NEWSLETTER 2/2009 SEPTEMBER 2009 Graduation Parade June 2009

The Duntroon Society Newsletter

Editor Associate Editors Dr M.J. (Mike) Ryan Colonel R.R. Harding (()Retd) School of Engineering and IT 37 Quandong St. UNSW@ADFA O’CONNOR ACT 2602 Australian Defence Force Academy Telephone: (02) 6248 5494 Northcott Drive E-mail: [email protected] CANBERRA ACT 2600 Telephone: (02) 6268 8200 Colonel C.A. Field Fax: (02) 6268 8443 Directorate Future Land Warfare and Strategy E-mail: [email protected] R8-2-002 Army Headquarters RUSSELL OFFICES CANBERRA ACT 2600 E-mail: [email protected]

Cover: photographs courtesy of Defence Publishing Service AudioVisual, Duntroon (Photographers: Phillip Vavasour and Grace Costa) tended to be spectators of the spectacular events happening Korean Recollections of a Signals on our left and were most grateful that no breakthrough Graduate occurred. Ray Clark In accordance with the requirements of the cease-fire, a demilitarized zone 155 miles long and 2.5 miles wide was established between the Chinese and UN forces. On On 12 December 1950 I graduated from the Royal Military withdrawing from our positions, 3 RAR were allocated a College Duntroon into the Royal Australian Corps of battalion area in a series of re-entrants north of the Imjin Signals and was posted to Northern Command in Brisbane River. It was here that we began establishing our tented for attendance at Queensland University to complete my accommodation which we were to occupy for the rest of my Science Degree. stay in Korea. Before launching into my subject I should warn readers Of course there was no certainty that the cease-fire that the heading of this article may be somewhat misleading. would last, so it was necessary for the UN forces to prepare If you are expecting to read about switchboards, cable battle positions in the event of a further Chinese/North routing, signal strengths, frequencies, codes and signal Korean attack. This defence line was known as the Kansas traffic volumes then you will be disappointed—but read on. Line and was based on the Imjin River. The 3 RAR position By 1953 the Royal Australian Infantry Corps, with two was located on a feature called The Lozenge. Once the battalions to maintain in Korea, required more junior defensive layout had been decided, the development of our officers to serve as platoon commanders. The solution was a positions became our major daily commitment. As 3 RAR request to other Corps to fill the gap. As a result, I and quite was located north of the Imjin River we had to be a few others, found ourselves transferred to Infantry for a transported each day by truck over the Pintail pontoon year's service in Korea. It was a wonderful experience to be bridge to our allocated positions. It was here that we spent given this opportunity and it served me well for the rest of many hours digging first, weapon pits, then communication my army career. trenches, and then fully developed bunkers. The bunkers Following infantry training at 4 RAR at Ingleburn and were pre-fabricated timber structures with concrete lintels the Divisional Battle School at Haramura in Japan, I was and most of the defence stores were delivered by helicopter posted to 3 RAR as an infantry platoon commander joining on to the positions in rope slings carried under the choppers. them on 22 July1953—Lieutenant Colonel A.L. MacDonald Imagine the huge commitment of men, material and (1939) was Commanding Officer and Captain R. Stanley- resources to build the whole Kansas Line. However, there Harris (NZ) (1944) was Adjutant. At the time 3 RAR were was no shortage of manpower. occupying a defensive position in the line with 2 RAR on Apart from our major role there were individual and our left on a feature known as The Hook and the Samichon unit training programs, unit and brigade exercises, sport, River on our right. Although the cease-fire was only days entertainment and two weeks leave in Japan after six away, things were anything but quiet in the line. In fact, on months. Life in our tented accommodation was tolerable and the two nights prior to the cease-fire the Chinese launched with winter came warm clothing, ‘choofers’, and Quonset two major attacks on The Hook with the aim of either huts for the messes. Choofers were round metal containers breaking through or at least straightening the line. However, about two feet tall and twenty inches diameter with a metal 2 RAR and a US Marine unit, with the support of the chimney which went through the roof of the tent. Fuel was Divisional and Corps artillery, distinguished themselves by fed from a jerry can outside the tent and was ignited by repelling the massed Chinese attacks and the cease-fire throwing a match into the choofer and turning on the fuel. If followed on 27 July. Tragically, 2 RAR lost five killed and there was too much fuel it went off with a bang and if 24 were wounded in these engagements. We, in 3 RAR,

3 RAR Officers Mess, Korea, 1954. 1 allowed to get too hot the chimney became red hot and could easily burn down the tent. There were strict fire drills. C.H. (Colin) Brown (CSC 901) Sporting activities became most important and included Allan Limburg cricket, athletics, volleyball, rugby and soccer. Inter-unit and inter-nation rivalries were great morale boosters. I was Colin Brown graduated from Duntroon as cadet 901 in fortunate to play in a cricket ‘test’ series, Australia versus 1944. Following an accident near his home in America the Brits. The Royal Tank Regiment had developed a large when he was hit by a car, he died two weeks later on 12 cricket ground in front of their Officers’ Mess and it was December 2008. here that we met on three occasions for Ashes honours. I do On Saturday 21 March 2009 an informal service was not remember the result but it created a lot of interest. held at the Australian National Gallery in St Kilda Road, We also had a rugby series with the Brits and the Kiwis, Melbourne to honour the memory of Colin. Colin was a played on a bare ground with no beg pardons. Again the distinguished soldier, writer, painter and an outstanding results were not important. The Rugby became more serious public servant. After graduating from Duntroon he served as when a British Commonwealth Forces Korea (BCFK) team a platoon commander in 2/5 Infantry Battalion in New was chosen to make a short tour of Japan in March 1954. Guinea in World War II. On his return to Australia he was Our team had strong credentials as we had some outstanding posted to the Directorate of Military Intelligence at AHQ for players from the Brits and the Kiwis and I had captained four years. He served as a Company Commander and Queensland University and State sides in 1952. Our coach Adjutant of 1 RAR in 1952−53. After leaving the Regular was former international Max Carpenter who played on the Army as a lieutenant colonel in 1953 he joined the wing for Australia pre WW2. Jim Black (1951) was the only Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) until other RMC member of the team. We played Osaka he retired in 1982. The last nine years were in the post of University in Osaka and Tokyo University and All Kanto First Assistant Director General. Together with his wife, Students at the Prince Chichibu ground in Tokyo. The Diana, he also published The Whaler and the Privateer— standard was reasonably good resulting in us winning one The Story of Two Ships, 1795−1807, and was a painter in match, drawing one, and losing one. This would have been oils. the first international tour of Japan after the WW2. While in the line in Korea in 1952 and 1953 we seldom met. I really got to know Colin well after I gladly accepted his request to assist him with his book—Stalemate in Korea—The Royal Australian Regiment in the Static War of 1952−1953. He included in Chapter 8 one of the many stories that I have written about an aspect of our life during the Korean War. In the introduction he very kindly stated in part: ‘I am especially indebted to Allan Limburg for his very helpful comments and interesting facts and figures and to (Dr) John Bradley (our RMO in Korea) and Bill Harrington.’ (both of whom I regarded as very close friends)—both of whom have passed on too early into that great Australian Army in the Sky. Colin also gave me great support in our prolonged fight to finally get health studies undertaken for our Korean War veterans against much sustained indifference and opposition—which finally came to fruition eight years later BCFK Rugby Team meeting Lieutenant General Wells (C in in the three separate study reports—the Korean War C BCFK), Major Max Carpenter (Coach), and Lieutenant Veterans Mortality, Cancer Incidence and Health studies (all Ray Clark (Captain). completed by 2005 and available in hard copy or on the I left Korea on 9 July 1954 on posting to AHQ Signal Internet). As a part of that he supported me in the production Regiment in Melbourne. My year with the 3 RAR had of my 39 research papers prepared at the request of the allowed me to see how a large Army operates in the field. I Chairman for the two study committees (some of which are am full of admiration for those members of the Infantry also available on the Internet). Corps who bore the brunt of combat, particularly in the When things got tough Colin was always a staunch static situation that applied in the last two years of the supporter. In a true story which I wrote about a Canadian Korean War, where their basic infantry skills of patrolling Korea veteran—A Korean War Guinea Pig—which was and ambushing were put to the test. And my lasting published in the Korea Veterans RSL newsletter The 38th in impressions of the country of Korea—STEEP HILLS AND June 2002 (and subsequently in the Internet) the Editor INTENSE COLD. included the following supporting insert: In the words of Lieutenant Colonel Colin Brown, Korea ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ war veteran and author of Stalemate in Korea: Colonel R.A. Clark entered the RMC on 22 February 1947  When soldiers are committed to battle, they place their and, as a member of the first of the four-year post-war faith in their commanders and beyond them their courses, graduated on 12 December 1950, when he was politicians, to give them all possible support. allotted to the Royal Australian Corps of Signals. As the  If the Federal authorities continue to deny a Director, Communications, then the title of the professional sympathetic understanding and acceptance of the head of his Corps, he retired on 21 March 1978. serious repercussions caused by the intense use of such chemical agents, they are guilty of a breach of faith with those who were so unwittingly exposed.

