News and Views-> Bob Cowley's Diary
Bob Cowley's RMC Diary
Friday 8/12/52
I left for Duntroon tonight on the 8.58pm train from Sydney. Family and I had tea in town and went to a newsreel where we saw Duntroon cadets on one of the newsreels about the Jubilee.
Saturday 9/2/52
Arrived at Duntroon early this morning – busy day getting clothing etc, med examination and moving into our rooms. Pictures tonight.
Sunday 10/2/52
Went to church in the gym. Cleaned all my gear and fixed my room this afternoon.
Monday 11/2/52
Had RSM G.J. Watson, 'Fango', for first time.
Tuesday 12/2/52
Joined the RMC choir – tenor. Played tennis this afternoon.Wednesday 13/2/52
Drill, SAT etc.
Thursday 14/2/52
Went to the dentist – one filled and had X-Rays. Played tennis. Formal mess.
Friday 15/2/52
Watched weight-lifting tonight. Had our photos taken.
Saturday 16/2/52
Pictures to-night.
Sunday 17/2/52
Went into Canberra for the service on the funeral of King George VI – went to Parliament House – good service.
Had tea with Sisters Cox and Fraser in the sitting room at the hospital. Met a girl from Canberra High, who came up to Parramatta High in 1950. In the hospital visiting Buntine.
Monday 18/2/52
Work as usual.
Tuesday 19/2/52
Started Infantry training. Rang Brian Morris. Played tennis.
Saturday 23/2/52
Pictures to-night.
Sunday 24/2/52
Had lnitiation and 'Drumming ln'. 78% in screed.
Monday 25/2/52
Talk tonight to all CSC by Mr Menzies.
Tuesday 26/2/52
Choir practice. I have to sweep out Coy office for a week for not doing it at the right time on Saturday.
Had our second boxing lesson to-day.
Thursday 28/2/52
Swimming Carnival – several records broken.
Friday 29/2/52
Received parcel of one pair of KDs and one shirt and gaiters from home.
Sunday 2/3/52
Tennis-Party – Miss Jennifer Castlehowe.
Tuesday 4/3/52
My first extra drill this morning.
Wednesday 5/3/52
Went about 12 miles out of Canberra map reading. Jack Fletcher arrived. My second extra drill.
Saturday 8/3/52
Went to Canberra to-night – Civic theatre 'David and Bathsheba'. Our first leave.
Came home with Frank Simpkins on the bus which we were lucky to get.
Sunday 9/3/52
Cleaned all my gear.
Tuesday 11/3/52
Inoculations - tetanus and typhoid.
Wednesday 12/3/52
Went into hospital.
Thursday 13/3/52
Hosp.
Friday 14/3/52
Hosp -- got up, playing chess all day with Brian Hall and Cpl Hitchings.
Either Thursday or Friday I think. Got a reg. parcel from home – small travelling iron – a beauty and cord and another pair of KDs.
Saturday 15/3/52
Hosp.
Sunday 16/3/52
Hosp.
Monday 17/3/52
Came out – ex duty. Started civil work at night – our last week on completely military subjects.
Tuesday 18/3/52
Ex duty.
Wednesday 19/3/52
Ex duty. Letter from Bill. I wrote 6 pages in return.
Thursday 20/3/52
Full duty. Rained all day. Painters painting our rooms. Went for a cross-country run – ended up swimming in the Molonglo. Chem Warfare exam – OK.
Friday 21/3/52
Rained hard. Professor Sir Douglas Copland gave a talk to-night on the Nat. University and mixed in a bit about the Chinese. Toc Orderly.
Saturday 22/3/52
Went on leave this afternoon – to Mrs Lyons place for tea and took Jennifer Castlehow to a party at the Manuka Tennis Pavilion. Saw Margaret MacKinnon. Castlehows lent me a bike.
Sunday 23/3/52
Took bike back this afternoon and got a lift back from Kingston. Called in on Lyons.
Monday 24/3/52
Started civil study. 4BC1 is my class.
Tuesday 25/3/52
Military day once a week. 2 hrs drill, 1 hr PT, 3 hrs bayonet and assault courses, and a run this afternoon after smallpox vac and my second typhoid needle.
Wednesday 26/3/52
Civil work.
Thursday 27/3/52
Civil work. lssued with more text books. Cpl Johnston – my section commander 2nd Class demoted today and put on 14 days CB for leaving hosp without permission and AWL.
Friday 28/3/52
Civil work OK.
Saturday 29/3/52
Went to a party in Canberra tonight with about 12 or 13 other 4th Class – got a lift home.
Sunday 30/3/52
Started having services in the theatre. Jack Fletcher took some photos of me and my room and Duntroon etc. Pictures tonight - fair show.
Monday 31/3/52
Civil work OK.
Tuesday 1/4/52
Military work – really getting into the boxing – Owen.
Wednesday 2/4/52
lssued with new beds.
Thursday 3/4/52
Card to say my registered parcel from home has arrived.
Friday 4/4/52
Collected my parcel – text books.
Saturday 5/4/52
Drill this morning – got a drill for dirty sling.
Sunday 6/4/52
Went to Bulls Head – cutting timber – 11 of us – 2 GMCs – cutting 14 ft lengths of 1 inch or 1 1/2 inch thickness – extra good day.
Reported sick tonight with an abscessed tooth – Sister gave me a penicillin injection.
Monday 7/4/52
Civil work as usual – maths tough. Did my drill but I need not have. BSM let me off on my drill form.
Tuesday 8/4/52
Military work drill-leadership. RSM training representatives from RAAF and RAN ready for the ceremony on Anzac Day at the War Memorial.
Wednesday 9/4/52
Civil work. Bought most of our foodstuffs for the Easter Rec Camp.
Thursday 10/4/52
Pitched our (Bill Mostyn, Peter Tedder, Jack Fletcher, Brian Wright and me) tent at the Cotter River. Received tin of chocolates from home and another packet of lollies. Half day civil work.
Friday 11/4/52
Good Friday. Had a look round the Cotter and Murrumbidgee Rivers and the Cotter Dam.
Saturday 12/4/52
Peter and I braved the Murrumbidgee rapids on two logs tied together with tent ropes – goodoh, walked back.
