ba

NEWSLETTER 1/2020 ISSN 2207-0400 APRIL 2020 Flying Officer P.M. Pitt on the morning of Thursday 11 Duntroon, Aeroplanes and February 1926 was attempting to land at the Northbourne Accidents Aviation Ground, now part of the suburb Dickson, to take part in a territory aerial survey. His crew member and camera Richard (R.J.) Lamb (1966) operator, AC William Callander, was also killed. The Dickson landing ground was on land leased from the The 1925 RMC Journal has a page evoking technology in Shumacks and became operational in March 1924. It transition with a military aeroplane contrasted to a cavalry remained open until November 1926 when a lease was horse. The RAAF was formed in 1921 and between 1923 and obtained on Campbell land near Majura Lane. In 1928 and 1930 the RMC provided a significant number of its graduates 1929, two RAAF aircraft were actually attached to the RMC to the RAAF. [Thirty eight RMC graduates attended flying Duntroon for training purposes out of the Majura landing training at Point Cook. A further eight staff cadets, selected ground. The new and safer site is now the western half of the by the RAAF, spent two or three years at the RMC and then present Canberra Airport. went to Point Cook for flying courses in 1931. Not all who This plaque is on the entrance wall of the present Dickson went to Point Cook gained their wings but most who did Library and the crash site is close to the corner of Antill and remained with the RAAF. Ed] Cowper streets (plaque date shown is incorrect).

The RMC Journal December 1926 has Pitt’s obituary.

Two RMC graduates, as flying officers, were killed in two air accidents a year apart in 1926 and 1927 and were the first two air deaths in the Federal Territory. Both had graduated from

the RMC in 1920 but in 1925 both transferred to the RAAF.

1 The second death, that of Flying Officer F.C. Ewen, occurred at a Royal review flypast during the opening ceremony of Parliament House by the Duke of York on 9 May 1927. The review consisted of 2,000 ground troops and a number of aircraft. The Canberra Times of Friday 13 May reported ...... Tragedy again clouded a day of celebration and rejoicing—a day that of all others should have passed free of blemish. During the Royal review on Monday afternoon Flying Officer Francis Charles Ewen, piloting a small one-man plane known as a Scout Experimenter, lost control and crashed to earth. Horrified spectators hurrying to the scene of the disaster found Ewen still alive, but terribly injured, in the debris of the wrecked plane. The tragedy occurred at about 3.20 pm and the scene was the small hill fronting Parliament House, about three-quarters of a mile distant, and quite close to the YWCA marquee. A number of people were in the immediate vicinity at the time and as the machine came hurtling earthwards, they scattered in panic. The crash was tremendous. A cloud of dust and a sheet of bluish flame rose in the air. The machine was a total wreck. Ewen was quickly carried to the Telopea Park School emergency hospital, but there was no hope for his recovery and he died at about 7 o’clock in the evening. Ewen’s obituary was carried in the Journal December 1927.

The actual crash site is more than likely to have been Cork Hill, a prominence or mound almost directly in front of Parliament House near the Molonglo and close to the current Lake’s edge, but removed in 1962. A much less likely source has the crash site as Rottenbury hill near St Marks, Blackall St Barton. The accident was kept as low-key news presumably to not detract from the importance and gravity of the royal occasion. The next day the Duke, as the King’s representative, presented the new Kings Colours at a formal parade at the RMC Duntroon. Duntroon cadets and staff featured prominently at both the Pitt and Ewen military funerals. Ewen’s parents decided to allow him to be buried at St John’s Churchyard Canberra1 given his RMC and RAAF ties, proximity to the crash site and the fact that he was from New Zealand.

Pitt and Ewen were classmates at Duntroon and graduated together in 1920. Both were good rugby players and both played for the RMC first XV as this rare team photo from the 1920 Journal shows. The Ewen air accident at the Royal Review is recalled in the following National Archives photo (NAA 3560,3049 Mildenhall collection) of the flypast which was apparently

taken from York Park looking south.

1 Maintenance of the Ewen grave is covered in the RMC Graves graves in St John’s Churchyard and four more in Woden Cemetery covered Maintenance Policy and is funded by the Duntroon Society—there are four by this policy. 2 In 2010 a memorial plaque was erected in St John’s churchyard for A.C. Callander who was buried very close to Ewen in an unmarked grave (some of the plaque details are not correct).

3 Squadron RAAF Association has been most appreciative for the digitisation of the RMC Journals. This has enabled Association members and researchers to look more closely at two of their early colleagues and obtain photographs and details not previously available. Pitt’s family had also decided to allow his burial near his ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ place of death, despite his north Queensland ties. He is buried Richard Lamb graduated from the RMC in 1966 into the in the Catholic section of Queanbeyan cemetery, there being Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps and served until end no Catholic burial ground in the Territory at that time. It is 1971 when he was recruited by Commonwealth Treasury unfortunate that, to date, Flying Officer Pitt as the first air having obtained an advanced economics degree from accident death in the ACT has no grave memorial. As this University Western Australia. Later he received a post photo shows, his grassed grave in the centre is completely graduate degree in business administration from Swinburne unmarked and flanked by two headstoned graves. University. As an energy economist, he spent some years with OECD (IEA) Paris in energy policy development and modelling including several OECD publications. Prior to that he was in the Department of Defence. After returning to Australia in 1984 he joined DFAT undertaking numerous overseas missions and trade negotiations including nuclear safeguards. He was also part of Department of Industry and Resources in international R&D. He became an economic consultant in 2000. More recently he has focused on Australian history, has published a book Eighteenth Century Mariners and Merchants in 2013 and publishes blogs on early Australia. He has been a volunteer at the National Library Australia since 2006 and with NLA Trove in 2019 managed The RAAF has however recently remembered Pitt (and Ewen the digitisation of RMC Journals from 1913 to 1968. and Callander) in the unveiling on 11 February 2016 of a 3 Squadron Memorial Cairn and plaque in the RAAF Memorial ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Grove, Federal Highway. This took place to the day and hour on the 90th anniversary of Pitt’s death along with an F/A-18 The Way of the Horse—Duntroon flypast. Richard (R.J.) Lamb (1966)

Now almost forgotten, the horse was a central part of cadets’ lives for over three decades after the RMC commenced in 1911. Some cadets may have entered the College already knowing horses but most would not. All graduated with adequate riding skills, some better than others. They would have gained a solid appreciation of cavalry and mounted infantry, especially those destined for horse units in India as well as Australia. Although mechanisation was underway during the 1920s, the RMC curriculum continued to give significant time to Cavalry and Riding as two separate subjects, especially third and second classes. By 1939 the writing was on the wall at Duntroon although it was only in 1941 that Cavalry as a Connections between the two air fatalities extend to a subject was withdrawn. National Archives photo (NAA 3560, 440 Mildenhall The fifty-four RMC Journals from 1913 to 1968, all now collection) captioned as the Ewen 1927 crash site. It is completely digitised and accessible on NLA Trove, give virtually certain, however, that this was the site of the Pitt some detailed insights as to how important the horse was. For accident at Dickson the year before. The fence line and example, these images from the 1925 Journal indicate the ploughed paddock close behind, probably Shumack land, and uncertainties that lay ahead by featuring both old ways—the the shape of Black Mountain in the background seem to horse—and the new—motor and air. confirm this.

3 could not exceed trotting pace. Legge, a horse squadron commander in the Boer War and with three sons of his own, saw things differently. Along with a more relaxed style with cadets, he brought in the annual cavalry trek which stayed on as a tradition until 1939. Within a few months of his arrival, the annual November 1920 infantry exercise became a horse trek for senior classes. The next year’s cavalry exercise—November 1921 and nearly a century ago—was a much more adventurous affair and certainly reinforced the horse tradition. After Legge’s abrupt departure in July 1922, the RMC Journal December 1922 says, “... the General will be remembered for his interest in geology and the sporting way in which he organised and led the First Class expedition to Bimberi in 1921 with the object of giving them experience in riding in rough country. This trip was voted the event of the year by those who took part.” At 58 years old the General led the trek as well. Legge was a unique and private individual, ‘clever but difficult’. He knew young men though—his eldest son was killed on the Western front in 1918, his second son, S.F. Legge (1917), had graduated from the RMC the year before (and characteristically) he brought his third son Eric, aged 18, along with him to Bimberi. The trek by horse was made in five days through Tharwa, Gudgenby, Orroral, Cotter Gap, the original Oldfields House in upper Cotter, Murrays Gap to the top of Bimberi, probably following the newly marked border and a similar return to the RMC. Major Nimmo1 was in charge and there were two groups—a military-civilian staff group and a first class cadet group in cavalry column of about 15 riders, officially on exercise and probably happy to be separated from Commandant Legge. That year five graduated into Light Horse and ten graduated into Infantry. The staff group is shown here in this rare photograph on the Bimberi summit and Legge would have certainly carried his rock pick and sample bag. Good maps were few with the western ACT border having been surveyed by Mouat only a few years before. A major factor in Territory siting had been the Upper Cotter water catchment. An assessment made in 1910 by the eminent geographer and geologist Thomas Griffith Taylor said, “It is so rugged and far from all settlements that only one or two people have traversed it and the map simply indicates it by a broken line in a perfectly blank strip of territory”. Legge had used Taylor’s expertise for military reports prior to his RMC posting and had invited Griffith Taylor to speak at the RMC three times on geology matters during his short tenure. Legge himself had given a geology lecture to cadets. As a serious amateur geologist, Legge later presented a scientific paper to ANZAAS in 1937 titled The Physiography and Geology of the Federal Capital Territory. First, a close look at two unusual RMC cavalry expeditions In 1921, while it may have been too early for Bimberi to uncovered by the Journals in 1921 and 1926. be a major focal point for the new Territory, it is probable that From 1921 a tradition developed for cadets to experience Legge had this summit in mind with his wider geographic a ‘long distance cavalry treks in rough terrain’ as Major interests. It is some irony that in 1984 the official naming of General Legge had put it. Legge, the new RMC Commandant Namadgi National Park was on Bimberi summit by a who arrived in June 1920, brought a change in attitude to helicoptered politician. cadets and horses. The year before, after a bad riding accident, the previous commandant had ordered that cadets

1 {This Major Nimmo was R.H. Nimmo (1915), Sword of Honour in 1966. This is still the longest ever UN operational command. His winner and now on RMC staff. His wife was from the local Lanyon younger brother Major J.R. Nimmo was well known as the longest property. As Lieutenant General Nimmo CBE he commanded the serving Medical Officer at the RMC from 1939 to 1960. Ed} UN Military Observer Group in Kashmir from 1950 until his death 4 creek and the fence into the road near the Oval brought the run to an end ... the only hound to catch the hares was George by disobeying the whips and disregarding hunting etiquette”.

Bimberi trig November 1921. General Legge and his son Eric are probably second and far right; Doc Robinson is also in this group. RMC Archives.