2 They are now suffering severe disorders far beyond Some of the light-hearted comments notated by the average of the population not so subjected, whose instructors of the time continued to be topics of discussion average standard of health was lower than that of the for the remainder of the week. volunteers at the time of their entry into Korea. Canberra turned on one of its cloudless night skies for • What is needed is a better understanding and our Reunion Dinner at On Red, at Red Hill Lookout, which acceptance of the problems relating to toxic chemicals gave us a brilliantly lit overview of the city to end our by those most qualified and their views should be put reunion. convincingly to the authorities.  It is disgraceful that it took the Canadian DVA 45 years to accept a seriously disabled servicemen’s plea for a pension for the condition of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. It is a sad reflection on our Australian system that we are even further behind and even more intransigent than the Canadians. Colin will be long remembered by present and future generations of schoolchildren as Bob Morris, President of the Korea War Veterans Australia Recognition Committee, is currently arranging an ongoing project to issue to as many schools as possible a copy of Colin’s book Stalemate in Korea, together with one or two others, to let schoolchildren know about and study the Korean War. Colin was a man of very diverse talents. He will be long remembered by all those who not only served with him in The class at the Museum and Archive. the Korean War, but, presumably by all who served with him in ASIO and in many other wider fields. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Colonel A.E. Limburg graduated from the RMC in 1951 into the Royal Australian Infantry Corps. He was medically retired from the Regular Army in 1977. A synopsis of his varied interests is on p. 3 of Newsletter 1/2007. Since his first article in Newsletter 2/1995, his writings have appeared in a number of newsletters. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ July 1958 Class Entry Portsea Graduation Fiftieth Anniversary

Jim Ellis John Dorward, Neil Spencer, Barry Malligan, Ian Maclean, The reunion was held in conjunction with the Graduation Ray Bricknell, Don Heming, Jim Ellis, Jim Litchfield, Ken Parade of The Royal Military College of Australia, at Mackenzie, Peter Ray, Bruce Hayhow, and Ron Behan. Duntroon, on 23 June, 2009. We are grateful to Brigadier Michael Moon, the Commandant, and his staff, for the marvellous hospitality shown to us. Celebrations began with a cocktail party at the home of our classmate, Ron Behan, who is a renowned art collector. Ron’s knowledge of indigenous art is peerless and the guided tour of his collection was just the backdrop we needed to get everyone settled in. Classmates arrived from all over Australia and we were especially pleased that our only overseas student, Bruce Hayhow and his wife Judy, were with us. Brigadier Moon provided an excellent morning tea for us in Duntroon House Officers’ Mess after the parade. We lunched at Pod Food at Pialligo and went back to Duntroon where Chaplain Kerry Bartlett led us in a solemn ceremony at the Portsea Memorial to give thanks for the lives of our Jill Ray, Judy Hayhow, Desley Spencer, Joselyn Mackenzie, departed classmates. We finished the day in the Museum Glenda Ellis, Nancy Maclean, Barbara Dorward, Nancy and Archive where the archivist, Mr Ross Howarth, had Litchfield, Maureen Malligan, Heather Heming, and Helen gone to considerable lengths to present our cadet files and Bricknell. scrapbook which proved of immense interest to both the classmates and their wives. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

3 Lake George, 1956 and Now On the Opening of the Lieutenant John Bullen Colonel G.J. McKay MC Lecture On Sunday 8 July 1956, five staff cadets died at Lake Theatre—10 October 2008 George. Ian Colquhoun, Brian Jorgensen, David Noble, Ron Pritchard and Jim Reilly were all in Third Class. Their [In Newsletter 1/2009, Wal Hall reported in his From the deaths reduced the class strength from 56 to 51, of whom 48 OTU Representative report that The Lieutenant Colonel graduated in 1958. The full story of the Corps of Staff G.J. McKay MC Lecture Theatre in the RMC Military Cadets Sailing Club tragedy in 1956 is comprehensively told Instruction Block was officially opened by Gary McKay on in Darren Moore’s fine book Duntroon 1911−2001. 10 October 2008 in the presence of the Commandant, The 1955−58 Class commemorated their dead Gary’s Classmates from Scheyville Intake 2/68, and other classmates at the time with a bronze memorial plaque which distinguished guests, including Tim Fischer (3/66). today is on the external wall of the RMC Chapel, facing the Following the opening Gary entertained the gathering with grassy courtyard at the back. the initial ‘lecture’ in the theatre named in his honour. The But those who died have never been forgotten. The text of Gary’s address follows. Ed] class has always kept in touch with their families, and members of the Colquhoun, Jorgensen and Noble families Seeing as how we have a few minutes to spare and it is my have attended various class reunions. David Noble’s sister, theatre anyway, I thought it appropriate to have our first Lysbeth Gould, has never missed a single reunion despite anniversary lecture in this now-named structure. Listen having to travel from Proserpine. carefully, take notes because there will be a test at the end In 2008, Senior Chaplain Jim Cosgrove, formerly and failure means no dinner. chaplain at RMC, was moved to write a poem, telling the I will just simply give you an A to Z of key words to re- story of the Lake George tragedy. He mounted the poem in a kindle those long lost and faded memories of a time 40 years frame together with photographic portraits of the five ago when we still had waists and computers were the size of victims and a photograph of the funeral service on the RMC garden sheds. parade ground on 15 September 1956. Jim Cosgrove presented his framed work to the 1955−58 Class who in turn A is for ASSESSMENT—the act of making sure that even presented it to the College in the presence of the December when the pressure wasn’t on, we thought it was. 2008 graduating class. Striking in appearance, it now hangs B is for BAR—a piece of wood that when stood in front of in the Corps of Staff Cadets Mess. The 1955−58 Class gave us pleasure, and which we queued at every meal commissioned a second framed work, identical to the one time before we devoured anything and everything placed presented to the College. The second one was to be in front of us to eat. presented to the family of David Noble. C is for COURSES, like the obstacle course and the cross In December 2008, the 1955−58 Class celebrated its country course we had to run almost as soon as we fiftieth anniversary of graduation. The reunion included arrived at Scheyville. several class members who were not fortunate enough to D is for DOUBLING—the art of moving at twice the graduate and of course Lysbeth Gould too. On 7 December, normal pace normal people move at; but which we did Senior Chaplain Jim Cosgrove conducted a memorial because there weren’t enough hours in a day. service at the graves of the four Lake George victims who E is for EXTRAS, like extra training parades and extra are buried in the military section of Woden Cemetery. drills because we had screwed up and forgot to dust During the service the 1955−58 Class presented Lysbeth under our beds. Gould with the memorial for the Noble family. F FLAGS, the saluting flags on the road to the Military All present were then privileged to hear Lysbeth speak Instruction lecture hall that we had to salute when on her brother David’s and her own background. Until that marching past either alone or in a body of cadets. moment, few if any in the audience had appreciated just how G is for GOSPERS, a place where we put our lessons into recently the Noble family had migrated to Australia, and practice and froze our bums off. how hard the family had been hit by David’s tragic death. H is for HAIR—something we didn’t have and everyone Speaking from the heart and without notes, Lysbeth made else did in the Age of Aquarius. the afternoon an experience to be cherished forever. I is for INSPECTIONS of anything and everything we owned, and always inspected whenever we never really had the time to clean it. J is for JORGENSON, the only person I ever met who called me a thug just because I whacked him with a hockey stick which, in my own defence, I was given without a set of instructions. K is for KINGS ROW—the line of rooms occupied by those who had seriously sucked up to the DS in junior class and immorally obtained rank and status over those of us who served as their slaves and lackeys. L is for LEAPS, where we learnt to change in a hurry and find all the clothes that Her Majesty had so generously given us. John Bullen, Lysbeth Gould, and the framed poem. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

