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The Custodian

Winter 2020

Volume 2, Issue 17

FORT LYTTON HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION

Welcome to the Seventeenth Edition of “The Custodian”. In this issue I continue with two more of Fort Lytton’s ANZAC Generals, these two men were both extremely hard working, mainly on the administration and Q side of soldiering. It was very hard to find a lot of details and photographs about them, especially Dodds, so if anyone can help provide more I would be appreciative. Bryan continues with another interesting article, this time on Queensland’s early electricity endeavours and finally articles from 1 and 20 Regiments, RAA.

Harry Lynas (Editor)

FORT LYTTON HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED DIRECTORY President: Dr. Mike McLean PO Box 293, WYNNUM QLD 4178 Hon Secretary: Mr Don Willsher Contact us at our email addresses Hon Treasurer: Mrs J Hynard flhaguides@gmail.com Newsletter Editor: Mr. Harry Lynas h.lynas@fortlytton.org.au Web Site: http://www.fortlytton.org.au fortlytton2@gmail.com

MAJOR EVENTS

None at this stage

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Introduction and Directory – Page 1 President’s Report – Page 2 A Brief History of Electric Lighting in Brisbane – Page 3 Major General Thomas Henry Dodds, CMG, CVO, DSO – Page 10 Major General James Harold Cannan, CB, CMG, DSO, VD – Page 15 Miscellany – Page 21 FLHA Matters – Page 25

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PRESIDENT’S REPORT 2020

Like so many other organisations our services for the public were shut down about three months ago due to Covid-19. The rangers have continued to open Fort Lytton National Park on Sundays so the public can walk around, but there have been no tours, no museums and no canteen. We are now in the process of starting to reopen. FLHA has resumed monthly general meetings for its members and we are now investigating how we might implement a soft restart of services at an appropriate time. The shut-down hasn’t affected many of our “back-office” operations, many of which were able to be performed at home. One of these operations was a reassessment of Fort Lytton’s artillery collection. Following a survey of Australia’s other artillery collections, we have determined that ours is probably one of the four largest, the others being the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, the Army Museum in Bandiana and the Australian Armour and Artillery Museum in Cairns. Our collection contains 33 artillery pieces. More importantly, our collection has a roughly 40/60 split between Queensland colonial guns and Australian Army guns. Last year we were delighted when the National Park replaced the roof of the century-old heritage-listed building which is FLHA’s headquarters. In the last few months a lot more has happened, including repairs to the surface water drainage around the building, repairs to the original ceiling, and restoration of the inside walls and floor (an ongoing project). We have also relocated our library into much better premises on the ground floor of the National Park office building. Mike McLean President

Ubique

“Contact Kevin or Annette on 3375 3366 to get a quote”

www.darratyres.com.au

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A BRIEF HISTORY OF ELECTRIC LIGHTING IN BRISBANE By Bryan Wood. © 2018

The first electric light in Australia was not, as one might expect, in Sydney or Melbourne, but in the fledgling state of Queensland – William Street, Brisbane, in fact.

With the initial rejection of Sir William Jervois’ scheme regarding a battery at Lytton, and only about one third of the estimated cost being granted, Colonel Scratchly now recommended that the progress of enemy ships be barred at a point approximately two and a half miles upriver from Lytton, by laying torpedoes across the channel between Parker Island and the mainland. Further protection would be provided by four Carron 24 pounders placed in a temporary earth works at Doughboy (Doboy) Creek.

1878. A public demonstration of a carbon arc lamp held in front of the telegraph fitters’ shop in William Street, Brisbane, was a great success. The Brisbane Courier, 7th July 1878, described it as a small self-regulating device of German manufacture, powered by a sixty cell Bunsen zinc-carbon battery (a nominal 90 volts) and according to this report ‘threw a most brilliant light for a considerable distance’. This first electric light was for use at Parker Island, near Lytton, to identify ships at night approaching the torpedo defences that were already in place on the river, also to be used downstream, at the mouth of the river.

(Today Parker Island would have been directly under the Gateway Bridge, it was a victim of dredging the new shipping channel. The spoils pumped onto the nearby Gibson Island and the adjacent ‘unnamed island’ formed the larger Gibson Island that we know today.)

This first light was the start of a new era – the age of electric power…

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Tamworth, in New South Wales, was generally considered to be the first in Australia to use public street lighting. This lighting, consisting of a mix of arc and incandescent lamps was first switched on in the evening of 9th November 1888. But…

1882. In the first week of December 1882, J.W. Sutton & Co installed electric lighting in the offices of the Sutton foundry in Adelaide Street, Brisbane, powered from a dynamo driven by a 10hp steam engine installed in the foundry.

