RIMINGTON Frank Rimington Remembers

The Camp Layout

A sealed ring road on the crest of the hill was entered by a guardhouse in Stud Road which had 24 hour posting of guards. Guard duty was shared by the various 3rd Brigade Forces stationed at Rowville. Located along the ring road were the YMCA hut, Quartermaster's Stores, Salvation Army Red Shield Hut, Canteen, Officers' Quarters and offices for each of the Brigade Forces. Other ranks were housed in tents - downhill from the road. Tents usually had six occupants who used ground sheets beneath hessian palliasses. The ground sheets were also used as waterproof capes in wet weather which we got plenty of at Rowville. Tents were inspected every morning following roll call - palliasses, blankets, kitbags with personal uniforms etc. had to be neatly stacked.

Nearest to our squadron were the Army Medical Corps (AMC) and some members of the AMC always went on bivouacs with our troops.

The squadron had three troops - No 1, No 2 and No 3 and a Headquarters section. Shortly after going to Rowville our squadron received a group of young recruits aged 18 and over plus some more mature chaps under 45 who were called up. They were mainly carpenters, bricklayers, concrete layers, builders, painters, blacksmiths etc.

We also had transferred to us from South Australia a good number who, I think, had been in a South Aussie Army Works and Parks Unit. There were about five aborigines in this group all of whom were great footy players.

Training

Time spent at Rowville included pretty intensive training in field engineering and endless miles of route marching which I enjoyed as I had always been a keen hiker and the marching was a pleasure. Marches to Wheelers Hill were regular and a major march was taken to Somerville.

Regular training was given in:

• The use of barbwire - fencing with metal 'star' pickets, creation of entanglements and low type fencing.
• Bren gun and rifle training including bayonet drill.
• Use of explosives - gelignite, gunpowder, fuse cord and fuses.
• Demolition - trees felled by packing gelignite sticks against them.
• Training with grenades.
• Bomb disposal training.
• Gas mask training.
• Unarmed defence - how to take care of yourself without any weapons.
• A tank brigade introduced us to tanks and their armoury.
• Camouflage - applied to ourselves, tents, vehicles etc.
• Constructing tubular scaffolding.
• Map reading, compass reading and signals - used in daytime and night time exercises. (The Lysterfield Hills were an ideal location for these).
• Pontoon bridge training - we camped at Tooradin for this.
• Bailey bridge (steel girders) training. This was done on Dandenong Creek.
• Small type timber bridge construction was also part of the training including the erection of standing derricks.
• Bivouacs were held in various locations, Berwick etc.
• Water purification methods.
• Learning the use of ropes, block and tackles - various types of lashings and knots.

A Few Fights

Troops welcomed the issue of lightweight khaki drill working dress for use in fieldwork training. However, our heavy khaki wool uniforms were always used for parades, guard duty etc.

There were six men to a tent. The tents were cosy and used a lot for cards, draughts, chess and crib. Crib was a popular game with several chaps including myself.

There were a few fights but usually only after a few too many drinks at the wet canteen. At one time we were part of a march in the city.

Frank Rimington

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