Newsletter 1/1995 April 1995

Fourth Class 1934 E.G. Williams

I have been moved to write of the events (some of them) in my own era at the RMC, 1934-1937. I do this noting that none of my classmates has put pen to paper - or else I have missed them. By a series of vignettes I will try to show some of the humour and tears that were my lot in my first year as a staff cadet at the RMC.

After being collected from Central Station, Sydney, with my luggage, including a cabin trunk and articles of clothing which had been specified by a Captain B.W. Puiver (1916), I arrived at the steps of Duntroon Wing, Victoria Barracks. There I was accosted by two soldierly figures, in khaki drill jackets, trousers, boots, puttees and slouch hats who marched (not walked) in a true military style, arms swinging to the shoulders, head erect, shoulders back. They introduced themselves as Staff Cadets H.E. Gilbert and N.B. Cowper from New Zealand and told me that they had been in camp at Trentham in New Zealand for about a month'.

They took me and my baggage in hand, first to a room on the upper story, then to the Company Commander, Corps of Staff Cadets, Captain Pulver, where I was sworn in, and then to the 'Q' Store where I received large quantities of clothing, arms and equipment. Then it was back to my room where they showed me how to store all that I had just been issued, using RMC regulations to determine how wide folded shirts, singlets and underpants should be in the wardrobe and how to pinch the edge of the counterpane on my bed.

After this we went down to the Cadets' Ante Room and into lunch in the Mess. I found out very speedily at lunch how I would be addressed for the first year, bastard. I didn't really take umbrage at that as I knew I wasn't, but then seniors at the table began asking all sorts of questions, What is Young &Jackson's? What happens ar Stawell? What is thc Jabberwock? Acknowledging that as a Queenslander I didn' know, I was told to find out by dinnertime. The meal itsel was quite pleasant but the seniors intimated that they should never have to ask for anything - we Fourth Class boys were to notice it and pass it without further ado. We did notice that there was a plethora of cheese (Bung-ole) and we were introduced to the queer game of 'Proving the Bung-ole', where one cupped the cheese in the Cheese Dish, flipped it and tried to stab it with the cheese knife. There were, I think, three classes of proved cheese - Bung-ole, 0 Bung-ole and Horrific Bung-ole.

I disremember if we paraded for lunch or dinner - I think that was the next day, but after lunch we were permitted to go to our rooms to put them in inspection order - clothes folded, puttees rolled, boots shined, bed made with pinched edges, rifle cleaned (bolt bright clean and lightly oiled). This took all afternoon - not that I was slow - but it was all so new and different.

1. The other New Zealand members of that Fourth Class were E.W.S. Williams and L.W. Thornton. Ed.

After dinner, where we were again assailed by multifarious questions, had proved the ~ ~ n g - o l e and had answered midday questions, I was told to learn the Jabbenvock and repeat it at breakfast. I don't know where I got hold of a copy of this Lewis Carroll horror, but I did and was prepared, at 'lights out', to recite it and so to sleep.

Or so I thought, but it was not to be, for shortly after 'lights out' the wind blew - the wind being three Third Class cadets in my block who gripped hold of the end of the bed, pulled and lifted it to the vertical. I then got up and pulled the bed into some semblance of order, but that wind was blowing strongly. After the third up-tipping, I was nestling down against the wall and was ordered to make my bed. This was too much for the Second Class sergeant in the next room, who .., told them vely smartly to go hence - or words to that effect!

This really commenced my first year, during which the RSM, WOI A.T. (Dusty) Mortimer [1931-401, taught us the rudiments of individual, platoon and company drill with the aid of ropes long enough to approximate a platoon marching line abreast. Rifle driii in~itidzd the firing of the Feu de joie which was in preparation for the celebration at Centennial Park of the Royal Jubilee of King George V. He also instructed us in the proper manner to give three cheers, surprising the class when he took his cap off to reveal a bald patch; no matter, he was a good man and, like all the Australian Instructional Corps, a good instructor.

We had plenty of ceremonial work that year. In addition to the Corps of Staff Cadets ceremonials in front of the Duntroon Wing Block, with the staff lined up alongside the tennis courts, there was the mounted guard for the visit of HRH, The Duke of Gloucester. This was to be the 'Bumpy Trot' as practised by the Horse Guards. It meant more than that; it meant buffing all steelwork, polishing the saddles and pipe- claying the stitches. In the event, the Police Greys, who were in the procession, moved at a hard gallop, so we had to follow.

One interesting event came out of our preparation for the Duke of Gloucester's visit. We had lances and sabres on charge which had led to much sham fighting between lances and sabres but, horror of horrors, my sabre broke. As we had to do, I put myself on a charge and in due course fronted up to Captain Pulver. I told him that I was sitting on my table practising a point when I overbalanced and broke the sabre. Yes, ye5 StaflCadet Williams, said Captain Pulver, You will pay for the sword. Three days CB. March out!

Another little anecdote that showed we were subject to Old Boys as well as our seniors. The OB said, Bastard, can you run? I replied, Not very fast. He said, Give me your knife (sword) a id you give me the shout, Ready, Set Go and you know what will happen ifyou don't beat me to the end of the verancluh. I beat him.

In our riding training in the mknage, I was quite at home at the walk but, on the order T r r rot, I somehow got on the wrong leg and fell off. At that, our assistant instructor cavalry, WOII A.E. (Bert) Easter [1926-421, made the automatic comment, Who told you to dismount Staff Cadet Williams? I got on and this time stayed on.

I'm afraid I've missed one portion of my first year life and that was the camp at Menangle, for it was there that I had a bad eruption of boils in my crutch and it was then that I met the most unfeeling doctor of all time. Why? Every morning he used to pull the heads off the blasted boils, squeeze them and put boiling water foments on them. After a week of this torture I was sent to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, where they repeated the treatment, except that they didn't pull the heads off the boils, they didn't squeeze them and the foments (to my mind) were only warm.

There was another episode worth recording. It started on the Hockey Field where I collided with a Second Class staff cadet - M.F. Brogan (Yes, the future Sir Mervyn, CGS) and he was knocked out! I was kneeling with my hockey stick on the ground thinking, The poor old fellow is dead, but as he started to come to, I collapsed and on waking up found that I was in Concord Hospital. While there, I borrowed 21- (two shillings) from one of the diggers and had a flutter. Well, that day the 2UE form guide picked the programme and I wound up with fifty pounds [Current value is $2,5761. During my stay there, we were visited by a Hospital Visiting Team which included one young lady who became my girl friend all the time we were in Sydney.

When I returned from Concord 1 was very rich, as normally we only had 716 (seven shillings & sixpence) a week pocket money supplied by our parents. It was also time to go to our Easter Camp at Chowder Bay. This was most enjoyable as it virtually spelled the end of our internship and allowed us to visit the Easter Show with the girl friend and her girl friend, no reveille, no lights out and our own rationing (mostly cream biscuits and tins of canned fruit).

The Rugby season came upon us and we managed to field a team out of the 32 staff cadets. Oftentimes one of the 'past boys' had a run with us. I managed to be chosen as the hooker (Australian term, NOT American) and played all matches although we were well and truly done in the Services match, 28-7, I think. Perhaps the fact that the whole team was down with influenza a fortnight before the match had something to do with the poor result!

