We used 2nd world war webbing during our training and the 1st Tour blokes wore it on operations in Vietnam;
The issue of 2nd hand GP (General Purpose) boots in 1968 at Holsworthy - otherwise Boots AB (with TS if you were lucky - both WW2 issue);
Restricted use of ammunition for training purposes;
You were terrified of officers with their sparkling gold pips;
Warrant officers who just were not human;
Sergeants that made you eat sand if you fell over;
Barrack room inspections;
Full locker inspections (where they may have found you secret stash of a bottle of port or a couple of middy glasses;
Where you could have an ash tray next to your bed space;
You swapped one sheet and one pillowcase each Tuesday morning and also got one razor blade and a cake of ivy soap;
Where you lived in, and had to have a very good reason to live out;
Four diggers to a room - this was REAL mateship;
When in the barracks, your greens were STARCHED and pressed daily;
Your GPs were spit polished;
Your webbed belt was lacquered, and the brass polished daily;
Bush hats were worn in the bush;
You knocked off at 1630 hrs, and headed straight for the Diggers' boozer. You left when they closed or ran out of grog;
Nobody sat by themselves in the Lines;
The washing machines in the barracks always had the plugs missing - therefore, it was often necessary to drink a bottle of plonk, in order to use the cork as a bung so you could do your washing;
On freezing winter nights on guard, you would head into the barrack blocks to have a bit of respite in a nice warm drying room (you NEVER went into your own Company drying room - that's the first place the Duty Officer or Battalion Orderly Sgt would look for you);
The excuses that were offered when you were late, or almost AWOL, with the hope that your story would be accepted;
The genuine mateship, mutual respect, honesty and self-esteem that epitomised the makeup of the Aussie Digger of our era. This cannot be swapped or traded.
