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The Soldier's Handbook 1965  A Digger History Associate site
Soldier's Handbook 1965

Notified in AROs for 31st May 1965. Restricted.

Home Army Today Conditions Barracks Dress Drill Basic Equip Shooting Map Reading Fieldcraft 1 In the Field Health Hygiene First Aid Comms.

Australian Army Soldier's Handbook 1965

Issued by Command of the Military Board.

Foreword. "The Soldier's Handbook" has been written primarily for the newly joined recruit but it will, I am sure, prove an equally useful reference for all ranks in every component of the Army - ARA, CMF and Cadets.

You will readily appreciate that it would be impossible, in one book, to cover every aspect of the Army, so this Handbook has been limited to the more important and basic facts you should know.

If you wish to study a subject in more detail you should refer to the appropriate textbook or training pamphlet, and cross-references to these manuals have been included.
We are fortunate, in the Australian Army, to have a good standard of literacy and intelligence which allows our soldiers not only to absorb knowledge quickly but also to improve this knowledge by study. I therefore commend this Handbook to those who wish, by their own efforts and at their own pace, to further their basic knowledge and to advance in their military careers.

J B Wilton; Lieutenant-General, Chief of the General Staff.

CONTENTS
Foreword See above by J B Wilton Lt-General CGS
Chapter I  History of the Australian Army
Chapter 2 The Army Today
Chapter 3  Conditions of Service
Chapter 4 Living in Barracks and Security
Chapter 5 Dress
Chapter 6 Drill
Chapter 7 Notes on Basic Equipment and Safety
Chapter 8  Shooting
Chapter 9 Map Reading
Chapter 10 Fieldcraft
Chapter 11 Living in the Field
Chapter 12 Health and Hygiene
Chapter 13 First Aid
Chapter 14 Communications
ANNEXES
Annex A  The Geneva Conventions
Annex B Code of Conduct if taken Prisoner of War

CHAPTER ONE; HISTORY OF THE AUSTRALIAN ARMY
Early History

1. The Australian Army has its roots in the early days of the settlement of the country. The first settlements were military expeditions from the United Kingdom to establish penal colonies, and naval and military outposts, at certain points on the Australian coast. The first soldiers in Australia were 10 officers and 168 men of the Royal Marines, who landed from the First Fleet in 1788 - so it may be said that the roots of our Army go back to the foundation of Australia.

2. With the beginnings of self-government, many British officers and men secured their discharges and transferred to the small defence forces raised by the growing colonies for local defence. Thus, the first regular military units raised in Australia began with a strong nucleus of officers and men from the British Army. The link with the British Army thus established has been maintained and strengthened over the years. British units were withdrawn from Australia to serve in the Crimea (1850) and Maori Wars (1860-1870) and were not replaced. From about this time each State became responsible for its own defence.

State Forces

3. The first actual military force of Australian origin was enrolled in Sydney in 1854 and consisted of one battery of artillery, one troop of cavalry and six companies of rifles -all the men being volunteers. In the same year, Victoria passed an Act for a volunteer force of 2,000 men, and by 1861 the remaining four States had also authorised the raising of volunteer forces.

4. Before Federation in 1901, each of the Australian States maintained small regular forces, supplemented by part time volunteers. Each State had its own Minister for Defence, and, partly owing to inadequate means of communication, there was little effort to co-ordinate the defence of the country as a whole.

First Overseas Expedition

5. When news of the fall of Khartoum, and the death of General Gordon in the Sudan War of 1882-85, reached Sydney there began a public agitation to send a force from the Colony of New South Wales to assist the British forces of the Motherland. The expedition sailed from Sydney in two transports on 3rd March, 1885, and was the first contingent contributed by a British overseas self-governing community to an Imperial Army. One of these units, "A" Battery RAA, is still in existence and the other, a volunteer infantry battalion, provided a nucleus for some early Sydney volunteer units. "Sudan 1882-85" thus became the earliest battle honour borne on the regimental colours of an Australian unit.

South African War

6. In the South African War (Boer War) of 1899-1902 the Australian States contributed contingents to serve with the Imperial Army. On their return these units were incorporated in the State forces and the battle honours they won in South Africa are carried on the colours of many of our infantry and armoured regiments today.

Federation

7. To understand the development and the spirit of the Australian Navy, Army and Air Forces, it is important to grasp the trend of political thinking in Australia in the early days of Federation. The individual colonies had obtained self-government, not because of any deep feeling of nationalism, but because it was realised that they were too far away from London to be effectively governed by the British Parliament. Federation, however, created a real sense of nationhood throughout all levels of the community, a feeling which expressed itself in a resolve to build a new British nation in the Pacific.

