OF THE GODS

RASIGS Association, PO Box 881, Kent Town. South Australia. 5071. March 2016 Web site address www.rasigs.com Disclaimer: The views expressed in articles in the “Messenger” are those of the writers/contributors and not necessarily those of the “Committee” or “General Membership” of the Royal Australian Signal Association (SA) Inc.

RASigs Association Contact List Position Name Contact Details Email address Patron David Mathews N/A N/A President Sally Napper 0418 835 049 [email protected] Vice President Vacant Secretary Michael Napper 0401 523 814 [email protected] Treasurer Rudi Dancis N/A [email protected] Lionel Mathews Brian Melville N/A [email protected] Award Membership Dean Hudson 0418637268 [email protected] Editor Messenger Gerry Giebel 0417 849 960 [email protected] Historian Andrew Graves 0423 020 234 N/A Committee David Bolton N/A N/A Member 144th Sig Sqn. Rep WO2 Ruth N/A [email protected] Rountree Past President Bruce Long N/A [email protected] Web/IT Paul Arthur N/A [email protected] Web/IT Colin Tresidder N/A N/A Web site www.rasigs.com N/A N/A

From The President’s Desk

Greetings to all for 2016.

The Committee commenced the year with a BBQ for 144 Sig Sqn personnel on Sunday 31 January 2016.

The function was well attended by the Unit and it was a great opportunity to promote our Association.

The AGM was held on Sunday 7 February 2016; thank you to those who attended; your ongoing support is greatly appreciated. We were honoured to have our Patron, David Matthews present.

To the Committee for 2016, thank you for coming on board again, I look forward to working with you all. No nominations were received for Vice President; to-date the position as not been filled.

C. Tresidder joins our Committee as IT Specialist. D. Bolton also joined the Committee.

Thank you to both.

On behalf of your Association, I wish to welcome all the new members. The weekend, 12-14 February, 2016, I attended the 65th WRAAC Reunion in Canberra. Over 300 ladies made the journey. Friday night, prior to the Meet & Greet at Anzac Hall – , we attended the Last Post Ceremony in honour of Sister Mary Eleanor McGlade - WW2 - Associated with Armidale, NSW.

Saturday night, we had our 65th Anniversary Dinner at the QT Hotel.

Sunday, we visited Duntroon; an opportunity to be photographed in front of the Gates from WRAAC School, Mosman, NSW. Lunch was served at the Duntroon Golf Club. Great weekend!!

Anzac Biscuit Tin this year will be dedicated to the 65th WRAAC Anniversary.

The Strathmore Hotel, North Terrace, Adelaide has been booked for the Anzac Day Lunch from 12.30pm; numbers are required one week prior to the event.

I look forward to see you all.

The 50th Anniversary of 144 Sig Sqn Celebration/Corps Dinner will be held on Saturday 27 August 2016. Please save the date.

National RASIGS Reunion – Healesville, Victoria – 9 to 14 November 2016 – details on RASIGS website. Registration due now.

Well that’s enough from me for now; I look forward to your company sometime throughout the year.

Regards

Sally Napper

Membership

Members ----Please Note

A recent examination of the Membership records indicates that several members have not paid their subscription for this year (2016). At the recent AGM it was passed that the Membership fee be reduced by 50%, ie, it is now $10 which is less than 20 cents a week.

To ensure continuation of your Membership, you should pay your subscription by no later than 30 April. Failure to do so will see your Membership lapse and your name removed from that record. So I urge you to forward your payment by either of the following methods, please: * PayPal and accessed through the website www.rasigs.com

* Direct to Commonwealth Bank, Salisbury Branch. Account Name: Royal Australian Signals Association South Australia BSB: 065 122 Account Number: 00904932 or

* cheque/money order attached to this application.

Welcome to the following members, Damon Curnow, Mark Tetlow, Ali Hudson and Colin Tresidder.

144 Sig Squadron BBQ

144 Signal Squadron held its first parade for 2016 on the 31st January, the days event concluded with some of the RASigs Association committee members cooking a BBQ for the squadron.

OC144 Sig Squadron, Major Searles addressed the group during the meal indicating the importance of the unit to support the Association and how association members were always willing to swap stories with them

Brian Melville did a small presentation on how the association supports the unit with BBQ’s and various awards including the Lionel Mathews award etc.

