Category Archives: History

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.”

She was big – big and ugly. At 1,500 tons and more than 60 metres long, the heavy lift ship AV2767 ‘Crusader’ was the largest vessel commissioned by the Australian army during the Second World War. She was designed by an army officer to support operations in the Pacific and could carry landing craft, vehiclesContinue reading “The Army’s “Ugly Duckling””

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”

105 CS issued a number of newsletters and the following article “Ex Fair Dinkum” was written by WO1 Jim Davis who was the SSM of 105 CS at the time. Our President Don Hughes is incorporating stories like these into a history book celebrating 70 years of HQ 22 Engineer Regiment, 105 Construction Squadron andContinue reading “105 Construction Squadron Newsletter – 2003”

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”

Darva (Dava) Lodge Hotel in Mornington hosted the 3 Div RAE, 4th Field Company and the RAE Band in February 1938. (photos 1 and 2) During the camp they practised the use of gas masks this makes playing wind instruments a very difficult job. The original building had a wonderful rich history as home toContinue reading “RAE Band”

A great turn out by the RAE despite the wet conditions. A few familiar faces amongst them. (Apologies for the wrong dates on the photos) RAEAV Collection PV 114 Subscribe to have our posts emailed to you automatically

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 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”

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 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”

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.”

1987 saw the 7 Field Engineer Regiment bridge a creek at Dallas Brooks Park Scout Camp in Beaconsfield. This exercise was run by CAPT Steve Bell. Source Swan Street Sappers RAEAV Collection PV197 Subscribe to have our posts emailed to you automatically

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”