Australian National Servicemen
Reflections on writing The Chalkies1 Darryl Dymock When I opened my email in Brisbane one August day in 2024 I found this message: ‘Thank you for your application for access to an item held by the National Archives of Australia.The…
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Today (4/4/24) we celebrated the life of fellow Chalkie, Ian Colwell who served in RAAEC in PNG in 1972-3 at Murray and Igam Barracks. He was the last to serve in the Territory as a conscripted 2-year National Serviceman. An…
(This article was first published in VoicePipe, the magazine of the Tingira Association) Last month I attended the annual commemoration organised by Burwood Council at the National Servicemen’s Memorial in Burwood Park. Around 20 persons were present, mostly local politicians…
My uncle served in the 2/33rd Battalion AIF in TPNG in 1943 during World War 11. One of the few things that he told me about that time was the Liberator crash. He produced 3 newspaper cuttings to tell us…
Extract from The Scheyvillian No 1. 2024 Alan David Heynes Pembshaw (with input from William Monfries, RAAEC, Virpi Hatukangas and Tony White, 3/70).Alan was born in Adelaide on 1 March 1950 to William and Averil (Dover) Pembshaw, a brother to…
by Bob Whittaker Editor’s Note: This story is the second extract from the book ‘Jellybeans in the Jungle’ by Bob Whittaker. The first article, ‘Call Up and Rookie Training’ can be viewed by clicking here. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ We boarded the Qantas…
by Bob Whittaker Editor’s Note: This story is an extract from the book ‘Jellybeans in the Jungle’ by Bob Whittaker. On his call up for National Service, as a teacher, Bob could have expected to be sent to Papua New…
by Sgt Kev Horton C Company 1PIR 1971 As I walked through the oppressive heat on the tarmac at Port Moresby Airport, M16 slung over my shoulder, I had no idea that I was about to experience a month that…
Ken Rowe, 1945-2009 March 31, 2009 — 12.00am KEN ROWE, teacher and education researcher, loved to escape to his timber cottage in Marysville in the hills above Melbourne, where king parrots chirped rather than mobile phones. It was where he…
by Sgt Terry Edwinsmith Bellwether, chief, commander, director, foreman, head-most, premier, ruler, senior etc. Leadership is as diverse as the people placed in that position. Some are anointed, promoted or born to that position. Many are conferred this position by…
In war there are no unwounded soldiers, No unsightly wounds to show, No limbs are missing of these men, But inward pain and thoughts crowding on, The mind of ageing veteranswho saw it but have nought to show, Only memories…
Clicking on a photo will display a full sized image of the photo in a new window. These photos are taken from the book ‘Tales from the Sak Sak’ edited by Max Quanchi 005 Off to Brandi beach for body…
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By Sgt Siggy Nowak National Service training commenced, and I walked into Puckapunial as a raw recruit following the completion of my Economics university degree, my Dip Ed and then one year teaching in Shepperton. Following recruit training, I marched…
Introduction Over the duration of “operation skoolim”, the RAAEC regular staff in PNG improved its procedures for recruitment, training, and induction of National Service Instructors deployed to PNG Command. The document which follows was written from Port Moresby and designed…
This page shows various single items that are of interest but could not be displayed elsewhere on the website. Learner’s Permit and provisional licence issued in the 1970’s A newspaper item spread over two images of a football match involving…
1PIR’s BOOMERANG BOY (By Terry Edwinsmith) RSM WO1 Frederick Alexander Wilson ARA 5487 24/06/1924 to 27/03/1968 The book, ‘Boomerang Boy’ tells the compelling story of Taurama Barrack’s RSM, Fred Wilson who died at 1PIR on 27th March 1968 when he…
Clicking on a photo will display a full sized image of the photo in a new window. Broadbeach Bowls Club Southport RSL Kurrawa Surf Club Pacific Fair
Clicking on a photo will display a full sized image of the photo in a new window. The following is a break down of those we expected to attend (Of these, there were a few non-starters): There were 46 former…
National Servicemen’s Day, February 14 each year. This 14th day in February, the 45th day of the year, is remembered for many events. In recent times in Australia, Decimal Currency was introduced with metrics overtaking the Imperial measures from this…
Clicking on a photo will display a full sized image of the photo in a new window. These photos are available, courtesy of Terry Edwinsmith Cessnock Leagues Club Australian Army Infantry Museum, Singleton Potters Brewery Hunter Valley Gardens Final Day…
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by Sgt. Graeme Johnson I was introduced to this pastime by a civvy mate Bob PRINS who was employed by the Administration in the then Department of Ag., Stock & Fisheries in Wewak town centre. He was friends with some…
Clicking on a photo will display a full sized image of the photo in a new window. This gallery shows photos of Papua New Guinea and its people taken by Sgt. Terry Edwinsmith when he served at Taurama Barracks in…
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Clicking on a photo will display a full sized image of the photo in a new window. Editor’s Note: At the end of the display of photos, there is a photo of the Caribou aircraft (taken in 1968) that crashed…
by Capt. John Retallick After attending Bathurst Teachers’ College in 1962-3 I was sent to a one teacher school in a wheat paddock somewhere out west for 2 years. Towards the end of that time I received a call-up notice…
by Sgt Paul Taylor What the heck is a Chalkie? Before I answer this question I would like to take you back to 7th February 1968. Why is this date significant to me? Because it was the first day of…
by Sgt. Maurice Jenner Clicking on a photo will display a full sized image of the photo in a new window.