One other activity in which I think all Fourth Class had to partake was Squash Racquets. There were three courts and the idea was to go down with one of the senior classes who taught one the game and how essential it was to get out of the way of the ball by directing it to the middle of one's back. A lesson speedily learnt!

I must include at this stage a furore about Fourth Class training. One of the New zealand cadets, my namesake and a good athlete, was virtually run into the ground in the gymnasium one afternoon. If we didn't have footie or hockey practice it was obligatory to go down to the gym and be whipped around with skipping ropes. A big enquiry was held but the Press hadn't found the term 'bastardy' then and two Second Class staff cadets were 'removed'. Our class was pleased to see one of them go.

The next thing that stirs in my memory was the day the New Zealand Army nearly lost their future CGS. It was during a Chemistry period supervised by Professor C.E. (Glum) McKenzie, when we had made (I think) TNT and the Professor was to demonstrate its efficacy. He had an anvil and hit a drop of the TNT with a hammer. Consternation! Staff Cadet L.W. (Bill) Thornton went down with a lump of hammer in his neck. It did miss the jugular, but only just.

I think that the next noteworthy event was the camp at Holsworthy - grooming, watering and feeding the horses and a Musical Ride at the nearby race-course, then to Liverpool Camp for bridging training on the Georges River. This was good fun, particularly the races in the pontoons and making sure we fell in when crossing the bridge.

But came the night when we were told that there was a special test. In fact it was our initiation, which took a long while, so I was glad I was so fit. It causes one to wonder, with both lads and lasses at the 'Clink' now, how much some of the details and words will have had to be altered.

Next was the cavalry trek through the Burragorang Valley before it was flooded. The packed saddle which could easily support one asleep with sabre, rifle bucket etc. etc. made me think how good were the Walers that carried our men in the Sinai in the War of 191 4-1 8. For my sins, our section leader (Second Class) made me cook. Before we left I had packed extra bully beef and such. At one stop, about two days out, we were quartered near a barn on a farm and a nice big black pussy cat had been much in evidence. When I was getting dinner ready he disappeared and the section looked with suspicion on the succulent(?) stew I had prepared. There were some left overs but I had not used the pussy cat. However, having been terminated as cook, next day I was back in the grooming, watering and feeding with my own horse.

After the trek it was Christmas leave, to show myself in my uniform in my home town and to relax - no fourth class training, no military or civil examinations, but much in the way of explanation and description of events to my family.

Having spent his last year as a staff cadet back at Duntroon, Colonel E.G. Williams graduated on I3 December 1937 into Infantry. As the General Staff Officer Grade I (Training) at f1eadquartei-s Southern Command he transferred to the Reserve of Officers on 11 July 1964.

Reunion in New Zealand - Fifty Years On

The Class of 1943 celebrated the 50th Anniversary of their graduation (December 1944) with a New Zealand-based reunion over the period 10- 1 6 March 1995.

Fifteen Australians, including wives, travelled to New Zealand to join eight New Zealanders and their wives at a memorable reunion dinner at the house of Maureen and Ralph Porter in Auckland on 11 March. This was followed, over the next four days, with a tour taking in Hamilton, Rotorua, Taupo and Waitomo, concluding with a farewell dinner in Auckland. A number of Australians extended their visit - some to the South Island and some north to the Bay of Islands.

All the travel arrangements from and to Australia and during the New Zealand tour were arranged by Travel Time NZ, a Hamilton based 'In-Bound Travel Company' owned by L.H. (Laurie) Pilling (1958). This is the fourth reunion which Laurie has handled very successfully.

The RMC Stage I1 Redevelopment

[In Newsletter 211 987 was begun an arrangement with the Commandant to publish a series of articles about changes at the RMC. This is the sixth. Ed.]

The RMC Stage I1 Redevelopment is a major works project designed to enhance the function of the RMC as the Army's premier officer training establishment by providing purpose-designed command, support and logistic facilities for cadets and staff. For this project the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Pub!ic Works on 14 October 1994, approved the allocation of $28m. the bulk of which is to be committed over the next two financial years. The project should be completed by 1997198.

In order of priority, the following are to be constructed: Logistics Complex - This will consist of a new Q Store, Transport Compound, Ration Store and Grounds Maintenance Facility, as well as the ACT Workshop on the existing site. A new Clothing Store will be erected on the old 5 Camp Hospital site. HQ RMC - A two-story building is being erected at the zenith of the new entrance road which, as a result of the realignment of Morshead Drive, will be located mid-way between the Badge Gates and Plant Road. Duntroon Medical Centre - A new kitchen, physiotherapy facility and ward extensions are to be added to the Centre. Military Instruction Block - The existing office accommodation will be refurbished to enable its use as office accommodation for the instructional elements of the Corps of Staff Cadets (CSC). Extensions to Model Rooms and Class Rooms will be built to accommodate the increased cadet

population, together with the complete air-conditioning of the building.

Officers' Mess - Accommodation for 12 living-in officers and a Dining Room are to be built, together with renovations to the kitchen to cater for 100 officers.

Ovals and Sports Pavilion - Resurfacing and remedial drainage of existing ovals is to be completed and new change rooms and ablutions will be constructed. A sports pavilion (adjacent to the Athletics Track) with covered tiered seating, and beneath it change rooms and ablutions, will be provided. The Athletics Track is to be converted to the main sports oval.

Cadets' Mess - The Mess entrance will be altered to provide a stairway from the Trophy Room into the Ante-Room.

Gymnasium - This is to be extended by one additional basketball court. Provision will be made for female and male showers, toilets and change rooms, as well as spectator seating and a weight training room.

Flowing from the relocation of the HQ CSC to the Military Instruction Block, the command and administrative elements of the CSC will be returned to their former location in Building A26, adjacent to the parade ground. The RMC Museum is to be relocated from Building A26 to the current RMC Duty Room. This site has excellent parking and access and there is potential for redevelopment. The success of this move will determine whether there will still be a need for the Duntroon Society to fund a new nlusiax in accordance with the RMC Master Plan. Work began on the project in February 1995.

Fifly years on does not seem so long ago. At Hamilton follo~~ing a Waikato River luncheon cruise cluring the tour. From the left: Mrs McKeon, P.J. Cook, D.O.A. Magee, E.H. Smith, Mrs Magee, Mrs E.H. Smith, Mrs Porter, Mrs Gibson, Mrs Greville, Mrs Trenerry (partly obscured), R.H. Smith, Mrs R.H. Smith, P.J. Greville, T.R. Gibson (partly obscured),

S.R. McKeon, J.B.M. Trenerry & R.K.G. Porter.

First Impressions of the RMC by a Staff Cadet S.J. Hazell

[The article Fourth Class 1934 on the fust page of this issue provides a very interesting comparison of the impressions of two staff cadets reminiscing about similar stages in their lives at the RMC, but separated by 60 years. Ed.]

In the weeks before leaving for the Royal Military College I looked forward to the experience with great expectations. I t was going to be all new and exciting. In 18 months I would be an Army officer - so I resigned from my job as a Western Australian Police Officer and packed, ready to go.

One of the hardest things, and one of the real 'eye openers' of how difficult the next months would be, was saying good- bye to my girlfriend and her son. It made me suddenly think, What have I done? It finally dawned upon me, as I boarded the plane, that 18 months was a long time.

