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

4 TH FIELD REGIMENT (SVN) ASSOCIATION AKA 4TH FIELD REGT OLD BOYS Patron: David Anderson. Treasurer: Gabby Hayes. NEWSLETTER No 50 – Summer 2022 All Correspondence to Peter Bruce, 33 Cathie Circuit, Lake Cathie NSW 2445 or pjbruce8@bigpond.net.au Mobile is 0419 349 317 G’day everyone, I had a call from Allan Hutcheson on 12 October. It was great to hear from him after such a long time. He was responding to a comment from Bill Foxall regarding the demise of the Gun Sergeants from 106 Battery in Vietnam, second tour. Hutch reminded us that he is alive and reasonably well. Hutch was a Gun Sergeant for most of the tour but also did a stint as Seco and as Signals Sergeant for 106 Battery. (This was common practice to allow for a bit of time off and gain experience). It was Hutch who saved my bacon after I had deployed with D and E Platoon and had been given a dud radio. Couldn’t talk to anyone outside a radius of fifty metres so as we had got close to the Horseshoe, I caught up with Hutch and he swapped my radio for one that worked. I certainly felt safer when I could talk to everyone on the Arty net. Thanks again for looking after me Hutch. Back to the original subject, as far as I know, Barnie Keddie is still alive and well in Townsville but have not had any word from him for years. Don’t know about Shane Oxenham nor Joe Dawidowicz. Has anyone heard from them recently? Sadly, Hutch died on 19 November 2022. His widow Joan has been in touch with me and has advised that a celebration of life for Hutch will be held on 15 January 2023. An obituary for him will be posted on the RAAHC website www.artilleryhistory.org in due course. Joan thanked all Old Boys who had passed on condolences and has invited anyone in Perth on the 15 th of January to join the family for a celebration of Allan’s life. Contact me for details after Xmas. From Joan Parkin (Col died earlier this year) Hi Peter, can you pass on to the guy's my thanks for all the lovely messages I received. My family and I were very touched by the comments and the admiration shown for Cols professionalism as a career soldier. And also, all the stories, mistakes and muck ups !!! let’s be real. For those of you from back in the Battery prior to and after Vietnam whose phone calls I haven't answered yet, I’m sorry, I will phone when it is easier to talk. Thank you all again so much. Kind regards, Joan Parkin. From Trevor Bryant (”A” Field Battery Association) I know a lot of you may know about Colonel Ian Ahearn’s latest book on FSB Coral, but if you haven’t, here are the details that you need for “Shot Over”.