The Blog that might have been – 70 years on

A mighty humorous show…. awaiting deployment

Posted on July 22, 1943 by felicityh54

TX1004

Sgt Max Hickman

2/33rd Battn

AIF

22nd July 43

Dear Mother & Dad

I’ve had two very interesting letters from you this week. One yesterday and one this morning. The one I got this morning was written on the 19th, so that’s extra good service isn’t it? The election sounds like offering some good contests in Tasmania. You can’t take much notice of what they put over in elections – the catch-cries are always designed to meet the public mind of the moment. The Denison and Bass contests sound like being good fights. It’s surprising the following Gerry Mahoney’s got but I don’t give him a chance against Frank Gaha – I think he’s a ten to one bet – the endorsed man with a big business vote thrown in. Who holds Bass now? – I’m right out of touch these days. I think Mrs Lyons will probably win that seat. That Warner chap – is he a son of the Warner who contested Franklin a few back? Win or lose it’s a great break for him, three months out of the army with all the facilities of peacetime travel. I had no idea that chaps in the services could nominate until I saw Bruce Hamilton was standing and I doubt that I could have nominated as Labor select their nominees six to twelve months before the election.

It was good to note from your second letter that the weather is on the mend. The winter must have been very tough down there. From a weather point of view it’s the best winter I’ve ever spent, although it gets pretty cold at night especially at times like the present when we only carry one blanket – but it’s pleasantly warm by day.

Youngster seems to be having a particularly tough time. I haven’t heard from her for some time now and hope she’s still well. I think the sooner one of you can go over the better. It looks to me as though Fergie won’t leave till you actually get there. If Bill is living on the army rations we had when in those parts he’ll find it’s mighty different to home food or even ship’s food. Still he’ll soon get used to it.

We’ve been on manoeuvres the last few days. The show was based on a town and will be long remembered in bar-room memories for incidents apart from the orthodox training. In keeping with the traditions of the unit, the town was put out of bounds and of course everyone had to go in and find out why, as no official reason had been given. As a result of the unrehearsed invasion quite a number of the chaps spent the night as the guests of the Provosts. The Hon James saw the inside of yet another cell – Syd and I went in but must have been lucky as we never encountered any strife at all. However when the work of the next day had finished the boys decided to give it another flutter and went in teams. They’re not a hard mob to handle normally but if they think anything’s being put over them the sky’s the limit. About nine o’clock that night an officer with a reputation for handling tough shows broke up our game of bridge and roped us in for a picquet job just in case something started. When we arrived at the police station the situation was quiet and we were told off to picquet certain areas. It so happened that two picquet parties converged on one spot at the same time just as the provosts were herding some of our chaps (whose only offence was being there) into their trucks. The chaps started to argue and the provost sergeant had a bit of a lick at us as picquets and the chap he was putting in the pen smacked him. It wagon then in a big way. There were about twenty provosts and in about a quarter of an hour they were all locked in their own trucks and sent back to the police station to the amusement of the townspeople and divvy coppers. It was a mighty humorous show right through though some of the MP’s did get a bit knocked about. During a lull in the show a provost threw a tear gas bomb that spread more among the civvies than us and they beat a retreat with tears streaming down their faces. However the mob came home well pleased with themselves and the battle of ………. will be told and magnified many times when bloodless victories are recounted in the pubs. The old man hasn’t said anything yet about the show but he’ll have to take a dim view of it officially although like Old Hamburger it’ll probably warm the cockles of his heart.

I’m sorry to hear that Mrs Mason is sick again and hope it’s nothing serious. Mick certainly has his share of bad luck as far as sickness is concerned. If you happen to see them, remember me to them will you?

I must close now Mother and Dad, as I want to catch today’s outward mail. Give my love to May, Anne & Carline and best wishes to Laurie and the boys.

Love

Max

PS Jim Mc send his best wishes with a rider – ‘How’s he doing?’

The federal election

It seems Dad’s father might have suggested in correspondence, that Dad should have sought nomination for the Labor Party – and that he might have done so, if he had been aware of the opportunity earlier.

Other posts have noted some of the players mentioned here – in particular Gerald Mahoney and Frank Gaha. Mrs Lyons is Dame Enid Lyons, the widow of former Prime Minister Joseph Lyons who died in office in 1939. In the 1943 election (ie the one referred to in this letter) Mrs Lyons won the seat of Darwin (which has since become Braddon) for the United Australia Party, becoming the first woman to be elected to the House of Representatives. She held the seat until 1951.

On manoeuvres… and/ or in a staging camp?

AWM 071223 : Oonoonba staging camp

The Battalion Diary indicates that the remainder of the battalion (apart from those who had already sailed for New Guinea) were at Oonoonba Staging Camp from July 20 – 22. Oonoonba is now a suburb of Townsville, but at that time was considered to be ‘isolated from the city’ (Wikipedia). The ‘town’ mentioned in this letter seems to be of a bigger size, so possibly Townsville itself (6km from Oonoonba)

The Hon James saw the inside of another cell

Jim McDonnell (TX1024) was always ‘getting into strife’! He’s seen here in an undated photo, seated front left (next to Dad)

Twenty provosts…all locked in their own trucks

It seems incredible that a fracas such as the one described here should have received no coverage in the local press. However the Censors were as concerned about maintaining public confidence in the armed forces as they were about ensuring that no defence-sensitive material was shared. A report of an incident like the one described in this letter would therefore have been subject to serious editing at the very least.

Posted in Australian, organisation, Tasmanian | Tagged provosts, Townsville | Leave a comment

Money to be made by various means

Posted on July 18, 1943 by felicityh54

TX 1004

Sgt Max Hickman

2/33rd Battn

AIF Aust

18th July 1943

Best wishes for a Happy Birthday Mother

Dear Mother & Dad

Just a few lines hoping to find you happy and well as I am at present. I’m in the midst of what must approximate very closely the Tower of Babel at the moment. There’s a bit of a sports meeting on this afternoon and an officer and the RSM are trying to get entries for the various events and although the stakes are good – two bottles of beer for a win and one for second – the mob are rather apathetic to anything involving a big expenditure of energy. They’ve had a tough week and spinal exercise or gambling for the highest possible stakes as a deterrent to the intense heat are more to their liking than running or jumping. Mingling with the sales talk for competitors are the expressions peculiar to the two up ring. There’s plenty of dough about and big bets are being laid. Peter McCowan was in the money a few minutes back but Bull Haigh looks like taking it off him. They got mine early in the piece. There’s several poker and pontoon games on too.

Except for a battalion exercise that lasted all the week there’s not much to write about from this end. The show lasted all the week and was remarkable for the variety in training and every other way. Some of the finest scenery you’d wish to see and some of the barrenest – seemingly endless stretches of long white dusty roads and times of extreme cold at night whilst some days like today were like being back in the real tropics – hot and dry with scarcely even water to slake the thirst.

During the show we passed through the outskirts of a fairly big town and here too we met the extremes in types of people – from a little garden we bought a lettuce – the biggest I’ve ever seen – for threepence. There was enough in it for the whole platoon. In the shopping centre we found we had to deal with people who made the Jews of Tel Aviv look generous – a deener a time for sandwiches and everything else in proportion. Of course I suppose the influence of other nationals was largely responsible. They number their streets and spell steak – stake. It’s practically impossible to get a drink at the pubs because of the big money made by the back door trade. Last night we had a few jugs and saw a picture show – not a bad turnout either. It was my first experience of real open air theatres – although any army shows we see are of necessity open air shows – open air theatres as a permanent institution are a new experience to me. The screen mountings and platform are of concrete, the seating accommodation is quite open whilst the front of the theatre is the same as an ordinary theatre.

I had two letters from Ivy and one from Jack during the week. The youngster seems to be having a tough trot with the baby sick, herself anything but well and all the other troubles of that woman, although her second letter was much more cheerful. Jack seems quite happy in the service but has been in a bit of strife with his car – had a collision with a cow and came off second best.

Well I must say cheerio now. Give my love to May, Anne and Carline and best wishes to Laurie and the boys.

Love

Max

PS Am enclosing a snap Daph Wise sent – she only sent it for me to have a look and return. I forgot to put it in her letter and it might get lost before I write again.

A tough week, a bit of a sports meeting…. or not??

It is possible that Dad’s platoon was involved in exercises with another unit – e.g. the 2/2 Pioneer Battalion seen in this photo (AWM 054433) – but the 2/33 Bn war diary makes no mention of such an exercise.

