Stories

A new camp had been constructed in the bush much closer to our working areas. Consisting of huts canteen kitchens all with concrete floors and formed paths around the area. Just as we were about to move in a new unit No 14 RSU started to form and they were allocated the new camp as our unit was supposed to be on the move. 

Our C.O. and the C.O. of 14RSU got their heads together and we moved and pitched our tents on the new playing fields, we shared the facilities, combined our rations and staff which worked very well and it was only then that the two CO’s notified headquarters in Melbourne as to what had happened. It was almost 3 months before we actually moved on bound for New Guinea. 

This site after the war was abandoned to the bush. In 1990 ex-members of our unit with assistance from Blacktown Council and RAAF personnel from Richmond Air Base were instrumental in having the site cleared of scrub etc, the bases of concrete and mess huts were exposed and left and a large trachyte stone with the names of all units who formed at Mt Druitt and their COs inscribed on it was erected to commemorate the site. A parade was held and about 40 ex-members of units marched up the road and stone was officially unveiled. It was a proud moment for us all. Unfortunately Blacktown Council had planted about 50 trees around the area but they took legs and walked the night before the opening. 

I was one of the working party detailed to clean up our old camp. We made it quite a simple procedure. Two 44-Gallon drums of aviation fuel which was simply poured over all the buildings, laid a trail of fuel about 100 yards from same and dropped a match. Boom, in a matter of minutes the camp was gone. 

While being equipped and packing all the gear for transport life became a little boring. We attended dances at Mt Druitt and St Marys where a large ammunition works was and employing several hundred girls. We had Saturday and sometimes Sunday leave so I was able to get home to Moss Vale. 

We had guard duty to do in conjunction with guard dog unit formed on site. The bosses in their wisdom strung No 8 wire about 50 to 70 yards long around each stores area with a dog attached to same by means of a running loop.  We used to get up one end of the wire and rattle same. As the dog charged down our mates would slip over the unguarded end. 

Our section consisted of 1 Sergeant and 10 other ranks, 4 carpenters, 5 General Hands, 2 aircraft fitters. The names of men in our section were:

Sergeant Waite Brisbane (Qld)

Carpenters: Fred Anthon Moss Vale

John Wright Rose Bay

Ralph Lynch Glebe

Alf George -Corporal Seymour (Vic)

Fitters: Snow Cullingham Penrith

George Benjamin Ramsgate

General Hands: Will Barrett Victoria

Alf Brock Adelaide (SA)

Eddie McCabe Nallangaree? Via Lismore

Dave McCabe Nallangaree? Via Lismore

Dave Foley Lismore

As you will notice we covered a fair area of the eastern states.

We came from all walks of life – a taxation clerk from Adelaide, QANTAS mechanics from Sydney, 3 sawmillers from the Lismore district.  Our Sergeant was a good leader and organiser from Brisbane but had one fault.  He was married to a pretty girl who was living nearby. When a time of the month came around he would say the most atrocious things about her which, strange as it may seem, used to upset all the boys in section especially the married ones.  One time when he was carrying on one of the boys, name not known, got a “US” ticket, these were placed on any article which was unserviceable, and hung across the photo of his wife which sat on a shelf above his desk.  All hell broke loose when he returned and saw it but it had the desired effect as he never did say anything nasty about his wife in the ensuing months.