Introduction

In 1942, the Gan Gan military camp was built as an amphibious training centre by the United States military at Port Stephens. It was part of the Joint Overseas Operational Training School (JOOTS) facility established in conjunction with HMAS Assault, to train both Australian and American troops in land/sea warfare.

Following the withdrawal of the United States military from the Port Stephens area after the War, the Gan Gan site was maintained by the Australian Army and used extensively in the post war period as a training facility.

It was also available to other groups, such as school cadets and university students, for training exercises.

Seven papers of the Gan Gan post-war history are published on this website.

This paper is the story of a large School Cadets camp at Gan Gan in April 1951.

Links to the other six papers are found at the end of this document.

School Cadets at Gan Gan Military Camp – April 1951

Various school cadet units made regular use of Gan Gan for military training camps. This the story of one such camp, which consisted of cadets from Sydney, Newcastle and country schools.

In April 1951, a ten-day School Cadet Camp comprising some 900 cadets was held at The Gan Gan Military Camp.

The Daily Examiner of 28 April 1951, page 2, reported:

‘Sixty-four officers and cadets of the Grafton High School will leave South Grafton tonight by special train, to attend a 10-day cadet camp at Gan Gan (Newcastle). The boys will be under the command of Lieutenants P. Roberts and R. Neeson, who will be assisted by Cadet Lieutenants D. Iverach, J. Holden and W. Orme. At Coff’s Harbour they will be joined by about 70 members of the Coff’s Harbour High School Cadet detachment under the command of Lieut-Colonel G. A. Patterson. The camp will end on Tuesday May 8, and the return journey will be made during the school vacation. A course of infantry drill and tactics will be given the junior cadets and the further advanced technical drill to those who have already had camp experience at Ingleburn.’

In a similar fashion the Coffs Harbour Advocate of 1 May 1951, page 2, reported:

‘A party of Coffs Harbour High School cadets left for the annual camp on Saturday night. They were under command of Lt Col. G. A. Patterson and Lt. P. Imberger. The camp will be held at Gan Gan, in the Port Stephens area, where Lt Col. Patterson was encamped during the war. The party is expected to return on Wednesday week…’

The Daily Examiner of 1 May 1951, page 2, reported:

‘The 60 cadets from the Grafton High School Cadet Corps attending a 10-day camp at Gan Gan, yesterday moved to their encampment 30 miles north of Newcastle.

More than 600 boys from Sydney, Newcastle and country schools are attending the camp. Biggest contingents are from the Newcastle and Sydney Boys’ High Schools. A special train took 250 boys from North Coast schools to the camp. They spent one night at the Hamilton Drill Hall on their trip south. The lads will be returning by special train leaving Newcastle on May 7. The time of arrival has not yet been fixed. Lieut. R. Neeson, in charge of the Grafton contingent, said at Gan Gan yesterday, that the party had enjoyed a good trip. All were in good health and spirits. He added that he was well satisfied with accommodation, food and medical arrangements made for the boys.’

Newcastle Boys’ High Cadets on their way to thetraining camp at Gan Gan.

Cadets R. King and R. Laird from Cook’s Hill school on their way to the training camp at Gan Gan.

The Newcastle Sun of 4 May 1951, page 3, reported:

‘Cadets from Newcastle Boys’ High, Newcastle Technical High and Cook’s Hill High Schools will take part in the ceremonial parade at Gan Gan Camp on Sunday. Before the march past at 3 p.m., 733 senior school cadets, who are at present in camp at Gan Gan, will be inspected by a senior officer from Eastern Command Headquarters.’

Activities at the Camp

The Daily Examiner of 9 May 1951, page 2, reported:

‘Sixty-four cadets from Grafton High School detachment returned yesterday morning by special train from a 10-day camp at Gan Gan, near Newcastle.

About 900 cadets, mainly from North Coast and Newcastle districts, attended the camp. Before the camp broke up Colonel C. N. Peters, who took the salute at a final march past, said camp life taught the value of working together, and gave the boys a measure of self-reliance.

Lieut.-Col. G. A. Patterson, of Coff’s Harbour, was in charge of the parade. The 10-day camp was one of the most interesting yet held for cadets in New South Wales. Last week, the R.A.A.F. gave a display of “biscuit bombing” at Williamtown airfield, and of rocket-firing, bombing and strafing by Mustan fighters at Twenty-mile Beach. On Saturday, cadets were ordered to repell an “invasion’” of Twenty-mile Beach. They marched and were carried some of the way by the remainder of a “bombed” transport formation.

At the beach, the cadets fired Vickers machine-guns, mortars and a six-pounder anti-tank gun. Targets had been laid by an amphibious duck which afterwards gave a demonstration. Captain Dellow, Officer Commanding the camp, said the stunt, planned by Lieut.-Col. Patterson, was the most interesting way to give a field-firing demonstration. Cadet Lieut. W. Orme, of the Grafton detachment, said yesterday the training concentrated on fieldcraft and section and platoon work in defence and attack. He said the demonstrations by units of the Regular Forces were most impressive. Cadet Lieut. Orme added that the Mustangs which demonstrated rocket firing, bombing and strafing were from the 78th Fighter Wing at Williamtown. They were scheduled to leave for Korea next week.’

Links to the Six Other Papers of Post-War Activities at the Gan Gan Military Camp are as follows:

Post War Military Camp at Gan Gan – an Overview

15^th Northern Lancers at the Gan Can Military Camp – 1949

Military Training Camp at Gan Gan – February 1951

Army Commando Training Exercises Based at Gan Gan – 1953 and 1955

First Army Camp for 230 Women of the Citizen Military Forces (CMF) at Gan Gan – April 1954

University Students at the Gan Gan Military Camp – 1950 and 1962

Researched and compiled by Kevin McGuinness

July 2022