The feedback for the BBQ was very positive; the result being was that we gained four (4) new members.

Annual General Meeting and 2015 Audit

If any financial member would like a copy of the Minutes of the Annual General Meeting, held at 144 Signal Squadron, Keswick Barracks on the 7 February 2016 or the 2015 Audit, please contact the President Sally Napper, contact details above.

Dairy Dates

50th Anniversary of 144 Sig Sqn

144 Sig Squadron will be celebrating its 50th Birthday Dinner on the 27th August 2016, venue and timing TBA, watch this space for further updates.

104 Sig Sqn 104 Sig Sqn 28 - 30 May 2016 Sat –Mon 50th Anniversary Twin Town Services Club Full details at: http://2016.au104.org

50th Anniversary of Long Tan

50th Anniversary of Long Tan Reunion 15th to 23nd Aug 2016 – Saigon, Vietnam. See details at: http://www.buddhas-place.com/avietnam_2016_1admin.html

National Reunion, Healesville Yarra Valley Vic 9th to 14 November 2016

For further details on reunion, please see the end of this Messenger.

**ANZAC Day**

Well ANZAC Day is around the corner and once again the Anzac Day Lunch has been book for members as per last year, 40 seats have been booked at the Strathmore Hotel, North Terrace, Adelaide for 12:30, numbers are required one week prior to the event (18th April 2016), please contact the president if attending, contact details above.

Details for the Order of March have not been confirmed by the RSL as to our line up positions, RSL have advised that that final details will not be available before the 1st April as the RSL intend on publishing an 8-page booklet for Anzac Day. Our tentative position should be Group 7 (Royal Australian Signals Corps (Vietnam) and Group 12 (Royal Australian Corps of Signals). Please check your paper for up to date details, as these positions are still subject to change.

Gas Proof Box For Carrier Pigeons: German Army, 8th August 1918

Heavy wooden gas-proof carrying box, with 35mm thick sides, mounted on two wooden runners, to take up to four birds. The box is lined throughout with zinc plated steel. There is an outward opening inner mesh door reinforced with soldered vertical bars (one bar is missing) behind an outward opening wooden door with bevelled edges for a close airproof fit. The door is lined with steel plated zinc and edged with thick felt. It is secured by a swivelling metal peg. The front of the door is marked in white paint 'GERMAN GAS PROOF PIGEON BOX

From 5TH AUS - DIV SIGNAL COY 8/8/18'. It also bears a stamped aluminium manufacturer's plate, attached with four small tacks, which reads, 'VORM. L. VON BREMEN & Co KIEL/ Hanseatische Apparatebau-Gesellschaft'. Each short side has two field grey painted gas respirator canisters screwed through the depth of the side. They bear dates for December 1917, April and May 1918. A black painted metal carrying handle is screwed into each side between each pair of canisters. In addition to the carry handles there is a canvas shoulder strap running along the length of the box, attached with three screws above each of the upper canisters. The entire long side of the back of the box bears a khaki canvas pouch with a flap secured by two leather straps and buckles. The pouch contains a wooden frame with an inner edge of thick felt that can be secured of the door of the box by means of four wing nuts (one nut is missing). Attached to the centre of the frame, between the wood and felt, is a rubberised fabric pouch with two arm pieces to fit the operator's arms. A metal rimmed clear celluloid 'window' is set into the centre of the fabric. Once the frame is fitted over the door of the box the operator can catch the pigeon and attach a message while both are protected from gas attack.

British and German forces used carrier pigeons in significant numbers during the war to send important messages and communications. Where traditional methods of communications often failed, carrier pigeons were silent, efficient and reliable. Carrier pigeons used by the German army were targeted and captured, in order to intercept vital military messages, and break down enemy communication. The development of a gas proof box for storage and care of the pigeons - such a vital part of the communications network at the time - was a necessary development once gas had become an established weapon of the First World War.

The pigeons were a significant asset on both sides. Gas boxes, like this one, were designed to protect carrier pigeons during gas attacks in the trenches. This German army gas proof pigeon box was captured by 5th Australian Division Signal Company on the 8th August 1918. HMAS AE2 (Courtesy Australia War Memorial)

The AE2, the Royal Australian Navy's second submarine, was built in the United Kingdom and commissioned there on 28 February 1914 After commissioning, AE2 accompanied by AE1, sailed to Australia crewed jointly by British and Australian sailors, arriving at Sydney in May 1914.

