Around the water cart.

More about the rank of WO3 in the British Army. Thanks to the following who provided information:

Richard Murison gave several examples from personal knowledge of holders of this rank in WWII in Highland Regiments and confirmed that the suffix "(PSM)" meant "Platoon Sergeant Major".

John Macdonald of Balnarring in Victoria gave useful material from the book "British Army Uniforms and Insignia of World War Two" by Brian L Davis. Thank you, John, for taking the trouble to write.

Anthony Staunton provided information on the award of the MM to WO3s and also a book on British Cavalry Badges which quotes the late Major N P Dawnay's "Badges of Rank of Warrant and Non-Commissioned Rank in the British Army" (Special Publication No6 of the Society for Army Historical Research (UK)) in regard to the British Army generally.

The following material is consolidated from their contributions.

Infantry Sergeants Major, later called Regimental Sergeants Major, were established in the British Army in the early 18th Century. From 1800, they wore three chevrons and better clothing than other Sergeants, who wore two chevrons. In 1803, Sgts Maj were given four chevrons, Sgts three and Cpls two. From 1809, RSMs wore a crown above four chevrons on the upper arm, though from about 1854 photographs show RSMs in some regiments (infantry and cavalry) wearing four inverted (points up) chevrons on the right forearm. The rank of Warrant Officer was introduced to the British Army in 1881, generally only for RSMs and Bandmasters, but the rank badge for RSMs was not changed until July 1882, when the four chevrons below the crown were removed, leaving the crown alone on the right forearm. In 1915, all existing British Army WOs became 1st Class WOs, with a rank badge of the Royal Arms on the forearm. (Conductors RAOC and certain other WO1s wore the Royal Arms in a wreath and took precedence over all other WO1s). At the same time, a new WO2 class was established with the forearm badge of a crown, though WO2s in 'Q' or other staff appointments wore a crown within a wreath. On 1 October 1938, to overcome the shortage of young officers in the Cavalry, Infantry and Royal Tank Corps, the rank of WO3 was created: WO3s were posted as platoon sergeant majors (PSM) in command of platoons or troop commanders(TSM) in the cavalry. Their forearm badge was a crown. The badge for all WO2s was now changed to a crown within a wreath. In 1939, the Royal Warrant for the MM was amended to allow the award to be made to WO3s. Army Council Instruction (ACI) 804/1940 stated that no further promotions to the rank of WO3 were to be made. By 1947, very few WO3s were left in the British Army and ACI 991/1947 abolished the rank. With the disappearance of WO3, Warrant Officers Class Two reverted to the badge of a crown only. Joe says: Obviously my original surmise about the rank of WO3 occurring in the British Army during WWI was wrong. I think the above wraps up the matter. However, am I right in thinking that some (all?) Australian WO2s in the 2nd AIF wore a crown within a wreath? If so, was this to conform to British Army practice of the time? Perhaps someone out there has the answer?

National Archives have made some changes to their copying service for defence service records, which should make it faster. Payments for black and white photocopies of World War I and II service records is now required at the time of ordering them. Previously, Archives raised an invoice to send with the ordered copies. Pre-payments will eliminate this step and should reduce researchers' waiting time. Standard black and white photocopies of wartime Army and RAAF service records cost $16.20 per record (includes GST). Standard black and white photocopies of Navy service cards are still supplied free. (Memento, News from the National Archives, May 2004).

About 325,800 18 to 20 year olds were conscripted for National Service between 1951 and 1972. All those who completed their commitment are entitled to receive the Anniversary of National Service 1951-1972 Medal, first awarded in 2001. Nearly 230,000 have not yet received their medal. Widows and families of conscripts can apply to receive a posthumous medal on behalf of their husband or father. The front of the medal depicts the tri-service badge surmounted by the Federation star and the words "Anniversary of National Service 1951-1972" and the reverse the Southern Cross inside a field of radiating lines inside a cog wheel representing the integral role of the Armed Services in the Australian community. The ribbon uses the colours of the three services during the National Service era--navy, white; army, jungle green; and air force, light blue--and Australia's then national colours of blue and gold. An ochre strip on the ribbon represents the land. (Reveille, Jul-Aug 04).

