The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Pushing artillery pieces can be an uphill job, but gunners of 108 Field Battery, Royal Australian Artillery, in Singapore have learnt to take it all in their stride. Since the Battery arrived in Singapore three months ago it has been preparing itself physically for the combined five-nation Exercise "Bersatu Padu", to be staged in a few months time. The Battery will have several exercises before the main phase of Exercise "Bersatu Padu" begins in the middle of the year. To help maintain their physical fitness the unit has conducted physical training sessions, one of which was a gun gymkhana involving the manhandling of six 105mm howitzers up a slope at their base at Selarang Barracks. The event, which was in the form of a race, was held in very humid conditions, in which the 11-man teams sweated their way up a 200-yard sodden, grassy hill towing and pushing the guns. The gunners were allowed to use any means to achieve the task with ropes, pulleys and stakes. Some crews preferred to dismantle the guns and carry them to the finishing line. The guns had to be in working order at the end of the event in order to win. "Foxtrot" guncrew led by Sergeant Tom Webster of Korumburra, Vic, won the event in 13 minutes. Also identified: Sgt Max Coaster-Garton of Darlinghurst, NSW; Gnr Reis Chattillon of Cuballing, WA; L/Bdr Peter Jenkins of 8 Mile Plain, Qld; Gnr Des Stafford of Murwillumbah, NSW; Gnr Eric Norris of Mount Isa, Qld; Gnr Doug Thumpkins of Parkes, NSW; Gnr Charles Powlak of Parramatta, NSW; Gnr Jim Callaghan of Ashfield, WA; 2Lt Wayne Kendall of Toowoomba, Qld; Major Neville Gair of Manly, NSW.
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