Photo – from General Vasey’s War by David Horner. There was a weekend of activities for the Seventh Division on July 17/18 , but there is no mention of it in the 2/33 Battalion diary (AWM RCDIG1027241) which focusses on the preparations for embarkation for New Guinea:

Battalion Diary – July 1943

July 11 – Church Parade. 1800hrs Bn receives 3 hour warning notice re Rodeo/ Exercise under Divisional command.

July 12 – Battalion standing by awaiting further orders. 1500hrs Bn leaves camp, proceeds to vicinity Archer’s Creek, bivouac this area night 12/13 July

July 13 – Leaves bivouac area with instructions to proceed to Mt Garnet light enemy opposition en route, outskirts of town secured 1700hrs, activities during night 13/14 consisting of patrol work only (exercise)

July 14 – 0730 Word received exercise over. warned to return to camp. 1400hrs convoy arrives, troops embus and return to Ravenshoe camp, striking of tents and packing gear, loading parties left during night to load at Ravenshoe.

July 15 – 0930 small party leave by train from Ravenshoe. 1230hrs A Coy leave by train for Cairns

July 16 – BHQ u/c Capt Gordon Bennett leave by MT for Innisfail, thence by train to Townsville arriving Oonoomba staging camp 2300hrs

July 17 – BHQ party join main body of Bn which had arrived 0500hrs at adjoining camp

July 19 – A Coy arrive during morning by rail from Cairns (?), reinforcements numbering 79 march in. 1330hrs A, C, D Coys leave for Townsville, embarking on SS Canberra, A Coy on SS Duntroon, arriving Port Moresby 0930hrs 22 July.

July 20 – 22 Remainder of Battalion at Oonoomba camp waiting to embark

July 23 – 0900 BHQ HQ Coy, B Coy, E Coy (reinforcements) leave for Oonoomba station. 1600hrs entrain for wharf embarkation commencing 1040hrs. No of personnel embarked on TSS Katoomba 17 officers, 464 ORs. Total Bn embarkation figures 32 officers 779 ORs

In The Footsoldiers, there is a description of the ‘great spectacle’ of the finals of the Divisional Rugby League competition, won by the 2/33rd team, but this was on the first weekend of July.

Spinal exercise or gambling…the preferred occupations

Although the men are from other units, the preoccupation with Two Up and card games is evident from these photos -‘ two up’ under palm trees (AWM 053422) , card games and ‘spinal exercise’ on board ship between Cairns and Port Moresby (AWM 055175).

A deener a time for sandwiches…the influence of other nationals

Reference to the American servicemen who always had plenty of cash and pushed up prices beyond what Australian men could afford. However, a shilling for a sandwich may have actually been quite reasonable by comparison with Brisbane prices. Here’s an extract from a story in the Brisbane Courier Mail from April 2015 which included recollections by Des McGee who was a boy during the war. I’m sure Dad would have applauded the lad’s enterprise!:

“An American soldier gave Des 10 shillings to go down Racecourse Road to buy some sandwiches,’’ Howard said. “Des came back with the sandwiches which cost four shillings and the Yank told him to keep the change. Des showed enterprise beyond his years and raced back to the shop¸ bought a loaf of bread and a Windsor sausage and made his own pile of sandwiches. He cleared three and a half quid that first day.’’ (http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/opinion/love-of-the-game-when-racing-took-a-back-seat-to-war-effort/news-story/6bae5dc91c491e59152d2068858ba9b5)

Posted in Americans, escapades, relaxation, fun and games, Food and Drink, organisation, Queensland | Tagged Jack Chandler | 1 Comment

Bloody beautiful whiskey and a tough stunt: two letters

Posted on July 10, 1943 by felicityh54

TX 1004

Sgt Max Hickman

2/33rd Battn

AIF Aust

4th July 1943

Dear Mother & Dad

After a full week without any letters it was good to collect three today – yours, youngsters and one from Daph Wise – all very light and cheerful too, although things haven’t improved much for Ivy. She seems to have let herself in for something and apparently it’s no easy job getting accommodation, so she may be tied up for some time.

Tiny seems to be hanging on pretty well – he doesn’t miss many tricks. One of our chaps has just struck a similar break – Sport Muller – he’s had repeated attacks of Malaria and the medical authorities have recommended three months’ treatment in his own state and two months convalescent leave. I’m not sure but I think that’s how it is.

Things in general this end are still reasonably pleasant. The weather continues to be good and the food – whilst of course on stunts the old faithful Bully beast fills all places in the menu – we’ve been getting a reasonable amount of beer but tobacco is very scarce. I’m not smoking at present as it doesn’t worry me but some of the chaps get very mad when they can’t get a smoke. I don’t know where they got it but there was a bottle of Mountain C…. Whisky in the pit the other night – distilled and bottled in Scotland it has that incomparable mellowness that only genuine Scotch has. This particular brand is distilled especially for the tropics and from a label on it, it appears to have come from Singapore or to have been on its way there. I was playing bridge and the RSM called me over to the bar and ordered a couple of whisky’s and he said if that’s not the best whisky you’ve ever tasted I’ll give up. It was too – it was bloody beautiful. Without any breaking down it had the most palatable velvetyness of any drink I’ve ever had. One of the bridge players had to go on duty so Pete McCowan and the other player joined us at the bar and we were lucky enough to get another drink before the bottle was empty. There’s been quite a bit of good grog floating around lately. I was putting a mantle up in the officers mess the other day and the steward told me there’s been some good stuff – champagne and all – coming in. I guess they must have jacked up on (Corio?) and other forms of Methylated spirits.

At a meeting of the mess the other night the RSM proposed making a levy and buying a (wine?) for the chaps who had helped build the cabin. That was of course the privates who had helped with the chimney and roof. The canteen sergeant worked the oracle for the grog and yesterday afternoon for the first time the mess was thrown open to them. The party started off very quietly but after the first couple the tongues loosened up and I think they all enjoyed it. Incidentally Jim Mc and those other fellows I mentioned haven’t gone yet. I don’t think there’s been any developments in the matter at all.

I woke up this morning feeling very satisfied with myself. I’d dreamed I was out of the army for three months and was quite convinced until the bugle brought me back to earth with a crash. For the present, give my love to May, Anne & Carline and best withes to Laurie and the boys.

Love

Max

PS I’m getting the stamps alright – thanks. Max

Whilst on stunts…. bully fills all places in the menu

AWM 027062

Dated October 1942 this photo shows Private R Shimmin (NX44065) of the 2/33rd Battalion ‘starts on his daily ration of bully beef straight out of the tin. Bully, biscuits and water was all the men had for three days. No doubt ‘stunts’ were good preparation.

Good grog flowing in the officers’ mess

AWM photo: MEC0241

May 1943: The morning after sees a nice batch of “dead marines” (empty beer and spirits bottles) outside the Officers’ Mess of a RAAF squadron in Tunisia.

It would seem there was some ‘good grog’ flowing in officers’ messes in other theatres as well!

TX 1004

Sgt Max Hickman

2/33rd Battn AIF

Aust

10th July 1943

Dear Mother & Dad

I received your welcome letter of the fifth today just after we got back from a stunt – a tough show too – one of those mechanised infantry turnouts where you do everything automatically – one foot after the other – but of course in retrospect not a bad show. On the way out we passed the crowd that Ray Ross and Geeves went to – they all beamed with satisfaction as we marched by – and the OC also one of our old mob sang out ‘How are you Hick – it’s nice to see you walking about again’. Of course he wouldn’t be rubbing it in much would he – and all the others had a bit of a lick too. Bob Cole got crook a couple of days before the show and at the last minute I had to take over the CSM’s job – just a snack but a new experience for me. During one part of the exercise I passed on information to the platoons on a change of plans. Everyone was all in, and Charlie Mene – that’s the black fellow I’ve often mentioned – a quiet easy going chap – revived the spirits of the mob when he said ‘for Gawd’s sake make up your bloody mind Hickey’ – as though I was running the whole show. The mob laughed for ten minutes and did the job extra well. It was a particularly dry argument all the way, and everyone was thinking in terms of beer on the way back but when we got home there was no beer available and of course immediately a crop of rumours with an accompanying volume of abuse swept the camp. However we survived the ordeal.

As you say, that bloody woman that we hoped would help Ivy has turned out a proper menace and is adding to Youngster’s troubles considerably – and short of having her removed I can’t see her going at all. She’s apparently the type who’ll take everything and give nothing in return. There’s a lot of her type about – I hope the youngster can get rid of her without much trouble.

