4 Field Regiment (SVN) 'Old Boys' Newsletter - December 2022 Edition

From Ben Burrow (106 Bty First Tour) The 106 Battery 1967/68 history books GUNNERS VIETNAM 67/68 & FIRE MISSION 106 BATTERY are now available in one pack at the Vietnam Veterans Museum Phillip Island for $79 plus postage. The printer FOCAL PRINTING PTY LTD in Hobart can also sell you the two book package. Contact: (03) 62342602 E: print@focalprinting.com The concept of producing the books and the 106 Battery History was to enable our veterans the opportunity to have their photographs and slides recorded for posterity as the Veterans neared the end of their lives, many did no what to do with them. The AWM storage of Vietnam photographs and relics is full and our fear was unless the Veteran had a family member interested in retaining the photographs they would end up in a dumpster. Even the personal diary day to day that Richard Holm a Sydney University Graduate had recorded assiduously in the 106 Battery Command post was not wanted by the AWM. I was delighted to be able to edit Richard's diary for FIRE MISSION 106 BATTERY because it filled in vital aspects of our service that was lost in the mists of time. The other factors were to show the horrible conditions under which we had to serve in SVN. The steps we self initiated to help us survive and the joy we drew from our comradeship The results have been therapeutic in that our Veterans have been able to reframe their lives on the basis that here was proof in colour photographs of how stoic they were as young Gunners lending them the idea that they can draw on that resilience to enable to better survive the ailments that not afflict them in their aging years. The books have been seminal for families to use in funeral programs showing that part of their loved ones time in the service of the nation in War. As usual most Veterans have been reluctant to tell their stories of their War service to their Wives children and grand children. Meredith Irvin the Sister of the murdered officer Robert Birse has been able to meet with Dr David Bradford author of GUNNERS DOCTOR. David shared a tent at HQ Battery with 2nd Lt Robert while he was in HQ Battery and David was ordered to carry out an autopsy on Robert's body in order to find out what killed him. Meredith has been able to meet with Alex Berry the 106 Bty medic who tried to save Robert's Life and Len Curd who had a cup of coffee mins before he was fragged. Meredith and Robert's family had a proud military history, their Father and Uncle were both Rats of Tobruk and Mother was a member of the women's land army. It was a blow when Robert was fragged and all they knew was what the AWM falsely told them in the record ON THE OFFENSIVE. Meredith has now regained her pride in the Birse family name and now goes by the name Meredith-Birse Irvin. Regards from Ben Burrow. ******* I heard from Don Quinn recently. He was responding to our death notice for Allan Hutcheson and like some others, thought it was Alan Hutchinson (not an Old Boy) who is still alive and well in Canberra. Don has macular degeneration and relies on his daughter Jeannine to read his emails for him. Don asked me to pass on his best wishes to all Old Boys. I had a phone call from Dave Alderton on 21 November. Dave and I chatted nearly two hours and it was great to catch up on all his news. We went through Kapooka together with Alex Pavlovich and Mario Bernasconi in March 1969. The four of us did the compulsory M2A2 Gun Course at the School of Artillery before all four of us were posted to 4 th Field