8. One of the practical methods in which this sense of nationhood expressed itself was in the determination to create a navy and an army which would be distinctly Australian in character, personnel and outlook. It was in this spirit that the Commonwealth Parliament approached the task of reorganizing and building up the defence forces of the country. On 1st March 1901, control of all the State forces was taken over by the new Commonwealth Department of Defence, which was one of the seven original Commonwealth Departments of State.

Introduction of Universal Training

9. Prior to 1909, service in the Citizen Forces was on a voluntary basis. In 1909, in order to create an Army of the size considered necessary for the defence of Australia, and to provide a i rat tied reserve of manpower. the Government brought down an amendment to the Defence Act providing for universal compulsory military training for all male inhabitants between prescribed ages, first in' the Cadets and then in the Citizen Military Forces.

10. Despite many initial difficulties the scheme was brought into operation by 1912 and Citizen Forces provided most of the officers and non-commissioned officers for the first Australian Imperial Force formed on the outbreak of World War I in 1914.

World War I

11. When World War I broke out, the Commonwealth Government pledged Australia's support of the Mother Country in the words of the Prime Minister "To the last man and the last shilling".

12. Since the Citizen Forces were not liable for service outside Australia, it was decided to raise a distinctly separate force of' volunteers for overseas service. This decision raised very important problems. The force for overseas was named the "Australian Imperial Force" and was to comprise an infantry division and a light horse brigade. However, the number of volunteers was so great that more divisions were soon formed.

13. The Australian Imperial Force (AIF) opened its account in World War I at the Gallipoli Landing on 25th April, 1915. The news of this action had a tremendous effect on patriotic fervour throughout Australia. So many volunteers offered their service that more divisions were formed. 

  • Altogether Australia raised and maintained throughout the war:
    • a. Five infantry divisions.
    • b. One cavalry division and a cavalry brigade.
    • c. A Flying Corps of several squadrons. 
    • d. Numerous small units.

14. After the withdrawal of the Australian contingent from Gallipoli, Australian infantry divisions were sent to France, whilst the cavalry remained in the Middle East to participate in the campaigns in Palestine and Syria.

15. The AIF which went to France was not a self-contained army. Each division was complete within itself, but there was no higher headquarters and no base or administrative supporting troops. "The Australian Government, the Australian people and the troops themselves, all
desired most strongly that the divisions should be brought together to operate as an Australian
Army it was not until the middle of 1918, towards the end of the war, that the Divisions were concentrated in the Australian Corps, which under command of General Sir John Monash, won several brilliant victories.

16. Altogether 330,000 men served overseas in the First AIF of whom approximately 60,000 were killed in action or died of wounds.

Between the Great Wars

17. At t lie conclusion of the war, the AIF was disbanded. The Citizen Forces were re-organized on a divisional basis to correspond with the organization and unit designations of the AIF. Thus the Citizen Force units, which continued compulsory training, inherited the traditions, the battle honours and the regimental numbers and badges of their parent AIF units.

18. After World War 1, it really did seem that the world had entered an era of universal peace. Consequently, the Citizen Forces were allowed to run down, with compulsory service confined to a limited age group and a drastically reduced period of training.

19. In 1929. the Government, in financial difficulties as a result of the world depression, suspended the operation of the compulsory clauses of the Defence Act and directed that the Citizen Forces, or Militia as they were to be called, be raised on a purely voluntary basis. In 1938, as the threat of a second world war grew, the Government took steps to strengthen the Army and the target strength of the Citizen Military Forces was progressively increased to 78,000.

World War II

20. 'The outbreak of World War II in 1939 found Australia in a difficult position. Because of the uncertainty about what Japan was likely to do, it was necessary to raise and maintain adequate forces for home defence. At the same time, it was unthinkable that Australia should not make some contribution to ease Britain's burdens overseas. Accordingly, it was decided to:

a. Re-impose compulsory service to raise and train a Militia Force for home defence. b. Raise a Second AIF by voluntary enlistment for service abroad. One of the important factors influencing this decision was the fact that the Militia (Citizen Forces) could not be sent overseas.

21. 

  • The Second AIF comprised:
    • a. I Australian Corps (6, 7 and 9 Divisions) which served in the Middle East until all, but 9 Division, returned to the Pacific theatre shortly after Japan entered the war. 9 Division remained in the Middle East to participate in the victory of El Alamein, after which. in 1943, it moved to New Guinea and Borneo.
    • b. 8 Division, which served in Malaya.

22. When the AIF returned to Australia in 1942, action was taken to merge the AIF and Militia components which were then sharing the task of halting the Japanese thrust southwards. Together they successfully defeated the Japanese at Milne Bay in 1942 and on the Kokoda Trail in 1943. Subsequently they fought side by side throughout the South West Pacific Campaign in which the Australian Army participated until Japan surrendered on 15th August, 1945.