First class cadet cavalry group Bimberi trek November 1921. RMC Archives. L. Barham (1921). In 1926, probably the most ambitious and arduous of all the cadet treks into the mountains, was made over five days in late November. It is described in detail in the RMC Journal 1927 pp. 38–40 with six photos p.18. It was 28 horses for 19 cadets, being the entire first and RMC Journal 1927, p. 18— photos of the November 1926 second classes, four staff and five packhorses. Day 1 was trek. RMC to Naas, day 2 Orroral to upper Cotter below Bimberi at Cotter (Oldfields) House, day 3 on the upper Cotter to The long distance recreational use of the horse is also to Kangaroo Creek (now Corin Dam wall), day 4 to Smokers be found in various Journals. The RMC Journal 1925 article Gap and along Gibraltar Creek, Paddys River to Cotter ‘Canberra’s Seasides’ discusses best ways of getting to the junction, day 5 return to the RMC. The total distance was over coast and advises “For wet weather and by motor go via 160 km. Bungendore Braidwood but for those to whom rougher Lieutenant Irving, a trek staff member, later Adjutant country and change of scenery appeal, horse through Captains RMC, reported in the 1927 Journal, “53 miles in the first two Flat is recommended”. The 1929 Journal has an article on a days out with each man carrying marching order complete four day Easter Ride by several first class cadets on a circuit with rifle and sword”. Day 3 was not easy, “… we forded the of over 160 km. RMC to Carwoola, Foxlow, Captains Flat, Cotter 14 times in eight miles” Day 4 was much the same, “… across the Tinderry range arriving at Colonel Ryrie’s a night march down Paddy’s creek until 2am when the Micalago at midnight then returning via Tharwa. The author column camped for the night, tired out after 33 miles of going advised “A pack horse was not necessary and the whole show in the roughest of country most of the time making our own is extraordinarily interesting to a potential cavalryman”. trail”. Finally Irving notes, “… under the most trying circumstances, in the most difficult country and in extremely hot weather, there was never a murmur.” More Journal recollections illustrate the rich variety of cadets activities with horses. For example, the annual RMC Gymkhana was a highly competitive affair including staff with individual and company events such as artillery team driving, tent pegging and jumping. The 1925 Journal records, “In the Balaclava melee Mr Chumleigh headed the Staff team and struck such alarm and dismay into his opponents that his team won without loss ... everyone thought the day a great affair and a very pleasant tea party complete with band was held on the lawns of Duntroon House” (1925). The Journals observe over many years the activities of hares, hounds and hunts which reinforced cadets’ riding skills. The 1927 RMC Journal for example has a few cadets as hares along Majura Lane followed by a larger hounds pack, From a 1926 film showing cadets doing lance work with “… with the music of the pack in their ears the run across the Molonglo River flats in the background. 5 All horses since 1911 took the initial letter of their name began in 1913 at the RMC as a lecturer and after war service from the surname of the Commandant of the day. So Peter returned in 1920. His enthusiasm for the national capital led was from Parnell’s time, Hotspur from Colonel Heritage’s to his book, Canberra’s First Hundred Years and After, time and so on. But numbers were more commonly used. The published in 1924. The ADFA Library has his first edition 1923 Journal in the official College record says, “On 18 personal copy. In early 1923 Robinson was appointed lecturer August there occurred the tragic end of one of the most Languages at the University of Queensland retiring in 1958. faithful of College servants. Though getting on in years he He has an Australian Dictionary of Biography entry. was still very lively and as handsome as ever. He died, as he After the war, in March 1946 Army made a major decision probably would have wished, suddenly, and in the to not keep any horse units on establishment strength. As the performance of his duties. There was no post mortem and the end of an era, 26 remount RMC horses were sold off at body was cremated. We refer to Blackie RMC Horse No 3.” auction in Queanbeyan in June 1946. So Blackie was an original from General Bridges’ time. But not quite the end. The ‘one light draught horse’ in the Graduates have also used the Duntroon Society 1946 auction was not sold and performed duty for a further Newsletter to remember their horse days. An example is R.R. six years pulling the RMC cricket pitch roller. Literally the McNicoll (1926) in Newsletter 2/1993 who wrote, “I recall last horse standing. that No 26 had a particularly hard mouth. Not all of us relished our training in horsemanship. I, for one, looked askance at the riding school, where the instructor would give the dreaded order, Quit your stirrups ... then Tar-rot. One had to rise in the saddle as if the feet were in stirrups, using sheer power of thigh muscles. The alternative was an undignified jog, with grave risk of falling off. By the late 1930s and the return to Duntroon from Sydney in 1937, the horse was on its way out. Although the 1937 Journal does note, “… possibly the rural atmosphere is also responsible for the increased enthusiasm for riding. Long weekend treks through difficult country have become commonplace”. But the 1939 RMC Journal has this: “1939 has passed with its hunts, and gymkhana ... this means a sad parting as mechanisation, camp and city life will take from them the opportunity of feeling a horse between their knees probably for many years”. The last cavalry trek was held in December 1939 and the last gymkhana on Duntroon grounds was held in August 1940.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Captain John White AATV: Finally Recognised 52 Years Later Chris (C.G.) Appleton (1978)

On 13 September 2019, the Governor-General presented the Distinguished Service Cross to Captain John (J.E.D.) White (1963) for his command and leadership in action at the battle of Ngok Tavak in Vietnam in 1968. Despite his junior rank, lack of operational experience and Company Commander training, in February 1968, he was posted to the Australian Army Training Team in Vietnam Cadet riding lessons 1936. R.V. Rushton (1936) and (AATTV) to command a company of the United States 5th D.G. Rice (1936). RMC Archives. Special Forces Group comprising 122 ethnic Nung soldiers. It was not only military staff who could be good horsemen He was supported by two other Australians, three American Two academic staff had close associations with Duntroon advisors and later some US artillerymen. horses over many years. Professor C.E. McKenzie was the In May 1968, his company’s base at Ngok Tavak was author of the RMC Journal 1940 article. “Where Shall We heavily attacked by the NVA. The perimeter was breached, Ride Near Canberra” and clearly he is good with horses. two platoons became isolated from the company command “What a choice we have ... the rolling plains, lanes and stock bunker and elements of the company turned on their allies. routes offer a diversity of rides not equalled elsewhere in As the enemy made repeated attacks on the command bunker Australia”. He gives much practical advice also suggesting area, White organized a successful counterattack against the many day rides around Canberra. He retired in 1948 and was enemy outside the perimeter of the base, reorganised his patriarch of eight McKenzie RMC graduates—three sons, defences, controlled the clearing of pockets of enemy still four nephews and one grand nephew. inside the perimeter, and arranged for the helicopter Professor F.W. “Doc” Robinson was one of the staff evacuation of wounded, personally loading some of them riding with General Legge on the Bimberi trek in 1921. He while under fire. White coordinated close air support throughout the assault including calling for strikes on his own 6 position. Two of three helicopters bringing reinforcements a major general. Major General Brady told the Tribunal if were shot down, blocking the landing zone and preventing White had been an American soldier, he would have been reinforcement or evacuation. Under heavy fire throughout, awarded the Medal of Honor (equivalent to the Victoria White organised a withdrawal to another location for Cross). Major General Brady is himself a recipient of the evacuation by air, in which he insisted that he would be the Congressional Medal of Honor. last to board a helicopter. Of the 232 Allied troops involved John White’s image, ID tags and his RMC cufflinks are at Ngok Tavak, more than half (121) were killed, wounded or displayed in Australian War Memorial. In 2003 an American missing. An American survivor would later say “every one of forensic team visited Ngok Tavak searching for the remains us that got out of that camp, we owe it all to John”. of American servicemen. During their excavations they found the remains of White’s kit, including the cufflinks. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Basil Finlay—an Appreciation M.P.J. O’Brien (1968)

When I attended the Selection Board for the RMC in 1964 it was chaired by the Commandant, Major General C.H. Finlay, CB, CBE. He remained Commandant until the beginning of 1968, the year of my graduation. Apart from seeing him when he frequently supported Duntroon sporting teams (including, surprisingly, lowly ones like my 3rd Hockey XI) and his appearances on our parades with his well-bogged1 Humber Super Snipe, I had very little contact with him. I did not have the doubtful privilege of a ‘Com Toc’2. He seemed remote, a gentleman from another age and very British indeed. I knew Captain John White, second from left at Ngok Tavak, little about him. The RMC was his last appointment: he Vietnam, May 1968. disappeared from my view. I next saw mention of him when I saw a newspaper article referring to his son (the author and White was recommended for the award of the Military journalist Iain Finlay) selling his father’s medals—sad! Basil, Cross by Lieutenant Colonel Ray (R.L.) Burnard (1951), the as we knew him from afar, did not merit an entry in the CO of AATTV. White’s two Australian warrant officers Australian Dictionary of Biography or at Obituaries were awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. However, Australia. White’s award was downgraded to a Mention in Despatches I have discovered several things about Basil—or should I by Major General A.L. MacDonald (1939), the Australian call him Charles Hector—and thought it might be best to commander in Vietnam. Burnard confronted MacDonald record them. Here goes! regarding the downgrading of White’s citation and was told by the General that “he didn’t want two brothers to be awarded a Military Cross in the same honours list”. White’s older brother Peter (P.N.D.) White (1957), serving as a company commander with 2 RAR, had also been recommended for the Military Cross. The General also told Burnard that the decision was his and that there would be no further discussion of the matter. Affecting MacDonald’s decision was the infamous wartime ‘quota’ system for medals. The first six months of 1968 were the busiest time for Australian forces during the entire Vietnam War. This period included the Tet Offensive, the Battles of Coral and Balmoral, Ngok Tavak and other actions. The allocation of medals under the quota system during this busy period was unchanged from that of quiet periods. Just 24 medals (in 12 months) were available under the quota system for just over 6,000 Australian soldiers serving in the Australian force in Vietnam at that time. For years Ray Burnard (later a brigadier) and White’s classmate, Ray (R.G.) Curtis, pursued White’s recognition, and in 2018, the Defence Honours and Award Appeals Tribunal considered the case. As the Imperial Military Cross is no longer presented, the Tribunal determined the appropriate award was the modern Distinguished Service Cross. Giving evidence were several Americans, one of them a helicopter pilot who flew into Ngok Tavak and later became Major General C.H. Finlay, CB, CBE.

1 Highly polished indeed! 2 A one-to-one confrontation with the Commandant to review one’s lack of academic or military progress, frequently resulting in a prompt exit from RMC but always leaving a lasting impression. 7 Basil—it was his nickname throughout his military On return from India he became adjutant and service at least—was born on 6 October 1910. He was raised quartermaster of the 13th Light Horse Regiment in October in Grafton and Sydney. The New South Wales Police Gazette 1936 and in June 1939 became an instructor in cavalry and of 11 April 1923, records that one Patrick Kennedy was equitation at the Central Training Depot at Liverpool. From sentenced to 12 months hard labour for an indecent assault on tanks back to horses! a male person, namely Charles Hector Finlay. He was an early volunteer for the Second AIF, becoming He entered the Royal Military College, Duntroon in NX73. In October 1939 he was posted as Adjutant, 6th February 1928 as Staff Cadet No 489 and graduated from its Divisional Cavalry Regiment, the first Australian mechanized new location of Victoria Barracks, Paddington as a cavalry unit to go overseas in January 1940. He subsequently saw officer to the Staff Corps in 1931. He was a corporal and in service with the 6th, 7th and 9th Australian Divisions in the the First XI and XV and he came fourth in the Cross Country. Western Desert and Syria as an infantry brigade major (BM) His class graduated eleven cadets including a later head of the and general staff officer. His Mention in Despatches noted Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, Brigadier Sir that “… as BM of 26 Australian Infantry Brigade during Charles Spry3, and Major General I.T. Murdoch. He operations near Tel El Eisa he worked unceasingly, and with contributed two articles and two poems to the RMC Journal a strong determination in the preparation of plans and orders. of 1931. The first verse of his poem called Cora was: In this time no less than four attacks took place involving the Bde and attached troops. In one attack three additional major How oft does the call of Duntroon and the mountains, units were under command. …[T]he Bde orders were Beckon us back to the highlands and fountains. carefully drawn up and many complicated moves were Thy home may be sought by the tomb of its founder satisfactorily co-ordinated.” A glory to the name of the soldier who crown’d her. He was then appointed as Commanding Officer of the 2/24th Infantry Battalion. This was an unusual job for a On graduation he joined the 1/21st Light Horse Regiment cavalryman—his command was from immediately after that (New South Wales Lancers) early the next year. He unit’s key part in the second battle of El Alamein and commanded the Army guard at the opening of Sydney continued through their move to Palestine and return to Harbour Bridge in March 1932. You may well ask whether Australia and the first few months of their tough retraining he felt that he should have intercepted the interloper, De for jungle warfare in the Atherton Tablelands. Groot, who cut the ribbon prior to the Premier. As a staff He also served for a period on the staff of General cadet I once unwisely put that question to the general. He Auchinleck, the Commander-in-Chief, Middle East. He frostily avoided answering it! returned to Australia and from late 1943 till the end of the war In June 1932 he was appointed Aide-de-Camp to the was engaged in intelligence and special operations postings Governor-General, then John Lawrence Baird, Viscount as part of a plan for Staff Corps officers to gradually take over Stonehaven, GCMG, DSO, PC and held that appointment intelligence functions. This included administrative until January 1935. At the end of that appointment he married command of ‘Z’ Special Unit, and service in New Guinea, Helen Marie Adams, a Canberra lady, at St John the Baptist, Dutch New Guinea, the Philippines, Morotai and Borneo. Reid ACT, with the Governor-General and his wife in From 1946 to 1949 he served on exchange duty with the attendance. He was then posted to be the Adjutant & Canadian Army in Canada returning in 1949 to the senior Quartermaster of the 20th Light Horse Regiment, remaining staff appointment in Central Command. From 1950 to 1953 in that job for seven months. In September he was attached to he was posted as Director of Military Intelligence at Army 14th/20th King’s Hussars, British Army, for training in India, Headquarters and from late 1953 to late 1954 was remaining in that desirable appointment for 13 months. He Commander of the Australian Army Component of the took part in that regiment’s involvement in the Second British Commonwealth Forces, Korea, from which posting he Mohmand Campaign of 1935, a campaign against proceeded to the UK to attend the Imperial Defence College. the Mohmand tribes in the Northwest Frontier area of British On completion of that course, he was posted as Australian India, now Pakistan. Vickers Mark IIB tanks were used in Army Representative in the United Kingdom until September this conflict, the first operational use of tanks in India. He 1957 when he was appointed Quartermaster-General at Army wrote a paper Employment of Light Tanks in Mountain Headquarters. Major General Finlay was awarded the OBE Warfare4. for distinguished service at El Alamein in 1942 and was twice mentioned in despatches during the war. He was appointed CBE in the New Year Honours 1958, became Commandant of the RMC in 1962 and was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1966. In 1966 he commenced the negotiations with the University of New South Wales to affiliate with the RMC, sidelining his formidable Director of Academic Studies, Professor T.A. Sutherland. I suspect that there may have been heated discussions! He also took firm measures that ensured that First Class cadets passed their academic studies (as well as their military ones) on pain of significant loss of seniority. On retirement from the Army after the RMC in 1968, General Finlay resided at Amungula in Queanbeyan. He A Vickers Mk IIB Tank. became honorary national treasurer of the Returned Services