Following the outbreak of war in August, both submarines proceeded to New Guinea for operations against the German colonies. AE2 was subsequently based in Suva, Fiji, and returned to Sydney in November 1914. In the following month she joined the second AIF convoy at Albany, Western Australia for passage to European waters and was towed across the Indian Ocean by the former auxiliary cruiser Berrima, now a transport.

Upon arrival in the Mediterranean, AE2 was assigned to operations off the Gallipoli Peninsula. She was ordered to penetrate the Dardanelles on 25 April 1915. AE2 entered the Dardanelles at 2.30 am. After torpedoing and damaging the Turkish gunboat Peykisevket she passed through the Narrows, pursued by surface vessels. She ran aground twice beneath the guns of the Turkish forts along the shore, but these guns could not be depressed low enough to fire on her.

Shaking off her pursuers, the submarine entered the Sea of Marmara on 26 April. For the next four days she attacked Turkish shipping with her torpedoes, but without success. Nevertheless, her presence was a nasty shock to the Turks. On 29 April AE2 met the British submarine E14 and the two vessels arranged to rendezvous the next day. E14 was the first of a number of submarines that were to follow AE2 into the Sea of Marmara and effectively close it to Turkish shipping bound for the battlefields of the Gallipoli Peninsula.

As AE2 surfaced at the rendezvous point on 30 April, the Turkish torpedo boat Sultan Hissar approached. AE2 immediately dived, but she lost trim and went out of control, broaching the surface twice. AE2 was hit in the engine room by Sultan Hissar's guns and the crew had no choice but to abandon ship. Although none of the submarine's complement were lost in the sinking, four were to die in captivity.

Some sources claim that AE2's signal announcing her penetration of the Dardanelles convinced the Commander in Chief not to order the re-embarkation of the troops that had gone ashore at Gallipoli on 25 April, but there is no real evidence to support this claim.

References

J. Bastock, Australia's Ships of War, (Sydney: Angus and Robertson, 1975).; R. Gillett, Australian & New Zealand warships, 1914-1945, (Lane Cove: Doubleday, 1983).; A.W. Jose, Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-1918, Volume IX, The Royal Australian Navy, (Sydney: Angus and Robertson, 1937).; J.H. Straczek, The Royal Australian Navy: ships, aircraft and shore establishments, (Sydney: Navy Public Affairs, 1996).

Recovered from Lone Pine (Courtesy Australia War Memorial) Remains of a Pattern 08 entrenching tool : Lone Pine, Gallipoli The spade end has been damaged by shrapnel, as has the hole where the helve (handle) would be placed. The spade is impressed with a partially legible circular maker's mark, '[S]EPTIMU[S] / AUGH [Illegible] / [illegible] E'.

This shrapnel damaged entrenching tool head was found by members of the of the Australian War Records Section (AWRS) at Lone Pine in January 1919. A small party of AWRS staff, led by Lieutenant William Hopkin James, worked on Gallipoli between December 1918 and March 1919, taking photographs and collecting items for the national collection.

The nature of the damage appears to have been caused by shrapnel or explosive force.

An entrenching tool was issued to each Australian infantryman along with a complete set of pattern 1908 webbing and equipment. The entrenching tool was an important piece of equipment carried by infantrymen when marching and fighting, attached to the right front side of their webbing for easy access. It was a versatile tool, used to dig defensive and fighting trenches, and was used as a weapon in the close confines of trenches for hand to hand fighting. When not being used, these heads were stored in a pouch suspended from the rear of the wearer's belt.

Damaged water bottle : Lone Pine, Gallipoli (Courtesy Australia War Memorial)

Shattered remains of a blue enamelled metal water bottle. The water bottle has been riddled with bullet and shrapnel and is missing most of its enamel. The exposed metal is rusted.

The remains of this water bottle were found on 6 March 1919 by the Australian Historical Mission at Lone Pine. The Mission, led by Official Historian C E W Bean, visited Gallipoli in February and March 1919 to collect items for the nation, to record the area through artworks and photographs, and to explore the battlefields to answer some of the 'riddles of Anzac' for the Australian official history of the war.