Two weeks later, a large crowd gathered in the evening of 19th December 1882, near Victoria Bridge, to witness the first demonstration of public street lighting, eight bright carbon arc lights mounted on cast iron posts illuminated the length of Queen Street from Victoria Bridge to Eagle Street using power from the Sutton foundry. Several Queen Street shops also highlighted their Christmas decorations with electric light using power supplied from the Sutton foundry… Sorry Tamworth.

1883. One year later, Alfred Shaw & Co won a contract to supply and put

on trial a lighting system in the Government Printing Office on William Street, with

Edison Type Incandescent Lamp

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the power supplied by an 8.5 hp generator coupled to the existing steam engines that drove the printing machines. Fifty Edison type incandescent lamps lit the staircase, composing and publishing rooms.

Following the successful trial of electric lighting in the Government Printery, the government sought and accepted the following quotes;

Edison Co. £2485, for the installation of permanent incandescent Lighting of the Printery and Parliament House - two 30kw 110vdc Edison H

Dynamos and 500 60w lamps with carbon filaments - fittings - switches and wiring.

Smellie & Co. £2747, to supply two 40hp Roby Steam Engines complete with boilers, belts, pulleys and shafting etc.

Andrew Petrie £13043, to build a power station building, at the rear of the Government Printing Office in William Street.

Alfred Shaw - agent for Edison Co. - £1000, to supply 50 lamps for Council Chamber and supply and install 1200 ft. (366m) of two core 110v Edison Street Tubes. (It is interesting to note that although these tubes were manufactured by the Edison Electric Tube Co., New York, the order actually came from Edison’s Indian & Colonial Electric Co. London, which suggests that they were probably surplus to their first use in the 1882 Holborn Viaduct scheme, London.)

William Street Printery with power house at rear 1884. Progress slowed dramatically following the death of the Edison

engineer, his replacement, J. Mathieson, proved to be a failure and consequently

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his wiring was condemned. The Governments Consulting Electrical Engineer, Edward Barton, was appointed to correct and finish the work.

1884. After several years of reporting such innovative lighting systems, the Brisbane Courier eventually ‘saw the light’ and installed its own steam driven generators (they had previously installed lighting in their composing room with power supplied from the Sutton foundry).

1886. With the government’s electric lighting project now complete and the first switch thrown, Queensland’s Parliament House becomes the first legislative building in the British Empire to be illuminated by electricity, at a cost of £19,275.

Also during this year, arc lighting was installed in the Roma Street rail yards, although the source of the power is still unknown. In the photo below, a carbon-arc lamp post is seen in the foreground and in the background is the Countess St. power house; it was built in 1897 to supply power for the Brisbane Trams. The arc lamps, however, were installed years earlier, in 1886.

Roma Street rail yards, power source unknown, (circa. 1900). ABC TELEVISION NEWS. Excavators in Brisbane have unearthed 134-year-old electrical cables

known as ‘Edison tubes’ under a CBD Street, revealing the city’s earliest power grid, designed by Thomas Edison…

The first installation consisted of a two-core tube and a separate return tube containing a single core of 27 copper strands, the voids were filled with a

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black insulating compound of refined Trinidad pitch, linseed oil, beeswax, and paraffin wax.

Two core and return tube samples cut from Edison Tubes recovered during Queens Wharf project in 2018.

Although we are dealing mainly with the progression of electrical power

between Brisbane and Lytton, many regional areas, throughout Queensland,

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developed their own street lighting schemes, one in particular deserves a mention here. The first regional electricity supply was established in the far western town of Thargomindah where a street lighting system was installed in 1892, and in 1898 commenced generating electricity using Australia’s first hydroelectric plant powered by water pressure from a water bore. This system continued to be used until1951 when it was replaced by diesel generators.

LYTTON’S CONTRIBUTION. Following the separation from New South Wales in December 1859, the

Queensland Government maintained Lytton’s role as the customs entry into the Port of Moreton Bay.

As an isolated and largely unsettled area, Lytton’s role in the evolution of electrical power followed a different course; electric lighting was of no great concern, but fast efficient communications was paramount. In 1860 – 61 an electric telegraph line was constructed between the Lytton Customs Station and Brisbane – the first telegraph line in Queensland built specifically for internal administrative use, to communicate shipping intelligence and meteorological observations from Moreton Bay.

In 1864 the electric telegraph was extended from Lytton via Cleveland and undersea cable to Dunwich on Stradbroke Island and north to Cape Moreton on Moreton Island.

In the early 1870s the telegraph line was extended to Signal Hill where a new combined residential post / telegraph office had been built and in the 1880s, lines were extended out to the new Pile Light (constructed 1883) in Moreton Bay and down to Fort Lytton.