From the Australian War Memorial records:

   Oldest member of the 1st AIF: 3664 Cpl George Paul, age 69. 4th
   Tunnelling Company, enlisted 18/10/1915, returned to Australia
   17/3/17. Believed to have also served in the Ashanti War 1873-74,
   Zulu War 1879, Tel-el-Kebir 1882 and Boer War.

   Oldest KIA of 1st AIF: 6733 Pte Henry James Gibbs, 14 Bn, aged 64.
   KIA 7/6/1918.

   Most decorated unit of 1st AIF: 13 Infantry Battalion: 2 VC; 6 DSO
   and one Bar; 33 MC and 4 bars; 31 DCM; 188 MM and 7 bars;

   Enlistment standards for the 1st AIF: August 1914:18-35 years,
   height of 5ft 6in and chest measurements of 34 inches. June 1915:18
   to 45 years; height 5ft 2in (lowered to 5ft in April 1917). During
   the first year of the war, approximately 33% of all volunteers were
   rejected.

   And (courtesy of Despatches, Newsletter of the Victorian Branch):
   Last man to join the 1st AIF: The probable contender is Pte W J
   Robinson, who asserted in 1979 that he had re-enlisted in the AIF in
   London on 16 March 1920 (after earlier AIF service and service with
   the North Russia Relief Force).

The Military Vehicles Museum at Port Adelaide, South Australia has a unique LP (Local Pattern) 4 Armoured Car named "Bandicoot". The production history of these vehicles started in 1934 with the production of one LP1 version named "Corroboree", with an armour plated hull mounted on a 1933 Ford truck chassis and powered by a 50 horsepower Ford engine. This proved unsatisfactory because of large weight, high centre of gravity, noise and lack of interior ventilation. In 1937, two LP2 versions were produced; one based on Ford components and named "Billabong" and one on Chevrolet components and named "Boomerang". Weapon was a .303 Lewis machine gun. By the turn of 1939/1940, six LP3 and nine LP4 versions were available, the LP4s being a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Military deployment of these armoured cars was to the First Armoured Car Regiment at Horsham in Victoria and the Second Armoured Car Regiment at Ashfield, NSW. The vehicles were declared obsolete in 1942. "Bandicoot" is believed to be the only Australian LP Armoured Car left in the world. The hull was found on a farm in Victoria in 1974 and the chassis in 1981 at a wrecking yard. "Bandicoot" has been restored to operational condition and is road-registered. It is on permanent display in the museum. Any member with further information about these LP Armoured cars, particularly the names of the other eight LP4 vehicles, is invited to contact Bob Moseley on 0421 038 661 (Albury-Wodonga Branch Newsletter).

The Australian War Memorial has meticulously restored a Hunslet steam engine that was used to transport troops and supplies to the front line in WWI and it is now displayed in Anzac Hall (Vetaffairs, June 2004).

Allan Humphrey Scott, DSO mid (three occasions) was one of the youngest battalion commanders in WWI, while his older brother, William John Rendell (Jack) Scott, DSO mid (two occasions) was the oldest battalion commander in WWII. Humphrey Scott was given command of the newly raised 56th Battalion in 1916 at the age of 24 and is recorded (by Bean) as having made "a striking success of his command ... at Polygon Wood" before being killed by a sniper on 1 October 1917.

Jack Scott was the elder of the two and was awarded the DSO as a Lt with 19th Battalion in WWI. After WWI, he served with and commanded Militia infantry battalions until 1928. Then he became heavily involved in Army intelligence work, as well as being politically active in the 30,000 strong Old Guard, of which he was Chief of Staff. In February 1941 he was commanding a guerrilla warfare school at Foster on Wilson's Promontory. In January 1942, at 53 years of age, he became CO of 2/21 Battalion (Gull Force) on Ambon. Gull Force surrendered in February 1942 and Scott, with most of the battalion, was sent to the island of Hainan as a prisoner (Article by Ian Ramage in Despatch, Journal of the NSWMHS, April-June 2004).

