All surveyors in 131 Div Loc Bty passed the Basic Surveyors Course conducted at the School of Artillery at North Head. Some were very fortunate to have the opportunity to attend the Advanced Course to attain “trade status” before being deployed to Vietnam. Sadly time restraints precluded many other eligible gunners the same opportunity. They were to fulfil the requirements asked of them in the field but were never reimbursed appropriately.
High praise must be afforded to the unknown personnel responsible for devising the tabulation and calculation forms used by the surveyors in the field. They set out the steps and trigonometrical formulae required, in a smooth flowing operation to determine coordinates or bearing. It wasn’t essential knowing how it was arrived at rather it was arrived at quickly and accurately.
Special mention must be made of the North Head, School of Artillery Survey Tutors, WO2 GA Jebb, WO2 LJ Kidd and WO2 NRK McManus. They took time in an intensive course to explain the rationale behind the survey calculation sheets, they impressed upon us the importance of accurate gun survey, they instilled in us the need for speed in calculations but most of all they treated us with respect.
All aspects of our training became most apparent when the CO of a Bty or Regt was breathing down our necks for coordinates and bearing in the field.
School of Artillery, North Head, Anzac Day 1997.
photos courtesy J McFadden