LYTTON’S FIRST POWER STATION 1887 brings us to full circle.

The plan to build a fort at Lytton had finally been approved and the first stage was now operational. The light and mines at Parker Island were transferred to the waters at Lytton; they were however still operated by primary cell (non-rechargeable) batteries, the fort was lit only by candle or oil lamps, and was to remain so for some time.

In 1887 funds were made available for several improvements, including an engine room with two vertical boilers providing power for

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two small (2.6 hp) horizontal steam engines driving a single dynamo. This engine room was built within the moated area and connected to the

fort by a tunnel. Electricity generated here was not used anywhere in the fort, its sole purpose was to provide power to a concrete searchlight building, constructed outside the fort area, a short distance upriver, closer to the jetty than the fort. This was a strictly static arrangement; it was completely immobile, creating a fixed, non-adjustable, beam of light across the river. The drawing on the right shows, firstly, the electric telegraph had now progressed to the telephone, and secondly, the narrow slot at the front of the building that confines the light to a fixed beam.

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The drawing above shows the concrete plinth on which the searchlight was bolted, directly behind and in line with the slot window through which the light was emitted, the slot was three feet eight inches high and just eight inches wide, fitted with a steel plate shutter.

This arrangement obviously had its limitations and consequently was modified at a later date to include the wider steel plate hinged windows and the roof top searchlight deck, the remnants of which can be seen today.

In the cross section plan above a nine inch iron pipe provides an entry point for the underground electric cable and telephone line followed by a six inch pipe which takes the power to the light.

Some interesting questions now arise. The Edison Street Tube project was completed in 1886 and was not superseded until 1906.

The engine room – searchlight buildings were added just one year later in 1887 which begs the questions what underground cable was used between the fort and the searchlight? Is it still there or was it looted for the copper content as was the rest of the fort complex? Was it an Edison Street Tube? Perhaps the last of those surplus street tubes from London…Who Knows????

Major-General Thomas Henry Dodds, CMG, CVO, DSO

Thomas Henry Dodds was born on 11th November 1873 at Gateshead,

County Durham, England, son of Thomas Dodds, manager of the British Workman, and his wife Jane née Smith. The family migrated to Australia in 1883, settling in Brisbane, where Dodds attended the Fortitude Valley State School and the Brisbane Normal School. He entered the Queensland Department of Public Instruction as a teacher in 1888.

Attracted by the volunteer movement he enlisted in 1892 and was commissioned in the Queensland Volunteer Teachers' Corps (QVTC) in 1899. Dodds served in the South African War as adjutant of the 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen Contingent (QIB), which comprised three companies with 503 officers and men. The QIB sailed from Brisbane on 6th March 1901 on the

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Templemore, and arrived at Port Elizabeth on 1st April 1901. When the Bushmen and other units were attacked and almost overwhelmed by a superior force of Boers at Onverwacht, on 4th January 1902, losing 13 killed and 17 wounded, he rallied the surviving Queenslanders and held on to a ridge until help arrived. A large number of them were captured, stripped of all arms and horses by the Boers and then released when the Boers had to retreat in turn. For this and other spirited actions he was mentioned in dispatches and awarded the Distinguished Service Order. He was also promoted honorary captain. The 5th QIB departed Cape Town on 27th March 1902, on the transport St. Andrew, and arrived in Brisbane on 30th April, disbanding on 5th May 1902.

Sgt Dodds, QVTC on Left, 1897 Capt Dodds, Adjt 5th QIB, 1901 On 27th July 1904 he was promoted to captain, however in July 1906 he

exchanged teaching for a regular commission in the Administrative and Instructional Staff. Although he was again a lieutenant his rise was to be unusually rapid. His chance came in 1911 when he was moved from a staff appointment in Brisbane to Army Headquarters in Melbourne. There he quickly came under the eye of Lieutenant-Colonel James Legge who was responsible for the planning and organization of the new compulsory training scheme. His capacity as an administrative staff officer was soon demonstrated. Dodds was appointed Secretary of the Railway Council from 14th February 1911 to 31st December 1912, whilst in this post he was again promoted to captain. He served as Director of Personnel from 1st July 1911 and Assistant Adjutant General from

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16th March 1913. He was also Secretary of the Establishments Committee from 1st April 1913 to 31st May 1914. He was made Secretary of the War Railway Council and in July 1911 was appointed Director of Personnel although still a captain. In 1913 he was promoted to major.

