Salient Notes

Vuw Salient Bunker Situation Report on Lines Inspection 24.9.74 ATTN NZUSA DIV CDR

1400 hrs: Entered bunker of sector VUW most forward Salient intersection enemy front line. Col. Steele (6th Rotorua Reprisers) greeted my arrival from HQ. "Compliments of the day, old boy, (ex-RHS of course!) Wouldn't be askins too much of you to mention the garrison in despatches, eh?" "Give it a military flavour" interjected 2Lt Graeme Simpson. (Note — insubordinate subaltern, strip him of his pips). "Jawohl" chorused a platoon of civilians, commissioned-for-the-duration-or-four-years (Note — must send them over the top), but their ill-discipline hardly likely lo effect morale since they were inaudible over the incessant staccato stammer of the main MMG, used with devastating effect by W02 Claire Smith (seconded from the Volgograd Volunteers), and serviced by Pte I.B. Machines who, as he promised when signing on, still presents arms and leaps to attention whenever the HMG jams. Enfilading fire over observable enemy concentrations kept up by S/Sgt David Tripe and L/Cpl Christine Haggart from north bank, and from position manned by Lt Allison Mackay and Pte Cunningham at knoll on S.E. parapet. Ordnance provided by Pvts Mark Derby and O'Hagan, under Sgl Siegert. Newly issued pvc l/4 F.S. 50 cal, DB AAG handled competently by Lt Vikkers. Sgt Lynn Peck with ammunition feed by Pte Hughes. This item placed at bratticework, of bound old editions of garrison files and reports, soundly constructed by Sapper Audrey Young, 1700 hrs: Skirmishing party, from 3 Co. Waiteata Expendables, go over top singing "if you want to know where the old battalion la, if you want to know where they are, I'll tell you where the old battalion is — they're hanging on the old barbed verse." 1855 hrs: Transport OIC Lt Lloyd Weeber, having specialised in getting in the road observes everyone gone to mess and does likewise.

General comments: Sector charts laid out and defined for HQ map revisions by Lts R. Pui and drawn by Peter Mclntosh. Forward fire control by WO1 Lionel Klee. Intelligence reports compiled by Lt Aliek Shaw and Salient photographer Keith Stewart. Padre Feglier AWOL (note — cashier and return to Vatican).

Signed, Inspecting Officer (LM Slater) Brigade Cdr, 5th Field Judiciary.