Sunday 13/4/52
Rained most of the day. Just about out of food.
Monday 14/4/52
The other parties sent us some food – rained – left in the afternoon and arrived back at Duntroon. Couldn't find anywhere the key to my room. Had to knock the door in. Wrote home to-night.
Tuesday 15/4/52
Fired the Owen this morning. I qualified – only a few did. Rained cats and dogs at the hockey practice.
Wednesday 16/4/52
Got 2 experiments marked in Chem Prac this afternoon.
Thursday 17/4/52
Hockey practice.
Friday 18/4/52
Usual work.
Saturday 19/4/52
Played Old Canberrans hockey – lost 3-0. I played with the Ill's. Pictures to-night. Tried out the new washing machine. Shore won the Regatta.
Sunday 20/4/52
Bogged most of the day. Pictures to-night. Wore blues on church parade.
Monday 21/4/52
Wore battledress first time. I reported sick – Dr cleared something from my R ear. The dentist said my teeth are OK – thank heaven. I have a bad cold – all the works. Got our radiators.
Tuesday 22/4/52
Boxing – to-day I was on the receiving end of a black eye from Bill Mostyn.
Wednesday 23/4/52
Boxing again to-day. I went much better.
Thursday 24/4/52
Usual civil work. Prepared our white webbing for tomorrow.
Friday 25/4/52
Anzac Day – rained – wore battledress. Had a service up at Gen Bridges' grave. Jack Fletcher's parents came down.
Saturday 26/4/52
Lecture by CO. Let off a drill. Pictures to-night.
Sunday 27/4/52
Went to the War Memorial this afternoon. Pictures to-night 'Happy Go Lucky'. Picture this morning 'The First World War'.
Monday 28/4/52
Civil work.
Tuesday 29/4/52
Civil work. Didn't go to hockey practice – rained. I've got a bad cold.
Wednesday 30/4/52
Civil work.
Thursday 1/5/52
Exams – Physics and Chemistry. Got our May pay 30/-. I burnt a hole in mine.
Friday 2/5/52
Maths Pure and Applied exams. 1st, 2nd and 3rd Classes left on leave.
Saturday 3/5/52
Only 4th Class left in the College.
Sunday 4/5/52
Ginini – erecting huts and whatnot. Maj Morrow put me in charge of carpentry.
Monday 5/5/52
Ginini – going to be the best ski run in Australia. Having expert instructors for the Corps.
Tuesday 6/5/52
Ginini.
Wednesday 7/5/52
Came back from Ginini. MRFS exercise this afternoon - tearing around in a utility. Other half of 4th Class left for Ginini. Had a good old time eating toast in my room to-night.
Thursday 8/5/52
Out on grenade range in pouring rain filling sandbags – Whacko!
Friday 9/5/52
Rec Room Dance for 4th Class. Met Margaret Cameron.
Saturday 10/5/52
Ross Desmond swiped my bike to go to town on. I got a new floral carpet for my room.
Sunday 11/5/52
Fixed up my room most of the day. Other classes came back.
Monday 12/5/52
Work as per usual. Exam results – I came equal top in physics and failed in chemistry.
Tuesday 13/5/52
Maths marks Pure back. OK.
Wednesday 14/5/52
Went into hospital. Nurses Joyce Mason, Dulcie Johnston new both from Kalgoorlie. I'm in the isolation ward – glandular fever.
Thursday 15/5/52
Hosp.
Friday 16/5/52
Hosp.
Saturday 17/5/52
Got up. Met a sailor from Harman – Larry La Something.
Sunday 18/5/52
Hosp.
Monday 19/5/52
Hosp.
Tuesday 20/5/52
Hosp.
Wednesday 21/5/52
Hosp.
Thursday 22/5/52
Hosp. Doc said I could leave tomorrow. Went with Joyce and Dulcie to the canteen to get things for farewell to Captain Rigney.
Friday 23/5/52
Concert to-night 'Getting Married' G.B. Shaw.
Saturday 24/5/52
Changed my (1 pr) gloves for a good pair that fits well. Had afternoon tea at the hosp. Talked with the Sisters for a while in front of the fire in their lounge.
Sunday 25/5/52
St Andrew's Cathedral Boys Choir here – extra good. Pretty good pictures to-night.
Monday 26/5/52
Full duty.
Tuesday 27/5/52
Boxing commenced. Bill Mostyn lost to John Hall. Gen Hopkins said he thought he won. I was his second with Adrian Queree.
Wednesday 28/5/52
Boxing again to-day. Brian Wright lost to Barry Dance. Jack Fletcher won against Bill Fleming. UO Reed walked into my room very unexpectedly while I was writing this up etc. We are going on the ABC with the College choir on June 17th.
Thursday 29/5/52
ABC recorded the choir to-night for Duntroon ? hour on 17 June at 7.45pm 2BL. College song and Old Father Thames. No boxing today – looks as though I'll be fighting Ken Cooke tomorrow. Wrote home to-night and sent one photo of the Cotter Camp.
Friday 30/5/52
Fought Ken Cooke (NZ) in the boxing this afternoon – I won – the ref said closely. Bill Mostyn and Jack Fletcher were my seconds. They were extra good. The chaps said afterwards it was a good fight.
Saturday 31/5/52
Rained during practice for Queen's Birthday (writing this on 9 June). I collapsed so I believe in the top blocks to-night at about 9.30. Was carried on a stretcher to the hospital – was quite delirious so I believe.
Sunday 1/6/52
Woke up in hosp. (9 June). Believe I have concussion. Wal Campbell in too.
Monday 2/6/52 .
Hosp. (9 June). Bad news from home yesterday about my brother's osteo.
Tuesday 3/6/52
Hosp. (9 June).
Wednesday 4/6/52
Hosp. (9 June). Pete Phillips came in with concussion.
Thursday 5/6/52
Watched the Queen's Birthday Parade – extra good. Maj Corrigan said it was the best he has seen. He comes from the Queen's Bays in England. Trev Cahill and Ted Dews came in again with crook legs.
Friday 6/6/52
Hosp. Major Pascoe and Captain MacDonald dropped in.