4 M is for MARS bars that sustained us between meals and T is for TIME, something we never had enough of when were sold by the pallet-load out of the laundry near the sprinting from field training or weapon training lessons parade ground. to classroom lectures and then to PT. N is for NAVIGATION—the one thing that NCOs always U is for UNIFORM that we had to learn to wear without dreaded was a second lieutenant with a map, but we bringing down the wrath of the drillies. always found our way back from Sydney despite V is for VOLLEYS—Dunlop volleys that were our destroying almost every brain cell we had been issued ergonomically designed sandshoes that we had to run or whilst on leave. try to run two-mile and nine-mile runs in SAS times. No O is for the OBSTACLE course which contained cargo wonder we all have fallen arches! nets (something I never saw in the jungle that needed to W is for the improvised WATER CROSSING drill we did be climbed over) and a bear pit complete with dead cow, at Cattai Creek in July when the air temperature was zero another obstacle I never encountered on operations and the water temperature even lower, and we found that against the Viet Cong, let alone bears). bodily immersion in the icy water meant we suddenly P is for the seven Ps that were drummed into us and that had an extra set of tonsils. prior preparation and planning would prevent piss poor X is for the MARKS the DS made on our assessment forms performance. when we were caught picking our noses in public or Q is for QUEE—the drillie who we loved to hate and who using the wrong knife when undergoing etiquette gave us so much to look forward to when we did drill training. with and without arms. Y Why the hell do we look back on the place with so much R is for RECREATIONAL DRESS—the attire of grey affection? flannel cuffed trousers, white shirt and 1¼-inch-wide tie Z is for what we tried to do at every opportunity when we that blended in so well with the mob at the Coogee Bay weren’t at Scheyville. Hotel when we were let out on 36 hours leave. S is for SONS, the buggers who put us back on the parade ground just when we thought we had everything sussed out. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

was to see a country so different from our own. Firstly, the Foreign Army Exchange Program road rules. Where in Australia there is one car per lane and (FAEP)—Vietnam rules must be strictly obeyed, Vietnam’s road rules and Jonas Price traffic were more like casual guidelines. If you can find a space of vacant road, anywhere, then it has to be filled. Cast Of Characters: Captain R.M.W. (Robert) Flynn (Jun While it looked similar to Sydney rush hour, amazingly the 2000), Staff Cadets Sally Moon, Steve Cotterill, Christian traffic flowed very well. Chapius, Alex Lynn, and Jonas Price. We made our first official visit to the Vietnam Medical Academy where we were shown around some of Upon arriving, we found travelling from a Canberra the classrooms, facilities, and cadet accommodation, morning to the oven of Ho Chi Minh City a bit of a shock to including a trip to visit the burns wing of a major hospital the system. We were to board another plane to Hanoi when which seemed surprisingly advanced. It was fair to say that it came over the loudspeaker that the cyclone that was none of us would complain about how we live at RMC ever sitting just off the coast was going to move inland. again, as there was a noticeable gap in living and studying However, fortunately for us apparently, our plane would be conditions. Our second and last official visit was to the the last to leave and fly through it. One hour and six vomit Vietnam Foreign Language Academy (Unit 871) located just bags later we arrived in Hanoi. After booking into the aptly a bumpy ride outside Hanoi. This trip really took our breath named Army Hotel, we were given a short tour of the city. It away Most of the cadets had a better command of the

5 English language than we did ourselves. This was evident highlight was the hiring of mopeds for a bit of travel around when we sat in a class for a period to help them learn some the city. Now, officially I didn’t kill anyone but it wasn’t for new English, but instead they wanted to talk to us about the lack of trying as I attempted to hone my motorbike skills Socceroos and what it was like in Australia. In the end, both and failed. My only success was in providing much humour parties came out much more knowledgeable than when they for the boys and heart attacks for the owners of the bikes. went in. The cadets held a concert for us in the afternoon, Another overnighter back up to Hanoi, and we found and didn’t they make us feel like celebrities. (This was also ourselves travelling up to Halong Bay for some more R&R. the point where Cotts decided that he had not one, but two This must be seen to be believed, the photos just do not do it loves of his life in our two chaperones, Trinh and Trang.) justice. We had a boat all to ourselves to float about the All the classes had been working on the show for weeks and harbour and to relax and reflect on a most awesome week. they had the most wonderful singers and dancers. We The last big highlight on the trip was a visit to the returned fire with a horrible version of ‘Waltzing Matilda’ snake restaurant, where we did eat a whole snake that was and joined in with them to sing a bit of Michael Jackson. We alive at the start of the night. They do use the whole thing, gave out all our little Aussie souvenirs and fina1ly became bones, skin, and all. By far the best part was the heart still crowd favourites, with Captain Flynn trying to give away beating as it was placed on the table and Lynn manned up anything that wasn’t tied down. It was a day that we didn’t and swallowed it whole, while Chapuis looked more than want to end, but sadly we had some travelling to do and queasy in the corner about the whole affair. there was drinking to be done further down the country. So Overall, it was a very entertaining and enlightening we bid them farewell after ten thousand photos and seven days, and one that will be remembered by all those handshakes. who attended. This is definitely a trip that I can recommend With the official part of the tour completed, a bit of to anyone at RMC as they will find it well worthwhile. fun was to be had. Our first ‘tourist’ stop was in silk town, a [In Newsletter 1/2009, as in this issue, a new country name section of Hanoi dedicated to making quality silk. It was has appeared in the Profile of the Corps of Staff Cadets here that Cotts and Sally introduced us to the fine art of section. Without fanfare, cadets from Vietnam are now bartering, because $1.50 was way too much to pay for a members of the CSC—a remarkable turn of events for may metre of silk. We learned that the shopkeepers expected us who served in South Vietnam during 1965−72 and, no to barter or they would see us coming a mile away and doubt, many others. Among the preliminary moves in this double all the prices in their store. Whilst in Hanoi, we also development was a visit to Vietnam in September 2007 by a had the privilege of attending a water puppet show. It will group of staff cadets from the RMC. A report of their visit be well-recommended to the next FAEP visitors, but I won't was published in the 2007 Royal Military College Journal describe it. It has to be enjoyed first hand. and is published here by the kind permission of the Editor. We then made an overnight train trip down to Hue in Ed] the middle of the country. It wasn’t hard to pick the Australians on the train, as they were the ones making a mad ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ dash to the bar carriage as soon as the train left the station, (I Lieutenant J.E. (Jonas) Price graduated from the RMC on mean, at 60 cents a beer, could you say ‘No’? Well could 24 June 2008 and was allocated to the Royal Australian you?). After a few (hundred) beers, and just as many rants Corps of Transport. His first posting was to 7 Combat from Captain Flynn, we arrived in Hue to find it under water Service Support Battalion in Brisbane. due to the torrential downpour that we had slept through. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We did some travelling around Hue, because with plenty of eating, it seemed we just couldn’t get enough food. Another

