RACT ARA Command and RSM appointments WEF 18 Jan 2010:
Congratulations are extended to the below members from HOC and the members of the RACT
• LTCOL Walk CO 7 CSSB
• LTCOL Constantine CO JLU (N)
• LTCOL Cowham CO 8 CSSB
• LTCOL Armstrong CO 9 FSB
• LTCOL Bruce CO AST
• LTCOL Donohue CO 1 CSSB
• WO1 Foster RSM 17 CSS Bde
• WO1 Carthew RSM 9 Bde
• WO1 Irwin RSM Ceremonial Sydney
• WO1 Armstrong RSM Ceremonial Hobart
• WO1 Fisher RSM 1 CSR
• WO1 Craker RSM 2 FSB
• WO1 Bodsworth RSM 9 FSB
• WO1 Johnson RSM 4 CSSB
•WO1 Collins RSM 8 CSSB
• WO1 Maher RSM 11 CSSB
• WO1 Frampton 39 PSB
•WO1 Barron RSM QUR
• WO1 Lakey RSM 13 CSSB
• WO1 Le Lievre RSM AST
10 July 2009
VALE
Private Ned Kenna VC
It is worth dwelling on the words of Mr Kenna's citation for they best describe one of Australian military history's most remarkable acts of bravery.
"On his own initiative and without orders, Private Kenna stood up immediately in full view of the enemy less than 50 yards away and engaged the bunker, firing his Bren gun from his hip," the citation reads.
"The enemy machine gun immediately returned Private Kenna's fire with such accuracy that bullets actually passed between his arms and body. Undeterred, he remained completely composed and continued to fire at the enemy until his magazine was exhausted. Still making a target of himself, Private Kenna discarded his Bren gun and called for a rifle.
"Despite the intense machinegun fire, he seized the rifle and, with amazing coolness, killed the gunner with his first round. A second automatic opened fire ... from a different position and another enemy immediately tried to move into position behind the first machine gun, but Private Kenna remained standing and killed him with his next round."
Mr Panter, the youngest surviving member of the dwindling 2/4th battalion, said that when it was all over, Mr Kenna had bullet holes in his pants and shirt.
RIP to a brave soldier; Ned Kenna VC
24 June 2009
New cemetery at Fromelles
WORK has started on the new cemetery at Fromelles, in northern France, which will provide a final resting place for around 400 British and Australian soldiers.
The troops died during the Battle of Fromelles in July 1916, with the bodies buried in a number of pits by the German army in the hours after the battle.
A team of archaeologists are currently extracting the bodies and countless items of clothing and equipment and it is hoped that DNA techniques will enable as many of the soldiers as possible to be named and given an individual headstone.
The removal of remains is intricate work that involves very small archaeological tools and hand held metal detectors. As they are recovered, the soldiers' remains are X-rayed and taken through an on-site temporary mortuary for scientific analysis and cataloguing.
Numerous artifact have been found in association with the remains. The majority of these are buckles, buttons, press studs and fragments of fabric from the 1908 pattern webbing equipment that both Australian and British soldiers wore at the Battle of Fromelles. Families who believe their relatives may have lost their lives at Fromelles are urged to check the lists of casualties at www.fromelles.org.
The new cemetery at Fromelles is the first one in fifty years to be built by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and will be completed by December 2009.
Source: GeneaNet Newsletter dated - 17/06/2009
27 May 2009
Head of Corps
Royal Australian Corps of Transport
c/-Army Logistic Training Centre
ArmySchool of Transport
NORTH BANDIANA VIC 3694
Royal Australian Corps of Transport
It is with great pride that I assumed the appointment of Head of Corps from Brigadier Saul on3 April 2009. Brigadier Saul and I have known each other for many years and I have long admired his drive and capacity to get things done. He has built tremendously upon the strong foundation left for him by previous Heads of Corps and Corps Directors, and also upon the extraordinary contribution made over many years by the men and women of our Corps. On behalf of the Corps, I sincerely thank Brigadier Saul for his efforts as Head of Corps over the past two years and look forward to his on-going contribution.
