Eyes & Ears - 2015

Eyes and Ears - Volume 8 - No 1 January 2015

Battle of Long Tan – Australia’s Finest Hour in Vietnam... a great article sent in by Bill Taggart.

Also inside this month’s edition we cover –

Hope you enjoy the read and we’ll be back in February.                                                                     
Paul

 


Eyes and Ears - Volume 8 - No 2 February 2015

Let’s wander through some Memorial Walks...Terry Westerway and Peter Ravelje take us for a pictorial walk...

Also inside this month’s edition we cover –

Enjoy the read and the summer weather.                


Eyes and Ears - Volume 8 - No 3 - March 2015

Thanks to Merv Nairn, who sent in the following anniversary reminder – March 10, 2015 marked the 50th Anniversary  the first National Service Ballot for the Vietnam War.

Also inside this month’s edition we cover –

AN/KPQ-1 RADAR South Vietnam the continuing account of Radar in SVN Page 3+

Then there’s articles by every man and his “dog” – it’s a great read – there are articles from  – Rieny Nieuwenhof, Bob Billiards goes walking, info required for the “Vung Tau Ferry”, Terry Erbs give us a couple of updates, What’s happening on ANZAC Day around Aus, an article on Wally Franklin and then all the Association stuff including Seymour, 4th May – DON’T MISS IT!

Settle back and see what’s news.                                                                      


Eyes and Ears - Volume 8 - No 4 April 2015

 

ANZAC Day 2015 –

100 Years and the tradition continues

Record crowds came out in abundance from cities and towns Australia-wide to take part, watch and absorb the moment as we remembered and paid homage in a ceremony that unites the nation.

Also inside this month’s edition we cover –

ANZAC Day, the arrival of the ANZAC Gun (you’ll know one of the blokes involved!), AN/KPQ-1 RADAR South Vietnam, the “Vung Tau Ferry” gets a mention, and then there’s articles from all and whoever –

Hope you enjoy the read  – Murray Smale writes in, then there’s a bit of a mouth-waterer with regards to “OC’s recollections...”, and then all the Association stuff including Seymour, 4th May – DON’T MISS IT – there’s still time to turn up!!

Settle back and see what’s news.                                                                      


Paul


Eyes and Ears - Volume 8 - No 6 June 2015

The 131 Detachment Dragon and Plaque, 1967...

It’s origins and how it eventuated...this is our lead-in story

 

Also inside this month’s edition we cover –

                No wonder this edition is 19 pages we’ve had some great input from you.

So relax and enjoy the read.                                 

Paul


Eyes and Ears - Volume 8 - No7 - July 2015

       The Gunner Tom Checkley Mystery -

Also inside this month’s edition we cover –

A heap of stuff from blokes such as – Terry Westerway, Bert Blink (more than once – he’s a great contributor – see what he found regarding Grahame Dignam), Diane Dean (a novice contributor – should be more of them!), Ed’s brother Jim, Dave Crowther, Allan Harrison notifies us of the Locator Reunion coming up in October, another regular contributor Grahame Dignam, amongst the Association info there’s the very sad Vale news of Don Simmons, then to wind it up on page 19 Bill Taggart of 1st/83rd fame gives us an answer on a last month query.

 

OK put the billy on and get ready for a good read... 

                                                                    
Paul

Also inside this month’s edition we cover –

A heap of stuff from blokes such as –

OK put the billy on and get ready for a good read... 

Paul


Eyes and Ears - Volume 8 - No 8 - August 2015

Vietnam Veterans Day...

August 18th, Vietnam Veterans Day, is the anniversary of Australia's most significant campaign in Vietnam - the Battle of Long Tan.

We cover a couple of locations where reports and photos were sent in...

Also inside this month’s edition we cover –

This month includes the final segment of Keith Ayliffe’s ANKPQ-1 series – what’ll next month bring? Ther are some great articles form  – Terry Westerway/Peter Ravelje, another from Allan Harrison, then there’s info from the Association – hey get involved with the activities in Enoggera next year – 50 Years – an event NOT to be missed and to close us off for another month is some heartfelt thoughts from our 1st/83rd mates sent in by Bill Taggart – our sincere thanks Bill.