I’m a bit surprised to hear they’re on Tiny again. They seem to be combing manpower pretty thoroughly these days. Daph Wise mentioned in a letter that Dave Gourlay – Daisy’s husband – was on final leave and expected to be posted up here somewhere. They seem to be catching up with a lot of the base wallopers. It’s not before its time either, that they let some of the old hands go back for a spell. Still I didn’t think they’d swing on Tiny again. The old Colonel can’t have the influence he used to have.

Although there’s plenty doing here – in fact I don’t remember the time when we were kept as consistently busy, out of action – there’s really nothing I can write about. We’ve got a new CO. He’s not new to the unit because he’s been with us ever since he was a Lieut but he’s a ball of energy and keeps us going.

I must say cheerio now. Give my love to May, Anne & Carline and best wishes to Laurie and the boys. Love – Max

PS Jim McDonnell wishes to be remembered to you.

The crowd Ray Ross and Geeves went to

Claude Geeves (TX 1134) and Ray Ross (QX1146) transferred to the 7th Division Carrier Group mentioned in my previous post.

Photo – ‘one foot after another’ – from The Footsoldiers : Exercises along the railway near Mt Garnet, Atherton Tablelands

A desperate need for both fighting men and domestic workers: no wonder they were ‘onto Tiny again’

Both the armed services and essential industries and services were experiencing a huge demand for labour. Many of the men who had fought in New Guinea were convalescing after repeated bouts of malaria – Cecil (Tiny) Schultz among them. In order to continue to prosecute the war, Australian servicemen were returned to active service repeatedly. For information on the impact of Malaria on the Kokoda campaign, see http://kokoda.commemoration.gov.au/jungle-warfare/malaria-and-dysentery.php and for more on the Manpower regulations, see http://moreeinfo.com/lesson/historys/Wartime%20government%20controls%20194%20to%20199.pdf

His entry on the World War II nominal roll (http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/Veteran.aspx?serviceId=A&veteranId=777982) shows that Tiny was attached to the 2/11 Field Ambulance at the time of his discharge in June 1944. He had been attached to the RAP (Regimental Aid Post) as a member of the 2/31 Battalion in both the Middle East and PNG so perhaps his old CO did in fact help secure a similar post for him.

Posted in Food and Drink, organisation, training | Tagged manpower, Tiny Schultz | Leave a comment

Construction project – a ‘pit’ for the officers – takes precedence over training

Posted on June 27, 1943 by felicityh54

27th June 1943

(not on army-issue paper)

Dear Mother & Dad

Once again having got through with the devil-dodging business I’ll endeavour to catch up with my correspondence although I’m expecting to have to go out on a reccy presently. Still I’ll make the best of the time I have. I received your letter of the 21st yesterday along with one from Ivy and the big envelope with the stripes in: they certainly caused some strife, didn’t they? I had no idea there was any restriction on them but of course it’s quite understandable. Still I’d have done without rather than put the Mater to all that trouble. I’m glad you didn’t send service stripes – I don’t need any of those – but we’re supposed to have stripes on all our shirts as well as the tunic and great coat. Service dress is the recognised winter dress here although the working clothes are the same we have to dress for evening mess and whenever we leave the camp. Ivy’s letter this week was much brighter but she’s certainly let herself in for something.

Jim McDonnell got a letter from his young brother about Thursday saying that Frank had been wounded. It’s nothing much just a shrapnel wound in the foot but if the luck of the Irish sticks to Frank like it does to Jim he’ll probably do alright out of it. I think I told you earlier that the officers were building a log cabin similar to ours. I should have said of course that they were having it built because except for our Lieut none of the officers have done a tap. Jim, Kong Young and Johnny Black have been doing the sides. The job couldn’t have been going fast enough for them because on Tuesday night the boss told me I wouldn’t be going on the three day stunt that started on Wed because he wanted me to get the pit finished. He left me the three that had been working on it and a couple of other chaps and by dinner time yesterday the job was finished except for malthoiding the roof and taking the boxing out of the chimney. Of course when we built our cabin we had to scrimp and scrap for everything we wanted and we had hell’s own job to get a truck to get stuff but anything I wanted for this job I just collected the money from the RQ, got the duty truck and went and got the stuff – no trouble at all. The place looks very well. They’ve lined it out with blankets and furnished it in the manner of a big hotel lounge. Over the blankets the walls are hung with skins with the three shields representing the three CO’s between the furs. The shields are all done in the manner of that drawing that I sent you a snap of from England – Hamburger Bill’s Dill Battalion – except that the representations are different. The second one covers the time when John Corby was CO and where the dill battalion was printed it’s the P & B’s Battalion. The third one deals with the present CO’s time – Alfie’s Wayward Legion’. They’re very well done and would be good to keep after the war. I’d like to have a camera to get some snaps of these huts and their appointments but hardly anybody in the unit has a camera these days and films are hard to get too.

A friend of Syd Black’s invited us to the fourteenth battalion mess last night. It was one of their big shows and we had an extra good time. The fourteenth used to be known as the Ghost Battalion and the chaps were very sore about it but they did such a good job on the range that the name has got a different meaning to them now and their favourite toast is the Ghost Battalion. Jimmy Gordon and a couple of other thirty first blokes were there too.

Well Mother and Dad I’m afraid there’s no other news from this end so I’ll say cheerio. Incidentally they’re waiting for me to go on this reeky. Give my love to May, Anne & Carline and best wishes to Laurie and the boys.

Love

Max

Sergeant’s stripes

I struggle to understand why confirmation of rank wouldn’t be accompanied by the provision of all the necessary additions to a man’s uniform – ie enough sets of stripes for all the issued shirts, coats etc.

All kinds of log cabins in the area

AWM 053750 This image dated July 2 1943 shows a ‘log cabin garage, a motor bike stable’, built on the Atherton Tableland by troops of Headquarters 7th Australian Division.

Malthoiding the roof

The following is an extract from Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bituminous_waterproofing) regarding this waterproof roofing material :

From 1905 to 1988 The Paraffine Paint Co. of San Francisco had Malthoid as a trademark for waterproof and weatherproof building and roofing materials made of paper and felt in whole or in part.^[10] However, it had become well known before that.^[11] ….

Malthoid was once common enough to be used as a generic description of flat roofing material in New Zealand and South Africa (item 26). A description of a New Zealand house built about 1914 says it was, “built of timber framework. covered by sheets of asbestos. The roof was closely timbered, then covered by strips of Malthoid paper. This was then painted with tar and topped off with a sprinkling of sand.“^[14] Railway vehicles in Australia were roofed with Malthoid.^[15] Malthoid is still available for flat roofs and damp courses.^[16]

Lieut-Col Buttrose and his shield

AWM 027039 : Lieutenant Colonel A W Buttrose (with stick) and Major G F Larkin at Menai Papua October 1942.

See post of May 30, 1943 for a picture of the CO’s shield. A photo of the sergeants’ log cabin with the three shields referred to here, outside that cabin, is in the post dated May 23, 1943

It’s strange that Dad refers to Buttrose as the current CO – Major Tom Cotton is shown as Adm Comd of the Battalion in the War Diary for May, and by the end of June he (Cotton) was the CO with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. During their time in Queensland there had certainly been a number of changes in the Battalion and Brigade hierarchy, so perhaps it made sense that NCO’s and ‘other ranks’ only stayed in touch with their immediate superiors and didn’t try to keep tabs on those higher up. This does seem out of character for my father though!

The Ghost Battalion

The AIF’s 21st Brigade (including the 2/14th, the 2/16th and the 2/27th Battalions) was the first to arrive in Papua to reinforce the 39th and 53rd Militia Battalions who were fighting the Japanese along the Kokoda Track. This extract regarding their involvement in the Kokoda campaign is taken from from the Australian War Memorial website (https://www.awm.gov.au/unit/U56057/)

On 13 August 1942, the 2/14th arrived at Port Moresby in Papua, and by 16 August was advancing along the Kokoda Track to confront the rapidly advancing Japanese. The battalion’s first clash with its new enemy took place at Isurava on 26 August. After holding there for three days it was forced to withdraw. For his actions at Isurava, Private Bruce Kingsbury was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. The fighting withdrawal back along the Track was characterised by bitter, desperate fighting, none more so than that which occurred at Mission Ridge between 6 and 8 September. The 2/14th’s ordeal on the Track ended with its relief at Imita Ridge (by 25th Brigade – including 2/33 Bn) on 16 September. By this time the battalion was so weak that it had been amalgamated with the 2/16th to form a composite battalion. After a period of rest and retraining, the 2/14th, once again functioning as a separate battalion, joined the operations at Gona on 26 November. Consisting of only three half-strength companies when it entered the fighting, the 2/14th left Gona, on 8 January 1943, only 21 strong.

