DURING THE RECENT EUROPEAN WINTER SPECIALLY SELECTED UNITS WERE FORMED FROM THE A.I.F. IN SYRIA ...

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Accession Number 012206
Collection type Photograph
Object type Black & white
Physical description Black & white
Maker Unknown Australian Official Photographer
Place made French Mandate for Syria and Lebanon: Syria
Date made 21 May 1942
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Copyright

Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain

Public Domain Mark This item is in the Public Domain

Description

DURING THE RECENT EUROPEAN WINTER SPECIALLY SELECTED UNITS WERE FORMED FROM THE A.I.F. IN SYRIA FOR TRAINING IN THE USE OF SKIS. THE SCHOOL WAS SITUATED HIGH IN THE LEBANON RANGES, AND ALTHOUGH, AS THIS SPLENDID SERIES OF PHOTOS INDICATE, THE WORK WAS CARRIED OUT IN A PICTURESQUE ENVIRONMENT, IT ENTAILED CONSIDERABLE HARDSHIP FOR MEN NOT FULLY ACCLIMATISED TO THE HARSH CONDITIONS. ONLY THOSE WHO WERE PHYSICALLY FIT WERE SELECTED FROM THE VOLUNTEERS. THE FORMATION OF RECONNAISSANCE AND FIGHTING PATROLS WAS THE OBJECTIVE, AND THE TRAINING COVERED BIVOUACKING ABOVE THE SNOW LINE, TACTICS IN OFFENSIVE AND PROTECTIVE PATROLS, SIGNALLING AND INTELLIGENCE DUTIES. A HALT DURING EXERCISES.