Australian National Servicemen
Jim Semple’s Photo Gallery
Clicking on a photo will display a full sized image of the photo in a new window. This gallery will show photos taken by Sgt. Jim (Bill) Semple in 1971/72
Sgt Rod Cassidy’s photos
Clicking on a photo will display a full sized image of the photo in a new window. These photos show activity at 3RTB Singleton, NSW during Recruit Training followed by photos at Moem Barracks, Wewak as well as at Vanimo…
NINGERUM on the OK TEDI
by 2Lt John Stringfellow In June 1967 Delta Company of the 1st Battalion of the Pacific Islands Regiment, under the command of Major Colin Adamson, flew to Ningerum to conduct military training and to win the hearts and minds of…
Kerema to Wau via the Bulldog Track, Nov/Dec 1967
by 2Lt John Stringfellow I was instructed by my company commander, Major Greg Warland, to take my 11th platoon of D Coy, 1st Pacific Islands Regiment from Kerema on the south coast of Papua to Wau in New Guinea via…
Perth Reunion Oct 2016
Clicking on a photo will display a full sized image of the photo in a new window. This gallery of photographs from the Perth Reunion in October 2016 is courtesy of Terry Edwinsmith The Perth Organisers Their wives also played…
Obituary: David Pollack
The following obituary appeared in The Toowoomba Chronicle on the 6th Dec 2015 OBITUARY: Dedicated Teacher loved bush RETIRED teacher David Pollack was described as an absolutely wonderful and caring man, an amazing twin, a devoted brother, a loving husband,…
People of Goroka and Mt Hagen
Clicking on a photo will display a full sized image of the photo in a new window. People of Goroka and Mt Hagen showing the varying types of dress in the Highlands of PNG. Photos courtesy of Sgt Richard Boddington…
Request for use of Photographs – Tristan Moss
Dear PNG Chalkies and other ex-servicemen who served in PNG, I am currently completing my book “Guarding the Periphery: the Australian Army in Papua New Guinea, 1951 – 1975”, which will be published in 2017 with Cambridge University Press. My…
The Chalkies: Educating an army for independence
The Chalkies: Educating an army for independence Darryl R Dymock Publication date: 1 September 2016 Former Chalkie, Darryl Dymock’s book, The Chalkies: Educating an army for independence, will be published on 1st September. The book draws on the recollections of…
Sgt. John Worthington’s photos
Clicking on a photo will display a full sized image of the photo in a new window.
Chalkies’ History Research Update – Feb 2016
by Darryl Dymock, Taurama Barracks 1969-70 It’s been quite a task pulling together the responses to the 2015 Chalkies’ survey, mainly because there was such a great response: 73 in total – and they all (thankfully) had a lot to…
Memorial plaque for Sgt. Donnan on Mt. Wilhelm
Clicking on a photo will display a full sized image of the photo in a new window. Photographs and news clippings courtesy of Sgt. Jim (Bill) Semple This page, dedicated to the memory of Sgt. Donnan, highlights in photos the…
Two experiences of Recruit Training
by WO2 Dan Winkel ENLISTMENT IN THE RAAEC (The Australian Regular Army) I became aware of the RAAEC during my 3 months NS Training. Three years later almost to the day, I found myself in the Office of Capt. George…
Visit to Hula village
Clicking on a photo will display a full sized image of the photo in a new window. Courtesy of Sgt. Bernie Stosic The trip to Hula village (SE of Port Moresby) in October/November 1968 was an “orientation” trip, involving the…
Adelaide Reunion Oct 2015
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Didiman Karkaruk
Didiman Karkaruk * by Sgt. Peter Schroder (1968-69) *Agricultural Officer for chooks, poultry, chickens I started my National Service in January 1968 after completing an Agricultural Science degree at the University of Adelaide. I did my recruit training at Puckapunyal.…
Photos from 1966-67
courtesy of Sgt Neil Gibson Clicking on a photo will display a full sized image of the photo in a new window. Neil was in the first intake of National Servicemen to be posted to TPNG and spent his time…
The Great Debate: Conscription and National Service in Australia 1912-1972
by Terry Edwinsmith Registrants to this conference which was held at the Camberwell RSL, Victoria, on 30th May 2015 were welcomed by Colonel Marcus Fielding (Rtd) in his role as Conference Chair and President of the Military History & Heritage…
History of Conscription – A personal perspective
by WO2 Dan Winkel Very few people in Australia are aware the plan for the Australian Defence Forces as put forward by Lord Kitchener to the Federal Parliament in 1908 envisaged the Australian Military Forces as consisting of two elements.…
Ian Hodder’s Experience
As a graduate of Ballarat Primary Teachers College in Dec 1964 I was “lucky” to be balloted into the 1st Nasho intake of 1965 but was deferred for one year. The army with its usual efficiency managed to delay my…
Presentations from the Brisbane Reunion, Oct 14
The major theme for the annual Brisbane reunion for 2014 was focussed on the experiences from Moem Barracks in Wewak. As a result, the majority of presentations were personal experiences of National Service RAAEC sergeants who spent their time in…
Photos of Taurama, Port Moresby and Tami Islands
Clicking on a photo will display a full sized image of the photo in a new window. This gallery of photos was taken by Sgt. Graham Leader while he was stationed at Taurama Barracks in 1970-71. Tami Islands are situated…
Black and White Photos of TPNG from 1968
Clicking on a photo will display a full sized image of the photo in a new window. This gallery shows black and white photos taken by Sgt. Terry Edwinsmith while he was stationed at Taurama Barracks in 1967-68. Taurama Barracks…
Martin Forbes Photo Gallery
Clicking on a photo will display a full sized image of the photo in a new window. This gallery will show photos taken by Sgt. Martin Forbes while he was stationed at Moem Barrack, Wewak as the didiman in 1973.…
Port Stephens Reunion 9-11 Oct 2014
Clicking on a photo will display a full sized image of the photo in a new window. The reunion, held at Port Stephens over the 3 day period 9-11 Oct, 2014, was jointly organised by Rob Duff and Garry Screen.…
Conscript flies to Vietnam, 47 years late!
by Terry Edwinsmith During the latter half of July and early August 2014, my wife and I were fortunate to travel on a river cruise along the Mekong River which flowed through Vietnam and Cambodia. Our plane from Singapore arrived…
Dan’s TPNG Adventure Tours
by WO2 Dan Winkel (1966-69) Here is a little story of the Charter Flights I organized in TPNG from late 1966 onwards. I was involved in organizing and supervising as many as thirty, one day and weekend excursions to various…
An Immoral Youth Group
by John Ford (1969-70) In 1968/69 and 1969/70 the senior officer of the Education Corp at Taurama Barracks was Captain Wolfgang Flayden. The 1968/69 Chalkies had a troublesome relationship with Capt Flayden whom they referred to as “The Wolf”. Our…
A ‘Chalkie’ Adventure in the Western Highlands
MEETING WITH THE HEWA PEOPLE The Hewa people are an ethno-linguist group living in the remote north-western corner of the Southern Highlands near the junction of the Strickland and Laigaip rivers. Strickland River Valley and the valley of the Hewa…