Digital storytelling

My first visit to Kelvin Grove Barracks was in 1951 when I had to attend a medical examination in a building on the right hand side of the main gate. I arrived there after walking from Edward Street in the city. On the way, I ate a pastie. Perhaps due to nerves—or was it the quality of the food—I was ill on the way to the medical. It certainly put me off pasties for some time. Nevertheless, I passed the examination and was on the way to becoming a National Serviceman. On the 6th of August 1951, we attended the barracks to be bussed to the Wacol army camp to begin our 98 days continuous training. Our platoon—23 Platoon, that is, D Company—was drilled so well we won the Battalion Cock-o’-the-Walk competition. Training finished and we were stationed at Kelvin Grove. We attended Tuesday nights, weekend bivouacs and a two-week annual camp. I used to ride my Harley Davidson to the barracks. Others often came by tram or car. In the early days the sergeant’s mess was a wild place as there were some older, but not necessarily wiser, sergeants who had been in the regiment for some time. Our regiment used the searchlights not just for army purposes, such as training with the RAAF on night exercises, but also for theatre premieres in Queen Street. Military tattoos were sometimes held at the RNA grounds. I remember on one occasion when we towed 25-pounder guns with jeeps and performed gymkhana-type moves. My time at Kelvin Grove Barracks ended when the entire regiment moved to a new depot at Annerley. I remember my time there with fondness, not just for my first time with an anti-aircraft regiment, but also because in the officers’ mess it was the first time I met my future wife.