Message From The President
With winter well and truly upon us I hope this newsletter finds you in good health and spirits. Another successful ANZAC Re-union was held on the 18 Apr at the Warradale Other Ranks Canteen. It was very pleasing to see some old faces and all that attended had an enjoyable evening. As always the food was great and I thank all who contributed to the success of the evening. Many thanks especially must go to the President and members of the Canteen for allowing us to use the facility and also WO2 Al Kidney from Army Band Adelaide for his contribution as bugler for the formalities during the evening.
AFV Repair in the Light Green
World War 1 German Gun Restoration
A brief history of WW1 German war trophies After World War 1 the War Trophies committee, a sub committee of a British War Office committee was established “to control the distribution of all the trophies captured by the Imperial Armies.” There were many disagreements and negotiations about who should have claim to these trophies but in July 1918 it was decided that AIF units who claimed their trophies could have them “if they could substantiate their claim and if they were not serviceable or required for conversion”. Subsequently it was reported in the newspapers of the day that 300 Artillery pieces, 3000 machine guns, trench mortars, many horse drawn vehicles and motor vehicles would be bought from England to Australia where distribution would be made to the many claimants in the cities and townships around the country. |
The Royal Corps
The last "Crafty Moments" touched on the changes to our distinguished Corps Emblem and hat badge. Although surmounting of the "horse forcene" with the Queen's Crown occurred in 1955 - (over three years after her coronation in Feb 52) - there has been on further significant and sad change. Few serving today will know that our current hat badge was introduced in 1972, when the former 1955 format was altered to display a much larger Queen's Crown in compensation for the loss of our "prestigious" title as "The Royal Corps of Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers". From 1948 until 1971, our Corps was the only one in the Australian Army with this elite title, granted by King George VI on 10 Nov 48 for our dedicated services during WWII. Buried beyond history
COURTESY THE AUSTRALIAN IT was the Australian Army's worst accident, a tragedy so grim and gruesome it tore open the heart of a country town. When 26 army recruits died in a 1945 accident, they disappeared from the Anzac story In a single blinding flash of gelignite, 26 young lives were snuffed out in an underground bunker at an army training camp at Kapooka, near Wagga Wagga in NSW. When they buried the victims three days later, half of the population of Wagga - 7000 men, women and children - lined the streets to bow their heads at the passing parade of coffins. It remains to this day the nation's largest military funeral. |
There is no doubt that most of us are familiar with the prominent Corps artwork depicting repairs to a Centurion Tank in Vietnam. But how many of you know the origins of the painting? The painting currently resides in the foyer of the Army Logistic Officers Mess. The following text is reproduced from Maintenance Cell precis and provides an insight into the history behind the painting.