Hello, my name is John ‘Jack’ Peel. My interests for many years have been in military history, training and education. In 2017 Carole, my wife of 46 years and I moved to Canberra to be able see more of our younger grandchildren and to be closer to research facilities for my writing.

I was born in Newcastle, NSW in 1943 and attended Newcastle Junior Technical High School. In 1959 I was selected as an Army Apprentice Fitter & Turner. In 1962, after completion of my apprenticeship I joined the Royal Australian Engineers Transportation Services(RAE Tn) as a marine engine fitter. My many varied experiences and adventures started with six years of service as a Watchkeeper in the engine rooms of Landing Ships Medium (LSM) of 32 Small Ship Squadron in New Guinea, Borneo and South Vietnam in 1966.

In 1967 I served as a Sergeant Instructor at the Transportation Centre, Chowder Bay. Following promotion to Warrant Officer rank I volunteered for service with the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) in 1969. After 12 months of exhaustive training I was posted to Vietnam in 1970 where I served with the South Vietnamese 2nd Battalion, 1st ARVN Regiment in I Corps. Following the decision to withdraw Battalion advisors, 1st ARVN Regiment retained me as a member of their two man Mobile Heavy Weapons Advisor team.

On return to Australia in 1971 I served as Chief Engineer on ‘Balikpapan’ a Landing Craft Heavy (LCH). Sadly over the next three years most of the Army’s green flotilla was either sold off or transferred to the Navy. This initiated the transfer of all personnel being transferred to other Army corps. I decided to move to the Royal Australian Corps of Transport (RACT) and was appointed SSM 35 Water Transport Squadron Woolwich during the period that 42 Transport Company joined the Squadron.

In 1975 I was posted to Corps Training Wing of RACT Centre, in Puckapunyal, Vic. Over the next six years I served in two Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) positions and as an instructor at the Warrant Officer and Senior NCO Academy. I was commissioned as a substantive Captain in January 1981.

I then served four years as Cadre Officer at 33 Terminal Squadron until promotion to Major in 1985 when I was appointed Officer Commanding/Chief Instructor of the Army Maritime School, Chowder Bay, in Sydney. My last posting was as Second in Command (2IC) 10 Terminal Regiment Georges Heights until I retired in 1988.

My overseas service was extensive; Papua and New Guinea, Special Service in Borneo and two tours of South Vietnam. I received the Pingat Jasa Malaysia for service in Borneo, The South Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Silver Star for service with the AATTV, and the US Army Commendation Medal.

My writing reflects the unusually broad military and personal experiences I have endured. This I believe this provides a sound position to research, comment on, or correct, the often distorted history during my service.