates

Lieutenant Colonel Bob 19 October Seminar Shrine Theatrette Hart RFD 23 October (Sunday) HMAS Cerberus Open Day

The big thing in the last three 21-23 October HMAS Adelaide visit to Melbourne Details months has been the move but of ship open to visitors not known. The Navy League will it has been covered very well host a lunch for the Captain on 21 October. Contact John elsewhere in this edition so I Wilkins on 9842 4256 to book. will not dwell on it. Suffice to say the library and office are 16 October (Sunday) Seafarers Memorial Service in the both up and running. The phone presence of Chief of Navy at St Paul's Cathedral at 1030. numbers remain the same. For reserved seating contact Captain Alan Knott on Access is still by calling ahead. The intent to enable 5250 6148. better access has been passed to the security assessment lot who are looking at how this can best be achieved. So business as usual until notified of any further change.

What else? Well, just the usual boring Secretary stuff. If you feel like dropping in to see the place or buy some of our excess books, just call me for an appointment. We now have a kitchen with our own coffee machine so at least you can get a cup of coffee. Just a reminder. Please DO NOT email on the old [email protected]. That email will not be available. Please use [email protected].

Our August speaker MAJGEN John Frewen takes questions on Australia’s Military Strategic Commitments Bob Hart ______

Programme Dates Geelong Branch Notes: 27 October AGM and Lunchtime Address at Defence Plaza The Geelong Branch commenced activity for the Major General David McLaughlin AO new year on Monday 15 August with our customary President Victorian RSL Dinner Meeting. Our President, Mr Jon Metrikas, ‘The RSL – 100 Years on’ was the Guest Speaker. This was held at the ‘new’ location of Hibernia Hall, 150 Yarra Street, Geelong 18 November Lunchtime Address at Defence Plaza to where we have moved following the closure of Friday Air Marshal Leo Davies AO, CSC Berkeley Lodge in late June. Chief of Air Force The RAAF in the 2020s The programme for the remainder of 2016 has been finalised and the next function is the traditional 5 December At Home, B Block, Victoria Barracks ‘Ladies Night’ which is to be held on Monday 19 Monday September with the Guest of Honour, Ms Lisa Heywood who will talk on the subject of the ‘Open Vale Heart International’. We record with deep regret the passing of: Major General Jim Hughes (Obituary page 6) Following on we have the remainder scheduled:- Lieutenant Keith Nicol RAN Brigadier John Dean 17 October CAPT Rodney Cocks John Ryan 21 November MAJGEN Mike O’Brien CSC, President RUSI Victoria New Members 12 December Christmas Dinner

Since our last issue we welcome the following new All the above Dinner Meetings commence from 1830 members: followed by Dinner served at 1905; cost per head is $ 35 with drinks available at ‘bar prices’. Members Air Vice Marshal Alan Reed are reminded that they are welcome to join in the Matthew Jack activities conducted by the Branch. Andrew Romauld For information contact Mrs Margaret Barnes on 03 5243 9569.

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS

For many years RUSI NSW has maintained several Special Interest Groups (SIGs) that have developed expertise on National Security and defence related topics. The NSW SIGs address strategy, military history and defence industry. The groups consist of member volunteers who undertake research on specific topics to build up in-house expertise on the topic. This research informs their other activities such as their education program, particularly their seminars and enables them to make submissions to government on those issues.

The RUSI VIC Council has approved in principle the setting up of similar groups in Melbourne. While we do not have the ability in the short term to undertake the same range of activities as NSW, there are probably some niche areas where we have a comparative capability.

The success of SIGs in Victoria will be dependent on having interested and committed members. We need to establish member’s interests and wish to start by selecting one or two areas to develop the concept.

We propose that the SIGs should:

 Conduct background research into their topic,  cooperate with other organisations with related interests to promote their research,  provide internal briefs when matters of interest arise,  facilitate external discussions related to the topic,  produce submissions to government or other organisations when appropriate, and  publish results periodically in the form of discussion papers or reading guides. Some SIGs will probably overlap with the interests of other organisations. For example, a military history SIG could cover similar matters to Military History & Heritage Victoria. Similarly, a defence industry SIG could cover the same areas as the Australian Industry and Defence Network. In these and other similar situations it may be possible to act in concert with other interest groups to the benefit of both parties. It may also be worthwhile to work in conjunction with the NSW SIGs, at least in the early stages.

So far, suggested interest areas are: Defence Industry, Oral Military History, Community and Military Values, and Defence Force Reserves. Suggestions for further topics are welcome.

If you are interested in participating in a SIG, please email the Secretary ([email protected]) with your contact details and specific area(s) of interest. How we proceed will be determined by your collective responses.

Neil Graham Councillor Special Interest Groups Coordinator

Obituary - Major General Jim Hughes

47001 Major General James Curnow Hughes, AO, DSO, MC was born in Rose Park, South Australia, on 18th August 1929. He was he son of a light horseman who served in the Gallipoli and Palestine campaigns during the First World War. After joining the Army he graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon in December 1950 and was allotted to the Royal Australian Infantry Corps. His elder brother, the late Major General Ron Hughes, CBE, DSO, (1920 – 2003) was also a Duntroon Infantry graduate

Soon after graduation he was posted to Korea with 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR). "I've never grown up so quickly," he recalled. He had just turned 21 when he found himself fighting North Korean and Chinese troops. "You had shells, mortars and dead bodies everywhere. I'd never seen anything like it," he said. He won a Military Cross when he personally led his men of 4 Platoon in a grenade fight at a threatened part of their company perimeter, driving the Chinese back with heavy casualties. He then served in Japan as a Company Commander at the Battle School Hara Mura.

