GEMS 2SD

2SDGEMS- Started as 2ADMTRS at MASCOT, then moved to Villawood, Name change then to 2ADGEMS, then to 2SDGEMS.

The Move -Memories from Bob Mortimer Retired WGCDR)

MTRS Mascot, Villawood and GEMS Villawood

The Move and Early Days

During the latter part of 1961 and 1962, 2ADMTRS Mascot under the control of Sqn Ldr Charlie Micet was transferred to Villawood. I think that Flg Officer Terry McGEE was Charlie's 2i/c during the latter part of the move. Around the end of 1962 or early 1963 S/L Micet retired and S/L Jack Hodges was posted from B/S Richmond to Villawood as Oi/c. I was posted to replace S/L Hodges at B/S Ric. For at least the next 12 months the MTRS was under the administration of 2AD. Sometime after the title of GEMS replaced MTRS, the administrative control was shifted to 2Stores Depot Regents Park. During the deliberation of selecting a new name, GERMS may have been thought about but I do not recall Villawood to ever have that title officially bestowed on it.

In Dec 1964 I was posted to 2SD Gems Villawood as 2i/c and S/L Hodges posted out, his place taken by S/L Bert Matthews (an Armament Officer) who was on his retirement posting. On Bert's retirement January 1966, S/L Don Croucher was posted in as Oi/c. I was posted out Dec 1967 and Flg Off O'Bree took my place. During Jun1972 I was posted back to 2SD GEMS as S/L Oi/c and my 2i/c was Flg OFF Mick McKee. I seem to recall I replaced S/L Ray McAleer who was posted to 2SD Regents Park as Tpt O. On being promoted to W/C Jan 1974 I was posted out and I cannot recall my who replaced me. I had no further official dealings with 2SD Gems.

(Memories from Eric Smith- Retired SGT MTFITT)

MTRS was located at Mascot, Sydney's Airport up till August 1960 at the location what is now the main vehicular entry to the domestic terminals just on and slightly past the traffic lights. The buildings consisted of mainly a single storey extended tin shed covering about two acres. It was known as 2AD MTRS Mascot. Relocation from mascot to Villawood was around August 1960 and was known to 2ADMTRS Villawood. A short time later (I think around early 1961 it became 2AD GERMS (Ground Equipment Repair and Maintainence Squadron). Because of the terminology a very short time later it became 2AD GEMS and the 2SDGEMS.

From memory the OIC was Sqn Ldr Ray McAleer.

Many would recall the building being a tank assembly operation during the war years (as I understand it) where the materials were brought in by rail, assembled and departed by rail.

Due to reorganisation by various governments etc the whole operation and location was sold off and is now a Bunnings complex.

An interesting side story is that I used to live some 4 miles up the road in MQ's and was easy to cycle to work but was a hard slog going home as it was all uphill. The same applied when I was posted to 2SD regents park from 2AD Villawood. I had two stints at Villawood and Regents Park which were some of the better years of my service career

Inside 2SD GEMS - circa 1971

For those personnel to serve at 2SDGEMS Villawood a bit of info regarding the Meteor Gate Guardian.

Thanks to a former OIC - Bob Mortimer WGCMD Rtd

2SDGEMS 1973

Cicra 1974/5

Kneeling L to R

AC ? - John Janzecovic - Darkie Light (Surfin) – Murray Whitney (Surfin) – Les Tobin – Andy French – Craig Walsh (Eleco) – Carl Leggo (Eleco) – Ken Neal – Cpl ? – Cpl Hans Kaiser (Surfin) – Sgt Josh McCann – Sgt Shorty Caldwell – Fsgt Buzz Carr – Cpl ?

Standing L to R

Sgt Kev Klingberg – Fsgt Snow Browning – Ian Winkler (Eleco) – Snow Cooper – Neil Moreton – Woff Brian Jones - ? - ? – Sgt John Belcher – Les Cardy (Mtrim) – Ray Dufty - ? – Ian Manning – FlgOff Jim Young - ? – Jim Francis (with sunnies) - SqnLdr Ray McAleer – WgCdr Terry Perry - ? – FlgOff ? – Geoff Staples – Bill Wilde (Weldg) - ? – Gary Beer - ? – Cpl Jenkins (MTD) - ? - ? - ? -? Cpl Blue Palfrey (partially obscured behind Sgt wearing glasses) – Al Williams(Mtrim) – Tony Ramsden (wearing sunnies). The next 9 guys up to the NC7B are a mystery.

The short guy standing next to the front of the NC7B is Ken Turner (Mtrim) and the guy with the sunnies next to the NC7B is Tacho Cartledge (Surfin).