Commando cover Dec14:Layout 1 23/12/14 1:53 PM Page 1 AUSTRALIAN COMMANDO ASSN INC. Registered by Australia Post ~ Publication No PP100016240 Edition 4 ~ December 2014 "The war face of a modern warrior" CPL Cameron Baird VC MG Commando cover Dec14:Layout 1 23/12/14 2:30 PM Page 2 Your early-warning advantage on any dangerous ground. When a perimeter breach could have costly consequences, you choose your Senses movement, ground vibrations, aircraft, speech sentries wisely. The Patrol Persistent Surveillance System from Rockwell Collins and more guards any boundary with unattended, all-weather ground sensors. Ultrasensitive to movement and sound, the sensors are part of an integrated system that also Perimeter detection ranges 10 km (6.2 miles) or more provides real-time video surveillance. Know what’s happening at the moment a trigger event occurs. Scalable to any size perimeter or facility www.rockwellcollins.com © 2014 Rockwell Collins. All rights reserved. Commando News edit:Layout 1 23/12/14 2:07 PM Page 1 CONTENTS NSW President & Editor’s Report .....................3 REGISTERED BY AUSTRALIA POST PUBLICATION No PP100016240 Special Forces Training Centre 2014.................5 AUSTRALIAN COMMANDO ASSOCIATION INC. From the Prolific Pen of Harry Bell....................7 OFFICE BEARERS Lance Corporal Todd Chidgey ........................12 NEW SOUTH WALES Remembrance Day Darling Harbour...............13 PATRONS: Brigadier Keith Stringfellow RFD ED (Retired) MajGen Greg Melick AM RDF SC Memorial Service Sandakan ............................14 PRESIDENT: Barry Grant E: [email protected] Update on SASR History Documentary ..........14 P: 02 9543 4241 • M: 0414 914 615 2014 Jaywick Commemoration Dinner...........15 VICE PRESIDENT: Jeff Ireson E: [email protected] Eulogy: Barry Clissold .....................................16 P: 02 9520 8865 • M: 0468 396 778 SECRETARY: Kevin Mahony Vale ..................................................................17 E: [email protected] P: 02 9644 8794 • M: 0425 279 111 Limbang Raid...................................................18 TREASURER: Ivan Kelly • M: 0417 042 886 E: [email protected] First Strike: The Salamaua Raid.......................19 COMMITTEE: Alan Grant, Norm Wood, David Lynch Aust Cdo Assn QLD ........................................23 Nick Hill, Ted Hartley, Max Taylor, Reg Davis, 2nd/9th, Ken Curran, 2nd/11th Aust Cdo Assn VIC..........................................26 EDITORS: Barry Grant • P: 0414 914 615 E: [email protected] History of the AATTV ......................................29 Barbara Pittaway • P: 02 9427 5407 Aust Cdo Assn National Logo ........................29 E: [email protected] “Q” Store Order Form....................................30 QUEENSLAND Membership Application/Renewal..................31 PRESIDENT: Keith Long • M: 0403 582 920 E: [email protected] SECRETARY: Tony Mills • M: 0419 136 772 Deadline for next edition: SUNDAY, 15TH MARCH 2015 E: [email protected] Next edition out in time for Anzac Day schedules. TREASURER: Dr Chris Tucker • M: 0413 393 874 All news on members and interesting articles accepted. E: [email protected] (Subject to editors’ approval.) Barry G VICTORIA PRESIDENT: Mark Preston E: [email protected] SECRETARY: Glenn MacDonald • M: 0414 311 093 E: [email protected] AUSTRALIAN COMMANDO ASSN INC. Registered by Australia Post ~ Publication No PP100016240 Edition 4 ~ December 2014 The Australian Commando Association’s membership consists of Servicemen who have served with Independent Companies, Commando Squadrons, "M" and "Z" Special units and Special Forces during and since the Second World War. DISCLAIMER: Opinions expressed within this publication are those of the authors, and are not necessarily those of the Editor, Publisher, Committee Members or Members of our Association. We welcome any input as long as it is not offensive or abusive but if any member has a problem with a printed article we would like to be informed in order that the author may be contacted. We do encourage your opinion. Official Publishers: Statewide Publishing P/L ABN 65 116 985 187 PO BOX 682, SURFERS PARADISE QLD 4217 PHONE: 1300 662 885 • FAX: 1300 557 996 EMAIL: [email protected] Printed by Galloping Press "The war face of a modern warrior" CPL Cameron Baird VC MG Unit 29, 398 The Boulevarde, Kirrawee NSW 2232 PHONE: 9521 