He married his wife Jan in 1955 and they were together until she died in February 2014. They were a very close couple with a great relationship who stayed in love with each other for nearly 60 years. On return to Australia he was a Company Commander in 16 National Service Training Battalion and then Adjutant of Adelaide University Regiment. He then served in as a Company Commander and Intelligence officer in 3 RAR in the Malayan Emergency. After being an instructor at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, UK, he returned to Australia to attend Staff College. He was posted to The Special Air Service Regiment and raised 2 SAS Squadron for its operational tour of Borneo during confrontation in 1966. His squadron conducted a total of 45 successful patrols and operations on both sides of the border

On promotion to lieutenant colonel he was appointed the Director of Army recruiting. In October 1969 he was appointed as Commanding Officer, 4th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment and arrived in South Vietnam in May 1971 to command his Battalion that, with the addition of New Zealanders, became 4 RAR/NZ (Anzac).

Due to the large enemy force build up in Phouc Tuy and Long Khan Province border area, Lieutenant Colonel Hughes’ battalion was committed to operations soon after arrival in South Vietnam. The successful manner in which the Battalion was able to carry out its first operation was due to the very high state of the operational readiness achieved through Lieutenant Hughes’ drive and enthusiasm.

Throughout his tour of duty in South Vietnam he applied his knowledge of the enemy’s tactics to relentlessly pursue him. In a number of fierce bunker clashes, Lieutenant Hughes commanded his Battalion and the support arms allotted him with such professional skill that the enemy was forced to withdraw after suffering heavy casualties.

In the final stages of the Task Force’s participation in operations in Phouc Tuy Province, Lieutenant Colonel Hughes’ tactical skill, devotion to duty and professional ability against a determined and skilful enemy were in the highest traditions of his Regiment and the Australian Army. He was awarded the DSO for his service in South Vietnam. The culmination of his distinguished military career was his appointment as GOC Logistic Command. In 1982 Jim was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for his services to the Australian Army. He left the Army at the end of 1983 and was appointed President of the Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigade Board that year. In 1986 he joined Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria a senior managerial position until 1988 He was devoted to his soldiers in 4 RAR and kept in touch with many of them. He had strong opinions about the re-roling of the battalion as a commando unit. He had been the Patron of the Korean Veterans Association since 1991. He was a keen member of Legacy and had for a time been a member of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Veterans’ Review Board and the Victorian Veterans Council. In addition to being the Legacy representative on the Victorian Veterans Council Jim was also the National Patron of the Korean War Veterans, National Patron of the Malaya and Borneo Veterans and State Patron of the Royal Australian Regiment Association and the 3 RAR Corporation. He has been the Honorary Colonel of The Royal Victoria Regiment and Monash University Regiment. He served in a voluntary capacity on various school, church, RSL and East Melbourne committees. At 78 he asked for a computer and he learnt how to type as he needed email to keep up with everyone-else on all the committees he was involved with.

Jim is survived by his sons, Tom and Peter and their families and his daughter Christina.

7 To stay in business, firms need to be alert to opportunities, changing consumer wants, needs and Opinion - Agility and Adaptability tastes, and the application of new technology. Management needs to be open to new ideas and Agility, is a vogue management word that has recently feedback from current activities. Things are not that entered usage in Australia, popularized by the Prime different in the military in its competitive space. Minister. Malcolm Turnbull’s buzzwords have been agility, nimble, digital disruption and innovation. From Business to the Military

