Personal Recollections by

Jon Guymer

Recollections of my time with 126 Sig Sqn

Jon Guymer 1 Aug 07

At the time 126 Sig Sqn was being formed in Melbourne, being morphed from 301 Sig Sqn in Sydney, I was a Lt in 3 Sig Regt. The year was 1966. The Adjutant at the time at 3 Sig Regt was Maj Bob Redgewell, who, as it turned out, was the person who was organising the 'new' 126 into the Sig Depot in Albert Rd, Sth Melbourne. Maj Redgewell was a previous OC of 301 in Sydney and was to become the initial OC of 126 in South Melbourne.

I was approached by Maj Redgewell to transfer to 126, which then was an honour, and later as I knew more about the Unit was an even greater honour. As the Unit was being formed in Melbourne and we were grappling with how to get CMF recruits for the new unit, we were joined by John Olsen, who had been in the Sydney Unit and was transferred to Melbourne with his job.
The competencies and skills of the Regular Army Troop under Bob Baird (ex British paratroops) were unbelievably impressive to those of us who had not been exposed to the Special Forces skills before. They were excellent mentors to the fledgling CMF soldiers. Around these early times we also had some excellent transfers in, such as Nigel Moth (Who had a background with the UN Police Force in Europe), Bob Dettering and some civilian people from various aligned departments in Victoria Barracks.
Following were recruiting drives, and for the first time we had permission to use "Special Forces" in describing the Unit. We recruited some excellent men and women, many I will never forget. Some of these initial recruits are still associated with the Unit…. First steps were basic training…Camp at Ballarat Aerodrome etc … how to dress, how to march etc etc. (I still remember the two left legs that Sig Edwards had in those days.)
These form fond memories as The Unit progressed from there to having some members with good CW skills, Parachuting, Unarmed combat, Roping and Climbing, Canoeing, etc etc. Some led by our Regular Soldiers and some were learnt during courses with 1&2 Commando Units. As I remember the Cdo Units looked down their noses at this newcomer, and initially we were not allowed to wear the Green Beret. I never got one.

I also remember with great pleasure going on Canoeing Courses with the Cdo Unit at Middle Head, Parachuting with PTF at Williamtown and returning home with arms bruised and bloodied after unarmed combat courses conducted by Alan Joyce. However my morse was slow in getting anywhere - I marvelled at people like (then) Cpl Joyce, Sgt Ted Blacker and others in having 25 wpm and all the physical skills .. I wouldn't want to upset these guys!

As the skills of the CMF contingent improved we conducted more sophisticated training exercises which were closer to the role of the unit and some of our members were attached full time in various capacities with the Defence Forces.
I was with the Unit in the years of 1966-1970 - when the Vietnam War was at its height our Unit was very busy and it grew in size. At this time Maj Warren Meredith was OC and Dennis Livingston was Troop Cdr. During these years I became a Captain and had one more exam to go for Majority when my civilian job transferred me to NW Queensland… and I had to resign from the Unit, and apart from a few occasions when I paraded with the Mt Isa CMF Unit (RAE) I dropped out of the active CMF.

I had an enjoyable 32 year period with Mobil Oil (Aust) and managed to have three separate careers within that time. I spent time interstate and a few years in Washington DC where the Mobil Oil Headquarters was situated.
I am now retired, live in Bayside, Melbourne, have 3 Children, 5 Grandchildren, and apart from the Grandchildren activities, have a small yacht and go sailing regularly.. And race each Wednesday afternoon. My wife seems to be able to get me to go on an overseas holiday each year - so life's good for us.
I still enjoy the (infrequent) contact with the old original 126 personalities from The Sig Depot in Sth Melb.

147101 Jon Guymer