3371 Front Cover: "The war face of a modern warrior" CPL Cameron Baird VC MG COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 4 I December 2014 1 Commando News edit:Layout 1 23/12/14 2:07 PM Page 2 Commando News edit:Layout 1 23/12/14 2:07 PM Page 3 NSW President and Editor’s Report As we reported in the last newsletter, this determination on the edition is going Australia wide, i.e. to all 3 States official birthdays of that the Australian Commando Association have 1st & 2nd Com - committees. mando Com panies. It will take a little "tweaking" to get the right This has been of balance of news etc, so I would like to have your some conjecture over the years with some thoughts. suggesting that 2 Company is in February and 1 BRIG Keith Stringfellow, one of our life Company in June, however, as the units were Patrons, has been in hospital recently having an "conceived" at the same time, regardless of their operation on his hip. This has kept him fairly quiet first parade, a decision was made to celebrate the and unable to attend recent functions, however I Commando Companies birthdays in February, keep in contact with him and I am sure everyone the same as the 1st Commando Regiment. wishes him a speedy recovery. End of story. A few weeks ago the National Committee of ★★★★★ the Australian Commando Association met at the Officers Mess at 2nd Commando Regiment. Former medic at 1 Commando Regiment, Joel This committee is made up of the three State Donkin, is now in "harm's way" in a very different Presidents and their Secretaries, a National situation. President, Vice President, Secretary and Joel is part of a Red Cross team that has been Treasurer. deployed to Sierra Leone to halt the Ebola Virus. President: MAJGEN Mike Clifford He will be away over Xmas and I am sure all of AM CSC (Ret’d) us wish him a safe return to Australia after his Vice President: BRIG Paul Kenny DSC deployment. Secretary: Steve Pilmore OAM ★★★★★ Treasurer: Bruce O'Connor OAM MAJ GEN Greg Melick AM RFD SC has Victoria graciously accepted his appointment as one of President: Mark Preston our State Patrons saying he was honoured. Secretary: Glenn MacDonald MAJ GEN Melick was a former member of 1 NSW Commando Company. President: Barry Grant ★★★★★ Secretary: Kevin Mahony Merry Xmas to all members of the Commando Queensland Associations including those who are in harm's President: Keith Long way at this time of the year, may the New Year Secretary: Tony Mills prosperous one. Public Officer: Brian Liddy Barry Grant The items for discussion were of membership, the Commando Welfare Trust, as well as making a COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 4 I December 2014 3 Commando News edit:Layout 1 23/12/14 2:07 PM Page 4 RESIDENTIAL GENEALOGY Personal Training Private Consultations Personal Nutritional Plan Development Comprehensive Fitness Assessment Goal Setting and Targeted Goal Setting A great way to demonstrate even more market knowledge to prospective buyers and sellers and who knows, Program you might find a famous name as a previous occupant, something that could increase the home’s value on the market. 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ZZZDLSWFRPDXFRPPDQGRZZZDLSWFRPDXFRPPDQGR *(77+(3(5621$/*(77+(3(5621$/ Contact: 775$,1,1*48$/,),&$7,215$,1,1*48$/,),&$$77,21 [email protected] 7+(,7+(,1'8675<35()(561'86755<<35()(56 4 COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 3 I June 2014 Commando News edit:Layout 1 23/12/14 2:07 PM Page 5 Special Forces Training Centre - 2014 has one of the most diverse work - forces within SOCOMD. To facilitate the wide range of roles and tasks the Special Forces Training Centre undertakes, the unit is organised into a small Regimental Headquarters supported by three functional Wings; Commando Training Wing, Selection Wing and Trade and Training Development Wing. While the Centre supports a wide range of tasks, its main effort remains the conduct of individual Special Forces skills training for commando operators and supervisors. The Centre will normally conduct in-excess of thirty multi- week courses per year, generating The origins of the Special Forces Training Centre both the reinforcements for the Commando are traced to 1st Commando Regiment’s Commando Regiments and the specialist supervisors responsible Training Wing established in 1997. for ensuring commando