My association with the Corps started in 1982 when I joined the Army as a driver at 2 Transport Squadron. 27 years on, I remain very proud of our Corps, the people in it and the great work that we do. Our Corps has a hard-earned reputation for maintaining the highest professional standards and for getting on with the job at hand with little fuss. We have always been adaptable and willing to take on new challenges - attributes that position us well to exploit the opportunities of Adaptive Army and the soon to be released Defence White Paper.
My current appointment is that of Chief of Staff Army Headquarters. I am therefore well positioned to have visibility over the major strategic issues confronting Army and our Corps. My desire is to get out and about as much as possible and listen to the ideas and concerns of our people, while also using my position in Army Headquarters to ensure that the Corps is well-informed and focused on addressing the right issues.
I look forward to meeting you, or re-establishing old acquaintances, over the coming months. Please do not hesitate to get in touch and let me know what you think is important to the future and well-being of our Corps. Par Oneri.
The funeral service for the late Capt. Val Litchfield was conducted in idyllic surroundings in the NSW Southern Highlands’ town of Mittagong on 26 November 2008.
Approximately 100 people consisting of family, friends, former members of the Fiji Regiment, 161 Field Battery, Royal NZ Artillery, various Sub-Branch members, Regional Commander of Cadets and those who knew Val and his wife Kathryn, well.
Val was born in Darwin4 December 1936. The family was evacuated 3 months before the bombing of Darwin, moving to Sydney and then later eventually to Fiji.
Schooling was achieved at SuvaGrammar School. On completing his schooling, Val was then to be employed as the 1st broadcasting technician.
Val would later join the NZ Army in 1959, spanning a 12 year period until 1971. This career would encompass several postings including the National Service Centre, as an instructor. Another posting was to 161 Field Battery, where Val would be trained as a battery surveyor.
In 1965 Val’s unit was deployed to Vietnam to be part of the 1st Australian Task Force and 1 Field Regiment, based in both Bein Hoa & Nui Dat. It was here that he was responsible for the construction of the Battery HQ. This became known as “Litchfield Reddout”.
On the night of 18/19 August 1966, the unit utilized its big bullet chuckers to assist valuable fire support in defence of Delta Coy 6 RAR. This was the Battle for Long Tan.
The Duty Surveyor was Sgt Val Litchfield. Val would later enjoy postings in the Australian Army Reserve with both 177 Air Dispatch and 3 Transport Squadron as Troop Commander.
Val retired in 1977 but still took an active participation with Cadets & his local Sub-Branch.
Tributes and condolences were delivered by 161 Battery RNZA, NZ Sub-Branch and also Southern Highlands Sub-Branch.
As the last post reverberated from a lone bugler, a former & respected soldier & a proud member of his local community, was farewelled.
A 3 Tpt Sqn wreath in corps colours was prominent.
A 2 minute real-time audio account of Long Tan is held by the AWM, donated by Val’s twin brother.
Val’s sister stated that she has “never seen so many ex-service personnel place poppies on a coffin”.
Special thanks to the RACT Pipes and Drums Band who came from Newcastle.
They led the CORP section at the RFD march and I am please to say that everyone was instep at all times, Well done guys and gals.
(Sgt Bob)
The RACT Pipes and Drums have a long and proud history and the RACT remains one of the few Corps to have such an asset.The Pipes and Drums is a GRes unit that wears the RACT Corps Badge.Units are strongly encouraged to use the RACT Pipes and Drums to provide musical support to various activities, particularly those of an RACT nature.
Last year Murray Taylor on behalf of the Association initiated the necessary steps for the process of applying for a grant under the Federal Government’s “Saluting their Service” program.
The culmination of the project will be the dedication and unveiling of a Commemorative Plaque to the Unit at the Australian War Memorial.
This has been approved and final plans for a ceremony at the Australian War Memorial are under way.
These will be conveyed to all members and friends of the Association.
At this stage due to the time to contact and invite VIP's, Corp Commander, Association Patron and so on it is suggested that we hold the ceremony on a Friday in Feburary or March 2009.
The DEDICATION IS ON 6 MARCH 2009
Please pass this on to members and friends who do not have computers.