On the flight from Perth to Canberra I continually asked myself the question, Have I done the right thing? My brain said, Yes but my heart said, No. I kept on thinking about the job I had before and what I was leaving behind. It did not make much sense. The first thing I remember when the plane touched down in Canberra was the two stony-faced sergeants looking for their new recruits. No familiar faces were there to greet us and say a cheerful, Hello.

Day One of a whole new career began when we drove through the Gun Gates of the RMC and my stomach churned. We lined up with our bags and were placed in companies and shown our lines - home for the next 18 months. As I opened the door to my room, I remember how empty it felt and how empty it still feels. I t was meant to be my room, but this was not my room. My room in Perth had my pictures, my stereo and a quilt on my bed. It was home. This drab room, with its regulation wardrobe and linen, was never going to be home. This was going to be hard.

Introductions were then carried out with the Commander 36 Section. A nice enough fellow, I thought. I tried to strike up a, pleuserl to meet you conversation with him, just like I w o ~ ~ l d have with one of the sergeants from Wanvick Police Station. Wrong! Huge mistake! Over familiarity was not an accepted practice in the Army. Obviously, this was not the Police Force. I went up to bed that night, after being yelled at by First Class for any and everything, thinking that, This is Crap! I used to be someone people respected and looked up to. That was two days ago. Now I am being treated like dirt. I have to get out of here.

Day Two started with the corporal smashing on my door at 0612 hrs telling me I was late for 0615 hrs reveille. Great! I'm late even i f I'm early. Fifteen minutes to shave, shower, dress and make by bed. Easy, said the Corporal. Not, said Staff Cadet Hazell. I do not know how, but I did it. Not very well, but I did it.

'Issue day today' I thought as I drank my glass of orange juice for breakfast. I started to get a little excited again. I, will get a uniform and start to feel better. We got our unifo6s. It was like Christmas morning again and I started to feel p bit better. I was still having trouble overcoming the feeling of missing my girlfriend and family. Everybody else was so excited and happy. I really felt as if I did not belong. Mayhe I should resign? NO! I started this so I have to finish i t . I t would be weak to resign. NO! I have to keep on.

Day Two finished with the usual yelling and screaming that I'd become almost accustomed to. I still was not sleeping at night. I was spending an hour and a half suppressing the lump in my throat.

Day Three started just as the others and things were moving along more or less smoothly. I had been able to accomplish most tasks in the time allowed and I was finally feeling a bit surer about my decision to join the Army - that was until I spoke to my girlfriend on the telephone for the first time in three days. I broke down and cried. I could not help it. Here I was, an ex-police officer, veteran of 200 kph pursuits, armed offenders and even a riot, crying in a telephone box. This was a joke. I had to get on top of things and take control of my own destiny at the 'College of Knowledge'. I had to believe I was lucky. In 18 months I would be in command of possibly thirty men. I could not go on like this.

All of a sudden I felt better. I did not have that sick feeling in my stomach any more. I started to eat properly and actually began to enjoy the goings on at the RMC. I felt as if I had been carrying this emotional burden on my shoulders and now I had lifted it off. Time to get down to business, to what I want to be - an Army officer. With Initial Continuous Training next and a new attitude and outlook, I will be ready for anything.

Staff Cadet S.J. Hazell joined the RMC in July 1994. This article is about the first three days of his training at the RMC. Graduation for his Class will be in December 1995.

Shorts

At the United States Military Academy at West Point, the rough equivalent of the Duntroon Society is The Association of Graduates (AOG). From time to time in this column, reference has been made to the Elder of the Society. That role is currently held by Major General Sir William Gentry (1919) who was born on 20 February 1899. In the AOG his counterpart is Colonel E. de Treville Ellis who was born on 12 March 1890 and entered the Academy in 19 12.

Colonel D.J. Harris was appointed the DMA of the RMC on 5 December 1994. On graduation from the WRAAC Officer Cadet Scholl she received her commission on 12 December 1975 and in 1978 was allotted to the Australian Intelligence Corps. Before becoming the DMA, Colonel Harris was a member of the staff of the Command & Staff College, Queenscliff.

Major A. (Bill) Harkness (1951), who has been the RMC Archivist since 1984, retired in January 1995. Until a replacement is appointed in the near future, the Assistant Archivist, Mrs Rosemary (Rosie) Ciuffetelli is acting in that position.

The Kathleen Best Memorial Gates were closed at the WRAAC School at Georges Heights, N.S.W. on 5 December 1984 and relocated to the RMC. Here they were restored by the Chief Engineer - A.C.T.. The Gates were re-dedicated on 6 November 1994 and opened by the Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General J.C. Grey (1957) in the presence of fo~mer members of the WRAAC and currently serving members of the Australian Army. More on the history of Colonel Best will appear in the next Newsletter.

. . --. .- I?.:.?. ,

The memorial tublets inscribed ~t.ith the names of the RMC graduates who have died on active service, have been joined by the tabletsj?om the OCS and the OTU. Here at the RMCflagpole

they now stund either side of their comrades in arms.

The Kathleen Best Memorial Gates on Robert Campbell Road at Duntroon. They fiont an area previously occupied by 5 Camp Hospital but now being developed as a garden.

Letters to the Editor From Colonel E.G. Williams

When I read the article in Ne~!slerter 211994 on the Prodigal Sons' Corner [D.C.L. Wilson (1936)l I realized that despite my deplorable writing, I had a small tale to tell to add to that very interesting story. By the way, his Clink name was 'Popeye', but I know not why. In 1937 some bloody mindedness with the GPS required that the RMC team for the Services Rugby match be under 21 years of age, with three exceptions - the Captain, S.T.G. Coleman (1934), the half- back, R.B. Dawson (1935) and the hooker, E.G. Williams (1934). Popeye Wilson was a member of that team.

Towards the end of the second half, the RMC was leading (I don't recall the exact score) but F.G. (Frank) Hassett's (1933) speedy wing work had much to do with it! We were pressing on about the GPS's quarterline and there was a maelstrom or perhaps all the forwards from both teams were in a small space, when suddenly Popeye picked up the ball and, with a perfect drop-kick, sent it through the posts for a beautiful goal.

I do think that this surprise development rather took the spirit out of the GPS team and we ran out winning (again my memory is faulty) by 1 1-3.

In discussion with Popeye, ante bellum, he said he did not know why he did it, but I believe the reason and solution was simply a good Rugby brain!

From Monsignor J. Hoare A Chip off the Old Block

Like most 'old' Duntrooners I was saddened to read in Newsletter 211994, the Obitutree for the famous 1861 Quercus robur, known as 'Fred's Tree'.

Perhaps in anticipation of this happening and, as an old Duntrooner always having what we called a 'wet weather programme', I gathered, back in the 'go's, some choice acorns generated by our 'Fred' and struck them in pots in my Presbytery at Page. They were such perfect specimens that I planted seven of them in the Presbytery grounds in Chewings Street. They all thrived and two of them are 20-25 feet tall.

It may be of interest to note that these oaks 'sired' (or whatever) by the great 'Fred' adorn a property once owned by Major General J.C. Legge, after he retired from being Commandant of the Royal Military College, from 1 June 1920 to 30 July 1922. He had 400 hectares in Weetangera (district) and called it 'Cranleigh Farm'.