Saturday 7/6/52
Doc didn't come round.
Sunday 8/6/52
Len Johnson and I went to the pictures to-night with Dave Drabsch from the hosp. Had supper in the Sisters' lounge with Sister Cox, Joyce and Dulcie.
Not a bad show [to-night] 'Lady in the Dark' and good shorts. Tony Lanigan, Neil O'Loghlen, Bill Harkness and Col Smith put on open arrest yesterday for drinking. Len and I helped Sister Furey in the hosp garden.
Monday 9/6/52
Holiday. Doc let me out to-day also let Len Johnson out. Collected my Current Affairs Bulletin.
Tuesday 10/6/52
Ex duty. Choir practice. Took Paul Levin's stuff down to him in hosp. Open Boxing started. Rang up Val Booth after studies to-night F211 Griffith.
Wednesday 11/6/52
Civil work as usual. Tony Lanigan, Neil O'Loghlen and Bill Harkness on 21 days CB for drinking. Still ex-duty to-day. Doc said to go full duty tomorrow. Went into Canberra about eyes - am going to wear glasses. Mr Dempsey's chit.
Thursday 12/6/52
Hockey practice.
Friday 13/6/52
Watched boxing to-night. Hurt my back in PT. Hawkesbury College arrived to play football tomorrow.
Saturday 14/6/52
2 periods this morning. Rec room dance to-night. I scored in both hockey matches this afternoon. 1sts won 6-0, 2nds 1-1. We beat Hawksbury College 1sts 7-0, 2nds lost 3-6. Rang up Val, meeting her tomorrow at 2.30. Sent home my rain coat to Bill. Registered 3632. I saw 'Career to Command' to-night.
Sunday 15/6/52
Church – sang a vesper for the first time. I went out to Griffith to see Val Booth. Had afternoon tea at their place. Had no tea – walked back from Griffith right round because bridges were flooded over. Got a short lift. Had toc in the hosp then dropped in at the pictures. Sister Furey and Sister Marshall were there.
Monday 16/6/52
Civil work as usual. Bill Silverston in hosp with concussion - took some things down for him.
Tuesday 17/6/52
Letter from Mum and one from Phillip Constable at PHS wanting to know what Duntroon is like – he might try. Trev Reed beat Bill Gale easily in the boxing. Tony Barr beat L/Cpl Hulse.
Wednesday 18/6/52
Wrote a long letter home to-night. Asked for chinstrap from cadet cap and tie. Chem films this afternoon. Choir practice.
Thursday 19/6/52
Just before sport the Com had us all down digging a drain for the overflow in the dam to keep it off the playing fields. Looked in at the hosp. Len Buckley in. Our account books came back to-day. I am credited with 27-3-1. Coy Commanders started showing the cadets their confidential reports. Good hockey practice this afternoon.
Friday 20/6/52
Applied Maths test - went OK. Made a new edge to a path in C Coy area to-night.
Saturday 21/6/52
Boxing and Wrestling finals. Boxing:- HW Trev Reed UO C Coy, LHW Bill Collins C Coy, MW Mal Van Gelder B Coy, WW Bill Andrew A Coy LW Adrian Queree B Coy. Wrestling: HW Ian MacFarlane C Coy, LHW John Kelly, MW Paul Kitney, WW Dave Smith, LW Kev Newman. Unarmed combat by S/M Davies and S/M Burzacott. Trev Reed fought a terrific fight for the HW – looked pretty tired towards the end though. III Hockey beat Turner by 15-0.
Sunday 22/6/52
Early Church for just about the whole Corps to-day. Communion. Went to the hosp this afternoon - had afternoon tea there. Pictures to-night 'Unfaithfully Yours'. Goodoh.
Monday 23/6/52
DJs arrived with their sports coats. Pure Maths exam.
Tuesday 24/6/52
C Coy won against D Coy 6-5 rugby. Fired the .38 revolver and the Bren.
Wednesday 25/6/52
Peter Tedder in hosp with knee. Major Pascoe saw some of the C Coy 4th Class about their assessment of officer qualities. I'm in the top bracket with 35. Highest so far is about 41.5.
Thursday 26/6/52
Maths marks back. I got 33 out of 62. OK compared with the class average. Physics test.
Friday 27/6/52
Test back Applied Maths. Lecture by Lt Col Ferguson on Korea.
Saturday 28/6/52
Trooping of Colour practice in drill. Ills won hockey. Pictures 'The Farmer's Daughter'.
Rang up Val Booth. Invited her to the Winter Ball. I went to bed for a couple of hours this morning.
Sunday 29/6/52
Very easy day – communion at 7.30. Had breakfast in D Coy mess. Bill hurt his ankle yesterday – I helped Sister Furey strap it up. Bill Silverstone in a pretty bad way in hosp. Freezing to-night with a chilly wind. Pictures ‘EI Paso’. Bill Mostyn had tea at Corbetts.
Monday 30/6/52
Received to-day O-Pip greatcoat - a beauty - cream flannels and cream shorts – rain coat. No visitors allowed for Bill Silverstone. I work better by myself in Physics – got the experiment out OK. Jack Fletcher is Orderly Ack. The Corps will be issued with lanyards on Wednesday. C Coy will wear scarlet being the winner of the Lee Shield. The other coys will wear khaki.
Tuesday 1/7/52
Hard day's work to-day. Firing 2" mortar and digging in the grenade range. 2 periods of drill and a very hard PT lesson with the medicine ball over Mt Pleasant and on the square. C Coy beat B Coy in the rugby this afternoon 8-5. Choir practice to-night. Malcolm Van Gelder put a HE bomb in my mortar head first. Nothing happened thank goodness. .
Wednesday 2/7/52
Good day – finished 2 experiments in Chemistry. Got a good answer for one too. 2 letters from Mum. Slip for Homebush Training Depot receipt of my Cadet Lieut's commission. Letter from Ted. Issued with red lanyards this afternoon. Jack Fletcher invited me to Mrs Thomson's for tea on Sat night at Braddon. Mr Thomson is a chemist. Wrote home to-night – wrote to Monier for my Group Certificate. Sent receipt slip to 10 Cadet Bn Homebush. Put down where we will be staying during August leave. Frank Johnston got a charge for using my rifle on the square this morning.
