To Russell Mehan Dear Russell, Hi! I have checked the records of DVA and the unit arrived in Vietnam on 25/5/1965 with the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. The unit like 1RAR started it's tour at Bien Hoa as part of the 173rd Airborne Brigade of the US Army. The battalion began operations in War Zone D, part of III Corp, Viet Nam was divided into five corp areas. When it was decided to increase Australia's participation to a Task Force size group, we where allocated Phuoc Tuy Province as our AO (Area of Operations) The 1st Battalion and elements of the 173rd Airborne and the South Viet Namese Army moved into Phuoc Tuy and set up the main base at Nui Dat. Phuoc Tuy was Charlie country. The French where the last army to fight the VC in the Province and they had been buggered off in 1954. The unit, 1st Australian Logistic Support Company ceased to exist on 31/3/1966. It became the 1st Australian Logistic Support Group based at Vung Tau, an in country Rest & Convalescent Centre for the VC and anybody else who chose to use the place. For the Americans it was an in country Rest & Recreation Centre as well. The 1st ALSG came into existance on 1/4/1966 and ceased to function as a unit on 16/10/1971. 1RAR left Viet Nam on 14/6/1966 and was replaced by the 5th and 6th Battalions plus 3 Squadron SAS and two Batteries of Australan Artillery and 1 battery of New Zealand Artillery. Russell, I hope this information is of some use to you. Cheers Paul Kinney >From: [email protected] >Reply-To: [email protected] >To: [email protected] >Subject: AUS-MILITARY-D Digest V03 #26 >Date: Wed, 5 Feb 2003 01:02:05 -0700 > ><< message2.txt >> ><< message4.txt >> ><< message6.txt >> ><< message8.txt >> ><< message10.txt >> ><< message12.txt >> ><< message14.txt >> ><< message16.txt >> _________________________________________________________________ Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN 8. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail

Hello William, he could have been at South Head for 5 years and then sent to Newcastle for a week for whatever reason, and then discharged and the record would show discharged at Scratchley. Some of relatives have similar rather strange discharge postings. I dont think it makes much sense to say that because Col Scratchley planned the defense scheme in 1877, any fort would be named after him including the Sydney ones. I don't think so. Regards Robert ----- Original Message ----- From: "William MOPPETT" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, February 05, 2003 10:09 PM Subject: SCRATCHELY > Thanks to: > John & Shirley Smith, > Jan & Peter Herivel > Gordon Kelly. > > It was NOT Fort Scratchely at Newcastle that my dad served. > > "In 1877-78 two imperial officers on an inspection tour, Col. > Jervois and Lt. Col. Scratchely, warned that a more systematic defence > posture would have to > be taken and that there should be extensive coastal fortifications and > an inter-colonial mobile > force that could be quickly despatched to meet any threat. > Standardising rail gauges would of > course be of assistance here. " > > Clearly Lt. Col Scratchely was instrumental in the planning & > construction of a series of 'Forts' along the coast, including > Newcastle and South Head, and it was the latter where my dad served. > He used to refer to his post as "the fort", but I never heard the word > Scratchely until I looked up his discharge ! > I think this must be the source of the term ? > > William Moppett > > > ==== AUS-MILITARY Mailing List ==== > Replies to queries on AUS-MILITARY should generally be sent to the list as well as the sender > Please use the "reply to all" function of your mail program >

Thanks to: John & Shirley Smith, Jan & Peter Herivel Gordon Kelly. It was NOT Fort Scratchely at Newcastle that my dad served. "In 1877-78 two imperial officers on an inspection tour, Col. Jervois and Lt. Col. Scratchely, warned that a more systematic defence posture would have to be taken and that there should be extensive coastal fortifications and an inter-colonial mobile force that could be quickly despatched to meet any threat. Standardising rail gauges would of course be of assistance here. " Clearly Lt. Col Scratchely was instrumental in the planning & construction of a series of 'Forts' along the coast, including Newcastle and South Head, and it was the latter where my dad served. He used to refer to his post as "the fort", but I never heard the word Scratchely until I looked up his discharge ! I think this must be the source of the term ? William Moppett

