4 Field Regiment (SVN) 'Old Boys' Newsletter - May 2017 Edition

4 happy. Time to take him home was sad because he realised the good time was over for some time until he gets another visitor. We felt sad leaving him there but good that we had given him a good time and some love and laughs. All the best Peter and thank you for Anzac gathering. Swifty Medals. I had received a note from George Allingame re a couple of medals he was missing. It was a fitting reminder to us all that if you have not got your full entitlement of medals for service in South Vietnam then you can apply through the Defence Department. www.defence.gov.au/medals will get you to the right area. You can apply on line or there is number to ring to have an application form sent to you. That number is 1800 333 362. If anyone needs a hand with medals or honours give me a call if you can’t find the information you need on line. From Swifty (back in March) This morning, 27 march, I became stranded in Bowen thanks to cyclone Debbie. My train south was cancelled and there were no cars to rent. Rang our old battery mate George Stevenson in Proserpine and told him of situation. He immediately volunteered to drive north to get me then to bring me to Mackay, nearly 200km south to catch a bus to Rockhampton to meet with a train to Brisbane. Given the cyclonic conditions, the distances involved and the time I think it was a magnificent effort by a dear old friend and old soldier. I wanted everyone in our group to know what STEVO has done for me and to publicly thank him. Love to all. Swifty Proposed 4 th Field Regiment Old Boys Reunion I really need some feedback on this one. Several of the boys have suggested we have a big reunion to commemorate the deployment of our regiment to SVN – the second tour. While many, including 106 Battery deployed in February, the thinking is that March 11 is the official deployment date for 4 th Field Regiment. This could be the opportunity to get many of our members together – some for the first time and others perhaps for the last time. Locations mentioned include the Gold Coast as it has so many other attractions but the leading contender at the moment would have to be Townsville. I have not been in touch with anyone at 4 th Regiment as yet but it is likely that the regiment in Townsville may have some form of recognition of the deployment date. Townsville is also where we all left from and apart from our reunion there in 1991 there are perhaps many who have never been back to Townsville. Any reunion would probably go over a week to ten days with a variety of organised activities and plenty of free time to see the sights. While March 2020 seems a long way off, it will come around pretty fast. We would need a few local guys to help arrange things and perhaps a few others to do some ground work on activities. I am happy to be the point of contact but I believe it’s too big a job for one person. Anyway, let me know your thoughts on locations and what you would like to do and an indication as to whether you would attend. We’ll see what sort of response we get and go from there. For the record, the regiment is now titled 4 th Regiment. There is no mention of “field”. The guns they use are now 155mm. ANZAC Day Laurieton 2017 Another great day with good friends and families to commemorate the most important day on the Veterans calendar. The Laurieton RSL Sub Branch and the Laurieton United Services