When war broke out in August 1914, Dodds was Assistant Adjutant General and Director of Personnel. When the Adjutant General, Lieutenant-Colonel Victor Sellheim (another Fort Lytton ANZAC general), was transferred to the Australian Imperial Force (AIF), Dodds moved easily into his appointment. He was promoted lieutenant-colonel on 1st December 1915, and became a temporary member of the Military Board. He finally was posted overseas when on 3rd April 1917 he was appointed to the staff of Lieutenant-General Sir William Birdwood as Deputy Adjutant General, AIF on promotion to colonel. Arriving on 17th May at headquarters of 1st Anzac Corps (later the Australian Corps) Dodds soon won Birdwood's approval. When Birdwood went to command the Fifth Army, Dodds accompanied him to handle Australian personnel matters.

1st ANZAC Corp HQ, Dodds is seated on the far left.

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On 1st October 1918 Brigadier General Dodds, succeeded Brigadier General Thomas Griffiths as commandant of AIF Administrative Headquarters in London. He returned to Melbourne in May 1919. For his services he was twice mentioned in dispatches and was appointed CMG.

Two Fort Lytton ANZAC Generals

Brigadier General Coxen and Brigadier General T H Dodds

Arriving back in Australia in May 1919 he resumed his appointments as a full colonel. He was deputy director of the royal visit of the Prince of Wales in 1920, for which he was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO). Dodds was military secretary at Army Headquarters from 1920 to 1922 and Adjutant General from 1922 to 1924. The CGS, his old friend Sir Harry Chauvel (another Fort Lytton ANZAC General), sent him to London as colonel, General Staff, at the Australian High Commission and Australian representative at the War Office, from January 1925. After this well-earned change of duties, Chauvel brought him back in 1927 to command the 2nd District Base in Sydney and the 1st Division. In 1929 Dodds returned to the Military Board as Adjutant General to face the heavy tasks of holding the Army together during the Depression, with all its consequent retrenchments, and the replacement of the compulsory system which he had helped to create by a volunteer militia. He was promoted to Major-General in 1930. When he retired in 1934 the volunteer force was in being, although short of men.

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Brigadier General Dodds far right back row (near right hand side of door)

(There are altogether five Fort Lytton ANZAC Generals in this photo)

In civilian life Dodds held the post of

honorary Federal Treasurer of the Returned and Services League from 1931 to 1941. He was elected to the Hawthorn City Council in 1935.

Dodds died suddenly on 15th October 1943 of a heart attack, he was accorded full military honours at his funeral.

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Major-General James Harold Cannan, CB, CMG, DSO, VD James Harold Cannan was born on 29th August 1882 at Townsville, Queensland, sixth child of John Kearsey Cannan, a bank manager from Brisbane, and his wife Elizabeth Christian, née Hodgson, who was born on the Isle of Man. Educated at Brisbane Central Boys' and Brisbane Grammar schools, he was destined to be an astute businessman and soldier. On leaving school James worked for a firm of hardware merchants and for seven years with the New Zealand Insurance Co. before becoming chief agent at the Queensland branch of the Patriotic Assurance Co. From 1910 he was State manager of the Insurance Office of Australia Ltd. He married Eileen Clair Ranken on 12th December 1911 at St Matthew's Anglican Church, Sherwood; they were to remain childless. His Army career commenced on 27th March 1903 when he was commissioned in the 1st Queensland (Moreton) (later 9th Infantry) Regiment. In 1912 he transferred to the 8th Infantry (Oxley Battalion) and in 9th May 1914 he took command of this unit on promotion to lieutenant colonel. When war broke out, he was appointed to command the Lytton Fixed Defences, though only holding this post from the 5th to 31st August 1914.

On 23rd September he was appointed to the Australian Imperial Force, in command of the 15th Battalion in John Monash's 4th Brigade. They sailed for Egypt on 22nd Dec 1914 on the transport HMAT Ceramic and landed at Alexandria on 31st Jan 1915, moved into camp at Heliopolis, and then commenced training. Tall, dark and strongly built, Cannan was an exacting leader who demanded the utmost of his troops. The 15th Infantry Battalion arrived at ANZAC Cove on the evening of Anzac Day, 25th April 1915. Cannan was sent with half of his battalion to fill the

gap between the 2nd and 3rd Infantry Brigades. Moving in the dark through the thick scrub of the Razorback, the 15th found the empty positions that it was sent to fill. The Battalion saw trench life on Pope’s Hill and Russell’s Top before switching to Quinn's Post, one of the most exposed parts of the Anzac perimeter, with Cannan becoming post commander. In the Battle of Abdel Rahman Bair Heights (Sari Bair) on 8th August 1915, the 15th Infantry Battalion suffered heavily while trying to move up the ridge, so much so that Cannan ordered their withdrawal. Seven officers were killed—including his older brother, Major D. H.

