Articles
Presented here are articles describing or analysing the activities of Australian servicemen (and their wives) sent to live and work with the indigenous soldiers of Papua New Guinea.
Most of the material relates to the period before PNG Independence but occasionally descriptions of World War 11 campaigns or more recent activities are provided.
Usually, these articles have been published earlier in the Armi Wantoks journal or posted online.
Here, the articles are grouped into different categories: General perspectives, Civic Action Patrols, Personal Memories, Army Bases, Beyond the Bases, PNG Culture, and Activities of the Chalkies.
General Perspectives
- Reflections on writing the Chalkies
- National Servicemen and their memorials
- National Servicemen’s Day
- The Graduates
- 1960s course for new Corporals
- NSW Chalkies honoured by NSW Education
- Newspaper article about the role of Chalkies added to the Australian Army Infantry Museum plus the unveiling of the NSW Teachers Honour board
- RAAEC Newsletter from August 1971 by Sgts Graham Leader, Wayne Wallace and John Moore
- Chalkies’ Histroy Research Update – Feb 2016 by Darryl Dymock
- The Great Debate: Conscription and National Service in Australia 1912 – 1972
- The Role of Igam Barracks at Lae, Papua New Guinea by Ron Inglis (1970-71)
- Program of the Official Opening of Igam Barracks courtesy of Peter Darmody (1967-68)
- The Origins of the RAAEC by Lt. Col. Roger Jones
- The Origins of the ‘Chalkies’ Scheme by Lt. Col. Roger Jones
- Documents from my National Service Days by John Hain
- The History of Conscription – A Personal Perspective by WO2 Dan Winkel
- Professor Kearney discussing the reason for sending National Service teachers to Papua New Guinea
- 40 years on: Reflections on Leadership and Power by Norm Hunter (1967-68)
- Extract of a newspaper article from the “Townsville Herald” in August 1969
- Newspaper photograph of Brigadier Ian Hunter with RAAEC National Service sergeants
- A poem by a WW2 Veteran
- Educator with a sustaining faith
- Lecture given by Tristan Moss as part of his PhD studies
(researching the Army’s involvement in PNG and the region)
Civic Action Patrols
- Murray Barracks Civic Action Patrol 1970 by Sgt John Meyer
- Ningerum on the Ok Tedi (June 1967) by 2Lt. John Stringfellow
- Kerema to Wau via the Bulldog Track, Nov/Dec 1967 by 2Lt. John Stringfellow
- A “Chalkie” Adventure in the Western Highlands – Meeting with the HEWA People by Rod Cassidy and John Humphrey (1970-71)
- Pagwi (on the Sepik River) to Baiyer River by Greg Smith
- Ambunti to Baiyer River Patrol by Sgt. Boyd Robertson (1969-70)
- On Patrol in New Ireland by Kev Horton (1970-71)
- Patrolling Papua: the Army in pre-independence PNG by Terry Edwinsmith (1967-68)
- Patrol from Wanigela to Gurney by Terry Edwinsmith (1967-68)
Didiman Experiences
Personal Memories
- Call up and Rookie Training by Bob Whittaker
- Leadership by Sgt Terry Edwinsmith
- Was it only two years’ service by Sgt Ziggy Nowak
- Surfing Wewak Style by Sgt. Graeme Johnson
- My less than brilliant career by Capt John Retallick
- Tales of a Chalkie by Sgt Paul Taylor
- Life in the CMF 1950’s style by Dan Winkel
- The National Service Vocational Training Scheme
- Tribute to John Angus Martin (1947 – 1970) a Nasho Chalkie
- A tale of 5 Married Couples in Wewak by John Humphrey
- Two experiences of Recruit Training by WO2 Dan Winkel
- Ian Hodder’s Experience (1967-68)
- Presentations from the Brisbane reunion, October 2014
- Dan’s TPNG Adventure Tours by Dan Winkel (1966-69)
- An Immoral Youth Group by John Ford 1969-70
- My story including Goldie River by John Teggelove 1966-67
- Article in Sydney Morning Herald and The Age about some of our experiences in PNG
- Footy jumper mystery at Moem Barracks by Greg Smith (1969-70)
- A Snapshot of the life of a National Serviceman in Pre-independence PNG by Ted Middleton (1969-70)
