SAPPER SUMMIT Once a Sapper, Always a Sapper
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RAE CORPS MAGAZINE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION (Vic) Inc SAPPER SUMMIT Once a Sapper, Always a Sapper ANZAC CENTENARY 2015 SAPPERS MARCH IN MELBOURNE The 100th anniversary of the ANZAC landings at Gallipoli in 1915 was a cold and wet day in Melbourne however serving and re red sappers turned out in large numbers at dawn services, community commemora ons and the Melbourne ANZAC Day Commemora on March to the Shrine of Remembrance. This editi n of Sapper Summit will highlight ANZAC Day 2015. Sapper Summit is edited by Graeme Lambert for the Royal 132 Australian Engineers’ Associa on (Victoria) Inc ISSNer 90 5-7676e 2 Numb Printed Junby Bounty015 Prin ng 65 Heatherdale Rd RINGWOOD SAPPER SUMMIT Inside this issue Sapper Summit is produced four ti es a year By the RAE Associatio (Vic) Inc ANZAC Day 2015 ……………………………………….. p1 P t Lt Col Colin B r The residen is owate (Retd) Patron’s Column ………………….……………………..p3 The Secretary is former WO1 Jim Davis The Editor is Graeme Lambert President’s Column…………………...………………..p4 From the Regiment ……………………………………..p5 General Associati n mail can be sent to: The Secretary, Sapper Profil s …………………………………………….p8 Royal Australian Engineers Associati n (Vic) Inc Letter to the Editor……………………………………...p9 PO Box 610 HEATHMONT VIC 3135 Military History Podcasts…………………………….p9 CO 22ER Anzac Day Address …………………… p10 Sapper Summit items should be mailed to The Editor, Sapper Summit, Rob Youl’s Column……………………………………….p11 PO Box 610. ANZACDay Pictorial…….…………………………….. p14 HEATHMONT VIC 3135 Email: [email protected] Sapper Medal………………………………………………p17 Sapper Muster…………..……………………………….p18 Email addresses: Colin Bowater: [email protected] Service Pistols of the Great War…………………p21 Jim Davis: [email protected] Unit History Project…………………………………….p24 Maureen Rundell (Treasurer) From the Associatio s…………………………………p26 [email protected] RCH Jock Howa …….………………………………….p28 Ta oo …………………….………………………………….p29 Ringwood RSL President……………………………..p30 100 Years Young Essay.……………………………...p33 Sapper History………………………………….………..p35 Applicati n Form…….…………………………..…… p37 Sappers Receive Queen’s Birthday Honours 2015 Member of the Order of Australia (AM) Military Division Your Royal Australian Engineers BRIGADIER Wayne Gregory BUDD CSC Associa on (Victoria) Inc Commi ee R Da Sco N President: Colin Bowater BRIGADIE rren AUMANN Vice President: Don Hughes Member of the Order of Australia (AM) Secretary: Jim Davis General Division Treasurer: Maureen Rundell Members: Tony Jackson Mr Arvo TINNI RFD Eric Howa COLONEL Arvo Tinni AM RFD was Commander 5 Margaret Handte Engineer Group in Sydney 18982-1984 and senior Graeme Lambert engineer with NSW Roads. Vacant RAE Associa on (Vic) congratulates these outstanding See: www.raevictoria.asn.au sappers. 2 AE A Dinner since the inaugural dinner in Canberra in 2012. R ssociation (Vic) Subsequent dinners were held in Brisbane in 2013 and PATRON’S COLUMN Sydney in 2014. The dinner is hosted by the Head of Corps, Brig Budd, and all are invited to a end this COL John Wertheimer AM RFD (Ret’d) fundraising event. Firstly, I thank the AGM, Lt Col A special thank you to the CO & RSM of 22 Engineer Colin Bowater (Ret’d) and the Regiment. The Regiment loaned a M16 to the Shrine RAE Associatio (Vic) Inc, for Galleries of Remembrance before the Dedicatio on 11 the honour of being the November 2015. With the agreements on the non-use Associatio ’s inaugural Patron. of an -personnel mines there is a good chance the Regiment’s mines are among the few remaining in For this editio of the Sapper Australia. Summit I am pleased to highlight some RAE ac vi es An important current acti ity is the updati g and/or past and future. wri ng RAE Victoria Histories. Don Hughes is coordinati g the 4 CER wri ng team and Noel Tipton is The RAE Associatio (Vic) contingen marching on coordinati g the 22 Construc on Regiment team. Anzac Day to the Shrine of Remembrance was very Some members may not be aware, we have available impressive with 90 or so sappers, families and “The Swan Street Sappers” -the history of Swan Street supporters parti ipating based sappers to 1992. The move of SME from Casula to Holsworthy is I commend and thank the many contributio s to the complete and offi ally opened on Friday 26 June, 2015 Sapper Summit since 1992. In parti ular, to mentio after about 80 years at Casula. Bruce Campbell, Rob Youl, Austin Byrne and now Graeme Lambert who has produced some amazing Head of Corps Brig Wayne Budd CSC, led a party of edi ons. I would also single out perhaps the prime about 90 sappers including