Thursday 3/7/52
Our team hockey beat Flinders cadets 4-2 – I was line judge. They were in our mess tonight. Don Baker in hosp – Lanigan told me to fix his room up and take his rifle to the Q Store.
Friday 4/7/52
Parcel of chocolates arrived from home. Chemistry and Applied Maths test – I didn't do much good I'm afraid. Nose bled for 40 mins at lunch time to-day. Bill Mostyn started keeping a diary. Took Don Baker's rifle down to the Q Store. Gave Jack Fletcher 2/6 as half share in a box of chocs for Mrs Thomson tomorrow night. Sedgman won the Wimbledon singles against Drobny.
Saturday 5/7/52
Lecture by Commander Marks [spelling?] this morning 2ic of Flinders – very good on the Navy's part in Korea. Snowed while we were drilling this morning. To-night Jack Fletcher and I went to Mr and Mrs Thompson's place in Torrens St – had tea – very nice evening. This afternoon Hockey Ills lost to Old Canberrans 4-6. Col Goyne said I played a good game on the right wing. Got a lift all the way back from Civic. Rang up Val this afternoon.
Sunday 6/7/52
Bogged most of the day - washed and ironed. Talking to Dulcie this afternoon. The nurses don't get leave till Christmas. Had a very interesting talk with Trev Reed to-night about music while he was playing the piano in the large Rec Room. Good pictures tonight – good comedy 'John Loves Mary' and another with Alexis Smith and Zachary Scott in it.
Monday 7/7/52
Couldn't see too well through the micrometer microscope this afternoon. Mr Balfe had a go but didn't do much good either. Got my gold buttons for my greatcoat this afternoon. SAT exam tomorrow. A parcel to Jack Fletcher from Mr Thompson in Canberra with a copy of the London Times on the proposed Aus Royal Tour that didn't come off. Talking to Sister Furey to-night before tea – she has just started playing chess. BSM in hosp with a crook leg from Ginini.
Tuesday 8/7/52
A Coy beat us in the hockey this afternoon. I was left wing. Letter from home with a copy of my report [?] and also my Group Certificate. Letter from Denis this morning,
Wednesday 9/7/52
Polished my floor to-night and cleaned my radiator and rifle ready for BC Day tomorrow. Had volley ball for PT. Letter from Monier saying that they had already sent my Group Certificate home.
Thursday 10/7/52
Watched C Coy draw with B Coy in hockey.
Friday 11/7/52
Nothing outstanding except the lecture given to-night by Paul Maguire – extra good – on Communism and the threat to Australia.
Saturday 12/7/52
Reported sick with flu. Filled out our tax returns. I should get 4-18-3 return on what I earned at Monier as well as here. Played Norths hockey – they are the leaders in the comp – beat them 6-4. Went to the farewell given by C Coy to Maj and Mrs Pascoe at the Canberra Hotel to-night – very good. The Com and his wife were there also our new coy comd Maj McNamara. Jack and I went to the Civic theatre – good show.
Sunday 13/7/52
Went to early church - communion. Played chess to-night with Brian Hall – stalemate after 1 1/2 hours! Toc Orderly. Jack helped me bring it over this afternoon.
Monday 14/7/52
Reported sick this morning – light duty. Went to ‘King Lear’ at the Albert Hall to-night acted by the John Alder company – extra good. Didn't get to bed till 11.40 pm. Getting on with the start of the new building.
Wednesday 16/7/52
Ex duty – rained. Collected my gloves this afternoon in Canberra. Was driven in in a staff car with a couple of other bods.
Thursday 17/7/52
Ex duty. Elected Tony Barr and Lachie Thomson to the social committee. Couple of studies to-day for Pure Maths. I started the old urn going to-night for toc.
Friday 18/7/52
Civil work just the same. Still ex duty.
Saturday 19/7/52
Played hockey to-day although ex duty – lost 3-1 to Barton - good game.
Winter Ball to-night. Took Val Booth – out there for tea. Don Paterson and Penny Gay picked us up in the car (38 Chev) also Peter Sojan and Noelle (?) Lavater and Adrian Clunies-Ross and Robin Evans – all in the one car. Penny Gay invited me out to a party next Sat night. Good Ball – told I was a good dancer! Bill Mostyn went to see 'The Desert Fox' at the Capitol.
Sunday 20/7/52 .
Working party at Manuka Oval - moving stands and whatnot-for the NZ Services v Canb Services. Lost 48-16. I slept this afternoon for about 3 hours. One picture tonight was OK with Lew Ayres in it. The other was absolutely lousy. Bad eyes to-day.
Monday 21/7/52
Doc reckons I've got sinus trouble. Still ex duty. Physics expo this afternoon OK.
Tuesday 22/7/52
Had a haircut this afternoon ready for leave. Still ex duty with sinus trouble.
Wednesday 23/7/52
Parcel from home – ‘Big Sister’ fruit cake – whacko! Didn't do too well in last Chem test – hardly anyone did. Bill got a charge for his room.
Thursday 24/7/52
D Coy won the hockey. Rang up Penny to-night – wasn't home. Bill's charge broken down to a drill. Pep talk to 3rd and 4th Classes in 7 Platoon by Bill Silverston to-night. Telegram from Bill – I wrote home. Maj McNamara dropped into the block to-night during studies. Came into my room and had a chat on this and that.
Friday 25/7/52
Civil work as usual. Collected my blazer and scarf from the Q Store – extra good fit. Jack invited me out to his place on Mon week for a party. CHS Teams arrived – 7 from PHS Peter Thompson, Dave Armstrong etc.
Saturday 26/7/52
CHS versus Duntroon on No 1 Oval – won both easily. Lost hockey 4-0 - can't seem (the team I mean) to take a trick at hockey. Rang up Penny and put off to-night. Extra good show to-night 'Let's Live a Little' Hedy Lamarr. Got an extra drill this morning – dust in the bore – from Cpl Reynolds. Wore sports clothes to the pictures for the first time – Adrian borrowed one of my ties. Lost my key. Bad sinus headaches all day.