- “NASHO GONE BAD” – from Conscript to Professional Soldier, and beyond! by Murray Gough (1970-75 and beyond)
- Services General Certificate of Education by Tony Marshall (1970-71)
- Rare RAAEC Conference, Port Moresby, 1968 by Greg Ivey(1969-70) and Russell Jenkin(1967-68)
- The Mildura Dad and his PNG Tribal Godson
- The RSM at Wewak and my Professional Progress in Education by Russell Jenkin (1967-68)
- Chalkies Cargo Cult and the Lottery by John Ford (1969-70)
- Google search reveals NashosPNG website
- Denis Jenkins Recollections
- My National Service Experience by Terry Edwinsmith
- Port Moresby re-visited 2007 by Terry Edwinsmith
- Victorian Nasho, Denis Jenkins writes …
- Memories of a Chalkie by Richard Boddington (1971-72)
- My Chalkie Experience by Lt. John Retallick (1968-68)
- Frank Cordingley’s Experience (1967-68)
- Bird of Paradise by Phil Adam (1969-70)
Army Bases
- 1PIR’s Boomerang Boy by Terry Edwinsmith
- Murray Barracks – ples bilong yumi by Phil Adam (1969-70)
- Singleton Summer 1970 – a poem by Sgt. Ian Ogston whilst a recruit
- Goldie and Beyond by John Morris (1970-71)
- The Military Cadet School (Lae) by Andrew Dalziel (1971-72)
- Goldie was different by Ian Ogston (1970-71)
- Reflections on Goldie River and life by Bill Bailey (1968-69)
Beyond the Bases
- Iduabada Technical College and the RAAEC Circa 1966-73
- Chris Donnan’s Brothers’ Tribute trip to Mt. Wilhelm by Mark and Frank Donnan
- Memorial Plaque for Sgt. Donnan on Mt. Wilhelm (material courtesy of Sgt. Jim (Bill) Semple
- The story of Dan Winkel’s tours (an interview in March 2012)
PNG Culture
- Sepik Cargo Cult 1971 by Rod Cassidy (1971)
- Life as an army wife in Papua New Guinea in 1970-71 by Lindy Horton
- George Tolata is Dead by Ian Ogston
Original Articles from the 1966-1973 era
- 1971 Advice to new Intake courtesy of Sgt. Greg Ivey
- Agriculture in 2PIR by Sgt. Robert Scott
- Extract from the RAAEC Newsletter, August 1971 courtesy of Sgt. Graham Leader
Tristan Moss (researching the army’s educational involvement in PNG)
Activities of the Chalkies
- Article from `G Time (MCG Volunteers’ Newsletter) by Sgt Geoff Fifer
- National Service Reunion in March 2013 published in Tasmania’s ‘On Service’ Page 12 by Terry Edwinsmith
- Ten Year Anniversary of the Chalkies Group by Ian Ogston
- Congratulation to Doc Neeson on his Order of Australia Medal
- Letter from Lt. Col. Roger Jones (ret.) for Reunion 2012
- Web site launch by Frank Cordingley
- A newspaper clipping written by the newspaper reporter Thomas Hukahu that appeared in the September 1st,2011 edition of the Port Moresby ‘The National’ Weekender as a result of the visit to Port Moresby by 3 of the Chalkies group
- Three Chalkies return to PNG in 2011
- Ian Ogston and John Morris reunited
- ANZAC Day 2011
- Terry Edwinsmith and the blog site ‘PNG Attitude’
- 2010 Chalkies Bash
- Current and Original Badge
- Allocation of Chalkies in PNG (1969)
- 2009 Chalkies Bash
Hello Chalkies, I am writing to advise you that the National Servicemen’s Association of Australia, of which I am the National Secretary, is currently undertaking a project to expand the history of National Servicemen who served in TPNG, with particular emphasis on how Australia helped prepare the PIR for its transition to Sovereignty. We are currently completing the section on Nasho RAAMC doctors and RAADC dentists who served in the same locations in TPNG as RAAEC Nasho Teachers. Other corps will be covered in due course.
Perhaps a representative of The Chalkies may join a collaborative meeting to be conducted in Canberra in September, with appropriate reps from the several corps, to develop the concept further. I would appreciate very much if you could provide the name and contact details of someone I can commence a dialogue with.
My contact details are pdnorman1945@gmail.com, mob. 0458 646 594. I am a RAAOC Nasho, posted to Murray Barracks Jan-Mar 1966.
Yours sincerely, Pete Norman