AUSTRALIAN COMMANDO ASSN INC.
Registered by Australia Post ~ Publication No PP100016240
Edition 13 ~ 2018
This photo was taken in the Gulf States. The fatal jump was in 2015, a tandem jump, which Tony Rokov took the full impact
thus saving the life of his 14-year-old student. He was awarded the Star of Courage for his extraordinary bravery.
IN THIS ISSUE…
The Happy Wanderer
Michael Parker Foundation ~ Kshamawati Hostel Project
Commando Memorial Service 2018
HALO Parachuting in Australia ~ The Early Days
CONTENTS
REGISTERED BY AUSTRALIA POST PUBLICATION No PP100016240
AUSTRALIAN COMMANDO ASSOCIATION INC.
NATIONAL OFFICE BEARERS
LIFE PATRON: Gen Sir Phillip Bennett AC KBE DSO
Message from the Editor...................................3
From the Prolific Pen of Harry Bell....................5
Vale section..................................................7-11
HALO Parachuting in Australia
“The Early Days” ...................................13-19
PATRON:
PRESIDENT:
VICE PRESIDENT:
SECRETARY:
TREASURER:
ACA VICTORIA
PRESIDENT:
ACA VICTORIA
SECRETARY:
ACA NSW
PRESIDENT:
MajGen Tim McOwan AO DSC CSM
MajGen Greg Melick AO RFD SC
Maj Steve Pilmore OAM
Maj Jack Thurgar SC MBE OAM RFD
(Ret’d)
Maj Bruce O’Connor OAM (Ret’d)
Doug Knight
Glenn MacDonald
Barry Grant
Commando Memorial Service
Anzac Day address.....................................21
Ex Commando sacrifices himself
for young parachutist ................................22
The Happy Wanderer................................25-27
Chief of Army bans soldiers from
wearing ‘arrogant’ death symbols.............29
Michael Parker Foundation .............................30
Book Review ....................................................35
Little known facts about the wall....................37
ACA NSW Bruce Poulter - 0414 891 854
SECRETARY: poulstan@optusnet.com.au
ACA QLD
PRESIDENT: Nick Hill
ACA QLD
SECRETARY: Tony Mills
ACA WA
PRESIDENT: Alan Joyce - 0447 433 934
ACA WA Paul Shearer - 0400 522 059
SECRETARY: shearerp56@gmail.com
PUBLIC OFFICER: Brian Liddy
Aust Cdo Assn NSW “Q” Store......................41
Aust Cdo Assn QLD..................................45-51
Membership Application Form .......................55
State Incorporated Associations.....................56
Deadline for next edition (Issue 14):
SUNDAY, 30 TH SEPTEMBER 2018
All news on members and interesting articles accepted.
(Subject to editors’ approval.)
Barry G
EDITORS:
Barry Grant
Barbara Pittaway
The Australian Commando Association’s membership consists of
Servicemen who have served with Independent Companies, Commando
Squadrons, "M" and "Z" Special units and Special Forces during and since
the Second World War.
DISCLAIMER: Opinions expressed within this publication are those of the
authors, and are not necessarily those of the Editor, Publisher, Committee
Members or Members of our Association. We welcome any input as long
as it is not offensive or abusive but if any member has a problem with a
printed article we would like to be informed in order that the author may be
contacted. We do encourage your opinion.
AUSTRALIAN COMMANDO ASSN INC.
Registered by Australia Post ~ Publication No PP100016240
Edition 13 ~ 2018
Official Publishers:
Statewide Publishing P/L
ABN 65 116 985 187
PO BOX 682, SURFERS PARADISE QLD 4217
PHONE: 0432 042 060
EMAIL: russell@commandonews.com.au
Printed by RABS PRINT & DESIGN
Phone: 0438 881 854
Email: mike@rabsprint.com.au
This photo was taken in the Gulf States. The fatal jump was in 2015, a tandem jump, which Tony Rokov took the full impact
thus saving the life of his 14-year-old student. He was awarded the Star of Courage for his extraordinary bravery.
IN THIS ISSUE…
The Happy Wanderer
Michael Parker Foundation ~ Kshamawati Hostel Project
Commando Memorial Service 2018
HALO Parachuting in Australia ~ The Early Days
FRONT COVER: This photo was taken in the Gulf States.
The fatal jump was in 2015, a tandem jump, which Tony
Rokov took the full impact thus saving the life of his
14-year-old student. He was awarded the Star of Courage
for his extraordinary bravery.
COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018 1
2 COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018
Australian Commando Association
NSW Inc.
http://1commando1.blogspot.com.au
PO Box 1313, Sutherland, NSW 1499
COMMANDO FOR LIFE
1941 - 1946 1955
-
President: Barry Grant Secretary: Bruce Poulter Treasurer: Ivan Kelly
starlightcdo@gmail.com poulstan@optusnet.com.au ikelly@bigpond.com
0414 914 615 0414 891 854 0417 042 886
Message from the Editor
As we go to press, another Timor Awakening team
is preparing to go back to Timor Leste.
Among them is 94-year-old Ian Hampel, 2nd/4th
Independent Company.
Ian landed on East Timor as it was known during
WW2, on the ill fated HMAS Voyager in the southern
shores at Betano.
Ian marched the full distance on Anzac Day in
Sydney so there’s no doubt he can handle the trip.
I have been trying to contact him for a couple of
weeks, finally ringing his son to find out he is snow
skiing.
God bless him.
★★★★★
The passing of Bruce Horsfield was a sad event, he
had been working on the SAS documentary DVD
series for about 17 years and just a few short weeks
ago was awarded an OAM for contributions to military
history. He also completed another on Long Tan, also
acclaimed DVD.
★★★★★
Wayne Havenaar (ex 1 Company) has issued a
warning order for a small craft reunion paddle.
It will be held in late
October, paddle from
Shelley Beach, Manly
to Balmoral Beach to
Clifton Gardens.
All small craft
qualified (also the non
qualified who can
paddle) are invited.
Paddle some of the
trip or all of the trip,
just paddle to Clifton Gardens or just come and join
the picnic at the end.
More details to follow.
★★★★★
Just a heads up.
AGM of ACA NSW will be held on Satur day, 20th
October 2018.
More details will be sent out by email and post to
financial members ASAP.
★★★★★
The last Reserve Forces Parade was held on 1st
July after 20 years of parading.
Seems it lost the interest of
a lot of donors and the ADF
has said that the difference
between Regular Forces and
the Reservists is "blurred" in
the modern age.
Barry Grant
Australian Commando
Association (NSW) Inc
COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018 3
4 COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018
From the Prolific Pen of Harry Bell
Dear Editors,
Well, here I am sitting on my bed in Anthem
Nursing Home. I came into hospital on 31/5 for hip
surgery and hope to be home soon. I can’t offer a full
length story but will try to do better next time when I
have access to my library.
TedMacMillan (2/9) has survived repair of a hernia
which he has been wearing for a while waiting for his
cardiologist to give the green light.
Defence has resumed the publication of unit
names with their death notices and Reveille mentions
the following: NX145462 R Foster (2/5), NX108777
CJ Monty (2/3), NX77745 K G Wilson (2/2). Keith’s
tank is given as Gnr - I’ll try to check when I get home.
MV Flower of 3 Cav Regt is listed as is NX11703 Lloyd
Hendry (2/9). I have been in touch with Lloyd’s son Ian
and will write a decent obituary for next edition.
Reg Davis (Davis RTR) 2/9 is back in St George
Hospital with acute fluid retention which may relate to
heart or liver or kidleys. (Well I said “kidleys”, diddle
I?) He is decidedly unwell but the nearest he gets to
cursing is “Golly golly golly!”. We are already making
plans for next Anzac Day.
Barry Grant tells me that Ian Hampel (2/4) is back
in Timor Leste, courtesy Commando Association.
Bravo. I hope Ian will write a full report.
Barry you may have noticed errors in last night’s
email. Lloyd Hendry’s number was of course NX not
Nc.
All good things to you.
Thats all for now.
Harry
★★★★★
Further to Harry's spiel, I visited Reg
in St George Hospital.
He is in good spirits and was
pleased to see me.
If the current treatment is not helpful
he may be transferred to the St. George Private.
Barry G
One evening, shortly after the honeymoon,
Tom was working on his Harley motorcycle in the
garage. His wife was standing there by the bench
watching him.
After a long period of silence she finally said:
"Honey, I've just been thinking, now that we’re
married, maybe it's time you quit spending so
much of your time out here in your garage.
You probably should consider selling your
Harley and all that welding equipment; they take
up so much of your time.
And that gun collection and fishing gear, they
just take up so much space.
And you know the sailboat is such an ongoing
expense; and you hardly use it.
I also think you should lose all those stupid
model airplanes and your home brewing
equipment.
And what’s the use of that vintage hot rod
sports car?”
Tom got a horrified look on his face.
She noticed and said, "Darling, what's wrong?"
He replied, "There for a minute, you were
starting to sound like my ex-wife."
"Ex-wife!?" she shouted, "YOU NEVER TOLD
ME YOU WERE MARRIED BEFORE!"
Tom replied, “I wasn't..."
ACA NSW members on Timor Awakening
Ivan Kelly, David Lynch and Bill Merchant re -
presented ACANSW on the Timor Awakening trip
earlier this year.
They were very impressed with the reception and
friendliness of the Timorese people.
Their tour took them from Dili to Betano where the
remains of the HMAS Voyager can be seen from the
beach.
It was here that they inserted the 2nd/4th
Independent Company, but the ship became beached
and they had to leave behind the 2nd/2nd Company
that they were due to replace.
Next month, September, another 3 members of the
Association are travelling to Dili on yet another Timor
Awakening adventure.
COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018 5
6 COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018
Investiture of OAM for Bruce Horsfield
Recently 40 people
gathered in Kirribilli to
observe Bruce getting
his OAM. Due to ill
health he was unable to
go to Government
House.
The State Governor,
General Hurley AC DSC
Ret'd and his wife
attended to make the
presentation.
Also in attendance
was the former
Governor General of
Australia Major General
Mike Jeffery AC AO
(Mil) CVO MC Ret'd
and his wife.
We are very proud
of Bruce, notably he
has produced video
histories of Long Tan
and the History of the
SAS.
In Bruce's early days he was a pioneer in civilian HALO parachuting, the stories of that issue raises the hair on the
back of your neck.
John Addison
Douglas Allen
Jack Tredrea
Bruce Horsfield OAM
Jim Geedrick
Jack Mackay OAM
VALE
2 Commando Company
2 Commando Company
SRD (Z Special Unit)
1 Commando Company
AIF
Z Special Unit
John Addison Douglas Allen Jack Tredrea Bruce Horsfield OAM Jim Geedrick Jack MAckay OAM
COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018 7
JACK TREDREA OBITUARY
Commando who led a platoon of headhunters in
Borneo, but did not get the message that the war had
ended in August 1945.
Jack Tredrea was part of the elite Z Special unit
during the Second World War
Emperor Hirohito had announced Japan’s surrender
in mid-August 1945 and the Second World War was
officially finished, but no one had told an Australian
commando who was leading a platoon of headhunters
against Japanese forces in the Borneo jungle.
Warrant Officer II Jack Tredrea fought on, con -
tinuing to harass and ambush the enemy with rifle fire,
grenades, parangs and a silent assault by poison dart
propelled from a blowpipe.
Come the third week of October, and unaware that
his radio had come to grief in a river, the Allied
authorities put a stop to it. Major Tom Harrisson, a
British officer commanding the Special Operations
Executive campaign in Borneo, sent a runner with a
written order: “The war is over, Tredrea, get out the
best way you can.”
Tredrea paid off his fighters and travelled home by
riverboat and aircraft, reverting to his peacetime, and
peaceful, calling as a tailor of suits for the good
burghers of Adelaide.
Jonathan “Jack” Tredrea was born in 1920 in
Adelaide and left school the day he turned 14 to work
as a messenger boy for the bespoke tailor. He showed
some promise as an Australian rules footballer, playing
for the South Adelaide club, building muscle and
stamina by cycling round the suburbs with deliveries.
Volunteering for military service, Tredrea served
initially as a medic in the Australian 6th Cavalry Field
Ambulance. This equipped him with skills that, a few
years later, would make him a revered figure among
the Kelabit people of Borneo.
Seeking adventure, he answered a notice calling for
volunteers to serve in a “special unit”. The senior
officer who interviewed him had been a customer of
the tailor’s, and Tredrea was soon dispatched to Fraser
Island, off the Queensland coast, for training that
changed him from a cutter of cloth to a cutter of
throats.
Tredrea found that he had volunteered for the elite,
top-secret Z Special unit. There followed a year of
intensive instruction in weaponry, unarmed combat,
languages, surveillance, sabotage, living off the land
and jumping out of aircraft. His assignment, at the end
of that year, was Borneo. A sea approach was too
hazardous, so in late March 1945 two B-24 Liberators
took off with a payload of eight Z Special paratroopers.
Tredrea’s task was to recruit sympathetic inhabitants
and lead them, as a trained guerrilla force, against the
occupying Japanese. He jumped out of the aircraft with
a sub-machinegun, six grenades, medical supplies and
a cyanide pill, which was to be swallowed in the event
of capture and interrogation by the Japanese.
His medical expertise brought him immediate
success. A village head man asked Tredrea to treat an
old friend afflicted by a large lump in the groin. In the
absence of any anaesthetic, Tredrea ordered two men
to hold his patient down, lanced the growth, removed
what he described later as “masses of pus” and packed
the wound with sulfa powder.
The old man made a spectacular recovery and
Tredrea, his reputation established, soon had his
guerrilla recruits. “They were incredibly brave, but they
could give your position away because they were so
impulsive,” he recalled in 2014. “You had to control
them, or they’d go on the attack with their parangs and
their blowpipes. They really were headhunters.”
Describing a typical ambush of a Japanese patrol,
he added: “By the use of blowpipes, we used to
quietly pick off the Japs from the rear of line. ‘Pfft!’ ”
Back in Australia after the war Tredrea was awarded
the Military Medal for “remarkable energy, un selfish -
ness and devotion to duty”. Meanwhile, in 1943 he had
married Edith Anna Bongiorno. Their first daughter,
Leonie Pinkerton, became a bookkeeper and died of
cancer in 1997 aged 53. Their second daughter,
Lynnette Behn, worked as a taxation consultant and
survives him. Edith died in 2006.
Both daughters had some taste of the commando
life. Their father introduced them to the art of the
blowpipe, although without the poison. He also placed
mattresses by the back veranda and trained them to
leap off the roof, landing with a paratrooper’s roll.
Between 1993 and 2017 Tredrea made seven trips
back to the Borneo highland territory in what is now
Sarawak, Malaysia. On one visit he was reunited with
three women who, as teenagers 70 years earlier, had
served as porters in his jungle campaign. He gave them
silver necklaces bearing the Z Special emblem. His gift
for the wider Kelabit community was 45 sets of replica
medals to honour those who had served under his
command and had continued fighting for two months
after it was all supposed to be over.
