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| The photo above was sent to us by Ted McEvoy, and was taken at Laverton on the 23 August, 1961. It’s a photo of the Apprentice Squadron Rugby Union Colts team which used to play in the Melbourne competition.. Unfortunately, Ted can’t remember all the names, but perhaps you can help fill in the blanks. Appy number after each name. They are L-R:
Back Row Doug Kidd (14), Glen Gould (15), Alf Smith (13 and 14), Laurie Lindsay (14), Mick Deecke (14), Phil Holden(14), Doug Steir??(15), -- --(15) Front row - -Kiwi (15), Ted McEvoy (14), Chris Eldridge (14 and 15), Ian Guthrie-Kiwi (14), - -(15), - -(15) |
Ron Johnston, ex Army medico, now living in the UK, writes of his time in Ubon in 1963. He says,
The 28th Commonwealth Brigade were flown in from Malaya and the 16th Commonwealth Field Ambulance set up their Advanced Dressing Station on the Ubon airfield.
The Ozzi medics found the "Blue Lagoon" a favourite watering hole and one night the cyclo driver just couldn't pedal fast enough to beat curfew.
L/CPL Ron Johnston was on the mat next morning. When it came to hearing the charge, the OC, Ron Ruck, got to the point of saying, "Johnston, will you accept my punishment, or do you want to go before the CO?"
At that point there was a deafening roar from the airfield as a jet took off. "Case adjourned - march out.", shouted the OC above the roar.
Well, we got to this stage of proceedings on five or six other occasions, each time yours was saved by the RAAF, but eventually the OC cracked and awarded me a reprimand.
It must have done some good (what do they say-as long as they spell your name right!!) because seven years later I was recommended for a commission while serving with 1st Aust Field Hospital at Vung Tau, and went on to become a Captain.
The incident at Ubon always reminded me that sometimes minor irritations in military discipline affected the judge more than the guilty person.
We received the following via email and we were asked to include it in our newsletter. So here it is.
To All who have served in Washington DC.
The US Foreign Joint Services NCO Association (FJSNA) is still going strong today and they will be celebrating their 25th Anniversary with a Spring Ball on the 7th April 2001. The ball will be held in the Koran Room of the Fort Myer Officers Club in Arlington VA.The US Secretary of Defence, Mr Cohen, has been asked to be the guest speaker and all indications are that he will accept the invitation. The organisers are trying to have as many ex members of the FJSNA as possible attend this anniversary ball and there are still a few of the original founding members in Oz.
If you are thinking of attending or require further information, please contact Dany Schinzel (WO French Army) - PDschinzel @ aol.com - or you can contact Kev Kochy on Ph: (02) 6254 5932.
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