SSRC Anzac Day Ride Report

This is a day not of celebration but of national memory. It's a day when we learn, and learn again, of the horror of purposeless war. It is a day for looking after your mates, cherishing your home, your neighbourhood and family ... It's a day

for realising how rare this wonderful country of ours is and how precious it is.

- Bob Carr

Premier of NSW

Glossary and photos at end of report, read it first for a list of abbreviation explanations.

Roll Call

Sergeant Major Dobson, R

Corporal Swinfield, S

Private Blake, X

Captain Crick, P

Private Pinos, M

Private Bland, M

Lieutenant-Colonel Arnold, D (Rte)

Major Ellison, S

Private McCann, S

Private Wilson, R

Sergeant Spencer, R (MIA)

Special Forces

Colonel Ware-Lane, C

Private East, A

Lance Corporal Crick, M

Lieutenant Gillian, X

AWOL

Private McGregor, P

Area Of Operation: McClaren Vale, Willunga

Primary Military Objective: Acquisition of OWH

Secondary Military Objective: Acquisition of CRTS

Tertiary Military Objective: Acquisition of PH

07:45 SACs and SECs arrive, 3 Officers, 8 enlisted men, Pte McGregor listed as AWOL, reports suggest he was in the infirmary.

08:00 Capt Crick briefed the squad, Col Ware-Lane and Pte East sent to OWH for recon and surveillance, Lte Gillian sent to execute covert surveillance in AOO. L. Cpl Crick reported as training cadets and would report for duty at 09:30. Maj Ellison taking up rear guard.

08:05 Squad left PN, lead by Sgt Maj Dobson on a bearing of 183 degrees heading for M, approx 5 clicks away.

08:20 Sgt Spencer engages with insurgent viral infection and is MIA near M.

08:25 Squad proceeds along BT towards MV.

08:50 Sgt Maj Dobson reports previous canine insurgents along north section of California Road, squad proceeds with caution.

08:55 Squad passes California Road (North) without incident.

09:00 Capt Crick and Sgt Maj Dobson lead the squad into battle with CRTS.

09:05 CRTS defeated with no men KIA. Sighting of two white canine insurgents reported at junction of California and Malpas Roads, insurgents beyond effective range, restricted by perimeter fence of FCW .

09:10 Squad proceeds in Easterly direction along Malpas Road towards Primary Objective.

09:15 Squad reaches locality of W and performs BEO.

09:20 Pte Blake reports insufficient tactical training for OWH. Maj Ellison and Pte Blake ordered to conduct recon operations along BT between W and MV. RV point set to water refill point approx 5 clicks north of W. Remaining 8 men engage OWH in main battle.

09:25 Several of the enlisted men report never having engaged this particular enemy before.

09:45 OWH acquired. All men accounted for. Lieut-Col Arnold reported a SMM with his TMU, Capt Crick and Sgt Maj Dobson sent to escort him up the last 800m of OWH. Col Lane-Ware engages specialist skills and fixes SMM. L. Cpl Crick training cadets at summit of OWH. Recommend promotion for enlisted men at next performance evaluation - good effort.

10:00 Squad proceeds along Range Road to RV with Maj Ellison and Pte Blake.

10:15 Sgt Maj Dobson receives commuication from Lieut Gillian about DFM on descent of Penny's Hill . Squad pass DFM without incident. Col Ware-Lane, Pte East, L. Cpl Crick and cadets all sighted on descent of Penny's Hill performing covert surveillance.

10:25 Squad RVs with Maj Ellison and Pte Blake and proceeds along BT to MV.

10:45 Tertiary Objective sighted on BT west of MV. Squad commences battle with PH.

10:50 PH acquired without loss. Squad proceeds towards PN along BT and esplanade north of M. Cpl Swinton leaves squad for M on previously approved leave.

11:00 PN sighted and replenishment of rations commenced at BBH.

Glossary

AOO - Area Of Operation

BBH - Becks Bake House

BEO - Bladder Emptying Operations

BT - Bike Trail

CRTS - California Road Tatachilla School

DFS - Dangerous Foreign Material (gravel)

FCW - Fox Creek Wines

KIA - Killed In Action

M - Moana

MIA - Missing In Action