23. The important part played by the Army in preserving the existence and integrity of Australia in the Second World War is illustrated by the information that of 727,000 men and women enlisted in the Army, 21,000 were killed in action, died of wounds, or died while prisoners of war.

After the Second World War

24. After the Second World War, it was decided, after examination of Australia's defence requirements, that time would no longer permit the raising and training of a separate AIF after a war broke out. This factor, together with Australia's participation in collective security arrangements, produced a requirement for a readily available trained force which did not need re-organization to meet a national emergency.

25. During the evolution of this new concept, the CMF was reformed in 1948 on a voluntary basis as part of the post-war Army. In 1951, to supplement the voluntary CMF, National Service Training, requiring all 18 year old youths to serve for 90 days full time duty followed by three years with CMF units, was introduced

Korean War

26. Soon after the North Korean army invaded South Korea on 25th June, 1950, an Australian component was formed to become a unit of the United Nations Forces for service in Korea. During its seven years in Korea, the Australian force fully maintained the highest traditions of the Australian Army for skill and bravery. The component took part in many major engagements with the enemy. During the Campaign three battalions of The Royal Australian Regiment (1st, 2nd, 3rd) were engaged at different periods; the Third Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment winning the United States of America Presidential Citation for its gallant defence at Kapyong on 25th April (Anzac Day), 1951.

Malaysia

27. Australia's contribution to the British Commonwealth Far East Strategic Reserve in Malaysia comprises approximately 1,400 officers and men of the Australian Regular Army; it includes a headquarters of the Australian Army component and ancillary units.

28. The 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, landed in Malaysia in October. 1955, and soon afterwards was playing an active part in the anti-terrorist campaign. Artillery, engineer and infantry units or sub-units served until the end of the emergency in 1960 and have remained until the present as part of the Far East Strategic Reserve. In 1964, the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment conducted a most successful action against an Indonesian party that landed on the Malaysian coast South of Malacca.

Reorganization 1957-64

29. In July 1957, the National Service training scheme was reduced and, at the end of 1959, was completely suspended as a result of the full recognition that the new concept requiring highly mobile, well-equipped and readily available forces, could basically only be met by a regular field force. The maintenance of National Service training with its heavy demands on Regular Army manpower and funds and which only partially trained young men who were not available for overseas service, was incompatible with the need to build up the Regular field force.

30. The reorganization that followed ensured that, in the event of war, the Australian Army would be ready to provide two components. Firstly, a small Regular Force, which would be available, with the forces of Australia's major Allies, in the initial task of checking an enemy's advance, and a Regular Army structure sufficient to serve as the basis for full scale mobilization. Secondly, an entirely voluntary Citizen Military Force Army, which would be capable of supplementing the Regular field force by providing the essential follow-up force necessary in any emergency and to provide for Home Defence.

The Defence Review 1964

31. In 1964, faced with a deteriorating strategic situation and growing defence commitments in South East Asia, the Australian Government decided that the voluntary system of enlistment had failed to build up the Regular field force sufficiently to meet the country's defence needs and so introduced Selective National Service. A two year period of full time service in the Regular Army, during which they would be required to serve overseas if necessary, followed by a further three years on the reserve, was adopted for a restricted number of 20 year old men.

32. The task of ensuring that war should be kept as far from Australia's shores as possible, whether in a Cold War situation or in meeting the initial commitments in a Limited War, can only be met by Regular forces, supplemented by trained emergency reserves. The role of the Citizen Military Forces in backing up this initial commitment in a Limited War has remained unchanged, but it can now be performed more effectively as new legislation makes the Citizen Forces available for overseas service. Selective Service Reservists will permit both Regular Army and Citizen Military Force units to be brought quickly up to strength in an emergency.

33. You can therefore see that the recent defence review and the introduction of Selective National Service, which is an important part of it, will give Australia an Army which is adequate to meet Cold War tasks and which is capable of rapid expansion in the event of Limited War. Although different peace-time conditions of service make it administratively convenient to refer to separate components of the Army by different titles such as Regular Army, Citizen Forces, etc, you must remember that in time of war these distinctions will disappear. Together these components form the one Australian Army, which collectively has inherited the historical tradition that you have read about in this chapter.

Summary

34. Of necessity a history of this nature must be brief and can only (teal superficially with many matters which most of you will wish to study further. Serious students will find the Official War Histories of great value. 

