Author Archives: raevictoria

Tour of the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital – 14 September 2023 

Brief History The Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital opened on 13 March 1941 as the 115th Heidelberg Military Hospital. The 6th RAAF Hospital was also on site between 1942 and 1947. In 1947, the hospital was handed over from the army to the Repatriation Commission and became the Repatriation General Hospital Heidelberg. The Commission (Department of Veterans’ Affairs)Continue reading “Tour of the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital – 14 September 2023 “

Australian And New Zealand Troops parade In New York City – September 1943.

Six hundred Australian and New Zealand forestry troops, en route from England to their home countries, were given the unique honour of marching in a ticker-tape parade, with fixed bayonets, down Broadway in New York, said to be the only occasion that armed foreign troops had marched through an American city since Independence then toContinue reading “Australian And New Zealand Troops parade In New York City – September 1943.”

National Commemorative Service on the 50th Anniversary of the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War, August 2023

In 2023, the Australian Government will mark the 50th anniversary of the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War with a national service at the Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial in Canberra on 18 August 2023 from 10:00am. The Vietnam War was the longest twentieth century conflict in which Australians participated; it involved someContinue reading “National Commemorative Service on the 50th Anniversary of the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War, August 2023”

The Suspension Bridge over the Tanjil River – 1977

We recently received some slides from one of our ex committee members, Peter Washusen. After we converted these to photos for our collection, we asked Peter for information relating to the details of the bridge. These are his recollections ……….. The bridge was constructed over the Tanjil River West Branch somewhere in the vicinity ofContinue reading “The Suspension Bridge over the Tanjil River – 1977”

Talisman Sabre 2023

Exercise Talisman Sabre is conducted biennially and is the largest combined training activity between the Australian Defence Force and the United States military and is designed to test the respective forces in planning and conducting combined (multinational) and joint (multi-service) military operations. It aims to improve the combat readiness and interoperability between Australian and UnitedContinue reading “Talisman Sabre 2023”

Upwey-Belgrave RSL Excursion 01st July 2023 – Corps Birthday

Well, what a wonderful experience and day was enjoyed by those who came along to the Upwey-Belgrave RSL. This RSL is really a little gem tucked away off the Burwood Highway and certainly without the glitz and glamour of the bigger RSL’s but what it lacked in size it made up in bucket loads withContinue reading “Upwey-Belgrave RSL Excursion 01st July 2023 – Corps Birthday”

Today 27 June marks Sir John Monash’s Birth date.

General Sir John Monash GCMG, KCB, VD. “…equip yourself for life, not solely for your own benefit but for the benefit of the whole community.” – Sir John Monash The boy John Monash was born in West Melbourne on 27 June 1865 to German-Polish Jewish parents. As a child, he attended St Stephen’s Church ofContinue reading “Today 27 June marks Sir John Monash’s Birth date.”

The Cavendish and Woodlands Bridges demolished, 1976

The Cavendish and Woodlands Bridges demolished, 1976 The Grampians hosted the 1976 camp, a memorable one. Under Lt Col Bill Oakley the 7 Field Engineer Regiment did a mobile advance to contact from Puckapunyal across western Victoria. That year it demolished two bridges in the same region – the first one with 10 Field squadronContinue reading “The Cavendish and Woodlands Bridges demolished, 1976”

The Army lends a hand to restore an old bridge.

This was the headline of “The Age” newspaper in an article written by Anne Latreille in 1979. The 91 Forestry Squadron is an army reserve unit designed to mill timber for army use. It includes some Forests Commission staff, and a handful of men skilled in the use of the broad axe and adze. ItsContinue reading “The Army lends a hand to restore an old bridge.”

HILL 60 detonation on 7 June 1917 by the 1st Australian Tunnelling Company

Hill 60 is an area of ground which remains relatively undisturbed since the end of the Great War. It is located around three miles south-east of Ypres, just off Werviksestraat between Zillebeke and Zandvoorde. Because it was higher ground in an otherwise flat landscape, it obviously had great strategic importance in the battles here. TheContinue reading “HILL 60 detonation on 7 June 1917 by the 1st Australian Tunnelling Company”