Jack Tredrea, tailor and commando, was born on
May 15, 1920. He died from kidney failure on July 17,
2018, aged 98
8 COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018
Jim Geedrick was an extraordinary
Australian soldier
When severely wounded by mortar fire during an
armoured assault in Vietnam in August 1968, Australian
Army adviser Jim Geedrick thought his soldiering days
were finished.
He had earlier been photographed at Gio Linh on
Anzac Day proudly displaying an Australian flag, in
what would become one of the most iconic images of
the war.
Now fighting for his life, the veteran of every
campaign since World War II found himself medically
evacuated home.
Six months later, however, he would return to Gio
Linh to complete his unfinished tour.
For Geedrick, getting wounded was just part of a
job he had been doing for three decades seeing
combat in all Australian military conflicts from World
War II through to Vietnam.
Last month an illness managed what scores of
Australia’s enemies could not: Geedrick died on July 22
in Rockhampton, at peace at the age of 94.
His death saw the passing of an extraordinary
soldier whose career is unlikely to be matched by
today’s soldiers.
Although described as indigenous, Geedrick was
born into a large family of Ceylonese descent in coastal
Yeppoon, central Queensland in 1924.
In March 1943, Geedrick enlisted in the AIF as an
infantryman, where his natural skills and personality
marked him out as a potential leader.
By the time Geedrick retired 30 years later he had
received every campaign and service medal then
available in the Australian Defence Force. For his
Vietnam service he also received US and Vietnamese
gallantry awards.
In Borneo at the end of WWII, lance corporal
Geedrick enlisted in the regular army and was sent to
the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces in
Japan.
There he met and married his first wife, Shizue, who
had survived the Hiroshima atomic bomb blast. She
later died from when in her 60s from cancer her family
believes was caused by being exposed to indirect
radiation from the atomic blast.
In 1951 the now sergeant Geedrick joined his old
battalion, 3RAR in Korea, fighting in the significant
battles at Kapyong and later Maryang San.
Geedrick served with 3RAR d u r i n g t h e
Malayan Emergency, then later during Confrontation
with Indonesia, returning to Borneo where he had been
during WWII.
On May 21, 1968 now Warrant Officer Class II
Geedrick joined the Australian Army Training Team
Vietnam.
Former WOI Neil “Lofty” Eiby who served with
Geedrick in Malaya and during Confrontation
described him as “a great
soldier and a wonderful
man.”
“Because he was Jim
Geedrick he seemed to be
able to get away with
saying and doing things
other people might not
have,” Mr Eiby recalled.
“He was blunt but he was fair and above all he was
humorous.”
Geedrick’s final army posting was as RSM of the
Australian Army cadet battalion based in Rock hamp -
ton, a perfect segue for his later career as school
sergeant at Rockhampton Grammar School, where he
served from 1973 until 1997.
He remarried Jurin who was from Thailand and the
pair shared 25 years of marriage. He is survived by Jurin
and his three children from his first marriage, Gene, Kim
and Sheree.
A spokesman for Rockhampton Grammar said the
school had planned a dinner this weekend to honour
his 25-years service to the school.
“We knew he had been ill recently and weren’t sure
whether he could attend,” the spokesman said.
“He was a great mentor to generations of students
at our school.”
VALE
It is with a very heavy heart that I inform you of
the passing of AB Jack Mackay OAM of Z Special
Unit on Saturday, 11 August 2018.
Jack served as part of the build up and training
for Operation Jaywick, however he became ill and
was not able to join the Operation
COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018 9
PROFESSOR BRUCE HORSFIELD OAM
As a former Army commando, media academic and
documentary maker, Bruce Horsfield was ideally
positioned to package the rich history of the Australian
Special Air Service Regiment.
Bruce’s early interest in the military saw him join the
Australian Cadet Corps before moving onto the
University of NSW Regiment and really getting serious
by qualifying as a member of I Commando Company
in Sydney.
Bruce quickly found his niche in the Green Berets,
completing the unit’s exacting SCUBA diving course,
submarine-kayak raids course and basic parachute
course at RAAF Williamtown – simultaneously
qualifying as trained teacher and going on to earn a
Bachelor of Arts from New England University, Master
of Arts from Sydney University and Doctor of
Philosophy from the University of Exeter, where he
completed a thesis on children’s television drama
researched at BBCTV in London.
If all that was not enough, he used any spare time
to hone his parachuting skills, quickly progressing the
basic military course to excursions into the
troposphere that saw him take out the Australian High
Altitude Free Fall Record of 25,000 feet, Southern
Hemisphere High Altitude Free Fall Record of 31,000
feet and make the NSW Parachute team for the 1963
Australian Free Fall Championships.
Some 340 jumps later - including two without
reserve parachute, night free falls, water jumps and
two main chute failures that caused him to have to
deploy his reserve - Bruce decided to switch to field
hockey, where he went on to represent Queensland in
the 1996 Australian Veterans’ Championships.
Bruce’s interest in television came with his move to
the University of Southern Queensland as Professor of
Media Studies, where he saw an opportunity to draw
on his military experience to shoot a documentary on
the most famous Australian incident in the Vietnam
War, the Battle of Long Tan. His 54-minute tribute to
that epic fight, Long Tan – the True Story, went on to
become a Vietnam War classic and “one of the five
best Australian documentaries” put to air by SBS
International.
Long Tan has since been broadcast three times by
SBSTV, twice by ABCTV, eight times on Australian
History Channel, twice on Canadian History Channel
and was purchased by Australia Television for its Pan-
Pacific cable and re-broadcast networks. Distributed
by Film Australia and Siren Visual, the documentary
continues to sell in video stories and is available in
universities and libraries through Australia and abroad.
Bruce’s work on Long Tan and a social impact study
he carried out in the Pacific Islands for UNESCO
combined to see him awarded a University Medal from
the University of Southern Queensland.
Long Tan also led to Bruce accepting an invitation
to tackle a documentary on Australia’s Force of first
choice, the Perth-based Special Air Service Regiment,
which he spent 18 years piecing together with the
support and guidance of former Governor-General,
Major General Mike Jeffery, AC, AO (Mil), CVO, MC,
who served as a CO of SASR, Director of Special
Forces and Honorary Colonel of the SAS Regiment.
A 10-part series tracing the formation and
development of the SAS up to, for security reasons,
the early stages of the Afghanistan War and the
second Iraqi War, The Australian SAS – the Untold
History was officially launched at Government House
in Canberra by the Governor-General, General Sir
Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd), in September 2016
before a large gathering of the nation’s leading military
personnel including MAJGEN Jeffery and the then
Chief of the Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Sir Allan
Grant "Angus" Houston, AK, AC, AFC.
SAS the Untold History relates the unit’s 50 year
history from a beginning marred by scepticism and
rejection to world-wide recognition as a highly
sophisticated reconnaissance, strike, recovery and
counter-terrorist force. The series include an extended
interview with the current US Secretary of Defense,
retired four star General James N Mattis, about the
important role SASR played in Afghanistan. Early
copies of the documentary have earned high praise
and approval from the Special Forces fraternity and
been acquired by major institutions across Australia
and internationally. An abridged version has also run
on The History Channel.
Bruce was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in
2018 by the Governor of New South Wales GEN David
Hurley for his service to military history, academic
achievement and sport parachuting. Supporting GEN
Hurley at the private investiture was MAJGEN Jeffery,
Bruce’s long-time mentor.
For his service to the Regiment he was also
admitted to the Australian Special Air Service
Association as an Associate Member.
Photo shows Bruce when filming Long Tan: the True Story in
Vietnam 1992.
10 COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018
I thought we should share this account of early High Altitude parachuting with you.
Most readers would not have known that this type of activity in Australia was virtually unknown until some
unsung heroes from an Army Reserve Special Forces Unit took the “big step” (literally).
HALO PARACHUTING IN AUSTRALIA
“THE EARLY DAYS”
Nostalgia from Bruce Horsfield
I read with interest and nostalgia an item in a Strike
Swiftly sometime ago, on Brian Murphy’s high altitude
low opening (HALO) free fall parachuting record back in
the 60’s. Brian’s achievement caught my imagination at
the time and I thought that your readers might like to
hear about some other early HALO endeavours by a
member of 1 Commando Company. In setting down my
own HALO experiences as I recall them, warts-and-all, I
often shudder at some of the vivid images that come
sharply into focus in my memory, stern reminders of the
problems and dangers we were up against and the
limitations of our approach. Certainly, we were really
establishing civilian HALO parachuting in Australia and
there were critical times when our ignorance caught up
with us. But we were lucky, we were young and some -
what brash, and we had some successes. And now, of
course, with the wisdom of hindsight and middle age,
we’d probably not take as many risks as we did in our
three attempts on HALO altitude records.
“High altitude” is an imprecise term but my memory
has it that “HALO” jumping is free falling from over
20,000 feet - that height above which the free fall
parachutist is required both to use the inboard aircraft
oxygen supply and to carry a separate portable oxygen
supply in free fall.
* * * * * * *
Early 1958, at age 17, I was the sole volunteer in D
Company, University of NSW Regiment - the scruffy,
university student conscript CMF unit that was the
Newcastle part of UNSWR. I had never heard of 1
Commando Company but after a chance meeting at
Holsworthy with the unassuming and very professional
Brian Murphy I was delighted in September ‘58 to pass
the medical for 1 Commando Company, transfer from D
Company and get my black beret. On the Taronga Zoo
bus to Georges Heights on the first Tuesday parade
night I met Corporal Mike Wells. Later Mike showed me
some photos of the free falling that he, Brian Murphy,
Barry Evers, Red Harrison and others were pioneering
(and, painfully, without canopy deployment sleeves!) at
Camden, south west of Sydney. This really looked like
absolute lunacy to me at the time, and I mentally
dismissed parachuting as unnecessarily dangerous and
definitely to be avoided. Worse, during my Green Beret
training I was dismayed to learn that the Para course was
the only compulsory course in the unit. I seriously
thought that I would quietly resign from 1 Commando
Company. But as many of us who have been through the
unit have no doubt found, with its effective training and
great esprit de corps, I gradually started to warm to the
idea of parachuting. I had always been air minded and
loved heights and would have enlisted as a pilot in the
Fleet Air Arm in 1957 had my father allowed me. The
older hands in 1 Cdo wearing their Para wings cer tainly
seemed no worse for the experience (read: if they can
get their wings then so can I!)
So, in April 1960 I grasped the nettle and did my first
frightening static line jump from 1200 feet with Sydney
Skydivers at Camden using a 28-foot British X-type ex-
Army static line parachute. The jump platform was a
lumbering but adequate De Havilland Dragon twinengine
biplane. By the time I did the Para course at
RAAF Williamtown in November 1960 I had already
completed eight static line jumps and two “jump and
pulls” i.e. with ripcord deployment from 2,500 feet.
Barry Clissold had also started jumping at about that
time and we were the only “experienced” jumpers on
our Para course, smugly watching 20 others fearful and
utterly miserable first jumpers on the first long, long
sortie until we started to catch the jitters from them
anyway. Gradually I got hooked on free falling and
bought my own ex-USAF main parachute and reserve,
so that a few of us could go up country on weekends
and make a plane load to get higher altitude jumps.
At Camden in 1960 a free fall of 5-10 seconds was
regarded as pretty sophisticated stuff. While we were
very keen, none of us demonstrated much skill in or
knowledge about free falling. The near blind led the
blind. True skill in free fall - and high altitude air space
so close to Sydney - were both very scarce. Sadly, we
were restricted at Camden to 3,500 feet above terrain
by Air Traffic Control at Mascot. Of course, skydivers can
never get enough altitude and non-bivouac week ends
would often see a few of us in Goulburn or Bathurst for
COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018 13
higher altitudes. By 1962 we were profi cient at
stabilising and turning in longer free falls of 7,000–8,000
feet above terrain. We knew little of HALO jumping (I
don’t think the term had been invented) and we were
still a bit timid about altitudes above 10,000- 12,000
feet. HALO jumps from the troposphere (alti tudes up to
37,000 feet) and the stratosphere (above 37,000 feet)
were remote, fantasies to ponder over a beer. No one
that we knew had experienced free falls from either of
those levels. Anyway, what would be the requirements
for oxygen? We understood that in-board oxygen was
required above 10,000 feet AMSL by the then
Department of Civil Aviation and there were stories that
a personal oxygen supply in free fall was also
compulsory above 20,000 feet AMSL. But where could
the small personal bottles and oxygen masks to carry in
free fall be obtained? Who had that sort of gear?
Moreover, suitable aircraft that could make it to higher
altitudes were expensive and hard to find. But all this
was more in the realm of pub talk, for at this time we
were mostly preoccupied with mastering stability and
linking up with each other in free fall, and trying to steer
our canopies to land dead centre on the DZ marker.
But because of our love of free falling the mystique
of high altitude parachuting – prolonging the free fall
part of the jump - persisted with many of us. Were there
real dangers in a long free fall, we wondered? Could you
lose control, and go into an accelerating flat spin that
would cause blackout, as we read had happened in the
USA? That is, my generation of jumpers in the early ‘60’s
thought mainly of the free fall part of the jump, and not
being skiers or climbers asked few if any questions
about the environment of the troposphere. Not having
ever been seriously exposed to the frigidity of high
altitude, we had no sense of the hazards of hypo -
thermia, exposure, sub-zero temperatures, frost bite,
frozen altimeters, and the decline in mental per -
formance, judgement and gross and fine motor skills
resulting from hypoxia. (We didn’t of course know that
we would soon get first hand experience of these things
the hard way!) To us HALO was all just a fantasy fuelled
by a frustrating mixture of timidity, ignorance, curiosity
and a desire for adventure. Obviously, by this stage I’d
come a long way since my dread of the basic Para
course. One detail we weren’t worried about though
was the chance of missing the drop zone on a HALO
sortie. Just getting to the ground in one piece would do
nicely. Anyway, the spotting on our sorties was often
lousy in the early 60’s and we all knew what it was like to
lug our gear a long way back to the strip after a poor
spot!
But skydivers elsewhere, free of the altitude
restrictions of Camden, pushed ahead. Suddenly,
drama tically, higher leaps started happening around us.
Laurie Trotter, an early ‘civvie’ skydiver, set an Australian
altitude record with a 60 second delay from 12,000 feet.
At Camden our parochial little group of skydivers were
grudgingly impressed. Then, to our surprise and delight,
Brian Murphy made a successful attempt on Trotter’s
Australian high altitude free fall record using a Cessna
210. Brian’s free fall from 17,000 feet - astonishing at the
time - broke not only Trotter’s 12,000 feet Australian
record but also our own psychological and physical
resistance to the HALO environment above 12,000 feet.
Then a NZ skydiving team using a supercharged Aero
Commander 680F attained a remarkable 27,000 feet - a
wondrous, absolutely mind-blowing excursion into the
upper troposphere even by today’s standards. And, for
what it was worth, it was a Southern Hemisphere high
altitude free fall record. They exited at 27,000 feet and
pulled ripcords at 2,000 feet. To most of us at Camden
that sort of operation and altitude seemed out of our
league. I remember wondering at the time just how such
a jump could be possible.