3 As an aside, Finlay and Spry did their promotion exams for 4 I have not been able to find a copy. captain together in India. 8 League from 1969–1984, being awarded life membership in photos of huge crowds, Sabrina and Lieutenant Willing 1987. He was an RSL trustee from 1985 to 1993 and a looking at a map of Antarctica and in various other poses. recipient of its highest honour, the Meritorious Service He tucked the paper under his arm and walked softly Medal. In June 1973 he was appointed Honorary Colonel of along the corridor, quietly checking to see if the Commander the Australian Intelligence Corps. Royal Australian Army Service Corps (CRAASC)6, Colonel General Finlay died on 22 November 1993 and was V.E. Dowdy, had returned from the GOC’s morning survived by his wife (who died on 1 November 1995), two conference. Satisfied that his office was empty he nodded to sons (Iain and Duncan) and four grandchildren. The the secretary and, upon entering the room, carefully placed indefatigable defence correspondent Frank Cranston credited the paper on the CRAASC’s desk, positioning it so it could him as the driving force behind the construction of the Anzac not be missed Memorial Chapel of St Paul at the Royal Military College, Wheeling around, he walked out, softly closing the door Duntroon where his funeral was held. Cranston did not behind him, nodding again to the secretary who was busy at mention that the Class of ‘68 had provided much of the her typewriter. He headed back to his office glancing at his unskilled labour for the chapel’s construction! watch as he did so, nearly 10 o’clock; it was time for morning We cadets at Duntroon knew little of our Commandant’s tea at the mess. career or achievements, confining our knowledge to being As he approached his office, the other officers were able to repeat his name and decorations. What a pity! Basil already making their way up the corridor towards the mess to was a thorough gentleman and was justly remembered by one the then traditional morning tea. of his former regiments as a real professional soldier. Once inside, he took time to watch for Colonel Dowdy. He didn’t have long to wait, there he was, gimlet blue eyes ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ peering out under the brim of his cap, striding up the corridor Mike O’Brien graduated in 1968 into Infantry and joined 7 towards his office, reciprocating each officer’s salute as he RAR for its second tour of Vietnam as its intelligence officer passed them, with a short, barely noticeable, nod. He grasped and as a platoon commander. His 37 years of full-time service the handle of his office door and walked inside. culminated in his appointment as Support Commander-Army “Should be about nowwww!” from which he retired in 2001. He returned to part-time “Aaaaaaarrrggghhhh!” a banshee howl of rage echoed service to be in charge of the recovery and identification of stridently down the corridor. 250 bodies at Fromelles. He is a frequent speaker on “I’m out of here”, and he scuttled past the commander’s historical topics, has been an antiquarian bookseller and, in closed door. Just as he was starting up the Officers’ Mess his appointment as President of the Royal United Services steps he heard the Colonel’s door being wrenched open and Institute of Victoria, runs its 130-year-old military library. his voice yelling urgently “Gordon! Gordon!”. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Close—but he had got away before being caught. The CRAASC came striding into the Mess, ripped his red- The Sabrina Affair banded cap from his head and jammed it on a cap hook so viciously that the shape distorted and the hook almost J.B. Doohan (OCS Dec 1963) protruded through the fabric. An audible titter ran through the [The following resulted from a suggestion that I write a story mess then quickly ceased, all talking stopped, it was quiet. about my recollections of my time in the Antarctic. There He stood there scowling, his thin white moustache were many to choose from, but I settled on this story. In my bristling in anger, looking for someone, anyone to vent his opinion, this story is far and away the best; too good not to anger on. All the RAASC officers present attempted to make see the light of day. Some would say that this is one of the themselves inconspicuous by shrinking into the background. most entertaining yarns to come out of the Corps’ history in Everyone avoided eye contact with him, craving anonymity. peacetime. The GOC greeted him smilingly “Hi Vin, I see one of Before proceeding I would remind the reader the events your young Corps’ officers made the front page?” Dowdy took place some 60 years ago; and while, in order to preserve strangled a grunt in reply and snatched two toasted its integrity, I have done a good deal of research and infused sandwiches from a silver tray, borne by a passing steward, the story with my experience (gained from two trips to the immaculate in his white coat. Taking little snappy bites from Antarctic in 1965/66 and 1966/67), as the story needed to be the sandwich, he swivelled his head around looking out under more than a boring narrative, I have relied on hearsay and his lowered brow, sparks seemed to fly from his bushy white conjecture to ensure its flow and readability. eyebrows. I apologise to the reader for any conjecture that may have A well-liked figure, who was looked up to, but with an distorted facts that occurred. Jim Doohan] explosive temper and being very strait-laced, the lurid newspaper articles struck at the core of his beliefs. The mess ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ members knew it, they could have predicted his exact Wednesday, 7 January 1959: The Deputy Assistant Director reaction, and in fact they would have been sorely Supplies and Transervicesport (DADST)5 picked up the disappointed if he had reacted otherwise, but nevertheless morning papers and, smiling, studied the pictures. There was they were fascinated by his exhibition a DUKW on the wharf, Sabrina smashing a champagne bottle Just then a breathless steward came running up— against the hull and the polar ship Magga Dan fully loaded “Colonel Dowdy the CGS7 is on the line for you in the mess ready to sail on the front page. On the following pages more sergeant’s office sir!”

5 A Grade 2 (major) staff appointment. 7 Lieutenant General Sir Alwyn Ragnar Garrett, Chief of the 6 Usually lieutenant colonel, supply and transport, commanding General Staff, 1958 to 1960. units of a division or a geographical command, but colonel in the larger commands such as Southern Command. 9 Swallowing hard, he straightened his shoulders and posted to 11 National Service Training Battalion in Wacol, stalked towards the office, an awed silence gripped the room. Queensland for a short few months until he was attached to Reluctantly, he picked up the phone, “Hello, Dowdy HQ DST in Melbourne for duties with ANARE whose speaking.” headquarters were located in St Kilda, Melbourne. “Ah Vin—Alwyn here.” With his smooth style and an audacious nature, Dick had “Yes—hello sir.” significant advantages over us mere mortals who fearfully “I’ve just had a call from the Governor-General.” trod more sedate paths. It could be said that he would “charge Dowdy gagged and stiffened, his knuckles stark white as hell with a bucket of water” and look good doing it. he tightened his grip on the telephone. This audacity was amply demonstrated on two occasions, the widely acclaimed ‘Sabrina Affair’; and later in Brunei, ………………………………………… where single-handed, he wrested back control of an airfield, In late 1965 I arrived at the headquarters of the Australian totally demoralizing a rebel force in the process. With a fierce National Antarctic Research Expedition (ANARE), as part of demeanour etched on his face and in reckless abandon of his our week-long pre-embarkation briefing I was handed an own safety, he exploded out of an aircraft waving his 9 mm impressively thick Antarctic Manual in colour. On thumbing Browning around catching the rebels by surprise who fled in through the pages I saw a picture of a DUKW in the water at terror abandoning the airfield. For this conspicuous, and some Wilkes, flanked by the ubiquitous ‘bergie bits’ (mini would say foolhardy, action he earned a ‘good MBE’. icebergs) and the caption read “Lieutenant Dick Willing in Some said he should have earned an MBE earlier for his DUKW at Wilkes Base”. enticing Sabrina, the 41 ½, 17, 36-inch curvaceous, famous British blonde model and the toast of Melbourne at the time, to christen his DUKW in her name before he departed for Antarctica. Sabrina had first came to the attention of young army officers when she appeared in a bit part in a British training film on ‘Methods of Instruction’. The lesson brought out in her appearance was about ‘not having distractions to the class’—flash the scene to a major with his pointer tapping at the blackboard while 22 students are sitting glumly at their desks when a beautiful blonde walks past the open window DUKW Sabrina in the water off Wilkes, Antarctica. sporting an enormous bosom and voluptuous curves—22 What intrigued me was the name of the DUKW which had heads snap around and 22 pairs of eyes are riveted on the ‘SABRINA’ in pink writing emblazoned across the bow. I figure of Sabrina as she vamps past swivelling her hips in an thought it strange, because strict policy stated that all ostentatious parade, desks are tipped over in the rush to the expedition DUKWs were to be named after a serving or window and the lesson ends in chaos —cut —‘how not to do recently retired senior officer; further, the names were it.’ allocated by the RAASC Corps Directorate in a very Before the ANARE Army detachment was able to embark deliberate manner. So, for the life of me, I couldn’t imagine, on the Danish polar ship, the Magga Dan, a mountain of work nor think of, an officer named Sabrina. had to be done in readiness: preparing the vehicles for Turning to Alan Campbell-Drury, who had put the manual operations in such a ferocious climate using special oil together and was the ANARE official photographer at the additives, greasing the Higgins and Gould pump chains with time I asked him to explain. sticky molybond grease, undoing the 68 nuts on the outer His roar of laughter encouraged Doug Twigg, the wheel rim and recoating them with Kopa Kote grease and communications expert, to join him. Both he and Doug had retightening them (there are six wheels on each DUKW) and similar long histories with the department, and knew its testing the DUKWS thoroughly before undertaking training history well. Looking at the photograph and laughing they operations with ANARE on Port Phillip Bay. Simultaneously proceeded to regale me with the story. they were ordering in and sorting out the huge range of spares, before packaging and marking them carefully. In addition, all ………………………………………… administrative details had to be completed before sailing. Major Richard T. Willing, MBE was probably the most Once the ship sailed communication to Australia was limited dynamic officer I had encountered in 24 odd years of service. to the ship’s radio officer and teletype print outs—in code to He would have made Beau Brummell green with envy with limit traffic. Hence, meticulous administrative preparations his elegant dress sense. In fact, he was the only officer I ever were essential as no corrections were possible after sailing. It knew who actually looked good in the old Australian Army was a punishing schedule but, fortunately, the nights were Battle Dress. free, and while the money lasted Melbourne was at the Wherever Dick went, everything frothed and bubbled detachment’s mercy. With Dick Willing on the loose that around him. He was a mixture of Beau Brummell, Peter Pan meant ‘Melbourne watch out’. and Clark Kent with his horn-rimmed glasses. A constant At the same time Sabrina was performing in Melbourne at source of perplexity to his senior officers, idolised by us the Tivoli. A super star by now, her drawing power set an all- junior officers with his sangfroid, in any situation, and time record on arrival in Melbourne, not broken until five irresistible to the opposite sex of all ages with his charm and years later by the Beatles in 1964. grace. In summary, Major Dick Willing was ‘One Cool Cat’. A singular feature of Dick’s character was his old- He graduated from the RMC in December 1957 and fashioned virtue of sticking rigidly to the motto ‘a gentleman immediately went to the RAASC School at Puckapunyal never talks about his lady acquaintances’. Others may gossip where he spent the next few months on a young officer’s or gloat; never Dick. Therefore no titillating facts or salacious course. Upon completing the course in May 1958 he was details of how Dick actually met Sabrina and chatted her up