Agility is 1. the power of moving quickly One US military definition has Agility as the ability to and easily; nimbleness: exercises successfully respond to change. demanding agility. Agile people conceive and approach the world and their 2. the ability to think and draw assigned tasks differently from those who are less agile. conclusions quickly; intellectual acuity: In general, agile people have a propensity to seek mental agility. improvements, are more willing to consider information that is at odds with preconceived notions, and are more On becoming Prime Minister in mid- willing to be different and take risks. These basic September last year Malcolm Turnbull proclaimed the characteristics can be enhanced or supressed by importance of agility, disruption and innovation for education, training and culture. Unfortunately, many Australia’s economic future. He encouraged businesses organisations, both large and small, supress agility to seek out the many opportunities presented in the enabling characteristics. 1 changing world, rather than trying to future-proof themselves against change. This usage merges agility with openness, flexibility, and adaptability. He reinforced this message following his visit to the White House in January. After his meeting with The Australian Defence Glossary defines Agility as: the President Obama he told journalists that: Agility is key. ability to transition between tasks rapidly: while For Australia it’s about being agile and innovative. Adaptability is: the ability to embrace new and Disruption, agile, innovative disruption is absolutely key. unforeseen tasks. Australia needs to embrace the new digital economy Adaptability involves change. There are two sorts of The Prime Minister also wants Australians to be agile in adaptability – the first to change one-self to suit the making the transition from the oid economy, environment (passive), and the second to change the underwritten by mining infra-structure investment and environment to suit one-self (active) or change the commodity exports, to one where there is an expansion relationship between one-self /society and the for export in agriculture, education, professional services situation/environment. and niche manufacturing. Increased employment opportunities are also expected in the non-traded Reasonable people adapt themselves to the world. sector: civil infrastructure, defence industry, health and Unreasonable people attempt to adapt the world aged care, leisure, hospitality and tourism, with home themselves. All progress, therefore, depends on building supported by continued immigration. unreasonable people. George Bernard Shaw However, election results indicate that enthusiasm for agility and the new economy may not be high, especially As in Darwin’s The Origin of Species, adaptability is among electors who have lost their jobs or who feel necessary for evolution and survival. This applies insecure in the old economy. Without explanation the equally to civilizations, nations, businesses and military concept of agility is devoid of emotion and moral forces. On the battlefield and in market competition, imperative and unlikely to kindle patriotic fervour or only the fittest will survive. imbue a sense of purpose. In British military lexicon, the proxy for adaptability is Agility and its cousins adaptability, flexibility, innovation flexibility. The exercise of flexibility is to change the and creativity are straight out of most management plan, to adopt or create other options, to do whatever is texts. In a free-market economy individual businesses necessary to achieve the set objective. Flexibility is a face competition and need to be agile to survive. This Principle of War, and also a Characteristic of Air Power. means being better able to satisfy consumers by offering Flexibility of mind is a vital attribute for commanders.2 new, better and/or cheaper goods and services. Failure The enemy of agility and adaptability is comfortability, to do this will result in the company losing business to comfort with the status-quo and a vested interest in its competitors and possibly going out of business. The preservation. market exhibits creative destruction as new firms replace old. 1 Department of Defense Command and Control Research Centre, The Agility Imperative, March 2010. 2 Evans, Air Marshal David, WAR: a matter of principles, The Aerospace Centre, 1966, pp93-102.

Comfortability can also lead to complacency and failure of these things, in its evolution of a joint operations to be aware of the various elephants that may be in the capability. room. Where there are no threats or challenges the organisation or society can become stagnant. Long Not unsurprisingly agile and adaptable have found their periods of peace can certainly lead to stagnation in the way into the 2016 Defence White Paper. military. ‘The future force will be more capable, agile There are 2,000 years of experience to tell us that the and potent.’ (Exec Summary) only thing harder than getting a new idea into the military mind is to get an old one out. Chapters Six and Seven discuss how the government’s reforms will create a more agile Captain Sir Basil Liddell Hart Defence Organisation.

On the other hand, the military can be an exemplar of 3.34 To be able to achieve the Strategic agility and adaptability. Defence Objectives, Defence will need to be more agile and adaptable with a broader set of The Australian Army’s action on the Kokoda track in capabilities from which to draw so that it is able World War II is an outstanding example of adaptability. to conduct the full range of tasks which might Troops from the 2nd AIF came straight from fighting the be required by Government. German Afrika Korps in the Libyan Desert to fight the Imperial Japanese Army in the equatorial jungles of New From the Defence Force to the Nation Guinea. Because of globalisation, most of the threats to world They not only displayed agility, because they were able stability have a direct or indirect impact upon Australia’s to transition quickly, but more importantly adaptability. interests and implications for national security and the They did not just effect a nimble transition from desert employment of the ADF. mode to jungle mode, they had to invent jungle mode, fighting a new and different enemy in a completely The solution to most problems, improvements in the different environment. way we do things or introduction of new technology, requires change of some sort, and we are faced with Necessary changes were made to uniforms, weapons, adapting to the new environment. organisation and tactics. For example, as a local initiative, the soldiers’ khaki uniforms which had been As many more changes in our environment are in the bleached almost white by the desert sun, were dyed offing, the ability to adapt readily has a definite jungle green to blend into the surroundings. Most advantage. In this respect, all Australians, individuals adaption was ‘bottom-up’ as commanders at and organizations can learn from the example and headquarters in Australia could not envisage conditions experience of the ADF, which has close parallels with the on the ground. situation of the nation. To handle the challenges of the future, we need to take a longer view, and consciously All of the attributes of an adaptable organisation were develop a adaptability culture. evident: decentralized decision making, small scale experimentation, trial and error, responsiveness to Whether agility is broadly defined to include adaptability feedback and openness to ideas.3 The Australians soon or narrowly defined and combined with adaptability, gained a reputation as superb jungle fighters. both are necessary.

Today, the ADF is a highly flexible organisation that can The Prime Minister’s leadership in promoting agility has be used to meet national objectives in many ways. not been fully appreciated. People need to understand …‘The continuing challenge for the ADF is to position that agility and adaptability do not just apply to IT itself so that it can adapt to whatever conditions startups, but to all organizations in both old and new. eventuate.’ 4 What has been created is an adaptability Following the ADF, the fostering of an Australian culture. adaptability culture would be of great value in coping with the uncertainties and challenges that the future An adaptability culture does not just happen, particularly holds. in the military. Ready adaptability is based on flexibility of mind, cooperation and trust. You need to plan for it, Mike Rawlinson organise for it, train for it and indoctrinate your people in it. Over the last three decades the ADF has done all

In its relationship with the Department of Defence the RUSI is 3 Harford, Tim, Adapt - Why Success always starts with Failure, undergoing the most significant changes since the United Hachette, Digital, 2011 Services Institute of Australia was created by federating the 4 Future Warfighting Concept, p21, 2003 state based Institutes in 1974. So far the Institute is adapting well. (MR)

Book Reviews

This newsletter has nine Book Reviews. On behalf of members the Editor thanks the reviewers. The Royal United Services Institute of Victoria Library wishes to thank the publishers for providing copies for review. Some book reviews have been shortened. The full versions are available on the RUSI VIC website: rusivic.org.au. If you would like a hard copy of a particular review, please contact the Secretary.