The 10 Things you Need to Know about D-Day

D-Day – 6 June 1944 – was the largest amphibious invasion in the history of warfare. The statistics of D-Day, codenamed Operation Overlord, are staggering. The Allies used over 5,000 ships and landing craft to land more than 150,000 troops on five beaches in Normandy. The landings marked the start of a long and costlyContinue reading “The 10 Things you Need to Know about D-Day”

Kapooka Tragedy Memorial Excursion – 21st May 2023

The annual visit to attend the Kapooka Tragedy Memorial service is a feature of the Association’s calendar and one I would urge everyone to consider attending at some time. The journey to Kapooka is certainly a very long one but it is so worthwhile. Making the trip this year among others were Jim Davis andContinue reading “Kapooka Tragedy Memorial Excursion – 21st May 2023”

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ENGINEERS – Some Lessons From The War 1939-1945

(Part of the RAEAV collection BP 118) About this Document; The Author (Sir Clive Selwyn Steele KBE, DSO, MC mid(2)) Major General Sir Clive Steele (1892-1955) graduated in civil engineering from University of Melbourne and during his working life became a distinguished structural engineer. He was commissioned into the Militia and allotted to the AustralianContinue reading “ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ENGINEERS – Some Lessons From The War 1939-1945”

22 Construction Regiment – First camp and Bailey Bridge, Puckapunyal 1950.

Maintaining the diversity of engineering skills necessary in wartime had always been a severe challenge to the Army. The peacetime the RAE was never very large. Moreover, only in the first weeks of mobilisation did many qualified men volunteer who could move rapidly into technical postings. Therefore the Australian wartime engineer units had to trainContinue reading “22 Construction Regiment – First camp and Bailey Bridge, Puckapunyal 1950.”

The Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort

The coronation ceremony is an occasion for pageantry and celebration, but it is also a solemn religious ceremony and has remained essentially the same over a thousand years. For the last 900 years, the ceremony has taken place at Westminster Abbey, London. The service is conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, whose task this hasContinue reading “The Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort”

ANZAC Day 2023 – Dawn Service at Ringwood East Depot

The Regiment normally conducts a Dawn Service but due to Brigade obligations or COVID restrictions has not been able to have an after-Dawn Service for several years. This year started at Ringwood East depot with a “gun fire breakfast” followed by the Dawn Service and then a great breakfast in the recently refurbished Junior RanksContinue reading “ANZAC Day 2023 – Dawn Service at Ringwood East Depot”

YINNAR, GIPPSLAND – 38 Field Squadron, Main Street tree stump removal.

In the early seventies , a crew from 38 Field Squadron removed tree-stumps from the main street of Yinnar over several weekends using nitropril; the stumps resisted two charges. With the third the explosion damaged the facade of the nearby butter factory – the residues must have contributed. A demolition mat came down in aContinue reading “YINNAR, GIPPSLAND – 38 Field Squadron, Main Street tree stump removal.”

RAE Association Fire Services Museum and Old Treasury Excursion – 2 April 2023

A very successful and enjoyable excursion to the city was conducted on Sunday 02nd April 2023 where we visited the above 2 sites and ended the day with lunch. Firstly, we could not have asked for a better day weather-wise with lovely clear skies and a temperature around 19.0C however the city was very busyContinue reading “RAE Association Fire Services Museum and Old Treasury Excursion – 2 April 2023”

RAE Association (Vic) Inc. – Annual General Meeting (AGM)

On 30th March 2023 the RAE Association conducted its Annual General Meeting which was held at the Ringwood RSL – a number of those attending the AGM arrived early and started the evening with a meal – in fact there were 15 people on the table and a couple of others in the bar areaContinue reading “RAE Association (Vic) Inc. – Annual General Meeting (AGM)”

The RAE Excellence in Military Engineering Awards for 2021

At the 22 ER Family day on 6 February 2022, Jim Davis was presented with the Brigadier General C.H. Foott CB, CMG award for outstanding and significant support or service to the Corps of Royal Australian Engineers by LTCOL Scott D’Rozario It was a low key event as we were just coming out of CovidContinue reading “The RAE Excellence in Military Engineering Awards for 2021”

38 Field Squadron RAE and 2 Recovery Company RAEME help in relocating a steam train at Mirboo North, 1985

The J 550 Steam train was one of sixty 2-8-0 locomotives built for the Victorian Railways by Vulcan Foundry of Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire. The first 30 locomotives (J 501 – J 529) were built as coal burners, and the second 30 (J 530-J 559) as oil burners with a distinctive circular oil tank mounted in theContinue reading “38 Field Squadron RAE and 2 Recovery Company RAEME help in relocating a steam train at Mirboo North, 1985”

22nd Engineer Regiment (22 ER) commences 2023.

