Shakey985

More pics SWBTA in north Queensland

When you go home don't worry about what to tell your loved ones and friends about service in Asia. No one will know where you were, or where it is if you do. You are, and will remain "The Forgotten Army." ― attributed to General Slim.

During the first great war the government tryed twice to introduce conscription and failed. the only time we had conscription was during the Vietnam War. I note Paul that you live in Kent so If you obtained it in Kent then he probably returned home (place of birth). The 9th Div are the Rats of Tobruk from April to December 1941. http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-battles/ww2/tobruk.htm

Richard I cant remember there names any thing starting with B, I tried for there call signs 22 was my old troop, there should of been 5 vehicles loaded. Were the other one came from I don't no, have you got a call sign? The enemy was played by the SAS from WA also the Coppers from WA had an operation on in the boarder area, just to confuse things, but that's another story.

This is one of the troops from B Squadron 2 Cav (may be my old troop 2 MRVs 3 LRVs) being redeployed to the Timber creek area near the WA boarder. I was in HQ Squadron at the time and in Kununurra WA. The Macks are R600s 6+6 a great truck that I have done many miles in now up for sale $20,000 I believe.

The question now is were did you get it, or how did you get it,and were 9 Div in the middle east prior to his being discharged. did he return to Kent? and what are you going to to with it?

Re your Kit bag, I new that the number rang a bell down here and after a quick search of DVA records here is the real owner's. Service record In addition to viewing this service record, you can also # produce a certificate of this service record # get help with the certificate # view an explanation of the service record details # request a full service record from the National Archives of Australia Service Record Name TWENEY, ALAN HUBERT Service Australian Army Service Number VX2261 Date of Birth 11 May 1909 Place of Birth KENT, ENGLAND Date of Enlistment 27 Nov 1939 Locality on Enlistment ROMSEY, VIC Place of Enlistment SOUTH MELBOURNE, VIC Next of Kin TWENEY, ESSIE Date of Discharge 20 Oct 1941 Rank Private Posting at Discharge 9 DIVISION AUSTRALIAN ARMY SERVICES CORPS WW2 Honours and Gallantry None for display Prisoner of War No Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2002.

Lauren that's a good idea, we in Australia are sending 15 Vehicles to Normandy 2009. Shipping them to Greece in containers and then driving to Normandy, so if it can be done one way it can be done the other way. I would not just come for the Corowa event but make a trip of it like Richard and CW. I would provide all the help I can from this end.

It looks good and at that price for a years entry its very good wish we had a building like that for our collection. We have got the Spanner club (RAEME) to restore our other Wrecker, they are always helpful.

Not all of us and you could all come on a holiday and drive the track on the way back

The dates are 9-15 March 2009 http://corowaswim-in.org/ So who is going, I am with the RAAC Museum.

Lets say that America didn't enter the war. In 1941 there were no roads to Darwin only a track that was in places wheel ruts that followed the telegraph line from Port Augusta. A rail line from Port Augusta to Alice Springs and one from Darwin to Larrimah. Another track from Mt Isa (QLD) to Tennant Creek (Three ways) all are passable in the dry season March to October. North of a line from Rockhampton (QLD) to Broome (WA) is for most of the wet (November to February) are impassable, even in places were you would think its dried out June July its not. Even now the road to Darwin is cut due to floods in places like Camooweal, Katherine and Adelaide River. Back in 1941 there were a few cattle stations covering vast areas. there were more Crocs than the population of that area, so if the Japanese landed (They did land but in small groups) were would thay go. On the East coast, Mossman or Cairns, they could of pushed down to Townsville. Lest we not forget what we did at Kokoda by our selves, with an untrained Reserve unit, the mighty 39th Australian Infantry Battalion, that stopped the Japanese for the first time and then started pushing them back home, away from Australia. But any way we were on Neville Chamberlain and if England hadn't entered the war, and there was a strong feeling with in the population that we should stay out of what was really Frances problems and the beneficiary's of the 11th November 1918 treaty.

Peter the Possum was served with an eviction notice today

No 45 Australian camp Hospital 1942-1944

2 more photos M113 fording a creek and the T50 Turret on the firing point. These turrets were used in Vietnam by Australia, you could have a 30/50 cal combination or twin 30cals. Its a small turret with not much room for all the other things a crew commander needs. We did have a sighting system but that was dispensed with as useless and only got in the way. A good crew commander could fire on the move by bracing him self against the guns and so keeping the rounds on target. When I was in Recon Troop we fitted a pintal mount as well for a 30cal, this worked well as you could bring rounds on target a lot quicker, we also mounted small bins on the side of the turret for storage.

Prior to Japan and America entering the war Hitler hoped that most of the Mediterranean states would stay neutral so protecting that flank. He was happy for England to maintain its colonial states ie Suez, Burma, Singapore, Australia and Malaysia as part of the peace settlement. But the Italians stuffed it up and he had to help them, then Yugoslavia changed sides. I have 2 hats in this topic as I am a POM as well as Australian. If America didn't enter the war we would of defended the Brisbane Line while we built up our armaments North of the Brisbane line in the wet season, during that time,it was impassable, then during the dry there is no water. (Back to the Track) So for Japan to sustain an army in the north would of been hard not imposable, then there is the Australians them selves who would have gone bush as we do so well to force them out.