6 From the Archives

Duntroon House in 1915. Note the conservatory and the bell tower (which is taller than it is currently). Photograph courtesy of the RMC Archivist—Mr Ross Howarth.

will be build around the mid-year graduation, with From the Commandant additional reunion and celebratory functions as well. It will Brigadier M.J. Moon, DSC, AM take place over the period 24 to 27 June 2011, with a separate Queen’s Birthday Parade on 4 June where the CSC First let me echo my last Commandant’s Report by will troop the colour. So keep these dates in your calendars. reinforcing what an honour and privilege it is for me to see Of course on the issue of calendars, the Queen’s the great work done by all both within the College and its Birthday Parade for this year had to be cancelled due the extended family—the Society being one of this family’s threat of swine flu, with it looking likely that over one most important members. The Society, and the Royal hundred staff cadets may have needed to be placed in Military College of Australia Association of which it is a quarantine on the day. And of course the Beating of Retreat key element, continues to promise great things for the was cancelled due to funding pressures within Army. While future. The conditions have been set to provide a very Queen’s Birthday is in the program for next year, the effective platform to ‘support the College’ as is your (and Beating of Retreat will be subject to review and reappraisal our) stated aim. I still see my job to facilitate the continued in the New Year. implementation and bedding in of these two key All in all, it has been a very busy period for both the components of the Duntroon fabric. College and HQ RMC-A. We have completed our recent While the year seems to have ‘vaporised’ with it Army change to new command structures. RMC-A now already September, the focus for the College remains the owns the Recruit Training Centre at Kapooka and the Land Regular Course, the 1st and 5th (and final) Module of the Warfare Centre in Canungra. In effect, RMC–A now owns Reserve Course, the Specialist Service Officer Course and all common individual career training for Army—officer Single Service Training for ADFA. At the time of drafting and soldier. This has, unfortunately for me, meant that I this message, we have 166 Cadets in I Class, 105 in II Class have often been drawn away from Canberra. It also means I and 106 in III Class. In June we had a very successful have been drawn one degree of separation away from the graduation of over 80 Australian young officers as well as staff cadets here at Duntroon. That said, the new structures officers from New Zealand, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, promise to be more effective for overall Army training Iraq, and Tonga. In July we had over 120 Staff Cadets continuity, and this is a good thing and long overdue. march-in and commence Third Class, and thus the cycle of On a final personal note, I look forward to the life at Duntroon continues as it always has. Of note, in Third continued relationship with Duntroon’s extended family, Class we have our first Staff Cadet from Pakistan. and in particular those like you that have demonstrated Interestingly, we are the first overseas officer training ongoing commitment to support the College and more establishment that this nation has sent its personnel to other importantly the cadets. than Sandhurst in the UK. Importantly planning continues for the Duntroon ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Centenary. In essence it is still planned that the Centenary

7 There will be further meetings of the Society Committee From the Chairman, Duntroon and the Board later this year and reports will be published Society Committee on our web site. Peter Evans Society Fellows RMC-A Association Inc. Board I reported in Newsletter 1/2009 that, the title of Fellow was to be conferred on those members who had previously been The RMC-A Association Inc. Board met on 29 July under honoured with the award of Honorary Life Membership. the chairmanship of the Commandant, Brigadier M.J. (Mick) Moon (OCS Jul 1981). Other Board members are: Current Fellows of the Duntroon Society are: Colonel N.R. (Neville) Bergin (1956) Lieutenant Colonel J. (Jamie) McDonald (1993), Vice Lieutenant Colonel J.E. (John) Bullen (1958) Chair; Brigadier P.J.A. (Peter) Evans (1958) Lieutenant Colonel M.C. (Michael) Kent (1991), CSC Colonel R.R. (Ross) Harding (1948) Committee; Associate Professor H.S. (Sydney) Hodges Lieutenant Colonel I.D. (Ian) Hampson (1992), Associate Professor J.T. (John) Laird Duntroon House Committee; Brigadier R.J. (John) Moyle (1956) Lieutenant Colonel J.E. (John) Bullen (Retd) (1958), Brigadier A.R. (Tan) Roberts (OCS Jun 1952) Heritage Committee; and Major W.J. (Wally) Wark Brigadier P.J.A. (Peter) Evans (Retd) (1958), Duntroon Lieutenant Colonel R.D. (Ron) Hamlyn (1957) Society Committee. Past Fellows are: Non-voting members of the Board are: Major J.R. Associate Professor B. (Boyd) Dempsey (James) Kmet (1993), Lieutenant Lacey Western, Monsignor J.M. Hoare Lieutenant N.P. (Nicholas) Trotter (June 2006) and Mr Major General A.L. (Alan) Morrison (1947) Jon Morris. Lieutenant Colonel C.E. (Cav) O’Callaghan Draft Minutes are not yet available but I can report that Brigadier J.T. (John) Paley consolidation of various funds has been completed and a Mr H.V. (Harry) Hutton Budget has been approved. Arrangements are in place with the Army Shop that should generate considerable income in Class Orderlies the near future. Action is in hand to refurbish the Campbell From its early days, the Duntroon Society Newsletter, with Bell and for the installation of the Duntroon Society varying frequency, has been used as a point of contact for Centenary Plaque. A number of issues were resolved and, in some classes. Particularly with a few of the classes whose my opinion, the Board is operating effectively. members have now passed into the silence, their reunions My report to the Board on the Society contained the were initiated by notices in the Newsletter as a means of pleasing news that membership has been steadily growing regaining contacts that had lapsed. Classes from the 1940s and now stands at 1,026. A number of targeted efforts to and later however, now include a few who have developed a recruit to the Society have been quite successful and I would semi-formal organisation in which all in the class can be like to thank Colonel Wal Hall (OTU 2/68) and Colonel V.J. quickly contacted, newsletters are produced and, in at least (Vince) Thompson (1965) for their assistance. I am one case, charity work is undertaken. currently pursuing the University Regiments and will follow Since the establishment of the Duntroon Society, its this with an approach to WRAAC OCS graduates. administration has been helped from time to time by having At end of this report you will see an appeal to collect a point of contact in a number of classes as well as assisting contact details for ‘Class Orderlies’ from all the officer with the garnering of news of its members or the producing establishments. This project is particularly confirmation facts of being published in the Newsletter. important with the looming centenary and any assistance Unfortunately, this has been done in an ad hoc way and that can be given will be greatly appreciated. much mutual benefit would flow from there being a Newsletter nominated member, or two, from every existing Class to act as ‘Class Orderlies’. For example, one important aspect We continue to produce a hard-copy Newsletter but I would would be the facility to pass on urgent information to encourage anyone who is content to view the Newsletter via members more quickly than by the Newsletter. our web site to e-mail me so I can record your wishes on the Beginning with the Class of 13 December 1938, of membership database. Our New Zealand brethren have which Lieutenant Colonel J.G. (John) Sedgley is the sole substantially reduced their requirements for the hard-copy surviving member, by December this year, there will be 91 version and I hope we can follow suit. classes still in existence. In our fellow officer-producing I wish to appeal for suitable content for the Newsletter institutions, at least one member of each course or class is and the web site. Reports on Class functions, and so on, are still with us. The Officer Cadet School has 67 classes. The welcome, particularly when photographs accompany them. Officer Training Unit has 34 courses plus three OCS Wing There has been a distinct falling off of articles being courses, while the WRAAC Officer Cadet School from 1952 submitted for publication and we need to reverse this trend to 1984 has 33. if the Newsletter is to remain relevant. Ideally each of these classes or courses would decide, by I should also add that comments and suggestions for whatever procedure suits them, on one or two of its content for the Newsletter are always welcome and should members to act as the contact for it within the Duntroon be directed to the Editor, Dr Mike Ryan, or myself. Society. Indeed, it could well prove to be a useful exercise for the class or course itself where such a contact is not already in existence. Having decided on who their Class

