Newsletter 112002 April 2002 Kim Morrison P.H. Kitney William Richard Kimrnitt Morrison, DSO, OBE, were always embarrassed and, with profuse apologies, died in Auckland on 10 July 2001 in his 88th would be about to leave when Kim would say, Well, now that you are here you may as well come in. And, of Duntroon. he was the NZ Officer at the RMC, Kim was He was born in Te Awamutu in New of McNarnara's Band - When the Kaiser calls and to see if all's correct. He and the RSM, G.J. Watson had a tremendous working relationship. 7 July 1939. He graduated on 11 D served throughout the War of 1939-45 Zealand Division. 47 at the Manuka swimming pool. Kim In March 1943 the NZ Division, strength during General Montgomery M.B. (Maurie) Pears during a phase of sprawling into the supporting compan ant, Brigadier E.L. yelled, Get him out, companies of the d and it was then front of the enemy none other than G. by, and suffering casualties outflanking the enemy position, effective guns, allowing th (SOCA) complex. This hut had a fireplace and was also advance. The citation states, This oflcer's actions used to store odds and ends including some broken crates throughout the operations have been characterised by a of swords and old RMC On this night complete disregard for his own safety. His qualities of a fire was going and the swords were being used to toast courage and leadership have been of the highest order and cpers. Suddenly the door burst open and Kim (then the an inspiration to all who have come in contact with him. OC of the Company accommodated in those lines) was Kim was wounded twice during the War of 1939-45, standing there. Everyone sprang to attention and were once very severely, but recovered to have a asked, Everything all right? Yes sir! No food in the distinguished career. He was the New Zealand Army barracks? No sir! all replied including R.W.O. (Roy) at the RMC Duntroon during 1946-48. Other Pugh (1948) who was standing correctly to attention with e I first met him, on its point. Very well, with the same vigour it dawned on all the rnis At the Graduation Ball on 9 December 1947 the Graduates presented ChristmaslFarewell gifts to selected members of the staff of the RMC. The ceremony took place in the Gymnasium after midnight and with the 'pips' securely pinned on the graduates' epaulettes. In this case the recipient is Major Kim Morrison who is being made aware that his practice of surreptitiously looking through his ofice window in the Corps Headquarters with the aid of a pair offield glasses at staff cadets drilling on the 'square', was well known to the Corps. Here he has just received his 'window-frame' from Lieutenant I.R. W. (Lou)Brumfield, with less than one hour 's seniority, and who is about to hand on the field glasses. The 'conductor' is one of the New Zealand Army's newest lieutenants, J. (Jock) Harvey, of equal seniority with the presenter. On the floor in front is the trophyfrom the Cadets' Recreation Room to remind the Corps of its mischievous staff member. returned to Waiouru and was put in the officers' quarters Corrections to Newsletter 112002 in the room next to Frank's. The walls were not all that thick and conversations could be heard from next door. There were not too many creature comforts in Waiouru p.2. a. Left column, second para, third line. Replace Camp in those days and a cup of early morning tea Major General with Colonel. appeared only because a Public Works employee had been b. Right column, note about the author, sixth line. provided with accommodation in return for a few tasks Replace Director with the words General Staff around the officers' quarters. He knocked and went into Officer, Grade One, Directorate. Kim's room to offer him a cup of tea. Kim, seeing only the p.6. a. Left column, sixth line. Replace ? with 16. cup, said in a very regimental voice, By God, go and get b. Right column, third line. The number of points me a saucer! The rather plaintive reply was beautiful. for a try should read 3. None of the other officers drink their tea out of a saucer, c. Photo caption. Interchange the names A.E.J. Sir! Breen and A.M. McDonald (1951). p.7. Photo caption, fifth line. Replace D.L. Wells (1952) Major Z?H.