The event is the graduation of OCTU 3 at Keswick Barracks on the 24th of June 1967. 23 officer cadets graduated as Lieutenants out of 43 starters.
The previous and first Officer Cadet Training Unit (OCTU) course July 1965 and June 1966 comprised members of existing CMF units with a minimum rank of substantive corporal, who undertook a 12 month officer course. Daryl Smith, Jim Polkinghorne. Mike Phillips and Norm Gomm graduated into 3/9 SAMR from OCTU 1.
By contrast OCTU 3, the second conventional OCTU comprised 2 parts. The first 6 months involved selected ORs effectively doing a corporals course. At the end of that, NCO’s of Cpl and above joined to complete the final 12 months to undertake the officer course. FYI the even number OCTUs were conducted separately by AUR for their unit members. Dave Griffiths and I graduated into 3/9 SAMR from OCTU 3.
The Reviewing Officer was Brigadier S J Bleechmore, Commander Central Command. Behind him is the Parade Commander, Col H J Feening. The other officer in the inspection party is LtCol K H Wait, the Chief instructor of OCTU 3. The officer between Dave Griffiths and I is Ron’s brother Joe Teusner. To my left is Fred Stahl and next to him Roger Donnelly. The face above Donnelly is Howard Parslow. Bill Griffiths is the slightly visible right marker. The sword-of-honour cadet is Lt J J (John) Shaw. Not visible in this photo was Reg Williams, who graduated into 27 RSAR.
Click
here for the list of officers who graduated into 3/9 SAMR from OCTU, it is
still incomplete if you can assist with names, dates etc it would be appreciated....Frank
Wade