8 Orderly or Orderlies will be, the Society Council would recent years, in line with the training ideals of OTU, the appreciate the names being passed to me at: association has supported young people in leadership activities such as attendance at Lord and Lady Somers Brigadier P.J.A. (Peter) Evans (Retd) Camps. Like all associations, the OTU Association has had Ogilvie Place its highs and lows. Currently, there is a resurgence in GARRAN ACT 2605 interest in the association and membership at a time where (02) 6281 1479 (H) many of the graduating classes are enjoying their 40th Mobile: 0417 065 480 Reunions of graduation. A number of these reunions have Email: [email protected] been held in the former Cadets’ Mess at Scheyville. With the name of each contact, the postal address, the home, Coming reunions are: Class 2/69 in Sydney 9-11 work and mobile telephone numbers and the email address, October, Class 3/69 at Scheyville in November (date TBC), where available, are requested. These details can be sent as Class 4/69 in early 2010 (date TBC) and Class 1/70 over the soon as the graduates involved can conveniently organise it. ANZAC Day period in Sydney. Council aims to have the database well established no later For information on any of these events, please contact than December 2010 in anticipation of its use by early 2011. the Secretary, OTU Association, Roger Nation at ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [email protected] For information on the OTU Association newsletter, The Scheyvillian, please contact The Editor, Neil Leckie, at [email protected] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From The Podmore Foundation—

Returning Opportunity From the OTU Les Bienkiewicz Neil Leckie Origins and Purpose In 1965, as a part of the National Service scheme, an officer training establishment was formed near Windsor in Sydney's Like hundreds of men before them and north-west. It was known as the Officer Training Unit, hundreds of young men and women after them, Scheyville. In the eight years of its existence, OTU members of the class who entered Duntroon in Scheyville produced over 1,800 2nd lieutenants for the January 1970 appreciated the opportunity to Army. Most were National Serviceman, but a number were receive a good education in good company. In volunteers who joined the Army for a five-year Short 2007, inspired by the motto ‘Returning Service Commission to train as pilots and there was a group Opportunity’, a number of them founded a not-for-profit of The New South Wales Regiment CMF officers who charity, The Podmore Foundation. All members of the trained at Scheyville. Shortly after the end of National Podmore Foundation Board are unpaid volunteers and the Service, the OTU’s last two graduating classes included the Foundation has no commercial, religious, or ideological overflow from OCS Portsea. connections or agendas. The OTU Scheyville course was basically the twelve Their aim was to raise funds to give opportunities to month OCS course squeezed into 22 weeks. It trained junior promising and determined young people to receive a good officers to lead an infantry platoon or the equivalent in other education in good company, and become leaders and Corps. Many graduates served on in either the ARA or the professionals of tomorrow. It was an expression of gratitude CMF/Army Reserve. One achieved the rank of major for the opportunities members had received in their lives. general in the Army Reserve, while thirteen reached the Podmore would also renew treasured and enduring rank of brigadier (one of these, Peter Pursey, was the friendships from military service through sharing a Commandant at RMC, 1988/89). Well over 120 reached the philanthropic cause—fellowship to reminisce, as well as rank of lieutenant colonel or colonel. A number of OTU work together in common purpose again. graduates are still serving in the ARA or Army Reserve. Track Record The camp at Scheyville has had a chequered career starting as a farming ‘common’, a farming school, the home In its first two years of incorporation, Podmore raised and for the Dreadnought Scheme where young British boys disbursed over $240,000 for the benefit of young people in came out to Australia to learn farming, an Australian Army Australia and overseas. The Board has set up scholarship and RAAF camp during WW2, and a migrant camp post programs for orphans and disabled young people in Timor- WW2. Since the end of National Service, the camp has been Leste with implementing partner Palms Australia accommodation for Agricultural College students and a (www.palms.org.au) and a scholarship program for training area for the NSW Police Tactical Response Group Indigenous children from Australian rural and remote and Special Weapons Operations Squad (which saw the communities with implementing partner Yalari demise of the Officer Cadet accommodation lines). The (www.yalari.org.au). Recently, the Board set up a placement camp area is now an office of NSW National Parks. program for Akha hill tribe students in northern Thailand In 1985, the OTU Association was formed. Its aim were with implementing partner The Ayui Foundation to foster social contact with Scheyvillians, maintain interest (www.ayui.org). in OTU, preserve the memory of those graduates who died, In 2009, the Foundation sought volunteers to don the were injured or suffered during the course of their service Podmore T-Shirt and participate in a variety of community and to assist Scheyvillians who are sick or needy. In more fun run events, for both fund raising and just for fun! The