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The Australian Imperial Force were formed as recruits came forward. The history of their establishment and the ensuing divisions is extremely well Volume 5 of The Centenary History of Australia and the documented as is the command and control structures in Great War series place. The additional troops that rounded out the AIF as ‘corps troops’ and enabled it to function as a fighting force are given Jean Bou, Peter Dennis; Paul Dalgleish quite adequate coverage. In excess of 330,000 men were sent overseas, and the argument as to whether the AIF became too Oxford University Press 2016, Hardback RRP: $59.95 large and beyond the capacity of Australia to effectively Reviewer: Neville Taylor, July 2016 sustain is examined.

This is the final volume in this It was some time before Australians eventually commanded impressive series. It has their own divisions, and only in 1917 and 1918 did Chauvel maintained the high quality of and Monash became corps commanders. The first commander research, documentation and of the AIF and the First Division was Major General William presentation encountered in the Bridges. On Bridges’ death in May 1915, Major General Legge previous four volumes series. Its assumed command of the AIF, but he was quickly removed to subject is immense, and it has Egypt a month later. This saw Lieutenant General William been examined in a logical and Birdwood command the AIF until 10 September 1920. Perhaps detailed manner that permits the the unsung officer of the AIF’s existence was Major Brundell most avid of military historians to White. It was his 1912 ‘study’ that formed the basis of the be totally sated, whilst enabling raising of the AIF, and he saw the War out as the AIF chief other readers to choose to staff officer to both Bridges and Birdwood. His meticulous examine the Australian Imperial planning underpinned the successful Gallipoli withdrawal in Force (AIF) to whatever extent December 1915. He was prepared to forgo promotion to battle they may desire. units as he felt he could serve the Australian cause better in its senior headquarters. The purpose of The AIF is to gather together the masses of information available from a considerable number of previous Conditions of service for combatants – pay, pensions and writings and unite this with the latest AIF database created by leave, discipline, crime and punishment, prisoners of war the University of New South Wales at the Australian Defence (numbering 4044) and the provision of medical care is worthy Force Academy. The (stated) ages of those who sailed in the of more than 20 percent of the text. The last three areas First Convoy to Egypt and the monthly enlistments by major examined are those of training reinforcements both in Australia religious denominations for the four years of the War are only and overseas (out of theatre), the demobilization at the end of two examples of very accurate statistical analyses contained in the conflict and the AIF legacy to Australia and its society. [As the many tables found in the text or as appendices. a teenager, I cycled through former WWI soldier settlement vineyards in Birdwoodton (NW Victoria) en route to my Under The concept of a force of 20,000 Australians going to Britain’s 16 cricket club’s ground.] White started work as early as 1916 aid was the genesis of the AIF (authorized in the on demobilization, because men had enlisted for ‘the duration Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 15 August 1914). Its of hostilities and six months beyond’. By 1919 there was an actual composition by unit, by (state) military district is AIF-wide education scheme to equip men for a return to presented, and the ad-hoc state-by-state enlistment civilian life. The first Appendix is devoted to the massive procedures and acceptable standards had to be quickly efforts to keep complete records of AIF personnel. replaced to obtain the necessary degree of uniformity. Enlistment, medically examining, issuing uniforms and arming This volume does a great deal to complement existing writings recruits was initially slow and tedious due to no systems or on The Great War. It has been extremely thoroughly existing resources being in place. researched, and where necessary comments upon any potential ambiguities or conflicting reporting of the same Changes in establishment/organisations in the early period of event. The embedding of comprehensive detailed tables in the the war was necessitated by a need to conform to the British text enables the reader to quickly grasp what text would take model, as well as Australia not being able to replace battle many pages to describe. It contains high quality photographs, casualties and keep units at their initial strength. The prime four maps, a bibliographic essay, endnotes and a example was reducing an infantry battalion from eight rifle comprehensive index. The AIF is an excellent ‘book end’ to this companies to four. Additional infantry and light horse brigades remarkable series.

