from 29 March 1957 to 23 August 1961
Before PNG posting
Educated at the Brisbane Grammar School and Central Technical College (now Queensland University of Technology) and graduating to Mechanical Engineering (Heat Engines and Steam) Dick was employed in the Queensland Government Railways from 1945 to 1952. When the War in Korea broke out many young men who were too young to join up during the World War II joined the Citizens Military Forces to answer the call and concern of the government not to repeat the unpreparedness of 1939. On 31 March 1950 Dick enlisted in the 2/14 Queensland Mounted Infantry. After recruit training, he was posted to A Squadron as a wireless operator/driver. In April 1951 he attended 14/51 Tank Wireless Course at Puckapunyal Victoria and on return to the unit he was promoted corporal and became the Instructor Tank Wireless for the Regiment, such was the accelerated development in the early days of the CMF. Not long after, he was promoted sergeant and selected for officer training. He graduated in August 1952 and was promoted lieutenant.
Almost simultaneously HQ Northern Command advertised the January 1953 OCS Course and invited newly promoted CMF officers to apply. At the selection board he was found to be too old by three months but was offered a commission in the Regular Army Special Reserve. He accepted and was posted to 11 NS Training Battalion on 23 December 1952. He served in that battalion from then to 31 March 1957 commanding nine platoons, being 2 i/c of a company during 1956 and for the first intake of 1957 commanded B Company still as a Lieutenant. During this period, he attended an Officers’ Qualifying Course at the School of Tactics and Administration Seymour Victoria and was granted a long service regular commission on 2 July 1955 and was transferred to the Royal Australian Infantry. One of his directing staff was a Major Gerald Owen O’Day of whom we will hear more later. While being interviewed by the Director of Infantry, Colonel Bunny Austin, a posting to PIR was offered and taken with enthusiasm. After four years of hard work with Nashos, it was time to go. His Commanding Officer had been Lieutenant Colonel Spike MacQueen.
Posted to TPNG, 1957
The QANTAS night plane to Port Moresby arrived in the early morning of 29 March 1957. His first impression was a blast of hot air through the aircraft door. It was like a bucket of hot water being thrown. Already drenched in sweat he was met by the Duty Officer, Staff Sergeant George Beard who left him at the Officers’ Mess at Taurama Barracks the headquarters of the Pacific Islands Regiment. Obvious evidence of a recently vacated ‘Dining In’ night was noted. He was told later that the celebrations were the departure of the Second in Command Major Laurie Male. Confronted by an affable Private Biri he was shown to an empty room in the officers’ quarters and left to his own devices. A shower and change to tropical kit seemed a good idea and during the shower he heard groans of a human being apparently about to depart this life. Peeping in the shower cubicle he saw a person squatting cross legged with cold water gushing over him. The near corpse gave him a bloodshot eye and another groan. Wanting to report to an authority, he was directed by Private Biri to go down the main road to a four roomed building next to the old, grassed parade ground. There he found a door marked ‘Adjutant’. A knock resulted in a gruff muffled voice that said, “Keep the noise down will ya”. He entered, swung a smart training battalion salute and said “Flint reporting sir.“ There was a long pause, then came “Wait outside, the CO will see you soon.” After a long wait which probably was only minutes, a staff car pulled up and an impeccably dressed lieutenant Colonel with two rows of ribbons got out, ignoring an offered salute, he disappeared into the end office.
Another wait and the Adjutant emerged and disappeared inside also. Captain Donald McNab Blomfield Brown MBE was not very well. On emerging he said, “Go in now.” Without really looking up Colonel Bert Wansley said, “Spike MacQueen has written me a letter about you. You are to be the Adjutant. I am off to be the Area Commander. Last night the Administrator, Brigadier Sir Donald Cleland sacked the previous Commander, and he will be on the plane you came up on. Brown is to take over HQ Company and the OC A Company in Manus, Major Gerry O’Day, will Administer Command until the MS can find another Lt Col. Oh yes, OC D Coy Major John Mackie is leaving Vanimo as soon as he can to assume the 2i/c job. You will have to cope without both for a week. Get next door and get to work.” Brown was already standing at the door with keys in his hand. “Here is the safe key Flint or whatever your name is, we will check the petty cash some other time, (paused) RSM come in please.” With that he disappeared and so did the Colonel. Warrant Officer First Class Peter English, a former RSM of 11 NS Trg Bn appeared with Sergeant Gordon Munt and a ramrod straight PIR Sergeant, Stevenson Watuna Raragandi from Samarai, a veteran from the original Papuan Infantry Battalion with war service at Gona, Buna, Salamaua and Finschhafen. “This is your staff sir, good to see you again”. The RSM and Munt left, and Stevenson motioned that they both should sit down. A close friendship and professional mutual trust began from that moment and lasted for four years. Steve said, “Sir, I will teach you Melanesian without which you cannot survive. I will tell you what PIR is all about and I will help you through the inevitable difficulties which are bound to come up.” With another impeccable salute he left. The brand-new lieutenant Adjutant, without a CO and 2i/c and with company commanders flying about everywhere, suddenly got nervous. “What the hell have I got into?” he whispered.