4 Field Regiment (SVN) 'Old Boys' Newsletter - November 2013 Edition

7 7 We also lost Michael O’Sullivan recently. Many tributes came in regarding Michael and I included what I could in his Obituary. Below is a copy of Michaels Obituary which can be accessed at www.artilleryhistory.org under the obituaries section. I commend the web site to you and it has quite a bit of interesting information on it. 2411144 (214055) Michael Francis O’Sullivan, MID (3 June 1932 – 30 August 2013) By Peter Bruce, OAM Some may ask why an Infantryman turned caterer would appear on these pages. Michael Francis O’Sullivan was as much a gunner as he was a cook, serving many of his military years with RAA units. Michael was born in Limerick, Ireland on the 3rd of June 1931. He was one of 11 children and was born into hard times. Michael worked in England and Ireland from the age of 14 and in 1947 at the age of 16 took the opportunity for a better life and jumped on a ship bound for Australia. He originally went cane cutting in North Queensland where he and a mate saw an advertisement to join the Army. Michael consequently joined the Australian Army on the 13 th of January 1958. Originally allocated to Infantry, Michael served with 4 Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. He also had service with 2 Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment in the Malayan Emergency from October 1961 until July 1963. Michael had also met the love of his life, Josie from the small town of Inverell and they were married there on the 26 th of August 1961. Their daughter Sharon was born in Malaysia and Joanne the youngest was born back in Brisbane. It was during this time that Michael ‘got the taste’ for cooking and eventually trained and was transferred to the Australian Army Catering Corps. After completing his Catering Corps training at the Northern Command Trade Training Centre, Michael was posted to 4 th Field Regiment in Wacol and although initially working with 108 Battery soon found his niche with 106 Battery. He deployed to South Vietnam with 106 Battery in May 1967. John Hauck recalls that “ Mick was a legend with the spatula and what he couldn’t do with a rat pack was never known”. Michael stayed with 4 th Field Regiment on return to Australia and moved to Townsville with the Regiment in 1968. During his time in Townsville, Don Donkin tells the story of Michael buying a half share in a race horse, much to the dismay of his wife Josie. In February 1970, Michael again deployed to South Vietnam with 4 Field Regiment again staying with 106 Field Battery. Jack Lunney recalls: “ my fondest memory of him was when he got the mess hall built at the Horseshoe and he would give the key to the fridges to the sig who was doing the dog watch from midnight to dawn. When he gave them to me the first time I asked him why and he replied” – “cause you are the guys doing the heavy duty around here ”. Michael was passionate about looking after his diggers and his expertise in turning ration packs into gourmet feasts were legendary. Ian McNaughton stated “what a true gentleman he was, and a great bloke, and one of the best cooks I have ever come across in my 23 years service”. Jed Taheny also spoke very highly of Michael. “If an Army marches on its stomach, then we were in the best hands possible. I can still see some of those incredible spreads Mick and his crew put on after an Op. Where and how he got his hands on the food probably no one knows as no one would have wanted to know!!! Mike Berriman, I reckon you could tell a story or two! No doubt he will reunite with his "Acquisition Assistant" at the Horseshoe Lindsay "Woody" Wood and heaven help those controlling