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Cannan—and most of the rest wounded. Cannan later became ill and was evacuated from Anzac Cove on 4th October 1915, and transferred to hospitals on Lemnos and Malta, before being sent to the 3rd London General Hospital in England.

Razorback leading to Battleship Hill Quinn’s Post For "distinguished service in the field during operations in the Dardanelles", Cannan was mentioned in despatches (mid) and made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) on 5th November 1915. Cannan resumed command of the 15th Infantry Battalion in Egypt on 21st January 1916. The unit departed Alexandria for Marseilles on 1st June 1916, to join the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front. Cannan led his battalion into action again at the Battle of Pozières and Battle of Mouquet Farm. On the night of 8th August 1916, the 15th Battalion launched an attack on the German trench in front of Mouquet Farm known as Park Lane. Cannan's men captured their objectives, and indeed went beyond them in some places. However, the Suffolk Regiment on his flank was mown down by German machine gun fire and he was compelled to withdraw part of his force to a more defensible position. Recalled to England, Cannan was promoted to Brigadier General and appointed to command the 11th Infantry Brigade on 30th August 1916 by Major General John Monash, now commander of the 3rd Division. The 3rd Division—of which the 11th Infantry Brigade was part—was training on the Salisbury Plain. Cannan returned to France with the 11th Infantry Brigade in November 1916, and led it in the Battle of Messines in June 1917 and the Battle of Broodseinde in October 1917. For these battles, Cannan was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG). His citation read: “Commander of the 11th Australian Infantry Brigade since September 1916. This officer has served continuously since the outbreak of war and received the CB upon the landing in Gallipoli. He commanded a battalion in Gallipoli, Egypt

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and France until September 1916. He had held a brigade command throughout the offensive period of 1917 taking part in the battle of Messines in June 1917. Subsequently he commanded the series of operations which led to the capture of the Windmill on 31st July 1917 and also commanded the right brigade of this division in the highly successful battle for the Broodesinde Ridge on 4th October 1917, again taking part in the battle of 12th October 1917. His services as a brigade commander have throughout been distinguished by great energy, ability and leadership.” In the fighting in 1918, the 11th Infantry Brigade was the first to check the German advance towards Amiens in April. In July, it was selected from the brigades of the 3rd Division to participate in the Battle of Hamel. In March 1918, the 11th was specially requested by Major General E. G. Sinclair-Maclagan to help the 4th Division at Hamel in July. The 11th Brigade went on to participate in the Battle of Amiens and the Hundred Days Offensive. For the battles of August and September, Cannan was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). His citation read: “For his very distinguished services in command of his brigade forming the right flank of the attack of the divisional attack at Bony on 29th September – 1st October 1918. His clear insight into an extremely difficult tactical situation, coupled with the energy and resolution with which he directed the operations of his brigade were of the greatest value in forcing the enemy to give up his hope of holding the Hindenburg Line. General Cannan's conduct and skill throughout the last Somme campaign gave a conspicuous example of the soldierly merit to his brigade and to the division. The great difficulties in establishing and maintaining communications rendered the action at Bony a matter of personal leadership and in this General Cannan proved himself the right man in the right place.” For his services on the Western Front, Cannan was also awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre, his citation noting his "tenacity, thoroughness and efficient organisation", "his splendid qualities of leadership", and his "personal gallantry." He was also mentioned in despatches another five times. Waiting in England for transport home Cannan studied insurance practice in London, under the Army Education Scheme, for two months before embarking for Australia on HMAT Ancises on 22nd August 1919. He arrived back in Australia on 17th October 1919 and his appointment to the AIF was terminated on 13th December 1919. Cannan had been made a brevet colonel in the Militia on 24th September 1917 but he was entitled to keep his AIF rank of brigadier general as an honorary rank. Cannan commanded the 2/15th Infantry from 1st October 1918 to 30th June 1920, although he did not actually take up command until 14th December 1919. On 1st July 1920, he became a substantive colonel and honorary brigadier

