The Regular Force Cadet Association

Cadet Derrick Storey   derrick@dpstorey-assoc.co.nz

Hi Guys,

Happy 50th Russell Class Anniversary.

This time 50 years today I was sitting on a New Zealand Railways Road Services bus on my way to the Tauranga Army Recruitment Office.  On the way the bus called into Whakatane to pick up Peter Sigley, Peter Mason and John Moller.  When we arrived at Tauranga we met up with others and later in the day we traveled by NZR Road Services to Frankton to catch the South bound train to Waiouru to become part of the 1960 Russell Class Intake.

50 years where has it gone.  It was suggested that we do something to celebrate the 50 yrs   I wasd if I would make contact with all of Russell Class.  I am sorry I let you down.  Most of last year I had been in extreme pain in the vicinity of my left hip.  I put up with it as I had made a decision to get all our outstanding work and our current work up to date.  On the 18th September when I saw 5that we had got on top of the workload I went and saw the doctor and he sent me off for an x-ray of my hip and an ultra sound x-ray of my bladder for another problem I had.  The hip x-ray showed nothing but the ultra sound showed that I had a cancerous growth in my bladder.  On the 5th Nov the hospital operated to remove the growth and take a specimen from the wall of the bladder for testing.  This Wednesday the 25th November I had an appointment with one of the surgeons and the result of the specimen is that I have a high-grade aggressive malignant bladder cancer.  I am awaiting another operation, which will go deeper.  I am led to believe that there is a 90% chance of re-growth so I will be monitored on a regular basis

So for the last few months I have not been in a good space, however I am in a better space now.

I believe that the RF Cadet Assn is celebrating RF Cadet Day on the 17th January if anybody has something arranged in this area please let me know. Blessings and have a wonderful 50th Anniversary.

 

Cadet Redshaw         redhen@xtra.co.nz

Howzit all you blokes?

50 years ago it seems like yesterday.

I remember our instructors, many from the Pom Army like the legendary Bill Kerry MM, who became a very good friend very much later here on Waiheke Island.  Also Doug Kitto, Terry Wereta, Ted Willbond (remember the day he marched the lot of us off Army Schools Parade Ground, around to Cadet School HQ and charged the lot of us for one of Ihaka’s memorable antics).   I remember the cooks on our basic, many from the Pom Army and the shit food they could turn out on a regular basis. This changed in later years with mainly ex cadet cooks leading the change. Remember  “The Syndicate”

I retire from running the Waiheke RSA for 13 years on 21 Jan 2010 and me and Henrietta are sloping off to our 6 acres on the beach at Tokomaru Bay to retire in peace; running our own sheep, crayfishing, fishing and with a few chooks terrorising the garden.

I remember all you blokes (and those who have left us) and wish you all the best with

your health and endeavours.  Cheers. 

 

Jim Gruber                jim.gruber@xtra.co.nz 

Hi guys, Jim Gruber reporting in.  I’m still around (and round) . Yep 50 yrs for all except me I still have to wait a further 2 weeks.  Yes  I was the last to arrive and the last to graduate.   One doesn’t know where the time has gone.

2009 saw me get the pension and I am still working selling frozen vegetables, ice cream and fish.   The body is “wearing out”.  In April, I received a new right hip so I am back on the move again.

Derrick keep smiling and let’s all pray for you that you keep improving.  It was so good to hear from you today, be positive, God bless.

To all you other “rat bags” good luck for the next 50 years.  It would be nice to hear from you. It would be nice if Derrick could get the whole Class together in another 50 years to celebrate.  I will leave it up to him.  We may have 100% attendance

Good luck to you all for the future’

 

50th Anniversary – Russell Class 1960

Mike Rika                   mrika@orcon.net.nz 

Happy Anniversary fellow pensioners.

I remember the first night in the barracks.. I was still 15 – my birthday wasn’t until 21st Jan.  I saw one of the other boys in our section smoking – I said  “better watch you don’t get caught”.  I was told  “ Hey you're in the Army now you can smoke if you like, why not try one”?    50 years later  I’m now in need of new lungs and have been wheelchair bound for the last few years.   I remember all the names on the e-mail list and will never forget them.

Do you guys remember our first leave after basic training? I think we got into heaps of trouble. If I remember right the whole of Russell Class got CB and a severe lecture from SM McDonnell !