10 are available, one can only speculate on some of his likely magazine, a keen follower of Sabrina’s Australian tour. The tactics. result was a crowd of thousands making their way to Port Dick’s good looks and immaculate dress always set him Melbourne Dock No 6 that afternoon to get a glimpse of apart so he would have easily caught her attention during her Sabrina. Tivoli act. If he now alluded subtly to his forthcoming Dr Phillip Law was a slim, wiry man with a commanding intrepid adventure to the great white wasteland he would presence, he had a shiny bald pate which was compensated instantly become an object of interest, quite unique which for by a carefully groomed goatee beard of frosty grey; it would set him apart. A clever tactic this as every Brit those looked like it was coated permanently with permafrost, a days had been fed on a diet of the story of the intrepid, but ill- perfect image for the Director of the Antarctic Division. He fated ‘Scott of the Antarctic’ and his fateful last trip during blinked excessively and rapidly when speaking and it was which every expedition member to the South Pole perished. confidentially rumoured that this was caused by bouts of This created an inbuilt apprehension of the dangers of the snow blindness, during his many expeditions into the frozen Antarctica and built up Dick’s ‘bravery’ credentials in her interior. The whole image was carefully crafted for maximum eyes. In addition, the word ‘expedition’ as in ‘The Australian impact and reflected the environment in which he had made National Antarctic Research Expedition’ had a certain ring to his name. Although he became sea sick every trip, he it which no doubt she found fascinating. steadfastly insisted on accompanying the expedition every So having gained her rapt attention—how to maintain it? year, accompanied by his piano accordion. Propped up in the “I know I’ll call my DUKW ‘Sabrina’ in honour of you and dining room he would play for hours while the beer flowed you can christen it the day we leave.” Could any publicity and the sing-along’s got more maudlin with each passing conscious star resist such a carrot? Absolutely not! Her night. This helped foster a strong team spirit before the new publicity crew seized on this opportunity to expand and crew arrived at their base each year. Beer was readily enhance her image, ensuring all the news media outlets were available, but he forbade spirits, believing that spirits alerted to the impending dramatic event to be staged on the frequently led to alcoholism. Hence his imprimatur was on day the Magga Dan was to sail for Wilkes. every aspect of the expedition. Dick now had to overcome the not so trivial matter of He carefully thought out all public actions to maintain the omitting the Army allocated name of V.E. Dowdy on his Antarctic Division’s profile at its highest level to counteract DUKW and inserting Sabrina’s name instead. To even think the constant efforts of the bureaucrats at the Department of about it was breathlessly audacious and would make the External Affairs to severely limit the Division’s activities. bravest heart quail. Colonel V.E. Dowdy just happened to be Fortunately at this time he had a strong champion in his the CRAASC Southern Command based in Victoria Barracks corner in the form of the minister R.G. Casey who Melbourne within walking distance of Dick’s Sturt Street enthusiastically supported the concepts and aims that Phil put depot where his detachment was based. Junior officers in the forward. Thanks to his support giant steps had been taken in headquarters trembled at the sound of Colonel Dowdy’s steps recent years. Good publicity was essential to support the in the corridor, praying he was not visiting them for a dressing political will and ensure that funds continued to flow. down. He had a tongue like a whiplash, I know as I was subjected to it at the earliest stage of my career when I objected to my initial posting. A fair, stern man his temper was legendary, when summoned on his intercom to his office, his staff officers demanded he put down his swagger stick before they dared appear before him. No one knew whether or not the ‘Vin’ was short for ‘Vincent’ or ‘vinegar’. Strictly religious, with a strong moral code, he expected the highest moral standards from all the officers of the Corps, especially junior officers. To usurp his name with that of a well-endowed actress ???? The mind boggles. No wonder that Dick informed very few people of his plans, neglecting to seek permission—just proceeded to quietly have a sign writer emblazon the name SABRINA in External Affairs Minister R.G. Casey, Nellie Law and Dr beautiful large pink writing across the bow of his DUKW and Phillip Law. two more sombre renditions of Sabrina on each side of the DUKW level with the driver’s seat. Carefully concealed The ship’s send-off was accordingly carefully staged with under draped covers until they were dramatically revealed maximum publicity in mind. Especially this year as the new during the christening ceremony. Worry, why bother? Dick expedition was to take over the American Base Wilkes, built was never one to worry about consequences, he maintained in the Geophysical Year 1957–58 and now generously stoically that it could only ever happened once to you unless handed over to the Australians fully intact. This was a you worried, then it could happen a thousand times! That magnificent coup for the Division so everything had to be just would be as bad as the death of a thousand cuts. right to impress the dignitaries. The events that unfolded on sailing day were therefore a The Magga Dan was a picture with its bright red hull and complete surprise to the Director of the Antarctic Division, stark white superstructure. It was Tuesday, 6 January 1959 Dr Phillip Law, the ship’s captain, crew and all of the and it was sailing day. Phil Law paused at the top of the expeditioners. Only a select few of the Army detachment gangplank, a quick glance around showed him that all was knew about it and of course Dick swore them to secrecy. On ready for the send-off. Preparations had gone smoothly in the other hand Sabrina’s PR people had been busy: radio, TV this, his tenth year as Director and this was the payoff for and newspapers were notified as well as the then extant Pix surrounding himself with an outstanding team of senior operators. They had all been to the Antarctic at least once, 11 some several times. As a result they knew the high standards he set and acted accordingly. Yes, all looked perfect—he frowned suddenly, what was that DUKW still doing on the wharf alongside the ship? The other had been loaded on the off-side fore deck earlier this morning, both should have been on by now, must check later he thought.

The Magga Dan. His eyes narrowed as he surveyed the crowd arriving, usually a few hundred turned up to hear the speeches and watch the send-off, as his Operations Officer, Frank McMahon, always put out a substantial PR blurb to all news Governor-General Sir William Slim. media on the pending annual expedition on when and where it was scheduled to depart. My word Frank had overdone it Eric Macklin standing behind him muttered “That’s this year as, if he wasn’t mistaken, there were thousands of Sabrina!” “Wha … who?” stammered Phil completely people there already and more were pouring in by the minute. stunned, “You know Sabrina, she’s at the Tivoli and they’re “Well I suppose”, he thought, “there’ll be quite a few all ravin’ about her.” “My God! Find out what she’s doing dignitaries here today, more than usual, not least Richard here quickly.” He said with a hasty glance down at the Casey the Minister and Lawrence (Bill) Lane the American assembled dignitary guests who were craning their heads Ambassador for the preliminary handover of Wilkes Base, the around to get a glimpse of what was going on. Sweat suddenly actual handover would occur at Wilkes itself when the Magga beaded his forehead he could see his carefully laid plans Dan arrived. All the usual bureaucrat hangers on from the unravelling unless the situation could be salvaged External Affairs Department—quite the momentous Minutes later Eric came back with Lieutenant Dick occasion.” He looked at his watch, Sir William would be here Willing in tow, Phil eyed him suspiciously, “What’s this all anytime now, always rely on him to be right on time. Just then about Dick?” A relaxed Dick Willing said “You know how Sir William’s Rolls oozed up, gently making its way through you told me the other night over beers the expedition would the crowd, who gave him a generous applause. He was a wither and die if it didn’t get good publicity?” “Yeah, but so popular Governor-General whose blunt no-nonsense way and what?” “It got me to thinking, now if I could get Sabrina to an outstanding war record strongly appealed to the Australian come along and christen my DUKW, you couldn’t get better psyche. His wife elegant Lady Slim, was sitting beside him. publicity than that! So I asked her and she said she’d be The rostrum used for speakers was at the head of the delighted and here she is”. gangplank for its raised position to look out over the crowd; “But in God’s name why didn’t you tell me?” Dick looked it had a red carpet rolled down the gangplank for effect. at him pityingly “Come on Phil you know you would have Directly in front of the gangplank on the wharf comfortable refused.” “Er um I’d best go with you and meet her and seats were arranged for the visiting dignitaries, the large introduce her to the main guests.” “Yeah,” said Dick “I’m crowd stood around the seats, spreading up and down the sure they’d love to meet her. Look at them ogling her now.” wharf and craning their necks for a view. Some had taken Phil looked down at the Cadillac which was surrounded vantage points in cranes on the wharf to get a better view. by reporters with their cameras flashing and all the time Photographers swarmed around, and flash bulbs were yelling at Sabrina to look at them. His main guests were popping at regular intervals, Visy News was there to record looking on in astonishment and were enjoying the show. the event with cine cameras. Minutes later he was standing alongside the Cadillac, as The ADC, his gold braid glistening in the sunlight, sprang Dick opened the door and helped Sabrina out through the from the front and hurried to open the door for Sir William clamouring throng, he made a theatrical movement to and Lady Slim, saluting smartly as he did so. Phillip stepped introduce her “Sabrina, this is the Director of the Antarctic forward to greet them and escorted them to their seats Division Dr Phillip Law.” “So pulleesed to meet you doctor, exchanging small talk on the way. They were barely seated Dick has told me so much about you.” In a surprisingly well and he was striding towards the gangplank when he heard the modulated voice, no dumb blonde this person. Reluctantly crowd roar as if they were at a football final, a siren wailed wrenching his gaze from her bosom he gallantly bowed over briefly. Quickly looking around he was flabbergasted to see her hand murmuring “Pleasure’s all mine Sabrina what a two motor cycle escorts flanking an open topped pink wonderful surprise.” He certainly meant the surprise part. Cadillac coming up the dock with a stunning blonde woman “Before we christen the DUKW, I would like you to join in white, sitting in the back, waving and blowing kisses to the the official party. Would you allow me to escort you.” “Of crowd. course. You’ll be coming too Dick?” She asked inclusively glancing at Willing who was standing smiling at the pair. 12 Together they walked the short distance to the seated nothing”. As she swung the bottle hard against the DUKW. dignitaries where the men instantly sprang to their feet in The bottle shattered into fragments and the champagne eager anticipation, eyes riveted on Sabrina’s greatest asset. frothed and bubbled down the bow of the DUKW as Sabrina, Phil started with the Governor-General and his wife Aileen, a with a giggle of delight, grabbed the hand held mike and said pretty curtsy from Sabrina to the couple and she smilingly met “God bless this DUKW which I now name Sabrina and God their enquiries while carrying on small talk. Phil watching, bless all who sail in her”. A mighty cheer from the crowd saw that he need not have worried, Sabrina was cool and followed by sustained clapping as she bowed triumphantly to composed and had the ‘star’ quality that enthralled all who them. met her. Sir William now was animatingly talking “I have “Now the crane will hoist the DUKW onto the ship. Are heard so much about you; you’re very famous.” “You’re you game Sabrina?” shouted Dick, reaching for her hand, as pretty famous yourself; Sir William.” He visibly expanded, the big forward gantry crane lowered the spider for four Army his face reddened under this smiling retort and he was crew to grasp a hook and hook them onto the four lifting instantly under her spell. points. “Try and stop me”, she panted, grasping his hand, and Next the American Ambassador Laurie Lane who held her with a flurry of skirts she swung aboard. Her manager hand an excessively long time and just couldn’t get his eyes covered his eyes in fear. above her chest to look her in the face, he was almost Holding the canopy bow behind the driver’s seat with her drooling, much to the annoyance of his wife who was right hand she turned and faced the crowd, waving vigorously watching him hawkishly. The Minister Richard Casey, tall, with her left as the DUKW, with its bright gold top and slim and elegant shook her hand and bantered with her with a standard army green hull, was hoisted aloft. The adoring twinkle in his eye, they seemed to get along famously which crowd went wild, cheering madly as she soared above them. gave Phil great satisfaction, this was going well; his chagrin Ever so gently the DUKW was lowered into position on the at her unexpected arrival evaporated, Sabrina graciously deck. Sabrina was helped down from the DUKW by eager moved on to the lesser dignitaries who were almost panting ship’s crew hands, and wended her way along to the in line. Meanwhile Dick sauntered along behind Phil and her gangplank where she paused theatrically for a final wave with more than one set of female eyes on him speculatively. before walking down the red carpet to her seat below. Dick Nattily attired in his army greens he was the perfect escort. followed leisurely and seated himself beside her. Phil escorted Sabrina to a seat saying, “I’ll just get Don The speeches that followed were mercifully short and to Styles to announce the revised program. We will have your the point as it was a hot afternoon and they were an anti- DUKW christening ceremony almost immediately before the climax after the excitement of the DUKW christening, Sir speeches and of course you and your party will join the William Slim’s speech was a memorable one. He was a very official group for drinks aboard the Magga later?” Sabrina inspiring speaker and his speech was interrupted three times smiled sweetly at him, answering in a low contralto, “Super! with spontaneous applause. The large crowd was in a good I’d love to see inside a polar ship”. mood and responded generously to all of the speeches. Sabrina seated, Don Styles the tall Kiwi expat, assumed The formal part of the send-off over, the dignitaries then the top of the gang plank, and dragging the microphone stand slowly moved up the red carpeted gang plank to the ship’s towards him he leaned over and announced: “Honoured dining room and ante–room where a spread was laid out for guests, ladies and gentlemen the first item on the program this the special guests. Sven, the ship’s Hoffmaster had excelled afternoon will be the christening of the DUKW on the wharf himself with his spread for the day’s luncheon: fresh Sabrina by our star Sabrina!” A great roar and whistles from Tasmanian oysters in their shell, fresh lobster and Queensland the crowd, Sabrina looked around and waved, another roar. mud crabs a giant salmon as the centre piece decorated “This will be followed by a welcoming speech by the Director lavishly, with a real live pineapple light, much to the of The Antarctic Division, Dr Phillip Law, a handover speech amazement of the guests—the innards had been scraped out by the American Ambassador Laurie Laine, a reply in of the pineapple which was served as a tasty side dish, the acceptance by the Right Honourable Minister for External pineapple skin with green top still attached had been placed Affairs Mr R G Casey and finally a farewell speech to this over a weak light bulb which lit up the lattice-like pattern of year’s ANARE crew, the ship’s complement and the the skin. Guests exclaimed in amazement when they realized DUKWees by Sir William Slim our esteemed Governor- that the pineapple skin and top were real and not a plastic General.” Polite applause for the first three followed by warm copy. The white-coated ship’s stewards constantly circled applause for Sir William’s name. with glasses of pink and white champagne on silver trays as “Now Sabrina and Lieutenant Willing, if you can make well as white and red wines. On separate small traymobiles your way to the DUKW on the wharf, we’ll let the christening strategically placed lurked the deadly Aquavit, beads of cold ceremony begin”. A roar and more whistles from the crowd on the outside of each bottle which was flanked by the as Sabrina and Dick left their seats and made their way to the prescribed cold Tuborg beer (at 11% alcohol) for the chaser. DUKW where the rest of the Army detachment were formed This Danish national spirit drink made from fermented up around an A frame which had been rigged up by the potatoes, was dynamite and packed a wallop which sneaks up RAEME Sergeant. From the A frame at the end of a long on you. The External Affairs bureaucrats, unaware of the rope, dangled a bottle of champagne suggestively, just within drink’s potency, commenced to “Skol” repeatedly with first swinging distance of the bow of the DUKW. the Aquavit then the Tuborg chaser in bravado acts of sheer Sabrina grasped the bottle and said “What do I do now recklessness. Richard?” looking across at Dick who was smilingly Sabrina was thronged by the guests wherever she moved, watching her, the photographers gathered around eagerly, one an old hand at these sorts of functions she chatted pleasantly yelled out “Swing the champagne bottle as hard as you can with various groups as she moved around, her champagne against the bow Sabrina and make sure it breaks!” “Sure glass held delicately in her hand—though seldom sipped, if you’re strong enough Sabrina?” Another reporter yelled, you were an astute observer. The photographers still followed “Watch and learn I didn’t spend all those years in the gym for her diligently, until one persistent photographer called out,