[Monsignor John Hoare was Chaplain RC at the Royal Military College Duntroon from 1950 to 1976. He is currently Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Canberra & Goulburn. With this letter he provided a map showing the location of 'Cranleigh Farm' and the trees. Lack of space precludes the inclusion of the map which formed part of an article by Chris Coulthard-Clarke (1968) General Legge at Weetangera, Canberra Historical S o c i e ~ Journal, Series #I9 March 1987. Ed.]

The RMC Rugby Team mentioned in E.G. Williams' letter. Standing,from the left: D.C.L. Wilson (1936), H.G. Bates (1935), E. Logan (1935), E.G. Williams (1934),

N.R. McLeod (1936), R.M. Patterson (1937), & R.T. Eldridge (1937). Sitting: I.A. Murray (1936), G.E Larkin (1935), R.B. Duwson (1935), S.T.G. Coleman (1934),

A.J. Young (1936), F.G. Hassett (1935) & J. Burns (1936). Front: L.A. Kermode (1937) & C.M.I. Pearson (1937).

Monsignor John Hoare with some of Fred's healthy progeny at Puge. A.C.T.

The plaque attached to the fall of St Matthecv's Catholic Church, Page, A.C.T..

The Prodigal Son's Corner

[This is the eighth in the series of personal stories with the theme as set out in Newsletter 211989. Mr D.M. (Don) Swan, whose story this is, entered the RMC on 10 Feb 195 1. Ed.]

In Newsletter 211993 under 'This, That and the Other I wrote a short piece headed by an extract out of a quote from Samuel Johnson in 1778. Every man thinks meanly of himself for not having been a soldier or not having been to sea. In it I mentioned briefly some recollections of four happy years at Duntroon. The Editor suggested that I attempt something more ambitious.

In December 1954 I left Duntroon, a graduate without a commission due to a serious neck injury and the resultant medical downgrading. The best part of four years had been spent expecting to be an infantry officer - the prospect of anything else was depressing. Imagine my surprise to receive, in February 1955, a telegram to the effect, congratulations on your commission in ARA and appointment as udjutant, RAEME Training Centre, Southern Command.

RAEME?? For those, like me, with no interest and little knowledge of this Corps, such a telegram seemed like something of a SNAFU. My strongest recollection of RAEME came from past lectures in Staff Duties & Organisation. All I remember was, when in doubt, add a LAD! Hardly an auspicious start for the tyro adjutant of the RAEME Training Centre.

The officers at the RAEME Training Centre, Bandiana, were kind, we e e I1 - tolerant. The Corps did have some non- technical officers. but none nearlv so-non-technical as I! It was something akin to being an orphan at a father and son dinner. Whilst applying myself diligently to the task in hand I did incur the displeasure of my immediate superiors by applying for every course or transfer mentioned in routine orders.

An application (not recommended by the CO) to transfer to the Australian Intelligence Corps resulted in an interview by an officer from that Corps in a moving car whilst I was running alongside in the unit cross-country race. It was not a long interview. An application to attend an adjutants' course at the School of Tactics and Administration was approved and was passed, but that for a Paratroop course: unfit, not approved; for Mandarin Chinese: pointless, not recommended - anything to escape RAEME and Bandiana! The Army must have been desperate for students of Chinese - I was tested and accepted for the twelve-months course at the RAAF School of Languages, Point Cook, commencing in January 1956. It was not the fondest of farewells from Bandiana.

The RAAF School of Languages was, and perhaps still is, well resourced in every way and a wonderful environment. The RAAF Officers' Mess was pretty good too. The staff at the school were from the Services and from civilian life. Chinese is a tonal language. There must be some tone deaf Chinese - goodness knows how they manage, but manage they must. r despite keeping up with the calligraphy, my inability to express myself tonally meant leaving the course after some eight weeks. Simply speaking more loudly is not a substitute for correct intonations!

From Point Cook I went to Army Headquarters as Assistant Inspector, RAEME. In practice it was really assistant to the Inspector, then Lieutenant Colonel D.V. Goland, OBE. (One of nature's gentlemen whose experiences as a LAD Commander in North Africa, Greece, Crete, New Guinea and Base Workshop commander in Japan are worth a book in their own right.)

Once again, a transfer to Infantry was attempted and, with the support of Colonel Goland, a medical board was finally 'fronted'. With evidence of my playing rugby for the Harlequins (the standard of rugby in Victoria in 1956 was not high), I was deemed fit enough. Ingleburn and 13 National Service Training Battalion beckoned.

With hindsight, one might say that those brief periods of only 13 weeks full-time training did the youth of Australia some good. Illiteracy was recognised and corrected. Health was improved and, to some extent, a sense of cohesion was developed. As a military exercise it was, I believe, next to useless for anything but training officers. After a fairly brief spell at National Service came another posting out of the blue - to Pacific Islands Regiment (PIR), Port Moresby, where I arrived in early 1957.

In those days PIR consisted of four rifle companies and a headquarters company of transport, signals, band, medical orderlies etc, etc. Officers and warrant officers were Australians. The unit was based at Taurama Barracks, then about five miles out of Port Moresby. Two rifle companies were posted for six months at a time to outstations: one at Vanimo, about a two-day walk east of the Dutch border and one on Los Negros in the Admiralty Islands group. With such dispersed sub-units, wireless communications were critically important. It seemed natural, by now, that as the only staff cadet in living memory to fail a signals exam I should be appointed signals officer.

In early 1957 the CO was Major G. O'Day, known, not always affectionately, as GOD. He was succeeded by Lieutenant Colonel L. McGuinn, MC. There were, initially, no farniliar faces in the mess. Over time this changed as more younger officers were posted to the unit. During my less than two years in PNG I was fortunate enough to tour both outstations as a company 21C and developed a healthy respect for the skills of the troops in the field. It was a little different as the OC HQ Coy in Taurama.

Service with PIR had its moments. All postings do, whether civil or military. With little encouragement I would write at more length of this period and my subsequent career. However, it might interest those readers who have persevered thus far, to share my impressions on returning to PNG, 30 years to the week since leaving as a captain who had resigned his commission and was heading south to be discharged in December 1958, four years after graduation.

In May 1988 I joined Humes Limited as chief executive. The company had significant investments off-shore, including one in PNG. In December 1988 the directors met in Port Moresby and a combination of responsibility and curiosity prompted me to attend. Despite the company having as partners both the PNG government and BHP, an entry visa was not as readily obtainable as is the case in many other countries, including those in similar stages of development. This irked a little.

The new (well, sort of new) airport at Port Moresby is not a pretty sight. Naturally much busier than I remembered, but not a DC3 to be seen. I recalled one Saturday afternoon when a guard of honour paraded with the regimental colour on the airstrip for the Chief of the Naval Staff. It was not until a European colour sergeant had twice left the ranks to retrieve his hat and dropped his rifle, that I realised he had enjoyed what i t now known as a long lunch. The troops were, as usual, immaculately turned out and drilled well, but the episode did us little credit. The later altercation with the offender did me even less.

After checking into a hotel, a Sunday afternoon walk around some well remembered landmarks seemed in order. Port Moresby had grown out of sight. Gone was the traffic policeman in his canopied rotunda, immaculate in uniform, belt, beret, long white gauntlets and armed with a shrill whistle. In his place were traffic lights - not all working. Gone was the elegance of what had been a large, louvered Maugham-ish hotel. In its place the ambience of a west Queensland pub on pension day, with a crowd of drinkers on the betel nut footpath, some squatting, some lying. Gone were the grass skirts - in their place shorts and dirty T-shirts. 'Bloody meri' is not only a Rodgers and Hammerstein number.

