The History of RAEME in South Australia
until 1965
Major "Norm" MacLeod, RAEME was a South Australian who served for many years in his home State. This History was organised by him and written while he was DADEME Central Command and the Senior RAEME Representative in South Australia
It is reproduced here without editing except that the Indexes have been extended and amended where necessary
Table of Contents Links
PART1 – Paras 1 to 7 —Introduction PART2 – Paras 8 to 48—Corps Background prior to 1939 PART3 – Paras 49 to 153 —The War Years, 1939 to 1945 PART5 – Paras 160 to 265 —1948 Onwards PART6 – Paras 266 to 268 —Conclusion INDEX OF UNITS INDEX OF PERSONNEL1946 to 1948
[Begin Part4]
154. After the end of the war, the following Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers units were in South Australia:-
| South Australian Area Workshop | Keswick |
| Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers attached to 4 Base Ordnance Depot | Keswick |
| Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers attached to 147 General Transport Company | Plympton |
| Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers attached to the Proof and Experimental Establishment 4 Military District Army Inspection Staff | Port Wakefield. |
155. The South Australian Area Workshop was virtually a holding unit for personnel awaiting demobilisation or re-allocation. On 11 March 1946 it was re-designated 4 Military District Area Workshop and later in the same month 4 Military District Workshop. It was subsequently changed to Central Command Workshop on 1 January 1950.
156. In 1946, 147 General Transport Company UI commenced to run down. On 28 November 1946 twelve Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers tradesmen were transferred from this company to 4 Military District Workshop. This then left 147 General Transport Workshop with only two Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers tradesmen attached. These two craftsmen accompanied the unit to its new home at Hampstead in September 1947. 147 General Transport Company was re-designated 104 Transport Platoon UI in December 1948 and the two craftsmen remained with this renamed unit.
157. UI In 1947, three Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers tradesmen were attached to Weapons Experimental Establishment at Woomera. It was soon discovered that the workload was far in excess of the available labour force, so a Long Range Weapons Project Increment was added to 4 Military District Workshop UI and on 9 March 1948 Captain Crago took charge of this increment and with five tradesmen, moved to Woomera. Their first workshop was a marquee and their task to repair all transport in the area. This increment was removed from 4 Military District Workshop establishment and on 21 May 1948 became the Electrical and Mechanical Engineers component of Long Range Weapons Experimental Establishment (WOOMERA) (Army Component) (4 Military District).
158. On 1 May 1948 Citizen Military Forces training was reintroduced and 4 Military District Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Training Depot was opened at Keswick. The Adjutant was Captain V.A. Mostyn, Quartermaster Lieutenant J. Treloar, Company Sergeant Major Warrant Officer Class 1 C. V. Claxton, and Company Quartermaster Sergeant Warrant Officer Class 1 G.A. Robinson. The Citizen Military Forces units were:
- 107 Infantry Workshop UI - Major E. H. Colley
- 14 Light Aid Detachment UI - Lt S.F. Shipp
- 31 Light Aid Detachment UI - Capt L.G. Campbell.
W02 Gorman on the right
159. UI At the Proof and Experimental Establishment, Port Wakefield the sole permanent Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers representative was W02 W. Gorman. His task was the preparation of guns for firing and proofing of ammunition. The supervision of civilian telecommunication technicians was carried out by visiting Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers officers from Army Headquarters, mainly Captain J. Dean and Captain B. Sefton.
[End of Part4]