However, times and people change and in 1965 I
decided to give it a go. We - Robin Godwin, a civvie
mate, and I - would attack the Kiwi’s Southern Hemi -
sphere HALO record of 27,000 feet. Brian Murphy
unselfishly lent us each a portable oxygen cylinder (De
Havilland Vampire jet fighter ejection seat cylinders,
each with a 7 minute constant flow supply), which was
required for jumping above 20,000 feet AMSL by the
Australian Parachute Federation. Brian had acquired
these little bottles for his own HALO record attempts
(deferred indefinitely following a knee injury while
parachuting). We were lucky to get cost - free an Aero
Commander 680F, in a sponsorship deal with the then
Avis Rent-a-Plane. The Avis pilot, Captain Peter Ahrens,
assured us that the 680F could beat the Kiwi’s 27,000
feet. At this stage I had done 147 jumps, mostly free
falls, the highest being a 45 second delayed opening
from 9,500 feet without oxygen equipment.
Our plan was to free fall from the Aero Commander’s
absolute ceiling – we had no idea what this would be -
to 2000 feet, open parachutes, and land in Lake
Illawarra where boats of the Kanahooka Motor Boat
Club would retrieve us. Along with us on the sortie as
“drifter” (a term used to refer to a device for gauging
the wind strength and direction after take off but also to
justify a free jump) was my younger brother - another
Robin, aged 18 - who was doing his 45th jump. (Soon
after, in January 1966 during the Vietnam War, Robin
“celebrated” being conscripted by doing 40 jumps in
one day onto Aero Pelican strip, Newcastle. Rob has
very good legs!) As our drifter, Robin was to free-fall
from about 16,000 feet to 2000 feet and land in the lake,
exiting the aircraft as it climbed to whatever altitude the
pilot could attain. The Aero Commander had its own inboard
passenger oxygen console for our use on the
climb and we would carry the little 7-minute ejection
seat oxygen cylinders tied to our reserve chute bungies.
These would be connected to our $5 Army Disposal
Store WWII “12 O’clock High” oxygen masks – oldish,
but in mint condition, like the candy striped USAF
military surplus parachutes that we used. We would
change over from the aircraft oxygen console to our
portable cylinders on the dropping run, just prior to exit.
The air space clearance to all altitudes from Air Traffic
Control Mascot was for Sunday 14 February 1965 from
first light to 0700 hours. Piece of cake!
14 COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018
We spent an uncomfortable night before the drop on
the floor at the Albion Park Aero Club. Next morning,
mindful of Brian Murphy’s report of the deep cold he
had experienced on his own record jump, we ate a
hearty meal of steak and eggs thinking it would keep
our bodies warm on the sortie. It was a meal we were
shortly to regret having eaten. Then, to make it easier to
get from our aircraft seats to the rear doorway for exit,
we reversed the Aero Commander’s seats on their floor
mountings so that all of us, except the pilot, Captain
Peter Ahrens, faced the rear door, which we removed for
our exit under the port wing. This also meant that all of
us - pilot included - had our backs to the 680F’s oxygen
console, into which we were all plugged. Several days
previously we had sought to familiarise ourselves with
the aircraft oxygen console and low-pressure con -
necting lines and fittings but unfortunately - and
ominously - we couldn’t organise it with Avis staff. So, as
we geared up next to the aircraft for our Southern
Hemisphere HALO Record bid, we were full of steak and
eggs, rash optimism and the confidence of youth. Not
only were we totally unfamiliar with the vital oxygen
system on the Aero Commander but we had also
ingeniously managed to arrange the seats so that all
four of us, pilot included, were sitting with our backs to
the all - important oxygen console. Moreover, neither of
us had used Brian’s Vampire ejection seat bottles before,
even in a rehearsal, since once the lanyard was yanked
the flow could not be turned off, requiring a timeconsuming
service by Hawker de Havilland at Banks -
town. Youthful impatience resisted such extravagant
waste of time!
However, the morning was clear and calm and so we
geared up in parachutes, life jackets, oxygen cylinders,
balaclavas, gloves and ski masks and heaved ourselves
on board the Aero Commander. The aircraft’s take-off
gave us our first discomforting surprise, for to us the
speed and rate of climb of the supercharged Aero Com -
mander were simply incredible, and to me as jump -
master/dispatcher quite disorienting. Accustomed to
under powered Austers, the old De Havilland Dragon
and the odd struggling Cessna, where there was ample
time in the slow climb to altitude to think about the
jump ahead, we were riding in a rocket by comparison.
This resulted in less time to adjust mentally to the new
environment of high altitude – a feeling of being
“rushed” and of not being in complete control of our
sortie.
As we climbed steeply over Lake Illawarra, what had
begun as clear sunny sky suddenly started to clag right
in underneath us. A sea drift of thick, opaque cloud
began rapidly to obscure the ground and lake. In no
time we were at 18,000 feet and I dispatched brother
Robin, who enjoyed a very long free fall to the lake
through the last, fast-disappearing small hole remaining
in the cloud cover. Pulling at 2,000 feet, he later
reported a very pleasant and satisfying free fall. As the
680F shot on up into the troposphere the complete
cloud cover settled in well below us - but how far below,
we could not tell merely by looking down at it. We had
no DZ controller with ground to air radio and even if
we’d had ground control there was little they could have
done to guide an aircraft that they could barely hear and
couldn’t see. In fact, by 19,000 feet we had absolutely
no specific idea of where we were, and I couldn’t do my
usual visual spotting for the exit point because there
were no landmarks visible. A moody dawn sky above the
cloud added to the sense of strangeness and uneasiness
of it all and we had no plan of action for finding a lost
DZ. Navigation for the dropping run and exit point
therefore devolved entirely on the radio navigation skills
of our pilot, Peter Ahrens, who seemed to have caught
the spirit of our record attempt. No one, including the
pilot, thought of calling it off because of the total cloud
cover. It had taken much organisation, time and effort to
get this far, and we were determined not to abort the
sortie if we could avoid it.
Then as we approached 25,000 feet I started to doze
off to sleep, rationalising to myself that the previous few
days jump preparations and the rough night’s sleep had
been a little fatiguing and that a cat nap before the
dropping run would surely do me the world of good. Of
course, as a new chum I had no idea that I was drifting
into the cosy seductiveness and fatuous serenity of
hypoxia. This disaster struck very quietly. Unnoticed by
us, behind our backs all three oxygen lines - pilot’s
included - had simply dropped out of the oxygen
console to the floor under their own meagre weight
because of slack bayonet fittings. We did not know we
were breathing only the thin inadequate atmosphere.
So, there we were, hurtling upwards, dead to the world
in a deep hypoxic slumber. In his sleep Robin vomited
up his steak and eggs into his oxygen mask and all over
his reserve ‘chute, clothing, his seat and the carpeted
aircraft floor.
Suddenly I woke up, nauseous and very groggy.
Where the hell was I? What was going on? As I struggled
to gain some awareness I realised that the aircraft was in
a steep dive. Fortunately for us all, Peter Ahrens, an
experienced pilot, had detected early the symptoms of
hypoxia in himself and was descending as quickly as he
could to a safe altitude. I was light-headed, sick and
weary, but felt even worse when I realised that our
precious record attempt was RS. But then Robin woke
up and I thought fast. (The inflated arrogance, mindless
urgency and insatiable appetite of youth!) I reassured
the pilot confidently that we were ok to jump, but at first
Peter didn’t want to know. Although I felt dreadful, I was
insistent, making me speak briskly and moving pur -
posefully to show him how wonderfully recovered and
normal I really was. It was a shameless con. I shudder to
think of how we must have looked and sounded. But
Peter, sizing us up, finally agreed to give it another go,
and called up Air Traffic Control Mascot for an extension
of time. I refitted our oxygen leads and held them in
their sockets, and the pilot pulled the aircraft’s nose
back up. We managed to get to 25,200 feet before our
extra time ran out. Peter then signalled us to jump. We
changed over from the aircraft bottle to our 7-minute
COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018 15
supply portable bottles and crawled into the open
doorway.
Poking my head through the doorway I looked down
on a vast white floor of thick cloud thousands of feet
below us. Where, under all that cloud, was our Lake
Illawarra drop zone? Far to what was probably the west
of us a mountain peak nosing up through the cloud may
possibly have been near Burragorang, but as far as my
addled judgement was concerned it could have been
any feature at all. Peter was working overtime cranking
the RDF handle above his head trying to fix our position
within a triangle formed by three terrestrial nondirectional
radio navigation beacons (NDB’s). He kept
nodding vigorously to us that we could jump, but
looking down on to the complete cloud cover I
hesitated in the doorway. I wondered sluggishly if fixing
one’s position by triangulating NDB’s was accurate
enough for us, as only one NDB could be lined up at a
time, and with the great speed of the Aero Commander
it seemed that a large margin of error was likely. It didn’t
occur to either of us or to the pilot to abort the sortie
but because there is only a thin strip of land between
Lake Illawarra and the ocean I was afraid that we might
even be out over the Tasman Sea. If we jumped perhaps
no one would see us and we might be lost out to sea.
Peter continued to put the Aero Commander into a fast,
steeply banking orbit - clearly, he thought that we were
over the drop zone. I wasn’t as confident as he – I had
been on sorties where the pilot had insisted on doing
the spotting and it was always very inaccurate. It also
crossed my still sluggish mind that we didn’t know
whether the base of the cloud cover was right down to
ground level or was at our parachute opening height of
2,000 feet, or was higher, or lower. But finding the DZ
was our absolute priority and accuracy now depended
entirely on the pilot’s navigational skills. As we banked in
a continuing 360-degree circle I kept gesticulating to
him, “Where are we? Can we go?” But with our seven
minute portable bottles starting to run low, pinpoint
accuracy became an academic question and despite
feeling very vulnerable and disoriented, our dwindling
oxygen supply forced the decision. I dived through the
terrific slipstream of the port engine into the vast void of
space and sky, Robin Godwin following immediately.
As I stabilised in free fall, the sun peeked over the
horizon of the cloud floor far below and my amber
tinted ski goggles treated me to an enthralling,
spectacular display of colour as the eastern sky and the
entire terrain of cloud turned rich pink, orange and
crimson. Instinctively I did a 90-degree turn and faced
the rising sun. (At this stage I had been studying the
transcendental nature poetry of the Lake Poets such as
Wordsworth and Coleridge for my BA degree and, high
on a blend of their pantheistic Naturfilosofie and the
drunkenness of hypoxia, I found this solitary splendour
of crimson cloud at high altitude total, spiritual and
calming. In a crazy, irrational way my orientation to earth
and sky inverted, as it were, so that the sky above me
seemed solid and the ground below distant, ephemeral
and unimportant. The Lake Poets would have
approved!) But this transcendental “high” was suddenly
interrupted, for as I reached terminal velocity in free fall
my 12 O’clock High oxygen mask was blasted off my
face and I was forced reluctantly out of my reverie and
back to my immediate problems. Holding my oxygen
mask firmly on my face with one hand while struggling
to maintain free fall stability with the other, I started to
wonder how much height I had left, since, still under the
influence of the solar psychedelics and still not mentally
100%, I hadn’t noticed whether my 10,000 feet altimeter
had wound past zero once or twice. So with the soft
surface of the cloud cover below now starting to rush at
me, I grappled with my frenzied oxygen mask and with
the problem of whether I was at 18,000 feet or 8,000
feet. Dawn suddenly turned to dusk as I plunged into
the grey-white gloom of the cloud mass, but my mental
clock told me that my altimeter needle had in fact
wound past zero twice. I took a punt and pulled at what
I hoped was 2,500 feet, and not 12,500 feet, still in the
cloud. As I floated down out of the cloud base I saw the
ground and could see that I was at 1,800 feet - not
above Lake Illawarra or the Tasman Sea, but above the
land strip between the lake and the Tasman. Robin
Godwin landed nearby. That was good enough. “A big
thanks to our able pilot, Peter Ahrens”. Spotting with
NDB’s is a fine thing, and to be highly recommended!
Who wanted water landing anyway?
On the ground I still felt sick from the hypoxia and a
bit dazed and weary from the whole experience, but I
was glad to be in one piece. It turned out that Robin
Godwin had waited until clearing the cloud before
pulling his ripcord and I must ask him one day how he
knew that the cloud base wasn’t at ground level.
Perhaps he was keeping close tabs on his altimeter as he
fell. Afterwards we enjoyed a day or two of media hype,
but we had had a taste of HALO and promptly started
planning to better both our Australian record of 25,000
feet and the Southern Hemisphere Record of 27,000
feet of the New Zealand team. We were feeling quite
pleased with ourselves, for our sortie could easily have
been a disastrous and embarrassing failure (purists
would say that it was anyway!). True, if we hadn’t
blacked out we could have possibly made 30,000 feet or
better in the time available. But we had gained some
invaluable experience with oxygen and with operational
planning. We hadn’t been cold at all at 25,000 feet or at
any time on the flight, even with the door removed.
Perhaps we were too hypoxic to notice, but I don’t think
so. I thought at the time that perhaps we stayed warm
because the aircraft climbed so quickly that we didn’t
have time to lose much body heat. But we were soon to
discover the hard way that the time of year affects
temperatures “upstairs” a great deal.
Now, how were we going to beat the Kiwi’s 27,000
feet record? Finding a suitable jump aircraft was no easy
matter. The Avis Aero Commander was no longer
available to us as Avis went out of the rent-a-plane
business soon after (but not because of!) our jump. After
a very long and frustrating search we managed to find
another sponsor when WD and HO Wills agreed to pay
16 COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018
for the Aero Commander 680F of King Ranch Australia.
The pilot, John Laffin, assured us that his 680F had an
absolute ceiling of over 30,000 feet. So, on 12
September 1965 the two Robins and I flew up to Cowra
for the record attempt - but without the steak and eggs
breakfast this time. To avoid the pleasures of hypoxia we
did good aircraft oxygen and equipment checks before
taking off. At 22,000 feet, I despatched brother Rob
(with 53 jumps still regarded as too inexperienced for
the higher altitude “men’s” stuff) and we continued to
climb towards the 680F’s maximum ceiling.
But before long the plummeting temperature in the
aircraft became excruciating. The cold was absolutely
appalling. The frigid blast from the port propeller was
rammed in through the open doorway, icing into opacity
our goggles and altimeters, reducing us to sluggish -
ness, numbing our hands and fingers and giving our
clothing, faces and parachute rigs a heavy coating of
frost. I had never experienced anything like this in my
entire life. Pilot John was obviously suffering greatly too
and a more wretched trio I couldn’t imagine. Hypo -
thermia was rapidly debilitating us. However, despite
the terrible wind chill factor and deep cold, we never -
theless continued the climb. After all, that’s why we were
there!