10 Charles Bean: might enjoy Coulthart’s approach and style, but on balance, if people really knew: one man's struggle my assessment is that Coulthart is a better journalist or to report the Great War and tell the truth storyteller than historian and seasoned military history readers may not find Charles Bean sufficiently objective and balanced. Ross Coulthart ______Harper Collins, 2014 Hardback 464 pp RRP: $45.00

Reviewer: Marcus Fielding, June 2016 The Fair Dinkums

This book is an exploration of the Glenn McFarlane nature of journalism, politics and Pan Macmillan Australia, 2016 history that utilises Charles Hardback RRP: $34.99 Bean’s life as the vehicle. Such an exploration would have great Reviewer: Roger Buxton, July 2016 appeal to Ross Coulthart as an award winning investigative The ‘Fair Dinkums’ were those journalist who has reported on who, once the initial rush to contemporary military enlist was over, and the scale operations; history buff; and of casualties at Gallipoli had author of several books, become apparent, joined the including The Lost Diggers. But army from a considered sense this approach detracts from of duty and patriotism. Charles Bean being an informed,

objective and balanced biography. The sub-title of the The letters of author Glen book, “If people really knew: one man’s struggle to report the McFarlane’s great uncle Alf Great War and tell the truth”, belies his perspective as an Layfield, ‘a man whose decency investigative journalist rather than an historian. in a world gone mad shines through his own words’ and As Australia’s “official war correspondent”, a role that is barely one of the Fair Dinkums who imaginable today, Bean was caught between his did not return from the War, responsibilities as a journalist to report accurately on the were the inspiration for this carnage and his duty as a patriot — and army captain — to do book of almost 400 pages. everything he could to support the Australian war effort. The Published in time for the 100th anniversary of the battles of two aims ultimately may have been incompatible. Coulthart Fromelles and Pozières, Fair Dinkums was 20 years in the opens his account with a quote from British Prime Minister planning. David Lloyd George in 1917: “If people really knew, the war would be stopped tomorrow. But of course they don’t – and can’t know.” This is an important social history of the 152 men of the 8th th By exploring the many tensions between journalism, jingoism Reinforcements of the 7 Battalion AIF. Some of these men th or nationalism, and recording history, Coulthart concludes that also went on to form part of the new 59 Battalion. Although Bean was a better historian than he was a journalist. not a military history as such, the experiences of the Fair Coulthart, perhaps unsurprisingly, identifies that many of Dinkums are followed through their training and the battles at Bean’s dispatches from the front, which were subject to strict Gallipoli and on the Western Front. military censorship, were at odds with what he had actually witnessed and recorded in his diaries. “There is a lot of The Fair Dinkums were a diverse group of men from urban evidence in Bean’s favour to show that he did as good a job as and rural Victoria. Their experiences, achievements and also he was allowed to do ... To his great credit Bean never fell into their human failings are faithfully recorded. Most of the men the trap of embellishing his copy simply in search of a by-line were single, and some lied about their age to join: After basic or a happy editor ... Bean did not want to be a ‘star’ news training in Victoria at Seymour and Broadmeadows, the reporter if that meant compromising the truth”, Coulthart Dinkums sailed from Port Melbourne aboard the Enchases in writes. August 1915. The key issue faced by World War I correspondents was accuracy. Many stayed back at headquarters and took as gospel the often false and nationalistic nonsense fed to them The adventures of the Dinkums are described in detail, but the by the high command. Very few followed Bean’s lead and detail is always interesting, and never feels excessive. ventured onto the battlefield to gather eyewitness accounts of The book is divided into three parts: the Dinkums, the Diggers the fighting. and Discharge and the Days After. There are endnotes, an afterword and a complete list of the Fair Dinkums showing the 35 who died or were killed in action. There are many Coulthart draws heavily from Bean’s diaries and so the photographs of the Dinkums, showing their names, and also compare-and-contrast approach with his articles and the uncaptioned photographs at the beginning of each chapter. official history is something new. Charles Bean has a large number of photographs, a bibliography, endnotes, and an index; but no maps. Charles Bean was awarded as joint winner for Australian History in the 2015 Prime Minister's Literary Awards and has been described as “pacey”, “perceptive” and “readable”. A general reader, perhaps open to a slightly jingoistic account,

Monica's War: You’ll be Sorry! an Australian Army matron in Australia, New How World War II changed women’s lives Guinea and Japan

