A Poem by a WW2 Veteran
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…
Nashos
Australian National Servicemen
Category Article
Read MoreA Poem by a WW2 Veteran
Was it only two years’ service?
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…
1971 Intake Advice
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…
Various Items of Interest
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
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…
National Servicemen’s Day
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…
The graduates
This is article is reproduced with the kind permission of author, Mark Dapin. It contains interviews undertaken by Mark of fellow Chalkies Les Rowe, Wayne Bensley, Andrew Remenyi, Ray Nichol, Ray Bassett, Peter Porteous and Chris Poulton.First published in 2014,…
1960s Course for new Corporals
This is an NCO course, with documentation from Col Ron Lange, re-done by Greg Ivey. We are indebted to Col Lange for the material. Greg did a great job with the old file, which was showing it’s age. Quite a…
SURFING – WEWAK STYLE
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…
My Less Than Brilliant Career
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…
Tales of a Chalkie
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…
Life in the CMF 1950’s Style
by Dan Winkel Like all 18 year olds of my generation I had to serve 3 months National Service, compulsory full time service to complete Recruit Training. The initial 3 months were followed by 3 years compulsory part time training…
‘Chalkies’ honoured for their work teaching Papua New Guinean soldiers
____________________________________________________________________ Editor’s Note: This article was copied from the NSW Teachers News website education.nsw.gov.au/news unaltered and in its entirety. We (the Chalkies) sought and received permission to copy the article. We copied it here to acknowledge an important milestone in…
‘Chalkies’ reunite at Australian Army Infantry Museum for new exhibition
____________________________________________________________________ Editor’s Note: This article was copied from the The Singleton Argus unaltered and in its entirety. We (the Chalkies) acknowledge it is the property of the newspaper and will receive no monetary gain in using it. We copied it…
Chris Donnan’s Brothers’ tribute trip to Mt. Wilhelm
by Mark and Frank Donnan 12 August – 17 August 2014 DAY 1 – Flew with my brother Frank from Mascot airport to Cairns, window seat with clear skies and view magnificent, the Great Barrier Reef was a real standout.…
Murray Barracks Civic Action Patrol 1970
by Sgt. John Meyer I was among 30 soldiers sent on a Civic Action Patrol up into the Gulf Area of Papua New Guinea in January/February 1970. Two Landing Barges were sent on the month long assignment to a remote…
The National Service Vocational Training Scheme
Contributions from Sgts. Terry Edwinsmith and Ron Inglis Background Story As part of the 50th anniversary of the University of Queensland’s Alumni Association, Terry Edwinsmith wrote an article on the National Service Vocational Training Scheme of which many National Servicemen…
Tribute to John Angus Martin (1947-1970) a Nasho Chalkie
John was born on 23 June 1947 in country Wauchope, NSW. He was just over 2 and his sister Margaret 13 when their mother was killed outside Wauchope in 1949. His father re-married and John socialised with local school mates…
Article from `G Time (MCG Volunteers’ Newsletter) Nov 2017
This page consists of two articles extracted from other publications. The first is an extract from the `G Time (a newsletter of the tour guides of the Melbourne Cricket Grounds written by an ex-chalkie Sgt. Geoff Piper. The second is…
RAAEC News Letter Vol 15 #2, Aug 1971
Read MoreRAAEC News Letter Vol 15 #2, Aug 1971A TALE OF 5 MARRIED COUPLES IN WEWAK
by John Humphrey After 5 years of deferment, I was in the January, 1970 intake of National Service. We started with 3 months at Puckapunyal, which every guy here can relate to. As part of the interviews that we had…
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…
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…
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.…
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…