For more detailed and personal accounts of the experiences of the men of this battalion, see Andrew James’ book Kokoda Wallaby and Peter Dornan’s The Silent Men.

Posted in Camps and Barracks, Hierarchy, organisation | Leave a comment

My small circle – big camp fires and balancing the books

Posted on June 20, 1943 by felicityh54

20th June 1943

Dear Mother & Dad

Another week has come to an end so I will give you a resume of events in the small circle in which I move. We came back from another week’s manoeuvres yesterday – an entirely different type of stuff to what we’ve been doing lately. The work was rather interesting and the bivouac site particularly pleasant though very cold at night. We had good fires of an evening but in the small hours of the morning the heavy dews made it pretty cold sleeping in the open spaces. There was quite a lot of game there and those interested did a bit of kangaroo and duck shooting. There seem to be hundreds of roos about but as I consider the roo the gamest fighter in the world, whether man or animal, I wouldn’t be in it – although I would have had a go at the ducks. We had a cook attached to us and his rations were sent out each day. We lived quite well.

Twice during the week beer was sent out – a bottle per man – and another day the week’s tobacco ration came and as sergeant it fell to my lot to issue the stuff. When the first lot of beer came a few of the mob still had a few bob and were able to pay for their bottle, the boss and myself making up the balance required. Then came the tobacco issue – 3oz per man with 3 packets of papers between two men and a small percentage had to take cigarettes – ten packets at ninepence halfpenny – and of course nobody had any money to pay for it. On top of this came the second issue of beer and of course that had to go on the slate too. So after we got in yesterday and got paid I had a few hours’ work balancing accounts. It was all the more involved by the fact that the boss’s issue came from the officers’ mess and mine from the pit, and of course everybody had pound notes. There wasn’t even any silver in the canteen so she took some juggling. However eventually everything got straightened out and I balanced the budget within a couple of bob.

Your letter of the fourteenth has just arrived – sorry to hear the Mater has a cold and hope she’s soon well again. With the weather you’ve been having I suppose colds are quite the order of the day. The climate up here is really the best I’ve struck anywhere – just nicely warm all day, a bit too cold at night but it’s good for all that and there’s a limitless supply of dry wood. It’s nothing to see a ton of wood on the fire at a time.

From a platoon point of view a recent development has been little short of a bombshell – a bit of reorganisation puts about ten of the old hands in line for compulsory transfers they come under a class of specialists who come under new status and are outside unit organisation. I’ve no idea when they’re going but in addition to losing ten extra good blokes it’ll wreck the platoon. Among the ten are Jim McDonnell, Bull Black, Bill Collis, Johnny McGrow and Scotty McKen – all of whom are particular friends of mine and have been in the show since the start. However I suppose these things must happen.

As you say the European news is extra good but they don’t seem to be making much headway in the Pacific. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the show in Europe ended early next year and then I guess there’ll be some fireworks in the Pacific.

Well Mother and Dad I’m afraid there’s absolutely no news from this end so with love to May, Anne and Carline – best wishes to Laurie and the boys, I’ll say cheerio. Love – Max.

PS Am enclosing my coupon card and a cutting from Table Tops.

It’s nothing to see a ton of wood on the fire at a time

AWM056817 – men from another battalion training in the same general area – gives an idea of the size of the ‘camp fires’.

The Tobacco issue

image – local tobacco tin from http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-asstd/cigarettes.htm

AWM053777 – a sergeant issues beer and tobacco and keeps tabs – again, this is another unit and clearly in camp rather than on manoeuvres, but gives an insight into the process.

Reorganisation

I can find no mention of redeployment in the service records of the men named here. However, Alan Threlfall offers the following insight –

On 13 February 1943, LHQ notified all formations and units under command that three types of divisions would now exist: armoured, standard infantry and jungle infantry. The first formations to undertake the changes would be the 5th, 6th, 7th and 11th Divisions…..The CGS, General John Northcott, said the new organisation would ensure that ‘all units, sub-units, transport and equipment which are not essential for general operations in jungle conditions have been eliminated from Div organisation’. For the combat arms, the biggest practical changes would occur in the infantry battalions and their primary supporting arm, the artillery. Two of the platoons in the Headquarters Company of an infantry battalion, 2nd (anti-aircraft) and 4th (carriers) were no longer required. A Divisional Carrier Company would be created and carriers allocated as needed. An MMG platoon would be created for each battalion, equipped with four Vickers MMGs and the mortar platoon’s armament would be increased from four to eight 3-inch mortars. This was an attempt to increase the self-sufficiency and firepower of the infantry battalions. These changes would mean a reduction in personnel from the standard war establishment of 910 to approximately 800. (Threlfall – Jungle Warriors – pp 181-182)

William Crooks in The Footsoldiers adds the following: A vast reorganisation of the Army was taking place….. in our Battalion 4 platoon of HQ Company (the carriers) had been disbanded, and in its place a machine gun platoon of four Vickers MGs was organised. Some of the old carrier men either elected or were detailed to go to a carrier company being organised as a divisional unit….In fact almost the whole of HQ company was reorganised and had to set about a complete new training programme. The establishment of an infantry battalion then became 33 officers and 772 other ranks – a reduction of some 60 men on our establishment of late Middle East days…(p255-6)

European news is extra good

This could perhaps have been reports of the ‘dambusters’ bombing raids in the Ruhr valley, or of the growing expectation of an allied invasion of parts of Europe. The invasion of Italy in fact began with the battles for Sicily in July 1943.

Table Tops

This article from the Sydney Morning Herald of May 28 1943 describes the plan for Table Tops – a daily news sheet for the troops

http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/17850412

Posted in Carrier platoon, organisation, The course of the war, training | Tagged reorganisation | Leave a comment

Quite an eventful week in a modest sort of way

Posted on June 13, 1943 by felicityh54

13th June 1943

Dear Mother & Dad

After quite an eventful week in a modest sort of way Sunday strikes a particularly quiet note and having got over the devil-dodging business sleep seems the order of the day – in fact the whole company are either already asleep and snoring or are doing their best to encourage sleep. Your letter of the seventh arrived yesterday along with one from Mick. The cutting you enclosed of Col Clarke’s statement at the RSL dinner was rather interesting – he must have some sons in the chocoe’s. The chorus of remarks that followed when I passed it round the mess would suggest that he get acquainted with the facts. One bloke said they ought to have asked him who stopped the Militia when the Japs arrived in New Guinea – they’d have been a long way south of Hobart if the choc’s had had to stop them.

The weather in Hobart and Melbourne seems particularly bad – in this respect at least we have the wood on you. The climate here is the most pleasant winter climate I’ve struck – a bit cold by night but pleasantly warm by day. Our camp seems to be in a particularly good belt here. At Divvy headquarters it seems to rain all the time. My week down there finished last Tuesday. It was quite a good bludge really, although I couldn’t say so when I wrote from there. I inherited the guard commander’s authority and privileges which meant mounting the guard each night, inspecting them and marching them off to the guard tent and although I spent a pair bit of time at the guard tent I had a car at my disposal all the time and made good use of it. I went to the unit each morning to collect the mail and on Friday night took those not on duty to a concert put on by the sixth div concert party about twelve or fifteen miles away – quite a good show too. Then on Saturday morning I went to a famous though not very publicised waterfall – one of the best I’ve seen – but being so far removed from civilisation isn’t very well known. On Saturday night we went to a nearby township to a picture show – a real good programme too. Then on Monday night I went out to the unit for the official opening of the log cabin by the CO. Beer was plentiful and the ceremony went without a hitch.

Tuesday was our big day – the day we celebrate – and thanks to the adjutant and RSM the mob were relieved from he guard at eleven o’clock in the morning although I had to stay till the new guard took over a bit after four int he afternoon. Still as the sergeants show didn’t start till the evening I didn’t miss much. There was a regimental parade in the morning with an address by the CO, a big spread for midday mess for the chaps – it incorporated the Christmas dinner they didn’t have – poultry, roast pork with apple sauce and vegetables and plum pudding to follow. The afternoon was devoted to sport including the final of the inter-company football (Rugby) in which our company gained a very decisive win after a well contested game. Then in the evening came the grog. The issuing out arrangements were not very satisfactory and put a bit of a damper on an otherwise good day. We had our big mess for dinner at six thirty – an extra good show – the cook absolutely excelled himself and although the meal would have found favour with gastronomic connoisseurs, gluttony was the order of the day. A short digestive lapse after the meal we adjourned to the cabin and settled down to some steady drinking – that got more and more unsteady as the night wore on. One of the blokes put on a bit of an act as we were going home – he fell over and started wrestling with himself, calling out all the time “let me up, let me up” and there was no one within twenty yards of him.

