REFLECTIONS OF CANUNGRA
BY BJ VICKERY
I joined 9RAR ftom the Infantry Centre at Ingleburn in July 1968. 9RAR were in the middle of their work up exercises for Vietnam when I joined them on Cultana Range in South Australia in the coldest part of winter. The companies had all been through the Jungle Trainmg Centre at this time as sub-unit groups so it was obvious to me that all us "latecomers" would eventually have to do a Battle Efficiency Course. Logically, I chose not to mention it to anyone in case it may have escaped their notice.

Our final shakedown exercise was "Firebird" which was an assessed exercise, conducted in Shoalwater Bay in Queensland, designed to ensure that the battalion could successtully undertake operations in Vietam. The exercise finished on about the 2Oth September 1968, the reports were good and we all started to pack up to move back to Woodside for pre-embarkation leave and departure on the HMAS Sydney on about the 9th November. In total this left only about two and a half weeks before we left Australia. It was about two months since I had seen my wife. Two days before I was due to depart Shoalwater Bay, a runner brought me a message from the Adjutant. It stated that myself and about twelve other members of 9RAR (all junior NCO's and private soldiers were to report to Canungra to do a special ten day Battle Efficiency Course prior to pre-embarkation leave. I couldn't believe that they could do this to us. This meant no local leave after the exercise and only the bare minimum of pre-em leave. I was not a happy soldier.

Mong with the other 9RAR soldiers I travelled to Canungra and attended the laborious march in procedure which, unfortunately was necessary for a course containlng officers, senior NCO's and soldiers from all Corps. At the conclusion of the opening address I stood up and represented our case to the Captain who was running the course, a young, efficient artillery officer. I informed him that I, and my other soldiers had been informed that we were only there for part of the course and not to forget to arrange for our early release. He told me that he knew nothing of this arrangement and asked for some documentation to support our claim. Calmly, I informed him that we had all been on exercise for over a month and none of us had personal secretaries but if he cared to check he would see it had been arranged with the chief instructor. Courteously, he agreed to do that but in the mean time we should simply get on with the course.

Three days later the Captain informed me that the Chief Instructor knew nothing of the arrangement and that we were to complete the full three weeks of the course. I was also informed that the Chief Instructor was LT. COL R.A. Grey, an infantry officer who would not tolerate any nonsense. I immediately called a meeting of all the 9RAR students and laid down the law. I told them that our chances of getting pre-em leave were lessening by the minute but if nothing was heard by day five I was prepared to front the Chief Instructor and put my future on the line. In return however, I expected them to prove to everyone else on the course that they were the best at everything we were asked to do. They were to be helpfiil to other students, attentive and above all totally professional in all aspects of weapon training.

On day five I again spoke to the Captain. Again he shook his head. I asked for a parade to the CI. He advised against it and told me to get back to the course. This I did until day seven when I decided it was time to take positive action. This time I demanded to see the CI. I left the captain in no doubt as to my sincerity.

On day nine I began to feel the depression surrounding the 9RAR soldiers, they were loosing faith in both me and the system. We had just finished the confidence course, I was soaking wet from a dip in the river and had lost my epaulette (badge of rank) off my right shoulder when the Captain approached me and said that the CI had agreed to see me in fifteen minutes but he was singularly unimpressed. I began to panic. I had a set of dry clothes in my hutchie but no other badges of rank. I immediately asked if there was anyone else on the course who could lend me a cloth epaulette. A young artillery second lieutenant said I could borrow his but it had RAA underneath the pip. I had no other option as time was running out. I ran up to my hutchie, got changed and started to cut the RAA out of the epaulette with a raaor blade. I succeeded but the impression was still quite noticeable. I slid it on and raced up to the office of LT. COL R.A. Grey.

I was immediately called into the office which was quite a deep one, by this I mean 6 or 7 paces to the desk. I had taken one pace inside the door when the CI yelled at me to get out until I was correctly dressed. His eagle eye had spotted the RAA impression. Already I was dead meat and I hadn't made my case yet. I stood firm and explained (hurriedly) what had occurred. He told me to take off the offending epaulette and move closer to the desk. Terror was beginiiing to devour me. Sweat was running down my face uncontrollably. What chance did I have of winning this one? "Well don't just stand there, tell me why your wasting my time," came the firm dulcet voice. Oh God! Slowly I began to tell the story that I had been rehearsing for nine days. "Oh. Is that so" came the response. "I will ring Albie Morrison and find out if their is any truth in what you say." At last, I thought the CO will set him straight.

A lengthy conversation ensued after which the receiver was replaced. I was beginning to relax. "Albie Morrison knows nothing about this and whereas he sympathises with you he understands that it is a political decision for you to complete the course." I died. The men would lynch me. In true infantry fashion I copped it sweet, picked a spot on the wall somewhere above the Cl's head, saluted and about turned to march out. "Stay where you are!" came the voice. I thought this would be the lecture on being a good inflintryman, gird the loins, stiffen the resolve and just get on with it. I about turned again and faced the CI. He was looking very sincere and spoke in a very sympathetic voice. "You and your men have done extremely well on this course and as such I see that there is little we can improve on you by keeping you another ten days. Congratulations, you and your group can leave in two days. Have a good tour of Vietnam." There was a God after all.

I had no problem working for MAJ. GEN R.A. Grey, DSO as a staff officer when he became General Officer Commanding Field Force Command in the early 80's. He could do no wrong in my book.

B. J. Vichery 9RAR

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