FOREWORD
by
Colonel Michael CLIFFORD CSC
Chief of Staff to the CDF
Formerly Troop Commander 660 Signal Troop and Operations Officer 126 Signal Squadron 1981
Reading this anecdotal history one cannot but be struck by how a small, and because of its role,
an understated unit, has been able to remain at the forefront of many of the initiatives both within Army and the
broader Defence Force over the last 40 years or so. It also seems entirely appropriate that this work is completed
at a time when 126 Signal Squadron prepares for another phase in its history with a broader role and another opportunity
to excel.
Since my time in the Squadron, I have always felt it was important that new members of the Squadron understood
and appreciated the Unit's history and role. It is all too easy to be captured by the glitz of changing roles and
pay too little attention to what, by Australian standards, is a rich operational heritage. This history provides
a wonderful method of achieving this understanding.
I would hope that a history of this nature would also provide the impetus for more research into Australia's participation
in the conflicts of the early 60's. I recall Barry Petersen MC, regaling us with a story, during a 660 Signal Troop
exercise in Calms in 1980, about his first contact with 126 Signal Squadron. He was attached to the UK forces in
Borneo in 1966 after a particularly quick exit from Vietnam. After a long trek he and his party emerged from the
jungle into what Barry expected to be a UK patrol base, to his great and lasting surprise he was greeted by a grinning
Australian soldier from what he was to soon learn was 660 Signal Troop. What surprised Barry the most was that
he had never heard of the Squadron or its role, yet their reputation in Borneo and the skills of its soldiers told
a very different story. This tale is retold in this volume and in so many ways it epitomises the understated nature
of 126 Signal Squadron.
This book captures the humour, the mateship and the professionalism of the Squadron over its entire history. Reflecting
on my experience with the Squadron as a junior officer, I am left with two enduring memories; the dedication of
the Reserve soldiers, often in those early days working unpaid simply because they loved it; and the body of professional
knowledge and experience contained within 660 Signal Troop. Personalities such as Daryl Bunney, Steve Tamplin,
Justin Lott, "Shorty" Sutton, 'Tug Boat' Palmer, Marty Breed, lan Law and many others whose attitude
to the profession of arms and their job shaped my views and approach. I recall my days in the Squadron as if they
were yesterday - in particular those last few months when the mateship, professionalism and fun of the experience
hit home.
I have many enduring memories; night landings on dry mud flats trusting only the pilot and a light pattern designed
by Daryl Bunney, the Milli Bar at the old PTS, roping and rappelling, patrolling in the Gulf Country at night with
barking crocodiles as ever present distractions, dark cold nights on Port Phillip Bay and of course the camaraderie
of Tuesday evenings and Annual Camps.
The Squadron with its turnover of Regular Army personnel can all too easily be disconnected from its history. The
Reserve members who fill this volume provide the continuity and character which has shaped and will continue to
shape the Squadron's character. Regardless of the tension that inevitably exists in an integrated Regular/Reserve
unit, the Squadron has been a great success and a marvellous example to the rest of the Australian Defence Force
of how powerful successful integration can be.
To editors Keith Larner and Lindsay Lorrain, and collaborators in this work, congratulations!
To 126 Signal Squadron, a unit which has been a fixture in the history of the Corps of Signals, Special Forces
in Australia and many unsung aspects of our country's military history, best wishes and every success in the future.
Canberra, August 1999
This book records the activities of the soldiers of 301 Signal Squadron and later 126 Signal Squadron. It is not intended as a definitive history, but instead attempts to give a brief outline of some of the many events that have molded the Squadron over the past 37 years.
There have been major changes since beginning as a 301 Signal Squadron in 1960. The first came in 1965 with a re designation as 126 Signal Squadron. The following year saw the squadron re-locate to Melbourne. This caused the loss of the entire Citizen Military Force (CMF) element with the exception of the then 2IC Capt. John Olsen.
During the next two decades, two more re-locations took place, the first in 1972 from Albert Park to temporary accommodation at Watsonia Barracks. In 1984 a new, dedicated signals complex was built at Simpson Barracks (formerly Watsonia Barracks) to house the Squadron.
