2786678 Signalman (Sig) Russell Errol Hill at his station at Rockbank Signal Receiving Station ...

2786678 Signalman (Sig) Russell Errol Hill at his station at Rockbank Signal Receiving Station (about 60 km west of Melbourne). Sig Hill was called up for National Service in 1967 and entered the Army on 14 April. After 10 weeks basic initial training at Kapooka, Hill undertook specific training at the School of Signals, Balcombe, Victoria; his suitablility for training was chosen based on a tone/pitch test and Hill's natural musical ability assisted in passing this test. He passed top of his course of an entry of 20 and was judged the quickest Morse operator. Of the 20 in his course, seventeen were posted to Vietnam, while Hill and two others were retained in Australia. After a short period at Watsonia, Hill was transferred to the Rockbank Signal Receiving Station (about 60 km west of Melbourne), where he was responsible for receiving the coded incoming message from Vung Tau every 4 hours. His final post was operating the Base Radio at Portsea, Victoria. See also REL36780.001 and REL36780.002.

• 2786678 Signalman (Sig) Russell Errol Hill with his mother following his passing out parade on ...
• Men on parade during signals training at Kapooka. Identified seventh from left, with glasses is ...