  • For the rest of you, who will want something more readable, most of the following books can be obtained from your unit library:
    • a. "Anzac to Amiens" by C. E. W. Bean (Australian War Memorial - Canberra).
    • b. "Gallipoli" by Alan Moorehead (Hamish Hamilton-London).
    • c. "Suez to Aleppo" by Col E. G. Keogh, MBE,ED (Wilke & Co Ltd, Melbourne).
    • d. "Mediterranean Front" by Alan Moorehead (George Jaboor - Melbourne; Hamish Hamilton-London).
    • e. "Tobruk" by Chester Wilmot (Angus & Robertson Ltd, Sydney).
    • f. "Malaya 1941/42" by Col E. G. Keogh, MBE, ED (Printmaster Pty Ltd-Melbourne).
    • g. "The South West Pacific Campaign 1942-45" by Col E. G. Keogh, MBE, ED (Gray Flower Productions, Melbourne).
    • h. "First Commonwealth Division" by Brig C. N. Barclay, CBE, DSO (Gale and Polden Ltd-Aldershot).
    • i. "With the Australians in Korea" by Norman Bartlett (Australian War Memorial Canberra).

35. This then is but an outline of the history of the Australian Army to which you belong. It stretches back to the First Fleet of 1788; it embraces two major wars and a number of lesser campaigns; it is made up of many famous Army unit exploits as well as individual deeds of great courage and bravery by Australian men and women. It is a history of which you, as an Australian, can justly be proud. As a member of the Australian Army, it is your duty and your privilege to uphold its best traditions and to contribute to it in a manner of which every Australian can justly be proud.

ANNEXES

Annexe A. The Geneva Conventions
Application  

1. Australia has agreed to abide by the rules of war known as the Geneva Conventions.

2. These rules are based on the conviction that there are advantages for the sake of humanity in observing certain restraints in warfare.

3. Australian soldiers must observe these rules whether or not the enemy does likewise. A summary of important aspects of the convention follows.

The Wounded, the Sick and Medical Personnel

4. Wounded and sick who become Prisoners of War must be given proper care and treatment without discrimination.

5. Medical personnel and medical establishments are protected. Personnel may only be armed for defence of themselves and the wounded in their care. They may be made Prisoners of War. Medical establishments are not to be misused for other military purposes.

Prisoners of War

6. Prisoners must give their serial number, rank, name and date of birth. No physical or mental torture is to be inflicted to secure further information.

7. Prisoners are to be treated humanely at all times. For instance they must be fed and may not be unnecessarily exposed to danger.

8. Escape is admitted as conforming to military honour and patriotic courage. However, weapons may be used as an extreme measure to prevent escape, and always after appropriate warning.

Civilians

9. The lives and property of civilians who take no part in the fighting must be respected.

Annexe B. Code of Conduct if Taken Prisoner of War
General

1. A SOLDIER who has been captured is not out of the war - he has merely been deprived of his arms.

2. AVOID CAPTURE if possible - use your fieldcraft training to evade the enemy - even if it means lying up for days.

3. DO NOT take personal mail, personal diaries or any other such documents into combat.

If Captured 

4. BE PREPARED for soft, persuasive treatment as well as for rough treatment.

5. 

  • THE PROCEDURE after capture will probably be: 
    • a. SEARCH.
    • b. SEGREGATION BY RANK.
    • c. VERY LIMITED INTERROGATION. 
    • d. MOVEMENT TO PW CAMP.
    • e. PRELIMINARY INTERROGATION:
      • (1) Be very wary of this as priority for subsequent treatment will be given to those who talk or show some weakness, such as loneliness or homesickness.
      • (2) GIVE THE INTERROGATOR ONLY YOUR:
        • (a) NUMBER. 
        • (b) RANK. 
        • (c) NAME. 
        • (d) DATE OF BIRTH. 
      • (3) Australian military law, as well as loyalty to your country and your mates, demands that you give no more. To give more purely personal and non-military information may show up some weakness which a skilled interrogator can exploit. 
      • (4) You cannot be expected to decide what information is and is not useful to an experienced interrogator so you must refuse to answer after giving your:
        • (a) NUMBER. 
        • (b) RANK. 
        • (c) NAME. 
        • (d) DATE OF BIRTH. 
  • f. DETAILED INTERROGATION. To wear you down with repetition, threats of punishment and promises of rewards.
  • g. INDOCTRINATION. Linked with interrogation. To play on your personal weaknesses and criticize democracy in order to undermine your loyalty and get you to give information and inform on your fellows.

Your Platform 

  • 6. YOU WILL NOT WEAKEN under interrogation and indoctrination and you will survive if you have: 
    • a. Military discipline. 
    • b. Self discipline. 
    • c. A knowledge and appreciation of the democratic way of life. 
    • d. Faith in: 
      • (1) Your leaders. 
      • (2) Your mates. 
      • (3) Yourself. 
      • (4) Your cause. 
      • (5) Your country. 
      • (6) God. 
    • e. The ability to adjust to hard living. 
    • f. Good personal and group hygiene.

Escape

7. Keep it constantly in mind and your morale will remain high.

8. Remember that even an unsuccessful escape can still tie up large numbers of enemy troops.

PRINTED by THE DOMINION PRESS. BOX HILL. VICTORIA

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