Walking through the crowd outside the hotel one could sympathise with a European referee leaving the field through an English soccer crowd. The tension could be sensed. A short downhill walk to Ela Beach brought back many memories. A Red Cross Hall was located almost on the beach, somewhat akin to a pavilion in its isolation. With the hall there had been a blood bank and a residential flat occupied by a young Australian nursing sister. That she could then live alone in safety is in strong contrast with current conditions: homes and even single men's quarters are fenced, razor-wired, fitted with alarms and with doors and windows barred. (The sister later married an officer from the PIR).

A little further and I passed the oval, where each Anzac Day saw PIR troop the colour to the strains of the regimental pipe band playing the unit's favourite tune, My Nut Brown Maiden. The first pipe-major had a sense of humour! The sight of a tennis party, all expatriates, seemed like a touch of normalcy. Then, returning to the hotel, it suddenly dawned upon me. The women at tennis were the only white women I had seen - there were none on the streets. During later visits, to Lae as well as Port Moresby, this impression was generally confirmed.

The other side of the coin of course, is the development of essential infrastructure which has occurred since independence. Unfortunately the developments critical to long term economic progress are at risk because of regionalism (at best), tribalism (at worst) and a political ethos which makes Australia's seem almost sophisticated. Unlike other emerging nations of the post-colonial era, PNG lacks a dominant tribe. Australia once filled that vacuum. Over the course of several years (1988-1992) I returned to PNG several times - and each time reflected that governments, like nature, abhor a vacuum. Who will fill the gap?

My last formal association with the Army was a brief stint with the 30th Bn, The NSW Scottish, in 1959-60. A new career coupled with an equally new family and part-time university study terminated that association. A glance at an annual photograph of the officers, formally dressed in kilts etc., might prompt one to think that the Scottish humour was not confined to pipe-majors.

In civilian life I met few graduates professionally - two recent correspondents, Gus Breen (1948) and Jim Black (1948), being the exceptions. That is, until recently. A non- executive director of Humes Ltd., when I joined, was Leith Jarman (1941). Prior to his very distinguished career in business, he had been, at one time, the instructor in Tactics and Administration at the RMC. He did not recall our previous meetings as vividly as I! Our professional association was all too brief - a takeover brought it to an untimely end.

No matter how obviously pointless it is to play the, what if/ game, we all do it at one time or another. There is, of course, no answer to, what i f I 'd not resigned?, but there is a simple answer to the question of what might have happened if I had not gone to the RMC. I would have felt the poorer for it.

The Officer Training Wing within ,the RMC Environment

[An article about the New Courses at the RMC appeared in Newsletter 211 994. These four courses were introduced from the beginning of 1994 and consisted of the Ready Reserve Officer First Appointment Course (RRes FAC), the General Reserve Full Time Commissioning Course (GRes FTCC), the Direct Entry Officer First Appointment Course (DEO FAC) and the Specialist Service Officer First Appointment Course (SSO FAC). That article outlined the rationale for them being conducted at the RMC and some background on each. This article explains how the new courses fit into the RMC environment, together with further information about them. Ed.]

Accommodation and Messing

The courses conducted by the Officer Training Wing (OTW) are accommodated in Anzac Block. This building was refurbished in late 1993 and is capable of housing 100 students. HQ OTW is located centrally in Anzac Block under what was the Sportsman's Bar.

'The old Sportsman's Bar is now a large air-conditioned area in which can be held ceremonies, conferences and functions. The area's only disadvantage is that the corridors of Anzac Block cannot be isolated due to the presence of fire doors. This means that the cadet accommodation cannot be secured and therefore precludes the use of the area by civilians out of working hours.

The officer cadets undertaking the RRes FAC, GRes FTCC and the SSO FAC are members of the Corps of Staff Cadets' Mess. The Officers undertaking the DEO FAC are members of the RMC Officers' Mess. All OTW Course trainees are entitled to use all facilities at the RMC in accordance with their rank and training status.

Integration with the CSC Courses

The RRes FAC officer cadets have the best opportunity to interact with the members of the Corps of Staff Cadets. Their 20-week course at the RMC means that the RRes FAC officer cadets participate in the following activities:

a. The Queen's Birthday parade as the Wallaby Troop, firing 105mm guns from Mount Pleasant,

b. The 1812 Parade as ushers and donation collectors, c. Sport, including Rugby, Australian Rules, Soccer,

Hockey and Golf, and d. The RMC Cross Country Event. Unfortunately the GRes FTCC and SSO FAC officer

cadets (due to the short duration and intensity of their courses) are unable to integrate with the staff cadets outside meal times.

OTW officer cadets are not part of the CSC. They are organised into platoons named after non-RMC graduate generals and eminent persons. This was a conscious decision designed to avoid the perception that the RMC was biased towards its own history to the detriment of the wider Army. It is an important perception, given the RMC's role in graduating officers for all elements of the Australian Army. The platoons are as follows:

a. (General Sir Harry) Chauvel - RRes FAC; b.(Lieutenant General Sir Leslie) Morshead and

(General Sir John) Monash - GRes FTCC and c. (Colonel Sir Edward 'Weary') Dunlop - DEO FAC and

SSO FAC.

Uniforms and Embellishmcnts

The DEOs and officer cadcts of the SSO FAC wcar their nornlal c o ~ p s embellishments whilst training at thc RMC. The GRes and RRes officer cadets wear the slouch hat with the RMC puggaree.

The DEOs wear comn~issioned rank, while cadets training with the OTW wear a stripe on their shoulder slides with the dress of the day. The stripe colours are as follows:

a. RRes FAC - blue, b. GRes FTCC -red. and c. SSO FAC - white The only officer cadets to receive the full officer cadet

uniform entitlement are those undertaking the RRes FAC. This includes all uniforms except the Graduation Ceremonial White Jacket as the officer cadets graduate in winter. Dress of the day for all courses is usually Disruptive Pattern Camouflage Unifonn (DPCU).

Staff and Facility Requirements

The OTW courses have placed a strain on both staff and facilities of the RMC. In 1994, the RMC permanent staff were augmented by six GRes senior non-commissioned officers (SNCO) and one ARA SNCO for the duration of the GRes FTCC.

For the RRes FAC, Captain J.T. Dickson (1985), Regional Universities Regiment of Queensland, and Captain S. Small (1987) and Captain M.J. Harley (l987), both from HQ Training Command, were seconded to the RMC. In addition, three ARA SNCOs (from 1 Recruit Training Battalion, 3 Training Group and 1 Field Hospital) supported the RRes FAC. This made it virtually a self-contained course under the command of Captain C.A. Field (1984).

The DEO FAC and SSO FAC were supported by one SNCO for the period of their Initial Continuous Training at

Conclusion

Majura Field Firing Range. 'The remaining instruction was provided by the permanent OTW and the RMC instn~ctors Oficer Cadet J.L. (Jarrod) Dule (seated), now posted to 819 and staff. This worked well as all courses use the CSC RAR, directs fellow cudetsfrom the 1/93 RRes FAC over an training as the benchmark for their syllabi. 'Therefore, in obstacle at the Leadership Reaction Course at the Mujura many cases, rather than causing an additional workload, the Field Firing Range. OTW courses lead to repeated workloads.

