Tracks Magazine - August 1955

A couple of decades ago I was travelling through northern NSW and called in to see Archie McDonald, an old 1 Armoured Regiment LAD mate. Archie had kept his copy of the first issue of the Regiment's glossy magazine, Tracks — August 1955. It is this magazine that is re-produced below

In October, 1954, after many delays in construction and months of waiting, we moved into the new mess — what an improvement on the Old Barn! It is something to be proud of and does befit a Regular Regiment.

Inauguration

To the few drinks we had to celebrate were invited the C.O. and officers of the Regiment, members of the Armoured School and armoured member of 20 Bn. Thus was the Mess well and truly opened.

Later, the official opening night, to which members of other units were invited, proved a great success, not only from the standpoint of the function itself, but from the fact that we could now entertain members from other units, their wives and friends under ideal conditions. This in itself is a good thing and fosters a good spirit between members of other unit messes and ourselves.

There are many things yet required to fully equip the Mess for all functions, and a lot more work to do to give the mess an attractive appearance, both inside and out. Quite a lot has been done, but there is still a lot to be done. It's to be hoped that all members get to and finish the job and don't leave the willing few to do it all.

Friendly Rivalry

The inter-unit games competition (billiards, snooker, table tennis and darts) for the Rozzoli Cup has been a great success and has done much to foster the good spirit that is so essential to the function of the Mess, and congratulations go to Lieut. Rozzoli (then W02 Rozzoli) for being the originator of the games and cup. We have met many members of other messes who may never have visited our Mess had it not been for the games. Once again, though, we need the support of all members, particularly when playing a home game.

The finals, which were played between 20 N.S. Bn. and 1 Armd. Regt., two units having much in common by virtue of the Armoured Corps Training done by that unit, was a battle royal, and all honours went to 20 Bn. and the Rozzoli Cup now graces their mantle.

Next time we must see that the cup is smaller; this one holds too much, particularly when members fill it with some potent concoction for the R.S.M. to drink. Anyhow, congratulations 20 Bn. — we will be after your scalp and cup next time, so watch out.

By the Sea

Our annual holiday at Point Lonsdale went off without a hitch (even if Sgt. Winstanley didn't get his bottle of beer at Reveille). The range practices, games and battle efficiency tests were all completed, even W.O. Henderson and Sgt. McDiarmid completed the nine-miler, and W.O. Welsh nearly pulled his inside out on the tug-of-war. Most of the Sgts. must have been born in the N.T. — they didn't seem to know that the sea was for swimming in, and a certain N.C.O. from L.A.D. seemed to make an awful lot of trips to Barwon Heads. Another one had got himself all tangled up and made long trips from Pucka to Queenscliff.

Members are getting slow when the R.S.M. has to go out and kidnap girls of an evening to supply the ladies, but they weren't slow to take them off his hands. Just as well, anyhow.

Amenities

We hope that in the near future we will have a piano and radiogram. These should do much to make guest nights more enjoyable. However, in the interim the R.S.M.'s radio recorder does the job. Nevertheless the Mess has now acquired some good assets in a Temperite, polishers, pictures and vases, which do much to improve the Mess generally.

Appreciation

The last committee, W.O. Wood, S./Sgt. Ford, W.O. Gason, Sgt. Hunter and W.O. Henderson, did a lot to put the Mess on its feet, particularly W.O. Wood for getting the Mess out of its earlier difficulties. He will, I hope, still be a help in this direction should he be needed. Here's hoping that the new committee, S./Sgt. Crossland, Sgt. McDiarmid, Sgt. Brown, Sgt. Smedley and Sgt. Roberts keep up the good work. They make a good team, so go to it.

A Formal Occasion

Our first formal Mess since taking over as R.S.M. is to be held in the near future, shortage of certain items appear to have held this function up, otherwise we should have had many by now. However I am still sure that like anything else that has been undertaken that it will be a great success.

Speaking of formal Mess, of course, it is one of the many customs of the service applicable to sergeants' messes, and as a Regular Regiment this Mess should set the example for all others, particularly armoured units. To obtain this, only the highest standard of etiquette, dress and discipline can make this possible. Co-operation, willingness, support and loyalty do much to make a Mess a happy one. Guest nights and functions of any sort to which others are invited can only be a success if the members set themselves out to make it so. Their enjoyment more than yours is the thing that counts.

With very few exceptions the Mess has lost all of its original members. They have been posted to C.M.F., National Service and Korea - some have taken their discharge. Good luck to them all in various jobs and a welcome to all new members who have joined the Mess, either by posting or promotion.

Nucleus Squadron Sergeants' Mess Notes

For some considerable time following the Squadron's move to N.S.W., the membership of the Sergeants' Mess remained static, just the occasional posting. Among these earlier movements were: W.0.2 Gosson to 6 N.S.W.M.R., Sgt. Cook to 10 W.A.M.I., S./Sgt. Thomson to the Armd. School and Sgt. Piggott to the Regiment. However, August, 1954, saw considerable changes when W.0.2 Turton-Lane, Sgt. R. K. Bowen and Sgt. G. J. Bowen were posted to 12 N.S. Trg. Bn. They were replaced in the Squadron by W.0.2 Tilley, Sgt. Lamotte and Sgt. Cross from 12 N.S. Trg. Bn, Sgt. Malone from 6 N.S.W.M.R. and Sgt. Galvin from the Regiment — the latter having moved on to 15 N.R.L. recently. Sgt. Lamotte is now with 12/16 H.R.L.

The Sergeants' Mess entertained the following guests at a formal dinner on 15th April, 1955:
The B.M., 1 Armd. Bde., Major Strong; the O.C., "N" Squadron, Major McLean; Capt. Coulton, Capt Forbes, 12 N.S. Trg. Bn.; Lieut. O'Donnell, R.T.A, to the Squadron; Lieut. Miller, now with 12 N.S. Trg. Bn.; Lieut. Tremain, also of 12 N.S. Trg. Bn.; W.O.1 Dodds and W.0.2 Cornford, of Parramatta. An apology was received from Major Lawry, M.B.E. All attending were suitably repentant the next day.

After months, persistent rumour has become fact and the Squadron is in the throes of packing to return to the Regiment as C Squadron, thus closing a mess which, has in recent months, become a club for armoured W.O.'s and Sergeants passing through Sydney, or down on business from the country centres. One of the recent visitors was W.0.2 Linstedt, from 15 N.R.L., down to return stores nearby. Great plans were afoot at the time of closing, for providing regular social activities of a week-end — dance floors had been sanded and the painting of the Mess was to start the week-end after the news came through. However, 'twas not to be, so complete with our new radiogram and other odd assets we are off to the Regiment, or I should say, "some of us are going", because 'Taffy' Morgan and Terry Malone are staying behind. Good luck in the new jobs, chaps.

A Seed from Paddy-Melon

We also note Netting trouble. To state a plain fact some people were civil, but only just. The W/T was not a signal success. One officer says that some exercises get a night reception of Thailand and Indonesia. Well what is sarong with that?

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