Ann Howard John P McMahon Big Sky Publishing, 2016 , Paperback RRP: $29.99 Boolarong Press QLD, 2016 Reviewer: Neville Taylor, July 2016 Paperback 265 pp RRP: $29.99 Reviewer: Neville Taylor, August 2016 This is an updated reprint of two earlier John McMahon has written of the life of volumes by Anne his aunt Monica McMahon with the Howard. It comprises greatest admiration for her and all the over 250 interviews of nursing and medical professionals she the women who saw worked with during her long and service in World War II – productive career. Monica’s photograph from their motivation to is from the 27th April 1946 cover of the enlist as soon as this Women’s Weekly. was permitted (on 15 Raised on a farm North-east Victoria, October 1941), their Monica went to work as a tailor in a experiences on recruit factory in the Melbourne suburb of courses, their Brunswick. Here rising to become a employment during the forewoman, she gained valuable people-management skills conflict, how they were that served her well in the later role of matron in so many regarded by their male different environments. In 1931, at the age of 27, Monica counterparts and their commenced nursing training in Melbourne before working experiences in the post- close to home in the Wangaratta Base Hospital. She then war years. moved to Colac in 1937 as a triple-certificated nurse and to Despite the title, (the become Deputy Matron. comment of outsiders), none of the interviewees “were sorry”! Applying to join the Australian Army in 1939, Monica was Their motivation for enlisting ranged from wanting to eventually accepted into the Australian Army Nursing Service contribute to the war effort as their fathers, husbands, and (AANS) in March 1941,and in late 1941 became the matron of brothers had or were doing, the thrill of adventure, leaving the Australian military hospital at Puckapunyal. Then she was a their home and ‘domestic duties’, to using their current civilian matron at the hospital at Tatura looking after Italian and skills as well as gaining new skills. The women’s impact upon German internees. Monica spent a short time on a hospital the war effort was effectively doubled as many servicemen in ship, and then served in eleven other Australian military administrative roles could be transferred to combat roles. hospitals that included a camp hospital at Koitaki New Guinea The roles filled by the women were significant and varied − and the 130th Australian General Hospital at Eta Jima Island from clerks, to Morse code and cryptographers who were more during the British Commonwealth Forces occupation of Japan. efficient than the men they replaced, store personnel, She was responsible for establishing caring teams of male and transport drivers and despatch riders, and to manning coastal female members of the Australian Army, caring for battle artillery installations to name a few. Some were closely casualties at the foot of the Kokoda Track and malaria and involved and affected by the Cowra breakout in August 1944. other tropical diseases in the most trying tropical conditions. Other interviewees, 40 years later, were still not prepared to Monica developed exfoliate dermatitis and was eventually discuss the nature of their classified work. General Douglas brought back to Australia to Queensland and then the MacArthur had 60 women in his Brisbane-based headquarters. Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital before she was able to re- He valued their input so highly as to request the Australian establish a fitness level that enabled her to ‘serve anywhere’. Government (unsuccessfully) that they be permitted to move Monica then served in Northam, WA where she nursed patients with his headquarters to the South-West Pacific. with facial wounds and post-traumatic stress disorders. A strong advocate for equal rights, Monica successfully fought There are many interesting aspects of life in war-time Australia for members of the AANS to nurse male patients with venereal such as living conditions and finding accommodation that are diseases, depression and suicidal tendencies. Arriving in Japan revealed by the interviews – providing a very good historic in March 1946, one unexpected role was to teach the Japanese record for ‘baby boomers’ and following generations. Post-war nurses how to care for their radiation-affected countrymen. Australia was not kind to those who had served. They were Monica returned from Japan in 1949 and resigned her expected to return to their homes and provide children to commission as a lieutenant colonel. She served in St Arnaud populate. Just like the returning servicemen, they also missed and Warragul Hospitals before retiring. Monica passed away in the camaraderie of their colleagues in arms. 1990.

A liberal number of coloured and black and white photographs You’ll be Sorry! is a work that will interest both readers with a are included in a most readable text. The endnotes and military background and the general public as well. It is a very bibliography are quite comprehensive, but there being no easy read, with some fascinating and humorous anecdotes and index made it time consuming to recheck any previously-read high quality photographs. Whilst there is no index, the material. This work is a testament to those who served in comprehensive table of contents enables easy navigation unforgiving conditions and gave so much to their countrymen. through the text. A complete list of interviewees, by service, is It provides a valuable contribution in a generally neglected included. aspect of Australia’s involvement in the Second ‘World War.

Dodging the Devil Australia 1943: The Liberation of Letters from the Front New Guinea Peter Dean (Ed) George Martindale Cambridge University Press, 2013 Hardie Grant Books 2016 Hardback RRP: $23.98 Paperback RRP: $29.99 Reviewer: Roger Buxton, June 2016 Reviewer: Neville Taylor, August 2016