But it wasn’t to be. At 27,000 feet - equal to the
height of the New Zealand altitude record - the oil in the
port engine thickened from the cold and the pilot had to
feather its three bladed propellers. I can’t recall it clearly
but my logbook states that for some reason my mate
Robin blacked out at about this stage and that he didn’t
regain consciousness until a lower altitude was reached.
On only one engine the Aero Commander dropped
rapidly and by the time we changed over from aircraft
oxygen to our portable cylinders and exited we were
down to 18,000 feet - ironically, an exit height lower
than brother Robin’s 22,000 feet only a short while
before.
I shall never forget the frigid misery of the free fall
that followed. Already hypothermic, I found the cold in
free fall unbearable, piercing my thick layers of clothing,
gloves, balaclava and helmet. My skull chilled and I felt
that my brain was freezing - I might as well have been
free falling stark naked. To try to avoid the awful cold I
rolled onto my back into the “dead horse” position, so
that the main parachute pack might provide a shield
from the painfully cold blast of free fall. But to no avail.
I was chilled to the marrow. I perhaps should have
opened my parachute high to end the pain, but not
knowing the wind strengths and directions at all
altitudes and not knowing where I might drift off to, it
really wasn’t an option. Mercifully the opening height of
2,000 feet finally arrived, and, my fingers being in -
operable, I pulled the ripcord with my thumb.
What a forgettable sortie! With a glum sense of
anticlimax, we packed up and flew back to Sydney. We
had not beaten the Kiwis’ Southern Hemisphere or even
our own Lake Illawarra Australian record. To be fair, we
had had no warning during the Lake Illawarra record
attempt of the perils and difficulties of extreme cold at
high altitude, and so had not really given it any serious
thought on this second attempt.
But we weren’t yet ready to call it a day, and despite
the awful obstacle of hypothermia we still wanted to
beat the Kiwis - if possible, without the problems of
oxygen and cold, which had detracted from our earlier
efforts at Lake Illawarra and Cowra. WD and HO Wills
were a bit put off by our Cowra failure but sportingly
rallied to meet the costs of a Fokker F27 Mark 1
Friendship turbo prop airliner from the then East West
Airlines. An airliner, no less! Yes, thanks! We invited
Kenny Bath, an instructor at Sydney Skydivers, to join us
for this third attempt on the Southern Hemisphere High
Altitude Record. We told Ken about our loss of 10,000
feet of hard earned altitude at Cowra because of the
slow changeover from aircraft to personal oxygen. He
turned up with male and female couplings for each of
us, which, he said, would enable us to do a quicker
switch over from the aircraft oxygen, supply to our little
personal bottles so that any loss of precious oxygen or
altitude would be negligible. I was so reassured by this
cunning display of engineering initiative that I didn’t
even try out the couplings, but left Kenny to fit a pair to
each of our personal cylinder oxygen lines. It all seemed
so simple.
East West Airlines shrewdly moved our third record
attempt to Grafton in northern NSW for two reasons: a)
it was a sea level drop zone, providing “free” altitude
compared with higher inland drop zones such as Cowra,
and b) there was turbine fuel for refuelling. The Fokker’s
absolute ceiling would be greater with a partial fuel
load. Our inboard aircraft oxygen consisted initially of
the pressurised interior of the Fokker, then medical
oxygen cylinders from CIG strapped to the seat next to
each of us for when the aircraft depressurised above
20,000 feet. The spotting at high altitude was the job of
the pilot, Captain Jim Swan, who would fly on a heading
at whatever altitude he could attain straight down the
Grafton runway and signal us when to jump. Knowing
that the oxygen changeover on the dropping run was
more important than where we would land I had no
problem with this plan. (After the jump, we found
ourselves only a forgivable kilometre from the strip.) On
the dropping run we would therefore have ample time
for an unhurried changeover from aircraft to personal
oxygen systems. On the climb, although depressurised,
we would keep the Fokker’s sliding rear passenger door
closed so that the cabin heaters could warm up the
interior. This proved to be very successful in keeping us
warm before and thus during the free fall. However, after
the deep cold of the Cowra jump, I had readily accepted
Brian Murphy’s kind offer of his padded USAF aircrew
quilted nylon inner suit for the jump (where did he get
that, I wondered). Again, because of the previous effect
of deep cold on my fingers, I swapped my leather
gloves for large leather motorcycle gauntlets, which
were mitten-like, without individual fingers – my thumb
would have to pull the ripcord. Ken Bath and Robin
Godwin had white cotton overalls on and warm clothing
and balaclavas. In the quilted USAF suit I looked and felt
COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018 17
like something from outer space, especially as it was too
big for me. I had no opportunity to try the suit out in free
fall before the big day – if I’d tried it out in free fall I
wouldn’t have worn it on the record bid. In view of our
oxygen problems on the previous HALO sorties the
question of whether we should fit barostats (automatic
parachute opening devices - “AOD’s”) to our reserve
‘chutes came up, but most AOD’s were poorly regarded
at the time as on several trials they had pulled the
ripcord D Ring of the reserve chute after the parachutist
had landed! So we didn’t take the idea of AOD’s
seriously for HALO jumping.
To add to the sense of occasion, I invited 30
skydivers at ten dollars a head to come along with us for
a rare cheap leap from 10,000 feet from a Fokker
Friendship, the money to go the Royal North Shore
Hospital Paraplegic Unit. (There was some grumbling
from the fraternity about both the money and my
restricting their altitude to only 10,000 feet, but I felt
that if we went higher for the 30 fun jumpers, there
wouldn’t be enough time to fully oxygenate the three of
us between their exit altitude of 10,000 feet and our
proposed exit altitude at whatever the aeroplane could
attain. It was simply a matter of priorities.) Two weeks
before the jump I asked my older brother David, who
had served as an IO in UNSWR, to fly with East West
Airlines to a recce of the Grafton drop zone on our
behalf and bring back a good field sketch of the
environs – terrain, trees, natural and built hazards etc.
What could go wrong when everything was so well
planned?
So, on a calm and sunny 24th of October 1965, we
all flew from Sydney to Grafton, geared up and took off.
I insisted on personally despatching each of the three
sticks of ten skydivers on three runs at 11,000 feet. The
Fokker’s sliding rear door and the handy airhostess’
phone to the pilot made my jumpmaster’s job a dream.
No NDB’s needed here! I was in form on the day and all
three sticks landed very near the white cross on the
airfield. I enjoyed that very much (“First stick, stand up!”
sort of thing). Then I closed the door, returned to my
seat, went on to the CIG oxygen and the aircraft repressurised.
After we passed through 20,000 feet we
depressurised and awaited the climb to the Fokker’s
absolute ceiling and the pilot’s signal - relayed to us by
Ron Walesby, the Manager of East West Airlines, which
we were soon to commence the dropping run. After the
hypothermia of Cowra the Fokker was cosy and warm,
and the big medical oxygen cylinders with their clearly
calibrated flow meters roped to the seats next to us
worked well. At 31,000 feet, with the Fokker’s rate of
climb right down, Ron signalled to us that we were on
the dropping run - time for us to change over to our little
cylinders, get quickly down to the back door, slide it
open, and jump. Nothing to it. However, my motorcycle
gauntlets did not permit a quick, nimble-fingered
oxygen changeover using Kenny Bath’s male and female
fittings. So, to conserve my seven-minute personal
supply I removed my gauntlets, activated my portable
bang-seat bottle, and disconnected my 12 O’clock High
mask from aircraft supply and plugged into the lowpressure
line from Murphy’s portable bottle. As the male
fitting snapped home, I felt an unexpected whoosh of
air in my oxygen mask. But I could not pause to
investigate this oddity, because Ron was motioning to
us to be on our way to the rear doorway. I put on my
gauntlets, stood up, plodded down the aisle of the
Fokker to the back door and pulled it open. As I did so,
I heard a loud sharp bang, like a double bunger,
followed by another sharp bang. Puzzled, I waited at the
open doorway, but neither Ken nor Robin joined me.
Then Kenny came down the aircraft to the doorway with
the shredded end of his portable bottle’s low-pressure
line in his mouth. This was probably not what one hopes
to see on a well-organised HALO jump. But, recognising
there was nothing that could be done; I held my oxygen
mask firmly to my face and stepped out of the door into
space, Kenny following. Robin Godwin did not join us at
the doorway before we jumped.
We worked out later what had gone wrong. We
hadn’t known that the male and female fittings Kenny
had obtained for us had a one-way non-return valve that
wouldn’t open until the fitting was actually snapped
home. Kenny had made no mention of the one-way
valves – maybe he did not know about them either. The
portable bottles, once activated, had simply built up
pressure behind the one-way valve until the lines
exploded. With the whoosh into my mask I had escaped
by only a few seconds a similar explosion, because, of
the three of us, I was the only one who had happened
to remove his gloves to affect a quick oxygen
changeover. Kenny was lucky in that his line exploded
near his mask and was still long enough to simply put in
his mouth. Robin Godwin was not so fortunate: his line
exploded near his personal bottle lashed to his reserve
parachute and so it wasn’t long enough to reach his
mouth unless he wanted to unhook his reserve ‘chute
and free fall with it under his arm! At 31,000 feet, with
the aircraft depressurised and his free fall personal
oxygen supply unusable, Robin looked down the full
length of the Fokker to see Kenny and myself departing
through the open doorway. Deciding that it was too
good a picnic to miss, Robin got up, oxygen or no
oxygen, charged down the aircraft and out into space.
He reported no ill effects or hypoxia from this, and we
thought it must be good value to be well oxygenated at
high altitude if you can manage it.
My own free fall of 29,000 feet was a mess. The 12
O’clock High mask was again ripped away from my face
by the blast of the free fall. But my quilted nylon jump
suit, while warm enough, had such a low coefficient of
friction with the air that I found it virtually impossible to
stabilise in free fall. I skidded and skated all over the sky
like a beginner on a skating rink. Worse, the suit was far
too big for me, and unimpeded by the three-point
parachute harness the inner suit billowed, concealing
my ripcord handle, which totally disappeared into the
billowing folds of the inner suit. I spent almost the entire
18 COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018
free fall alternatively looking for the bloody ripcord,
wrestling the oxygen mask back onto my face and
carefully counting the needle of my 10,000 feet
altimeter three times past zero. Interestingly, although it
was still only spring and the pilot recorded an outside air
temperature of minus 67 degrees Fahrenheit at our exit
height of 31,000 feet, I had no sensation of cold
whatsoever on this sortie and neither did the others.
Being warm in the Fokker on the climb had presumably
done the trick. I was also interested to learn from a
friend who was a Professor of Physics at UNSW that
terminal velocity in free fall from that altitude in the
thinner air was probably about 340kph (or, in my
slippery nylon tent, probably 400kph!), and that the
duration of the fall was over two minutes.
So, third time lucky. We had the title. The media
came to the party, WD and HO Wills threw us a big
reception and presented us each with a nice trophy,
suitably inscribed, and all the cigarettes we could
smoke! Our jump had finally beaten the New Zealanders
and our record stood for something like six or seven
years at least, when I think a Victorian team achieved
about 32,000 feet using a Beechcraft King Air. We were
later somewhat galled to learn that at Grafton our pilot
could have possibly got the Fokker even higher. But as
its rate of climb on the dropping run was only 40 feet
per minute (very low indeed) it was not clear what extra
altitude could really have been achieved on that sortie,
short of removing all the seats and stripping the aircraft
of everything removable. Had I known in advance,
though, I would have taken my spanner with me and
assisted in stripping the Fokker.
There was a worthy outcome to our oxygen
problems: later the Australian Parachute Federation
arranged for its members to accompany QANTAS
trainee pilots in the high altitude simulator decom -
pression tank at RAAF Richmond, which I did. Although
it came after the event, the RAAF tank was a valuable
experience of medically controlled hypoxia that I could
heartily recommend to my fellow skydivers. The main
message about hypoxia was that you could feel normal
and confident but at the same time have seriously
impaired judgement and cognition.
Although I subsequently tried hard to break our
altitude record with a night free fall from 38,000 - 40,000
feet, we couldn’t find an affordable, adequate aeroplane
and Grafton was in fact the last of our HALO jumps. We
had learnt a lot about oxygen and its portability, about
combating extreme cold, about the psychology of
performing arduous physical and mental tasks, and - the
hard way - about sound planning and rehearsal,
especially with new equipment. The dollar cost of the
aircraft is probably still a major factor – if you can afford
the right aeroplane then you will be spared the
problems of hypothermia and hypoxia.
Now, I wonder what a 747 costs per hour…?
For the record this is impossible due to the door
opening mechanism on a Boeing 747. Editor
(Cpl) Bruce Horsfield
1 Commando Coy, 1958-1962
COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018 19
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20 COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018
Regimental Executive Officer Major Lee Mountford,
President of the Commando Association Barry Grant,
members of the Association, distinguished guests,
fellow Commandos and Commando supporters, ladies
and gentlemen, girls and boys, good morning and
thank you for the invitation to address your service this
morning.
I have chosen as my theme for today – Anzac Day –
a day for reflection. What I would like to do in my
address is to briefly describe some of the issues that I,
as a professional soldier of 35 years and a former
Commando, think we as Australians should reflect on,
on Anzac Day 2018.
Firstly it is important that we reflect on the original
Anzacs, those men who 103 years ago this morning, as
part of the 1st Anzac Corps made their gallant landing
at Anzac Cove. Much has been written about the
conduct of the campaign and the legends and myths
that have arisen from it, but to me as a former soldier
they set a standard for bravery, dedication and sacrifice
for following generations of Australian service per son -
nel to aspire to, and if possible emulate.
On Anzac Day we should reflect on the fact that the
landing at Gallipoli was the coming of age of a young
country. In 1915 the young nation Australia was only 14
years old as a federation and for the first time, rather
than representing one of six separate colonies, an
Australian force was formed and had gone to war,
albeit supporting mother England. For a lot of these
young Australians it certainly was also a coming of age
as for most it was their first time overseas and they left
Australia with a strong spirit of adventure and very little
understanding of the challenges of fighting a war. Their
learning curve was going to be very steep but they
certainly did us proud.
On Anzac Day we should also reflect that over our
history our nation has been involved in many conflicts
since that first landing at Gallipoli and in all of them
Australian men and women have made the supreme
sacrifice – in World Wars One and Two, the Korean
War, the Malayan Emergency, confrontation with
Indonesia, Vietnam, the war I served in, and then in so
called peacekeeping operations in the Middle East, in
Cambodia, Somalia, Rwanda, Bougainville, East Timor,
the Solomon Islands and then conflict operations in
Iraq and Afghanistan, the war that a lot of you served
in. We must on Anzac Day remember that there are
ADDRESS
COMMANDO MEMORIAL SERVICE 2018
some 102,000 Australians who as a result of war and
conflict will never come home.
