AWM52 1/11/18/3 - Headquarters London Victory March Contingent, March - September 1946 - Part 3

LIST OF APPENDICES - WAR DIARY LONDON VICTORY MARCH CONTINGENT
 

[*APPENDIX "A"*]
[*Southern Command
REGISTRY*]
A14/MS/23 47/1/1377
AUSTRALIAN MILITARY FORCES : SOUTHERN COMMAND
30784

Headquarters
No 1 Area
ALBERT PARK
DISTRIBUTION 22 Mar 46

VICTORY MARCH - LONDON - 1946
INTRODUCTORY
1. A contingent comprising personnel of the three Services will represent
the COMMOMWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA at a Victory March in LONDON
on 8 Jun 46.
2. Of the total of 250, the AMF component will be 160 all ranks.
These will be selected from those who are at present serving and
from those who have served in the AMF during the 1939-45 war.
Personnel in the latter category, i.e: re-enlistments will be
selected only from those who were recipients of decorations and
awards. Members of the VDC who are at present employed on full
time duty will be eligible for selection subject to the general
conditions stated herein.
RAISING
3. The AMF component will be raised by Southern Command in this area.
PROVISION OF PERSONNEL
4. (a) Comds will provide personnel vide the allocation given as
Appendix 'A'.
(b) Officers will be called for under separate instructions
issued by this HQ.
(c) OR volunteers have been called forward in this HQ 30030 of
21 Mar 46.
(d) Arrangements have also been made through public relations
for daily papers to publicise the condition governing the
volunteering of ex members of the AMF who served in the
1939-45 war. Particulars of the system to be adopted in
the handling of these volunteers are set out in paras 19,
20 and 21 of this instruction.

(e) Officers and WOs will not be permitted to down grade in rank
to gain selection for service with the contingent. This
applies also to ex-members who held commissioned or warrant
rank.
(f) NCOs may fill vacancies allotted to Privates and will receive
the pay of the rank they held prior to joining the
contingent, or if demobilised and re-enlisted, the pay of
the rank held immediately prior to demobilisation.

[*14

[[?]]

[[?]]

[[?]]*]
[*A14*]
[*29 MAR 1946 *]

- 2 -
(g) Ex-members now residing in country areas who are being considered
for selection will be granted free railway travel at
the discretion of Comds etc in connection with reporting for
interview, medical examination etc.
(h) Members, other than AMF, under 21 years of age, will be required
to have their parents consent to their proceeding
overseas with the contingent.
PRINCIPLES OF SELECTION:
5. The principles governing selection will be:
(a) The AMF component will, as far as possible, compromise personnel
of all arms and services in the AMF. As a guide, the
percentages of the various arms and services in the AMF at
its peak period is given at Appendix '[[A?]]'.
(b) Personnel selected must be volunteers for service with the
contingent.
(c) Priority in the selection of personnel will be given to:
(i) those who have had distinguished service during the war,
with particular regard being given to the recipients
of decorations and awards;
(ii) those who have had active service overseas;
(iii) those who are possessed of the highest standard of
physical fitness.
6. Subject to the guide given in para 5, the object to be aimed at
will be to provide a contingent of Officers and soldiers who by
their discipline, physique, bearing and appearance will draw
praiseworthy attention as representatives of the AMF.
MEDICAL AND PHYSICAL STANDARDS:
7. Males
(a) The medical standard of males will be that required for the
PMF. Members will be dentally examined. It will be ensured
that prior to being accepted they are, in the opinion
of the examining dental officer, in possession of a sufficient
number of natural teeth in sound condition with
which to masticate efficiently, or are possessed of satisfactory
well fitting artificial dentures.
(b) The physical requirements of males will be:
(i) Height: Minimum 5 ft 7 ins
(ii) Chest: Minimum 34 ins.
8. Females
Female members will be required to be of medical category A1
and of a minimum height of 5 ft 4 ins.
AGE
9. The age limit will be:

- 3 -
CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
10. Pay and Allowances
Pay and allowances will be as for all other members of the AMF
in accordance with War Financial Instructions. Authority is
being sought for additional allowances to be paid to all ranks
whilst in ENGLAND. Further information on this point will be
promulgated when available.
11. Leave
(a) Owing to the time factor no leave (other than local leave
which may be given at the discretion of Comds provided that
it does not interfere with the date of concentration) will
be granted to personnel prior to joining the contingent.
It is also improbable that any leave (other than local leave
at the discretion of SOUTHERN COMD) will be granted prior
to embarkation.
(a) (b) Local leave will be granted in ENGLAND at the discretion of
the CO and will not be deductable from any leave credits.
(b) (c) Recreational leave will continue to accrue during service
with the contingent at the rate of two days per month.
(c) (d) It is improbable that War Service Leave will apply to
members during their period of service with the contingent
or that a further grant of re-establishment leave will be
made to members re-enlisting. Decisions on these points
will be promulgated in due course.
(d) (e) Fourteen days dis-embarkation leave will be granted to
members of the contingent on dis-embarkation in Australia.
[* [[???]]
over 6 - 30 [[?]]
NO War Service*]
[*✓*] 12. Taxation
The normal exemption from taxation will apply during the period
of service abroad with the contingent.
[*✓*] 13. War Gratuity
Members will be eligible for War Gratuity in accordance with
the War Gratuity Act.
[*✓*] 14. Period of Enlistment
With respect to ex-members of the AMF re-enlisted, the period
of engagement will be for the duration of duty of the contingent.
It is estimated that this will not exceed five months.
INDEPENDENT RETURN
15. Only in exceptional circumstances will authority be given for members
proceed independently back to AUSTRALIA. Such case, will be
referred to HQ AMF for approval. The Government will not
accept liability for the cost of return passage for any member
who is granted authority to return independently.
CONCENTRATION
16. Personnel selected by various comds will be moved to RR & GDD
Watsonia to arrive as soon as possible and not later than
1 Apr 46.
17. Advice of all movement will be signalled to this HQ and when
received RR & GDD will be advised immediately.