On the weekend of 03rd March – 05th March 2023 22 ER commenced their training year with a deployment to HMAS CERBERUS where the annual mandatory training was undertaken. In addition to the serious side of the training and preparing for the year the CO (LTCOL Scott D’Rozario) took the opportunity of having a BBQContinue reading “22nd Engineer Regiment (22 ER) commences 2023.”

Sealers Cove Wilsons Promontory 1974

In 1974, 7 Field Engineer Regiment camped at Tidal River on Wilsons Promontory during which projects including a bridge at Sealers Cove built by the then LT Colin Bowater and his troop, as well as corduroy tracks and numerous engineer reconnaissances tracks to train senior NCO’s. Source; Swan Street Sappers. Photos donated by Colin BowaterContinue reading “Sealers Cove Wilsons Promontory 1974”

91 Forestry Squadron RAE and the Castlemaine to Maldon, Victorian Goldfields Railway

Maldon with Township was founded in 1853 the discovery of an alluvial goldfield. In its heyday Maldon had a population of 4000 who were largely employed by gold mining companies. By 1880, Maldon was the largest community in Victoria, that was not served by a railway. On the 16th June, 1884, the first train ranContinue reading “91 Forestry Squadron RAE and the Castlemaine to Maldon, Victorian Goldfields Railway”

RAE ASSOCIATION SAPPER MUSTER OAKLEIGH BARRACKS 25th February 2023

Once again, we were so fortunate to have the support of the CO 22nd Engineer Regiment (LTCOL Scott D’Rozario) who made the facilities of Oakleigh available for the event and supported the night by providing a Duty Officer and staff. Without doubt Oakleigh is an ideal place in relation to location and facilities for aContinue reading “RAE ASSOCIATION SAPPER MUSTER OAKLEIGH BARRACKS 25th February 2023”

Mt Useful / Licola camp October 1982

In the winter of 1982, 22 Construction Regiment comprising of 105 Construction Sqn, 106 Construction Sqn and 107 Plant Sqn moved into Glenmaggie for specialised project works in the East Gippsland area, which was still snow covered and polar like when advance elements of 22 Construction Regiment arrived in early October and the wintry weatherContinue reading “Mt Useful / Licola camp October 1982”

‘Baines Bridge’ over the Goulburn River near Kevington 1966

The RAE 3 Division Annual camp in 1966 was conducted in the Jamieson, Kevington and Ten Miles area. 8 Fld Squadron under the command of CAPT Bill Oakley was to construct a fire access bridge across the Goulburn River near Kevington. This timber structure was designed by CAPT Oakley and constructed by his Squadron. TheContinue reading “‘Baines Bridge’ over the Goulburn River near Kevington 1966”

Australian Engineer Concerts in Brightlingsea UK 1916-1919

On the 28th of April 1918 a concert was held at the Empire Theatre for the men based at the Australian Engineer Training Depot (AETD) was established in Brightlingsea between 1916 and 1919. Over 5,000 Anzacs were stationed in the town and surrounding areas, leaving behind a significant social and supporting legacy which has notContinue reading “Australian Engineer Concerts in Brightlingsea UK 1916-1919”

91 Forestry Squadron “Woodpeckers”

91 Forestry Squadron, when it was formed in 1952, was the only Forestry Squadron in the Australian Army. The Forests Commission of Victoria sponsored 91 Forestry Squadron (SR), which was then a supplementary reserve unit of the Royal Australian Engineers (RAE) in Victoria and was initially established and commanded by Major Ben Benallack a wartimeContinue reading “91 Forestry Squadron “Woodpeckers””

Tour of the Thales Australia Plant in Bendigo Victoria, November 2019

Home of the Bushmaster Operations Vehicle 13th November 2019 from 1000 hrs – 1200 hrs Program: The visit will consist of a presentation about the Protected Vehicles, along with a morning tea, followed by a facility tour. The tour is normally about an hour of walking around. Bushmaster is combat proven and has been successfullyContinue reading “Tour of the Thales Australia Plant in Bendigo Victoria, November 2019”