As we are gathered here today at the Commando
Memorial it is important that we, who are part of
Australia’s modern day Commandos, reflect on the
original Australian Commandos, who during the
Second World War bravely volunteered to be part of a
new group of independent companies formed to con -
duct special Commando type operations. For being
part of a special group they were given a special unit
badge, a double diamond that today forms the
backing for our own unit insignia. As with all of our
Second World War soldiers their ranks are thinning but
we must remember how bravely our first Commandos
fought, normally against considerably stronger forces,
in PNG and its islands, on East Timor where they are
still fondly remembered for their resistance to the
Japanese occupying force, and on Borneo towards the
end of that War. They obviously left a lasting impres -
sion with the powers that be because, in 1955 some 10
years after the end of World War 2 the Army was being
reorganised and the Australian Government decided
we needed some Commandos as part of the new order
of battle. 1st and 2nd Commando Companies were
formed and the Commando component of our Army
has been steadily growing in numbers ever since.
Those of us who are or have been members of
Special Operations Command should reflect of the fact
that 75 years ago this coming October, Australia
launched its first offensive special operations raid,
Operation Jaywick, when a group of specially selected
and highly trained Defence Force members (not
designated Commandos in those days) launched an
attack on the Japanese shipping in Singapore Harbour.
Travelling in the mother ship the Krait and then fol -
boats, the kleppers predecessor, the team were able to
sink 7 major Japanese ships using limpet mines. An
amazing feat. Unfortunately the follow-on operation,
Operation Rimau, was not so successful, but highly
trained Special Forces had shown the Australian
powers that be what they could achieve.
On Anzac Day 2018 we must also reflect that even
without a deployment to a war, our country has nearly
1,700 of its Defence Force personnel from all three
services deployed overseas helping to make our world
and particularly our region a more secure place; in the
Middle East, South Sudan, Egypt, Israel/Lebanon,
COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018 21
South West Pacific, South China Sea, Southern Indian
Ocean, Iraq, Afghanistan, and on border protection.
On this day we should remember the commitment that
all these personnel are making to world peace, and
pray for their safe return when their tours are com -
pleted.
For those of us who are, or like me, have been
soldiers, we should reflect that 100 years ago next
month Australia’s finest soldier, Lt Gen John Monash
was given command of the Australian Corps, the first
Australian to hold that appointment. From that position
he was able to use his leadership qualities and superior
planning ability to formulate plans for the Battles of
Hamel in July 1918 and Amiens in August that year
which had such an effect on the German Army that by
November they had had enough and an armistice was
signed ending the War. I believe that General Monash
has not been given sufficient recognition by our
country for all he achieved and I do believe that a post -
humous promotion to Field Marshal, as has been
recently proposed, could balance the books, at least a
little.
Ladies and gentlemen, what I have aimed to do this
morning is to give you some food for thought on what
we should all reflect on, on Anzac Day 2018, principally,
however, on our special day we must remember the
102,000 australians who will never come home. We,
the living, owe them a great debt and on Anzac Day we
must keep them foremost in our thoughts.
Lest we forget.
Thank you for your attention.
BRIG Philip McNamara CSC ESM OAM
Hon Colonel 2nd Commando Regt
EX COMMANDO SACRIFICES HIMSELF FOR YOUNG PARACHUTIST
A Miranda skydiving instructor, who wrapped
himself around a boy to shield him from the full impact
as they plunged to the ground during a freak accident
has been honoured for his bravery.
Antonio (Tony) Rokov 44, a former member of the
2nd Commando Regiment at Holsworthy, died in the
tandem diving accident in November 2015, but 14-
year-old Elijah Arranz survived.
Elijah with severe traumatic brain injury but, with
tremendous determination, has learnt to walk and eat
again, is in year 11 at a Canberra college and his goal
is to run the Boston Marathon one day. Mr. Rokov was
posthumously awarded the Star of Courage, the
second highest level of the Australian Bravery Awards,
announced recently.
Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove approved the
decorations.
"On 21 November 2015, the late Mr. Antonio
Rokov shielded a young person during a skydiving
accident near Goulburn in NSW", the award citation
said.
"Mr. Rokov, an experienced skydiving instructor, has
meticulously prepared his equipment prior to
undertaking a tandem skydive near Goulburn Airport.
The weather was calm with wind speeds of
approximately 11 km/h coming from the South.
"Mr. Rokov then briefed a 14-year-old boy who
would be undertaking the tandem skydive with him
and provided reassurance to the boy's anxious family in
the process.
"After a normal takeoff and jump from the plane,
the pair descended.
"When they were approximately 20 meters from the
ground, a freak gust of wind caused their parachute to
collapse and violently fold in half.
Pic courtesy ABC News
"Mr. Rokov and the boy quickly began to plummet
during which time the boy was flipped horizontally.
"As they approached the ground, Mr. Rokov twisted
his body under the boy and took the full force of the
impact.
"First Aid was administered straight away to both
Mr. Rokov and the boy until emergency services arrived
on the scene."
"Sadly, Mr. Rokov died as a result of his injuries he
sustained. The boy, though, survived the fall."
"By his actions, Mr. Rokov displayed conspicuous
courage."
Mr. Rokov's widow Samantha Rokov told ABC News
"we would rather have our husband, father, son back,
but to be remembered, that means a lot to us".
"Every single day we're proud of him, that will never
fade."
The couple met when they were teenagers and
have 3 children.
Article courtesy St. George and Sutherland Shire
Leader and Murray Trembath.
22 COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018
Commandos who turned up for the last Reserve Forces Day Parade
Celebrating its 40 th year, Disabled
Wintersport Australia (DWA) is thrilled and
very proud to announce Joany Badenhorst as
its National Ambassador!!
Long time DWA member and volunteer,
Joany is Co-Captain of the 2018 Australian
Winter Paralympic Team.
Currently ranked number one in the
World in Boarder-cross LL-2 Joany was
Australia’s only female Snowboarder at the
2018 Winter Paralympics!
On accepting her appointment from
DWA President Paul Lamb, Joany said:
“DWA has been a massive part of my
snowboard journey and I’m so supportive of
what they do. It’s a goal of mine to become
more involved as a volunteer and on snow.”
Australian Paralympic Chef de Mission
Nick Dean said: “Joany is a wonderful role
model for young women everywhere and a
fine example of what commitment and
determination can achieve. I congratulate
DWA on 40 years promoting the advance -
ment of participation by people with a
disability in wintersport both in Australia and
overseas.”
DWA and members wish Joany every
success and luck at 2018 Peongchang Winter
Paralympics which begins on March 9th.
Rick Coate
CEO
Disabled Wintersport Australia
Established in 1978 as the Australian
Disabled Skiers Federation, we are now
known as Disabled Wintersport Australia
(DWA). The organisation assists thousands of
individuals with disabilities to participate in
winter sports annually. From its programs
some of the world’s finest alpine skiers have
emerged recording victories at the highest
level of international com pe tition. The
organisation's members range from
recreational skiers to Australia’s Winter
Paralympians.
Mission “To promote and foster the
advancement of participation by people with
a disability in wintersport both in Australia
and overseas.”
Vision “The equality of opportunity for
people with disabilities to participate at all
levels in the winter sport of their choice.”
For more information on Joany please see:
https://www.joanybadenhorst.com/
DWA Promotional Film; Finding Freedom on
the Snow
Linkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_
RAtuFI59sM
All Media and Corporate Enquiries to CEO
Rick Coate
rcoate@disabledwintersport.com.au
COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018 23
24 COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018
THE HAPPY WANDERER
“I love the smell of (burning) Juniper in the morning”
By Jim Truscott
I love to go a-wandering, along the mountain track, and as I go, I love to sing, my knapsack on my
back. Val-deri, Val-dera, Val-deri, Val-dera-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha. Val-deri, Val-dera. My knapsack on my back.
A climber’s lament sung to the tune of I want to be a Khumbu Ranger and live a life of mountain danger!
Huddled together in the pre-dawn with two Sherpas at 6,200 metres and braced against 45 knot winds, David
and I made the decision to turn back at the traverse below the summit. For years I had wanted to do something
dangerous in the mountains with my son. The Sherpas advised that it would be another three hours to reach the
summit, and in the journey from mediocrity to self-fulfilment we had achieved enough pain and frissons of
excitement even if Buddha has set enlightenment at the highest level. We were both suffering from heaving chest
syndrome to the cadence of ‘I must, I must, increase my bust’ and two days later we both still experienced over
exertion of our diaphragm muscles.
It would have been good to have had another day
to go for the summit again but our tight trekking
program did not allow this time. It is all about karma
and maybe Buddha has something else in mind for us.
Were we unlucky? Probably yes as from a climbing
perspective it would have been better if we had
COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018 25
allowed two days at our High Camp but such is the
challenge of combining climbing and trekking into a
tight schedule. In hindsight and given the snow con -
ditions we probably could have started in daylight after
the wind had dropped. Maybe we should have
checked the weather forecast ourselves.
The WA Family expedition at our High Camp at
5800 metres with jet stream wind blowing off the
summits of Everest and Lhotse (4 th highest).
Makalu (5 th highest) and Cho Oyu (6 th highest) also in view.
It all began a year before when Lisa (D3) asked me
to go to the Himalayas. So one in, all in, and the once
in a lifetime family expedition began to take shape.
Months of physical preparation commenced, although
our local Reabold Hill fell well short of what was to
come. With only one month to go I experienced an ’ah
fuck moment’ at a body pump session in the gym when
I re-ripped my hiatus hernia and my nagging jumpers
left knee was not getting any better. My kingdom for
some pain free knees! Woe was me, so I stocked up on
pain killers for an SAS candy fuelled ascent if necessary,
but it was not to be. Success in the Himalayas is hard
won. My first Himalayan expedition 37 years ago to
Ganesh IV in Nepal had ended in tragedy when our
high camp including me was swept away by an ava -
lanche and I did not summit. On my second Himalayan
expedition to Broad Peak in Pakistan, 33 years ago, I
turned back just short of 8,000 metres due to intense
cold and I did not summit. On my third Himalayan
expedition 31 years ago to Everest I reached the South
Col at 8,000 metres but a subsequent window of
opportunity was negated by jet stream winds. From our
high point on Mera Peak we could see the summit of
Everest and the same strong jet stream winds blowing
into China. On my fourth Himalayan expedition 25
years ago I was lucky to claim the first Australian ascent
of Nanda Devi East in India.
I had not heard of Mera Peak before but its
excellent views of six of the fourteen 8,000 metre
mountains and straight forward climbing made it an
obvious choice. My four children are not diehard
climbers like myself and the instructions from my wife
Colette were “not to kill the children.” Walking the
Kokoda Track the year before was tough but there
needed to be some perception of danger as well. We
needed a tiger for breakfast. It had been 30 years since
I had been to the Himalayas and boy was I out of date
with the abundance of lodges on the walk in. There is
no requirement for Tilman ‘memorable bathes’ any -
more as most lodges have hot showers! Tillman and
Shipton would both roll in their graves as the Internet
of Everything has replaced planning on the back of a
postcard. Indeed Tilman’s programmed no-speaking
days on expeditions have been replaced by social
media surfing at lodges. There are now a plethora of
people climbing and trekking in the Himalayas with 28
lodges and 500 guest beds in Lukla alone! We were
told that there is a veritable Conga line (highway of
zonkey, donkey, cow, yak and human shit) on the track
between Lukla and Everest base camp. There is a
commercial proposition to limit the number of visitors
in each valley and for the government to set higher
rates by a multitude of trekking companies.
After the mandatory steaks at Yak-Donalds and a
visit to funeral pyres and temples in Kathmandu, we
flew to Lukla, the mountain airstrip and entry point to
Sherpa country. We were reminded that it was nak
butter and not yak butter! The walk in to Mera Peak
makes the trek to Everest base camp and parts of the
Baltoro Glacier in Pakistan look like a doddle. We
celebrated a Puja (religious ceremony) with a Lama in a
rock cave on the way in to bless the journey and paid
his fees for enlightenment. At least he has not been
replaced by social media. Climate change has had its
impact over the last 30 years that our Sirdar has been
working in the Inkhu Khola Valley and there are massive
ice-free, rock walls awaiting rock climbers and probably
lots of bolts.
In the end all of our faces were hurting from the
wind and our various bodies were suffering from snoticles,
farting and the risk of follow through, vomiting,
blood in snot, rapid onset of headaches, tight chests,
vertigo, exertion, cracked lips, restless sleep, weird
dreams etc etc. These signs and symptoms were
diffused and offset by vista, vista and more vista, Dal
Bhat, bamboo forests, cheery Sherpani’s (good karma),
Sherpa tea, Sherpa stew, masala tea, bonhomie,
noodles with egg, the crunch-crunch of crampons, the
poke-poke of climbing sticks, Tibetan bread, wifi
equipped mountain huts (called lodges), and by
meeting half of Europe on the track etc etc.
We were ably supported by Cho La Adventures. My
lasting image is of the Cho La cook from High Camp
running down a snow slope with a thermos of hot tea
for us plodders! It is not in our Australian culture for
people to eat separately but we came to accept their
ways. Mingmar our Sirdar was physically strong and he
and his son Phuri had much good humour to put up
with us. They would say “good work”, “enjoy”, “ready
now”, “almost there“, “maybe/maybe not”, “20
minutes”, “close now, “why not” “Nepali flat”, don’t
worry; chicken curry” and “Dal Bhat power, trek for 24
26 COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018
hours.” The owner, Nima Lama is a Nepali businessman
with noble ideas to improve the lot of porters to
become trek assistants or better. His ‘people-watching’
skills enabled him to adroitly identify the personalities
of my four children. All progeny have explored a little
more about their mind and body. David is a better
father than I, and he was good to his sisters. Jessica
(D1) showed strong minded Irish tendencies. Sarah
(D2) is cautious like her mother and she had to confront
her flying demons. Lisa (D3) is a mountain goat and
Heath increased his confidence. Mountaineering is
90% mental and the other half is physical. Hence
mission (very much) accomplished.
The walkout over a high-pass directly back to Lukla
and requiring instep crampons was challenging to say
the least but the wait at Lukla airport for a scheduled
flight out was a drag until a helicopter became neces -
sary to fly back to Kathmandu in order to catch our
international flight. Sitting beside the Lukla airstrip was
akin to all those wasted years of parachuting at drop
zones or biding your time in War Zone D. Listening to
Lukla airport was like being on the USS Carl Vinson in
the Gulf but with Nepali navy pilots. The airport was
crazier than Mumbai; wonderfully chaotic as three
planes must fly together in two 3-plane sorties for air
separation safety in the mountain clouds. By chance I
spoke briefly with the legendary Reinhold Messner in
the lounge at Katmandu airport. He was the first man
to climb Everest without oxygen in 1978 and it was a
fitting, rohmro (great) and symbolic end to our trip. I
must get on with my plan to climb a mountain every
year until the day I die; live, climb, repeat. Om mani
padme hum.
Four Rules for Khumbu Rangers
• Don’t get sick
• Climb to climb again another day
• Climb with Social Media (suck it up Tilman)
• Additional maxim. If you are cold put a hat on.