 

Russell Class 1960 - 50th Anniversary

John Moller                dragonworxpottery@hotmail.com

Dear Derek thank you for the e-mail old friend.  No need to apologise.  Time and gravity is such a mongrel and many of us now have more scars than a Taihape Pig Dog.  We just hope that your medical problem is on the mend.   Happen stance I was looking last night at my photo album with the grandkids and there was a photo of Pee Wee Walker firing a .38 Smith & Wesson revolver on the Home Valley Range.   Also a photo of the RF Cadet First Fifteen with the faces of the late Paul Parsons, Albie St Bruno, PJ Mason.   Crikey mate what great rugby players they all were..

I have oft toyed with the idea of writing a book in respect of the RF Cadet School and may still do so.  Time and gravity of course is such a bastard eh.  The stories that could be written up are so historically wonderful and often naïve but by crikey that School turned out so many wonderful NCOs and Officers who became the backbone of the NZ Army.   Shortly before his death Jimmy Page our PTI visited me in Tauranga.   He must have been in his 80s.   He was ramrod straight and one of natures gentlemen.   After Jimmy retired from the NZ Army he went on to the Police College in NZ where he served for a considerable number of years.

When you think back we were just kids but we sure as hell rapidly became young men, who were both patriots and highly trained instruments of the state.  A band of brothers is a term which springs to mind   The Home Valley is always just in the back of our mind and what great experiences we shared in that place

For my own part I am humbled and proud to have served with and along side such a great body of men.   They were Derrick simply the best of the very best.  I am grateful to see all those old names listed in your e-mail because so many of our contemporaries have marched away to that place where old soldiers go..  God bless them all old friend and may their days be full of fun, good health and memories of New Zealand.

Myself I now live in Perth WA and although retired enjoy making pottery, art, sculpture and imbibing the great wine which is made just down the road.  I potter in the garden, write a bit of poetry as well but really should get off my bum and write the book. In closing Derrick my very best wishes to all the soldiers of Russell Class. They were not boys but instruments of the State aand trained by men who had seen the horrors and oprivation of WWII.   Bayonet practice on Gory Green is a case in point.

Thank you Trish for all the work you have done for the RF Cadet Association over so many years.  To coin a phrase we used in the 1960s “Your bloods worth bottling”.

And to you Derrick our thoughts and prayers are with you and may you have a full recovery from your illness

Arohanui

 

Colin H.I Jull             chij07@yahoo.co.nz

Hi All,

Good to hear from so many who are still around.

Yes it was 50 years ago.   Some we met in Auckland and the rest at Waiouru. Lot of memories from Cadets, some hardcase ones with the band and in the platoon.

I am teaching at Wintec in electrical trade.  Cut back to 4 days this year to get some time to relax as my doctor told me to slow down.

I have been living in Hamilton for the last 20 or so years.  Before that worked around the country and spent some time in the Phillipines as well.   Life is slowing us down now except for Moa.

Best regards to all

 

John (Dezal) Deazley    dezal@xtra.co.nz

A big HI to all Russell Class…  Great to see all your names in front of me.  I know how much we all enjoyed our experience in Waiouru.   I recall flying to Wellington from Nelson with Colin Hudson (who had to go back home because he had spurs on both his heels) and at Fort Dorset meeting up with Gary Walker, Len Constable, Warren Redshaw, Peter Ward and Lyn Berry prior to travelling on the big train to Cadet School.

I am a cab driver in Auckland but intend to finish up in the next year or so and tour NZ.   I hope that those who are not enjoying the best of health at the moment get good treatment, so we can all gate crash Moa”s 70th

Best wishes to you all.

 

D39057 Graeme Carmichael       graemeandmarian@xtra.co.nz

Russell Class 1960 - 50th Anniversary.

Gidday all you Russell Class blokes wherever you are.

I have really enjoyed reading the blurbs in this section of the web - swear I could hear some of your voices as I read your words - spooky!

Not easy to get my head around the fact that it has been 50 years since we were introduced to leather boots - KD's / JG's - blanco and brasso! some of my 29 months to graduation must have appealed to me as it was the start of 28 years with the green machine. Lucky me - it included two posting to RFCS.

Remember the drill demo from Kippenberger class? - no way will we get that good - but we did.

So many memories - a route march to block 5 for meals - mess duties - snow - .303's - scrubbing wooden floors - square beds - spit bloody polish - it just goes on.

Marian spent the last 10 years as an Early Childhood Teacher - Life is good.

I look forward to John Moller's book !!!!!!!!!!

RFCS was no R&R center, that said we experienced something quite unique. 

My very best wishes to you all.