Facilities at the RMC will be modemised in the near future. Presently the audio-visual equipment is being progressively replaced. The OTW students use all the RMC facilities from the Model Rooms through to the Obstacle Course. In addition Moon Base, behind Anzac Block, can be used for lectures and syndicate discussion.

Graduation

Graduation for the DEO and SSO students was a simple ceremony held in the Ante Room of the Corps of Staff Cadets' Mess. The Reviewing Officer in each case was the Commandant RMC, Brigadier S.V.L. Willis (1967). A Graduation Parade was not held for either of these courses.

The GRes FTCC had a full Graduation Parade. Due to the time constraints of the course, they marched only in column of route. The Reviewing Officer for the parade was Mzijor General D.R. Luttrell, AO, RFD, ED, who was the Assistant Chief of the General Staff-Reserves. This was followed by a luncheon in the Corps of Staff Cadets' Mess.

The RRes FAC had a Graduation Parade of similar format to the CSC Graduation. The graduands were able to achieve a drill standard that allowed marching in slow and quick time. The Reviewing Officer for the parade was The Honourable A.R. Bevis, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence. He is also the Federal Member for Brisbane and his electorate encompasses 6th Brigade.

The cadets and officers of the OTW courses have responded well to the RMC environment. They have added another flavour to the history of Duntroon and provided the RMC staff with new challenges. The success of the OTW courses relies on quality candidates and dedicated instructors. Forttlnately the RMC fosters both.

Branch Reports Australian Capital Territory

With the demise of Fred's Tree (see Ne~,sletter 211994) the Branch met for its Autumn luncheon inside the new conservatory at the north west comer of Duntroon House on 7 April 1995. A large number gathered in the well appointed function room for the presentation of Life Membership Certificates. Among the recipients was Major General A.L. Morrison (1945) for his pivotal role in establishing the Duntroon Society and as Member No 1. In addition to those who entered RMC in 1944, three others were granted Life Membership for their very long association with Duntroon and for their continuing support of it and the Society. They were Lieutenant Colonel C.E. O'Callaghan (Sister Cav) who was Matron of the RMC Hospital for two periods, 1953-62 and 1968-70, the Reverend Father J.M. Hoare (see footnote on p. 6 of this Newsletter) and Mr H.V. (Hany) Hutton. The latter was Assistant Instructor Signals from 1948 to 1973, probably a record for a military posting at the College and one which he topped off with a further five years as a civilian laboratory technician until his retirement in 1978.

New South Wales

The annual Graduation Day Buffet Luncheon was held on Tuesday, 13 December 1994 at the Officers' Mess, Victoria

Barracks, Paddington. The Branch Convener, Major General K.W. Latchford (1945), presented Life Membership Certificates to Members who graduated in 1944 and, in accordance with the changed rules, to Members who entered the RMC in 1944. As a first for the NSW Branch, wives of these Members were also invited to attend.

New Zealand

Wellington Sub-branch held its Graduation Day Luncheon on I l December 1994 at the Trentham Officers' Mess. As usual it was well patronised but there remains concern that the younger serving graduates seem not to be attracted to such functions.

Auckland Sub-branch Graduation Night Dinner was held on I3 December 1994. As there is no longer an Army Officers' Mess in that city, the venue was moved to the Remuera Golf Club.

For the fifth year running, golfing Members from Auckland, Wellington and the Bay of Plenty gathered at Taupo for the annual golfing weekend on 24-26 February 1995. Apart from two rounds of golf, there was much socialising - including a barbeque on the Friday evening and a dinner on Saturday night. The Acacia Bay Army Motel provided most of the accommodation.

NZ Branch golfers at Tuupo on 25 February 1995. From the left, buck: C.M. Dixon (1951), T A . Aldridge (1958), M.J. Dudman (19561, Sheena Pilling, B. Meldrum (1956),

B.7: Pounungu (1 943), R.D.P. Hassett (1941), I.J. Duthie (1959), A.C. Hamilton (1950) & R.K.G. Porter (1943). Centre: Doreen Poanungu, Joceylyn Pounanga, Jan Meldrum, Margaret Dudman, Robyn Harker, Judy Aldridge,

Eileen Hamilton & Colleen Ross. Front: June Dixon, Maureen Porter, T A . Harker (1958), Mike Hassett, Judy Burrows, M.J. Ross (1953) & I.H. Burrows (1950).

Queensland Victoria

A black tie dinner was held at the Officers' Mess, Victoria Barracks on 19 October 1994. The guest speaker was the Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General J.C. Grey (1957).

In conjunction with the 1st Division Open Day, Members were guests of the Commander, Major General M.J. Keating (1964) at Enoggera on 25 November 1994. This visit included a most enlightening brief on recent activities, followed by a tour of a number of stands and some 'hands on' weapons familiarisation. After a light lunch an informal AGM was held.

On 24 February 1995, a cocktail party was held at the Officers' Mess, Victoria Barracks.

South Australia

The Graduation Day Luncheon held on Tuesday, 6 December 1994 in the Officers' Mess, Keswick Barracks was well attended by 25 Members. The guest was Air Commodore Ian Ashbrook, Head of the Defence Centre, Adelaide.

With effect from 1 February 1995, all catering in Keswick Barracks has been contracted out to Nationwide Catering Services. It is anticipated that this change could have a significant impact on the cost of the luncheon to Members. It may be necessary to arrange an alternative venue for this function.

Sixty Members and partners joined in a buffet dinner cruise along the Yarra River on 2 March 1995. This was a change from the traditional buffet luncheon normally held at Victoria Barracks on the first Thursday in March. Guests were treated to a most enjoyable evening with the Police and Fire Games activities and Moomba festivities along the river adding to the entertainment. During the cruise Life Membership Certificates were presented to three Members.

While the diners were carousing, the tide in the Yarra fell about one metre - consequently some Members found it difficult to disembark. Confused by this, some became convinced that they had over-indulged!

Corrections The following error appeared in Newsletter 211994.

p.7 Shorts. First para, fifth line. The year of birth should read 1899.

Duntroon Society Office Bearers

Since the publication in Newsletter 111 994 of the complete list of office bearers, the following changes have occurred:

National Secretary

Commanding Officer RMC Training Unit

S.A. Branch Convener

Obituary

Captain M. Schmidt Headquarters Royal Military College Duntroon A.C.T. 2600 (06) 275 9545 (W)

Lieutenant Colonel S.J. Ellis Royal Military College Duntroon A.C.T. 2600 (06) 275 9748 (W)

Colonel N.R. Bergin 500 Portlush Rd. St Georges S.A. 5046 (08) 338 1715 (H)

Since the publication of the last ,lie\c,sletter we have been advised of the deaths of the following:

22 Sep 1994 Colonel P.A. Morecombe (1927) 5 Oct 1994 Brigadier M.J. Ewing

3 Nov 1994 Colonel J.B. Healy (1953) 28 Jan 1995 General Sir Arthur MacDonald (1939) 16 Feb 199.5 Brigadier S.H. Buckler (1936)

We have also received information about the death of Major V.H. Augenson (1920) some time late in 1994. For obvious reasons we are most reluctant to publish details of this nature without some clear confirmation, such as the exact date. A response clarifying this would be much appreciated.

Did You Ever Ski at the RMC Lodge on Mt Ginini?