Jim Truscott is a climber who pretended to be in the
army for 26 years. He has gone on multiple expeditions
in the jungles, seas, oceans and mountains of the
world. You could hear the sighs of relief in Canberra
Headquarters when he left the green machine. David,
Jessica, Sarah and Lisa Truscott were all army brats and
they used to run amok at Fort Gellibrand and in Camp -
bell Barracks. David Truscott is now a part time Q’y in
6 Squadron.
COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018 27
28 COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018
Chief of Army bans soldiers from wearing
'arrogant' death symbols
Australia's Chief of Army, Lieutenant General
Angus Campbell, has issued a directive that prohibits
the wearing of 'death' symbols. Lieutenant General
Campbell said the practice was arrogant, illconsidered
and that it eroded the ethos of the Army.
The directive was circulated as an internal minute on
April 17, and later posted to unofficial social media
pages for commentary.
Several symbols were specifically prohibited
because of their violent, murderous and vigilante
symbolism including the Grim Reaper, the Skull and
Crossbones, Spartans, and the Phantom or Punisher.
Lieutenant General Campbell, who this week was
named as the next Chief of the Defence, stated in his
order that he had come across the symbols worn as
patches or badges while visiting army units in
Australia and overseas. He reiterated that such
symbols were at odds with Army values while
acknowledging this was not the intention of those
who wore them.
"Such symbology is never presented as illintentioned
and plays too much of modern popular
culture," Lieutenant General Campbell said. "But it is
always ill-considered and implicitly encourages the
inculcation of an arrogant hubris and general
disregard for the most serious responsibility of our
profession; the legitimate and discriminate take of life.
"As soldiers our purpose is to serve the state,
employing violence with humility always and
compassion wherever possible. This symbology to
which I refer erodes this ethos of service."
ABC North Qld
By David Chen
A member of Iraq's elite Special Forces wears a skull mask
in the fight against the Islamic State in 2016.
(AP: Khalid Mohammed ~ Courtesy ABC North Qld)
In the directive, Army officers were ordered to take
immediate action to remove any formal or informal
symbols from within their command. Lieutenant
General Campbell acknowledged the decision would
upset a minority of soldiers.
"I appreciate that without explanation some will
rile at this direction, so please ensure my reasoning is
explained but be clear that I am adamant that this is
right for the Army." "I wish to reiterate that the use of
symbology/iconography is uncommon within Army.
The overwhelming majority of force elements are very
much on the right path," he said.
When approached by the ABC the Department of
Defence issued the fol -
lowing short statement: The
Chief of Army issued an
internal minute to all
Commanders on 17 April,
2018 to reinforce that all
symbols, emblems and
iconography used across the
organisation must align with
the Army values of courage,
initiative, respect and team -
work. Death symbol ogy
demonstrates a general dis -
regard for the most serious
responsibility of the Army's
profession; the legitimate
and discriminate taking of
life.
COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018 29
Michael Parker Foundation
Kshamawati Hostel Project, Nepal
In late 2017 my partner Drew Gordon and I under -
took a very special journey to a remote area of Nepal
to experience an extraordinary welcome and celeb -
ration.
In 2009 the beloved eldest son of Bruce & Gail
Parker and brother to Amy & Dan passed away un -
expectedly in Kathmandu after having just summited
Makalu. At 8500m, Makalu is considered far more
difficult than Everest, a mountain Mick was determined
to conquer after a previous disaster a few years prior.
Michael was a climber and adventurer who managed to
summit five of the Himalayas’ 8,000m peaks and
attempt eight others, including Everest from the north.
This was even more remarkable given that he climbed
without oxygen.
Drew and I knew Michael personally with fond
memories as a trek companion on the Kokoda Track as
well as a periodic running companion around the hills
of Warrandyte. Mick was a little quirky and always did
things in his own quiet way.
Before Mick passed away he had indicated that he
would like to give back to the people of Nepal with
whom he had such a bond. He dreamed about
supporting schoolchildren whose remoteness and
family circumstances prevented them from gaining an
education.
And so the Michael Parker Foundation (MPF) was
formed by his mother and father – Gail & Bruce as well
as his younger siblings Dan & Amy to honour the life of
Mick and to provide disadvantaged Nepalese children
with educational opportunities.
In 2015 with the generous assistance of World
Expeditions Foundation (WEF), a landmark project was
proposed.
The Kshamawati Higher Secondary School is
located some 150km north east of Kathmandu in the
beautiful Kalinchok hills. It has about 420 students and
was founded in 1947. The local Kshamawati village
consists of 85% Thamis people
who are a highly marginalised
ethnic group. With 90% of this
com munity living below the
poverty line and 78% of the people illiterate it seemed
that a residential hostel attached to the school would
be ideal to assist needy students to concentrate on
their education with the attention and guidance of
teachers.
The proposed hostel was to be a 2-storey stone
building with a girls’ wing on one side, a boys’ wing on
the other and a service and study area in the middle.
Each wing would have 10 dormitories over 2 floors and
would accommodate up to 240 students. The service
section in the middle will have a kitchen and dining
hall. The building would have biomass toilets and solar
water heaters. The building would be built locally using
brick, stone, mud mortar and local timber with earth -
quake resistant technology.
In 2015, Rob Prior, one of the six Trustees of the
MPF, travelled to Nepal to assist in the initial building
of the hostel. Shortly after his visit, Nepal experienced
an earthquake which was particularly devastating to the
people of the area in which the hostel is being built.
Although the hostel foundations were not badly
affected, the school and neighbouring village was
impacted upon. As the hostel is being built by local
craftsmen, the earthquake had a major impact on the
progress of the building.
Some two-and-a-half years after the earthquake,
Drew and I were given the opportunity to represent the
MPF and to visit the Michael Parker Hostel.
The hostel building is being coordinated and
supervised by a very impressive alumni group con -
sisting of an architect, past students and principals as
well as leading Nepalese business people with diverse
international experience and education.
After travelling 150km for 8 hours in a 4-wheel drive
Students assembled for the opening of the
Michael Parker Hostel
Girls’ Hostel building in progress
30 COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018
on very challenging roads from Kathmandu, then a 1km
walk to the Kshamawati Hostel, we understood the
remoteness of the hostel. We also understood how
difficult it could be for children to get to school
regularly.
On our arrival at the school we were totally over -
whelmed by the greeting offered by students, the
Alumni and officials. We were given a very ceremo -
nious welcome with speeches, dancing and the official
cutting of the opening ribbon.
We were given a guided tour of the hostel and were
very pleased to see the ongoing progress. Bunkrooms
were completed and were about to be furnished with
beds and lockers with a goal to have initial female
students accommodated early in 2018.
Since our visit, the Chairman of the Kshamawati
Michael Parker Foundation Alumni has informed us
that the hostel is now housing 33 female students on a
trial basis for 3 months. This will give the girls the
opportunity to concentrate on their studies for their
upcoming exams. A teacher has been assigned as a
Warden and an all-important experienced cook has
been engaged to look after the girls.
Work is progressing on the boys’ wing and they will
be occupying their accommodation in the near future.
We were very excited to be present for the opening
of this important project and know that Michael in his
own quiet way would have been thrilled that his legacy
lives on.
For information on how to donate to the MPF or to
purchase a copy of Spirit High - the Michael Parker
Story, go to www.michaelparkerfoundation.org.au
Official opening and dedication to Michael Parker
The first group of students to be accommodated in the
Hostel
ODE TO THE FIRST JUMP
An oldie but a goodie from PTS Nowra when I did my course.
"Check equipment" the dispatcher cries
And the Lord's prayer is lost in "Centre pack ties"
The static line is held is held in one clammy hand
And your gear is held on by one "lackey band"
Your mouth is dry and you need to throw up
But your helmets on and your mouth is clamped
shut.
"Actions Stations" the cry is clear
But right - left - right won't hide your fear.
Oh God be a pal
And save me from a total "mal"
But before there is time to ponder
The orders there, "stand in the door!"
From all sides there comes advice
"feet together or pay the price"
The green light is on, the word is GO!
Hand quits static line and "oh no no no"
You're falling now and you start to scream
As you're whirled around in the old slip stream.
With your eyes tight shut and head down and pray
And a voice that's yours squeaks "Canopy OK"
But the rigging lines, oh God what to do?
Is it the kicking method or stirring for you?
You've forgotten observation so steering next
So it's three big pulls and time for a rest
No fool you must pull down
It's only 50 feet from you to the ground
Front side or back, it depends on the sway
Knees and feet together, elbows in is the way
The ground rushes, it's a sicken sight
You decide to do a back left and do a side right
You lie there and think you are dead
When a voice hollers out "what's your name
dickhead".
COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018 31
Leaving the ADF
At some point in their career, all ADF members will
leave the military and transition to civilian life. It’s a
significant decision that can involve your family.
Planning early will make sure you’re informed and
ready to enter the next phase of your life.
You must complete your transition with ADF
Transition Support Services so you understand the
process, your administrative requirements, and the
support available to you. We encouage you to involve
your family throughout your transition experience.
Transition support network
Transitioning to civilian life is a shared responsibility.
When you decide to leave the ADF you should engage
with your family, your Unit, and ADF Transition Support
Services.
Your Unit can speak to you about the transition
process and connect you with your local ADF Transition
Centre. Your Centre will introduce you to a Transition
Support Officer who will help you and your family
through the transition process and:
• provide you with an individual transition plan
• offer career coaching during your transition and
up to 12 months afterwards
• help you meet your administrative requirements
• help you leave with all documentation like
service, medical, and training records
• facilitate connections to Defence and govern -
ment support services
nationally throughout the year. You’ll receive
information from Defence and other organisaitons on
topics like finance and superannuation, health,
relocating, employment, and ex-service organisation
support.
ADF Member and Family Transition Guide
The ADF Member and Family Transition Guide – A
Practical Manual to Transitioning contains detailed
information on the transition process for ADF
members. The Guidce includes information on support
services and administrative reuqirement. It includes
checklists to help you navigate transition process.
ADF Transition Seminar
You and your family can attend an ADF Transition
Serminar at any time during your ADF career to help
you prepare for your transition. Seminars are held
32 COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018
COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018 33
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34 COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018
BOOK REVIEW
Leadership Secrets of the
Australian Army
Brigadier Nicholas Jans (Retired) OAM
Allen & Unwin, Crows Nest, 2018
Reviewed by Jim Truscott
I was drawn by the catchy title as I have spent
eighteen years as a consultant providing leadership
mentoring and management advice to multinational
and national corporations in 41 countries, preceded
by twenty-six years as a strategic group manager and
leader of operational teams in high-risk international
engagements. Having held six command appoint -
ments in operational Army units I was to find that the
title is a misnomer as there is really nothing secretive
about leadership in the military or business.
Written in a similar vein to Donald Krause’s Sun Tzu
The Art of War for Executives (1996) and as well as
Stanley Bing’s Sun Tzu Was a Sissy, The Real Art of
War (2006) it caused me to reflect on my own
leadership and management experiences in business
and in the military. The book is as much about
followership as it is leadership and the text reminded
me very much of my own leadership training at
Duntroon in the mid-1970s by bemedalled instructors.
Nick Jans coins the Captain-Coach model which is
authoritative, but affiliative and egalitarian as the basis
of the Army’s success with leadership as the catalyst.
He author further uses the Mission-Team-Me construct
to describe an underpinning ethos in the military
similar to the perhaps more simplistic ‘individual
needs, groups needs and goal’ model inculcated in
my cohort in the mid-1970s. Did these new words just
repeat the older ethos in another way? There was
really nothing new (to me) but the thesis is presented
in a much more practical way as it is full of con -
tempora neous gems much better than a bland
leadership pamphlet.
The basis of the ‘secrets’ is the central theme and
separate chapters on each of the 3-Rs of representing,
relating and running the team and their apparent
liking to success in business through many examples
of people who have worked in both spheres.
Representing is just leading by example, doing the
right thing, giving direction and meaning, and
manage ment by walking around. Relating is
supportive people management, knowing your
troops, subor dinates to you but no less important,
coaching and counselling, being firm and fair but not
friendly. Running the team is to be good at the basics,
delegation and sensible autonomy, mission command
and post mortems. Essentially ethos, professional
practice and teamwork underpin the described
leader ship code of practice.
I was challenged by the author’s statement that not
everything that the military does has a civilian parallel
but that there are more similarities than realized. The
reality is that it is easier to motivate and organize in
the military than it is in business as there is a basis of
trust in the military. In business, trust only exists within
the confines of a contract and even then it is a
completely different battlefield as loyalty does not
exist in business other than to one’s self. Leadership is
only a necessity in business in crisis situations where
there is uncertainty and risk (of failure) in abundance
otherwise leadership in normal business is more akin
to guerrilla warfare where there are constantly shifting
allegiances. Furthermore business is a war where you
sleep with the enemy every day. The (business) war
goes on and on and on and there is nothing you can
do to stop it except fight in it until either you or it is
done. Business is not like war in this one critical
aspect. Unlike military operations there is no end to
business. People die, only to pop up again in another
location. You win on Friday and then you loose on
Monday.
All of that said it is an easy to read leadership
descanter for anyone seeking to take charge be they
a digger spokesperson or a doyen in business.
Leaders and followers will find this book equally of
value as the author rightly says, the more you know
about it, the better you will go.
COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018 35
Recognising and acting to repair traumatic stress injury
By Prof Zachary Steel, St John of God Professorial Chair
for Trauma and Mental Health
Human beings are equipped with innate response
systems optimised to support and maximise the capacity of
individuals to respond effectively when faced with extreme
threat, danger and moral burden. The work of special forces
service members will result in these processes being placed
under enormous challenge and stress at times. It appears to
be a normal human response following exposure to an
especially traumatic or troubling incident that an individual
will experience heighted emotional reactivity and a range of
intrusive reminders of the incident. These processes may well
be critical in assisting humans to down-regulate the stress
response system and allow a return to functioning after such
a critical incident. Training, institutional support and event
preparation can support the capacity of individuals to endure
such incidents and to operate effectively under high stress
and threat environments.
It is when these such post-incident reactions endure and
fail to settle or subside over a reasonable amount of time
leading to reduced functioning that a traumatic stress injury
may have occurred. Loss of functioning associated with a
traumatic stress injury may be most apparent in life outside of
the service environment where the stress-response reactions
are more clearly incosistent with everyday life activities. While
such injuries may recover without specialist treatment,
evidence suggests that a substantial proportion of such
injuries will endure for prolonged periods of time depleting
an individual’s resources and capacities leading to disability.
Research suggests 3 important facts about such con -
ditions:
(1) there is no absolute immunity from acquiring a traumatic
stress injury including amongst highly trained, capable
individuals;
(2) the risk of acquiring such an injury increases with the
number of exposures, severity and intensity of traumatic
incidents;
(3) there are treatments that have demonstrated a capacity
to reduce the symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder
and restore functional capacity.
If you, or those close to you, believe you have sustained
a traumatic stress injury that is not resolving as you would
like, it may be time to reach out for assessment and treat -
ment.