 Paul



Eyes and Ears - Volume 8 - No 9 - September 2015

50 years ago

the first two National Service intakes had commenced and the graduates from the First Intake were at the beach at North Head, Holiday Camp  –

                    First – 30th June 1965            Second – 29th September, 1965

This is what one of the huts at Puckapunyal (“Pucka”) looked like, and the following is a pretty apt description of the area -
“Barracks were home to 16 men per hut, 4 each in 4 cubicles.
Toilet and ablutions blocks were about 200 yards away.
The Mess hall was 400 yards away.
Washing and drying rooms were 200 yards away.”

This month includes the commencement of The First Battle of Coral – a series we’re publishing with the very kind permission of the Royal Australian Artillery Historical Company...then we have some great articles form  – Graham Williams in search of names, Bill Taggart (1st/83rd), George Lane, David Baher with Gunner News from the Royal New Zealand Artillery Association (a first), allen Morley on finding Ray Hutchinson then there’s info from the Association – hey get involved with the activities in Enoggera and Canberra next year – 50 Years – events NOT to be missed.

Crikey, you may need 3 days to digest this lot – forget the weekend unless you’re a speed reader! 

Paul


Eyes and Ears - Volume 8 - No 10 - October 2015

The Mystery of 131 Divisional Locating Battery Banners...?

Grahame Dignam has picked up the baton once more on this very important and somewhat troubling predicament – the “missing banner” (pictured above – “yes the blue one”)! Read it and see if you can help to solve the mystery.

This month we continue on with  The First Battle of Coral – it’s an intriguing read, Graham Williams returns with his search for names, Terry Erbs gets out and about and finds 20STA Regt, Mike Butler catches up with mates and wives, Rob Retrot meets a famous ex-digger, then there’s Bill “Fin” Finlay, Peter Pioro, Pete Ravelje (he’s back!), Russ Hamsey of 20 STA Regt fame gives us a Regt update, Bill Taggart communicates with Ed - and there’s more. Then have a read of the Association info – hey there’s the AGM coming up on 17th November (get the lowdown) and more reminders about the activities in Enoggera and Canberra next year – 50 Years – events NOT to be missed. Sadly “Vale” contains names of mates.

It’s another big one so settle back and get involved. 

Paul


Eyes and Ears - Volume 8 - No 11 - November 2015

 

Hey it’s almost that time of the year again and according to Ernie Newbold (who supplied the artwork above) let’s give it our best shot and wish you ALL a -

                     Great Christmas and a very Happy New Year!!

 

This month we have a nostalgic look at the Kokoda Lines, continue on with  The First Battle of Coral, get an early note re: National Gunner Dinner in 2016, Jeff Schafer and Chris Chapple might have recognised a couple of blokes in pics and we’re looking for some assistance with Unattended Ground Sensors. Then have a read of the Association info – what happened at the AGM and more. Bruce Irvine gets a one in a hundred type of find. “Vale” has some history revealed with a Locator.
 
Read it all now before Christmas! 
                                                                    
Paul

 Eyes and Ears - Volume 8 - No 11 - December 2015

Is this a holiday Resort?

                    Maybe even a time share location?

 

Close...but it was the home to the School of Artillery, a place a most of us called “home” for short period/s of time - North Head.

This month we’re off to have a another nostalgic look – this time at North Head, then with a really great response from a heap of heap of you to in our “Places” Survey – it’s such fun to share memories with you lot! We also cover from something about Holsworthy, Research Assistance - Unattended Ground Sensors - Phuoc Tuy, Terry Erbs has a request, Ron Mason reminds us of our fallen, then we hear from Allen Morley, Russ Hamsey, Rob Retrot, and we get on with Association stuff...

Hey I almost forgot 

“HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!”

And thanks for helping us get through another great year.

  Have great read and I look forward to hearing from you in 2016. 

 Paul