Concord Man chosen to command AIF Ski School
Bob Savage (born 30 September 1906) had a lifelong interest in the military, starting when he joined the militia at the age of 14. He was commissioned into the ‘Militia Signals Corps’ (Royal Australian Corps of Signals), in 1927 and was promoted to Captain in 1933. He was an excellent rifleman, having twice come second in the prestigious King’s Medal Rifle shoot.
On leaving school he went to work as a clerk for Bergers Paints in Rhodes and studied Accountancy by correspondence. When war broke out, he enlisted in the Australian Infantry Forse (1940) and served in the Middle East as a Signals Officer.
Because of his prowess as a skier he was chosen by General Blamey, in 1941, to form a ski school in Lebanon. The Australian Corps Ski School was set up in the Taurus Mountains of Lebanon in the famed Cedars. Savage had the challenge of sourcing accommodation, equipment, clothing, ski boots and food. It is believed that over 15,000 soldiers passed through the ski school which was disbanded in June 1942.
He served in the middle east in Greece, Crete and New Guinea. By the end of the war, he had been promoted to Colonial in 1944 and later placed on the Reserve officers in 1946. After peace was declared he worked in New Guinea as Chief Signals Officer. He became an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) ,the citation reading “His skill made the signing of the peace in Asia go smoothly”.
After the war he joined Esso as an accountant.
Bibliography
Australian War Memorial. Robert Watkins Savage
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1573449?image=1
Australian Alpine Snowsports History Association
https://brindabellaskiclub.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/AASHA-Newsletter-July-2021-final.pdf
