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 Photograph by Chris ne Beswick SAPPERS COMMEMORATE ANZAC DAY 2018 As has been the case in recent years, serving and re red sappers again assembled behind the RAE Associati n—Victoria banner to commemorate ANZAC Day in 2018. This year the Associati n par cipated in the ANZAC commemora ve march in Melbourne along with the ANZAC march and service conducted by the Ringwood RSL sub branch on the Sunday prior to ANZAC Day. The Associati n was again ably supported by members of the 31st Army Cadet Unit from Ringwood and the cadets of Melbourne High School Army Cadet Unit. Sapper Summit is edited by Graeme Lambert for the Royal 132 Australian Engineers’ Associa on (Victoria) Inc ISSNer 9785 -7676ay Numb Printed byM Bounty2018 Prin ng 65 Heatherdale Rd RINGWOOD SAPPER SUMMIT Inside this issue: Sapper Summit is produced four ti es a year ANZAC Day ………………….…………….….…….…. p3 By the RAE Associatio (Vic) Inc CO’s ANZAC Address ………………………………. p8 General Associati n mail can be sent to: Ringwood RSL ANZAC Day…………...…………. p9 S The ecretary, ANZAC in Warrandyte ..………….……………... p11 Royal Australian Engineers Associati n (Vic) Inc 22ER President’s Column…………………….……..... p13 56B Dublin Road From the Regiment……………………………….... p14 RINGWOOD EAST VIC 3135 22 ER Affil on with 1 RTB………………..…....p22 Sapper Summit items should be mailed to Podcast…………………………………………………….p26 The Editor, Sapper Summit, 3 Fd Sqn Celebrates 70 Years…………………...p26 PO Box 610. Sapper Pro les…………….…..………………….…..p28 HEATHMONT VIC 3135 Email: [email protected] RAE Associati n AGM President’s Report ..p30 Electronic articl s are preferred using MS Word 17 Const Sqn 70 Years…………...…………….…. p32 and Jpeg (for images) formats. Sapper Muster …………..……...…...………….…..p33 Contact details, past copies of Sapper Summit and Fort Queenscli Excursion...…………………....p35 general informatio about the RAE Associati n (Vic) Don on Don………………………………...…….….. p39 and its acti i es can be found on our website: Memorabilia…..……......………………………….…p40 www.raevictoria.asn.au A Bit of History….……………………………...…… p42 RSL President’s Column.…………………………..p45 Welfare…………………………………….…………….. p45 Angel Squad………………..……………………..…… p46 Soldier On……………………………………………….. p47 Zeus Canine Crusades…………………………….. p50 Memorabilia Collecti n ‘Weary” Dunlop…. p51 Snapshot of Your Associa on…….……………. p52 Your RAE Associa on (Vic) Commi ee President: Willem “Bill” VAN REE Vice President: “Ted” BOLTONG Secretary: Jim DAVIS can Treasurer: Dun HOWARTH Members: Mel CONSTABLE Eric HOWATT Margaret HANDTE Peter WASHUSEN Graeme LAMBERT Ex O io Historical and Heritage: Don Hughes See: www.raevictoria.asn.au for up to date news about the Associa on and its ac vi es. Visit us on Facebook: h ps://www.facebook.com/RAE-Associa on-Victoria- 893405714081186/ meline/ 2 Editor’s Note: ANZAC DAY The firs issue of Sapper Summit for 2018, RAE ASSOCIATION (VIC) issue 98, has been published later than would 25TH APRIL 2018 normally be the case. When the 2018 Sapper Muster had to be re-scheduled, it was decided to hold over the rst edi on of Sapper Summit so we could cover both ANZAC Day and the annual Muster in the one edi on. At this stage we plan to publish a mid year edi on and an annual edi on in December 2018. In the last six weeks, the RAE Associati n has conducted its Annual General Mee ng, par cipated in a number of ANZAC Day commemora ve events, held the annual Sapper Muster and conducted an excursion to What a di erence a year makes – you may 7 as a y, l Fort Queenscli . It is a tribute to the effor s of remember that 201 w rain coo and miserable day but this year we had good the Committe and the support of the condi ons for the tradi onal march. membership that the Associati n can remain dynamic and actively engaged with the serving The day started with the usual Dawn Services and re red sapper community. and in most cases these were conducted in This editi n contains extensive coverage of very cool condi ons. Once again the 22nd the work of 22 Engineer Regiment. It is vital Engineer Regiment did not conduct a Dawn that the dedica on and effo t of serving soldiers is highlighted and promoted within David Hirsh Medal Moun ng the sapper and wider communi es. Sapper Summit par cularly thanks the CO and (Enquiries to David or Ben) RSM of 22 ER for their ongoing support of the Specializing in Court-Style Associati n and to Sapper Summit, as well as and Swing Moun ng for their leadership of our local sapper of large and miniature