Training to survive in war: an interview with Lieutenant Colonel Hugh McBean Stewart (In retrospect)

The video "Training to survive in war" is part of an oral history project conducted at the Command and Staff College and complements an Army-wide campaign to improve the study of military history. The video is an examination of the training conducted by the 2nd Australian Imperial Forces in World War II. In particluar, the video examines training methods employed by the 6 Division in Australia and the Middle East. The focus of the training is on the 3rd Division Jungle Training School (JTS) which was established by Major General Savige General Officer Commanding 3rd Division to prepare soldiers for future operations in Bougainville. The video examines the effectiveness of the training methods employed at the JTS and whether they adequately prepared soldiers for combat. The subject for the video, Lieutenant Colonel Hugh McBean Stewart, enlisted into the 2/6th Battalion, 17th Brigade, 6th Division in October 1939. During training at the 17th Brigade's concentration area at Puckapunyal he was selected and attended the Southern Command Training School for Officers, graduating in December 1939 as a Lieutenant. In early 1940 Stewart embarked with the 17th Brigade for the Middle East where he saw active service in Egypt, Greece, Crete and Syria. In 1942, the 6th Division returned to Australia in preparation for future operations in New Guinea, with the 17th Brigade deploying to Milne Bay in late 1942. The 17th Brigade later moved to Wau as part of Kanga Force, soon to be redesignated 3rd Division under command of Major General Savige. Stewart saw extensive combat service in the defence of Wau. He played an active role in patrolling programme which had been established to maintain contact and obtain information on the advancing Japanese. It was Salamaua, that provided Stweart with the experience to later establish and command the 3rd Division JTS in Australia in 1943/44. In early 1943 17th Brigade redeployed to Atherton, north Queensland and joined the 6th Division in concentration area at Wondecla. During this time at Wondecla Stewart was detached to 3rd Division from December 1943 to April 1944 to command the JTS located at Kariri (20km north east of Atherton). He was to train 3rd Division soldiers in jungle warfare in preparation for future operations in Bougainville. On completion of his command at the JTS Stewart later served in the Aitape-Wewak Campaign, New Guinea with 17th Brigade. During this period he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and tasked to raise and train the 2nd New Guinea Infantry Battalion. At the close of the war he was in command of the 2/6th Battalion and was discharged from the 2nd AIF on 6th September 1946.