Interested in association &reunion. I was a Reo from 5 who then completed the full tour with 7 only to be sent back to 1ARU! Served in 10 & 11 platoons. I was mates with Gary Cashion, also ex 5, who was killed by lightning on a night patrol in heavy weather, just after I went to the Horseshoe training elements of the 18th ARVN Div. If anyone was on that patrol out of NDP Isa (?)who could tell me more, I’d appreciate it. He was a great bloke & a top digger. He had taken over from me as Sig for Sgt Riddett(?). Many thanks, Ian. ( Ps a photo of me at “the shoe” Aust War Mem JON/70/0435/VN, might jog someone’s memory..).
Ian, you and I (and Pete Lutley, Danny Neville, Terry Halfacree, Sam Bradford, Allan Brown, Joe van Der Wal and others) were in the ARVN Trg Cadre together at the Horseshoe in the middle of 1970. It would be fabulous if the Cadre team could get together during the 2015 reunion, I have 6 or 7 photos of some of the team and surrounds (the gravel pit at the ‘shoe’). I keep in close contact with Pete Lutley, I’m sure he’ll be at the reunion. Cheers. PS my photo is: JON/70/0436/VN (just one shot off yours).
Much belated reply, yes finally booked flight & accomodation, so can’t back out now! though forty-five years makes most blokes hard to recognize, I still have the “baby-face” that has earned me repeated accusations of fraud,but it now is wrinkled & saggy.. I’m certainly hoping some of that Cadre will be there, I’ll bring Bao Ninh’s “Sorrows of War” with it’s heart rending account of the Northern Tank’s assault on the !8th ARVN Div ..
Regards, Ian Gowlett
G’day Ian G, Good to hear from you and hope you are well. Pete Riddett was 10 Pl Sgt. D Coy recently had a reunion at Bourke, org by Vic Bartley & Merv Hains. A good turn-up and good time was had by all. Regards Jim. (10 Pl)
Ian, I can tell you a little of what happened. I was a reo that was transferred to 7 when 6 had finished it’s tour. On the night in question I was the mortar fire controllers Sig and was positioned on a track in the long hai mountains with the rest of the company in an ambush position. The lightening and rain was very intense and I ended up lying in a rock pool up to my neck. Gary was very unlucky to have been where he was because if we had not gone to mt. Isa and instead went bush he was to have stayed at the Dat. I can remember Andy Mattay saying that Gary could go out that night with the armoured personal carriers because it would be the easiest of the two patrols ( I believe he was to be sent back to the Dat the following day). Gary was sheltering from the wind and rain when the lightening struck the armoured personal carrier, very unlucky and very sad. There was a lot of confusion that night and from memory the possum pilot was the only chopper that could come to his aide. I hope this has been of some help.
G’day Terry, you would have gathered by now I haven’t looked at this site for some time due to on-line incompetence.. sincere apologies, Mate I really appreciate you going to the trouble to explain what happened. It broke my heart, such a quietly competent soldier & decent bloke. I never forget handing him the Sig set when i joined the Cadre. Might see you at the re-union I hope. Regards, Ian
Interested in association &reunion. I was a Reo from 5 who then completed the full tour with 7 only to be sent back to 1ARU! Served in 10 & 11 platoons. I was mates with Gary Cashion, also ex 5, who was killed by lightning on a night patrol in heavy weather, just after I went to the Horseshoe training elements of the 18th ARVN Div. If anyone was on that patrol out of NDP Isa (?)who could tell me more, I’d appreciate it. He was a great bloke & a top digger. He had taken over from me as Sig for Sgt Riddett(?). Many thanks, Ian. ( Ps a photo of me at “the shoe” Aust War Mem JON/70/0435/VN, might jog someone’s memory..).
Ian, you and I (and Pete Lutley, Danny Neville, Terry Halfacree, Sam Bradford, Allan Brown, Joe van Der Wal and others) were in the ARVN Trg Cadre together at the Horseshoe in the middle of 1970. It would be fabulous if the Cadre team could get together during the 2015 reunion, I have 6 or 7 photos of some of the team and surrounds (the gravel pit at the ‘shoe’). I keep in close contact with Pete Lutley, I’m sure he’ll be at the reunion. Cheers. PS my photo is: JON/70/0436/VN (just one shot off yours).
Much belated reply, yes finally booked flight & accomodation, so can’t back out now! though forty-five years makes most blokes hard to recognize, I still have the “baby-face” that has earned me repeated accusations of fraud,but it now is wrinkled & saggy.. I’m certainly hoping some of that Cadre will be there, I’ll bring Bao Ninh’s “Sorrows of War” with it’s heart rending account of the Northern Tank’s assault on the !8th ARVN Div ..
Regards, Ian Gowlett
Very impressive presentation, well done chaps
G’day Ian G, Good to hear from you and hope you are well. Pete Riddett was 10 Pl Sgt. D Coy recently had a reunion at Bourke, org by Vic Bartley & Merv Hains. A good turn-up and good time was had by all. Regards Jim. (10 Pl)
Could that be “Johno” Johnson, my sec Cmdr, last heard of with a crown on his epaulet??
Ian, I can tell you a little of what happened. I was a reo that was transferred to 7 when 6 had finished it’s tour. On the night in question I was the mortar fire controllers Sig and was positioned on a track in the long hai mountains with the rest of the company in an ambush position. The lightening and rain was very intense and I ended up lying in a rock pool up to my neck. Gary was very unlucky to have been where he was because if we had not gone to mt. Isa and instead went bush he was to have stayed at the Dat. I can remember Andy Mattay saying that Gary could go out that night with the armoured personal carriers because it would be the easiest of the two patrols ( I believe he was to be sent back to the Dat the following day). Gary was sheltering from the wind and rain when the lightening struck the armoured personal carrier, very unlucky and very sad. There was a lot of confusion that night and from memory the possum pilot was the only chopper that could come to his aide. I hope this has been of some help.
G’day Terry, you would have gathered by now I haven’t looked at this site for some time due to on-line incompetence.. sincere apologies, Mate I really appreciate you going to the trouble to explain what happened. It broke my heart, such a quietly competent soldier & decent bloke. I never forget handing him the Sig set when i joined the Cadre. Might see you at the re-union I hope. Regards, Ian