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Newsletter 211994 September 1994

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Newsletter 211994 September 1994 Newsletter 211994 September 1994 Duntroon - The More Recent Memory Continues E.C. Vikingur When I saw my article on the Duntroon of the the pool at Duntroon was too small for competitive Seventies in Newsletter 2/1993, I felt that the swimming, being only 33.3 metres long, the swimming enthusiasm (but not the talent) of the regular carnival was conducted at the Dickson Swimming Pool. contributors had been finally challenged. Further, on Third Class briefed us that the 1918 Cup was of no reviewing some of the previous items in the Newsletter, importance (The late Lieutenant General Sir Mervyn I decided that my era had been no less exciting and Brogan (1932), a rare quadruple winner of the 1918 interesting than the times described by others. I was Cup, may have begged to differ), as the sole purpose of also encouraged by the favourable reactions from three the event was for Fourth Class to throw Kapyong's of my contemporaries, who read the article before it banner into the pool. Not unexpectedly, Kapyong's appeared and thought that my reminiscences had Fourthies had been given a similar briefing with respect accurately captured the spirit of the time. So, I offer a to our green and ornate rallying cry. The Dog's banner, few more selected images of our College in the 1970's, which had been embroidered in the dim past by a no doubt refracted by time and my personal outlook. edicated mother of a colour-sergeant, sported a Before describing more of Duntroon's interesting looking bulldog and gaudy golden tassels, all customs, I must make it clear that I do not regard them on a staff whose gnarled top piece resembled a as the sole, nor indeed the most important, character more than a bulldog's. (I am indebted to forming influence in the Corps. As my classmate K.C. my classmate R.W. (Bob) Strachan for the details of the (&m) Ellis put it to me recently, esprit de corps was staff, as indeed for many other memories in this article). forged more in the cauldron of military training than in As the banner was not to be sullied by the hand of man, the bastardisation of the Easter Bunny. There is no white gloves were worn by the sentinels of its virtue. doubt that this sentiment is correct, but it is not my aim And, I assure you, we took this guardianship very to record the details of our day-to-day military training, seriously. I well remember feeling as protective as a except where such training illustrates an unusual aspect mother hen when we got off that bus at Dickson and of cadet life. A good example is camp training drew ourselves into a scrum around our banner, before (Campers, in cadetspeak), of which I shall write later. we moved into the pool grounds and to Kokoda's One of the most intense feelings inculcated in Fourth assigned spot. For a while, like normal people, we Class in the fist few weeks was company loyalty. This competed in swimming7 but soon other Fourthies began education was at its most refined in Kokoda and o loiter with intent around our area. After a few Kapyong, although efforts were also made in the other rnxploratory sallies, a full scale attack was launched by companies. The material from which the senior classes Kapyong. We fought back bravely, none more so than J. fashioned the new zealots was perfect - gullible and (John) Lisle, who earned himself a broken arm during naive in the ways of the Corps and above all, the execution of a stratagem which required an desperately anxious to please these recently acquired evacuation of the banner over a fence, via a tree inside and implacable masters. Fourth Class in Kokoda was the grounds. Incensed by this disrespect, we launched a made to feel superior to the others, who were said to be ~ounter-attackwhich nearly ducked Ka~~ong'scolours. leading lives of ease, free of the constant pressures and thus satisfied all and we were punishments which were building character in the thought to have acquitted ourselves rather well. The Dogs. We had no hesitation in accepting this view and cast on John's arm provided proof of our ardour for one felt a sense of righteousness as a Dog on Extra Drill weeks to come- parade, as if in enduring harshness one was making a When I returned to Duntroon as Instructor Artillery personal contribution to the maintenance of a worthy in 1983, I was often surprised by the demise of certain tradition. I once stated, to a group of Alamein small customs such as the correct method of taking the Fourthies, that Kokoda's rough methods produced the first stab at a new jar of Vegemite (I will not recount the most successful army officer, as indeed had been salacious nature of this amusing spectacle). However, objectively revealed to me by a Third Class staff cadet many traditions survived the six years of my absence, in my company. Alamein gave me short shft at the including Toc (cadetspeak for Tea or Coffee - which time, but in 1990 at the Command & Staff College, was strange as most staff cadets drank Milo!), although Queenscliff, the Duntroon segment of my course there this signal event in a cordie's evening was abolished by was mostly filled by distinguished former residents fiat in May 1983. This occurred as a result of the of the 'bastion of barbarism'. Perhaps it was a bastardisation scandal of that year after which it was coincidence. deemed forbidden for a junior cadet to serve a senior in The first really serious display of company loyalty any way. I was most sorry to see Toc go, as this tradition was usually the inter-company swimming carnival. As had left wonderful memories of fun and comradeship from my days in the Corps. Toc was normally held in always well attended and one enjoyed the evening the Fourthies' rooms on a rotating basis in each section, either because the film was good or because the Corps although sometimes a section was lucky enough to have wits would sit at the back and supplement the dialogue access to a spare room. I suppose the ceremony began of the bad films. There was also a small canteen which at the end of the evening meal, when the Fourthies dispensed ice-cream and sweets at the interval and, as it would scavenge bread, condiments and other useful was manned by the staff, one was sometimes handed an items from the tables. We would then go to the back of ice-cream by one's Company Commander. It seemed the kitchen to be issued with trays of food, divided into strange at first but we soon learned that everyone company lots. After compulsory study ceased at 2130 chipped in at Duntroon. Incidentally, Over The Hill was hours, the section would gather in the appointed room almost certainly the last theatre in Australia to and we would eat toast with Vegemite or peanut butter, discontinue the tradition of playing the National with the half hour filled with banter, raucous complaints Anthem before screenings. about the Fourthies' shortcomings as Toc makers, In order to record an absolutely crucial aspect of exchange Corps gossip and other relaxation. Favourites Corps life, I must return to that term Toc. A few months amongst the last were games such as competitions by ago near Trafalgar Square in London, I ran into a Fourthies in how long they could stay in a closed classmate, (now a civilian) P.J. (Paul) Cornmerford. He cupboard with the toaster burning and 'Toc-tests' which graciously complimented me on my first article on were conducted on Mess rock-cakes and other Duntroon (Newsletter 2/1993) and rem.inded me to unpopular Mess food. Toc-tests were generally write on morning Toc in the second instalment. This designed to illustrate the great physical stresses which performance was not only vital for a staff cadet's well- could be withstood by some Mess food before being, but also provided the major arena in which the disintegration. However, jam tarts would normally friendly rivalry between Artists, Engineers and undergo the adhesion test, in which they would be flung Scientists could be exercised. Morning Toc was served at the ceiling and the time of adhesion noted. I must in Class areas, with the two senior classes having the admit that Toc-tests often led to an unwelcome cleaning benefit of the comparatively refined atmosphere of the task for the junior in whose room they took place, but Coffee Rooms (the two Coffee Rooms, one in each we used to muck in together for such things. In general, wing of the Mess, were the prized symbols of being in these harmless games were conducted in an atmosphere the two senior classes). The two junior classes were of great fun, where coercion was neither used nor ever served outside in two areas near the back of the Mess. needed. Toc was also a welcome break from study and Firstly, if the food was bad, it would sometimes be an eagerly awaited social event from Monday to expended as ammunition in fights between the classes. Thursday. Let us not forget that whilst one served Toc More frequently, one of the three academic cohorts for a year, the other three years were rather more would seek to eat and drink all the Toc before any other comfortable at the appointed hour! I thought it a great group arrived.
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