Joe says: The stories of the Gull Force prisoners and Scott's failures of command during the POW period have been well documented in several books. Not so well known, perhaps, is the fact that the author D H Lawrence wrote the novel "Kangaroo" in 1922 while living at Thirroul on the NSW South Coast with his wife, Frieda (Baroness von Richthofen--a cousin of the "Red Baron"). It is generally believed that Lawrence based his main character, Jack Callcott, the fascist, on Jack Scott. Jack Scott, in addition to his distinguished AIF and Militia service and his energetic patriotism in the King and Empire Alliance and the Old Guard, was also an ardent supporter between the wars of Japanese industry and foreign policy, visited Japan and was a member of the Australia-Japan Society. (The South Coast Tie with the Red Baron, The Canberra Times, 24 April 2004).

Kevin Findlay of Phillip Island Historical Society was an "air spotter" at Cowes in WWII and is helping research material for a publication on the activities of the Volunteer Air Observers' Corps. He would like details of any unrecognised VAOC sites in other areas of Australia with a view to installing appropriate plaques as is being done at Wonthaggi and Cowes in Victoria. Contact Joan Hunt on [e-mail].

There are over 54,000 Commonwealth casualties commemorated in twelve cemeteries in Iraq (Commonwealth War Graves Commission). Among those buried in the Baghdad (North Gate) Cemetery is 44 Air Mechanic Francis Luke Adams, Australian Flying Corps, attached 30 Sqn Royal Flying Corps, a carpenter from Christchurch, New Zealand, who was captured by the Turks on 29 April 1916 when the Kut-el-Amara garrison surrendered and who died sometime in the period April to August 1916 during the forced march to Turkey. A plaque in the crypt of St Paul's Cathedral, London commemorates the 5746 of the Garrison who died in the siege or afterwards in captivity (The Volunteers, Journal of the NZMHS, Volume 26, No3).

Australians call the WWI campaign "Gallipoli"; to Turks, it is known as "Canakkale Savasi". In its first bi-lingual activity, the Australian War Memorial has developed a photographic exhibition, which, though interpretation of black and white photographs from the Memorial's collection and private Turkish photographs, enables visitors to explore the experience of the campaign from both sides. It went on display in Turkey in May. An English-language version now named "Gallipoli: A Turkish View" will tour 15 venues in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia during 2004. For details visit www.awm.gov.au. (Vetaffairs, June 2004).

The federal government has been swayed by a national campaign to save the historic RAAF base at Point Cook in Victoria, and, instead of selling the land to developers for a housing estate, will lease the airfield and most of the land for 49 years to a National Aviation Museum Trust. The announcement, on 1 March this year, coincided with the 90th anniversary of the first flight at Point Cook, by a Bristol Boxkite. (Reveille, Magazine of the NSW Branch of the RSL, Jul-Aug 04).

Each year around Anzac Day, the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) receives letters about the "correct" words in the Ode of Remembrance. The four lines of the Ode comprise the fourth stanza of Laurence Binyon's poem For the Fallen and the issue is that the word "condemn" should be "contemn". (The Concise Oxford Dictionary given "contemn" as a literary verb meaning to despise, treat with disregard, with origin Latin temnere--despise). In a letter, the then DVA Secretary, Neil Johnston writes that the Department has undertaken detailed research into the matter and found that Binyon, then Assistant Keeper of Prints and Drawings at the British Museum wrote the poem in September 1914 and it was first published in The Times, (a copy of which is in the National Library of Australia). The word is clearly "condemn". Some have suggested that "condemn" was a typographical error. Research with The Times shows that Binyon made no complaint about any error; and that his book of poems The Winnowing Fan, published only months later, used "condemn". Other important evidence comes from Reveille, the official journal of the NSW of the then Returned Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen's Imperial League of Australia in the August 1943 issue. In an article noting the death of Laurence Binyon, a copy of the fourth verse, in Binyon's own handwriting, is reproduced--and the word is clearly "condemn". Inquiries by DVA with the British and Canadian ex-service Associations and with the American Legion reveal that none had heard of the debate--which seems to have been a distinctly Australian phenomenon. (Letter to Queanbeyan Age, 24 May 2000). Thanks to Anthony Staunton for this item.

Knowledgeable about the battle of Crete? Stephen Pontin of PO Box 736 Sale, Vic 3580, seeks information on members of "Russell's Rifles" formed on Crete in May 1941 from non-combatant units. Telephone [phone] (Vetaffairs, June 2004).