If you did, you might be interested in a new book. Titled Skis on he Brindabellas, the book is written by Canberra historian and skier Matthew Higgins and a whole section is devoted to the history of the Duntroon Ski Lodge. Matthew searched through the RMC archives and interviewed a number of former ski club supervising officers and staff cadets while writing the book. As well as looking in detail at the RMC's lodge (which was demolished at the end of the 1960's), the book traces the history of the Mt Franklin Chalet and other ski huts in the Brindabellas and evokes the experience of what it was like to be a Brindabella skier. The book is fully illustrated in both black and white and colour. If you would like to obtain a copy of Skis on the Brindabellas, send a cheque for $28 ($25 for the book and $3 for postage) to Matthew Higgins at 99 Duffy Street, Ainslie, A.C.T. 2602. A percentage of the proceeds from the book is being donated to the future conservation of the historic Mt Franklin Chalet, now the oldest surviving club-built ski lodge on the Australian mainland.

Council Column At its meeting at Duntroon on 16 March 1995 Council, in

addition to routine business, dealt with other matters including the following.

St Martin's Church, Duntroon In this column in Newsletter 111994 the discovery of the

link between the RMC and the village of Duntroon near Dunedin in the South Island of New Zealand was described. During the meeting Brigadier G.D. Birch (1957), the New Zealand Branch proxy, formally presented the Duntroon Society, with a painting of St Martin's Chapel. The painting is a gift from St Martin's Congregation and the New Zealand Branch of the Duntroon Society. Council moved to respond by presenting St Martin's Congregation with a print of Duntroon House.

Associate Membership As a means of raising the awareness of the Society within

Duntroon, an additional class of membership was agreed. The Duntroon Society Charter has been amended to include the following provision.

Associate Member. Cadets, military staff and other selected candidares of RMC are granted Associate Membership ~:h i l s t at RMC and for one year after leaving the College.

With the granting of this form of membership it is hoped to attract new and younger members to the,Society.

Alumni Weekend The Chairman proposed that the Society in name, take

over the annual Alumni Weekend activities as a means of raising the profile of the Society throughout the Army. Council strongly endorsed the proposal.

Profile of the Students at the RMC Current Strength (22 April 1995)

CSC (all in Second Class) RRes FAC

Kuwait Malaysia New Zealand Philippines RAAF Singapore Thailand ADFA Graduates ADFA Transfers Married Females Cadets with previous military experience

Alumni 95 Queensland Branch

Saturday, 18 March 1995 marked the fourteenth consecutive reunion of graduates of Australian Army Officer training establishments. In the past, a number of titles have been used to denote this activity but that used here has been decided as the best fitting this significant occasion.

A large number, including graduates of the Officer Cadet School, Portsea, the Officer Training Unit, Scheyville, the WRAAC Officer Cadet School and the Royal Military College, attended to participate in sport or to watch it and to renew the friendships of classmates of bygone days. All games were tenaciously contested with the following results:

Oldies Cadets Rugby

Firsts 20 26 Best Players: Major D.B.F. Harper SIC W.A. Hindmarsh

Seconds 5 25 Thirds 25 5

Australian Rules 42 65

Best Players: Lieutenant S.T. Pritchard SIC M.C. Deccart

Hockey 2 0

Best Players: Major B.J. Reeves SIC A.T. Hall Major R. Chappel SIC N. Piggott

Soccer 0 4

Netball 26 27

Best Players: Lieutenant C.L. Thomas SIC J.E. Monaghan Lieutenant M.J. Campbell SIC C.J. Crombie

Coming Events A.C.T. Branch

September 1995. Combined dinner and lecture, with Professor K.S. Inglis speaking on the 50th Anniversary Pilgrimage to Gallipoli in 1965, when both the unexpected and the unplanned occured. Members who have not yet requested further information about this function, but would like to do so, should contact Lieutenant Colonel John Bullen on (06) 288 7312 (H). Members of other Branches are most welcome.

SeptemberIOctober 1995. Planning for the visit to the Hunter Valley vineyards is becoming firmer and details will be issued in the coming months. N.S.W. Members are urged to forward expressions of interest, without commitment at this stage, to the organiser in the A.C.T. Branch,

Brigadier G.T. Salmon 134 Namatjira Drive Chapman A.C.T. 261 1 Telephone (06) 288 541 4 (H)

N.S.W. Branch

Monday, 12 June 1995. (Queen's Birthday Weekend). The annual buffet and race-day at the AJC's Randwick Racecourse. A.C.T. Members who are interested in attending are requested to contact Brigadier J.G. (Garth) Hughes on (06) 286 2683.

Sunday, 25 June 1995. Winemakers' Luncheon at the Lyrebird Restaurant.

August 1995. Black tie dinner with guest speaker. October 1995. Annual golf match, possibly combined with

a Noosa weekend. November 1995. Enoggera visit and AGM.

South Australia Branch

Thursday, 20 April 1995. Duntroon Society Postal Golf Match at the Royal Adelaide Golf Club.

Tuesday, 5 December 1995. Graduation Luncheon. Venue to be notified.

MarcWApril 1996. Proposed Murray River weekend with Victoria, N.S.W. and A.C.T. Branches.

Victoria Branch

MarchIApril 1996. Weekend on the Murray River, to include wining, dining, a paddle steamer cruise on the P.S. Rothbury; golf and tennis. It is hoped to include the A.C.T., N.S.W. and S.A. Branches in this activity.

RMC Ceremonial Parades

Saturday, 10 June 1995. The Queen's Birthday Parade. Friday, 14 July 1995. The Ready Reserve First

Appointment Course Graduation Parade. Further information can be obtained from the SO3

(Ceremonial), Captain K.W. Scheuermann on (06) 275 9539.

Open Day

Sunday, 8 October 1995. Duntroon House will be open to the public, who are invited to view the house and grounds. Volunteer guides will be available, the Band of the RMC will be in attendance and refreshments will be provided. This is still to be confirmed.

This, That and the Other [In six earlier Newsletters, Major H.B. McKenzie (1933)

contributed photographs and reminiscences. He does so again in this edition, as well as depositing other early RMC photographs in the RMC Archives. Ed.]

The sad reference to Paddy Heffeman in Newsletter 111994 caused me to think back and recall what I could of his time as a staff cadet. In his years from 1925 to 1928, we children were basically in our early teens and, just as the modem teenager follows the Meningas and the Abletts, at Duntroon our sporting heroes were confined to those staff cadets who excelled at football which was, of course, Rugby. Among those who had ardent supporters were Watson (1925), Walters (1924) and Heffeman (1925). There were many others but, without the benefit of television or wireless, a football match at the oval on a cold winter's day allowed us to give vent as we cheered our heroes. I can picture Paddy now as a tall figure wearing a headguard, always in front of a line out and at the head of the charge down the field. It would appear that his post-Duntroon career and life were an accurate follow-on from the qualities he showed as a staff cadet.

Another Link With the Past

On this page is a photograph taken on 10 May 1927. It was sent by Mr T.M. Owen to Major General A.L. Monison (1945) who passed it on to your Editor. Standing on the right are two not yet identified in the accompanying caption. The Archivist and the Editor would appreciate information about their identity. Tom Owen was the first (1930-1939) Registrar of the Canberra University College and was moved to pass on the photograph because there appears in it two who are a significant part of the RMC-Canberra University College connexion, namely Professor Haydon and Dr Allen (sitting on the right).

