General News
12 September, 2026
Veterans' Voices: History of the James Lawson Depot Part 2
It wasn’t all work and no play; there were Unit cabaret dances with Stan Saunders and his Dance Band held in the Depot, and the various Mess nights until the early hours of the morning.
It wasn’t all work and no play; there were Unit cabaret dances with Stan Saunders and his Dance Band held in the Depot, and the various Mess nights until the early hours of the morning.
The depot was also used for badminton and Basketball competitions.
At the time of the National Service Scheme, when National Servicemen were required to complete their National Service obligations with CMF Units, 36 Coy would parade at weekends with HQ, 128 Platoon, 129 Platoon, 130 Platoon, and Workshops, filling the parade ground.
36 Company was the first and last Royal Australian Army Service Corps unit in Australia to receive the Freedom of a Town/City, Stawell, in July 1973.
“Freedom of the City” was a traditional military parade where a local council honours a specific military unit.
The 15th Transport Squadron took part in two Freedom of the City of Horsham events on December 6, 1986.
There was also one on Easter Saturday in 1995 involving Bendigo, Horsham and Stawell, marching up Firebrace Street with the Horsham City Band on a busy morning.
Some prominent Depot Commanders involved in the Depot include: 1935-Colonel James Lawson DSO VD, 1939-Major Sam Ainsworth DCM, 1948-1950-Major Jack Bolton, 1950- 1952-Captain Jeff Sanders, 1952- 1954-Major Jock Taylor, 1954-1956-Captain Bert Sullivan, 1956-1957-Captain David Morison ARA, 1957-1965-Major Jim Amos RFD ED, 1965-1970-Major Jack Handby RFD ED, 1970-1975-Major Jim Amos RFD ED, 1975-Lieutenant Graham Hewitt, Captain Mark Bartetzko, Lieutenant David Ellis, Captain Graeme Cox, and Lieutenant Stuart Chilver.
Over the years, the integration of the ARA Staff with the CMF/Reserves has been remarkable, indicating the calibre of the personnel involved.
To name a few of the characters involved in the depot:
George Lancaster, Jack Francis, Les Tonagh, Ralph Darlington, John Hore, Dave Childs, Bob Wynne, Graham Hewitt, Rich Marchbank, Pedro Polwarth, Allan Keene, Des Ford, John McMillan, Allan Hathaway, Daryl O’Loughlan, Ted O’Flynn, Bob Davis, Billy Hall, John Hilderbrand, Ron Yeo, Bob Lockwood, Stan Penny, Dave Blair, Dave Williams, Rob Lachman, Max Woodhart, Barry Barnett, Carol Lewinski, John Committi, Noel Hopper, Ray Harris, Jock Cooper, Peter Martin, Bert, Ernie and Chisa Wild, Rhenn Williamson, Peter Daman, Peter Luker, the Clark brothers, Bruce Anderson, Holder Rogers, Ivan Pallot, Ron Elderidge, Lester Eldridge, and Mick Lane.
On RFD in 2012, the Depot was named “The James Lawson Depot” in honour of Colonel James Lawson DSO VD, one of the Wimmera’s greatest soldiers, a former CO at the Depot and particularly famous for his part in the Australian Light Horse Charge at Beersheba during WWI.
Evidently, Horsham's connection to the army extends beyond the drill hall.
During both World War I and World War II, men from Horsham were active participants in the war effort, volunteering and being conscripted for service.
The town also played a role in the soldier settlement schemes implemented after both wars, providing returning service members with land grants to establish farms.
In addition, Horsham was a location for various army units, including the 7th Australian Infantry Battalion, which had recruits from the region.
The 2nd Force Support Battalion, which had a depot in Horsham, also had its headquarters in Tasmania.
Horsham's military history highlights the town's significant role in supporting the nation's defence efforts during times of conflict and its involvement in post-war settlement initiatives.
The Brigadier Duke Douglas Paine Memorial Trophy Cup takes pride of place in the Military History & Heritage Library at the Horsham RSL.
The annual perpetual trophy, won three times by 36 Company RAASC from Horsham and Stawell, was used for competition with 6 Company RAASC from Bendigo and 7 Company RAASC from Coburg.
Jim Amos was so proud that 36 Company had won it 3 times when he was the Depot Commander.
The three former CMF Transport Units last competed for the award in November 1972; the weekend bivouac, called Exercise Great Western, was held in the Stawell area.
Various competitions started on the Saturday and comprised a mounted navigation exercise over a rough 80-kilometre course, a foot navigation exercise over a tough 3 kilometres, using only air photos and compasses, and a driving competition which taxed skills to the utmost.
The following day, being a Sunday, started with a church gathering in the town before the competition resumed.
This time at the recreation ground, with the public watching the physical efficiency tests, including a rope climb, a fireman’s carry, and culminating in a mile run around the oval.
Other contests included marching and drill with weapons.
A vehicle dismantling and reassembling event using a Land Rover and an International truck.
At the end of it all, the Stawell Citizens Band played for a big parade when the 3rd Division Commander, Lieutenant Colonel D. Stewart, announced that our local unit, 36 Company RAASC, had won the annual event again.
The Paine Memorial Trophy Cup was presented to the 36 Company Commanding Officer, Major Jim Amos of Horsham.
The Paine Memorial Trophy Cup 36 Company RAASC was named after Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Duke Paine.
On July 1, 1911, Paine was commissioned in the Australian Army Service Corps, Militia.
Joining the Australian Imperial Force on August 21, 1914, he served with the 1st Divisional Train in Egypt, at Gallipoli and on the Western Front.
In January 1917, he was promoted to temporary Major (substantive in March) and appointed Senior Supply Officer for the division.
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his 'consistent good work' between September 1917 and February 1918.
Twice mentioned in dispatches, he returned to Melbourne where his A.I.F. appointment terminated in April 1919.
For his services (from 1921) as lieutenant colonel commanding the 3rd Divisional Train (AASC), he was appointed OBE (1933).
He was transferred to the Unattached List in 1935.
In 1939, he was made assistant-director of supplies and transport, 3rd Military District base headquarters.
Meanwhile, he had been active in the Militia.
In April 1940, Paine was seconded to the A.I.F. Promoted colonel and temporary brigadier, he was gazetted assistant-director (later deputy-director) of supplies and transport, I Corps.
He sailed for the Middle East in October.
During the campaign in Greece in April, 1941, his work in providing stores and vehicles 'was one of the principal factors in securing the successful withdrawal' of the Anzac Corps; he was elevated to CBE (1941) and awarded the Greek Military Cross (1942).
From September 1941 he held the additional post of DDS&T at AIF Headquarters, Palestine.
Returning to Melbourne in November, he was deputy quartermaster general at Army (Land) Headquarters until May 1944.
In the following month, he was transferred to the Reserve of Officers.
Throughout his military career, Paine was known as a man of gruff exterior, but one who always looked to the welfare of his soldiers.
In World War I, he had established his reputation as a junior commander.
One of the dedicated few who remained with the Citizen Military Forces in the lean years of the 1920s and 1930s, he and others like him trained the militiamen who provided the backbone for the Second AIF.
Paine's work as a staff officer and administrator during World War II was highly regarded.
If anyone can assist with other Depot Commanders, please contact the Horsham RSL.