1968 Begins - Forrest and Duntroon
At the beginning of the New Year, 1968, the personnel making up the ranks of Survey Section, 131 Div Loc Bty had undergone change ascribed by conscription discharge requirements. The Section was due for another change in personnel but at this particular point it was known to include: Lt I Yerbury, L/Bdr B Irvine, Gnr W Brooker, Gnr R Evans, Gnr T Bruce, Gnr R Webb, Gnr P Fuhrmann, Gnr G Holden, Gnr K Woodbine, Gnr J Greenaway, L/Bdr J Menz, L/Bdr Marty Van Driel.
Gnr Brooker's hootchie, FSB Alanbrooke. Photo courtesy W Brooker.
Ham and Lima at FSB Alanbrooke. Photo courtesy W Brooker.
Surveyors LP, 31G at Alanbrooke. Photo courtesy W Brooker.
106 Fd Bty Fire Mission, FSB Alanbrooke. Photo courtesy W Brooker.
DESCRIPTION
On the 2nd Jan 106 Fd Bty deployed to FSB Alanbrooke YS 4577 in direct support for 7 RAR.
131 SURVEY
This would not present any difficulties as it was the old FSB site for operation Ainslie. Presumably it would be a traverse from the BP near the ARVN compound at Ngai Giao.
SECONDARY ROLES
Surveyors manned LP position in conjunction with perimeter defence of FSB Alanbrooke.
21. On 2 Jan 68 a FSB was established by 106 Bty at YS4577 for the final phase of Forrest. Providing theatre grid for the Bty involved no problems as the area had been used as a FSB for Op Ainslie in Sept ’67.
Once the survey had been completed the svyrs manned an LP in the FSB to provide information for the radar which was also deployed.
131 Bty Reports Survey Section Jan ‘68
We set up an LP on the ARVN perimeter using a disused tower with a fixed MG on it. The gun had a hornet's nest in the barrel and would have blown us out of the tower had anyone pulled the trigger. We 're-'built' the tower to add some 'protection' for the LP. I think it consisted of a few boards nailed over the gun placement to add height and a hootchie over the top in case it rained.
Gnr Furhmann Jan 1968
On one of my night duties in the tower, I was trying to record and report flashes/explosions to 131 Base in Nui Dat I was also trying to relay similar messages in pitch darkness from the other survey LP across the road. At the time they were out of direct radio contact with Nui Dat. There were stuff-ups and lots of 'say again's' in the process as I couldn't remember the “relay message” as well as my own bearing and distance messages. In the dark, in the tower, I couldn't write them down. Thankfully Ted Doust at the radar site took over the relay role for the other survey LP.
Gnr Furhmann Jan 1968
Jimmy Menz, Terry Bruce, Peter Furhmann at Nui Dat. Photo courtesy P Furhmann.