A Federal Capital Commission had been appointed in the 1920's to oversee the building of Canberra. Among other things, it investigated the need for a university for Canberra and then recommended that one be established. The Government concurred, but provided no funds for it during the 1926-27 financial year. However, the project transfer in 1927 of the Seat of Government from Melbourne to Canberra and a public meeting in 1928 at which a provisional committee was formed to eventually establish a University Association, provided the impetus to create a University College.

The governing council was appointed in January 1930. The Canberra University College began its lectures that year in the Telopea Park Intermediate High School and practical

work in Natural Philosophy was arranged, with the concurrence of the Military Board, at the RMC. Among the lecturers approved for 1930 were:-

English and Latin

French and German

Mathematics

Chemistry 1

Dr L.H. Allen

Professor J.F.M. Haydon

Mr A.D. Gilchrist

Dr C.E. McKenzie

When the RMC moved to Victoria Barracks, Sydney in early 1931, Dr Allen and Professor Haydon became the first two full-time members of the academic staff of the Canberra University College. Thus began a long association of the two ex-RMC academics with that struggling institution. Dr Allen retired in December 1950 and Professor Haydori two years later. The teaching function of the University College continued as the School of General Studies in the new Australian National University, in which the first permanent building fittingly enshrines the memory of these two highly thought of teachers as the Haydon-Allen Building.

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This photograph was taken by Mr L.J. Dwyer on the day of the presentation of the first Colours to the Corps of Staff Cadets. His extensive work in capturing people and events about Duntroon spanned many generalions of staff cadets at least into the 19503.

Back Rowfiom the lefi; Lieutenant R.G.H. Irving (1916), Major J.E. Lee (1912), Captain P.E. MacGillicuddy (1915), Captain A.W. Wardell (1914), Major H Ordish, Major T.E.G. Nugent (Irish Guards-HRH's Staff), Mr A.D. Gilchrist,

Dr C.E. McKenzie, Mr R.A. Arnold, Mr T.A. Sutherland, Mr H.F. Batterbye, ? , ? . Seated: Colonel A.G. Butler, Countess of Cavan, General, The Earl of Cavan, Lieutenant General Sir Harry Chauvel,

HRH The Duke of York, Colonel F.B. Heritage, HRH The Duchess of York, Lieutenant Colonel E.H. Farebrother, Lieutenant Colonel A.L. Ransome, Professor J.F.M. Haydon, Dr L.H. Allen.

Annual Postal Golf Competition

The 'Trophy' has rebounded to New Zealand from Canberra. (Perhaps i t follows Mike Dudman!) Our congratulations go whole-heartedly to the Kiwis but watch out this year.

The Tradition continues (on the eve of the US Masters).

Team event results were:

1st: New Zealand (206) C.M. Dixon (195 1) 39 At Helensville Golf Club J.R. Clarke (1946) 3 7 Friday, 25 November 1994 R.G. Williams (1949) 35 Fine, overcast with light A.C. Hamilton (1950) 3 4 variable winds. Wives of R.K.G. Porter (1943) 3 1 seven Members also B. Meldrum (I 956) 30 played. M.J. Dudman (1 956) (secret)

2nd: Victoria (20 1 ) P. Lawrence 36 At Sorrento Golf Club D.J. Gilroy(1955) 3 6 Friday, 30 September 1994 J. Gilchrist 34 Weather perfect after a A.M. Stove (1960) 33 terrible morning. !5 played, D.M. Butler (1946) 3 1 including wives of five (Club President) Members. J.A. McGreevy (1 948) 3 1

3rd: ACT 'C' (1 97) J.H. Townley (I95 1) 3 5 At Royal Canberra Golf L.G. O'Donnell (1951) 34 Club G.E.A. Turner 34 Monday, 19 December A.L. Morrison (1945) 3 2 1994 T.A. McGee (1958) 3 1 Fine but very hot. A.L. Vickers (1 957) 3 1

R.F. Sutton (1 957) 27

4th: S.A. (194) R.B. Bishop (1961) 39 At Royal Adelaide Golf J.A. Clark (1945) 3 5 Club P.O.G. Forbes 3 4 Thursday, 2 1 April 1994 P.L. Burzacott 3 1 Clear and fine J.E. Duff (1 948) 28 Eight players participated. A.J.B. Forbes (1941) 27

C.B. McAuley 27 Sir Donald Dunstan (1 940) 2 1

5th: N.S.W. (189) R.H. Greville (1973) 37 At Avondale Golf Club G.W. Grimsdale (1956) 34 Saturday, 12 November B.A. Andrews (1941) 3 2 1994 R.S. Fotheringham (1942) 29 Cloudy, but fine. D.A. Spencer (1954) 29

C.C. Saunders (1 965) 28 A.T. Pembroke (1 947) (secret) R.H. Magnussen (1 956) (secret)

6th: A.C.T. 'A' (178) J.M. Church (1946) 3 1 At Royal Canberra Golf J.J. Spring (1943) 30 Club S.S. Agnew 30 Monday, 19 December R.A. Hay (1937) 29 1994 N.P. Farquhar 29 Fine, but very hot. A.J.F. McDonald (1942) 29

J.B. Godwin 22 F.J. Hartridge (1 940) 20

7th: Queensland (173) R.M. Millar (1961) At Royal Queensland I.G. McLellan (195 I ) Golf Club L.R. Greville (1 944) Friday, 4 November 1944 K.R. Hall (1958) Gale force winds. Eleven B.G. Bond (1957) players, including two N.J. McGuire (1950) wives.

8th: A.C.T. 'B' (172) At Royal Canberra Golf Club Monday, 19 December 1994 Fine, but very hot.

Individual scores were: First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth

D.K. Baker (I 95 1) 3 3 R.E. Rooks (1 95 1) 30 D. McDonough 28 J.M. Sanderson (1958) 28 N.L. Horn (1958) 28 I.G. Porteous (1 95 1) 28 B.M. lllingworth (1951) 26

R.B. Bishop (SA) 0.c.b. 39 C.M. Dixon (NZ) 39 R.H. Greville (NSW) 0.c.b. 37 J.R. Clarke (NZ) 37 P. Lawrence (Vic) 0.c.b. 36 D.J. Gilroy (Vic) 3 6

Four Ball Best Ball Scores were: l st: New Zealand (47) C.M. Dixon

A.C. Hamilton

2nd: S.A. (45) P.L. Burzacott P.O.G. Forbes

3rd: Queensland (0.c.b. 42) R.M. Millar B.G. Bond

4th: A.C.T. 'A' (42) A.J.F. McDonald S.S. Agnew

New players are always welcome. If you are interested in joining the Duntroon Society andor playing in this major golf event each year, you should contact one of the following members of the Match Committee;

A.C.T.

Queensland

N.S.W.

New Zealand

S.A.

Victoria

W.A.

A.L.(Alan) Vickers (06) 295 0633(H) (06) 247 4459(W)

J.H. (John) Humphrey (07) 262 4946(H)

B.A. (Bruce) Andrews (02) 349 367 1 (H)

R.K.G. (Ralph) Porter 33 Coldham Cres. St John's Park Auckland 5 New Zealand

J.A. (Alex) Clark (08) 272 5968(H)

A.M. (Tony) Stove (03) 592 6294(W)

C.J. (Colin) Purcell (097) 91 i 530 (FAX)

Congratulations to all participants in 1994. We look forward to continuing The Tradition.