There are a number specialist hospitals and clinics in
Australia that specialize in working with currently and exserving
defence personal who have experienced traumatic
stress injuries (see list of services at http://phoenix -
australia.org/recovery/veterans-ptsd-programs/). St John of
God Richmond Hospital has been a leading treatment facility
for service-related PTSD for more than 20 years. We can help
link you to doctors and clinicians able to work with you to
understand the nature of your injury and to work with you to
develop a treatment and recovery plan.
36 COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018
LITTLE KNOWN FACTS ABOUT THE WALL
A little history most people will never know.
Interesting Veterans Statistics off the Vietnam
Memorial Wall in the US.
There are 58,267 names now listed on that
polished black wall, including those added in 2010.
The names are arranged in the order in which they
were taken from us by date and within each date the
names are alphabetised. It is hard to believe it is 61
years since the first casualty.
• The first known casualty was Richard B. Fitzgibbon,
of North Weymouth, Mass. Listed by the U.S.
Depart ment of Defense as having been killed on
June 8, 1956. His name is listed on the Wall with that
of his son, Marine Corps LCpl Richard B. Fitzgibbon
III, who was killed on Sept. 7, 1965.
• There are three sets of fathers and sons on the Wall.
• 39,996 on the Wall were just 22 or younger.
• 8,283 were just 19 years old.
• The largest age group, 33,103 were 18 years old.
• 12 soldiers on the Wall were 17 years old.
• 5 soldiers on the Wall were 16 years old.
• One soldier, PFC Dan Bullock was 15 years old.
• 997 soldiers were killed on their first day in Vietnam.
• 1,448 soldiers were killed on their last day in
Vietnam.
• 31 sets of brothers are on the Wall.
• Thirty one sets of parents lost two of their sons.
• 54 soldiers attended Thomas Edison High School in
Philadelphia. I wonder why so many from one school
• 8 Women are on the Wall, Nursing the wounded.
• 244 soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor
during the Vietnam War; 153 of them are on the Wall
Beallsville, Ohio with a population of 475 lost 6 of
her sons.
• West Virginia had the highest casualty rate per
capita in the nation.
• There are 711 West Virginians on the Wall.
• The Marines of Morenci - They led some of the
scrappiest high school football and basketball teams
that the little Arizona copper town of Morenci (pop
5,058) had ever known and cheered. They enjoyed
roaring beer busts. In quieter moments, they rode
horses along the Coronado Trail, stalked deer in the
Apache National Forest. And in the patriotic
camaraderie typical of Morenci's mining families, the
nine graduates of Morenci High enlisted as a group
in the Marine Corps. Their service began on
Independence Day, 1966. Only 3 returned home.
• The Buddies of Midvale - LeRoy Tafoya, Jimmy
Martinez, Tom Gonzales were all boyhood friends
and lived on three consecutive streets in Midvale,
Utah on Fifth, Sixth and Seventh avenues. They lived
only a few yards apart. They played ball at the
adjacent sandlot ball field. And they all went to
Vietnam. In a span of 16 dark days in late 1967, all
three would be killed. LeRoy was killed on
Wednesday, Nov. 22, the fourth anniversary of John
F. Kennedy's assassination. Jimmy died less than 24
hours later on Thanksgiving Day. Tom was shot dead
assaulting the enemy on Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor
Remembrance Day.
• The most casualty deaths for a single day was on
January 31, 1968 ~ 245 deaths.
• The most casualty deaths for a single month was
May 1968 - 2,415 casualties were incurred.
For most Americans who read this they will only see
the numbers that the Vietnam War created. To those of
us who survived the war, and to the families of those
who did not, we see the faces, we feel the pain that
these numbers created. We are, until we too pass
away, haunted with these numbers, because they were
our friends, fathers, husbands, wives, sons and
daughters.There are no noble wars, just noble
warriors.
COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018 37
Australian Defence Force Academy
Sports and Voluntary Extra Curricular Clubs
ADFA offers a range of sporting and voluntary extra-curricular clubs (VECCS) for cadets, encouraging them
to compete against and become involved with local and interstate organisations.
Sporting Clubs and VECCs currently offered at ADFA include:
• Adventure Training
• Academy Bands
• Academy Board Riders
• Anglers
• Aviation Interest
• Australian Football League
• Basketball
• Catholics and Friends
• Cricket
• Crossfit
• Community Service VECC
• Cyber Security
• Cycling
• Debating
• DJ VECC
• Fencing
• Flying Disc Association
• FOCUS
• Hockey
• LGBTI
• Marathon and Distance
Running Club
• Maritime Interest
• Military History
• Military Shooting VECC
• Military Skills
• Motorcycle VECC
• Navigators
• Netball
• Performing Arts
• Photography
• Precision Drill Team
• Rowing
• Rugby
• Rugby League
• SAE
• Sailing
• Small Balls Interest Group
• Soccer
• Squash
• Strength & Conditioning
• Swimming
• Tae Kwon Do
• Tennnis
• Touch Football
• Triathlon
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
• Volleyball
• Water Polo
• 4x4 VECC
For more information go to
www.defence.gov.au/ADFA/ CadetLife/Sport.asp
38 COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018
The Positive Relationship between
Physical Activity and PTSD
Exercise has a positive clinical
effect on depressive symptoms and
may be as effective as psychological
or pharmaceutical therapies for some
individuals with PTSD. Rosebaum et
al, 2014 suggests Physical
activity/exercise is a highly effective
method in reducing symptoms of
depression and for people
experiencing other mental health
disorders.
Evidence demonstrates that an
appropriate exercise intervention can
achieve significant benefits to
symptoms, depression, anxiety and
stress, changes in body shape and
sedentary time associated with
PTSD, and non-significant trends for
sleep quality improvement according
to Rosenbaum, 2013.
The associated symptoms and the
improvements may be related to
psychosocial benefits of the
intervention, rather than functional
capacity, but there is also a strong
empirical (observational) link
between improvements in functional
capacity and psychological status
according to the author, 2016.
People with PTSD are four times as
likely to have type 2 diabetes
(Lukaschek et al, 2013) and rates of
overweight and obesity are as high
as 92%. To add to these statistics,
suffers of PTSD are shown to be
less physically active due to a
number of factors including pain,
dysfunctional and general lack of
desire or both, according Boscarino
et al, 2004.
Adding some form of regular
physical activity can have a
significant effect on a sufferer of
PTSD. It’s important to note, the type
of activity doesn’t matter, what
matters is that the person is moving
and also having fun doing it. If you
would like to become physically
active again and help to combat
some of your PTSD related
symptoms then please consult your
GP and discuss your options for
referral to another health care
professional (exercise physiologist or
physiotherapist) for help with your
other associated or co-morbid
conditions ie lower back pain,
arthritis and or obesity.
COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018 39
Phone Mike Keenan ~ 07 4634 4012 • Email: mickyk03@hotmail.com
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COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018 41
- A Welcome Breakthrough in Upper Limb Prosthetics
When it comes to multi-articulating upper limb
prosthetics, there have been some great achievements,
but also mixed results.
The engineering challenges are many, with chief amongst
them being the robustness and therefore the real
practicality and usefulness of the hand for the end user.
About 6 years ago, due to breaking both his wrists in a
biking accident, engineer Mathew Jury became
acquainted with what it's like to lose the use of a limb.
Thus began an obsession to create a multi-articulating
prosthetic that would dramatically overcome the
weaknesses he clearly saw plaguing the current design
solutions on offer.
He recognised that currently available myo-electric hands
have two key deficiencies - water resistance and
robustness.
Following three years of burning midnight oil and two 3D
printers later, the real breakthroughs began to emerge.
Mathew knew he was on to something very promising.
Mathew gathered a multi-talented team around him, and
a growing resource of contractors. With funding for
research and development TASKA(tm) moved from
prototype to reality. Today the TASKA(tm) team share the
same mission:
"We are all driven by the same thing. Developing a
prosthetic hand that is not just a little better, but hugely
better. For us innovation has never been about creating a
piece of new technology - it is all about delivering real life
practicality that improves people's lives."
Well known and accomplished Australian Orthopaedic
Surgeon, Dr Nick Hartnell, has extensive knowledge in
this area of traumatic injury and he sees enormous
advantages in the TASKA hand.
The precision design and engineering of TASKA(tm) has
made simple what is not in other models. The control
system and the hand mechanism have been made as
practical as possible so you can do more tasks. You can
choose to change grips by hitting a button on the back of
the prosthetic hand as well as traditional EMG methods.
The multi-articulating hand mechanism is flexible yet
tough in a way that sets it apart. Its open grasp is wide so
you can pick up more objects. Its grip speed is impressive
- AND, it's waterproof.
This kind of precision engineering opens the door for
practical people to complete many more tasks inside and
outside.
The TASKA hand stores more than 20 Grip patterns.
However, most day-to-day activities can be performed
using just a small set of 3 frequent-use grips:
GENERAL GRASP, FLEXI-TOOL and PINCER PRECISION
GRIP.
Dr Hartnell operates out of Bowral, NSW and can be
contacted for further information via email:
nick@bonesurgeon.com.au
COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018 43
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44 COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018
Australian Commando Association
QLD Inc.
www.acaq.org.au
PO Box 185, Sherwood QLD 4075
COMMANDO FOR LIFE
1941 - 1946 1955 -
President: Nick Hill Secretary: Tony Mills Treasurer: George Mialkowski
president.acaq@gmail.com secretary.acaq@gmail.com treasurer.acaq@gmail.com
“STRIKE SWIFTLY & WITHOUT WARNING”
The Newsletter Of The Australian Commando Association
Queensland
ISSUE 005 MARCH MAY 2018
PRESIDENT – Mr Nick Hill, VICE PRESIDENT – Mr Tony Mills
SECRETARY – Mr Graham Gough, TREASURER – Mr Wayne Douglas, SOCIAL MEMBER – Mr Mark Stanieg,
SOCIAL MEDIA ADMIN – Mr John Roxburgh, COMMITTEE MEMBERS – Mr Keith Buck & Mr Mick Slattery,
DVA ADVOCATE – Mr Paul Copeland, OAM. DVA WELFARE OFFICER – Mr Glenn Cochrane, OAM.
GP – Dr Kieran McCarthy, Psychologist – Ms Megan Fry, PADRE – Padre Michael Polkington
VICE PATRON – Mr Doug Baird, father of the late CPL Cameron Baird, VC. MG. of 2nd Cdo Regt
Web Address – www.commando.org.au Postal Address – PO Box 185 Sherwood, QLD 4075,
Email - secretary.acaq@gmail.com
COMMANDO FOR LIFE
PRESIDENT’S WORD
Welcome to the latest edition of our
quarterly newsletter, “STRIKE SWIFTLY &
WITHOUT WARNING”, the Newsletter of
the Australian Commando Association Queensland.
This quarter has seen the Association take a break
over the Xmas and New Year Periods and we had our
AGM & first meeting for 2017 on Sunday 11 February
where we elected a new Executive Committee.
Congratulations to all those who were elected or reelected.
We are busily preparing for this year’s events
and a detailed list is located on page 28. We do hope
that, as many of you are able to attend this year’s
events. The Treasurer and I have sent out renewal
notices for membership. Thus far we only have 36 out
of a possible 75 who have paid their dues. If you
haven’t paid your fees for 2018 please do so ASAP.
Your membership allows us to assist with events and
organise things for you.
ANZAC Day Dawn services were held across the
State and one of our Committee Members, Mick
Slattery, conducted a Dawn Service on board an oilrig
platform off the North West Shelf of WA. I had the
privilege of laying one of the original QCA wreaths at
the Dawn service in Canungra. There was small turn out
for the ANZAC Day March in Brisbane with a few new
faces as well as 96 yr. old WW2 Commando Cec
O’Brien who refused to get in a buggy (to the absolute
annoyance to the ANZAC Day organisers), and
marched all the way, well done Cec! After the march a
luncheon was held with the RMAQ at the Maritime
Museum in Southbank. Next year we are looking at
having a luncheon in Southbank after the March. We
will be starting up our Commando Luncheons again
and the first one for 2018 will be on Sunday 27 May in
Southbank, details to follow.
In September we will be conducting Commandos
Return (Timor Awakening) again, which will be a return
to Timor Leste available for those who have served our
nation as a Commando or the family member of a
Commando who unfortunately is no longer with us.
The Expression of Interest will be attached to this
newsletter as well as the CR18 Brief.
So I hope that you enjoy our 5 th Newsletter and as
always you are welcome to submit ads or letters,
images etc.
Commando For Life
Nick Hill
President
COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018 45
SIGNIFICANT COMMANDO EVENTS
May 1941
No1 Independent Company was raised and trained at
Wilsons Promontory Victoria, the home and birthplace
of Australian Commando.
17 April 1942
2/5 Cdo Coy arrives in Port Moresby, New Guniea
during an air raid.
Unusual suspects at the
ANZAC Day March
Brisbane 2018
IN THIS EDITION
Significant Commando Dates .................................p.24
First of the First – 1 st Independent Company .........p.25
In Focus – SGT Brett Wood MG. DSM
2 nd Commando Regiment .......................................p.27
Commandos For Life ..............................................p.28
Upcoming ACA Qld Events ....................................p.28
Books Of Interest– The Commando
by Ben McKelvey ....................................................p.29
Commandos Return ................................................p,29
COMMANDO FOR LIFE
A Calm Mind
MINDFULNESS
QCA Wreath at the
Canungra District
Memorial ANZAC Day
2018
• Reduce stress & anxiety
• Reduce PTSD symptoms
• Have better sleep
• Learn to calm the mind & relax
the body
• Stop reactivity and find peace in
the present moment
Join a Day Retreat in Nature and learn
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May 1942
2/6 & 2/7 Cdo Coy’s formed at the Guerrilla Warfare
School, Wilsons Promontory, Victoria.
March 1943
2/6 Cdo Coy reforms as the 2/6 Cdo Sqn of the
2/7 Cdo Regt at the Jungle Warfare School at
Canungra, Qld after returning from New Guniea.
April 1943
2/4 Cdo Coy reforms as the 2/4 Cdo Sqn at the
Jungle Warfare School at Canungra, Qld after
returning from Timor.
May 1943
53 men of 2/3 Cdo Sqn conducts an attack on
Ambush Knoll in New Guniea against the Japanese
and takes the position. The JIA attempts several
counter attacks over several days, but are
repelled each time.
2/5 Cdo Coy reforms as the 2/5 Cdo Sqn of the
2/7 Cdo Regt at the Jungle Warfare School at
Canungra, Qld after returning from New Guinea.
2/7 Cdo Coy conducts combat operations in
Bena Bena, New Guinea as part of Bena Force.
2/4 Cdo Sqn conducts combat operations against the
Japanese on Tarakan Island off Borneo.
2/9 Cdo Sqn lands at Dove Bay, Wewak and
established the beachhead.
13-19 May 1945
2/10 Cdo Sqn is surrounded by Japanese troops in
the Wewak area and fights off numerous attacks.
06 May 1969
WO2 Ray Simpson DCM & Bar awarded the Victoria
Cross for Valour in South Vietnam. Ray was attached
to AATTV from 1 Cdo Coy.