13 “Sabrina will you and the lieutenant come over here by the Antarctic and don’t you wear beards down there?” Dick map of the Antarctic for a special shot.” They obliged, posing brightened “Of course, right, I won’t shave for at least five carefully with Dick smilingly pointing to Wilkes on the large weeks.” Reluctantly, with heavy heart, he released her hand. map of Antarctica on the ante room wall while Sabrina peered His heady time with the star coming to an end. The Cadillac closely over his shoulder. Several shots later and “Perfect, eased forward, the crowd clapped and cheered as Sabrina that will be one for the record!” turned to wave to them, Dick watched the Cadillac until it Reg, Sabrina’s manager, glanced at his watch and disappeared out of sight then sighing, turned and made his exclaimed, “Holy cow! Look at the time we have to rush to way back to the Magga Dan. make your next appointment at the charity function Sabrina.” Sir William Slim and Dr Phillip Law were in earnest “Oh do we really have to go Reggie. I’m having such a super conversation in the ship’s ante room when he arrived. Sir time?” Her manager was insistent. Reluctantly Sabrina made William was heard to say “I always enjoy this send off as one her farewells, initially to the Governor-General who bowed of the best of the calendar year, this is what my fifth time?” over her hand exclaiming what a pleasure it was to have met “Yes, Sir William.” “By jove, that was a master stroke of her. “Likewise, Sir William. I have always been an admirer yours getting Sabrina along. Who’d have thought that a star of yours.” Sabrina always knew the right thing to say. “I’ll like that could be so charming, she certainly drew the crowd.” come with you Sabrina,” volunteered Phil, “No. No. Dr. you “Actually I had nothing to do with her presence though I stay with your guests. Richard will escort me” smiling at Dick admit it gave us much needed marvellous publicity, it was who gallantly gave her his arm. Lieutenant Dick Willing here who organised it.” Turning to When they appeared at the top of the gangplank again they Dick as he spoke. “Was it you Mr Willing, how on earth?— noted that although the crowd had thinned a little most were No, don’t answer that! Seriously it was a PR master stroke still waiting to get another glimpse of Sabrina, roars and and you deserve commendation for it—in fact I must speak whistles greeted her appearance. They quickly made their to the CGS about it.” Dick said nothing standing, smilingly in way to the Cadillac while the throng gathered around and the front of the Governor-General slightly embarrassed but ever present photographers clicking away furiously. Sabrina presenting a cool exterior. was always very obliging to the photographers as her and the “When did you graduate? Duntroon I presume?” photographers had a symbiotic relationship and they both “Yes sir.” knew it, she was extremely gracious to them and they loved “Well, you’ve certainly made a good start, showing the her for it. élan you did today, great stuff!” Glancing sideways at his wife Aileen who was in an animated conversation with Mrs Casey and the American Ambassador’s wife he said, offering her his arm as he spoke, “Well dear, time we left this delightful party and let the crew relax.” Don Styles called attention to the assemblage that the Governor-General was leaving and the guests stood politely and gave him a round of applause, saluting them he turned and walked up the steps with his entourage. Phillip accompanied him down the gang plank to the shiny black Rolls where the ADC held the door open, saluting him as he and his wife settled themselves. Sir William poked his head out the window for a last word, “Great day Phil keep it up.” ”I will sir, I will!” Applause, as the Rolls drove off, from the very much reduced crowd that had now largely melted away with the departure of Sabrina leaving only friends and relatives of the expeditioners saying their last goodbyes. With the departure of the Governor-General the rest of the official party soon left, Eric Macklin and Doug Twigg supporting the legless External Affairs bureaucrats to their white Commonwealth hire car which was to take them to the airport. The shadows lengthened, all traces of the party over, the Lieutenant Dick Willing pointing out ‘Sabrina Land’ in ship’s crew readied for departure. Soon the ship’s engine Antarctica to Sabrina. throbbed into life, “cast off forward, cast off aft”; a tug nudged and manoeuvred the ship away from the wharf and As she climbed into the car the V8 engine throbbed into turned it to head down the Yarra and out into the bay. Final life. Turning to Dick and holding his hand she said severely, yells and waves across the water, tears from wives and “Now you will look after my DUKW Richard, no scratches girlfriends, frantic waving of the children and lumps in or dents and treat her tenderly.” “My lady”, quoth Dick throats of the expeditioners leaving their loved ones for 13 fervently, “Sabrina will be cosseted and spoiled and driven as months. if I was the Queen’s chauffeur”. “Seriously I don’t know The little red-hulled ship gathered speed, its seven when I’ve had a better time Richard, thank you for the cylinder engine pounding, it would attain and maintain an honour, I’ll never forget it.” and leaning forward she bussed average speed of around 10 knots for a journey of 9–10,000 him on the cheek. The crowd whistled and clapped loudly. miles before returning in several weeks. Next, in about 8–10 Touching his cheek reverently Dick said “Heck I won’t be days would come the excitement of seeing the first icebergs able to shave there for weeks now.” “Aren’t you going to the

14 followed in a couple of days by the eerie silence of the icepack, with break-through in three or five days if they were Joining the Military Historical lucky. The ice pack surrounding Wilkes Base can be very Society of Australia (MHSA) unpredictable (the 1966/7 voyage of the Nella Dan saw it stuck fast for 28 days). After the pack, the rocky, icy mainland The MHSA aims to foster interest in Australian military and the red huts of Wilkes Base—destination achieved. history, including the provision of support for historical ………………………………………… research and militaria collections. It was formed in 1956 and now comprises branches in most states. MHSA works to a “Yes Vin he just rang me to say he wished to commend young common business plan, constitution and rules and has many Lieutenant Willing for his initiative in getting Sabrina to organizational and international links with like-minded name a DUKW after her as it brought tremendously good bodies. publicity to the Antarctic Division.” Members comprise both professional and amateur “Good publicity?” military historians, and many members also hold interest in “Yes indeed and from the reports I’ve seen it’s good uniforms, weapons, badges, medals, memorabilia and even publicity for the Army too, don’t you think?” restored military vehicles. A significant number are not “Eh, yes sir.” military personnel, and these members add an additional “The DUKW was probably only going to be named after perspective to the Society’s endeavours. some old fogey anyway wasn’t it?” In 1970, CSC 2797 Staff Cadet (now lieutenant colonel “Yes probably sir” (Retd)) Russell (R.J) Linwood joined the MHSA. At the time, “Well I’d watch that young man if I were you—the Army this was an extra-curricular opportunity at the RMC to needs people with such dash—pass on my commendations to reinforce the study of Military History which logically him will you.” formed a prominent element of the curriculum. Russell, “Yes I’ll certainly watch him sir!” currently the Vice President of MHSA and long-standing “Thanks Vin. Nice to pass on good news for a change. member of the Duntroon Society, encourages readers to join Keep up the good work, goodbye.” the Society. “Uh, goodbye sir.” In so doing, fellow Duntroon Society members can assist Hanging up the phone Dowdy, totally bemused, tried to with the development of the military history literature take it in, “Verbal commendation from the Governor- through the offer of their expertise and views via published General, excellent publicity for the Army?” He sighed and papers, book reviews and shared research via the Society’s thought, “What the heck, guess I can’t stay mad at him after flagship journal, Sabretache. Or they might simply enjoy the that. Guess I’d best say nothing and just act as if nothing camaraderie of people with like interests. happened when he returns. Commendation? I don’t think so! Veterans of contemporary deployments are especially If I did that what would he get up to next?” welcome; regular meetings and conferences provide for ………………………………………… strong opportunities for engagement with like-minded people. Details are at https://www.mhsa.org.au/ Sadly, Major R.T. Willing, MBE passed away in his sleep on Membership may be sought at: 8 Aug 2008 in Maleny Queensland. A comet who roared https://www.mhsa.org.au/joining-the-society/membership- across our skies, some of us were lucky enough to be application/ sprinkled with cosmic dust as he passed, I consider it a Enquiries are welcome at [email protected] or privilege to have known him. God bless you Dick. 0403544866. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ James Doohan graduated from the OCS Portsea in Dec 1963 to RAASC. As OC of 42 Amphibian Platoon he was seconded Calling all Graduates and Staff of to the Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition the OCS Portsea (1952–1985) (ANARE) in charge of the Army detachment responsible for unloading the polar vessels operated by the Danish Lauritzen 3,544 officers were commissioned Line which was hired by ANARE for their annual expeditions. through OCS Portsea (including 68 He went on two four-month expeditions: 1965/66 and who did the OCS course at OTU 1966/67 and in that time visited all of the Australian Antarctic Scheyville). 30 officers were bases. James served in SVN as Operations Officer in 5 Coy commissioned into the RAAF and RAASC (Feb 1970 to Feb 1971), attended the Royal Military 688 were commissioned into the College of Science in Oxfordshire, UK before returning to armies of fourteen other countries. Australia to work in Army Materiel Branch. Apart from a If you have lost contact with your old classmates, have a stint as a Squadron Commander and an SO2 in Ops Branch look at https://www.ocsportsea.org/. Click on “Class Lists” HQ FF Comd, he spent the remainder of his career in to see your old class list and photographs. Make contact Materiel Branch. He resigned from the Army in 1986 to take through the “Contact Us” page. up a position as a management consultant in DVA. He The website also shows details of a 180 cm high bronze became a senior mathematics teacher at St Edmunds College, statue of a saluting officer cadet which is awaiting Parks Canberra for 12 years before moving to Bendigo Secondary Victoria approval to be mounted on the foundations of the College. He is currently retired and lives in Kyogle where he now re-located Memorial Wall, overlooking the old parade is Chairman of the Kyogle Division of Legacy and is growing ground. a rain forest. He is the author of two books—the satirical If you wish to contribute towards the costs of the statue, Sniveller’s Handbook (how to get on) and Mastering Study. details will soon be on the website. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

