|
Graham Hampton
On 20 Km Route
March at Kapooka
in September 1974
aged 17 |
Mr Thomas Graham Hampton (aka Hampo)
is the Founding and Inaugural Webmaster of the Australian Artillery
Association and was born in Newcastle NSW
where I lived to age 17 ½. I joined the
Army on 25 June 1974 and was immediately sent to Kapooka for recruit
training. Allocated to the Royal Australian Artillery I
completed the 53/74 Gun Drill course at the School of Artillery North Head
Sydney and was subsequently posted to 8/12 Mdm Regt on 10 Sep 74.
Within 8/12 Mdm Regt I was posted to 103 Mdm Bty where I completed both
my GNR Grade 1 and GNR Grade 2 courses (on the 5.5inch guns). On 5 November 1975
as a fully qualified Gun No and Detachment Commander I was posted to 4
Field Regiment into 106 Fd (Trials) Bty. It was within 106
Fd (Trials) Bty that we trialled both the new medium artillery
pieces and their gun tractors. While in 106 Fd (Trials) Bty
I became qualified as a Clerk Admin a trade that would see me complete
my 20 years in the Australian Army and promoted to the dizzy heights of
LBDR on
8 November 1976. I was also temporarily detached to
"C" Company 1 RAR from Jul to Sep 1978 for a 3 month tour of
Butterworth, what an eye opener to a young single guy. Upon
returning from Butterworth I was subsequently internally posted within 4
Fd Regt to HQ Bty where I was employed within the RHQ.
On the 19 June 1979 I was posted on promotion to BDR to the old Central
Army Records Office (CARO) now known as Soldier Career Management Agency
(SCMA) where I was employed in the Establishment section.
This my first non corps posting was exciting in particular to be able to
mix with every other corps within the Army and to see the Army from a higher administrative level. While there I formed many
friendships some of which are still
maintained to this day. The worst part about this
posting was putting up with the Melbourne
whether it truly is 4 seasons a day at times.
While at CARO I became fully qualified for SGT, got married to my
first and current wife and was posted as the Chief Clerk to 133 Div
Loc Bty on promotion to SGT on 4 January 1982. Some of
the best times of my life were spent at 133 Div Loc Bty and embedded
in my mind the Reserves, or at least those posted to 133 Div Loc
Bty, were indeed every bit as capable and on many occasions more
capable and dedicated than other Regular soldiers I had known.
My
work at 133 Div Loc Bty now done I was posted to the School of Artillery 7
December 1983 as the SGT Clerk (Movements Clerk). Way
back then the School was an historic, motivated and emotional place
with plenty of characters about to keep you entertained and I can
recall many stories from my time there. While at the
School of Artillery I became qualified for promotion to WO2.
On 25 September 1985 I was posted back to 8/12 Mdm Regt this time
as the Chief Clerk of the Regiment. Again there were
many characters there, among them Fred Gibbett, Flood Floyd, Andy
Devine, Jim Sprice, John Butt, Mick Shevack among many.
Time now to move on.
On 18 February 1987 I was posted to the Department of Defence
(Army Office) (Office of the Chief of General Staff - Directorate of
Organisation). This is where both military
positions and significant equipments were authorised to be added or
withdrawn from unit establishments. While posted to this
most fascinating place I went on Exercise Long Look 88 and was a non
reciprocal participant located within the Ministry of Defence United
Kingdom (MODUK) in a section called ASD3 which was the equivalent of
my own current posted position back in Australia. An
absolutely fascinating exercise I shall never forget for many many
reasons.
Immediately upon my return I was posted to the Department of Defence
(Local Administration) (Army Office) on 4 January 1989 on promotion
to WO1 as the Chief Clerk (more affectionately known as the Chief
Clerk Army Office). Never before had a posting opened my
eyes so wide and provide me with the opportunity for lateral
thinking to the extreme. Working with every corps within
the Army has significant benefits to the way one views their service
and the complexities involved. Without doubt next to
serving in 4 Fd Regt, 106 Fd (Trials) Battery this was the most
memorable of all my units I had served in.
Its now January 1992, and with a wife also in the service being
posted to Townsville on promotion to Warrant Officer Class Two, it
was now my turn to take the back seat in the posting priorities.
Following my wife I was posted to the old District Support Unit,
North Queensland (DSGNQ) where I was utilised at Army Community
Services Townsville for almost 12 months. Following that
I was posted to as the Administrative Officer of 162 Reconnaissance
Squadron where I served until my retirement on 31 October 1994.
The absolute best part about this final posting was that we became
members of 2/4 RAR SGT Mess, without doubt the best of the best when
it comes to Sergeant's Messes in the Army.
What do I miss the most?... Having morning
tea in the Sergeant's Mess without a doubt. |