‘Australia 1943 – The Liberation of If George Martindale were writing New Guinea’ follows ‘Australia today he would possibly be 1942 – In the Shadow of War”; described as ‘a wordsmith’! The both being edited by Peter J Dean. further one reads through his The 1942 battles with the letters, the realization that the Japanese in the South West back page is getting closer far too Pacific, particularly those along quickly, and it is the reader’s loss the Kokoda Track are well known that so many of his letters have to Australian readers, but the been lost forever. With almost subsequent fighting in New invisibility Nicolas Dean Brodie’s Guinea is less familiar. commentary provides material on George’s life before his enlistment By early 1943 the direct threat to in the 5th Battalion AIF in August Australia had passed and the Allies 1914, as well briefly describing now had to isolate and neutralize each phase of training and the major Japanese headquarters and base at Rabaul in New theatre of war to put George’s Britain. This was necessary for General MacArthur to continue letters to his family members in context. As a 29-year-old the advance towards the Philippines, and involved eliminating working in Melbourne, he was not in the 8th Battalion with his Japanese held areas on the north coast of New Guinea and hometown Dimboola peers. preventing their reinforcement. George’s compassion for his mates was evident when he The liberation of New Guinea required the greatest disobeyed orders to go into no-mans-land at night to assist the concentration of Australian armed force during World War II: overworked stretcher bearers bring the wounded back behind five army divisions, and a large part of the RAN and the RAAF. the front line for treatment. When he learnt of the death of Peter Dean has written the introduction and a chapter on soldiers from Dimboola or local people at home he asked his ‘MacArthur’s War: Strategy and Plans for the 1943 Offensives’. family to pass on his sympathy and/or he wrote to them Eminent historians have written ten other chapters on personally. strategy, US Operations, Japanese Strategy, the RAAF and RAN operations and the Australian role in ‘Cartwheel’, which George landed on Gallipoli on 25th April 1915, and wrote to his was MacArthur’s code word for operations by New Guinea mother often written over some period of time. He wrote of Force to successively capture Lae, Salamaua, Finschhafen and Gallipoli to his father after the December evacuation while the Madang. Some of the most dramatic events of the campaign, AIF retrained in Egypt prior to going to the Western Front. An such as the 2/16th Battalions capture of Shaggy Ridge, the avid writer, he was rather peeved to have a new writing pad airborne assault on Nadzab and the total destruction of a (costing 1s 3d – almost 25% of a day’s pay) pinched from his Japanese troop convoy by RAAF and US aircraft in the Battle of kit. Wounded at Fromelles in 1916, he continued to write whist the Bismarck Sea are described in highly readable detail and being evacuated! Returning to the Western Front as a with maps and photographs. sergeant at Bullecourt, George was severely wounded in the head, losing his right eye and suffering brain damage in June Many military books have been spoiled by too few or 1917. After hospitalization in England, he was discharged from inadequate maps, but this is not the case here as the maps the AIF as ‘permanently unfit all services’ and arrived back in and charts are excellent. There are also chapter endnotes and Australia in January 1918. He did not work again, and passed useful organization charts and a chronology of major events in away from complication arising from his injuries in 1922. the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) and in the South Pacific Area (SPA). The beauty of George’s letters lies in the idiom of the day that he used and they contained continual comment or questions All aspects of the fighting are covered, including logistics, about the day-to-day events at home involving personalities amphibious and airborne operations and the difficulties faced both young and old outside his family, as well as the welfare of by Prime Minister Curtin in dealing with General MacArthur, local farmers and businesses. Fed on a constant stream of Supreme Commander SWPA and General Blamey, Commander local and national papers, George pulled no punches in Allied Land Forces and Commander New Guinea Force: both criticizing the factual inaccuracies that appeared in the press of of whom had direct access to the prime minister. US ground events he experienced − describing CEW Bean’s The Anzac forces in the SWPA were deliberately organized as a separate Book (London, 1916) as ‘a pitiful & puerile production’. task force under Lieutenant General Krueger to remove US troops from General Blamey’s command. Dodging the Devil is a wonderful collection of the writings of a man larger than life. His wit, idiomatic speech and constant The capture of Madang and Alexishafen in April 1944 marked references to people have been made easy to follow in two the end of the coalition partnership between Australian and appendices – Explanatory Notes and Family and Friends (the United States ground forces, as General MacArthur was latter being a miniature Who’s Who) There is no index, but determined that the liberation of the Philippines would be by sketches, facsimiles of parts of letters as well as coloured and United States forces alone, and by early 1944 Australia was black and white photographs round out this exceeding effectively left to reduce the remaining Japanese forces in readable and unique volume on the First World War. Western New Guinea and Borneo.

13 Defending Country SIMMO Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Military Service a biography of Ray Simpson, VC DCM since 1945 one of Australia's greatest soldiers

Michael J Malone, OAM and Peter D Lutley Noah Riseman and Richard Trembath Imprimatur Books, 2015 University of Queensland Press, 2016 Hardback RRP: $65.00 (plus $15 postage) Paperback RRP: $34.95 Reviewer: Neville Taylor, June 2016 Reviewer: Neville Taylor, June 2016

