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.SUPPORT FROM OTU MEMBERS FOR PARK STUDY
Ian
The following article was published in The Scheyvillian 1 of 2024. Unfortunately for Micheal there has not been much support from Scheyvillians. Can you please send out the following to all Scheyvillians?
Thank you.
Neil
Scheyvillians
There is still time to support this project (as published in The Scheyvillian 1 of 2024):
Wollemi National Park – Defence Usage – Help Needed
Scheyvillians, another opportunity to record a few more pieces of the giant OTU Scheyville ‘jigsaw’. The association has been contacted by Michael Keats, a bushwalker and historian. Currently Michael is researching the Australian Army (and more broadly the ADF) use of lands that are now part of the Wollemi National Park.
Michael wrote: ‘From information received from a Scheyville graduate I am aware that the OTU Scheyville accessed the Wollemi area from time to time during officer training that would prepare Officer Cadets for combat in Vietnam from 1965 to 1971, and maybe later for other purposes. I am also very much aware of Exercise Sky High held in November 1963 when over 7,000 troops including a battalion from the Royal Ulster Rifles from Ireland were deployed as part of “the Enemy”.
‘The questions below are really to stimulate recollections. What I am trying to achieve is a composite picture of the activities you were involved in and in what areas they took place. Any recollections would be very much appreciated.’
1 How many exercises were held by the OTU in the Proclaimed Training Area and over what period of time?
2 How did the OTU interact with other Army units re supply, assessment etc?
3 Was use made of the Gospers Mountain Airstrip? Were helipads built?
4 What was the purpose of the training? Guerilla warfare, counter insurgency, etc
5 How long was each exercise?
6 Where was each exercise held? Map name, approx. Grid References, boundaries? Significant named features recalled such as Mount Coricudgy, Mount Baker, etc.
7 Where was each training area accessed from? Putty Road, the Army Road? other?
8 Were helicopters involved? What vehicles were deployed?
9 How was provisioning done?
10 What communications were used?
11 How many men were involved in each exercise?
12 How was catering organised?
13 Personal hygiene issues? Trench latrines? Or go in the bush?
14 What equipment / munitions were involved? How were they portered in? Trucks, air drops? Etc.
15 How was assessment undertaken? By whom? How high was the failure rate or did you keep trying until you succeeded?
16 Psychological issues? How were these dealt with?
17 Were any structures built? If so, where? GR’s
18 Were trees cut down for hides, bridges or building culverts etc?
19 Casualty evacuation how organised?
20 Is there a written report of each exercise? maps? photographs?
21 Were local communities involved in supply lines? (Food, fuel. etc)
Readers who have good memories of their time on exercise at OTU should copy these questions onto a Word document and type their answers against each question. Please include your name, ‘phone number and email address when you forward your response to Michael.
Information can be sent by email to, mjmkeats@easy,com.au , by post to PO Box 89 St Ives, NSW 2075 or I can visit anyone within 100km of Sydney. I am happy to meet the cost of copying documents, maps, photos, etc.SUPPORT