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general on assuming command of the 2nd Infantry Brigade. He then commanded the 11th Mixed Brigade from 1st May 1921 to 30th April 1925, when he was transferred to the unattached list. Cannan was also aide de camp to the Governor General from 1st April 1920 to 21st March 1923 and honorary colonel of the 47th Infantry Battalion from 19th June 1930. Civilian life saw Cannan return to his old job at the Insurance Office of Australia. He became manager of the Sydney office in 1932 and presided over the Insurance Institute of NSW from 1936 to 1937. He was also president of the Queensland branch of the Returned Soldiers' and Sailors' Imperial League of Australia from 1920 to 1921, he also became the first president of the Brisbane branch of Legacy Australia in 1928. On 27th May 1940, after over fifteen years on the unattached list, Cannan was appointed Inspector General of Administration at the Department of Defence Coordination. Although his tenure was brief, Cannan gained valuable experience working with the bureaucracy. On 7th July 1940, Cannan was promoted to temporary major general and took over command of the 2nd Division in succession to Major General Iven Mackay, who had been appointed to command the 6th Division. Because most Australian soldiers were Militia, the government decided in 1940 that there should be "direct Militia representation on the Military Board at Army Headquarters." The appointment of a Militia officer to the board was opposed by the Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Vernon Sturdee. He was overruled by the Prime Minister, Robert Menzies, Sturdee then offered the post to Cannan. On 24th October 1940, Cannan became Quartermaster General (QMG) and a member of the Military Board. His experience as a businessman gave him managerial skills that were to prove particularly useful. Cannan offered to resign in 1942 so that his post could be given to a regular officer, but General Sir Thomas Blamey refused to countenance it, and Cannan remained QMG until 31st December 1945. However, in the 1942 reorganisation, the Military Board was abolished and Cannan now reported to the Lieutenant General Administration, Lieutenant General Henry Wynter, instead. Cannan volunteered for the Second Australian Imperial Force and was allocated the serial number VX89075 on 2nd September 1942. As QMG, Cannan was responsible for the Australian Army's supply, transport and engineering services throughout Australia and the South West Pacific Area. It was the most important logistical command in Australian history. In carrying it out, he clashed repeatedly with the Department of Defence Coordination in its attempt to maintain peacetime financial controls. Cannan had to work long hours and use all of his skills both as a soldier and a businessman. He had to attempt to keep ahead of the plans at General Headquarters in order

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to ensure that the required logistical support would be there on time. As well as supporting the Australian Army, Cannan was also responsible for providing a broad range of goods and services to the Americans. In no other theatre of war was local procurement of supplies by US forces as extensive or important as in the South West Pacific. Australian Reverse Lend Lease came to USD $1.1 billion, representing 13% of all reciprocal aid to the United States. Such figures understate the value of Australian aid, for every ton of supplies procured in Australia meant a ton that did not have to be shipped across the Pacific Ocean. This required the same shipping space as two tons of supplies shipped across in the Atlantic Ocean, the distance there being half as great. He was responsible for rationing the American forces in Australia until the American Quartermaster Corps felt capable of taking over the function in 1943.

In NT, Cannan peering at map over At Aitape Cannan second from left Blamey’s right shoulder When requirements to support the British Pacific Fleet were piled on top of American demands and an increasing tight Army manpower situation, Cannan protested the "lavishness and extravagance which characterised US demands whilst the Australian services' demands were being subjected to rigid scrutiny and economies". He cited examples, and urged that economies be made on goods and services supplied to Allied countries. However, the government was reluctant to take any action that might not be welcomed by American military and political leaders. Nonetheless, Prime Minister John Curtin did successfully persuade General Douglas MacArthur to rationalise his use of Australian resources in order to provide accommodation for the British Pacific Fleet. Cannan travelled widely in the combat areas to see conditions at first hand. He visited New Guinea between 19th October and 21st December 1943 and also in February and March 1944. In October 1944, Cannan travelled with General

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Blamey to visit General Douglas MacArthur in Hollandia to prepare for the Philippines campaign. In the event, plans to employ Australian troops in the Philippines fell through and they were employed in the Borneo Campaign instead. Cannan visited New Britain, Lae, Hollandia, Bougainville and Aitape in February 1945 to help plan the final campaigns and Hollandia, Morotai, Labuan and Darwin in August 1945. In later life Cannan received no honours for the Second World War. Blamey nominated him for a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in September 1943, but it was refused, it was not the Labor Government's policy to award knighthoods at this time. In November 1945, Blamey was abruptly dismissed by the government. Asked if he wanted any honours for himself, Blamey declined, instead requesting knighthoods for his generals, including Cannan. His request was refused. Again in December 1949, Blamey wrote to the new Prime Minister, Robert Menzies, once again recommending knighthoods for a number of his generals, including Cannan. All were accepted "except, for some inexplicable reason, for Cannan". Of Cannan, it was said that his "contribution to the defence of Australia was immense; his responsibility for supply, transport and works, a giant-sized burden; his acknowledgement—nil".

Cannan relinquished his appointment as QMG on 31st December 1945 and retired as a major general the next day. He remained an honorary colonel until 8th June 1953. However, his abilities as an administrator were still in demand. He was Director of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration in the South West Pacific from 1946 to 1947, of the Queensland division of the Australian Red Cross from 1950 to 1951, and of the Services Canteens Trust from 1948 to 1957. He was also a director of several companies.