SIMMO covers the entire live of Ray On looking at the cover, one could Simpson. Born of poor parents in the well expect to read accounts of 20’s, Ray (the eldest) and his four indigenous Australian’s military siblings were placed by their parents, exploits since World War Two. who could not afford to feed or clothe Rather, it is a social examination of them, in kindergartens and eventually why these people become part of in two Methodist Children’s homes. Australia’s military forces, their In 1944 Ray enlisted in the AIF and saw treatment in the forces, their two years’ service in the Second World expectations and what society War. His battalion was used to dealt them on leaving the military; recapture the Japanese after the and the changing political August Cowra. Joining the Citizen environments they found Military Forces (CMF) in ’47, he then, in 1951 signed up under themselves in during the last six his brother’s name to join the Australians in the Korean decades. campaign. It was while on leave in Tokyo that he married his The level of indigenous service Japanese wife, Shoko Sakai, who remained in Japan until Ray during the Boer War and the First was again on service in the Malayan Emergency. and Second World Wars is briefly, Ray was an avid reader of military books and would argue but adequately covered. Approximately 1000 served in World military tactics with anyone. He lived by the creed of life’s War I – for adventure, better wages, acquiring new skills and experience and not making the same mistake twice. Ray was hopes for equal rights during and after the war. Many extremely loyal to his diggers and preferred to socialize with experienced great mateship in the services but were them rather than his peers. As a member of 1 Special Air discriminated against on return in relation to pensions, Services Company (SAS), he was one of 30 selected veterans participating in some Anzac Day Marches and being barred in the inaugural Australian Army Training Team Vietnam from hotels and initially the RSL. (AATTV) in 1962 under Brigadier Ted Serong. In 1964 he was With the advent of the Korean War, National Service (twice) in 1 Commando Company when he did his second Vietnam and the Malayan Emergency, legislation was laboriously altered tour. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, before to allow indigenous Australians to become members of the later in the tour suffering a severe gunshot wound that armed forces. It has taken four decades for the definition of an shattered his right femur. indigenous person to be finally agreed upon. In the 1950s Evacuated back to Australia and medically downgraded, he Eddie Mabo, being a Torres Strait Islander did not do National could not contemplate not being in the middle of the action Service after his local MP established that Indigenous again, so he set about restoring his fitness before surfacing Australians were exempt. Many were not aware of this again in Vietnam. Wangling his way onto various patrols in provision in both the 50s and 60s and underwent training 1967, he eventually was placed back in the AATTV again - his anyway. vast battle experience and leadership capabilities already being A very readable and enlightening chapter is devoted to legendary. On 6 May 1969 Simpson was serving in Kontum Indigenous women in the services. Young girls were still being Province on the Laos/Cambodian border as commander of the taken away from their families after 1945, and their future 232nd Company of the Mobile Strike Force of the 5th Special appeared to be restricted to a life spent in domestic service. Forces Group in a search and clear operation when the enemy Enlisting in the military was a way out, and as most were used was encountered in a series of action over six days. Simpson's to hostel life, they easily adapted to barrack life in their recruit leadership and bravery during these encounters earned him courses. Four case studies from the Navy (WRANS), Army the Victoria Cross. During his career Ray had seen over 100 (WRAAC), Air Force (WRAAF) and Nursing Corps (RAANC) are months on active service in four theatres. included Simmo’s VC investiture was in Sydney in May 1970 during a The latter part of Defending Country is devoted to the interest Royal Visit. He was discharged from the Army in the same and recognition that our society is now paying to the part month. With Shoko in Japan looking after her elderly mother, played by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in serving Ray sent most of his money to her, so was always short of Australia and their contribution to our history. The major cash. Unfortunately most of his last years were spent as a indicator that the ‘wheel has turned’ is the Australian Defence menial civilian laborer in army depots and camps before dying Force (ADF) promoting Reconciliation. The ADF’s Indigenous in Japan at the age of 52 of a malignant lymphoma. Pre-Recruitment Course (six months part time) to the units The text is generously punctuated by photographs, and is fully serving in the Top End (Norforce) to improve fitness, literacy referenced. Included are a selected biography, extracts, a list and numeracy to a level that satisfies entry level. Indigenous of interviewees and a nine-page glossary of Simmo’s colorful culture has also been embedded in the Top End formation’s vernacular. training of all its troops. A long-overdue biography, SIMMO fills a void in Australian The text is well written and includes a collection of high quality military history literature. Readers will not be disappointed in photographs, exceedingly comprehensive notes, a learning about this distinguished ‘soldiers’ soldier’. bibliography and index.

Library Notes:

Thanks to good planning and competent professional movers, the transition to B block was relatively painless. We have somewhat less spare shelf capacity than before but full use has been made of rooms, alcoves and gaol cells! As has happened before, we received a donation of hundreds of books right at the time of the move. These came from the Naval Historical Society of Australia (Victoria Chapter), including several rare items and are a fine addition to our Naval holdings. Also, the NHSA donated 3 very high quality timber book cases. Two of them are tall, glass fronted and look very fine in the library office. Thanks to LCDR Roger Buxton for facilitating this donation. Subsequently we have received a bequest of Maj. Gen Jim Hughes’ books and a donation from LTCOL Frank Covill, which include an important collection of historical maps.

LTCOL Neville Taylor continues his tireless efforts to obtain new books from publishers and a list of the most recent ones appears below: (some are reviewed in the Newsletter)

Title Author Subject Die in Battle, Do Not Despair Peter Stanley The Indians on Gallipoli, 1915 Lord Kitchener’s One Hundred Lina Stunden 100 Australian surgeons who answered Britain’s call to WWI History of the Fifth Light Horse AIF CAPT H Wetherell SIMMO Michel Malone, OAM Biography of WO2 Ray Simpson, VC The Australian Imperial Force Jean Bou et al All anyone would wish to know – vast statistical analysis of UNSW database You’ll be Sorry! Ann Howard How WW II changed women’s lives Monica’s War John P McMahon A tireless and devoted matron’s life before, during and after WW II The Fair Dinkums Glenn McFarlane They voluntarily joined the AIF from a sense of duty and patriotism. Charles Bean Ross Coulthart Biography of Australian’s official WWI historian False Flags Stephen Robinson Carnage inflicted in the Pacific by the four disguised German raiders of WW II Defending Country Noah Riseman and Richard Trembath Aborigines and Torres Strait Islander military service since 1945 Australia 1943 Peter Dean (Ed) The liberation of New Guinea Dodging the Devil George Martindale Letters from the WWI front to George’s family Double Diamonds Karl James Australian Commandos in the Pacific War 1941-45 On Ops Tom Frame and Albert Palazzo (Eds) Lessons for the Australian Army since East Timor Where are Our Boys? Martin Woods How Newsmaps won the Great War

As part of our “Emperor’s Library” we have acquired a collection of WW I films including newsreels, Russian WWI footage, Tanks, Naval and aviation action, American footage etc. these are digitized and can be played on any computer. Other recent additions to the Emperor’s PDF book collection are: Medieval Warfare and the American Mexican War of 1846-1848. Remember members, you only have to ask for these items to be sent to you FREE. Ask for an updated list! Visit us (24 Hr. notice please.) We can provide proper coffee from our great kitchen.

Finally, sincere thanks are due to Joan Poon who has worked tirelessly at the mountainous job of cataloguing for some months now through thick and thin. Thank you Joan!

Brian Surtees Hon Librarian

Donations to the RUSI VIC Inc Library Fund are Tax Deductible