1 Armoured Squadron Workshop, RAEME, South Vietnam
OC's Diary — January - June 1968
Index of Links
About the Author Preface Introduction January — 1 to 10 January — 11 to 20 January — 21 to 31 Tet 1968 February — 1 to 14 February — 15 to 29 March — 1 to 15 March — 16 to 31 April — 1 to 30 June — 1 to 20 Conclusion Abbreviations
May 1968 — 1st to 31st
- Thursday — 2 May 1968
- A Veh Recovery Gp are doing some land clearing in the C Sqn perimeter area. Using chain saw, muscle and common sense, these people have done a lot more than other people in clearing the perimeter.
- Friday — 3 May 1968
- At 0745 hrs a tank drove into the workshop and had an engine change completed and the tank drove out at 2145 hrs. 14 hrs for an engine change. Conditions were good. Two problems occurred. Seized RH fuel tank drain and a water leak under the aux. gen. carburettor heat shield. Both problems cost time.
- ASM JUERS had the change very well organised. A Veh recovery Gp continuing perimeter clearing.
- Sunday — 5 May 1968
- Two truck loads (32, 36) soldiers went to VUNG TAU as a swimming party. The remainder of the workshops had its first full day off.
- Wednesday — 8 May 1968
- Completed an engine change on the dozer tank and it is running well.
- Only one tank requiring workshop repairs — awaiting elevation gearbox.
- Completed the audit of Offr's, Sgts, and ORs Canteen and Regt. funds .
- Thursday — 9 May 1968
- Maj BADMAN shot a 5 ft snake in his tent.
- The Officers' shower building is now erected and the plumbing is almost completed.
- No work in workshops. Men employed on making carparks, erecting signs and cleaning up the area. Some are training on Centurion Meteor engine carburation.
- Went to the pictures and during the latter part of the show Sgt CRAIG informed me that his FRT and Sgt DeJONG's ARV were moving out at 0700 hrs for an operation in the LONG HI area.
- I was not approached at all by Sqn HQ staff or the OC. This is the second time this has happened.
- Weapon inspection this morning. All but HQ platoon were good. HQ platoon paraded at 1645 hrs for a further weapon inspection.
- Friday — 10 May 1968
- My FRT and ARV have gone. Still no formal word about it.
- No problems during the patrol except for a clutch yoke breaking.
- The workshop was set for a clutch change and the crew was ready but Maj BADMAN said it was not necessary.
- The Major insisted that the tank was to be left in the tank lines but unfortunately its gun could not be fired nor could the turret traverse.
- 2Lt Mick BUTLER told me he was taking my FRT and ARV on a mine clearing operation. No information received from the OC or 21C at all.
- The OC is hopeless to work for unless he is given 100% dictatorial power. Guess it is one way to command a unit.
- The OP Patrol was quite successful and three graves were located. A quantity of documents including a diary, a rifle and several magazines.
- Saturday — 11 May 1968
- I have received no information on any moves today. The clutch yoke repair was started by 0900 hrs. The mine clearing team moved to mine field and started clearing.
- Sunday — 12 May 1968
- The Director of Armour, Col. MAXWELL, visited this area and was quite pleased with the workshops. Lt. Joe HILL is due on Tuesday 14 May. Ken JONES is very happy.
- No major work was required on the tanks and the men were knocked off at 1100 hrs.
- Monday — 13 May 1968
- The CRAIG/DeJONG FRT and ARV have moved on to the AP SUI NAI area for protecting a land clearing team.
- 0 Group in the Major's tent at 1020 hrs today.
- I wrote a letter today to C Sqn stating that I was not being included in Warning Orders and Orders Gps. The letter also stated that it was essential for me to know what my staff is doing. I placed EME Task Force on my distribution.
- Naturally Maj BADMAN called me up and told me not to write him letters and do not forward domestic problems to EME task Force. Actually I got my pants kicked and morally I had a victory and I was very pleased.
- Tuesday — 14 May 1968
- Lt Joe HILL arrived today to take over as 21C Workshops.
- Sunday — 19 May 1968
- In preparation for the tanks to move to FSB CORAL (90 mile), V Mech servicing tasks had to be carried out. They worked all day until 1800 hrs and then went back to work until 2200 hrs. GE Section worked until 0400 hrs on the bridgelayer.
- Monday — 20 May 1968
- Welding section started work at 0600 and the bridgelayer was repaired by 0800 hrs. All work completed prior to CORAL.
- Washed cleaned and packed all engines ready for back loading to Australia.
- Tuesday — 21 May 1968
- Lt Ken JONES leaves today. He has done a wonderful job.
- We received our 0 Groups for movement to FSB CORAL and we passed out orders to the appropriate people.
- Wednesday — 22 May 1968
- All the tanks moved out and crossed the start line on time 0700 hrs. The first casualty was the bridgelayer with fuel trouble. It was turned around and sent back.
- The next incident — a phosphorous grenade fell out, ignited and burnt the driver badly about the face and shoulders.
- No more trouble until just passed Black Horse, when the fifth tank moved off the road to let a convoy pass and hit a mine, losing his RHF suspension unit, guide roller, guards etc. Nobody hurt.
- ASM JUERS and I got on a helicopter and flew up, arriving at 1600 hrs. We assessed the damage and made a parts list and checked on repair facilities.