Sunday 27/7/52
Went to early Communion. Found my key OK. Said goodbye to Peter Thompson and others. Possibly see them Monday week when I go back to the school. Goodoh pictures to-night.
Monday 28/7/52
Class Orderly. Physics and Applied Maths exams. Discovered in a Melbourne paper of July 22 that the two American student debaters beat Daryl Dawson and Reid in the Melb Uni team. Marjorie Jackson dropped the baton in the Olympics Relay.
Tuesday 29/7/52
Military day – digging and stacking sandbags on the grenade range. Drill and PT. I am Class Orderly. Went up to the gym this afternoon and practised on the box horse. A letter from Denis. Bill will not be able to meet me – working Friday night. Collected my washing 6/1. Don't feel much like studying with first leave so close.
Wednesday 30/7/52
Last day class orderly.
Thursday 31/7/52
2 hour Chem paper this afternoon.
Friday 1/8/52
Pure Maths exam. Left Duntroon – arrived home before 11 pm. Denis waiting with a taxi at Guildford. Pleased to get home for a break. Letter from PHSESU.
Saturday 2/8/52
Mum and I went to the pictures in town this afternoon ‘Where no Vultures Fly’ at the State – OK. I went to Piersons on way home. Bill came home early from work this
morning. Bill has a terrific stamp collection from all over the world. [Then follows some calculations about who owes what with money].
Sunday 3/8/52
Stayed home all day. Piersons (except Mr) came round to-night. Had a good evening. Judith and Cynthia are going to knit me a polo-neck and balaclava.
Monday 4/8/52
Slept in late this morning – have a cold. Went back to school this afternoon. Saw Nico our colourful sports master . Also saw Mr Johnson, Ross Hunt etc.
Saw the cadets. They have their parades on Thursdays now. Went to Jack's party at his place at Baulkham Hills. Extra good. Brought us home in the car. Saw Barbara Cash, Wendy Frail, Barbara White and her brother Saxon. About 8 chaps from Duntroon. Barbara Cash's birthday to-day.
Tuesday 5/8/52
Writing this on 14th.
Bill and I went to Strathfield and town. I did a lot of shopping. Wireless at Strathfield 6 valve Peter Pan, clock at Angus and Coote, total 2-11-0 and heck knows what else.
Wednesday 6/8/52
Rained just about all day. Wireless going like a champ.
Thursday 7/8/52
Went into town and bought a camera Zeiss Ikonta 32 pounds, f3.5 12 exp 11300 sec. Went to the pictures at the Roxy by myself.
Friday 8/8/52
Bike ride this afternoon. Called in at Jack's place – he passed me twice in the car! Rang up Bill Mostyn to-night.
Saturday 9/8/52
GPS beat Duntroon 19-11 in the match at the Cricket Ground. Jack took Joyce Graham, Daryl Harper and myself in the Holden. Our blokes looked tired to me – should have been last Saturday. Went to bed early to-night and got a good 12 hours sleep. Saw also the 2nd Test at the SCG. Fijians won 17-15.
Sunday 10/8/52
Spent most of the morning packing. Had a talk with Mr and Mrs Sullivan. Dad and I carried my things into Central. Slept on 5.28 pm train for Duntroon. Mr and Mrs Fletcher gave Dad a lift to Granville.
Monday 11/8/52
Work as usual – still got up at 6.15. I'm Orderly Ack. Wireless going OK – I'll have to get a really long aerial.
Tuesday 12/8/52
Hockey practice in the rain with Blue Hodgkinson.
Wednesday 13/8/52
Letter from Mum. 5 4th Class bods on charges for not handing drill forms in ages ago from Mr Balfe.
Thursday 14/8/52
Failed badly in Pure Maths. B in Physics.
Friday 15/8/52
Civil work as usual. Failed in Applied Maths. 2x21 days CB and 3x14 days CB from the 4th Class charges. L/Cpl Salom my new Section Commander.
Saturday 16/8/52
Last hockey match for the year. Lost to Waratah 3-1. Max Booth brother of Val Booth in the W. team. Pictures to-night. Two studies this morning. Did most of my English essay. Bill Silverstone moved into next block. Cpl McKeown moved in.
Sunday 17/8/52
Bogged most of the day.
Monday 18/8/52
Passed in Chem.
Tuesday 19/8/52
Dug trenches out near Ainslie. Bill Mostyn and I are on a Y trench and they're to be finished by next Tuesday.
Lecture by the Com to-night on the last exam results. 42-16-11 in my account.
Wednesday 20/8/52
Com Tocs for a few bods warned out for discharge at the end of the year. Currie, Lake, Rankin 4th Class - Andrew Wynn 3rd Class. Clunies and I got back late to studies to-night after a late haircut after choir practice. Shin pads arrived from home to-day. Letter from Cynthia – says the polo-neck sweater she is knitting is well under way - coming down soon. Letter from Mum. CO gave the Corps a pep talk to-day.
Thursday 21/8/52
Air mail letter from Bill – wants to know if I'd like him to send me down Bullers Mechanics – I sure would. The Com left for a tour of West Point, Kingston and Sandhurst. First Com since Maj-Gen Bridges to do this.
Friday 22/8/52
36/80 English – might pass. Bought another reel of film. Row over Coy Office – Alex Smith and I are on an extra 3 days. Going to have a Coy Commander's toc next week.
Saturday 23/8/52
‘Spined’ most of the morning after rain wiped out drill. This afternoon watched Aust Rules and Rugby finals. We lost to Royals in the rugby 5-3. Pictures to-night. Adrian got his radio – small Chrysler.
Sunday 24/8/52
Early communion. Slept (went to bed) for 3 hrs this morning. Delivered a bit of bumph to Lt McCann at Duntroon House - saw the Com's office and Sandy's hoof.
Monday 25/8/52
Gus Buntine slept in till after breakfast – only got an extra drill from Maj McNamara. Had a toc with Coy Commander Maj McNamara this afternoon after failing in Maths. Just said not to ease up. Collected my first developed reel – 5 didn't turn out – must have made a blue with the timing.