15 Course reforms at Duntroon also seek to align with Army’s Brigadier Ana Duncan, CSC broader training transformation initiatives, which will make (Dec 1996) adaptive use of technology and also adjust to how our modern training audiences learn. The considerations driving adjustments to the ARA OCC are also applicable to Brigadier Duncan was appointed Commandant of the Royal Duntroon’s Part Time and Specialist Service Officer training Military College of Australia in January 2020. over time. Brigadier Duncan joined the Army in 1996. As a Signals Duntroon is continuing to make exceptional progress in officer her regimental experience was forged within the 1st, evolving day to day training delivery to meet contemporary 3rd and 17th Brigades, and in the 1st Division. She commanded requirements. Over the last 12 months, Duntroon has the 1st Signal Regiment, which included command of Force integrated Army’s Battle Management System (BMS), taken Communication Unit X in the Middle East. She has also up the Decisive Action Training Environment (DATE)— commanded troops in Timor-Leste and in the Solomon which has replaced the Musorian and Kamarian opposition Islands. forces we previously war gamed with—and the Combat She has held senior staff appointments in the Department Behaviours program has been embedded into training to hone of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Office of the Chief of Army, foundation warfighting skill. Strategic Policy Division, Headquarters 1st Division / The Director of Military Arts, Colonel Chris Alder (Dec Deployable Joint Force Headquarters and in Career 1998), and I have been impressed by the Part Time Management – Army. Most recently, she was the Director Commissioning Course, with the Chief of Army hosting a Future Plans and Strategy for the military coalition to defeat graduation dinner to welcome 40 of the Army’s newest the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). In this role, she was Lieutenants on 1 February. Training Block 5 was particularly also the Senior National Representative for all Australian demanding, with officer cadets experiencing challenging troops in Iraq. smoke and heat conditions at the Majura Range. The course A graduate of the Centre for Defence and Strategic also came under threat from a fire and was evacuated back to Studies, Australian Institute of Company Directors, Duntroon for a period. Romani Company performed Australian Command and Staff College, and Royal Military commendably in delivering this training and in ensuring College – Duntroon, Brigadier Duncan also holds a Bachelor trainees were afforded every opportunity to complete the of Arts, a Master of Arts in Strategy and Management, and a necessary assessments. Officer Cadet Ben Stanton, a former Master of Science in Telecommunications. She has been soldier, was awarded the Sword of Honour for exemplary awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross for leadership in conduct and performance of duty and exhibiting the most officer career management; a Commendation for superior overall performance during the Part Time Distinguished Service for command and leadership in the Commissioning Course. Middle East; and was made an Officer in the United States Legion of Merit for her senior leadership in the Middle East. Brigadier Duncan is married to Gavin and they have a daughter, Madison, and a son, Darcy. She is an avid cook, gardener, reader and trail runner. Brigadier Duncan was born on 21 Jan 1973. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From the Commandant Ana Duncan, CSC (Dec 1996) Pack marches, hurried meals, another period of instruction … bring back memories? The Corps of Staff Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Ric (R.M.) Burr (1985), Cadets is back in town for 2020. presents the Sword of Honour for the 2020 Part Time Amid this energy and toil, it is a Commissioning Course to Officer Cadet Stanton. privilege to update you on what is unfolding this year at the Royal In terms of the Corps of Staff Cadets … Military College —Duntroon. I Class have settled in well back at the College, providing Many of you would be aware robust support to the III Class raise. The class is currently Army is undergoing a significant preparing to deploy to Cooma to undertake the Stability period of adaptation and Operations package. Course reforms pursued last year have modernisation. Following analysis of Chief of Army’s challenged I Class staff cadets to be inquisitive leaders: to be command philosophy and organisation change framework of self-directed in their learning, with a desire to embark on their Army in Motion, 2020 heralds a significant period of reform own journey of professional military education. at Duntroon. Importantly, this reform seeks to balance the The combined Australian Defence Force Academy / need to uphold our traditions with a training approach that Duntroon Direct entry II Class currently sits at 223 cadets. will graduate officers who can thrive in the increasingly This particularly large class is currently preparing to deploy complex environment depicted in Accelerated Warfare. to Puckapunyal for Offensive Operations training. Consistent This will see a number of adjustments to the Australian with previous years, the class will work alongside elements Regular Army Officer Commissioning Course (ARA OCC) from the Combined Arms Training Centre while at over the next 12 months. There will be an emphasis on Puckapunyal, allowing opportunities for Combined Arms reducing density and more clearly focussing on the learning principles to be embedded early into the training experience outcomes Army desires of its junior commissioned leaders. at Duntroon. 16 III Class are performing well at Majura. The class has the graduates of the College. Together with his promotion to also resiliently endured smoke and heat issues while major and posting to sub-unit command, the award rounds out focussing on the assimilation of foundation skills. a trifecta of achievement to conclude his exceptional Meanwhile, the garrison continues to undergo contribution at the College. redevelopment, with 20 married quarters being demolished I also acknowledge the tireless John (J.E.) Bullen (1958) near the Badges Gates to make way for 18 new ones. During who recently handed over the reins as Coordinator of the the demolition phase, an old well dating from the Campbell Duntroon Guides to Ross (Bogger) (R.M.) Boyd (1978). era was uncovered. Given its heritage value, it will be John’s efforts over many years were acknowledged by the protected and incorporated into a garden design for future Commandant, Brigadier Rupert Hoskin with a presentation in residents to enjoy. Works will continue throughout 2020, Duntroon House in the presence of the Guides. with a planned occupation date of 2021. If you wish to discuss any matter concerning the Society, I look forward to engaging with you throughout the year please contact me at [email protected]. and to leading the current custodians of the Royal Military College at Duntroon. Thank you for your ongoing support, as a Duntroon Society member, to both the College and to the ongoing preservation of its heritage. DMA Update. Since this article was written Duntroon has been required to make a number of adjustments to training as a result of COVID-19. This will include the early graduation of I Class on 28 April. A further update on training adjustments will be provided in the next issue of the Newsletter. All the best to yourself and your loved ones during this challenging period. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ross Boyd and John Bullen at Duntroon House with other From the President, Duntroon Duntroon Guides. Society New Members Chris (C.G.) Appleton (1978) Since the last newsletter, 12 new members have joined the At the Society’s Annual General Meeting Paul Stevens Society, their names are listed below. Please continue reach (1967) stood down as Vice President of the Society and out to mates past and present to invite them to join us in the Jason Hedges (1992) was elected to the role. I thank Paul for Society at www.dunsoc.com/join. New members are: his long and dedicated service to the Society and welcome Jeremy Bond (Dec 2019) Jason who is a serving colonel, former RMC instructor and Levi Braund (Dec 2018) Commanding Officer of the RMC Duntroon. Mitchell Calver (Jun 2019) The Graduation Parade in December was also the David Catterall (OCS Dec 1965) conclusion of the posting of Brigadier Rupert (R.J.C.) Hoskin Terry Holland (OCS Jun 1958) (Dec 1991) as Commandant. He has since been seconded at Stephen Andrew Jenkins (Dec 1993) short notice from the Australian Defence Force to the Jesse Jones (Dec 2019) Business Council of Australia’s Community Rebuilding Charles Craig Macaulay (Dec 2019) Initiative, building businesses, jobs, communities and Robbie Mooy (Dec 2019) industries in the wake of this summer’s disastrous fires. Nicholas Press (Jun 2005) Rupert has been an outstanding support for the Duntroon Tom Radford (Jun 2012) Society, and we wish him well in this demanding new Paul Randall (Dec 1991) appointment. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ On behalf of the Society I congratulate Brigadier Ana Duncan, CSC on her appointment as Commandant. Within From the OTU Association weeks of assuming command, she kindly met with me to express her support and that of the College for the Society. Frank Miller (OTU 4/67) Her biography appears earlier in this issue. On a sad note, August, 2019 saw the In December I presented the Society’s Award to Colour passing of one of the most prominent Sergeant Felicity Maher of Alamein Company. Originally Scheyvillians—Timothy Andrew from Blaxland in the Blue Mountains of NSW, she served as ‘Tim’ Fischer, AC (Class 3/66). After a soldier in the Australian Intelligence Corps before entering a long career which included a tour of the RMC. She has been allocated to the Royal Australian Vietnam with 1 RAR, a time as a Armoured Corps and posted to 1 Armd Regt. In addition to member of the NSW Legislative the Society’s award, she also received the Ronald Syme Trust Assembly then as Federal member for the electorate of Farrer Prize for second place on the graduation order of merit, the in the National Parliament, Tim certainly made his mark on General Bridges Memorial Prize for first place in Tactics, and the Country. In the Federal role he reached the level of the RAAC prize for the first placed graduate to RAAC. Deputy Prime Minister. On leaving Federal Parliament in I was pleased to present the Society’s contribution to the 2001 he was appointed Australia’s Ambassador to the Holy Commandant’s Instructor of the Year award to Captain Chris See in Rome in 2008. Tim was a great Australian who always Dilger (2009). Chris was the Package Master for Peace spoke highly of his time at Scheyville and all it did for him. Administration. The Society’s cheque for $1,000 He wore his OTU lapel badge with great pride. acknowledges the difference that the best instructors make to

17 The Association has enjoyed another successful six months. Perhaps the most significant feature continues to be From the Branches the steady increase in financial membership. This has now Australian Capital Territory reached a new high since the early 2000s. (The Victorian Chapter took over management of the national body in 2009). Branch Office Holders The reasons for this growth are several. Significant of late Convenor: Chris (C.G.) Appleton (1978) have been the release of a ‘coffee table’ book—with a Secretary: Jason (J.J) Hedges (1992) collection of photographs of life at the OTU taken all those Treasurer: Mike (M.J.) Ryan (1980) years ago—and renewed interest created by the forthcoming Members: Merrie Hepworth (WRAAC OCS 16/67); Mike October National reunion. (M.J.) Ford (1957); Stuart (S.B.) Althaus (RMC & OCS Jun The Association’s Youth Development (YD) activities 1982) continued in the different states and the ACT. Mention is made that the NSW Chapter has now adopted the Scouting The Autumn Lunch will be not be held this year due to the Movement as their point of focus. The YD iniative has been COVID-19 pandemic. in place since the mid 1980s in order to give to young Australians some of the leadership and self-belief New South Wales understanding that characterised the OTU course. Branch Office Holders Financially, the Association remains in a robust position. Convenor: Bob (R.L.) Guest (OCS Dec 1959) Along with regular future monetary projections, Secretary: Matt Jones (1989) consideration is now being given to how further funding can Treasurer: Ian (I.R.) Taylor (1965) be directed towards pursuing its aims and goals. Long-term Treasurer, Ray Elder will be standing down from this duty in We welcome Matt Jones as the new Secretary of the NSW June. Ray has been in the role for well over twenty years and Branch and thank Peter Reid for his many years of service in will remain on the national executive. Not only has he the secretarial role. Peter had to stand down as he is not managed the finances—he was also responsible for enjoying good health at the moment. We wish him all the establishing the Geddes Dinner and for the OTU marching in best for the future. the Melbourne ANZAC Day Parade. Mr Harry Moyle (Class Annual Graduation Week Lunch—Friday, 13 December 2019 4/67) will take over as Treasurer in June. Harry served with 5 RAR in Vietnam and has run his own accounting practice. The Duntroon Society NSW Branch gathered in the Imperial A drive urging all those eligible to apply for the DVA Service Club Room of the Royal Automobile Club of Whitecard has been undertaken. As one member put it “there Australia in Sydney on 13 December 2019. is no down side—only upside” in doing so. The gathering had a dual purpose; to celebrate the festive The many state chapter luncheons, dinners sporting and season and the RMC Duntroon Graduation Week. Pre-lunch other social functions continue successfully. It seems drinks allowed for renewal of old acquaintances and the Scheyvillians do enjoy that special bond between each other meeting of new ones. that developed around half a century ago. A mixed gathering of 33 diners enjoyed a classic Roast Again it is pleasing to report that three excellent editions Turkey dinner and trimmings followed by a traditional of The Scheyvillian magazine were again issued over the past Christmas pudding. twelve months. With its looking back at life at the OTU, its RMC, OCS and other Classmates and old colleagues from reports on what graduates have done with their lives, its the 1950s, 1960s and the 1980s enjoyed the couple of hours reporting on matters military and its excellent reviews on escape from the bushfire smoke around Sydney. defence publications, each issue is an excellent ‘read’. Once more, marching under the Scheyville banner, members of the Association will take part in the ANZAC day parades in a number of capital cities. Significant this year will be the second time in the ACT. In most cases the March is usually followed by fellowship in the form of a convivial mixed luncheon. As mentioned in July, the most significant item on the 2020 calendar is a national reunion to be held from the 16 to 18 October around the Windsor NSW area. Two main events will be involved. Firstly, a formal dinner at the Hawkesbury Racing Club and secondly, a picnic lunch at the Scheyville site. There will be a free day between the two events to allow for classes to hold individual reunions. This could well be the last national get together for the Association. Three previous such events have been held—1993, 2003 and 2013 which commemorated the respective 20th, 30th and 40th anniversaries of the closure of the OTU Scheyville. Frank Miller Chairman, OTU Association.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

18 New Zealand Branch Office Holders Patron: Major General Robin (R.G.) Williams (1952). Auckland Sub-branch Convenor: Lieutenant Colonel Barry (B.D.) Dreyer (1965). Wellington Sub-branch Convenor: Brigadier Ian (I.J.) Duthie (1962). Auckland Sub-branch The Auckland Sub-branch had their usual Christmas Luncheon on 18 December at the historic Ranfurly House in Mt Albert Auckland, home to the Ranfurly Veterans Trust. We had 30 attending, with a mix of couples and widows. Photos are attached. The Auckland Sub-branch is sad to record the deaths of Bruce (B.L.) Hayhow (OCS Jun 1959) and Keith (K.H.) Mitchell (1958), both Sappers.

Wellington Sub-branch The Wellington Sub-branch held its Summer Lunch at the Royal Wellington Golf Club on 23 February. A total of 35 attended on a lovely Wellington afternoon for good food, wine and fellowship. Queensland Branch Office Holders Monthly Lunch Convenor: Graeme (G.J.) Loughton (1956). Many Duntroon Society members meet at the Imperial Service Club, now incorporated in the Royal Automobile Here in South East Queensland our social schedule is to meet Club at Circular Quay. They normally meet on the second for lunch monthly at United Service Club on the second Friday of each month at 1200hrs for 1230hrs and have an Wednesday, with the numbers usually being around 6 to 12. excellent two-course lunch and wines for $65 per head. All members with email addresses receive a monthly Future lunches will be held on 17 Apr, 8 May, 12 June (Mixed reminder. About twice a year we increase the pleasure (as Function), 10 July, 14 Aug, 11 Sep, 9 Oct, 3 Nov (Melbourne well as the culture) by upgrading the monthly lunch to a Cup Luncheon), 13 Nov, and 11 Dec (Mixed Function). ‘lunch with partners’ format. The most recent was our festive These lunches are conducted under the auspices of the Christmas Lunch held in November (see the accompanying Regular Army Officers’ Luncheon Club and it is hoped that photos). The next ‘with partners’ lunch is planned for more Duntroon Society members could join their fellow Wednesday 10 June. As always, an email notice will go out officers on these monthly occasions. Out-of-state visitors are 2-3 weeks ahead. If you think you have missed out, contact most welcome but should advise office holders or the Club the Convenor, Graeme Loughton, on 3378 7376 or (02 8273 2320) of their intention to attend. [email protected].

19 Wally Shiers, who had promised to return straight after World War I to his sweetheart. “It may have resembled a ‘coffin with wings’, Lainie said “but the Vickers Vimy biplane sitting at Adelaide Airport propelled its mostly SA crew to fame after one of the most daring and significant flights in history”. Lainie, who travelled overseas to research the historic flight as part of a Churchill Fellowship, said the fact two other crews crashed and died in the air race brings home how dangerous the adventure was. The planes were made of wood and fabric, they had little more than a compass for navigation and, after India, they landed on racecourses and jungle clearings — newspapers at the time said, “This is crazy, it will end in death”. The address was accompanied by some fine fare and From the top: the late Laurie (L.N.) Hall (OCS Jun 1957), wines, with a warm sense of camaraderie evident. The Rick (W.H.) Davies (1972), Ron (R.S.C.) Morris (1956), Sue luncheon concluded after the usual toasts, with many McKnight, Graeme Loughton, Sue Loughton, Anne Wade, members retiring to the bar to continue the banter. Pauline Sinclair, the hand of Ailsa Stein, John (J.N.) Stein Planning is set to get underway for this year’s luncheon (1957), Marguerite Jenvey, Jock (J.E.) Jenvey (1956). which will again be held on the first Tuesday of December (Tuesday, 1 December 2020). Anyone wishing to find out more about this year’s luncheon or Duntroon Society SA can contact Doug Strain on 0407 200 664 or [email protected].