They are the size of a house cat but with sharper longer claws, sleep during the day and eat roses during the night. I have had a family living in my house roof for years, you get rid of one and another takes its place so best to leave them alone. Native to Australia so protected but the dogs get one every now and then. I will try and get a photo when I start Work this morning.

I was in the roof to day moving the insillation over the bar area so that we keep cool in summer and out popped a Possum from in the rolls. Hello to all the new member from down under

Radio gear is now out of date, but is the old Vic 1 harness U/S. rear with ramp down. This is an Australian vehicle based on the American M113, we installed new diesel engines, the built in fuel tank was replaced with a separate tank in the same place, belly armour and turrets. We have fitters, recovery,ACV as well as TLC M548. To drive, as its the only vehicle that I have spent some time on I would say its good and reliable for what it does. With all front engine tracked Vehicles it tends to dive into holes. Chasing Leopard across country is hard but due to its size it can out maneuver and hide in better places. They had to be maintained all the time by both the driver and crew commander especially when fitted with rebuilt track. They can swim with minor preparation. I hope this gives you a good comparison to the vehicles available in the UK.

Drivers controls 3 speed automatic transmission Gear selector for 1-2 range 2-3 range 1-3 range 1 or reverse. 2 sticks for steering 2 levers for pivot steer ( you had to pump them to make them work)

That is the question if we didn't enter the war and left Europe to sort it out ? The book I am Reading indicates that Hitler hoped that after Dunkirk ( one reason for halting the advance) we would not stay involved and sue for peace along with France. This would leave him with only Russia to worry about and he didn't trust them that's why he invaded. The book also indicates that he wasn't really interested in invading England. Just imagine the USSR with most of Europe under Stalin's control? "The over side of the hill " B.H.Liddell Hart

RANGOON MEMORIAL Country: Myanmar Locality: unspecified Location Information: The Rangoon Memorial is situated in Taukkyan War Cemetery, which is about 35 kilometres north of Yangon (formerly Rangoon). The cemetery is on PY1 Road (formerly Prome Road), about 15 kilometres from the airport and can be easily seen from the road. Historical Information: The RANGOON MEMORIAL bears the names of almost 27,000 men of the Commonwealth land forces who died during the campaigns in Burma (now Myanmar) and who have no known grave. The memorial stands in TAUKKYAN WAR CEMETERY, which is the largest of the three war cemeteries in Burma. It was begun in 1951 for the reception of graves from four battlefield cemeteries at Akyab, Mandalay, Meiktila and Sahmaw which were difficult to access and could not be maintained. The last was an original 'Chindit' cemetery containing many of those who died in the battle for Myitkyina. The graves have been grouped together at Taukkyan to preserve the individuality of these battlefield cemeteries Burials were also transferred from civil and cantonment cemeteries, and from a number of isolated jungle and roadside sites. Because of prolonged post-war unrest, considerable delay occurred before the Army Graves Service were able to complete their work, and in the meantime many such graves had disappeared. However, when the task was resumed, several hundred more graves were retrieved from scattered positions throughout the country and brought together here. The cemetery now contains 6,374 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, 867 of them unidentified. In the 1950s, the graves of 52 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War were brought into the cemetery from the following cemeteries where permanent maintenance was not possible: Henzada (1); Meiktila Cantonment (8); Thayetmyo New (5); Thamakan (4); Mandalay Military (12) and Maymyo Cantonment (22). Taukkyan War Cemetery also contains: The TAUKKYAN CREMATION MEMORIAL commemorating more than 1,000 Second World War casualties whose remains were cremated in accordance with their faith. The TAUKKYAN MEMORIAL which commemorates 45 servicemen of both wars who died and were buried elsewhere in Burma but whose graves could not be maintained. No. of Identified Casualties: 26857 From CWGC

Yes this was done in the late 70s after Vietnam, during Vietnam we put Saladin turrets on, 4 served in Vietnam as FSVs (Fire Support). The Saladin Turrets were installed from our in service Saladin's, The Scorpion turrets were purchased and fitted under license from the UK so are a UK/US/Aust combination. The extra road wheel is on the new M113A4 still in production by ADI and is due to lengthening the vehicle for better troop caring capacity.

The vehicles were originally fitted with a petrol engine V8 but we soon changed to the GM Detroit Diesel 6V53 215 HP. The only problem I had was braking the blower shaft which was a half hour job to fix. To remove the power pack was easy as was ackses to the other component. The Diff is in the center front contains 2 sets of brakes for normal steering cooled in oil, power is then transferred to the final drives via prop shafts. Just prior to the final drives are 2 disc brakes for pivot steering. We had problems with the internal brake pads in the diff and also prop shafts braking, all fixed with better compound pads and larger prop shafts

For my two bobs worth try reading B.H. Liddell Harts Book The over side of the hill, first printed in 1948 with a revised edition in 1951. This is a series of interviews/ interrogations with what is left of the German Generals combined with documents captured at the end of the war.