46 COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018
THE FIRST OF THE FIRST
1 ST Independent Company
The 1 st Independent Company was formed in
May/June 1941 and was trained at the No. 7
Infantry Training Centre at Tidal River on
Wilsons Promontory in Victoria. Originally the company
was raised to serve in the Middle East although, at that
time there was uncertainty about the role that the
company would fill there. Indeed, within the Australian
Army there was a section that saw no need for the
independent companies, believing that they would
prove to be more of a drain on resources than anything
else.
Structure
With an authorised strength of 17 officers and 256
other ranks, the 1st Independent Company was
composed of a company headquarters consisting of 13
personnel, three 60-man platoons named A, B and C,
each of three 19-man sections numbered in series from
1 to 9, plus an engineer section of 21 men, a 34-man
signals section, a medical section of six men and a
transport section with four men. A major commanded
the company, with a captain as a second-in-command.
A captain also commanded each platoon, while all
sections except the medical and lieutenants
commanded transport sections. A captain commanded
the medical section.
New Ireland & The South Pacific
In 1941, as the threat of war with Imperial Japan
loomed, the main body of the company was sent to
Kavieng, New Ireland, to protect Kavieng airfield whilst
other sections were sent to Namatanai on New Ireland,
Vila in the New Hebrides, Tulagi on Guadalcanal, Buka
on Bougainville, and Lorengau on Manus Island to act
as observers and provided medical treatment to the
inhabitants. Commanded by Major James Edmonds-
Wilson, in the event of an invasion of New Britain by
the Japanese the 1st Independent Company was
under orders to resist long enough to destroy key
airfields and other military installations such as fuel
dumps, before withdrawing south to wage a guerrilla
war. They did not have to wait very long, as on 21
January 1942, a preparatory bombing raid by about
sixty Japanese aircraft attacked Kavieng. A number of
aircraft were shot down, however, the company's only
means of escape, the schooner Induna Star, was
damaged. Nevertheless, despite the damage the crew
managed to sail the vessel to Kaut where they started
to repair the damage. As they did so, the commandos
withdrew across the island to Sook, having received
word that a large Japanese naval force was
approaching the island.
In the early morning of 22 January 1942, the
Japanese landed at Kavieng with between 3,000 and
4,000 troops. As the lead Japanese troops reached
Kavieng airfield, fighting broke out as the small force
that had remained at the airfield blew up the supply
dump and other facilities. Fighting their way out, the
commandos withdrew towards the main force at Sook,
although a number of men were captured in the
process. Once the company had regrouped at Sook,
on 28 January they withdrew further south to Kaut,
where they helped with the repair of the Induna Star,
before setting out along the east coast of the island.
They reached Kalili Harbour on 31 January but after
learning that the fighting on New Britain was over and
that the Japanese had occupied Rabaul, it was decided
to sail for Port Moresby.
Montevideo Maru
On 2 February the schooner was sighted by a
Japanese plane, which subsequently attacked, causing
considerable damage to the vessel as well as
destroying one of its lifeboats and causing a number of
casualties. The Induna Star began taking on water and
as a result the men were forced to surrender. Under
escort by a Japanese aircraft and then later a destroyer,
they were instructed to sail to Rabaul where they
became prisoners of war. After a few months at
Rabaul, the officers were separated from their NCOs
and men. The officers were transported to Japan where
they remained in captivity for the rest of the war, whilst
the NCOs and men, along with other members of Lark
Force that had been captured and a number of
civilians, where put on to the Japanese passenger ship
Montevideo Maru for transportation. Traveling un -
escorted, the Montevideo Maru sailed from Rabaul on
22 June. On 1 st July 1942, the ship was sighted by an
American submarine, the USS Sturgeon, off the coast
of the Luzon, Philippines. The USS Sturgeon torpedoed
and sunk the Montevideo Maru, without realising it was
a prisoner of war vessel. Only a handful of the
COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018 47
Japanese crew were rescued, with none of the
between 1,050 and 1,053 prisoners aboard surviving as
they were still locked below deck. All 133 men from the
1 st Independent Company who were aboard the
Montevideo Maru were either killed or drowned.
New Guinea
Meanwhile, the sections of the company that had
not been with the main group at Kavieng managed to
avoid capture by the Japanese. Working with the coast
watchers, they reported Japanese movements and
carried out demolitions until they were later evacuated
or escaped from the islands between April and May
1942. A reinforcement platoon had been trained in
Australia while the company was deployed and after
completing its training sailed on the Macdui, arriving at
Port Moresby on 10 March 1942.
Following their arrival, the platoon was
designated the Independent Platoon Port
Moresby and initially used for local
defence purposes. It was later redesignated
as Detachment 1 Independent
Company. In April 1942, under the
command of Captain Roy Howard, it was
moved to Kudjeru, in New Guinea, to
guard against possible Japanese move -
ment south of Wau along the Bulldog Track. In the
process they became the first Australian Army unit to
cross the Owen Stanley Range. In June, a section
fought alongside the 2/5 th Independent Company as
part of Kanga Force where they participated in a major
raid on the Japanese at Salamaua. Eventually, however,
as a result of the losses suffered during the 1942
campaigns it was decided that the company would be
disbanded and as the survivors were transferred to
other commando units – with the majority of those in
Port Moresby being transferred to the 2/5 th – the 1 st
Independent Company was never raised again.
Throughout the course of the unit's existence, it
suffered 142 men killed in action or died while
prisoners of war. One member of the company was
awarded the Military Cross.
Australian POWs in Shikoku, Japan 1942-45, including members of 1st Independent Company
48 COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018
IN FOCUS
SERGEANT BRETT MATHEW WOOD MG. DSM.
2 nd Commando Regiment
Sergeant Brett Wood MG, DSM was born in
Ferntree Gully, Victoria in 1978. He joined the
Army in 1996 and after recruit and initial
employment training (IET) he was posted to the 6 th
Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (6 RAR) in
Brisbane. In 1998 then PTE Wood successfully under -
took Commando Selection and Training and after
completing the Commando reinforcement cycle he
was posted to the then 4 th Battalion, The Royal Aust -
ralian Regiment (Commando) (4 Cdo) in November of
that same year.
Brett had significant operational experience, his first
deployment was on Operation Bel Isi II to Bougainville
in 2000. In 2001 he deployed to East Timor on
Operation Tanager with Bravo Commando Company
(BCC) and in 2003 to Iraq on Operation Falconer again
with BCC as part of the Special Operations Task Force
(SOTF). After his return from Iraq he successfully
completed the Advanced Close Quarter Battle (ACQB)
Course for service with Tactical Assault Group - East
(TAG-E) and was deployed during Operation
Scrummage (Rugby World Cup 2003).
In 2006 Sergeant Wood deployed to Afghanistan as
part of the Special Operations Task Group (SOTG)
Rotation III (Rot III) with Delta Commando Company
(DCC). During this deployment he was awarded The
Medal for Gallantry (MG) (Australia’s third highest
award for valour), for leadership in action as a Team
Commander during this tour. He was also awarded the
Unit Citation For Gallantry (UCG) as a member of
SOTG Rot I, II and III.
He rotated back on to TAG-E in 2007 as a SGT and
became the Emergency Action (EA) Commander for
Land Assault Platoon. During this rotation he deployed
on Operation Deluge (APEC Summit) in Sydney and
was awarded the Special Operations Commander –
Australia, Commendation for service with TAG-E. In
2008 he became instrumental in the raising of the
Armed Response Protection Team (ARPT) capability
with in 4 Cdo and during that time deployed several
times to Iraq & Afghanistan to provide security to VIPs,
dignitaries and members of Parliament.
In 2009 he again deployed to Afghanistan on Rot X
this time with Charlie Commando Company (CCC) as a
SGT Section Commander and again on Rot XV in 2011
as a Platoon SGT with CCC. It was during this
deployment during a Counter Narcotic Operation in
support of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
in Kesh Mesh Khan, Helmand Province, Brett was
tragically killed in action as a result of stepping on an
Improvised Explosive Device (IED) whilst chasing up
Taliban Insurgents on 23 May 2011. Brett’s death shook
the Regiment to its core as he was considered to be
one of the most
professional and
one of the best
Commando SGTs in
the Regiment. Brett
was buried at
Rookwood Military
Cemetery in Sydney
on the 3rd of June
2011 with full
military honours. At the service at St. Andrews
Cathedral in Sydney, Brett was Posthumously awarded
the US Military’s Meritorious Service Medal on behalf of
the Commander of US Forces in Afghanistan, General
David Petraeus.
In 2012 Brett was (Posthumously) awarded the
Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) for leadership in
Action.
SGT Wood has been awarded the following
decorations;
• Medal for Gallantry
• Distinguished Service Medal
• Australian Active Service Medal 1975- with clasps:
East Timor, International Coalition Against Terrorism
(ICAT) and Iraq 2003
• Afghanistan Campaign Medal
• Iraq Campaign Medal
• Australian Service Medal 1975- with clasps:
Bougainville, Counter Terrorism/Special Recovery
• Defence Long Service Medal
• Australian Defence Medal
• United Nations Transitional Authority - East Timor
Medal
• NATO ISAF Medal;
• US Meritorious Service Medal
• Unit Citation for Gallantry
• Meritorious Unit Citation
• Special Operations Command Australia
Commendation
• Infantry Combat Badge.
• Citation For The Medal For Gallantry
To be awarded the medal for gallantry -
Corporal Brett Mathew Wood
For gallantry and leadership in action as a
Commando Team Commander, of the Special
Operations Task Group – Task Force 637, whilst
deployed on Operation SLIPPER Rotation Three
Afghanistan, May – September 2006.
Corporal Brett Mathew Wood enlisted in the
Australian Regular Army on the 13 th of February 1996
and was allocated to the 6 th Battalion, the Royal
Australian Regiment. He later successfully completed
Commando training and was posted to the 4 th
COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018 49
Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (Commando)
in 1998. Corporal Wood’s operational experience
includes deployments on Operations BEL ISI,
TANAGER, FALCONER and SLIPPER.
On the 17 th of July
2006 during Operation
PERTH, the Commando
Platoon was tasked to
conduct the clearance
of an Anti Coalition
Militia sanctuary in the
Chora Valley, Oruzgan
Province, Afghanistan.
The Platoon was
partnered in support of
an Infantry Company of the United States Army 10 th
Mountain Division. At approximately 1 pm the Infantry
Company came under heavy rocket propelled grenade
and small arms fire on multiple flanks resulting in six
wounded and one soldier killed in action, effectively
halting their advance. Through thick vegetation, facing
large numbers of dispersed Anti Coalition Militia and
under heavy fire, the Commando Platoon commenced
manoeuvring to provide assistance to the element
which was pinned down. During this move the
Commando Platoon received a volley of four rockets
which impacted in the centre of the platoon’s position
resulting in six Australian soldiers wounded in action, a
loss to the platoon by one third of its force. Unknown
to the Commander at the time, Corporal Wood had
also been wounded in the foot by fragmentation from
the rocket propelled grenade barrage.
In order to regain the initiative, Corporal Wood’s
team was tasked by the Commando Platoon Com -
mander to assault forward and clear a group of com -
pounds from which they were receiving Anti Coalition
Militia fire. Under these daunting conditions Corporal
Wood commenced this task without hesita tion,
completing a rapid and aggressive clearance of
numerous threat compounds. Once achieved, both the
United States and Australian elements were free to
continue with the battle providing the necessary time
to effect the back loading of the wounded by
helicopter to the Forward Operating Base.
Throughout the afternoon, numerous and relentless
probing attacks by a determined opponent followed.
Corporal Wood displayed extraordinary leadership and
courage, inspiring his team and the remainder of the
Commando platoon to repel the continued attacks. He
then successfully led a marksmanship team to infiltrate
the Anti Coalition Militia held territory killing seven Anti
Coalition Militia. Only after the engagement had been
completed and the threat to the platoon subsided did
Corporal Wood inform his Commander of the frag -
mentation wound that he had sustained during the
original contact earlier that day. Corporal Wood was
then evacuated to the Casualty Collection Point where
he was provided with medical treatment and later
extracted.
Corporal Wood’s actions
on the 17 th of July 2006, as a
Commando Team Com -
mander during Operation
PERTH, were testament to
his leadership, fortitude and
sense of duty to his team
and the platoon. His deter -
mination to con tinue to lead
his team during the battle in
extremely hazardous circumstances despite being
wounded ensured that the Commando Platoon
regained the initiative and contributed significantly to a
decisive victory. His gallantry and leadership in the
face of the enemy has been of the highest order and in
keeping with the finest traditions of Special Operations
Command Australia, the Australian Army and the
Australian Defence Force.
COMMANDO FOR LIFE
COMMANDOS FOR LIFE
The Medal for Gallantry (MG)
Australia’s third highest award for Gallantry
30 March 1966
PTE Phillip Stewart, 1 st Cdo Coy,
Died In Training, Gan Gan, NSW Australia
27 April 2008
LCPL Jason Marks, Delta Cdo Coy 4 th Cdo Bn,
Killed In Action, Urazghan Province Afghanistan
23 May 2011
SGT Brett Wood MG. DSM. Charlie Cdo Coy
2 nd Cdo Regt,
Killed In Action, Helmand Province Afghanistan
Commando For Life
Lest We Forget
COMMANDO FOR LIFE
UPCOMING ACA QLD EVENTS
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COMMANDO FOR LIFE
COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018 51
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52 COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018
The Commando
The Life and Death of CPL Cameron Baird VC. MG.
By Ben McKelvey
Corporal Baird was a modern-day warrior who set
a standard that every soldier aspires to achieve.' -
GENERAL DAVID HURLEY
On 22 June 2013, Corporal Cameron Baird was a 2 nd
Commando Regiment Special Forces soldier when he
led his platoon into a known Taliban stronghold to
back-up another Australian unit under heavy fire. In the
pronged firefight, Cameron was mortally wounded.
In 2014, Cameron's bravery and courage under fire
saw him posthumously awarded the 100 th Victoria
Cross, our highest award possible for bravery in the
presence of the enemy. Cameron Baird died how he
lived - at the front, giving it his all, without any
indecision. He will forever be remembered by his
mates and the soldiers he served with in the 2 nd
Commando Regiment.
THE COMMANDO reveals Cameron's life, from
young boy and aspiring AFL player, who only missed
out on being drafted because of injury, to exemplary
soldier and leader. Cameron's story and that of 4RAR
and 2 nd Commando personifies the courage and
character of the men and women who go to war and
will show us the good man we have lost.
BOOKS OF INTEREST
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See the flyer for more information and to register your
interest.
Commandos Return is an immersion program
taking in holistic healing of the mind body and soul as
well as immersing you into the experience of the
Timorese people, landscape and its culture. You will
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24-year conflict and eventual independence of the
Indonesian occupation and to see where the Post WW2
Commandos served from 1999 - 2010.
COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018 53
56 COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 13 I 2018
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