(Paul) Kitney entered the RMC in 1950 and with D. Lucadou-Wells (1951). graduated into the Royal Regiment of New Zealand p.9. The year of death of Colonel G.R. Artillery in 1953. After his retirement from the New Obituary Zealand Army in 1973 he was the Assistant Registrar at Mills (195 1) is 2001. the RMCfrom 1973 to 1979. In October 2000 he became p.13. Photo caption, third last line. The name L. the New Zealand Proxy on the Executive Council of the McCredie should appear after W.E. Stinson. Duntroon Society. An earlier writing of his appeared in p.15. Right column, last para of article, second line. Newsletter 212000. Replace 2 with 1. A History of the 0 T U, Profile of the Students at the Scheyville RMC [In Newsletter 212001 there was a very brief Current strength (3 April 2002) reference to a written history of the Officer Training Unit CSC at Scheyville with the promise of a fuller account to follow. First Class The review below was originally published by ARMY Second Class whose Editor had kindly given permission for it to be used Third Class here in a slightly edited form. Ed.] Brunei Fiji During the Vietnam War an officer training unit Malaysia was raised in NSW to cope with a need for junior officers New Zealand required for national service. Scheyville OTU junior Papua New Guinea officer graduates numbered 1800, of whom 1600 were Philippines national servicemen - 328 Scheyville graduates served in RAAF Vietnam. Singapore Thailand On graduating as second lieutenants, they were Tonga posted to Army units around Australia and many served in United Arab Emirates South Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia and ADFA Graduates Singapore. Some graduates were in action within 12 ADFA Transfers months of graduating, some were in action 12 months after Married enlisting. Females Graduates of Scheyville include the politicians, Cadets with previous military experience former Deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer and former In addition to those at Duntroon the number in training in Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett. University Regiments is approximately 540. The Scheyville Experience takes an in-depth look at life at Scheyville, the institution and its trainees. While from the cover the book appears to be a dry history of a time and a place that does not affect soldiers any more, the content is surprisingly engaging. Author Roger Donnelly opens the book with an introductory paragraph saying that his book is about people and how they reacted to an alien situation and asks the question, Addresses Needed how does an author present the soul of the place called OTU? Despite a number of useful responses, the ever present problem of maintaining accurate addresses of He quite successfully uses the diary genre of writing Society Members appears here once more. Like his to look clearly into the life of an officer cadet from a predecessor, the new National Secretary, Captain D.C. personal view. This brief glimpse into the window of a Hafner (1994) urges Branch Conveners, Classmates or group of individuals' feelings and pressures at the time, anyone else who can help, to contact him by mail or; gives the reader an insight into a time and place that Telephone: (02) 6265 9545, or helped shape the Army's modem history. Mobile: 0419 228 564, or While not everybody has an interest in a history of Fax: (02) 62659800. officer training, the way Scheyville had an impact on ordinary people is quite interesting. The history is succinctly written and covers every aspect of Scheyville Mr P. Ainsworth OTU from a day-in-the-life of an officer cadet, to the ethos Colonel D.P. Cowper instilled into the budding members, as well as giving the Captain Draheim reader a look into Scheyville's previous lives. Mr T. Ey As the foreword by Brigadier I.A. (Ian) Geddes Mr P.J.F. Garvan (1942) recommends, this book could well be studied by Mr S.A. Herbert those involved in officer training, by defence planners and Major G.C. Lindsay watchers, and by military historians. Mr J.D. Peacocke The Scheyville Experience: 1965-1973. By Roger Major D.W. Phillips Donnelly, University of Queensland Press. 302 pages. Mr P. Rys-Jones $30. It is now available in many book shops and can be Mr J.E.E. Simson obtained from the author at 1051598 St Kilda Rd. MELBOURNE, Victoria. 3004. His telephone is (03) Mr S.M. Smyth 95 10 0326. Major W.B. Stothart Shorts Before they just fade away some old soldiers have a Newsletter 111999 contained a short article about the party. Last September, R.S. (Ron) Plater (1942), now history, demise and replanting of the Bridges Oak. At living in Edgecliff, NSW, held a gathering on the 7th to that time the two-year juvenile was about 30 celebrate his 80th birthday (5 Sep 1921). The ranks of centirnetres above the ground and did not figure the celebrants was swelled by some 23 graduates, and prominently in the accompanying photograph of it.