Milsurp After Hours

in 'A' Coy 4 RAR, when we were in training, was Major Archer Dennis MC. I just found a note that I wrote sometime back and thought that I'd share it. The Maj. passed on a few years ago and, thinking back, he was one of the few Officers for whom I always had respect and some awe.



Here's the note " Regulations in force at the time required that those going on leave to wear the usual summer kharki drill trousers and shirt plus beret, tie and shoes.

We, being young, infantry and not a little proud of ourselves as the 'Upholders of the ANZAC Spirit' would hide our boots, gaiters and slouch hats in the scrub outside the camp. Once we were safely through the outward inspection and leave passes safely in hand, we would change to our more manly dress and proceed on our hopeful way.

We had a looong walk to civilization and a lift was always welcome, but rare as we were in an isolated camp. On one occassion, after the dress change, we heard a car coming and looking back we saw the well known Studebaker of the OC.---panic---out of authorized dress.

The car stopped and a smiling Arch (we always called him that out of his hearing) offered us a lift. He never mentioned our dress.

I suspect that he knew all about our changing arrangements (he seemed to know everything else) and there was never any mention of it later. I guess he approved."

Arch was a soldier's soldier.

Aughnanure wrote:The car stopped and a smiling Arch (we always called him that out of his hearing) offered us a lift. He never mentioned our dress.
I suspect that he knew all about our changing arrangements (he seemed to know everything else) and there was never any mention of it later. I guess he approved."

Arch was a soldier's soldier.

Eoin,

I should imagine he did approve - look at it this way

Sticking to the conventional uniform showed obedience, but the change into Slouch hat etc. that showed PRIDE. Pride in the Army, in its history and traditions*

I like the sound of 'Arch'

Tom

* And isn't one of the oldest Australian Army traditions a degree of grass roots 'flexibility' over minor regulations?

There are probably more things in common from one army to another than we know. Bet your Major had been close to war some time before. My observation from the brief time I spent in the US Army was that the greener and safer the officer the more likely he was to be a stickler for whatever chickenshit order that came down the chain of command.