9 first event was the Sun Herald City2Surf on Sunday 9 Members of the Duntroon Society especially are August that raised just under $5,000. The second was the invited to consider returning some of the opportunities they Canberra Times Fun Run on Sunday 13 September. have received in life, knowing that funds are going directly A summary of the Foundation’s projects follows— to worthy recipients through trusted hands. The options are full details can be found on the Foundation’s website to do so as individuals or in class groups, and the (www.podmorefoundation.org.au). Foundation has arrangements in place to contact classes as Supporting Secondary Education for Indigenous they return to Duntroon for reunions. Children: Four scholarships have been awarded for Indigenous students to attend boarding schools in Further Information / Contacts Queensland and New South Wales, with students now Further details about the Foundation, including moving into their second year. This project is managed membership/donation opportunities and up to date through one of the Foundation’s primary partners, the Yalari information on current activities, can be found on the Foundation. Additional scholarships will soon be awarded. Foundation’s website (www.podmorefoundation.org.au). Education and Support to Hope Orphanage: The Alternatively contact the President, R.J. (Bob) Breen (1973) Foundation has supported the operations of a orphanage in on 0403 495118 or the Secretary, L.J. (Les) Bienkiewicz Timor-Leste by providing primary and secondary education (1974) on 0411 44248. scholarships for 16 children and emergency food support. Tertiary Education of Disabled Young People in Footnote Timor-Leste: This project funds a four year tertiary The Foundation gratefully thanks the current and previous education program for four young men in or associated with Commandant of the Royal Military College for his support the Ahisaun Community in Dili. Young people in Timor- of the Foundation. Leste have had great difficulties in gaining higher education, and this situation is very much exacerbated for people with disabilities. Assistance with Food Security and Agricultural Training Project in Timor-Leste: This project, managed through one of the Foundation’s primary partners PALMS Australia, funds the cost of materials for fencing a block of land that will be used for a significant food security, agricultural sustainability and training project being undertaken by the Ahisaun community for young people with disabilities. Construction of a Training Facility for Disabled Students in Timor-Leste: The purpose of this project is to construct an office and training facility for the Ahisaun Community in Dili, Timor-Leste. This training facility is the second stage of the construction of a purpose built residential and training complex for young women and men who are disadvantaged through physical disability and who Llew Mullins, Yalari Board member, Tegan Whitfield Year 8 are members of Ahisaun. The first stage, the construction of Abbotsleigh, Stephanie and R.W. (Bob) Flynn (1971), the residential facility has now been completed. Podmore members and Tegan's sponsors, Kyol Blakeney, Local Development Worker in Timor-Leste: This Year 10 Scots College and R.J. (Bob) Breen (1973), project provides the funds needed by the Ahisaun President, Podmore Foundation, in the courtyard of the Foundation in Dili, Timor-Leste to train and employ a Local Victoria Barracks Officers' Mess, 5 April 2009 Development Worker capable of promoting nationally and ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ internationally, the important work of the Ahisaun Foundation in the development of appropriate services and Warning order for the Ninth facilities for young people with disabilities. Duntroon Society Biennial Reunion Education of Akha Tribe Young People in Chiang Rai, Northern Thailand: in 2009 the Podmore Foundation 7−9 May 2010 embarked on a new partnership with a small organisation in Thailand—The Ayui Foundation was established in Chiang Peter Reid Rai in 2007 and is a non-profit, non-denominational The NSW Branch Committee of the Duntroon Society has organisation working with Akha hilltribe teenagers. The accepted the responsibility for the organization and co- Ayui Foundation operates a hostel for young people called ordination of the Ninth Duntroon Society Biennial Reunion ‘Baan Ayui’—Ayui is the Akha word for ‘older sister’ and (2010). At this stage detailed planning is still in its infancy the hostel’s name means ‘our older sister’s house’. but cannot progress much further until we obtain Opportunities for Members of the Duntroon expressions of interest from possible attendees. The dates set aside by the Committee for the Reunion are Friday 7 May to Society Sunday 9 May 2010 (inclusive) The Foundation is now in strong position to invite other like-minded people who would also like to Return Location Opportunity to join, donate and encourage others to do so, The reunion will be held at the historic town and environs of knowing that donated funds are in good hands and returning Mudgee, including the extensive vineyards and wineries. opportunity to well-selected young people.

10 Mudgee is some 300 km north west of Sydney on the managed the Duntroon estate which then included a mob of Castlereagh Highway. sheep. He kept his own horses where Starkey Park is today. A keen horseman and a very likeable man, he was the riding Proposed Format instructor for Staff Cadet A.W. (Tony) Hammett (1958) who Friday 7 May (from 1600hrs): Meet and greet, renew old founded the Modern Pentathlon Club at RMC and friendships, and perhaps make new ones. Possible location subsequently represented Australia in the modern pentathlon Parklands Motor Inn about 3 km out of the civic centre. at the Olympic Games in Rome in 1960. Evening free for own dinner arrangements. Annual Lunch and Speech Saturday 8 May morning through to early afternoon: Coach tour of Mudgee, historic environs and By overwhelmingly popular choice in a recent survey of vineyards/wineries including a light lunch at one of the members, the annual dinner has been switched to become a vineyards. lunch instead. The format of the occasion remains the same. Saturday 8 May evening: Reunion Dinner—possible This year’s Lunch & Speech is planned for Friday 6 location The Mudgee Club alternative the Blue Wren November. The speaker will be Major General (P.M. Restaurant. Transport to and from venue by charter coach. (Michael) Jeffery, AC, AO(mil), CVO, MC, a 1958 RMC Sunday 9 May: Dispersal morning tea, group graduate and too well known to need any further photographs at the Logan Winery located on the outskirts of introduction. Mudgee and en route to Sydney. New South Wales Indication of Interest Branch Office Holders Once the Committee has a general idea of attendance NSW Branch Office Bearers are: interest we will make further representations to accommodation, transport and catering facilities in and Convenor: D.A. (Duncan) Spencer (1962), around Mudgee to obtain the best possible rates. [email protected], (02) 9969 0772, 0414 573 574. In order that we can advance our planning we ask all Treasurer: I.R. (Ian) Taylor (1965), members of the Duntroon Society (regardless of home state) [email protected], (02) 9953 9441, 0407 539 441. interested in attending the Reunion to indicate their interest Secretary: Keith Petersen, [email protected], by not later than 31st October 2009. (02)9339 2467, 0432 837 535. Contact Unfortunately this Newsletter does not bring good news. You will remember that Viv Morgan, having appeared to Please contact Peter Reid: have his illness under control, came back as the NSW Post: 12/22 Eaton St Neutral Bay NSW 2089 Branch Convenor earlier this year, and I stood aside. This Phone: 02 94600741 (Please leave a message) illness, however, managed to make a comeback, Viv has had Email (preferred) [email protected] to resign from the Convenor’s role, and once again, I have ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ had to step into the breach. At this time we cannot predict the future, so we can only give Viv and Jan our best wishes From the Branches and hope his health improves soon. We are also losing another of the committee, as due to Australian Capital Territory a posting, Keith Petersen, who has done such a great job as Branch Office Holders Secretary of the NSW Branch, especially as our Victoria Barracks LO, will be moving on at the end of the year. The ACT Branch Committee is: Thanks for your assistance Keith, and we look forward to Convenor: Brigadier P.J.A. (Peter) Evans (1958) seeing you at future functions. Secretary: Lieutenant Colonel J.E. (John) Bullen (1958) Keith has graciously agreed to keep working until after Treasurer: Lieutenant Colonel M.J. (Mike) Ryan (1981) our function in December, whereupon Peter Reid has kindly Members: Dr Moreen Dee (WRAAC OCS 1966); offered to take over as Secretary, as well as being the chief Brigadier G.T. (George) Salmon (1959); Colonel M.J. planning officer for the Biennial Reunion. (Mike) Ford (1957); Major S.B. (Stuart) Althaus (RMC & Branch Social Functions OCS 1982) On brighter subjects, our June Graduation lunch went well, Autumn Lunch, 2009 and planning is now under way for the Graduation lunch on This year’s Autumn Lunch was held in Duntroon House on the second Tuesday in December. Please put the date (8 26 May. A most enjoyable occasion as usual, it was attended December) in your diaries. by 76 people, one of whom came especially from Western In addition to the Graduation lunch, as it is the NSW Australia for this event: Andrew Lipczynski, grandson of Branch’s turn, our committee has commenced planning for Major Cec Starkey in whose honour Starkey Park in the the Ninth Biennial Reunion to be held in Mudgee over the centre of Duntroon is named. Andrew’s mother Sheryl (née weekend 7/8/9 May 2010 [See details on pages 10−11. Ed]. Starkey) and father John Lipczynski accompanied Andrew Branch Office Holders from Sydney. The Lipczynski family enjoyed a guided tour of Duntroon House and the Cadets’ Mess after the Autumn Patron: Major General R.G. Williams CB, MBE, OStJ Lunch. (1952). Cec Starkey, a former Light Horse officer, commanded Convenor: Colonel T.A. Aldridge CBE (1961). HQ Company at RMC for many years about half a century Secretary/Treasurer: Major P.J. Skogstad (1964). ago. Amongst his many duties as OC HQ Coy he also