Yesterday morning we had the doubtful honour of a visit from the Minister for the Army. He arrived with retinue of brass heads – Major Generals, Brigs and Gawd knows what – and after shaking hands with all the officers and condescending to speak to a few of the chaps delivered a fifteen minute oration that reeked of electioneering from start to finish. I didn’t like his style at all – a bloke who was a conshie when he could have fought and who before Japan came into the war was one of our bitterest opponents – I mean one of the AIF’s bitterest opponents – ‘five bob a day killers’ – and then comes filling everybody’s pockets up – well he doesn’t cut much ice. He started from the Generals and although at times he got his ranks a bit confused he crawled right down to the privates. Told us nothing we didn’t know and drove away beaming with satisfaction.

Ack Hallam left on Thursday on his way south. He didn’t expect to go for another week but got movement orders that allowed no time to spare. He told me he’d come and see us before he left but sent word that he’d had to go very sudden. Our officer is leaving soon too – he’s been manpowered out by a big industrial show. Lucky bugger. They gave him half an hour to make up his mind and even then the CO practically had to tell him what a bloody fool he was. If they offered me half an hour to make up my mind I’d have twenty nine minutes and fifty nine point something seconds to spare.

Well I’m afraid that’ the Griffin for the week Mother and Dad so with love to May, Anne & Carline and regards to Laurie and the boys I’ll say cheerio.

Love

Max

PS Am enclosing a copy of the anniversary number of the Griffin

PPS Jim McDonnell send his best wishes and in spite of local conditions said to assure you he’s getting his share of nourishment.

PPS Please send me some d…. or whatever those press things are.

Ongoing antagonism towards members of the Militia

It seems Dad and his mates were still completely ignorant of the role that militia battalions in attempting to repulse the Japanese invasion of Papua/ New Guinea. Militia battalions had been at the forefront in the battles for Kokoda, Milne Bay and Gona/ Sanananda. It was not possible to join the AIF until you were 20 years old but you could be conscripted at age 18. This led to much of the bitterness about the term “Chocko” with blokes that were labelled as ‘not willing to fight in the AIF’ but who could not legally join the AIF yet were in uniform, fighting, dying and getting wounded side by side with AIF blokes. (http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-conflicts-periods/ww2/pages-2aif-cmf/militia.htm)

The Sixth Division Concert party

These photos (AWM 054265 and AWM 054266) are dated July 17 1943, and show 7th Division troops enjoying a performance by the 6th Division Concert Party at Mt Garnet, Queensland.

A famous waterfall

The waterfall might have been Millstream Falls – most likely not Tully Falls though these are also in the ‘Camera Views’ fold-out that Dad sent home. This item of mail was clearly approved by the censor (signature bottom left) so it is interesting that after it was sent, the CO issued routine orders specifically forbidding such items being posted as they indicate the area in which the Bn is operating. See Bn Diary – Routine Order for 13 June 1943 (RCDIG1027240) :

Inter-company Fooball (Rugby)

The game depicted here involved another unit (2/5th Battalion) and was later in the year but also on the Atherton tableland – at Wondecla- so the outlook would have been similar.

After the big mess, adjourned to the cabin

AWM 065707

Photo is of an officers’ mess log hut – but I’d like to think Dad’s might have come close in comfort and appointments, especially the fireplace/ chimney! The caption says that all chips, tables and internal fittings which are made from hessian palliases with green trimmings (ends of unserviceable mosquito nets) are the work of unit personnel.

The Minister’s oration reeked of electioneering

A Federal election was scheduled for August, so any politician would naturally be ‘electioneering’. It was true that Frank Forde (who was Deputy PM under John Curtin as well as his Minister for the Army) did not enlist to fight during World War I. He campaigned strongly against conscription during that war. However by the time of the Japanese invasion of PNG he was member for Capricornia in Queensland and very conscious of the threat the Japanese posed to Australia. He became a strong and vocal advocate for both the troops and the leaders of the Australian Army. On several occasions he was also acting Prime Minister. http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/primeministers/forde/before-office.aspx

Posted in Australian, Food and Drink, guard/ picket/ orderly room duty, Queensland, unit and personal diaries | Tagged Ack Hallam, concert party, Frank Forde, log cabin, rugby | Leave a comment

A scrounging expedition with a tragic/ comic ending

Posted on June 6, 1943 by felicityh54

6th June 1943

Dear Mother & Dad

I’m writing from a Guard tent – a very drab and uninspiring place to write letters but as I’ll be here for a few days and the atmosphere the surroundings is not likely to improve I guess I’d better go to work.

Your letter of the 31st arrived on Thursday along with one from the youngster who as you say seems in much better spirits since Fergie announced her intention of coming to Melbourne and that with her interest in the baby seem to be having a good effect. It’ll certainly upset things if Bill doesn’t go away although I fancy Fergie had plenty of places where she could stay. In these days the plans of men and mice get lost in the all absorbing machinery of war. I believe even Eric Kemmins (?) has got his marching orders. There’s a power of competition for the good jobs and whereas formerly any of the three essentials – power of the purse, influence or social standing – was sufficient, one needs all three forces to maintain a soft job these days. I’ll bet the politicians are scratching their heads for new promises to keep them in their jobs. There’s certainly a strong team standing at home. I can’t see Gaha being beat in Denison but the Senate looks a very open go. It looks like the side with the best organisation carrying it – on a straight out vote both McKenna and Dr Hamilton would take seats but on the party vote it’s hard to say though at the present time I’d back Labor.

I was very sorry to read that Geoff and his wife have lost their baby. I don’t suppose you know whether he’s still at home. He had great hopes of getting away but didn’t want to go till after the event. Ray Ross was down at Battalion the other day. He’s still wearing the paternal mantle of importance. His affairs are progressing very well. His wife is out of hospital and the baby is doing alright.

Your mention of Mollie Wilson reminds me that I saw John Smith the other day. He’s attached to a show in this Divvy now. It’s over two years since I last saw him. He looked very well but isn’t too happy in the service, like the rest of the old hands he’s had enough. Ack Hallam has gained his first objective and will be moving south any time now – another of the old mob Jack Reinke has already taken over the CSM’s job.

Work on the log cabin has been going on well. The roof was nearly finished when I left on Wednesday morning so they should be in in the weekend. My fireplace came up quite well. I put in three big concrete pipes to make it draw and am anxious to hear how it goes. The RSM plans a quiet official opening for Monday night in anticipation of a gala night Tuesday – Tuesday the 8th seems to be the day the Battalion recognise as its day, although it was not the day we were formed. That date and the anniversary of the start of the Syrian show are pretty close so it seems we’ve adopted the eighth as our day. They had a bit of a show last year on the 8th but the plans in preparation at present suggest a much bigger turnout this year.

We certainly started something when we started the log cabin. Pretty well every unit in the area is building one or two. Our own officers mess are building or at least having one built. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if I fall for the job when I get back. The building bug is expressing itself in other ways too. The OC of our platoon decided to build a gun park and orderly room and others are following his lead. To further our building schemes we went on the scrounge to a dump in the never never where according to reports some useful material was to be had. The boss borrowed a big FWD truck and away we went. The mob in high spirits had a good sing song on the way. Arrived at the spot indicated and were agreeably surprised with the amount of stuff available and got nearly a truck load. Everything went well except for an accident that though unpleasant at the time to the party concerned was or should I say is funny in retrospect. It was the sort of thing you’d hardly read about and you’d certainly laugh if you saw it in a comic film. We were taking a long roof off a pretty high shed and Ned thought it would be easier to strip the iron from the purlins with the whole roof on the ground. So they prised the rafters on which the purlins and iron were nailed from the template with pinch bars then Jim Mc raised one corner, Viv Abel another and with them gradually working along the template big Kong Young forced the centre up and another party with a long pole exerted pressure from the ground. Eventually they got the roof standing vertically at one edge. At this stage of the game the fellow with the pole was doing most of the balancing with the pole caught under one of the purlins to stop it from slipping. Then Jim & Viv let go and pushed it off the side. You can imagine the momentum that seven or eight hundredweight would gather, well the whole lot caught the log, swinging the bottom end up with a hell of a smack right on the point of the chin of the bloke holding it. It up-ended him very smartly and continued its upward track till released by the roof when it came down with a thud on the back of the head of the prostrate victim. We got him to Battalion as quickly as possible and the RMO sewed him up but his facial beauty is a bit torn about and his head has a few extra bumps but I believe he’s getting on alright.