From the left: John Stein, Marguerite Jenvey, Jock Jenvey, Jack (J.A.N.) Chipman (1956), Ann Deacon, Barbara James and Miles (M.W.) Farmer (1956).

South Australia & Northern Territory Branch Office Holders Chairman / Convenor: Doug (D.D.) Strain (1978) Deputy Chairman / Convenor: Peter (P.J.) Neuhaus (1975) Members: Jack (I.R.) Gregg (1976), David (D.C.) Litchfield (1978), Chris (C.M.) Burns (OCS Dec 1979), Chris (C.) Mulraney (1979), Steve (S.M.) Quinn (1978), Chris (C.E.T.) Roe (1987), Tim (T.J.) Hanna (1980), Steve (S.F.) Larkins (OCS 1976), Leanne Glenny (WRAAC OCS 1983), Mark (M.G.) Dickson (1977). Ilona Horan (1999) and Peter (P.J.) Neuhaus (1975). To keep up to date with the latest information about events please connect with the SA Branch on Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/DuntroonSocietySA/. Annual Graduation Luncheon The Annual Graduation Luncheon was held on Tuesday, 3 December 2019 at the Naval, Military and Air Force Club, cnr Hutt & Angas Streets, City, with Peter Neuhaus as Dining President. Thirty five members and guests attending to enjoy some fine fare and company, and hear a fascinating address by Lainie Anderson, well known Adelaide journalist and Sunday Mail columnist. Lainie recounted details of the 1919 Vickers Vimy flight from England to Australia, which has become such an important part of the national fabric of aviation, and with a special emphasis on Adelaide and was the subject of her Chris (C.E.T) Roe (1987) (in background), Neil (N.J.) recently published book Long Flight Home, a fictionalised Curnow (OTU 2/68), Paul Mulraney (OTU 2/72) and Chris account of the trip through the eyes of on-board mechanic (C.) Mulraney (1979).

20

Keith (K.) Bleechmore (1968) and Peter (P.A.) Hamilton The Attentive Dinner Crowd –in foreground: Don (D.M.) (1963). Stewart (OCTU) and Max (M.J.) Lemon (1959)

Mark (M.G.) Dickson (1977) and Max (M.J.) Lemon (1959). John Sholl (1990), Chris (C.M.) Burns (OCS Jun 1979) and Martin (M.J.) Hamilton-Smith (1975). The Forgotten War – Forgotten No More! Recently, Peter (F.P.) Scott, DSO (1948), a stalwart supporter of The Duntroon Society, released his self-published book The Forgotten War, his personal account of service in 3RAR in Japan and Korea from 1949 until 1952. He recounts his experiences, and that of 3 RAR, during many of the bloody campaign during this oft-forgotten war

A Most Convivial Occasion.

Peter (F.P.) Scott (1948) – Then and Now. A Wayward Soul Returns Recently, whilst cleaning up around his home, one of the SA members identified a demitasse cup and saucer embossed with the RMC emblem. He recalled having secured this when exiting the collage in 1958. Acknowledging he had taken it in a youthful sense of rebellion, he thought it time it was Sue Smith (RAAF OTS 1975), Neil (N.J.) Curnow (OTU returned to its place of origin and hence it was returned to the 2/68), Lainie Anderson, Peter (F.P.) Scott (1948), Ian Smith Army Museum Duntroon, where it was received as a very (OCS Dec 1966) and Leanne Glenny (WRAAC OCS Dec welcome contribution to the college’s historical collection. 1988). 21 Danish Club and give us a brief history of the Club and an insight into the Danish community in Melbourne and Victoria. Timings: 12 for 12.30 pm, Thursday 21 May 2020. Cost: $55 per head. Includes four generous open face Danish sandwiches, a glass of wine, glass of Danish Akvavit (for toast), Danish pastry and coffee. Parking: Not easy. One hour metre parking in Queen Street; few spaces in Little Bourke Street. RACV Club close by. Public Transport: Tram West along Bourke St, alight at Queen St.

The same member also donated to the Keswick Barracks RSVP: Bob Slater [email protected] or 0418 317 Officers’ Mess a well framed print copy of the Steve Roach 057 or 03 8848 1414 by Wednesday 13 May. 1980 sketch of the RMC Parade Ground and Cadet Barracks. If you should find yourself with any memorabilia you Annual Luncheon Thursday 17 October 2019 think may be of historical or cultural significance to any of It was pleasing to see an increase in numbers, especially OCS the commissioning institutions, please contact Paul and OTU members, including their guests. Mitrovich, Curator, Army Museum Duntroon via Mobile : Our guest speaker was again Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) 0448 914 223 or [email protected]. Alistair Pope (OTU 4/66) on The Rise and Fall of ISIS 2014- Second Tuesday Group 2018. Alistair is a frequent contributor to Quadrant and various military publications and now lives in Vung Tau. Adelaide ex-serving and serving officers have been meeting Alistair gave a spirited insight into the cause and effects informally on a monthly basis for nearly 20 years through a of ISIS including military capacity, political insights and his group informally titled the ‘Second Tuesday’ group. This thoughts on the current debate on whether family members of group continues as a conduit for local graduates to network Australian ISIS fighters should be allowed to return to and has a core group of now local business identities, Australia. Overall a most interesting and challenging supplemented by serving officers on postings to Adelaide. perspective on this cruel, committed force. Many useful business contacts have resulted, and some Attending were: Jonathan McGuigan (OCS Dec 1975), serving officers have been able to identify a pathway to life John Carmichael (OCS Jun 1977), Ross Bishop (guest), Roy on leaving the Army. The group meets from 0730 to 0900 hrs Gilmour (guest, piper), Bob Slater (1963), Ruth Slater, on the second Tuesday of every month, at Cafe Bocelli on Alistair Pope (OTU 4/66, Guest Speaker), Maria Pope, Garry Hutt Street, Adelaide. Any visitors to Adelaide are most Krauss (guest), Tony Thomas (guest), Malcolm Rosier welcome. If you wish to know more please contact Ilona (guest), Alan McDonald (1952), Waltraud McDonald, Horan (1999) at [email protected] or Jake Konrad Ermert (1962), Anthony Stevenson (1986), Adam Kearsley (1997) at [email protected]. Evans (1998), Adrian Bielenberg (1999), Mark Doggert (1998), Neil Thompson (1998), Martin Hobbs (1984) and Victoria & Tasmania Ruth Hobbs, and Maurice Barwick (1961). Branch Office Holders Victoria continues to operate by committee with occasional meetings and primary contact by email. Coordinator: Bob (R.A.) Slater (1963). Treasurer: Alan (A.M.) McDonald (1951). Members: Konrad (C.) Ermert (1962) (Membership), John (J.G.) Carmichael (OCS Jun 1977) and Stuart (S.J.) Ellis (1978). Membership It has been pleasing over the past couple of years to see younger groups of graduates availing themselves of the opportunity our luncheons present to get together for a bit of Alan and Waltraud McDonald. fellowship with others from different cohorts. We remain open to ideas from Duntroon Society members in the Southern region and will be happy to assist with any local connections that Duntroon/ADFA may wish from time to time. Mid-year Luncheon Thursday 21 May 2020 This year we are holding our informal luncheon at: Danish Club, 3rd Floor, 428 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne. There will be no formal speaker, however we will have as Alistair and Maria Pope, Ruth and Bob Slater. our guest: Jan Ravnholt, Honorary Danish Consul and Danish Club Immediate Past President. Jan will welcome us to the 22 NSW Branch 8 May, 12 June (Mixed Function), 10 July, 14 Aug, 11 Sep, 9 Oct, 3 Nov (Melbourne Cup Luncheon), 13 Nov, and 11 Dec (Mixed Function). Monthly Lunch. TBA December 2020. Graduation Lunch, Imperial Service Club at the Royal Automobile Club building at Circular Quay. Queensland Branch Monthly (second Wednesday). Meet at noon for lunch at the United Service Club. 10 June 2020. Next ‘With Partners’ lunch. John Carmichael, Jonathan McGuigan, and Adrian South Australia Branch (incorporating NT) Bielenberg. TBA December 2020. Annual Graduation Luncheon, Naval, Military and Air Force Club, Adelaide. Victoria Branch (incorporating Tasmania) 21 May 2020. 1200 for 1230. Annual lunch at the Danish Club, 3rd Floor, 428 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne. Western Australia Branch Quarterly drinks. For details, please feel free to contact the WA convenor, Bob Hunter on [email protected] or 0413 045 355. RMC Ceremonial Events 6 June 2020. Queen’s Birthday Parade. 22 June 2020. Prizes & Awards Ceremony. 23 June 2020. The Graduation Parade. Martin and Ruth Hobbs, and Anthony Stevenson. October 2020. Beating Retreat (TBA) 7 December 2020. Prizes & Awards Ceremony. 8 December 2020. The Graduation Parade. Retired Officers Luncheon Club—Canberra This Club meets on the first Thursday of every month for lunch at the Royal Canberra Golf Club at 12 noon. Retired officers meet in a very pleasant venue for a convivial monthly gathering which originated in 1985. There is a selected menu which ensures that the cost will be approximately $30 including pre-lunch drinks and wine. Bookings are essential. If you are interested please contact Don McDonough (1961) on (02) 6259 6583.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ruth Hobbs, Anthony Stevenson, Mark Doggert, and Adam Evans. Jock Irvine’s Cartoon Western Australia John (J.E.) Bullen (1958) Branch Office Holders Last issue, I introduced a cartoon from Jock (G.D.W.) Irvine (1956). One more cartoon will be published in this and in each Convenor: Bob (W.R.M.) Hunter (1985) of the following nine issues of the Newsletter. They will be Social Convenor: Kevin (K.F.) Poynton (1974) published in their chronological sequence within the life of Note these positions are both endorsed by members but held the Staff Cadet in the 1950s. We commence with a desperate informally as no specific constitution is in place. and alas all too frequent event early in the life of a Fourth Social Functions Class Cadet – the ‘Wet Twos Leap’. This was a highly stressful way of teaching a cadet to Any visitors to WA or others wishing to be informed please dress quickly – as if he wasn’t already acutely aware of that contact the WA Convenor, Bob Hunter on need. [email protected] or 0413 045 355. Breakfast mess parade, 0800 hours parade and evening ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ mess parade were all heralded within the accommodation Coming Events blocks by warning whistles blown by the Company Orderly, a Third Class cadet rostered on duty for a full week. The Please note that the dates advertised will be in doubt due Company Orderly wore a leather belt and carried a cane (with to social distancing restrictions extant at the time. brass ferrule) almost identical to the cane carried today by the ACT Branch Battalion Morale cadet. Cancelled. Autumn Luncheon, Duntroon House. Whistles were blown 15 minutes, 5 minutes and 2 minutes before each parade was due to commence, accompanied by a chorus of shouts of “Quarters!”, “Fives!” and “Twos!”

23 respectively. In accommodation blocks further from the parade ground and from the CSC Mess, the whistles were Obituary blown slightly earlier to allow for the time taken to get there. Since the publication of the last Newsletter we have learned In a ‘Wet Twos Leap’ Fourth Class cadets were detained of the deaths of the following: under the shower until the Twos whistle was sounded, usually 16 Nov 12 Major D.J. Hurford-Jones (1954) 1 prior to an evening mess parade. Still wet, they had to dash to 30 Sep 19 Colonel P.J. Gould (OCS Dec 1964) their rooms, dress and be on parade within two minutes. This 8 Oct 19 Colonel G.D. Burgess (OCS Dec 1955) meant dispensing with such niceties as wiping dry, fastening 21 Oct 19 Major G.E. Ball (OCS Jun 1952) buttons and shoe laces, and wearing socks and underclothes. 22 Oct 19 Brigadier J.H. Townley (1960) 29 Oct 19 Captain R.A. Dousset (OCS Dec 1973 & OTU 1/73) This was in the days of open-collar blues uniforms which 30 Oct 19 Colonel W. McDonald (1959) meant wearing a white shirt with a detached starched collar 25 Nov 19 Second Lieutenant P.T. Dobney (OCS Dec 1953) which needed to be fastened with collar studs fore and aft, 5 Dec 19 Major G.O. Lever (OCS Dec 1985) 2 plus a black necktie. As for combing hair, maybe there might 15 Dec 19 Lieutenant Colonel J.S. Heard (OCS Jun 1970) be one frantic swipe on the run. 18 Dec 19 Major P.R. Burns (1954) This Jock Irvine cartoon depicts the late arrival of the 19 Dec 19 Captain R.P. Baker (OCS Dec 1953) hapless Fourth Class cadet under the fierce eye of the 18 Jan 20 Major L.N. Hall (OCS Jun 1957) immaculate Orderly Officer, a First Class cadet of the rank of 20 Jan 20 Lieutenant Colonel K.H. Mitchell (1958) Sergeant or Corporal who has had a lot longer than two 24 Jan 20 Major W.T. Edwards (OCS Dec 1964) 25 Jan 20 Major B.L. Hayhow (OCS Jun 1959) minutes to dress and be on parade. 20 Feb 20 Major R.A. Arnel (1966 & OCS 1967) 3 Failure to achieve the impossible inevitably incurred 23 Feb 20 Brigadier R.J. Moyle (1956) 4 punishment. Punishments – usually Extra Drills – rendered 24 Feb 20 Captain G.M. McKay (1953) the victim vulnerable to further punishment, thereby setting 3 Mar 20 Associate Professor H.S. Hodges 5 in train a vicious circle that could last for months, causing the 4 Mar 20 Lieutenant N.E.C. Shortland (2016) victim to fall behind in studies. Some former cadets have 8 Mar 20 Lieutenant Colonel H.K. Oxley (1937) reported recurrent nightmares in later life, always with a 9 Apr 20 Major J.L. Nelson (OCS Jun 1970) standard theme – a terror of being late. This would appear to 13 Apr 20 Major J.I. Moller (OCS Jun 1963) be a symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a 18 Apr 20 Lieutenant Colonel I.M.R. MacLean (OCS Jun 1959) 21 Apr 20 Brigadier P. Davies (1961) mental condition not commonly recognised until well after

