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

Introduction

As this is the first Journal of the Regiment, it would be extremely difficult to include in the pages allotted to us the complete history and activities of "B" Squadron since its inception. We have, therefore, commenced our notes as from the 1st of October, a period over which we consider the Squadron remained reasonably stable in strength.

It is regretted that more embellished details in regard to the Squadron activities over this period cannot be included; however we have a lot to cover in a fairly limited space so hope, therefore, that our reader will not be too disappointed in some obvious omissions to past history.

Au Revoir

At this stage let us bid farewell to some of our members who have left us for new adventure.

• First of all Capt. L. G. (Nat) Gould, who marchedout in October to the posting of Adjt., 4/19 Princeof Wales Light Horse. Nat shouldered many a burden while acting as O.C., B Squadron, and after a course at the School of Tactics and Administration, was well prepared for his new and exacting job.
• Lieut. Howard Hanson left us on the 12th of October for civilian life. Howard was Sqn. L.O., and is now doing well as a high pressure salesman. Good luck, Howard.
• Lieut. Allen Wells, 3 Troop, deserted us for the glamour of the Recce Troop (15th February, 1955), before reaching that erudite posting to Adjt. of the Armoured School and promotion to Captain.
• Second-Lieutenant Graham Lovegrove went to 2 Recruit Training Battalion on 13th January, 1955, and has been badly missed by the Squadron, particularly in the field of sport.
• Second-Lieutenants John McEnerney and Andy Connor have departed to H.Q. Sqn. and 20 N.S. Trg. Bn., respectively. However, as their cheery faces are still seen around the place, enough said!
• Our S.S.M., W02 J. J. Byrne, went to the School of Infantry on 26th January, 1955, to a R.S.M.'s qualifying course, so he will probably not come back. However Sgt. Smedley has taken over the reins and is carrying out the duties of S.S.M. in a most business-like manner.

Other farewells from the Squadron include:-

• Sgt. S. T. Hurley marched out 12 N.S. Trg.Bn., 8th December.
• Sgt. R. Winstanley marched out 4 R.A.R., 22nd March, 1955.
• Cpl. J. Weatherhead marched out H.Q., 2 Armd. Bde., 7th January, 1955.
• Cpl. R. A. White marched out 20 N.S. Trg. Bn., 23rd March, 1955.
• Cpl. G. W. Scafe marched out 20 N.S. Trg. Bn., 23rd March, 1955.
• L.-Cpl. D. King marched out 6 N.S.W.M.R., 17th January, 1955.
• Cpl. W. H. Coley marched out 10 W.A.M.I.,10th January, 1955.
• L.-Cpl. J. McKinlay marched out N Sqn., 12 October, 1954.
• L.-Cpl. P. Warden marched out Armd. School, 6th January, 1955.
• Tprs. R. Young, J. Moyle marched out 4 R.A.R., 22nd March, 1955.
• Tpr. Campbell marched out 10 W.A.M.I., 15th December, 1954.
• Tprs. W. Selby, E. Bradmore, R. A. Parry marched out 4 R.A.R., 27th April, 1955.
• Tpr. K. Pettigrove marched out 16 N.S. Trg. Bn., 19th April, 1955.
• Tprs. A. F. Nourse and N. V. Henry were discharged on 27th April, 1955, and 14th December, 1954, respectively. We wish these last two all the best in civilian life.

Paratus Cup Competition

Preparations for this event commenced in exercise Preparatus, held in late October. The enemy gave an amazing demonstration of the accuracy of the Verey pistol at two hundred yards and succeeded in burning up a tank. Trooper Bell had a narrow escape from incineration, easily breaking the regiment high jump record as he left the tank. However, Sgt. Shirvill, firing two extinguishers from the hips, saved the day.

Some very good lessons were learned from the exercise. Three Troop were particularly impressive in their act of ditching tanks, and the L.A.D. excelled in the art of unditching tanks - which only goes to show that the latter have other skills besides cricket!

The competition itself was held on 30th November to 1 st December, 1954. Against the keen competition of A Squadron, Lieut. A. D. Wells led 3 Troop to victory. Second-Lieut. McEnerney did well in securing third place with 1 Troop.

Footnote: Even A Squadron admitted the umpires were most impartial and Capt. Dowling did not, in fact, command a certain tank in 3 Troop!

Christmas Activities

The festive season commenced with Cambrai Day, during which the Squadron renewed its energies for the big night ahead.

The Cambrai Ball was held at the Armoured School Lecture Hall that night and drew a large attendance from the Squadron. The Great Lovers of the Squadron were in fine form and left many of us quite envious.

On the 8th of December the annual Squadron Christmas Party was held at the range camp. Trooper D. W. Doutch, president of the B Squadron Welfare Committee, ably assisted by L.-Cpl. Dickson and Trooper N. J. McCarthy, organized a really first-class show.

As the evening progressed, one discovered with amazement what talented members the Squadron really had. L.-Cpl. Altorjay was at his artistic best and produced some exhibits worthy of The Herald Art Exhibition.