The grave of Major-General Bridges on the slopes of Mount Pleasant, overlooking the Royal Military College of Australia in Canberra is a heritage-listed gravesite of unique significance. It is the only consecrated grave on Australian Defence Force property. It entombs the only identified body to be repatriated after the Great War. It was designed by the architect of the national capital, Walter Burley Griffin and is the only example of a monument in Canberra by the city's planner. An excellent article by Steve Hart, "The Curious Case of A Soldier's Return" has examined in detail the circumstances of the return of Bridges' remains to Australia, contrary to what was at the time official British policy not to allow repatriation of bodies from war zones. Steve concludes his article by saying that: " (my research) ... still doesn't enlighten us as to who had the power to effect the return of Bridges' remains to Australia. The search for this information continues." (Canberra Historical Journal, Canberra & District Historical Society, New Series No 53, March 2004).

Joe says: There is an interesting parallel here with a story 50 years later. On 10 September 1965, WO2 R A Scott of AATTV was killed by enemy action in Vietnam. In accordance with the current policy, his body was to be buried at the British War Cemetery at Terendak Camp, Malaysia (where WO2 Kevin Conway, the first Australian killed in action in Vietnam, is buried). But Scott had confided to his friend, Master Sergeant Eugene Jordan, US Army, that if he were killed, he would like to be buried in Australia. Jordan and the Australian advisers in Vietnam began a collection for funds and on 19 September, WO2 Scott's body was flown to Australia by Qantas and buried in the military section of Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney. MSgt Jordan accompanied the body, refusing to allow his own fare to be paid from the donations and insisting that any money left over be given to Scott's widow. It was then taken for granted by the Training team that they would return to Australia for burial any further adviser killed in action if the next-of-kin so desired, but that rather than tempt fate by maintaining a fund for this purpose, they would collect the money only when needed. Around this time, articles appeared in the Australian press observing that Americans and Australians were paying for the return to Australia of the bodies of diggers killed in action. On 13 November 1965, WO2 K A Wheatley (later VC, posthumous) and WO2 R J Swanton were killed in action in Quang Ngai province. The Training Team paid for their bodies to be returned to Australia. On 21 January 1966, the Australian Government announced that the bodies of servicemen who died overseas would be returned to Australia at public expense. (The Team, Ian McNeill, Australian War Memorial, 1984).

For those with collected archival material and an interest in preserving it, there is a useful Archives Advice on packaging, handling, display, mounting, archival grade papers, photograph albums etc at www.naa.gov.au. Look for Archives Advice No 10.

Interested in the Imperial Bushmen? An excellent photograph of four Imperial Bushmen, natives of Norfolk Island, in the Commonwealth contingent sent to London for the coronation of King Edward VII is held at National Archives. The photograph reference is NAA CP697/96 Photo 1. (Photograph reproduced in Memento, News from the National Archives, January 2004).

Under the NSW curriculum, it is compulsory for all schoolchildren from years 7 to 10 to study the Gallipoli campaign. However, the Kokoda campaign is just an option (under "Defence of Australia"). The NSW Board of Studies, which sets the curriculum for all schools in the state, says this will be revised in 2005. The teaching of Gallipoli will remain compulsory but "Kokoda or another New Guinea campaign" will be one of four options that can be chosen under the subject, "Experience of Australians serving in World War II". (Sydney Morning Herald, 1 July 2004).

About 10,000 Australian servicemen and women will be eligible for new medals to be awarded for service in the Afghanistan and Iraq campaigns against terrorism. These medals will be known as the Iraq Medal and the Afghanistan Medal, and will be awarded for service that has already been recognised by the award of the Australian Active Service Medal (AASM) with clasps "ICAT" and "IRAQ 2003" respectively. The Government has said that it believes that two medals are warranted to adequately recognise that sustained contributions made by the ADF in these two operational theatres. ADF personnel must have served for at least 30 days in the defined areas of operations to be eligible. The medals will be of traditional design and will be issued with an accompanying half-size miniature. The colour and design of the ribbon has not yet been decided. Civilians who have made a notable contribution to the rehabilitation of Iraq and to meeting the humanitarian needs of the people of Iraq would be awarded the Iraq clasp to the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (HOSM). (Army, 6 May 2004).