- The 11 Armd Cav (USA) at Black Horse did everything possible to help, even to getting the broken studs removed from the hull of the tank.
- Our accommodation was good, food good, hospitality excellent. WO Buzz EVANS gave us every assistance. After tea we drank a few beers and at 2030 hrs were taken to a concert where the unit OC took me as his guest. A good day.
- Thursday — 23 May 1968
- CSM LILLEY completed the triple 8 and single apron fence down by the workshops from 3 RAR road to the Engineers.
- ASM JUERS and I completed the assessment of the tank damage and had difficulty in obtaining a flight back to NUI DAT. We eventually flew to SAIGON, back to VUNG TAU, then hitchhiked to NUI DAT in a chopper. We arrived in time for late lunch.
- By nightfall we had all the stores ready for onforwarding to Black Horse, LONG BIEN and CORAL. There was some difficulty in obtaining transport for the 16,000 lbs of stores and people.
- Friday — 24 May 1968
- Today was taken up in getting 16,000 lbs of stores and spare parts out into the field.
- 8,000 lbs to Black Horse to repair the mine-damaged tank. RHF Suspension station, guide roller, front idler, bins, guards and 9 road wheels.
- We loaded one Hill Climber with Stores and repair crew for a tank which had mechanical failure at LONG BIEN (W02 PETTET and L/Cpl FULLER).
- The repair crew for Black Horse was Sgt. RUSSELL, Cpl WALKER–SMITH, Cfn CLACK and Cfn WATTS.
- The SAIGON Guard tested their weapons today prior to leaving tomorrow.
- Two items we could not resupply from RAAOC Stock, Control panel No.1 Mark. III and a rear guide roller. We took these from crock tanks and had them loaded on a landrover for transporting to the east end of KANGAROO Pad.
- Very little time for lunch and finished work at midnight.
- Saturday — 25 May 1968
- Quiet day. Managed to get the workshop perimeter laced with flares.
- Re supplies going well. Sgt WELLS is doing an excellent job.
- We had a practice 100% Stand To and had quite a few problems.
- FRT1+24
- SAIGON Guard19
- Black Horse14
- LONG BIEN3
- R&R6
- R&C4
- Total away70
- Leaving total of26
- It can be seen that we are very short of people.
- I caught three soldiers drinking in their lines: Cpl BEDFORD, Cfn OLIVER and Pte DUMMET.
- W01 JUERS and W02 PETTET and Cpl FULLER returned from LONG BIEN. The tank repaired and waiting to be called forward.
- We now have a strength of 29.
- Sunday — 26 May 1968
- Sgt WELLS got his re supply away OK. He is doing a very good job.
- I have had to provide a Guard of 5 and an officer for the swimming party. This leaves a strength of 23, workshops personnel and C Sqn people have less.
- Monday — 27 May 1968
- The tank left Black Horse. Travelled eight miles and burnt out a steering brake. I was told it was due to travelling too fast, but I think the steering brake was adjusted too close.
- Had trip flares fitted to workshops southern perimeter.
- Practised Stand To at 1900 hrs. Found several faults; i.e., people not carrying their grenades; no webbing etc.
- Tuesday — 28 May 1968
- I went to see Maj Digger JAMES today in reference to my foot. He sent me to see Col BEARD in VUNG TAU. Col BEARD said I would not last the distance with my foot if I stayed in the same job. He suggested I be posted out to a job which entailed less walking.
- Lunched with Maj Max TINKLER and Capt Don COCHRAN. We discussed a modification to a tank transporter.
- Rained steadily most of the night.
- Tpr HUTTON, the C Sqn man who was burnt with a phosphorous grenade, came back from VUNG TAU with us.
- Wednesday — 29 May 1968
- Sgt WELLS went out to CORAL to correct spare parts procedures. Parts were being called for when in fact they were held in the Boomerang Scale which RAAOC Stores Section held at CORAL. 2Lt CATTERALL went out to CORAL to see how the RAAOC Stores Section Detachment was operated (Pte BISHOP). No major worries.
- CSM LILLEY went to SAIGON to check our guard. They are doing a good job and no problems.
- Capt COULTER visited and wished to look around our area.
- An American Capt called and asked for help for the ARVN Battalion. Water distribution. We gave them a 100 gal rubber bladder and an 800 gal tank we had manufactured.
- The night was cool so it was a pleasure to go to bed.
- There was a Task Force Stand To this morning. There were no problems.
- I rang Maj McDONALD and I was informed I was to be posted out of my present job. As he put it, "A less demanding job with less walking". He was also very complimentary about the effort I had put in to the forming and running of the unit.
- Parts for Black Horse prepared and arranged for on forwarding.
- Thursday — 30 May 1968
- The tank at Black Horse is battleworthy and is to be escorted to LONG BIEN tomorrow.
- I was told I would be posted to 102 Fd Workshops on 30 June.
- A pre-stocktake stocktake is being conducted and there are no major losses.
- Friday — 31 May 1968
- The tank arrived in LONG BIEN running well. Just waiting to be called forward.
- Tank 099 is being used to keep the other tanks going. It is now a hopeless crock, so I had a 100% inspection and a check on all parts to see that they were all ordered.