11 Branch Social Functions Branch Social Functions Auckland Sub-branch Taupo Golf March 12/13 March A number of our golfing stalwarts attended McLeod Golf 2009. Twenty seven members and partners gathered at Club on 14 May for the Annual Duntroon Society Taupo in early March for the annual golf outing. Most Competition. stayed at the Army motel at Acacia Bay which is on the lake A planned day at the races on 18 July had to be shore. On Thursday 12 March, golf was at the Centennial cancelled due to insufficient numbers. Course with a net medal competition. The winners were Future planned events for 2009 are the annual ADF Peter Skogstad for the men’s trophy and Lynne Skogstad for Dinner at the United Service Club (date yet to be advised by the ladies trophy. On Friday golf was at the Tauhara course the Club), and a Steyr shoot followed by a mixed lunch the with the Porter cup the main prize. The winners were Judy Officers’ Mess, Enoggera—late October or early November. Burrows and Keith Fraser. Social activities were also South Australia & Northern Territory included with pre dinner drinks on arrival and a prize giving and dinner on Thursday evening. This was a very successful Branch Office Holders event and as a result we already have a good attendance Convenor: N.R. (Neville) Bergin (1956). booked for next year’s event in Tauranga/Mount Maunganui. Branch Social Functions Auckland Sub-branch Winter Lunch 2009. Twenty six The SA & NT Branch Graduation Luncheon is to be held at Auckland members and their wives and friends gathered at the Naval Military and Air Force Club of Adelaide on the The Northern Club for the traditional Winter lunch on Tuesday, 1 December 2009. 5 June 2009. The function was organised and hosted by Colonel T.A. (Tom) Aldridge (1961). Forthcoming Events Branch members continue to indicate that, due to their level of personal commitments, they would prefer to have only one social activity, the Graduation Luncheon, each year. The Branch continues to be unable to make up a team to compete in the Annual Postal Golf Competition. Membership A welcome upturn in branch membership has been occurring since the establishment of the Royal Military College of Australia Association and the changed arrangements to the Charter of The Duntroon Society. Victoria & Tasmania Branch Office Holders Colin Dixon (1954), Ray Andrews (1957), and John Morris Victoria continues to operate by committee with occasional (NZ Instructor 1955−1957). meetings and primary contact by email. The committee consists of: Coordinator: R.A. (Bob) Slater (1963) Treasurer: A.M. (Alan) McDonald (1951) Members: P. (Phil) Davies (1961), C. (Conrad) Ermert (1962), and Richard Coates (OCS Dec 1975) (OCS representative). Craig Wood remains proxy for Canberra-based meetings. Branch Social Functions The 2009 Luncheon will be on Thursday 22 October in the Victoria Barracks Officers’ Mess, 12 for 12.30 pm until 2 pm, cost $48 per head. The guest speaker will be Lieutenant Colonel P.D. (Paul) Galea (1986), a Duntroon graduate who commenced officer training at OCS and on closure Rod Baldwin (1966), Harry Duncan, and Brian Chippindale completed his training at RMC. Paul is currently (1958). Commanding Officer, Monash University Regiment. His talk will be on: ‘RMC training as part of Ares officer Wellington Sub-branch Winter Dinner. Thirty Wellington production, and how Ares officers consider their members and their wives and friends attended the Winter relationship with RMC’. [RSVP NLT 15 October, Victoria dinner which was held at the Trentham Camp Officers’ Barracks Officers Mess Manager 03 9282 6370] Mess on 25 June 2009. Western Australia Queensland Branch Office Holders Branch Office Holders Convenor: W.R.M. (Bob) Hunter (1965) Convenor: G.J. (Graeme) Loughton (1956). Social Convenor: K.F. (Kevin) Poynton (1974)

12 Note these positions are both endorsed by members but held Saturday, 20 February 2010. Army Reserve First informally as no specific constitution is in place. Appointment Course Graduation. Social Functions 24/25 September. Beating Retreat. CANCELLED. [see Shorts, page 14. Ed]. The last function was a very successful informal drinks Further information can be obtained from the SO3 gathering. In attendance were over 50 local former Army Ceremonial, Captain S.M. (Stephen) Hladio on (02) officers from all past officer training institutions. A very 6265 9539. well received function that has served to invigorate the local chapter of the RMC (A) Association. There are now nearly Open Day Duntroon House 70 new members registered to this group which is a Saturday, 26 September 2009. CANCELLED. [see Shorts, substantial jump on the previous membership in WA. page 14. Ed] Contact detail for all functions is to WA Convener through e-mail at [email protected] or 0413 045 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 355. Profile of Students at the RMC ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Current strength (1 September 2009) Coming Events CSC 377 First Class 167 ACT Branch Second Class 104 6 November 2009. Annual Lunch & Speech—Speaker Third Class 106 Major General P.M. (Michael) Jeffery, AC, AO(mil), Cambodia 1 CVO, MC (1958). Iraq 2 NSW Branch Malaysia 1 New Zealand 6 8 December 2009. Lunch at the Victoria Barracks Officers’ Pakistan 1 Mess. Papua New Guinea 6 New Zealand Branch Philippines 2 RAAF 1 20 November 2009. The Auckland teams in the Postal Golf Tonga 1 Competition are to play at 1230 hrs at Helensville Golf United Arab Emirates 2 Club. Organiser: Brigadier M.J. (Mike) Dudman Vietnam 2 (1959). ADFA Graduates 99 30 November 2009 Auckland Christmas Lunch at midday at Females 30 Auckland Golf Club. Organiser: Colonel T.A. (Tom) Cadets with previous military service 44 Aldridge (1961). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TBA December 2009. Wellington teams in the Postal Golf Competition (details TBA). Organiser: Lieutenant Obituary Colonel T.A. (Trent) Harker (1961). Mid February 2010. Wellington Sub-branch Summer Lunch Since the publication of the last Newsletter we have learned at midday at Royal Wellington Golf Club. Organiser: of the deaths of the following: Major General K.M. (Ken) Gordon (1957). 21/23 February 2010.Tauranga/Mount Maunganui Golf 19 Nov 08 Colonel W.D. Petrass (1953) Weekend. Organiser: Brigadier R.J. Andrews (1957). 24 Apr 09 Colonel D.J. Mannett (1948) Queensland Branch 7 May 09 Colonel C.W.T. Kyngdon (1932)* 9 May 09 Colonel C.P. West (1939) TBA. ADF Dinner at USC. 14 May 09 Mrs M.A. Falkland ** TBA (late October, early November). Steyr Shoot and 16 May 09 Brigadier F.R. Evans (1935)*** Mixed Lunch at Enoggera. 27 Jul 09 Colonel P.G. Richards (1951) South Australia Branch (incorporating NT) 28 Jul 09 Colonel P.C. Richardson (Jun 1941) 21 Aug 09 Lieutenant Colonel P.J. Smith (OCS Jun 1956) 1 December 2009. Annual Graduation Luncheon, Naval Military and Air Force (NMAF) Club, Adelaide. *From December 2007 he was the Elder of the Duntroon Victoria Branch (incorporating Tasmania) Society. **Widow of Major General P. Falkland (1944) and long 22 October 2009. 1200 for 1230. Lunch at the Victoria time member of the Duntroon Society. Barracks Officers’ Mess. *** He was just four days younger than our present Elder. Western Australia Branch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9 October 2009. Social drinks functions at ESS Bar in Shorts Subiaco, from 1600 onwards.  Under Obituary in this issue is noted the death of the RMC Ceremonial Parades Elder of the Duntroon Society, Colonel C.T.W. Kyngdon. At 99 years and two months of age he was a Tuesday, 8 December 2009. The Graduation Parade. year older than his predecessor Colonel T.G. Brennan (1930), but was not the oldest graduate. As far as can be