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Survived by his wife Eileen, Cannan died on 23rd May 1976 in his Wickham Terrace apartment. He became the last of Australia's Great War generals to pass away and was cremated with full military honours. His estate was sworn for probate at $294,820 (a very astute businessman).

Miscellany News from 1 Regiment, RAA

The year has gotten off to a frantic start for 1 Regt, RAA and there is already so much to reflect on but even more to look forward to. The Regiment started where we left off in 2019 with uncertainty surrounding the Bushfires throughout Southern NSW and Victoria. By early January the call was sent out to 7 BDE to assist and members from 1 Regt, RAA came straight off leave to prepare for the move down south. On 7th of January 40 members of the Regt left Gallipoli Barracks as a part of the 2 CER Task Group (TG) to help out the emergency services and aid in the safety and recovery within communities. The TG was in the AO for over 2 months, conducting a number of tasks to aid the civilian emergency services and authorities. For the 1 Regt, RAA members, they spent this time in the Cooma and Tumut areas as “General Duties” personnel. This involved clearing roads and fence lines of trees and other debris as well as building shelters for injured wildlife. All involved have left with a great sense of fulfilment and their assistance was hugely appreciated by those that were effected. Back at the Regiment, all focus has been towards the upcoming exercises of Barce and the Combined Unit Training Activity (CUTA). The barracks training has been building towards this with numerous CO’s activities, CPX’s and solid foundation work so that the Regt is prepared for the challenges of the Exercise. Whilst the training has been on going there are members who have been at Joint Proof and Experimentation Unit (JPEU) in Woomera, testing out the new Very Long Range Artillery Projectile (VLAP). The work from these soldiers is imperative to improving the capability of Artillery and their efforts have been fantastic. The future remains very bright for the Regt and all are very excited to get

Above: Members from 1 Regt, RAA clear away a tree that has fallen on a main road, halting community access in to Tumut. They cleared the tree using chainsaws and the PMV winch, allowing safe passage for civilians.

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out into the field and do some live firing, something that the Regt hasn’t been able to do for over a year due to the fire danger. Having said that the Regiment is not isolated from the disruptive effects of COVID-19. Like the broader Australian community, we are closely watching the situation unfold and stand prepared to adapt as necessary.

LtCol Simon Hunter, CO 1 Regt RAA

Australian Artillery Association The Association has decided to hold a 150 Year Celebration Dinner for the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery on Saturday, 21st August 2021. The Dinner will be held in the Caloundra City Convention Centre as normal and will be preceded by a Happy Hour in the same place on the Friday Night. Full details can be found on their website. Again all Gunners from all over Australia (and indeed the World) of all ranks, trade and service types both serving and ex serving are welcome to attend. Also those other Corp reps who served with an Artillery unit or have a connection via an association are also invited to attend.

LSTAA “Warning Notice” (This program is subject to the easing of current state travel & social constraints due to the coronavirus.) Locators Reunion Program 16/17/18th October 2020 15th Birthday of 20th Regiment RAA

Friday 16th Oct: Locator’s Reunion Cocktail Party 6pm in Southern Cross Room at

Kedron Wavell RSL Saturday 17th Oct:

Regiment’s family day 10am till 3pm at Fort Lytton Historic Military Precinct, including guided tour of Fort Lytton, display of Regiment’s equipment & family barbeque.

Sunday 18th Oct: Farewell drinks/lunch noon, Ship Inn Hotel at South Bank, Brisbane.

Final notice, with full details including RSVP, will be circulated when program is

confirmed.

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ORDER OF THE DAY - OPERATION RESOLUTE

Today is a historic day for the 20th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery led Task Unit, as it commences its operational tasking as part of Operation RESOLUTE. Operation RESOLUTE is the Australian Defence Force's contribution to the Whole-of-Government effort to protect Australia's borders and offshore maritime interests. The Australian Defence Force contributes forces under Operation RESOLUTE, through Joint Task Force 639, to Maritime Border Command. Maritime Border Command is a multi-agency taskforce, within the Australian Border Force, which utilises assets assigned to conduct civil maritime security operations. The Australian Defence Force assets protect Australia's maritime domain from security threats. The 20 Regt, RAA led Task Unit (known as TU639.2.4) consists primarily of members from 20th Regiment (132 Battery and CSS Battery), reinforced by members from 1st Intelligence Battalion, 7th Signals Regiment, 1st Close Health Battalion, 10th Force Support Battalion, 44 Wing (Royal Australian Air Force), and Textron Systems Australia. The Task Unit is commanded and led by 132 Battery; they will receive tasking direct from Maritime Border Command, and work closely with 51st Far North Queensland Regiment as the battlespace owners. This is the first time the Australian Army has deployed a TUAS in support of domestic operations. Operations Support Battery and 132 Battery have done a tremendous job in planning, coordinating and executing all facets of this deployment. True to form, CSS Battery have been nothing shy of brilliant in readying the equipment and enabling 132 Battery to get out the door in very short order. As always, we remain grateful for the continued support and direction of 6 Brigade (and our sister units), Headquarters Forces Command (in particular Aviation Branch), Army Headquarters, and the Joint Airspace Coordination Cell. This has truly