This guard is the first divvy guard I’ve cracked and although I don’t want the experience again it is quite an experience. There’s quite a good sergeants’ mess here and tobacco is much more plentiful than at Battalion.

I must say cheerio now Mother & Dad. It’s nearly time to mount the guard for the next twenty four hours so cheerio for the present. Give my love to May, Anne and Carline and best wishes to Laurie & the boys.

Love

Max

PS Can you send me a couple of sets of stripes – they can’t be got up here.

PPS Am enclosing a couple more Griffins – I’d like you to keep them for the unit history.

Writing from a guard tent

June 1 entry in Battalion Diary: Battalion supplied 12 personnel for one weeks guard duty at Div HQs

Tasmanian politics

John Gaha, known as Frank, was the member for Hobart in the Tasmanian Legislative Council and the Health Minister in Robert Cosgrove’s Labor government. He was nominated to stand for the Federal seat of Denison in the August 1943 election following the expulsion from the party of Gerald Mahoney (see post of 23 May 1943).

Another of the old mob Jack Reinke now the CSM

Photo: AWM P07568.002

Jack had been a friend of Max’s since the voyage to England in mid 1941. He lost his life in the Liberator disaster.

Pretty well every unit in the area is building one or two…

…from The Footsoldiers : Each company built large mess huts. Although never as elaborate as the famed log-cabin they were much bigger and able to seat 120 or so men. The roofs were of malthoid rolls of which thousands upon thousands of yards must have been used by the Army in the war. ……. Comparing the unit-lines and living-quarters and conditions of a combatant unit of the Australian Army with those of any US Army units either in Australia or in the islands of the Pacific : Where our men made makeshift hessian stretchers, the Americans had issued stretchers or sleeping bags. Where our kitchens, ablutions and toilets and the roofs of mess halls were of sisal craft or malthoid they had professionally built structures with standard walls and roofs of iron or asbestos fibro….

Other units’ efforts

AWM 054966 : Troops of the 8th Australian Motor Ambulance Convoy at work enlarging the men’s mess. Mess is in log cabin style with iron roof.

AWM 052691

Mess Hut being built by troops of the Australian Army Service Corps, 9th Australian Division, at the Atherton Tableland training area. These huts are built of local materials. No nails or screws are used. Every joint is made by lashing members together with ‘lawyer vine’.

AWM 056335

Troops of the 57th battery, 2/7th Australian Field Regiment, having lunch in their thatched mess hut.

Routine Orders: this practice must cease forthwith

This entry in the Battalion Diary (AWM RCDIG 1027240) suggests that ‘scrounging’ wasn’t always at ‘dumps’: Extract from Routine Orders of 13 June 1943 :

DAMAGE TO PROPERTY

(a) Complaints have been received from local inhabitants that their land, fences and buildings have been interfered with by army personnel. In many instances wire has been removed from fences, fence posts used as firewood, doors and roofing material removed from buildings and in some instances buildings completely removed.

(b) This practice must cease forthwith. CO will co-operate by severely punishing any soldier found guilty of damaging or interfering with private or public property. (7 Aust Div RO 55/43)

Posted in escapades, relaxation, fun and games, guard/ picket/ orderly room duty, Tasmanian, unit and personal diaries | Tagged Ack Hallam, Jack Reinke, log cabin, manpower, scrounging | Leave a comment

Fun and Games away from the parade ground

Posted on May 30, 1943 by felicityh54

30 – 5 – 43

Dear Mother & Dad

I’ve got three quarters of an hour before Church Parade so will make a start on my correspondence. There’s a fair bit of it this week too – yours and Youngster’s and one each from Jack, Kath Hyndes and quite an amusing epistle from Daph Wise. The big news of your letter was the manpower call up. From what I saw when I was home it’s not at all surprising that they’re making a comb out. Tasmania is the least war minded of all the states but I can’t see them taking anyone from the cell room especially strippers.

The puncture in Jimmy breaks a long record of good going. Twelve thousand miles without a puncture is extra good – still everything has to have a beginning. I hope you’re able to use the car a bit after registering it. Jack mentioned he’d had a good trip to Mathinna in the beetle – as he calls his egg-beater.

We came back from our week’s concentrated training yesterday afternoon. It had been a particularly good week except that it was mighty cold. Still we did more work and learned more than in a month in unit lines. There’s no doubt when you get away from the boredom and baloney of the parade ground you get better results from the mob. They worked harder both in the day training and night stunts than they ever work on the parade ground and in their spare time a weekend picnic atmosphere obtained. Quite a lot of the old carrier crowd are in this platoon and humour and frivolity were the order of the day. Between Jim McDonnell, Kong Young, Viv Abel, Mick Williams and Ghostly Wright we never stopped laughing. We made use of an old empty house as headquarters. The first two blokes to get in found stretchers and as might be expected Jim Mc was one of the two. The rest of us made beds or slept on the floor according to our energies. I made quite a comfortable cot out of a palliasse and two poles but it had only a short existence as Bull Black and Kong Young – the two biggest men in the platoon – crashed on it in the course of an impromptu wrestling match. I came into camp on Wednesday to collect the tobacco quota for the mob. Tobacco is the most vexed problem we have to contend with. There’s been a famine on ever since we came back from leave and the heavy smokers are feeling it pretty bad. While I was in camp I met Ray Ross – just returned from school. He was beaming with satisfaction and I knew my question was superfluous before I asked how’s things in Brisbane – to which he replied they’re both well and proceeded to tell me the story. The baby – a boy – arrived the day after he got to Brisbane on the way up – arrived a fortnight before time. There’s no doubt about it that’s perfect organisation and co-operation, isn’t it.

We went to work again yesterday afternoon on the log cabin and have got it well on the way to being finished now. My fireplace is coming up extra well but am held up for sand at present. I’m going to pitch the roof as soon as Church Parade’s over and by the end of the week she should be finished. There was rather a caustic comment on the log cabin in this week’s Griffin to the effect that the log construction in rear of the snake pit is not the new corral. The old corral being the historic log boob at Casino – built of rough timber it resembled a big stock yard and at one time twenty percent of the battalion were confined there when the blitz on AWL’s after six days’ leave last year was on. The concerts staged by the inmates were famous for miles around and a couple of their numbers – “Alfie’s Wayward Legion” and “Come and Join Us” are still included in the repertoire at sing songs.

Well I guess I’d better say cheerio now Mother & Dad – they’re calling the markers out so it must be on. Give my love to May, Anne & Carline and regards to Laurie & boys.

Love

Max

PS Jim wished to be remembered. He said he hopes they get the big bloke in.

Manpower call-up

See post of May 7 and this link – https://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/homefront/reserved_occupations/

‘The least war minded of all the states’??

Like most of the population, Dad would have been unaware of the extent of ‘war work’ being undertaken in Tasmania. The booklet Tasmania’s War Effort 1939-1945 published by the state government in 1946 provides a fascinating insight: apart from a huge quantity of food, Tasmanian businesses manufactured optical lenses and prisms and ‘a wide variety of essential requirements from extremely delicate precision equipment to bridging, landing barges, and machine tools’. In his introduction to the booklet, the Premier Robert Cosgrove notes –

Tasmania’s share in the war effort on the home front was a really great achievement. It is likely to be overlooked because much of it had to be done secretly and even out own people do not know the extent to which they helped Australia and the Empire and even the Empire’s allies int he darkest days of the war.

The Zinc Works was a protected industry during the war

http://www.utas.edu.au/library/companion_to_tasmanian_history/E/Electrolytic%20zinc%20works.htm

The Electrolytic Zinc Company was the sole manufacturer of zinc in Australasia. Zinc concentrates produced at Rosebery in Tasmania and at Broken Hill were treated at EZ’s Risdon plant. Apart from zinc itself (an essential constituent of brass used in shell and cartridge cases), the plant produced zinc dust (used in smoke screens for anti-aircraft protection), cadmium and cobalt and the fertiliser superphosphate.