Trooper Webb was well to the fore with some excellent Donald Duck impersonations, and his masterpiece of culinary magnificence was in boiled yabbies!

The presentation by the C.O., performed at the Squadron's request, was a huge success. Worthy of note was the reward received by 2/Lieut. Andy Connor for his swimming prowess on a previous unintentionally amphibious exercise!

The following morning dawned grey and painful for us all; however, small consolation was gained from the thought that the R.H.Q. staff were four times as worse, having attended the three squadron parties, and that of the L.A.D.!

Summer Camp

In late February, the Squadron moved to Point Lonsdale for the Regiment's annual summer camp. Though our maintenance commitments at Puckapunyal left us rather light on the ground, we fared well in competition with the rest of the Regiment.

Several sporting activities were held during the camp, the first being the swimming sports. Needless to say, we were badly beaten in these.

The athletic sports, however, were a different story. We revenged our previous defeat and through the sterling efforts of the more fleet-footed of the Squadron, we swept the field with a 30-point lead over our nearest rival, A Squadron.

The Wilson Cup for small arms was held at the Geelong Rifle Range on 4th March, 1955. We did well in securing second place to H.Q. Squadron.

A weekly competition was also held in cricket, tennis and softball. In this we did very well and in the closing stages of the competition were narrowly defeated for first place by the efforts of the L.A.D. and their one-man cricket team!

The camp, however, was not all play, and some intensive training was carried out. Troopers Colless and Dicketts will, no doubt, testify to the rigours of the battle efficiency tests by showing, on demand, a scarred set of heels. On hearing the profanities muttered towards the end of the nine-mile march, one is reminded of the classical quotations, Qual nocent docent, or illiterally, Training can be pretty . . . painful!

General

On the subject of training, other than the Paratus Cup competition and the preparation therefore, very little field training could be fitted into the period. Most of the crewmen of the Squadron did complete Armoured School and training troop courses, and with a few exceptions qualified. With the arrival of C Squadron from N.S.W., a greater opportunity for training will exist, and we should have at least three months of uninterrupted collective training towards the end of the year.

On the 2nd April, 1955, the Squadron put on an armoured item in the demonstration staged by 3 N.S. Training Brigade. We arranged a further demonstration for the Staff College and the Department of Defence Science on the 29th April. Both these demonstrations were very well received and assisted in upholding the Squadron motto.

We had our fair share of Guards of Honour during the period. These included, among others, a guard of honour for General L. C. Sheppard, U.S. Marines; His Excellency The Governor, Sir Dallas Brookes at the unveiling of the U.S. Marine Memorial Gates, Balcombe; and for Lieut.-General Bruce C. Clarke, U.S. representative for the Coral Sea Battle commemorations.

We also supplied a Guard at the unveiling of the 1939-45 War Memorial at the Shrine of Remembrance, Melbourne, on 20th February, 1955.

The Inter-Service sports were held at Flinders Naval Depot towards the end of March. The Regiment was well represented there. The O.C. and Lieut. Sims were B Squadron representatives selected for the Army Athletic Team.

From October to January, we had a Troop detached to Watsonia Camp with, the then, C Squadron. This was an idyllic existence, as those who have seen the place will realize. However, as the way with all good things, it, unfortunately, didn't last long.

Gaudemus Igitur

"B" Squadron has received three visits from the stork since October - offspring at the time these notes are submitted were issued to members as follows:-

• Capt. and Mrs. G. Joss (a son - George Fletcher,Jnr.), 8th October, 1954.
• Sgt. and Mrs. P. Lynch (a daughter - Robin Mary), 2nd April, 1955.
• Cpl. and Mrs. J. Argus (a son -Allen John), 16th February, 1955.

We extend congratulations to these, and any more recent, proud parents.

Some of the more handsome members of the Squadron were finally trapped and surrendered without much of a struggle. These weddings are:-

• Trooper Ken Mayes to Thelma Clare Ryan, 18th December, 1954.
• Trooper Stan Mader to Jill Jaxon, 8th June, 1955.
• Trooper Danny Durnham to Dorothy Lynette Johnstone, 3rd May, 1955.
• L.-Cpl. Ken Johnstone to Valerie Fay Treadwell, 20th December, 1954.
• Trooper Stan Simpson to Edith Mary James, 11th December, 1954.

We wish these members every success in their new partnership.

Finally, we hear that Trooper Neil Bassett has fallen at last and is to be married to Stella Joyce Simpson on 18th June, 1955. Congratulations and every success, Neil and Joyce.

Sympathies

In concluding, we would like to offer our sincere sympathy to the relations of Sgt. A. McTighe and L.-Cpl. G. Smith, who were badly injured in a motor accident on Sunday, 8th May, 1955. We are happy with reported progress and hope it will not be long before these two N.C.O.'s are back with us again. In the meantime all members of the Squadron wish them both a speedy recovery.

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