the end of the Vietnam War. 1. At the midnight graduation of this Class, David became a At the time, the majority view was that this sort of thing lieutenant in the Gloucestershire Regiment. He served with them for was ‘good training’. But even back then, a small minority ten years including active service in anti-terrorist and other held the view that these antics belonged only in an campaigns in Kenya, Aden, the Persian Gulf and twice on Cyprus. inadequately supervised boarding school. Fortunately, with He spent two years as an instructor at the Royal Military Academy, today’s much more mature Corps of Staff Cadets, this conflict Sandhurst. of views now lies in the past. 2. A member of the final class to graduate from OCS Portsea in In this cartoon, Jock Irvine accurately depicts the Fourth 1985, Geoff Lever served with the Australian Army History Unit (AAHU). When AAHU took over and refurbished the RMC Class cadet who has valiantly attempted the impossible – and Museum (now the Army Museum Duntroon) in recent years, Geoff failed! became the enthusiastic inaugural Museum Manager, a role he later had to give up due to failing health. 3. He entered the RMC on 28 January 1966 but transferred to the OCS on 5 January 1967 and then marched out on 16 November 1967 as a corporal. In that rank he served in Vietnam with 7 RAR during 1970/71. In 1977 following his success at an Administrative and Technical Course he was commissioned and served in the Regular Army until medically retired on 30 July 2000. 4. See the following obituary. 5. Aged 102, Syd Hodges had been the Elder of the Duntroon Society for many years. More than 20 years ago he was one of the earliest to be appointed as a Fellow of the Duntroon Society in recognition of his long service to the RMC (35 years) and also to the Duntroon Society. His long and interesting life was covered in the excellent article by Garth Hughes (1956) and Ron Morris (1956) on pages 2-6 of Newsletter 2/2015. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ John (R.J.) Moyle (1956) John (J.E.) Bullen (1958) An Adelaide boy born in 1934, John Moyle entered the RMC in 1953, joining the company to be named Alamein Company during his time as a Duntroon cadet. Along his way to graduating in 1956 into the Royal Australian Armoured Corps, he was influenced by his company commander, Major John Paley MC, of the Fourth Queen’s Own Hussars. In addition to being OC Alamein Company and the Instructor in ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Armour, John Paley was possessed of a very strong and somewhat eccentric personality and left his mark in many ways on the College and its cadets. 24 As a section commander in First Class in 1956, John Guides Coordinator, Ross Boyd (1978), and the Duntroon Moyle was a wise and benevolent leader, much respected Society President, former Commandant Chris Appleton because he did not mind admitting that he was fallible and (1978). Both the latter two wore their Guides uniform, this occasionally disaster-prone. being the first time that Guides had worn medals on their As a cadet he saw the replacement of the traditional Tiger jackets. Both Chris and Ross had also been RMC cadets ‘Tiger’ jacket as the Corps of Staff Cadets recreational dress under John Moyle as CO. by the more fashionable navy blue yachting jacket. More on Excellent eulogies were delivered by classmate Major this later. General Peter Day (1956) and by John’s son Robert. In As a captain he was an early member of the Australian Guides uniform John Bullen (1958) read a warm personal Army Training Team in Vietnam where he served from message from General Sir Peter Cosgrove. The service was October 1963 to December 1964. As a senior officer he conducted affectionately by the Reverend (Colonel, retired) served twice in diplomatic postings – as Military Attaché in Peter Rose (1968). the Philippines and later as Head of Australian Defence Staff The large gathering included both the two surviving in Indonesia. He eventually retired in 1989 as a brigadier from members of John Moyle’s section in Alamein Company in his final posting as the Director-General of Army Training. 1956 – Peter Tilley (1957) and John Bullen. He had served 36 years. Outside the chapel, John’s coffin passed between ten But without any doubt, his most enjoyable and satisfying uniformed and be-medalled Duntroon Guides lining both posting in his long career was that of Commanding Officer, sides of the pathway. Corps of Staff Cadets from 1975 to 1978. Here he was really John is warmly remembered for his sincerity, his decency, in his element. his fairness and for his tremendous support for the Royal Immediately after arrival, Lieutenant Colonel Moyle Military College, Duntroon. sought to get off to a flying start with a surprise inspection of ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ the morning sick parade at the RMC Hospital where he knew from experience that cadets were apt to take advantage of not The Over 90s being inspected. His shock arrival caused the standard shout In recent Newsletters we have published a list of RMC of “Stand fast!”, but before the new CO could inspect, out graduates who had reached the age of 90 years. We update it came the hospital matron to see what all the noise was about. here. Major C.E. Cavanagh – much better known as the revered ‘Sister Cav’ – rushed forward and warmly embraced the new W.H. Wansley (Jun 1941) b. 31 August 1921 CO in front of everyone, crying out with delight “It’s my little L.W. Wright (1942) b. 10 May 1922 Staff Cadet Moyle, all grown up!” Not quite the start the new W.D. Jamieson (1943) b. 16 February 1924 CO had envisaged. D.R. Begg (1944) b. 28 December 1924 The CO reintroduced the striped Tiger jacket for cadets. P.W.F. Joplin (1944) b. 2 June 1925 This time it lasted much longer than it did from the 1920s to J.E. Neylan (1948) b. 23 April 1926 the 1950s and it currently remains in popular use in the Corps C.StJ. Griffiths (1947) b. 15 June 1926 of Staff Cadets today. A.V. Preece (1946) b. 28 August 1926 He also named Bridges House – accidentally! Having J.F. McDonagh (1946) b. 6 November 1926 learnt that Brigadier-General Bridges had initially lived in the R.R. Harding (1948) b. 20 December 1926 Quartermaster’s house at 2 Plant Road while waiting for the L.R. Greville (1946) b. 10 August 1927 much grander Commandant’s house to be completed in K.J. Hill (1948) b. 10 September 1927 Robert Campbell Road, the CO sought to follow College I.D. Stock (1948) b. 15 March 1928 tradition by naming his own married quarter at 2 Plant Road J.I. Martyn (1948) b. 13 April 1928 after its first occupant. After consideration by the D.M. Butler (1948) b. 3 September 1928 Commandant Major General A.L. ‘Alby’ Morrison (1947), W.M. Purdy (1948) b. 19 October 1928 the Bridges name finished up on the Commandant’s married P.H. Bennett (1948) b. 27 December 1928 quarter instead and the 1911 house at 2 Plant Road took the F.P. Scott (1948) b. 19 January 1929 name of the original Quartermaster (and second occupant) N.C. Schofield (1950) b. 27 February 1929 Captain C. Hiscock. A.R. Vail (1951) b. 7 March 1929 In retirement John maintained his keen interest in M.J. Lamborn (1948) b. 20 March 1929 Duntroon. He was an active member of the RMC Heritage J.E. Duff (1951) b. 19 August 1929 Committee for over 20 years until his health began to fail. B.G. Florence (OCS Dec 1952) b. 9 November 1929 When the Commandant Brigadier Peter Cosgrove (1968) R.J. Wilson (1948) b. 13 November 1929 founded the Duntroon Guides in 1997, John was appointed their enthusiastic Coordinator, filling that appointment for as This list is not complete and is subject to constant change. long as his health lasted. To John’s delight, the Guides’ There could be survivors in the Classes of April 1944 and uniform chosen by the Commandant was the recreational 1947. The Classes of 1950 and 1951 would, by now, have dress of the Corps of Staff Cadets with a Guides badge added members who have already reached that very significant age, to the Tiger jacket. This remains the Guides uniform today. but we do not have their appropriate details. Without your For his long and untiring support of the Duntroon Society help we cannot ensure the accuracy of the listing. and the College itself, John was appointed a Fellow of the ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Duntroon Society in 2006. In retirement, Duntroon remained a major part of John’s life and he maintained that interest right to the end. At his funeral at Duntroon, four of his six pallbearers were classmates from 1956 and the other two were the Duntroon

25 AIF and a few CMF officers on the course but, perhaps Profile of Corps of Staff Cadets unfairly, only two of us—both recently at university—were Current strength (17 March 2020) 420 offered long service commissions. The proviso was that our First Class 100 ARA seniority would date from one day after the Duntroon Second Class 214 class graduating in December 1951. Third Class 88 I was then posted to 2 RAR at Puckapunyal, training Neville Howse VC Platoon 18 recruits for Korea. In mid-1952 a number of us were warned Afghanistan 2 for postings to the battalions in Korea, but these postings were Fiji 3 stopped as it was decided that 2 RAR would be raised as an Malaysia 1 operational battalion to replace 1 RAR in March 1953. You New Zealand 6 can imagine we were less than happy about this decision. Pakistan 6 Three of us went to Support Company—Keith Kirkland Philippines 1 (1951) to Mortars, ‘Mac’ Frost to MMGs and me to Pioneers. Papua New Guinea 10 A very busy time followed as we learnt our trades and went Qatar 3 with 2 RAR to Korea in 1953. Thailand 1 Following the time in Korea, both Keith and I, were Tonga 2 posted as instructors at the Battle School at Haramura in Vanuatu 2 Japan and Mac to a job in Kure. I left Haramura in November Females 74 1954 and was posted to 4 RAR at Ingleburn as a company Staff cadets with previous military service 30 2IC in early 1955. I decided to leave the Regular Army and transferred back Captain Alex Grant (June 2011), the Adjutant of the CSC to the CMF later in 1955. I had been a regular for nearly four has provided some additional statistics about the training years, served with some wonderful people—both officers and at the RMC. soldiers—and learnt a lot.  The average age at intake is between 18–23. Currently {At this time the Australian Regular Army was critically the youngest is 18 and the oldest is 44. understrength in officers and there was then no hope of significant relief from the projected output of the RMC.  Throughout this year it is expected that 416 Army Further the Defence Act 1903-56 directed that a person who officer cadets from the ADFA will be trained across is not a graduate of the RMC shall not be appointed an officer the three year groups through Romani Company. of the Australian Regular Army. There was, however, a  Romani Company will also train 212 Specialist proviso in the Act to allow persons who had served with a Service Officers and 165 Army Reserve officers in satisfactory record in war and possessed the prescribed their final Training Block (5). technical or professional qualifications, to be appointed an ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ officer in the Regular Army. In a somewhat desperate move Letters to the Editor the Army formed RMC Wings in a number Corps Schools to conduct training courses where the applicants could be tested Patrick Forbes for their suitability. For many years some three or four Peter Scott (1948) sent me a copy of Newsletter 2/2019 which periods were given to the First Class curriculum to teach included an article about my brother Jim (1942) and the table manners and associated behaviour. Some students at Forbes family. I would like to thank you on behalf of the their RMC Wings seized on this and, in view of their previous Forbes family. I have passed a copy on to my sister-in-law training and war experience, dismissively decided that their Margaret and to my brother David (now 94) who was in the course was mainly to teach them how to properly use a knife RAAF in World War II flying Kittyhawks with 76 Squadron and fork. Hence the widespread use of the term 'Knife and in the islands. Obviously, the black sheep of the family. The Fork Courses. Ed.} only thing he ever wanted to do was join the air force, which ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ he did on his 18th birthday. Editor I was a member of the Duntroon Society by default at one Professor Mike (M.J.) Ryan (1980) stage, as they needed me to increase the number for the SA School of Engineering and IT Branch Postal Golf Team that played annually against teams UNSW Canberra from most other Society branches. Northcott Drive CANBERRA ACT 2600 I hope that you do not mind if I correct the record about Telephone: (02) 6268 8200 Fax: (02) 6268 8443 me. I did not study law at the University of Adelaide nor did E-mail: [email protected] I practice it. I intended to do engineering but very quickly switched to economics. I joined the Adelaide University Associate Editors Regiment when it formed in mid-1948 and was among the first three commissioned in 1950. Colonel Ross (R.R.) Harding (Retd) (1948) After the University exams in mid-1951 I decided that 37 Quandong St. O’CONNOR ACT 2602 rather than take a civilian job I would join K Force as I Telephone: (02) 6248 5494 understood they were desperately short of young officers— E-mail: [email protected] even ones wet behind the ears like me. My father, being a wise old owl, suggested that if I was silly enough to do that Major General Chris (C.A.) Field then I should attend a ‘Knife and Fork’ course at the School E-mail: [email protected] of Tactics and Administration at Seymour in case I wanted to ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ stay on in the Army after Korea. There were number of ex-

26