After relinquishing its independent role to become a member of the 1st Commando Regiment, 126 Signal Squadron changed the way it operated to accommodate the Regiments' need for infantry orientated signalers.
Many of the anecdotes in this book relate to the adventures of soldiers in the field, but it must be remembered, that while they are deployed, radio circuits are manned 24 hours a day, supplies and equipment must be maintained and the squadron must function with the assistance of others, many of them female. The opportunities for adventure and excitement available to those who man the base areas are limited. To their credit, they continue to attend weekly parades and annual camps to undertake the less glamorous jobs in the Communications Centre, clerical or technical work. Without their enthusiastic support the field teams would not be operationally effective and would soon cease to exist. As any field operator will acknowledge, the loss of a field patrol is tragic, but the loss of the Base Station is disastrous.
Originally this book was to be completed at the end of 1995 but, with the news that the Squadron was to be reorganised, with the ARA members moving to Sydney as part of the 1 Commando Regiment HQ and the ARES members relocating to Fort Gellibrand - Williamstown to integrate with 2 Cdo Coy, it was decided to continue up until the time of the relocation.
Although no longer a serving member of 126, I have greeted the news of the Squadron's move to Sydney and Fort Gellibrand with dismay. I now understand how the early CMF members of the Squadron must have felt when it was relocated from Sydney to Melbourne in 1965.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors wish to thank the many Squadron members, both past and present, who made their time and recollections available. Without their help this book could not have been written.
A special thanks to Lt. Allan Joyce, without whose tireless help this book would have been a very thin offering. Since the beginning of our efforts to produce a written history of the Squadron Allan has made himself available to the editors and provided a wealth of information on people and events that occurred during the early years in Melbourne. In an effort to get that extra story Allan traveled interstate to conduct interviews with former members. He also encouraged those who were lagging behind in their contributions and at all times Allan kept the editors on their toes to ensure that the project did not lapse into obscurity.
Maj. Barbara Edwards RFD JP who brought together many of the founding members of 301 Signal Squadron for a re-union. This gave me the opportunity to gather considerable information previously unknown to me.
Maj. John Olsen ED, Major Warren Meredith, Maj. Dean Davidson RFD, Major Bob Pullinger BEM and Lt. J.C.O. Gray for their excellent contributions on the formative years of the squadron.
Keith Larner enlisted into the Army Reserve (ARES, as the CMF had now been redesignated) component of 126 Signal Squadron (Special Forces) in February 1977. On completion of Initial Employment Training (IET) he was posted to 596 Signal Troop (596 Sig Tp) as a trainee operator radio. Employed as a field operator until late 1982 when he reached the rank of sergeant. Around this time he was involved in a near fatal civilian car accident resulting in severe leg injuries, rendering him unable to continue as a field operator. He was given the choice of discharge or remaining as a base operator. From 1983 Sgt. Larner worked in the base radio station supporting both ARES and Australian Regular Army (ARA) communications exercises as well as service with overseas forces. With increasing personal commitments he elected to discharge from the ARES in 1994.
Lindsay Lorrain enlisted into the CMF component of 126 Signal Squadron (Special Forces)
in 1969. After training as a field operator he took part in many exercises with both 1 Cdo Coy and 2 Cdo Coy as
well as other army units. He became the Troop Sergeant of 596 Sig Tp in 197? where he served for several years.
In 1983 SSgt Lorrain was posted to the Officer Cadet Training Unit (OCTU) as an instructor. On his return to 126,
in 1986 now Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2) Lorrain took up the position of ARES Supervisor Communications and assumed
responsibility as the Operator Training Co-ordinator. During his service he became the first ARES Parachute Jump
Instructor (PJI) as well as an instructor in several other specialists fields. In 1993 after 23 years service to
the CMF / ARES WO2 Lorrain elected to be placed on the In-Active List. Up until this time he was the longest serving
member in the Squadron.
a
copy of 126 History
To obtain the full history on CD with around 1200 photos - email LPLenterprises@gmail.com
