Editorial.

The March edition is 64 pages and most readers should receive this issue by the end of the month. For the last few years Sabretache has arrived in reader's hands near then end of the month but it is hoped that from the June edition the journal will be arriving before the middle of the month and perhaps earlier. The reason for these changes is that Sabretache has received or been promised sufficient material for the remainder of 2004. However, I am already seeking material for 2005 and while thanking people who have already let me know what they are preparing I would appreciate others preparing material to advise me of their topic, the proposed length of their paper and any maps and illustration they will be submitting. New contributors are welcome to discuss proposed articles and I am very happy to comment on drafts.

I am pleased to welcome Craig Tibbitts whose article on 'Australians in the First Battle of El Alamein July 1942' covers the first battle which could have gone either way. I heard Graham Wilson deliver his paper on the little known 'The Spanish Civil War at Sea' to the ACT Branch and am pleased it is now available to the whole society. I am a bit of a specialist and one of the great benefits I find from presentations to society meetings, articles in Sabretache and from meeting fellow members is the depth of knowledge of society members. However, I was surprised to learn of the role of HMAS Albatross in the conflict.

Jim Underwood is welcome back to complete part two of "The Organisation of the Imperial Camel Brigade, 1916-1918' which began in the December 2003 edition. Clem Sargent completes his series on the Military Supervision of Convict Work Gangs. For space reasons the 4th Kings Own, the next in the series on Regiments of the British Garrison in Australia 1788-1841 will appear next issue with a short follow up from Clem on the extract on the Forlorn Hope that appeared last issue.

Both the Victoria Cross Noticeboard and Around the Water Cart are back. Joe Furphy mentions the great deal of confusion over the years about the DCM, later cancelled, awarded to Australia's youngest VC recipient Pte William Alexander Jackson VC. The Victoria Cross Noticeboard will have a comment next issue on other DSO and DCM cancellations that resulted in the VC.

ACT members in particular were saddened by the death of Major General Timothy Frederick Cape, CB CBE DSO who regularly attended ACT branch meetings. The fine obituary by John Whitelaw mentions that Tim's father was also a DSO recipient. Father-son DSO recipients would not be unique but would be uncommon.

Could I remind members that the Society's 2004 Biennial Conference to be hosted by the Albury-Wodonga Branch will be coming up on the NSW Labour Day Long Weekend in October. Details are included in the notice on page 4 and I urge members interested in presenting a paper or any other form of activity who have not already done so to contact the Albury-Wodonga Branch President Nigel Horne.

Sabretache is paid for by member's subscriptions, it receives no government subsidy so paid advertisements are welcome. Alexander Fax Booksellers will be running an advertisement in all 2004 editions and Society members are encouraged to support them and the businesses of other Society members. Other paid advertisements are welcome and members will find our rates quite reasonable. However, members notices will remain free.

Book Reviews will be back in June.

Anthony Staunton ([e-mail])