The water bottle belonged to one of the Australian soldiers who penetrated furthest into the Turkish territory during the attack on Lone Pine on 6 August 1915. The Turks later recaptured the position.

Whistle from attack on Lone Pine : Brigade-Major D M King, 1 Australian Infantry Brigade, AIF (Courtesy Australia War Memorial) Tubular police whistle of nickel plated brass manufacture, impressed on the tube body with the maker's details: 'The Metropolitan J. Hudson & Co 13 Barr St Birmingham Patent'. The integral suspension ring carries a thick cord lanyard with a hangman style of sliding knot. Police style whistle used by Brigade Major Dennis Malcolm King, a British staff officer and professional soldier on exchange with Australian forces at the start of the First World War. King was born on 25 November 1886 at Calcutta, India. His first recorded appointment with the British Army is with 1 Battalion, The King's (Liverpool) Regiment, from October 1906. He was promoted to lieutenant two years later, and served as battalion adjutant from 1909 to 1912. In August 1914 Lieutenant King joined the Sydney as an exchange officer. He was appointed orderly officer to the commanding officer of the 1st Australian Infantry Brigade, responsible for administrative affairs.

King was one of two British officers so appointed - the other was Captain Francis Duncan Irvine, Royal Engineers, who managed brigade operations. King was promoted to captain (and Irvine to major) two days before the Brigade sailed aboard the transport Euripides from Sydney and Fremantle, on 20 October, as part of the First Contingent, bound for Egypt. Training occupied the following 3 months, with King promoted to staff captain on 5 January.

Elements of 1 Brigade (mainly 1 and 3 Battalions) landed at Gallipoli on the morning of 25 April at about 7.50 am and were immediately sent into the line as reinforcements at Monash Valley. By the time of their first relief on 29 April, the Brigade had suffered 60 officers and 1325 men as casualties. The fighting had been fierce, losses heavy.

On 27 April at around 3.00 pm, Brigade-Major Irvine was killed at Steele's Post by a , despite being warned they were active ("It's my business to be sniped at," he said moments before he was killed). Ten minutes later, the commanding officer of the brigade, Colonel H N MacLaurin, was killed by the same sniper. C E W Bean wrote later, 'The tremendous strain of the command on MacLaurin's Hill had worn out McLagan, and was now telling heavily upon Owen. The brigade-major was dead, and King, the staff-captain, a young and vigorous officer, was near to breaking under the tension'.

A day later, a proposed attack for 1 May over the head of Monash Valley and the summit of Baby 700 brought 1 Brigade back into the line, but this was delayed after a reconnaissance by Brigadier General Bridges, accompanied by King, now acting as brigade major, revealed the operation was full of risk and the plans would need to be altered.

King was shot in his right thigh during this reconnaissance and was evacuated to 2 Australian General Hospital in Cairo, where the bullet was 'detected lying against femur'. It was removed and King recovered quickly. He was discharged on 19 May and re-joined the brigade at Gallipoli on 26 May.

1 Brigade was at the vanguard of the assault on Lone Pine on 6 August, conducted by 2, 3 and 4 Battalions with 1 Battalion in reserve. Bean records that after organising the movement forward of the battalions into their forming up positions, Major King prepared to lead the assault, 'whistle in one hand, watch in the other'.

Three blasts on this whistle signalled the start of the attack. King was highly active in the assault and the desperate underground fighting which ensued, directing defences and the digging of new cross-trenches, and facing the counter-attacks. By 9 August the Turks abandoned their attacks to regain the trench system, having suffered over 6,000 casualties to the 1st Australian Division's 2,000.

For his involvement in the Lone Pine attack, King was mentioned in Brigadier-General Walker's despatches of 31 August, it being noted that he and two other staff 'served with zeal and devotion to their brigade, participating in all the actions now under report. I recommend that their services receive due recognition'. King's Military Cross for 'distinguished service' was announced in the London Gazette of 1 January 1916.

