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 –

• AN/KPQ-1 RADAR South Vietnam the continuing account of Radar in SVN –  Page 7+
• Then there’s articles by  – just have to read on to catch up with info from – Bob King, an article from Tim McCombe then all the Association stuff. In Vale there’s a tribute to Tom Uren AC.

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 –

• AN/KPQ-1 RADAR South Vietnam the continuing account of Radar in SVN –  Page 3+
• Then there’s articles by  – just have to read on to catch up with info from – Kevin Thornton, Rob Retrot (a couple of times), Ernie Newbold, Kevin Browning, Allen Morley and then all the Association stuff.
• In Vale we lose another Locator Ted Doust

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 50^th 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, 4^th 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, 4^th 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 –

• A great article out of the Shepparton News – see who gets a mention
• AN/KPQ-1 RADAR South Vietnam the continuing account of Radar in SVN –  this month starts the wind down in SVN...
• Then there’s articles from – Phil Perrin, Last Days in SVN – with incomings from Rob Buzzacott, John Jaggard, Barry “Spink” Fountain and Kevin Browning – a must to read!, John Dellaca shares a look at Stan Briggs via some great photos, then there’s contributions from Murray Smales, Russ Hamsey, Joe Kaplun gets rewarded, then there’s items from George Lane x 2, Ian Amos, and some news regarding Vic Moreau who’s not all that well.
• Then to finish off Bill Taggart (1^st 83^rd fame) has something of a mystery he wants solved (on our last page).

                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 1^st/83^rd 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 –

• 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 1^st/83^rd fame gives us an answer on a last month query.

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 1^st/83^rd mates sent in by Bill Taggart – our sincere thanks Bill.

 Paul

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

50 years ago

                    First – 30^th June 1965            Second – 29^th 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 (1^st/83^rd), 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 17^th 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

                     Great Christmas and a very Happy New Year!!

 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