Tuesday 26/8/52
Digging trenches again – great lumps of rock. Padre May gave me a parcel of cakes that Mum sent down to me through Mrs Pierson. Rang up Mrs Pierson at Rev Gibson's place. Going out there at Ainslie next Sunday.
Wednesday 27/8/52
Got barathea cap and envelopes from the Q Store. Sent home in my letter 3 snaps, 1 of Digger, 1 of GPS match and 1 of Jack Fletcher, Ken Mooney and myself. 3 Physics tutorial periods this afternoon.
Thursday 28/8/52
Watched RMC v St Peters, Adelaide play Aust Rules this afternoon – we won. Letter from Mum.
Friday 29/8/52
All afternoon off in studies.
Saturday 30/8/52
Went (Jack and I) to Mrs Thompson's place for tea thence to Mrs West's place where her daughter Camilla gave a party – met Geoff Wheeler who was in the Canberra High debating team. Mr West drove Jack and me home.
Sunday 31/8/52
Left straight after lunch to go out to the Rev Gibson's place in Ainslie where Mrs Pierson is staying (and Debby). Had a nice afternoon and tea – went to church – offered to help dig holes for trees for the new church that is going up. Met Bill Price who is going to study theology – he drove me home in Mr Gibson's Morris Minor.
Monday 1/9/52
100 days to go ceremony to-night put on by 4th Class – extra good. Scotch College, Melbourne arrived.
Tuesday 2/9/52
Digging trenches again to-day. Also fired the PlAT at a moving target drawn by a bren gun carrier. Beat Scotch at Aust Rules by 1 goal (6 points). Adrian took a photo of me in my inf rigout.
Wednesday 3/9/52
Civil work as usual.
Thursday 4/9/52
Athletics training.
Friday 5/9/52
Civil work.
Saturday 6/9/52
RMC v Royals Grand Final – RMC won 9-6. Tilly Bodle wing for Royals. Met Brian Morris again – invited me out.
Sunday 7/9/52
Went out to Gibson's. Dug a few tree holes at the site of the new Ainslie Church. Mrs Pierson gave me a cake – went to church to-night at Ainslie. In the Sunday papers – how 'Prussianised' the Duntroon cadets are according to Mr Downer MHR. Went for a short bike ride with Kev 'Scruffy' Newman.
Monday 8/9/52
Civil work as usual.
Tuesday 9/9/52
Athletics training.
Wednesday 10/9/52
Civil work.
Thursday 11/9/52
Dr Clunies-Ross, Chairman of CSIRO and Adrian's father gave a lecture to-night on the CSIRO. Approached by Vin Harris 2nd Class to join debating club.
Friday 12/9/52
Have a debate next Thursday night.
Saturday 13/9/52
Got a drill this morning. Threw 85ft with the discus standing this afternoon. Fixed the cotter pin in Jack's bike for him this afternoon. Fixed up the Recd Room and all around in C Coy for the C Coy Dance to-night. Took a couple of photos down at laths this afternoon. C Coy Hop to-night wasn't bad.
Sunday 14/9/52
Adrian actually threw 86 ft with the discus! 1 ft better than I did. Pictures to-night. Went to bed this afternoon. Let off drill.
Monday 15/9/52
Spectroscope experiment with Tony Barr and Neil Byme. Collected my blues this afternoon. Jack and I talking about going on an initiative hike. Rained.
Tuesday 16/9/52
Choir practices becoming more frequent for the oncoming revue on the 27th. Debate postponed for a couple of weeks. Rained and hailed very hard this afternoon. Went up to the gym – doing 'flying angels' over the box horse.
Wednesday 17/9/52
Maj-Gen Cassells gave us a short talk after lunch on the square. Received cheque from Taxation Dept to-day for 4-18-3.
Thursday 18/9/52
Went up to the gym for short choir practice to-night.
Friday 19/9/52
Got a drill this mo ming from Dave Drabsch for being late on Pay Parade. Everyone was issued with track suits. Bill forgot to put my name down when I was in hospital – I didn't get one.
Saturday 20/9/52
Got through Tony Cooper who was Orderly Officer on the square this mo ming. Letter from Bill airmail – car out of the garage by now. He is going to try to get down for the Revue with Mum. Went down to the oval this afternoon – did 28 ft 9 in with the 16 pound shot and only 72 ft with the discus (standing).
Sunday 21/9/52
Rang up Mr Gibson and Brian Morris. Mr Gibson told me my name is in the parish paper as being one of those who helped dig those tree holes. Sunbaked for a short period this afternoon. Had Radio Moscow on my wireless very clearly broadcasting to America in English – saying how the Americans were using germ warfare and how the Russians wanted peace.
Monday 22/9/52
Forgot to put up timetable for 1st Class – on it for 5 weeks now.
Tuesday 23/9/52
Mine laying practice. Aths practice.
Wednesday 24/9/52
Sent a wire home: 'Both come ring me on arrival letter delayed. Love Bob'. Constant Revue practices.
Thursday 25/9/52
Down practising with Lt McCann with the discus and shot putt.
Friday 26/9/52
Last Revue practice. Bill Mostyn's radio parts came. Collected photos from canteen.
Saturday 27/9/52
Mum and Bill came down to Canberra – staying at the Gibsons – they watched a bit of the athletics this afternoon against Western Suburbs, Sydney. Both came to the Revue to-night – thought it was extra good – I was in the choir. Peter Meluish, Bill Greene and Allan Bowden in the WS Athletics Club. They won. The Com came back from abroad.
Sunday 28/9/52
Had a terrific day driving around in our car with Mum and Bill – went to Queanbeyan. Had lunch at the Gloucester 'chocolate souffle incident' (took ages to prepare). I drove them back here to drop me off and then they left (2.20 pm) for Sydney. Bill starts work early tomorrow. His wedding is fixed for 17 Jan 53.
Monday 29/9/52
Back to work. Issued with 1 white and 2 khaki shirts this afternoon. Started display (Chem) for Boyd Dempsey.
Tuesday 30/9/52
Very hot especially drilling. Inf and Hygiene films. Put in initiative hiking form for long week-end to Burrinjuck Dam – hitch hiking – Pete Tedder, Jack Fletcher, Bill Mostyn and myself. Wrote home to-day. New notice board on the Rec block verandah. Doing fairly well with the shot putt this afternoon.
