Peter enlisted in the ARA on 6 May 1968 and was allocated to the RAA. After competing recruit and initial employment training, he was posted to 4th Field Regiment in Townsville. The regiment had recently taken over the newly established Cha Pau Lines at Lavarack Barracks in Townsville. Peter was promoted Lance Bombardier in November 1969 as an Artillery Signaller. He deployed to South Vietnam with the Regiment in February 1970 and was employed mainly in the Artillery Tactical Headquarters of the Task Force Headquarters.

Peter returned to Australia in March 1971 and joined 106th Field Battery which was warned out for service in Singapore. Peter deployed to Singapore in November 1971 and completed a two year tour with the Battery as part of the 28th ANZUK Brigade. He was promoted to Bombardier in May 1972.

On returning to Australia, Peter was posted to 8th/12th Medium Regiment at Holsworthy and promoted to Sergeant in November 1975. He was promoted to Staff Sergeant and the employed as Regimental Signals NCO in January 1979.

Peter was promoted to Warrant Officer Class Two in January 1980 and posted as an instructor on Field Wing at the Officer Cadet School Portsea. In 1982/83 he was posted as Sergeant Major Instructor Gunnery (SMIG) at 10th Medium Regiment in Geelong. Peter returned to 8th/12th Medium Regiment in 1984 as BSM of “A” Field Battery.

In June 1985 Peter was promoted to Warrant Officer Class One and appointed RSM of 23rd Field Regiment at Kogarah. In June 1986 Peter was appointed RSM of 4th Field Regiment in Townsville where he remained until December 1988. In 1989 he was appointed Regimental Master Gunner (RMG) at the Directorate of Artillery in Canberra. The following year he was appointed Divisional Artillery Sergeant Major (DASM) of the 1st Division in Enoggera.

In 1991, Peter accepted a Prescribed Service Officer (PSO) Commission and was commissioned Captain and posted to 1st Field Regiment. In 1993 he moved to 13th Field Battery in Kallangur as the Instructor Gunnery (IG) of the battery. A Staff Officer appointment at Victoria Barracks in Brisbane was followed by a return to 1st Field Regiment as Battery Captain (BK) in 1998.

From April to August 1998, Peter was deployed to Bougainville as a Patrol Commander with the Bougainville Peace Monitoring Team. On return to Australia, Peter was promoted Major and posted as Senior Instructor Regimental Training Wing. He then raised the newly formed Fires Support Wing (FSW) at the School of Artillery. In January 2001, Peter returned to 1st Field Regiment as the Second in Command (2IC) of the Regiment. He moved to a staff officer position at 16th Aviation Regiment in 2003 before becoming Range Control Officer (RCO) at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area, Rockhampton where he remained until the end of 2005. In 2006 Peter was posted to Corporate Services as ADF Secretariat to Singapore Armed Forces for Exercise Wallaby. He completed the year with a posting as SO2 Directed Activities and Special Events at Enoggera.

Peter’s final posting was to Headquarters 1st Division as the SO2 Coord/XO in Enoggera.

Peter elected discharge on 18 January 2009 after 40 years, eight months and 12 days service in the ARA. He transferred to Reserve Service on 19 January 2009 and remained until 6 December 2010 after 42 and a half years’ service. His Honours and Awards include:

• Australian Active Service Medal 1945 – 1975 with Clasp Vietnam
• Vietnam Medal
• Australian Service Medal with Clasp Bougainville
• Australian Service Medal with Clasp SE Asia
• Defence Force Service Medal with five Clasps
• Defence Force Long Service Rosette (40 years)
• Republic of South Vietnam Campaign Medal
• Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
• Australia Defence Medal
• Returned from Active Service Medal
• Land Commander Australia Commendation
• Commander 1st Division Commendation

Everywhere Whither Right and Glory Lead