medals. regiment. Ribbon bars made up. ANZAC Day 2018 will be covered in detail in Replicas of most medals the following pages of this edi on of Sapper and miniatures supplied. Summit. Prompt service. Reasonable prices. Editor 12 Hawson Avenue, Glen Huntly 3163 EL: 3) RAE CORPS SHOP T (0 9571-5469 email: [email protected] Business Hours Mon-Fri 10am - 5pm If you wish to get items from the Corps Shop: See h ps://www.raevictoria.asn.au/merchandise.php Da vid and Ben have been providing outstanding medal mountin services to RAE Associati n Commi ee other For more details email [email protected] members for over 20 years. I recommend them to all sappers and welcome them to Sapper Summit. Editor 3 4 RINGWOOD RSL ANZAC MARCH and COMMEMORATIVE SERVICE 22 April 2018 Clockwise: COL B. Murray AM (Retd) RAE Southern Region Corps Commi ee, MAJ G. Lambert (Retd) RAE Associa on Vic, COL D. Jamison Ringwood RSL; LTCOL S. Coates CO and WO1 J. Jones RSM 22 ER; Catafalque Party 22 ER takes post. 5 Servic e at either Oakleigh or Ringwood but To me spectator numbers seemed to be down instead decided to encourage the Regiment but it did not discourage the members members to support the local RSL Services marching who without doubt really looked the with the view of integra ng more with the part in their dress, bearing and drill. I also felt local community. Following the Dawn Services that we were certainly one of the larger the Regiment opened both depots for groups par cipa ng. breakfast and the usual activi s associated with Anzac Day. Along with other units of the This day is a par cularly important one on the 4th Brigade, the Regiment did not march in military calendar and no matter the weather the city. condi ons, crowd numbers or organiza onal confusion, the par cipa on is truly The RAE Associati n supported the Ringwood worthwhile and everyone making the trip RSL with their Dawn Service conducted at the contributes to the day and its success. All Clock Tower. Bill van Ree represented the should be proud of their involvement. We all Associati n and laid a wreath on behalf of all have much in which to take pride. sappers. As I men oned previously, we have a number Once again the Associa on agreed to of members who travel long distances to par cipate in the ANZAC Day march but our a end and be part of this important and step off me and loca on were very di erent historic event and these few words are hardly from previous years – this year (according to enough thanks to them and everyone else for MUFTI) we were to step off at 10.20 am from their con nued support of the Associati n. Flinders Street West. Now a lot of people stil had the memory of 2017 in their minds with This year we had members of the Doncaster the result that a large number of members Camera Club who came along and were in place well before the required me – photographed us at various loca ons including we had the Cadets in place and banner ready the “class photo” on the rear steps of the about an hour before step off We knew our Shrine – if anyone is interested photos will be loca on, me and where we were to be available to purchase from the Camera Club. I posi oned within the march but at about have the contact details. 10.00 am I started to worry as the other Associati ns marching with us were nowhere Thank you all again. to be found – I enquired from a Marshall who advised that they had already departed and Jim Davis—Secretary we had missed our slot – with a bit of talking we managed to get slo ed in to the March and even had a band leading us. We stepped off just about on time. The march was led by Bill van Ree and the Associati n certainly had good support with about 85 people marching behind the banner. Several members travelled considerable distances to be part of this march and it was great to see the 2 Amos boys there with Bob making the trip from Echuca. Graham Rushbrook and Alan Larpent also made long trips. 6 For video of the RAE Associatio on parade in Melbourne on ANZAC Day 2018 and Ringwood on 22 April, see our website at: h ps://www.raevictoria.asn.au/image- library.php Above: The RAE Associati n was again ably supported by a team of cadets from the Melbourne High School Army Cadet Unit. 7 memories regardless of time. They are deemed great not necessarily for what they achieved, nor for whether they were victories or successes. Rather, great events are disti guished by the quality of the human endeavour they called upon, by examples they create for ordinary men and women, and by LTCOL S.