How Close to Soldiering? -- Airfield Defence Guard Association

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Subject: How Close to Soldiering?

Author:
Mike Wellington

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Date Posted: 21:15:54 01/09/03 Thu

G'day Fellas,

as a long time soldier of 34 years - six years Brit Army RMP, RAAF SGuard (69-75) and soldier RACMP 75-96) I served a number of postings with RAAF ADGs - and respected their competence. Although I must admit to wondering why these very efficient blokes had not joined the army in the first place.

Foremost amongst my RAAF postings was B'worth '71-'73 where as a 'doggie' I counted as a good mate Jimmy 'Boomer' Soames (door gunner SVn) and footy play with the Butterworth Wallabies. I also counted as friends Sgt Fred Holtman (who demonstrated how one man could lift and move a jukebox in the Railway Bar, Penang (long closed) - and Peter Vidler who I met in '69 but who, I believe, was tragically killed in SVn.

Following my transfer to the Army in '75 I lost touch with ADG mates. But no worries. Good to make your acquaintance again and I hope to make contact with one or two blokes from that long-gone era.

Regards
Mike Wellington

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Replies:

[> Subject: Re: How Close to Soldiering?

Author:
Vic Smith
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Date Posted: 03:29:40 01/16/03 Thu

Mate,
I'm an ex ADGIE '66-72 with 6mths at Ubon and a total of 18 mths in SVN during two tours. Pete Vidler was on 3Cse with me in '66 and I was a Gunner when his chopper crashed in '71 (probably shot down). He was medevaced back to OZ with (From memory) a fractured collarbone. His Captain and Gunner were killed and the co-pilot was injured and also medevaced (from memory). Pete did subsequently die in a chopper crash during flood relief in (I think) '74.>

G'day Fellas,
>
>as a long time soldier of 34 years - six years Brit
>Army RMP, RAAF SGuard (69-75) and soldier RACMP 75-96)
>I served a number of postings with RAAF ADGs - and
>respected their competence. Although I must admit to
>wondering why these very efficient blokes had not
>joined the army in the first place.
>
>Foremost amongst my RAAF postings was B'worth '71-'73
>where as a 'doggie' I counted as a good mate Jimmy
>'Boomer' Soames (door gunner SVn) and footy play with
>the Butterworth Wallabies. I also counted as friends
>Sgt Fred Holtman (who demonstrated how one man could
>lift and move a jukebox in the Railway Bar, Penang
>(long closed) - and Peter Vidler who I met in '69 but
>who, I believe, was tragically killed in SVn.
>
>Following my transfer to the Army in '75 I lost touch
>with ADG mates. But no worries. Good to make your
>acquaintance again and I hope to make contact with one
>or two blokes from that long-gone era.
>
>
>Regards
>Mike Wellington

[> Subject: Re: How Close to Soldiering?
Author: Jim Soanes (Boomer} [ Edit \| View ]	Date Posted: 19:53:24 12/12/04 Sun Hi Mike "Great" to hear that you are still around,hope we can catch up some time. I am now living at Tin Can Bay with an old mate of yours Bones Costello, so if you are up this way give me a call on 07 5486 4249 or Boat ph 0429 428 520 Jim Soanes PS not doing much bike riding these days.