H Bty was Headquarters Battery and the C artillery was Coastal Artillery and Scratch ley is Fort Scratch ley The entry should have read HQ By Coastal Artillery Fort Scratchley and in records was shortened to HQ Bty Coast Arty Fort Scratchley Regards John John & Shirley Smith Maitland Area Lower Hunter Valley NSW Australia [email protected]

The Scratchley they would be referring to is Fort Scratchley at the eastern end of Newcastle near Nobbys breakwater. It was an artillery emplacement, and fired on the Japanese subs that shelled Newcastle after Sydney. these days it is a military museum and well worth a visit. Jan Herivel Sydney -----Original Message----- From: William MOPPETT [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, 5 February 2003 8:56 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Scratchely ? Looking at my dad's WWII service record; Posting at Discharge H SCRATCHELY BTY C ARTY  What is designated as "SCRATCHELY" ? I know they manned the heavy artillery at South Head, Pt Jackson, intended to interdict a Naval assault on Sydney Harbour. William Moppett [email protected] ______________________________

Hi Listers I have been having a few problems with my mailbox lately with too many repeated messages and I need to sort out some things, so am unsubscribing for a short period. Cheers Carolyn

Hi Listers I have been having a few problems with my mailbox lately with too many repeated messages and I need to sort out some things, so am unsubscribing for a short period. Cheers Carolyn

Hi Listers I have been having a few problems with my mailbox lately with too many repeated messages and I need to sort out some things, so am unsubscribing for a short period. Cheers Carolyn

Looking at my dad's WWII service record; Posting at Discharge H SCRATCHELY BTY C ARTY  What is designated as "SCRATCHELY" ? I know they manned the heavy artillery at South Head, Pt Jackson, intended to interdict a Naval assault on Sydney Harbour. William Moppett [email protected]

Russell Probably at Bien Hoa supporting 1RAR which was part of the US 173rd Airborne. Check out the official history 'To Long Tan' by the late Ian McNeill. Anthony Staunton -----Original Message----- From: Russell Mehan [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Saturday, 01 February 2003 12:00 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Australian Logistic Support Company I am seeking information on the Australian Logistic Support Coy in Vietnam especially in the period 1965-66. Was this unit based in Vung Tau? When was it first raised etc Thanks Russell. ==== AUS-MILITARY Mailing List ==== The Military Historical Society of Australia http://www.pcug.org.au/~astaunto/mhsa.htm

Further information: The contingent of Australian troops who went to South Africa for the Boer War and who served as infantry was designated the 1st Australian Infantry Regiment. The name actually pre-dates Federation. Cheers Again, Paul Kinney _________________________________________________________________ Protect your PC - get McAfee.com VirusScan Online http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963

To all interested parties, A.I.R. is the initials representing Australian Infantry Regiment. This unit was formed in 1901 after Federation to join the Infantry units of the colonies together. South Australian infantry battalions became the 10th Australian Infantry Regiment consisting of 3 battalions. Hope this information helps solve the mystery, which is now no longer a mystery Best Regards Paul Kinney _________________________________________________________________ Add photos to your e-mail with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail

Cheryl in a private message to me said she could remember "volcanic island when it rose out of the sea at that time" This happened in Rabaul harbour once before WWII and I think after it. When I was in Rabaul in 1964, the Army had a full time bomb disposal person there. In 1953 could the RAAF have a bomb disposal unit in Rabaul. This might be worth asking Veteran Affairs Department in Canberra. Mike Boyd ----- Original Message ----- From: Paul Kinney <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, February 02, 2003 11:16 PM Subject: Watson > > Dear Cheryl, > Apologies, the fickle fingers flaming well buggered up again, > here comes the rest of the message. > If your gentleman is now 73 years old it is possible he served in > World War 2 or Korea and later Viet Nam. Check the nominal rolls for WW2 and > Korea. The Viet Nam nominal roll was contracted out to an outside company > for preparation and subsequently if you want to see it, you have to buy the > disc from Department of Veterans Affairs. Nifty way for the shifty buggers > to make a quid but not very user friendly to people trying to find > information about Dad and or Grandad who served in Viet Nam, same go's for > Mum or Grandmum. You need to find a VVAA (Viet Nam Veterans Association of > Australia) or VFA (Viet Nam Veterans Federation of Australia) local office > and ask them if they will look the name up for you, should be no problem at > all. > I will look the name up for you on Thursday of this week and send > you the details, if any. You see, you have found your VVAA Outpost without > moving from your computer, clever girl you. > Hoping I can help you. > Best regards > Paul Kinney > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > MSN 8 helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE*. > http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus > > > ==== AUS-MILITARY Mailing List ==== > Anzac Research > http://anzacresearch.tripod.com/index.htm > >

Ted, Sorry that I don't know of the A.I.R., but, as I understand it, Australia had no standing army till after WW2, but had only a small cadre of permanent soldiers, because of this there was a loosely enforced obligation to be in some militia or school cadets forces prior to the time WW1 started. Hence a question appeared on attestation papers for soldiers joining the first AIF. as follows : "11. Do you belong to, or have ever served in, His Majesty's Army, the Marines, the Militia, the Militia Reserve, the Territorial Force, Royal Navy, or Colonial Forces ? If so, state which, and if not serving, state reason of discharge." The answers given in dossiers of three family members were : "Yes, Citizen Forces", "Yes", "No" but no units were mentioned in any case. Don't know the correct distinction between Militia, Militia Reserve or Colonial Forces - all the rest would have been British. Regards, Dave > > Ted wrote : > Subject: > Re: John Edward HOFF, A.I.R.? > From: > "Val Harris" <[email protected]> > Date: > Sat, 1 Feb 2003 09:43:45 +1100 > To: > [email protected] > > If Australian Infantry Regiment is correct I would like the sender to > expand > on the answer as I have not previously heard of such a Unit. > > Where, when how and why was it raised and where did it serve? > > Ted > >

A strange combination of people. The title "driver" means an handler of horse. Well that was the title give to my grandfather after he returned from injury to the 25th Bn I notice that there are "gunners" which would suggest an artillery unit Mike Boyd Brisbane ----- Original Message ----- From: Glynis & Scott Wheeler <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, February 02, 2003 9:06 PM Subject: Photos > Dear List, > I have just finished reading an article in a magazine where a person in Melbourne has discovered what looks like a photograph of an entire platoon of Australia Army personnel. > Listed below are the names:- > Capt.H HEATH; > Driver L CLARK; > Driver S BAKER; > Driver C WALSH; > Driver J COLLISS; > Driver W HICKS; > Driver H INGLIS; > Driver H SHREMER; > Driver H PENDRICK; > Gunner R HAWKINS; > Gunner G BURNS; > Gunner J J HUDSON; > Gunner G JOHNSON; > Gunner A SIMMONS; > Gunner R GILL; > Gunner J DRUMMOND; > Gunner W KNIGHT; > Gunner O MILLER; > Gunner R WEBB; > WHR. W TUHMAN; > S. S. D DOYLE; > L. G. D SMITH; > Act. Bomb. W BURGESS; > Major C WARREN; > Bomb. H MUMFORD; > S. B. S. M. A McARTHUR; > Q.S PALAZZI; > Corp. J MURPHY; > Corp. J HEMING; > Sgt. E SLEARMAN; > Sgt. R HISCOCK; > Sgt. H HARDIMAN. > > According to the article Anzac House in Melbourne Stated the Capt HEATH was an Army Surgeon who was born in 1865. > > If anyone recognises these people please contact me and I will forward the article to you or give you more details. > > Glynis > > > ==== AUS-MILITARY Mailing List ==== > Milton Ulladulla Boer War & WW1 > http://www.shoalhaven.net.au/~cathyd/war/ >