Wednesday 1/10/52
Still working on the Chem display.
Thursday 2/10/52
Threw the 16 lb shot 31 ft this afternoon. Formal mess to-night – the professorial staff were present. LCpl Alf Garland of 2nd Class gave Adrian and me drills to-night as we were walking over to evening mess – for not having our hands closed!! Talk to-night by the Com on his trip abroad to the different military colleges – very interesting. Duntroon holds its own anywhere apparently.
Friday 3/10/52
BSM actually signed the drill forms that Garland gave us!
Saturday 4/10/52
Left (Peter Tedder, Jack Fletcher, Bill Mostyn and myself) on an initiative hike to Burrinjuck. Made Burrinjuck to-night. An engineer and the watchman showed us all over the dam which is prohibited area and explained everything to us. Met Geoff Markham and Malcolm Van Gelder out there. We camped underneath a large tree about 1 1/2 miles from the dam. Took a lot of photos of the dam in the twilight.
Sunday 5/10/52
Left Burrinjuck after taking a few photos at 10 o'clock for Yass and then underneath tarpaulins on the back of a semi-trailer for Goulburn where we had tea in a cafe. Then left for Lake George where we camped near the RMC boatshed – Jack and I in an old boat and Bill and Peter in between two corral fences. Have been very lucky with lifts.
Monday 6/10/52
After walking a couple of miles Jack and I struck a lift right into Canberra. Jack and I stopped underneath a bridge on the way to let Bill and Pete walk on ahead so as we would get the first lift. Got to Canberra (RMC) in the early afternoon. Jack lost his watch – later on found it out in the paddock.
Tuesday 7/10/52
Adrian and I did our drill this morning. Athletics practice this afternoon. Had civil work today.
Wednesday 8/10/52
Military day – inf exam – OK, tricked us on minefields.
Thursday 9/10/52 .
Splitting headache all the morning. Maj McNamara walked into my room to-day and gave me two extra drills for having foodstuffs in my No 10 and for leaving my door open. I managed to get out of both of them – namely, 1 my food was in an airtight container and 2 no key. Jerry Salom gave me a working party for rifle not up to standard – I have to clean the section's windows at the weekend. Supplied the smokes at Formal Mess to-night. Another Current Affairs Bulletin.
Friday 10/10/52
Adrian Clunies-Ross's birthday to-day. Got the spare key to my room K20 from Maj McNamara at lunch time. Don Baker gave me several Army Journals.
Saturday 11/10/52
Aths.
Sunday 12/10/52
Got the toc for Adrian this afternoon while he played tennis.
Monday 13/10/52
Work-out at PT.
Tuesday 14/10/52
Aths. Letter from Mum with snaps taken at August leave. Prac Hygiene exam and First Aid.
Wednesday 15/10/52
Tabloids for C Coy – I missed out on the 12 chinups and the 10 ft wall.
Thursday 16/10/52
Aths.
Friday 17/10/52
Usual civil work.
Saturday 18/10/52
Worked out on the butts on the open range for the annual shoot – had a good morning there with Captain Smith. Bogged on my room this afternoon.
Sunday 19/10/52
Went to early church. Loafed most of the day. 'Task Force' on tonight. John McConaghy showed me his photo albums - talked most of the afternoon. 'Whisky Galore'.
Monday 20/10/52
Civil work. Letter from Denis.
Tuesday 21/10/52
Inter-compay aths this afternoon B D C and A. Wrote a letter to Denis and received one from Mum to-day. Hygiene theory exam. First Aid.
Wednesday 22/10/52
Rained this afternoon. Collected my room key from the Q Store. Bashed my old cap thoroughly to-night. Col Goyne got me to clean his blues buttons etc for 2nd Class Guard of Honour tomorrow. Professors from Adelaide Uni were looking over the place to-day with the Com.
Thursday 23/10/52
Civil work. Talked in Adrian's room during studies to-night with him and John McConaghy.
Friday 24/10/52
Sports Ball to-night. Issued with safaris this afternoon.
Saturday 25/10/52
Rec Dance on to-night – I didn't go – pictures.
Sunday 26/10/52
Went out to Brian Morris's place this afternoon – had a good afternoon there. Told me all about Point Cook RAAF College. Pictures to-night.
Monday 27/10/52
Went into safaris. Letter from Mum.
Tuesday 28/10/52
Last military day. 4 drills and 2 civil studies. Lafferty Cup results from Sandhurst up – should beat them pretty easily I reckon.
Wednesday 29/10/52
Last Chem prac – completed 3 experiments.
Thursday 30/10/52
Made the Shot Putt finals for tomorrow with a putt of 31 ft 3 ins. Only 6 left in the finals. I'm the only 4th Class. Handicap 100 yds 10.6 secs with a handicap of 9 yds. Last civil day this year. Paid this afternoon. 40 days to go to-night. Come into our own in 4th Class. Practised to-night for drill compo
Friday 31/10/52
Annual Athletics. Discus – got down too late for the shot putt. Had drill practice early this morning. Tug-O-War.
Saturday 1/11/52
C Coy won the drill competition after s'house practices. Went to the pictures.
Sunday 2/11/52
Went out to Brian Morris's place this afternoon.
Monday 3/11/52
Started our study week. I'm taking Miss Rosemary Copland to the Hicks Ball next Sat night.
Tuesday 4/11/52
No-one at home at Sir Douglas Copland's. Parcel of cakes from Mum.
Wednesday 5/11/52
Telegram from Bill wishing me luck for the exams. Wrote to: Alan Cambey and Herb Taylor. Wrote another letter home also.
Thursday 6/11/52
Took some problems up to Prof Sutherland and Mr Shepherd. Still no-one home at Sir Douglas Copland's. Lecture by Mr Francis, Minister for the Army.
Friday 7/11/52
Mr Francis's lecture mentioned on the air this morning. Photos back to-day.
Saturday 8/11/52
Hicks Ball to-night. Never saw such a turn-out – flour, grease, ice, bran – everything imaginable. I took Miss Rosemary Copland. Letter from Mum.