Who were the ‘strippers’? – Zinc concentrate arrived at the wharf, was roasted to remove sulphur, then dissolved in sulphuric acid. An electric current passed through the solution and zinc was deposited on cathodes. ‘Strippers’ stripped off the zinc, which was cast into slabs

A week’s concentrated training – with plenty of time for fun and games

Although a different unit, this was a training exercise in the same area

The nominal roll helps with identification of some of those mentioned : close friends Viv Abel (TX797) and Jim McDonnell (TX1024), Kong Young ((WX185) and Bull Black ((QX2757). Guessing that ‘Mick’ might derive from the initials RC, Mick Williams might be R C Williams (NX25147) but there are no clues to help work out which of the 7 Wrights in the nominal roll might have been known as ‘Ghostly’.

Heavy smokers are feeling it pretty bad

Not only on account of a shortage of tobacco, it would seem: a quote from the Griffin of May 19 – Red sees Red – So acute is the shortage of cigarette papers that a certain Hygiene man is rather concerned over the misappropriation of his toilet paper!

The log cabin

The ‘caustic comment’ fromThe Griffin was :

The very substantial log building under construction in the vicinity of the Sergeants’ Mess is not the new “Corral” as many seem to think but is to be the new “Snake Pit”. Whether it is to keep the snakes in or out we can’t say at present. (ref AWM RCDIG1027240)

The historic log boob at Casino

The description of Lt-Col Buttrose’s shield (The Footsoldiers p 444) includes the following:

Remember the Boob at Casino? … we will always remember the famous choir practices when the one and only Johnny Welsh and his companions made the day interesting and the night hideous with their Clink Concerts. Featured in this quartering is the theme song ‘Come and Join Us, Come and Join Us’. … The barometer …is self explanatory being the all-time high in AWL’s in the battalion’s history. ‘Alfie’s Wayward Legion’, the lower caption, was derived from he fact that Lt-Col Buttrose was known – among other things – as ‘Alfie’ and the ‘Wayward Legion’ is rather obvious when we consider that 243 record.

Posted in Australian, escapades, relaxation, fun and games, training | Tagged Griffin, Jack Chandler, log cabin, Ray Ross, tobacco | Leave a comment

Constructing a log cabin with rock fireplace – interesting work

Posted on May 23, 1943 by felicityh54

23rd May 1943

Dear Mother & Dad

It’s nearly tea time and we’ve just knocked off having worked on a working bee proposition all day, so I’ve got to make the most of every minute between now and lights out because we’re going on a week’s stunt tomorrow and as I’ve got a couple of letters to write and quite a bit of sewing to do will be kept busy for a while.

Your welcome letter arrived yesterday along with one from Ivy and another from Max Phillips. All three very cheerful and interesting. Youngster seems particularly bright and quite pleased with the prospect of Fergie sharing her house.

That cutting you sent is rather interesting isn’t it. I suppose Gerry thinks because he wheedled them before he can do it again but I don’t think he’s got much of a chance this time. His line of talk won’t go down in wartime. Who are Labor endorsing? Frank Gaha was going to stand wasn’t he – but I never heard anything definite.

This week has gone very quickly for us – we’e had quite a variety of work – two or three days making a football field. The army are going in for a lot of sport up here – we’ve got a battalion Rugby team and each company has a team too. It’s about the only thing they can do to keep the mob interested as there’s scarcely any entertainment and no social life at all. Then we put on a demonstration show for old Tom Blamey, Morshead and a few other big shots – a couple of days’ training and the week was gone. And of an evening the sergeants have been working making a log hut near the mess. It took quite a while getting started as everyone thought he knew more about it than anybody else – of about forty sergeants in the battalion, thirty nine wanted to be the architect and quite a lot of officers volunteered advice. However eventually we got it pegged out and the walls are taking shape. We worked on all yesterday afternoon and most of today. I’m putting in a big rock fireplace and I think it’s going to be extra good. The whole thing is the RSM’s idea to have pleasant and comfortable surroundings to drink beer in, when we get the beer during the winter, and although there’s quite a lot of interest being taken in the job, most of the chaps have doubts about our ever getting any benefit from it. Whenever we’ve decided to make ourselves comfortable the powers that disorganise our lives decide we need a change – however it’s interesting work.

Max Phillips wrote quite a cheerful letter. He’s still very enthusiastic. He said he thought he must be camped near us though of course couldn’t state his whereabouts – however as he spoke of beer and towns and things like that I think he must be a long way away from here. Still I’ll drop him a line and we might be able to get together some time.

I don’t know whether you remember Reuben Way. He went away with me in the Anti Tank. He was with our show through Syria and up till Nov 1941 when he transferred back to the thirty second. He came up to see us the other day and gave us some interesting accounts of Alamein. Rub can tell a good tale and make the most common place incident sound well. He had quite a lot to tell us about the other anti tank blokes who went to the thirty second when we were busted up in England.

There was a travelling picture show here on Wednesday night – quite a good turn out – Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in the Story of Vernon and Irene Castle. Although I’d seen the show seven or eight years ago it was worth seeing again and made quite a good break in the routine.

I must say cheerio now Mother & Dad. Give my love to May, Anne and Carline and regards to the troops

Love

Max

We’re going on a week’s stunt tomorrow

The unit diary indicates No. 4 Platoon (Tank/ Attack) leave for 6 days exercise on May 24, so Dad must have been in this platoon.

The 1943 Federal Election: candidates for Denison

“Gerry’ was Gerald Mahoney who had held the seat of Denison from 1934 – 40 for the Labor Party.

I assume the cutting was of this article published on May 17 http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/25948930 which reports on Mahoney’s expulsion from the Labor Party by its state executive. The headline was ‘Mr Mahoney will not be silenced’ and included this quote: Members of the trades union movement and the Labor rank and file should not allow themselves to be pushed back because they did not dine and wine at luxurious hotels and drink their brains out. Mahoney stood as in ‘independent Labor’ candidate and the party endorsed Frank Gaha.

The army are going in for a lot of sport up here

From The Footsoldiers (p254): At this time the Battalion began to take a great interest in sports and passtimes. Football and hockey matches were played and bridge tournaments conducted. The football however treated the greatest interest – so much so that nearly three teams were playing from the battalion….All this was actively encouraged by Major Cotton. This competitive spirit was in a few weeks to see nearly the whole battalion walking miles to watch company, battalion, brigade or divisional matches. They would scream themselves hoarse barracking for their teams.

This interest in sport and football (rugby) in particular is reinforced by perusing copies of the battalion newsletter ‘The Griffin’ which was published ‘nearly every week when out of action’ by the Intelligence Section. Reports of matches are often detailed – almost blow-by-blow descriptions. Copies of The Griffin are included in the Battalion’s official records- e.g. https://www.awm.gov.au/images/collection/bundled/RCDIG1027240.pdf

Part of the editorial in the very first Griffin (March 31 1943) is transcribed here :

Let us make it clear the The Griffin is written by nobody in particular for nobody in particular, but hoped eventually to be part of the Battalion, as regular as Reveille, as typical of the Battalion as its colour patch and what it now stands for, and as much looked forward to as news from home. We hope also that The Griffin will find its way back to those at home to tell them of the daily life and happenings amounts us when we are away. Therefore to make it interesting reading for mothers, wives and sweethearts, you can help us by contributing anything at all towards it, such as articles, jokes etc. Only have patience, give us a fair go when sorting out what can be used of the material sent in. We count you in on this and in anticipation of your cooperation and support, Thank You.

A demonstration show for the brass

The Unit Diary records that General Sir Thomas Blamey visited the camp on May 20 and inspected anti-tank demonstration.

The log cabin

Bill Crooks (author of The Footsoldiers) was clearly impressed by the log cabin and in particular, the fireplace:

The sergeants really became active and on days off over a period of two months built a tremendous log cabin hut. It was 50 feet long and 18 feet wide. The trees used for it were ten inches in diameter and the gaps were caulked with mud and cement. Inside the cabin a six-foot high by eight-feet wide creek-stone fireplace was erected…..Max Hickman, a builder from way back, supervised the construction. Such was their spirit that on returning from a 30 or 40 mile, four or five days’ exercise the warrant officers and sergeants would set to and do some more work on the place to the accompanying cries and catcalls of the men of the battalion.

