Ayling, Steven Henry (Brigadier, b.1953)

Collection relating to the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) service of Lieutenant Colonel (later Brigadier) Steven Henry Ayling, Force Communications Unit (FCU), 1992.

The collection consists of three wallets containing five notebooks and a UNTAC pass relating to Ayling's deployment as Commanding Officer of the FCU (the Australia contingent deployed to Cambodia) and as the Chief Signals Officer in UNTAC. The notebooks contain details on the initial preparation and planning for the deployment, the itinerary, plans, minutes of meetings, as well as daily operational information.

Wallet 1 of 3 - Consists of Ayling's UNTAC pass, written in Khmer, and a notebook covering the period 13 January to 6 March 1992. The notebook contains the initial plans and preparations for the deployment to Cambodia, written while Ayling was Commanding Officer of 2 Signal Regiment. Ayling includes notes on the selection criteria for personnel to serve with the contingent, the training to be undertaken, the equipment needed, financial considerations for transport, medal entitlements, supplies and logistics, as well as the records the contingent would need to maintain. The notebook also includes notes on the United Nations Advance Mission in Cambodia (UNAMIC), which deployed in advance of UNTAC, and on Ayling's initial operations in Cambodia.

Wallet 2 of 3 - Consists of two notebooks, covering the periods 13 March to 15 May and 16 May to 9 July 1992, as well as a list of abbreviations used by Ayling in his notebooks. The notebooks include notes from briefings, meetings, and conferences with the Force Commander, Lieutenant General John Sanderson, as well as details on communications and training, existing infrastructure and equipment requirements, situation reports, budgetary considerations, and operations.

Wallet 3 of 3 - Consists of two notebooks, covering the periods 10 July to 20 September and 21 September to 9 December 1992 (the latter also containing notes made during the period of 9 to 21 March 1992), as well as a list of abbreviations used by Ayling in his notebooks. The notebooks include notes on operations, command briefings, logistics, electoral registration [in preparation for the 1993 Cambodian general election], medical considerations, communications, budgetary considerations, and daily tasks.