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In October 1966, young boys, all
within a twelve month age difference (151
to 161), were recruited into the Royal
Australian Navy. Starting in Brisbane, contingents of these boys
were sent on overnight train journeys down the east coast of Australia,
stopping at Sydney and Melbourne before heading across the Nullabor to
Perth via Adelaide. In each capital city, the numbers swelled as
each State contributed their quota to the total.
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On arrival at HMAS Leeuwin on the 12th October 1966 the 17th Intake numbered just over 100 boys and they
were divided into one of three divisions. These divisions, in
alphabetical order, of Marks, Morrow and Rhoades were to become the focal points of
their lives for the next twelve months. |
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They were immediately issued with
naval clothing (kit) which was shoved into a kitbag and carried by them,
up the hill to their huts (dongas). Some of them must have
wondered what they had let themselves in for as they trudged up the hill,
watching another section of junior recruits being punished by doubling
(double march time) down the hill carrying their bedding (including
mattress). |
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As in most military organisations, the new recruits
were the lowest of the low. In this case they were called "new
grubs". Over the next twelve months, at three monthly periods,
they would progress through the hierarchy to the lofty positions of
"grubs", "shit" and "top shit" . |
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The breaking of any rules, official or unofficial,
brought swift punishment. Of the two the official punishment could
sometimes be the most lenient. Bastardisation, standover tactics,
bashings, theft and harassment were daily occurrences and size did NOT
matter in the majority of cases. The Rapke Report of 1976(?)
gives an incomplete idea of what occurred during the operation of the
Junior Recruit Training Establishment at HMAS Leeuwin. |
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At the end of this twelve months, the majority who
survived the rigours of this training and the harsher regime of the other
junior recruits, were sent on leave prior to joining HMAS Sydney (the Vung
Tau Ferry) for sea training in October 1967. In December 1967 HMAS
Sydney sailed from Sydney for Vietnam, embarking the 3rd Battalion, Royal
Australian Regiment in Adelaide. At the time the youngest of
the boys was approximately 16 years and 9 months of age and the eldest 17 years and 9 months. |
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