LT J. CAIRNS left the TA in March last year after fifteen years part-time soldiering. He enlisted in the Australian Army Reserve in March, 1967, rose to the dizzy rank of Sgt in 21/2 years, then passed the 3 DIV Selection Board in Melbourne in December, 1969, which was followed by a two year course at OCTU.

He was commissioned into the Australian Intelligence Corps in May, 1971, but defected to 5th (Victorian Scottish) Battalion The Royal Victoria Regiment the following year and remained there until 1977, serving in various regimental postings, including Mortars and Signals. In September, 1977 he came to the UK and commenced an attachment with 'G' Coy in September, serving as a 'Digger Officer' with us until October 1978, when he resigned from the AAR, having decided to take an English wife, and more or less become a permanent resident. He was then, and still is, an incurable Anglophile.

For nine months he led a phantom existence, until a London District Selection Board unearthed him and commissioned him again, enabling him to wear London Scottish kit for the first time. Since then he has served as Rifle Pltn Cmdr, Anti-tank Pltn Cmdr. Recruiting Officer and general factorum.

Commenting upon his 15 years, he remarked: "In 1967 the idea of being an officer had never occurred to me. My ambition, if I had one, was to become an RSM. I enjoyed shouting at other people, especially on the Drill Square, and watching them jump. Looking back it seems like a series of accidents that got me into the Officer's Mess at all. But having made up my mind to become an officer, achieving that goal was one of the hardest, but most constructive and enjoyable things that I ever did. Actually being an officer hasn't been all that much fun, except when I was an RSO and lots of people, including the CO depended upon me and allowed me a fairly free hand. At least in the London Scottish they tried to make a proper gentleman of me".