The author revisited the old camp site in 1965 and…. the large stone fireplace of the mess was still standing in that almost silent bush…. (The Footsoldiers p 256)

Photo – the Sergeants’ Mess log cabin – photo P S Curry NX 32658

A travelling picture show

AWM P01297.009

Mobile Cinema Unit 6 (Q) operated by the State Welfare Institute, Australian Comforts Fund with open-air screen

Posted in Camps and Barracks, organisation, Tasmanian, training | Tagged exercises, Reuben Way, sport, The Griffin | Leave a comment

Three years since leaving Sydney – seems more like twenty

Posted on May 7, 1943 by felicityh54

TX 1004

Sgt Max Hickman

2/33rd Battn AIF

7 May 43

Dear Mother & Dad

Your welcome letter of the 2nd arrived this morning – quite good delivery, isn’t it? That break in the weather at home sounds as though we just got away in time. It was really amazing the wonderful run of weather we got while we were home. You must have had a similar break to Melbourne for it was absolutely bleak there – mother probably remembers the park opposite that big place in Dryburgh Street – that’s where we were camped or at least where we spent a few hours each day. The wind there would chop you right through – we had to wear great coats all the time. The youngster got a hell of a cold out of it. Those flaming ant rims (?) are still giving her a lot of trouble and I guess with Bill going away it won’t be possible for her to come over to Hobart. The young bloke seems a full time proposition and Ivy’s certainly a good mother.

You know that bloke I told you was a wizard well I think he’s worked the oracle again. There hasn’t been a word said to him yet and other blokes have gone for a row of sixes – nice going wasn’t it – to quote old Ernie McGoldrick – the bigger the bastard the better the luck – but I think nearly everyone will be pleased if he gets away with it.

As you say our stay in Melbourne was extra good – although I would sooner have spent the time at home – the break there softened the blow of having to come back when we did. Except for the days we didn’t get leave and the mucking about it was the best time I’ve ever had in Melbourne and our little sessions at the Mitre were among the most pleasant I’ve ever had.

Is Rob Cameron back home or did he take his own car away with him? If he’s back already it’s only been a good trip and a set of tyres these days is comparable to striking Tatts because from what I can hear of it they’re just about unprocurable to civilians – a much greater problem than petrol. If you had to use a car you could put a gas producer on but there’s no substitute for tyres.

You say you think Tiny will shiver himself out of the army dad. I don’t think that’s his idea at all. I think a WO’s job in base for the duration and being on the spot to pick something out afterwards would suit DIck better. There’s some great jobs of that sort if you can land them and Tiny would be better off than in a job, with rationing starting to have real effect on civilians. It’s surprising the number of old hands who are getting out or getting jobs in base shows. Old Ack looks like cracking the jackpot. His knee has been giving him a lot of trouble. He’s got a floating cartilage or something and he expects to get right out and be man powered for essential service in the Railways for the duration. Good luck to him – I hope he cracks it. Incidentally he’s just been made a WO II – CSM of Don Company. Bob Cole has got his WO II through too and old Doc is now WO I and RSM. They’re all out of the old platoon and it’s good to see them getting the breaks. Old Ernie McGoldrick has taken a trick too and got a transfer to a show permanently stationed near Brisbane. Old Mc is one of the old originals too, a good bloke – rough rider in civvy times and just as rough in the army.

They caught up with us in a big way – Viv Abel, Jim and myself all clicked for the guard on Wednesday night and Thursday. It was the first guard Jim and Viv had done since we were in Tripoli Barracks at the end of 1941. It wasn’t bad for Viv being corporal but two on and four off on a very regimental guard wasn’t to Jim’s liking at all. The posts are all crook. There’s no let-up at all – officers floating around all the time and armed parties going by. It’s just one long succession of compliments all day. Except for the ceremonial racket of mounting and dismounting the guards just a snack for the sergeant – you go round the sentries a couple of times, just as a matter of form and turn the guard out for the Trump and orderly officers.

Wednesday was the third anniversary of the day we sailed from Sydney – 5th May 1940. It seems more like twenty years. The Twelfth just put on a big show on Wednesday night. They sailed as a unit so the day is one of regimental importance to them. They barbecued two bullocks whole and according to reports acquired and accumulated tons of beer for the occasion – an all night session. A friend of Jim Glover’s whom I’ve met a few times came up and asked him, Jim McDonnell and myself to go down but of course being on guard eliminated us. But it was probably just as well because we’d have had to do to work next day. There’s a bit of a show on at the pit on Saturday night to commemorate the sailing. The majority of the sergeants sailed in that convoy in various units. I don’t know exactly what’s on except for the formal mess.

You remember the unit I sailed with well the platoon I’m with now are equipped with the weapons we would have used in that unit. They’re keeping us very busy and of course we’re quite interested at present but I suppose the novelty will soon work off.

Well Mother & Dad I’d better finish off. News is not over plentiful in these parts. Give my love to May (I hope to be able to write to her on Sunday), Anne and Carline and best regards to the boys.

Love

Max

Camp near Dryburgh St

This was Camp Royal Park later known as Camp Pell. (see http://www.ozatwar.com/ozatwar/camppell.htm)

Rationing…starting to have real effect on civilians

A short piece on the effects of rationing – http://ergo.slv.vic.gov.au/explore-history/australia-wwii/home-wii/food-shortages-rationing

And images highlighting several aspects of the restrictions:

AWM 136947

The austerity man’s working boot, a standard design produced to conserve leather stocks.

AWM 136764

A woman shop assistant stands behind a counter with a sign reading ‘No matches, no cigarettes, no tobacco’. This is the effect of rationing. Note the empty shelves behind her.

(This reinforces why he said in his letter of March 13 1942 that before leaving New Guinea, Everyone packed their swags hiding as much tobacco as they considered discretion justified. )

AWM 136379

Children with they prams and billy carts lining up at the wood yard to buy their meagre ration of firewood. Note wood being weighed on scales.

Manpower regulations

…in January 1942 a Manpower Directorate was established and took over responsibility for the List of reserved occupations. In March 1942 the list was replaced by a Schedule of reserved occupations and industrial priorities. The Director-General of Manpower was able to exempt any person from service in the armed forces; to declare that industries were “protected” and require that a permit be obtained for any change of employment. From March all labour required by unprotected establishments needed to apply for labour through the National Service offices and all unemployed persons were to register within seven days of becoming unemployed. From the first of April 1942 all engagement of male labour was controlled and a national registration of both male and female labour was completed. The government had the power to say what every man should do whether in the armed services, war industry or civilian industry….. (for more on this see https://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/homefront/reserved_occupations/

To be ‘manpowered out’ of the army, a soldier had to be able to show that he had ‘assured employment’ in a reserved occupation.

You could put a gas producer on

This blog entry provides a fascinating description of how the wartime coal – gas producers for cars actually worked. http://deborah-burrows.blogspot.com.au/2011/10/1940s-charcoal-burning-gas-producing.html

Photo: Hobart at War 1939 – 45 by CJ Dennison (2008)

Army organisation

The Footsoldiers (p253) reports that after the Carrier Platoon’s return from leave, ‘most of them were to transfer to 7th Division Reconnaissance Regiment, there being no longer need for carriers in jungle operations. Each of the platoons was renamed the Machine Gun Platoon and was equipped with four Vickers machine guns, and four jeeps.’ I assume these are the weapons Dad refers to in this letter. Ack Hallam, Bob Cole and Doc (Trenow?) also clearly stayed with the 2/33rd rather than transferring to the Reconnaissance Regiment.

Sailing date – 5th May – of regimental importance for the Twelfth

The 2/12th Battalion AIF was raised in late 1939 and sailed with the same convoy as Dad and his mates of the 1st Anti Tank Regiment. The convoy was diverted from its planned destination of the Middle East to Britain, and all on board spent the latter half of 1940 in England – on Salisbury Plain and then in Colchester barracks. While camped on the plain, some reorganisation of units took place and Dad was reallocated to the 72nd battalion which became the 2/33rd. The sailing from Sydney, while obviously remembered by the ‘originals’ of the 2/33rd, was not as significant in the unit’s history as their first action – on June 8 1941 – the start of the Syria campaign. The 2/12 Bn was also involved in this campaign and in the subsequent campaigns in New Guinea and Borneo.

Posted in Carrier platoon, guard/ picket/ orderly room duty, leave, organisation | Tagged Ack Hallam, DIck Schultz, Ernie McGoldrick, guard duty, rationing | Leave a comment

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The Blog that might have been – 70 years on

A mighty humorous show…. awaiting deployment

Money to be made by various means

Bloody beautiful whiskey and a tough stunt: two letters

Construction project – a ‘pit’ for the officers – takes precedence over training

My small circle – big camp fires and balancing the books

Quite an eventful week in a modest sort of way

A scrounging expedition with a tragic/ comic ending

Fun and Games away from the parade ground

Constructing a log cabin with rock fireplace – interesting work

Three years since leaving Sydney – seems more like twenty

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