Sunday 9/11/52
Rained to-day. Jack and I went in to Canberra this afternoon – had afternoon tea at the Gloucester.
Monday 10/11/52
Exams started – Chem 3 hrs – fair enough – all afternoon off. Letter from Alan Cambey – all the latest gossip on the home front.
Tuesday 11/11/52
Applied Maths exam 3 hrs – pretty fair. Letter from Herbie Taylor. He had a crash in his truck on Liverpool railway bridge.
Wednesday 12/11/5
2nd Chem paper – a stinker as far as I was concerned.
Thursday 13/11/52
All day off. I slept most of the day – dog tired.
Friday 14/11/52
Pure Maths paper – fair. I got a haircut. Mr Butman who was at the Monte Bello atom bomb explosion out to talk to us to-night.
Saturday 15/11/52
Physics paper – I didn't do as well as I expected. Spent just about all day preparing for Camp Training which starts tomorrow. Went to the pictures to-night.
Sunday 16/11/52
Left early for Tharwa. Spent most of the day putting up our tents and getting ready for tomorrow.
Monday 17/11/52
Route march – at one stage we had a test to march 5 miles in 1 hr. Did it in 57 mins. Class Orderly and extra drill from Fango for incorrect Class orderly procedure – let off.
Tuesday 18/11/52
Section in attack. Cookie McKeown's section.
Wednesday 19/11/52
Operation 'Platypus' – different ways of crossing rivers and making rafts – ours got away from us in the current – haven't had so much fun for a long time.
Started on Operation Bushwacker this afternoon – by compass carrying blanket rolls and poop. Slept on the bank of the M'bidgee.
Thursday 20/11/52
Got up at 3.30 am - got back for breakfast. Platoon in attack, defence and withdrawal. Operation Anzac. Dave Ashmore's section.
Friday 21/11/52
Efficiency tests this morning – cut out 2 mile run and swimming in full poop – passed everything – best on rope. Gen Rowell CGS was there. Left on Operation Pegasus – slept out – cold – salad.
Saturday 22/11/52
Paratroopers dropped and we climbed Fitz's Hill at Naas. Crowd out to watch the paratroopers. Afternoon off.
Sunday 23/11/52
Complete day of rest – films to-night 16 mm 'The Swordsman'. This week I got letters from home, Alan Cambey and Rosemary Copland who accepted my invitation to Grad.
Monday 24/11/52
Operation Gibraltar. I'm in the enemy 'Fantasian'. Had an easy day with Stew Kendell at the B Echelon. Our patrols took Own Troops 3 in mortar and feed piece of their Vickers to-night. Their sentry was surprised and sang out Help! Help!
Tuesday 25/11/52
Finished 'Gibraltar'. Got some good snapshots. On guard to-night. Got a letter from Dad. 12 till 2 and 4.50 till 6.15. Let off Coy orderly tomorrow.
Wednesday 26/11/52
Came off guard at reveille. Easy day – rained – just lying on our stretchers most of the day. A few of last year's graduates awarded MCs in Korea.
Thursday 27/11/52
Coy Orderly – pretty easy morning. Moved off at 1000 on last exercise 'Oakey'. I'm a rifleman as usual. Rained most of the day – in Bruce Robbo's platoon. Mat Dachs, Len Buckley and I dug a 3 man trench on top of some hill and slept in it – taking turns at sentry – attacked several times and then it rained like ... Ken Mooney got CB for the rest of the year for refusing to carry a PlAT up Fitz's Hill by the Com.
Friday 28/11/52
Put in last final assault of several miles and finished at about 1300 hrs. Marched back to College 26 miles in 7 1/2 hours – blisters pretty bad.
Saturday 29/11/52
Reveille 7.45 am. Cleaned most of my gear. Pictures to-night 'Barricade'. Passed Physics, Chem and Pure Maths.
Sunday 30/11/52
Easy day. Pictures 'Lady at Midnight' and 'The Girl who took the West'. Lanigan in hosp.
Monday 1/12/52
Telegram from home wanting to know why I haven't written for the past 3 weeks. Told them before I left not to expect any over Exam week and Camp Training at Tharwa. Failed in Applied Maths – can't understand it. Passed English. 2 hrs drill. Spent most of the day in the Library. Took back our textbooks. Got Tony Lanigan's gear for him.
Tuesday 2/12/52
2 hrs drill. Cleaned up D Coy in Admin. Big check-up to-night – a heck of a lot of blokes blew thru!
Wednesday 3/12/52
To-night I took Rosemary Copland to the Deb Ball at the Girls' Grammar School. 2 hrs drill.
Thursday 4/12/52
Went to a party at Copland's to-night – fair enough. 5 couples. Dave Ashmore took Irene Graham.
Friday 5/12/52
Another couple of drill practices. Tony Lanigan and Jes Galloway were discharged. Dave Harris was sent to Portsea.
Saturday 6/12/52
First practice with Eastern Command Band. C Coy do on to-night. I went to the pictures.
Sunday 7/12/52
Bill, Brian Wright and I went in to the Institute of Anatomy this afternoon. This morning was the graduation service at St John's – the choir was very good – the ChaplainGeneral gave the address. We were on the air 2FC.
Monday 8/12/52
Had our last drill practice to-day for grad. Took back our text books.
Tuesday 9/12/52
Graduation Day. Bill and Dad came down in the car. They attended both the parade and the prize-giving afterwards in the gym. Peter Gration got the King's Medal and Shorty Launder the Sword of Honour. Trev Reed graduated second. Parade was terrific. Took Rosemary Copland to the Ball to-night. Ken Mooney brought Barbara Cash and Jack Fletcher brought Joyce Graham. Terrific Ball. After I took Rosemary home came back and watched the fun on the square. Didn't get to bed except for about an hour.
Wednesday 10/12/52
Here at last! Dad and Bill called for me at 1315 – drove away straightaway. Got home about 2000. I drove I suppose about 1/3 of the way. Collected 45 pounds for leave and my 4-18-3 tax refund.
Thursday 11/12/52
This afternoon went in and saw the New Zealanders off. Asked Barbara Cash to the pictures next week. Mum gave me a couple of quid for my birthday tomorrow - 19.