After the evacuation from Gallipoli, King served with 1 Brigade in Egypt before being transferred to the newly-formed 5th Australian Divisional Headquarters on 12 March 1916 as one of its establishment General Staff Officers, Grade II, Temporary. Ellis's book 'The Story of the Fifth Australian Division' mentions that 'Major King had the ardent and energetic temperament of so many men of Irish extraction, and his personal gallantry and his experience of staff and regimental work promised well for his success as G.S.O. II.'

He moved to France in April 1916 and remained with divisional headquarters, often in front line duties, until temporarily transferred to General Headquarters (2nd Echelon) under Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig from 26 December 1916 to 7 February 1917, and again from 26 February to 21 September. Haig, in his mentioned-in-despatches notice of 13 November 1916 wrote, 'I have the honour to submit the name of the undermentioned officer (D M King) who has served under my command during the period 26 Feb to midnight, 20/21 September 1917 whose distinguished and gallant service and devotion to duty I consider deserving of special mention.' (London Gazette, 7 Dec 1917 and CoA Gazette No 66 2 May 1918).

Soon after, King's appointment with the AIF was terminated, on 7 December 1917, 'having resumed duty with Imperial Army". He was recommended for the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) on 12 October 1916 for his work at Gallipoli, his staff work with 5 Division in Egypt and the organisation of its disembarkation, and at Sailly from July to September. His abilities as organiser of the Divisional Training Schools and his example to reinforcements at Petillon (19/20 September) are also mentioned.

Major King was awarded a bar to his DSO for 'conspicuous gallantry and good leadership in organising three successful raids and compelling the enemy to withdraw from an outpost line overlooking our front line', in November 1917.

After the war, Major King was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and placed in charge of 16 Infantry Brigade, Irish Command, from early January 1920 as part of the British attempt to control republican activity. His interim activities are unknown, but he deployed to India sometime in the 1930s, where he served as assistant Adjutant General, Directorate of Organisation, Army Headquarters, Simla from January 1935. By the time he contacted the Memorial in August 1953 to donate this whistle, he had retired to Cape Province, South Africa, where he died on 12 August 1960

Frederick Tubb VC (Courtesy Australia War Memorial) Portrait of Captain Frederick Harold Tubb VC, 7th Battalion, of Longwood Victoria.

Frederick Tubb was born at 'St Helena' Longwood on 28 November 1881. Educated at East Longwood State School, he left to manage his father's property and become a grazier in his own right. He was active in the community, being secretary to the local Mechanics' Institute and a member of the gun and tennis clubs. An excellent horseman, Tubb served in the Victorian Mounted Rifles, the Australian Light Horse and the 60th (Princes Hill) Infantry Regiment. His interest in the military continued when he joined the 58th Infantry Regiment (Essendon Rifles) in 1913, in which he held a commission as second lieutenant at the outbreak of the First World War.

Tubb enlisted in the AIF on 24 August 1914, only 20 days after the proclamation of war, and was posted as a second lieutenant to the 7th Battalion, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Harold 'Pompey' Elliott. He was promoted lieutenant on 3 February 1915 and captain on 6 August, three days before the action at Lone Pine, Gallipoli, for which he was awarded the . An extract from The London Gazette, No 29328 dated 15 October 1915, records the following: For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty at Lone Pine trenches, in the Gallipoli Peninsula, on 9th August, 1915. In the early morning the enemy made a determined counter attack on the centre of the newly captured trench held by Lieutenant Tubb. They advanced up a sap and blew in a sandbag barricade, leaving only one foot of its standing, but Lieutenant Tubb led his men back, repulsed the enemy and rebuilt the barricade. Supported by strong bombing parties, the enemy succeeded in twice again blowing in the barricade, but on each occasion Lieutenant Tubb, although wounded in the head and arm, held his ground with the greatest coolness and rebuilt it, and finally succeeded in maintaining his position under very heavy bomb fire.

Due to wounds he received in the battle, Tubb was invalided to England and took no further part in the . While recuperating, further surgery was required to remove his appendix on 27 December. Physically weak due to effects of the wounds and exacerbated by the surgery, Tubb was sent to Australia to convalesce in March 1916. When asked by reporters on his return to describe his Victoria Cross action he replied 'I did not do a darned thing, when you consider what 6000 other fellows did but they did not survive that terrible four days and I did'. He left Australia in early October and rejoined his battalion, now in France, on 10 December.