In response to a previous post on the list I now ask for help from interested parties to identify the uniform/s medal/s and badge/s on the web page called http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-uniforms/id-wizard.htm All suggestions appreciated (well most anyway). If you have an unidentified Aussie uniform/medal/badge you too can seek the listers help. Details on the page Ted www.diggerhistory.info

Hello List and Ted Harris especially, I looked up the paperwork and found the reference on C.M. Form A (inter alia) Australian Military Forces "Application for a Commission in the Australian Imperial Force": No. 3 Military Qualifications (previous Military Service, if any to be stated) - Seven years 12th A.I.R. Now did we ever decide what the acronym stands for? Is it ARMY Infantry Reserve, or AUSTRALIAN Infantry Reserve? Either way, all I can tell you is that the 12th was in Tasmania - Launceston area. His seven years' service puts the date back to 1909. My relative states elsewhere that he is "still serving" in this A.I.R. at the point where he is enlisting for service overseas but now it is the A.I.F. he is moving over to. It is not to be confused with the 12th AIF which was initiated at Pontville in 1914. My impression is that A.I.R. is not so much a "unit" Ted, as some voluntary,semi-military outfit where enthusiasts (like my relative) could express themselves. Maybe I'm wrong about the "voluntary". The word "Reserve" suggests some force-to-be-reckoned-with waiting in the wings. And I'll venture that most of the reservists were the front runners when War was declared and the "proper" Army threw open its doors. Crikey, isn't some expert out there coming to our aid over this three-letter problem? Yours, Julie

Dear Cheryl, Apologies, the fickle fingers flaming well buggered up again, here comes the rest of the message. If your gentleman is now 73 years old it is possible he served in World War 2 or Korea and later Viet Nam. Check the nominal rolls for WW2 and Korea. The Viet Nam nominal roll was contracted out to an outside company for preparation and subsequently if you want to see it, you have to buy the disc from Department of Veterans Affairs. Nifty way for the shifty buggers to make a quid but not very user friendly to people trying to find information about Dad and or Grandad who served in Viet Nam, same go's for Mum or Grandmum. You need to find a VVAA (Viet Nam Veterans Association of Australia) or VFA (Viet Nam Veterans Federation of Australia) local office and ask them if they will look the name up for you, should be no problem at all. I will look the name up for you on Thursday of this week and send you the details, if any. You see, you have found your VVAA Outpost without moving from your computer, clever girl you. Hoping I can help you. Best regards Paul Kinney _________________________________________________________________ MSN 8 helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE*. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus

To Cheryl Fielding, Dear Cheryl, Try contacting the boys in blue, RAAF that is, they are a really helpful bunch, if you ring Richmond Air Force Base on 02 4587 3111 they should be able to put you through to some one who may answer who, what, where and why for you. Or you could try the Department of Defence at Pyrmont on 02 9563 1111, I am not sure who's side they are on, I don't think they know either, so don't get your hopes up with them. You could also try the Department of Veterans Affairs, that might sound a bit odd, but they have excellent records on Australian units serving overseas, they have to. _________________________________________________________________ Add photos to your e-mail with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail

Thanks, Julie in Lincolnshire (sounds chilly to an Aussie) Could I possibly persuade you to "look up files" in this matter. I am a keen but AMATEUR military historian and I haven't run across this Unit before. I would love some more detail to help me track down where to start looking. Ted www.diggerhistory.info ----- Original Message ----- From: "Julie Robinson" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, February 02, 2003 4:17 AM Subject: A.I.R. > Hello List, > > A.I.R. is the abbreviation for AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY RESERVE. My relative, R.E. WALSH was with the 12th A.I.R. > which was formed in Tasmania around 1912 (I think, without looking up files). > > When I used the word "apprenticeship" I used it figuratively; he had been crazy keen on army life since a lad and took the first opportunity to get into the real thing after having been, even earlier, in "Boys' Brigade" type quasi-military organisations. > He was born in 1887. > > Regards, > Julie in Lincolnshire > > ______________________________