school cadets from around mover in 1992, Lt Col Bob Eas ck for this important Australia, to commemorate the Gallipoli landing and communicatio . th the fir t Waterloo Dinner at Gallipoli on 18 June, 1915. The dinner was to celebrate the completio of John Wertheimer Watson’s Pier. Stan Watson’s grandson travelled with the party and all celebrated the 100th anniversary dinner on 18th June, 2015, at Gallipoli. The RAE Foundati n supported the a endance of Cpl Thomas Vallas from 22 Engineer Regiment who won the 2014 RAE Award for the best Junior NCO. The RAE Foundati n has provided other assistance to sappers in the past year including : Produc on of 1 Fd Sqn Gp Vietnam History and launch at the Shrine. Travel expenses for a sapper to a end grandmother’s funeral. COL J W m o ANZAC Da Contributio to a memorial to 32 Small Ships Squadron. ohn ertheimer’s edals—worn n y 2015 The Old Sappers Associati n, which established a special room for social occasions and for memorabilia RAE CORPS SHOP at Oakleigh Barracks in 1992 after the move from Swan Street (now Olympic Boulevard), have commenced discussions to join the RAE Associatio (Vic). This move r will preserve the Old Sappe group and strengthen the Associatio . The Old Sappers were a very strong group at Swan Street for about 80 years. They generously donated $5,000 to the RAE Foundati n this year. If you wish to get items from the Corps Shop: An important date in 2015 is 9 October. This is the Telephone them on (02) 8782 5401 on a Tuesday, commemoratio of one of the fir t sappers to be killed Wednesday or Thursday between 1000 and 1400 hrs, at Gallipoli, Spr Reynolds. This is the fourth Reynolds or email them at: [email protected] 3 ceremonies. President’s Column The Associatio ’s members assembled at Collins St, for the Melbourne ANZAC Day mach. There was light rain but this failed to dampen the excitement as we waited to march. The banner was carried by six cadets from Melbourne High School. By the ti e we marched some 80 sappers formed the main body. We marched along St Kilda Road with heads held high, then up ANZAC Parade and an eyes right at the Eternal Flame, left wheel and marched to the dispersal area. Members then moved to the south side of the Shrine where group photos were taken. A great day. Colin Bowater PRESIDENT Dear fellow sappers, REDEDICATION OF THE RAE VIETNAM MEMORIAL, VIETNAM VETERANS’ DAY 18th I rite r C a w this a e the ANZA Day parades with sense of AUGUST 2015 sa sfactio . April was a very busy month for the Associatio with three major acti iti s occurring during The RAE Vietnam Memorial Commi ee the month. invites you to a end this year’s Vietnam The Centenary of WW1 Sapper Muster was an Veterans’ Day service that will also see outstanding success with 140 people in a endance. My the rededicatio of our Memorial at the thanks to the organising subcommi ee of Don Hughes, new Home of the Sapper within the Margaret Handte and Jock Howa . Five members who Holsworthy Military Precinct. have made outstanding contributio s to the Associatio We gather each year at the Memorial to over many years were appointed as honorary life not only remember those who did not members . They are: return from the Vietnam War but also those from the more recent operatio s. Bruce Campbell Les Malseed The service which will commence at Austin Byrne 11.00 am sharp, will be followed by a Rob Youl luncheon, camaraderie and Norm Dodgson refreshments, detail of these will follow. The newly completed RAE Museum, These gentlemen are inaugural Honorary Life Members. Chapel and Corps shop will be available In addi on Neville Trevina was awarded a for you to visit both before the service Complementary Life membership for his very generous and in the aft rnoon following luncheon. fi ancial contributio to the Associatio . All Sappers and fellow veterans of all The highlight of the night was the appearance of two of conflict are welcome to a end, BUT our living treasures, Mr Harry New and Mr Lionel Larpent, both men are 98 years old and both served due to base security, entry can be a little with 2/22 Field Park Company in WW2. They are a onerous so, be pa ent, be early and credit to the Corps. have a cuppa. The Annual General Meetin YOU MUST be registered to a end, so This was conducted on 14 April at Ringwood Depot. please drop us a line or send an E-mail Twenty three members were present. A number of that lists the names of all those Special Resolutio s were presented. They covered a ending and the registratio number of membership categories, fi ancial reportin period, your vehicle, so we can get you on the quorum at the general meeti g, appointment of Patron, list and keep you informed.