been a joint-team effort. Most importantly, this achievement has been made possible by the countless members who have passed through the Regiment over the years, and those who influence it from afar. A hearty well-done and thank you to all and sundry involved in the RQ-7B Shadow journey. Finally, we remain eternally indebted for the support of family and loved ones. Achieving the mission is our main effort; doing it safely is our number one priority. We know that all members of TU639.2.4 will maintain the highest standards of proficiency, professionalism, and safety. We know you will work as a team. We have every confidence in the Task Unit adding value to the Whole-of-Government Operation RESOLUTE mission, a mission of the highest importance to the Government and People of Australia. Go well — you are making history!

Seek to Strike

WG Cooper, CSC RTB Hay

Lieutenant Colonel Warrant Officer Class One

Commanding Officer Regimental Sergeant Major

15 June 2020 15 June 2020

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FLHA MATTERS The Fort Lytton Historical Association Incorporated was formed in 1992 by members of the Fort Lytton Guides Subcommittee of the Royal Australian Artillery Association (Qld). Members of this Association were the Fort Lytton Volunteer Guides and it was an easy transition from one entity to the other. A Constitution was decided upon and was given approval by The Office of Fair Trading in March 1994. Patron: Colonel Vern Mullins, RFD, ED, (Rtd) President: Dr. Mike McLean, Phone – 0412 572 326 m.mclean@fortlytton.org.au Vice President: Mr Greg Jones, Phone – 0411 037 165 greg070349@gmail.com Immediate Past President: Mr Maurice McGuire, OAM Honorary Secretary: Mr. Don Willsher, Phone 0408 012 689 d.willsher@fortlytton.org.au Honorary Treasurer: Mrs Jo-Ellen Hynard, Phone 0423 695 331 ian-jo@bigpond.net.au Curator: Mr. Ian Wheeler, Phone - 0402 311 340 zuluwheeler79@gmail.com Assistant Secretary: Mr. Harry Lynas - Ph. 0428 334 012 h.lynas@fortlytton.org.au Assistant Treasurer: Mr. Peter Gore – Ph. 0408 073 944 flhaguides@gmail.com Restoration Manager: Mr Bryan Wood Web Manager: Dr. Mike McLean Social Member: Miss Donna Jones Editor of The Custodian: Mr. Harry Lynas - Ph. 0428 334 012 h.lynas@fortlytton.org.au Postal Address: PO Box 293, WYNNUM, QLD 4178 Email Addresses: info@fortlytton.org.au or fortlytton2@gmail.com or flhasec@gmail.com Web Site: http://www.fortlytton.org.au Membership: New Members are most WELCOME. Membership of our Association consists of a $10.00 Joining Fee and $20.00 per annum. If you want to become a Guide you will be outfitted with a uniform, receive training and if not in paid employment you will be eligible for Travel Allowance to and from the Fort. If you do not want to be a Guide there are a variety of other tasks that you could help with, including, but not limited to, manning posts in the Quarantine Station and the Museum, maintenance of exhibits and guns and helping out in the Canteen.

New Members: Since the last publication we welcome Jerry Garcia Newsletter - The Custodian: The Newsletter is free as long as we have your email address. If you require a hard copy there may be a small charge for postage. Any articles for inclusion are most welcome, the Issues are not timed for any particular period, they are usually produced when I have the time. Articles for inclusion should be sent direct to the Editor on h.lynas@fortlytton.org.au Articles can be in either Word or a PDF file and photographs as a Jpeg file please. © Fort Lytton Historical Association 2020 All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior permission of the publishers of this Newsletter. (Evidently this Copyright still gives automatic permission to quote text from any article but if you want to use a complete article you have to obtain permission. All Artillery Associations and affiliated associations are hereby given permission to use any article that they want or indeed send the complete Newsletter on to their members.)

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Fort Lytton Historical Association gratefully acknowledges the assistance of the Lytton Caltex Refinery for their ongoing support and sponsorship.