Tubb was promoted to the rank of major in February 1917. In June, he again became ill and was invalided to England, rejoining his unit on 7 August. On the 20th of the following month the battalion took part in the fighting around Passchendaele. Near Polygon Wood, Tubb's company seized nine pillboxes only to come under allied shelling when the supporting artillery barrage fell short. Tubb was mortally wounded by one of the shells and died later that evening.

Major Frederick Tubb is buried in the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery near Poperinge, Belgium. His original cross was erected by his brothers, Lieutenant Arthur Oswald Tubb, Sapper Alfred Charles Tubb and Captain Frank Reid Tubb. Frank Tubb also served in the 7th Battalion, being awarded a Military Cross in fighting around Pozieres in August 1916.

Format for National Reunion – 9th to 14th Nov 2016: Yarra Valley:

Wednesday 9th Nov 2016 - All attendees and members start to arrive in the Yarra Valley, - Get settled into caravan parks & accommodation, - Attend BBQ/meet & greet at Healesville RSL, Pick up gift pack – 12.00pm start - Rest of the day is free to explore the area.

Thursday 10th Nov 2016 - Hire of buses for transport – DVA Grants for whole day - Attend Shrine of Remembrance for Tree/Plaque dedication or wreath laying  This dedication should be no longer than 15 to 20 minutes – 09.30am Start - Healesville Sanctuary tour or - Winery tour. (We can organise a bus if we get enough numbers)

Friday 11th Nov 2016 – Hire of buses for transport – DVA Grants for whole day - Vietnam Veterans can do a tour of the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Phillip Island. (We can organise a bus if we get enough numbers) - Attend the Shrine for the Remembrance Day service – 11.00am - Buses to Simpson Bks for tour of RASigs Museum, DFSS & Barracks - Sgts Mess for BBQ and Drinks – 10.00am start, back on the buses at 7.00pm

Saturday 12th Nov 2016 - Hire of buses for transport – DVA Grants for events - Visit the old area/site of Balcombe Bks for those who want to - Formal Dinner – MCG members Dining room Level 2 ($120.00 per person at this stage, May be cheaper. Yet to be Confirmed) - 6.30pm for 7.00pm start. Jacket & Tie or Lounge suit, no demin

Sunday 13th Nov 2016 - Official parade in Healesville – 12.00pm start (Possibly earlier) - Inspection of Troops by Reviewing Officer, Mayor, RSL, President of Assn - After parade, back to Healesville RSL for lunch - Official closing of Reunion

Monday 14th Nov 2016 - Hand over to next State Assn for next reunion - Good byes and farewells - Everyone heads home.

Contact Details:

Mr Gavin Lee (Vic President) [email protected] or 0425 722 347 Mr Phil Nelson (Vic Treasurer) [email protected] or 0407 215 501

www.rasigs.com go to the Victorian box and follow the prompts. Return details to email: [email protected]

Go to: RASIGS Association National Reunion Nov 2016

RASIGS NATIONAL REUNION: To be held at HEALESVILLE Victoria 9th to 14th November 2016 Intention to attend RASIGS Reunion: Name: Partner /Guest Name:

Event Date: Event: Attending: Yes or No & Number 9th Nov 2016 Meet & Greet at Healesville RSL 10th Nov 2016 RASigs Plaque & Tree dedication at Shrine of Remembrance (Morning), Healesville Sanctuary tour (afternoon) or Winery tour (afternoon) 11th Nov 2016 Simpson Barracks tour: Museum, New School of Signals (DFSS), Barracks area, and BBQ at Sergeants Mess. 12th Nov 2016 Visit old Balcombe site (Possible if enough numbers). Formal Dinner – MCG Members Dining room 13th Nov 2016 Official parade down main street in Healesville, then back to RSL 14th Nov 2016 Farewells

Your contact details: Address:

Email:

Contact phone numbers:

RETURN YOUR DETAILS TO THE FOLLOWING EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected]

Details for the event including costs are at: www.rasigs.com Facebook page: RASIGS Association National Reunion Nov 2016 Mr Gavin Lee (Vic President) [email protected] or 0425 722 347 Mr Philip Nelson (Vic Treasurer) [email protected] or 0407 215 501

Your information MUST be returned no later than 30th September 2016 to allow for catering and transport requirements. Thank you