13 determined that role still rests with Colonel D.D. Pitt  At that Graduation the Duntroon Society Award went to (1929) who died on 15 January 2007 when aged 99 Corporal Tarrant Fuller who was allocated to the Royal years and six months. Colonel W. Ford (1939), who Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers was born on 6 September 1913, is now the Elder of the ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Duntroon Society. His son, Major General T.R. Ford (1966), notes that his father is living semi- Letters to the Editor independently. He is still able to drive his car and remains active in the Masonic Lodge. Not bad for a From Jim Cullens (OTS Bangalore 1946) chap in his 96th year! Reference attached photograph cut from  One of the items that you will not see under Coming the September 2008 copy of the Duntroon Events is a notice about the annual Beating Retreat Society Newsletter. The last time I saw ceremony for 2009. Indeed, you may not see it in the headgear like that, it was worn by a coming years either. The Defence Department is to clapped-out unteroffizier of the Luftwaffe identify about $20 billion in cost savings over the next at the end of WW2. I can only assume decade. As a clear indication that this proposal is off to that the RSM has moved on to greener a good start, the Department issued a Media Release on pastures. 17 August 2009 to announce the cancellation of the Can I please be assured that no RMC Beating Retreat that was to have been conducted at the officer approves of this defacement of Royal Military College on 24 & 25 September 2009. perfectly good Army headgear? The amount of the saving was not included in the [As illustrated in the picture below (taken from the same Defence Media Release, but an estimate of about parade) the practice is more widespread than just among $83,000 has appeared in The Canberra Times. In its cadets. I do not know when the practice of bashing blues editorial two days later, that newspaper noted the cost in and khaki caps began, but it is far from recent. It certainly public goodwill and used the phrase a cack-handed was accepted practice over 30 years ago when I was in decision together with the sentence, Discarding long- Fourth Class in 1977—as soon as possible, the established conventions on the pretext of saving a few Commonwealth-issued caps (with their embarrassing flat dollar shows a poor appreciation of the strength which tops) were discarded and replaced with more acceptable the military derives from its traditions. Like Oscar versions from Chorleys or Herbie Johnson. A new cap was Wilde’s cynic, they know the price of everything but the then wrapped carefully in a wet hand towel to ‘bash’ down value of nothing. In the past, this Newsletter has avoided the edges—any recalcitrance was overcome by the careful straying into criticism of such monumental official insertion of brass belt ‘d’s on the inside of the cap to hold decisions, but at least it can report the relevant opinions the edges in shape. Unfortunately cadets had to expend the of others. It can also be stated that the decision was not necessary funds to obtain respectable caps because the taken at the headquarters of the Royal Military College. Commonwealth cap was completely impervious to any On reflection, perhaps this item would have been more attempts to bash it. Ed] appropriately placed in the Obituary column.  As some members may be aware, the United States Military Academy equivalent of the Duntroon Society is the Association of Graduates. That organisation publishes a magazine titled Assembly. From it, we have learned that their Oldest Living Graduate, Colonel Maury S. Cralle of the Class of 1928, celebrated his th 105 birthday last month. His class organised a function for him that was attended by the Oldest Living Graduate ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ of the United States Naval Academy—a very rare conjunction indeed. Rear Admiral Richard Larkin, Class Corrections of 1925, was born in January 1904. Both now live in the Newsletter 1/2009 same retirement home at Williamsburg Landing but were p.5. Right column quite unaware of the status of the other until quite a. Queensland, 3rd last line. After the word ‘at’, recently. Is there time to catch up? insert ‘the’. b. South Australia & Northern Territory.  Another item missing from Coming Events in this issue Before the initials N.P. insert Colonel. of the Newsletter is the annual Duntroon House Open p.7 Left column. Shorts. 1st line. Change 2009 to 2008. Day. It was planned to be held this year on Saturday, 26 p.6 Right column. New Zealand Branch. 1st line, at end September but has also been cancelled as a cost saving delete ‘11/13 March 2009’. measure. How much is to be saved has not yet been p.8 Right column. After Lionel insert ‘(1948)’ made public but as volunteers form a large proportion of p.12. Left column those conducting the event, the savings can hardly be a. 3rd: ACT. The graduation of J.A.F. Gilchrist is significant. The long-term future of this popular item is OCS Dec 1972 not known. b. 4th: ACT. The graduation of W.H. Hall is OTU  On Tuesday, 23 June 2009, the Graduation Parade for 89 2/1968. Full Time General Service officers was reviewed by the ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston.

14 Whilst in Egypt in 1916 he married the girl he met while Presentation of the Decorations at Duntroon; they were to have four daughters and a son. and Medals of CSC 23 Brigadier R. In France, Miles demonstrated his professionalism and courage. For his service as a battery officer during the battle Miles, CBE, DSO*, MC of the Somme he was awarded the Military Cross in John Winks December 1916. In May 1917 he was promoted to major and given command of a howitzer battery. The following The family of Brigadier R. (Reginald year he was awarded the DSO, having been recommended Miles), CBE, DSO*, MC 1892–1943, for the Victoria Cross, for undertaking a daring a graduate of Duntroon Military reconnaissance mission, at Ploegsteert Wood in April 1918, College 1914, presented to the Queen during which he was wounded by sniper fire. Elizabeth II Army Memorial Museum at Waiouru (New Zealand) on 13 August 2009 the late Brigadier Miles’ decorations and medals. The NZ Army assisted the Miles family in obtaining replacements of missing decorations and medals and these have been mounted with those donated in 1980 to the National Army Museum. A formal presentation of the decorations and medals to the Miles family took place; in turn the family donated them to the Memorial Museum Trust, thereby symbolically completing the process started by Miles’ daughter, Mrs Thorne-George in 1980. The decorations and medals will Peter Thorne-George (grandson of Miles) be on permanent display at the Museum. presenting decorations and medals to Reginald Miles was born on 10 December 1892 at Museum Director, Colonel Ray Seymour (retd). Springston, near Christchurch (NZ), the son of local farmers William Miles and his wife, Mary Margaret Restell. He was Miles returned to active service in July as brigade major educated at Rangiora High School and in 1910 was of the Divisional Field Artillery, and was mentioned in commissioned a subaltern in the school cadets. The dispatches in November 1918. following year he was selected to attend the newly Brigadier Miles was Commander Royal Artillery, New established Royal Military College of Australia at Duntroon Zealand Division Greece and Crete 1941. He was taken with the first group of NZ cadets to go to the college. prisoner of war at Belhamed 1 December 1941 and escaped On the outbreak of the First World War Miles passed out from Italy 29 March 1943. He died in Spain attempting to top of the College, when specially graduated for active reach Gibraltar on the 20 October 1943 and is buried at service in 1914. As the top graduate of the first class to Figueras Municipal Cemetery in Spain. attend the College, Miles was proud to be the possessor of ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Graduation Certificate No 1 of the Royal Military College. John Winks is a grandson of Brigadier Miles. Embarking with the 2nd Reinforcements in December ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1914, he served as an artillery captain at Gallipoli and was badly wounded in July 1915.

15 Prodigal Son There are occasions when the glimmerings of a staff cadet’s future development appear during his time as a callow youth at the RMC. As shown in the Loss & Damage Report below, there is no doubt that one in this category was Corporal J. (Jack) Fletcher (1955). This early interest in weaponry was maintained during service in the commandos, the SAS and the US Special Forces. It continued when he became the Commander, Counter Terrorism in the then Commonwealth Police. His story would have been an ideal subject for the Newsletter’s Prodigal Son’s Corner. Sadly, Colonel Jack Fletcher died on 5 November 2007.

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