Initial demolition training in the RAN was provided by the Torpedo and Anti Submarine Branch, Underwater Weapons rates.Prior to 1955, it was focused around Render Mine Safe Training.

The theory was conducted at HMAS RUSHCUTER and the practical took place at Holsworthy Army base. The underwater component was conducted in Taylor's Bay, Sydney harbour, on a sunken steel coaler barge called the “Centennial”. In 1954, Alex Donald and Sandy Brennan laid the first line charges in the barge; 2 x 14 oz TNT block line charges weighing a total of 50 lbs. One line was laid inside the wreck and one outside and when detonated, the charges blew a hole in the side of the wreck. Many complaints came flooding in from the local residents, limiting further training to only 2 x 14oz blocks at any one time.

Other areas used during the fifties were Obelisk Beach and Clarke Island, where shock trials were conducted. Scare charge throwing also took place over at the Grotto for several courses.

After the initial demolitions course, the training moved to the School of Military Engineering in Holsworthy with Army Warrant Officer's, Darcy Lound, Les Dowset and Don Stahl doing the instruction from Royal Navy BR 1836 and some Corps of Engineers Bomb Disposal Instructions. This organisation was titled B&MD (Bomb and Mine Disposal). In 1963, the name changed to BM & MD (Bomb Mine and Missile Disposal). All the practical instruction was carried out in Holsworthy with the theory moving from HMAS WATSON back to HMAS RUSHCUTTER, then back to HMAS WATSON.

In 1964 Lt. Clem Littleton was sent to the EODNAVSCOL in Maryland USA. This move resulted in several significant advances just in time to prepare the branch for its first war. These included the development of a new system for the identification of mines by CPOCD Raymond Foord (Dixie Snr); and the title change from BM&MD to EOD.

In the mid sixties, U/W demolitions training was conducted in Port Stephens in Salamander Bay on an old timber barge named the “Psyche”. Some training was also conducted on the other side of the bay, at a place called Winda Woppa. Not to mention the charges we dropped out around Broughton Island, catching huge amounts of seafood.

POCD Vic Rasleigh instructed the first course at Port Stephens and ABCD Phil Tonks was his 2nd dickie. The course was in 1966 and consisted of ORDCD'S Tony Ey, Cowby Garrett, Jeff Hales, Jim Henry, Ray Cocks, John Branch & Occa Howarth.

In 1977 working from the LCH HMAS LABUAN, CPOCD Harry Brankstone, POCD Raymond Foord (Dixie Jnr), LSCD Mark Latimer and LSCD “Andy” Anderson conducted the first training here at Triangular Is, Shoal Water Bay. They were back- to- back courses. The first was an ABCD's course, and the members were Paul Darcey, Greg Spilsted, Steve Dunleavy, Tony Robinson, Mark Hanson, Jim Parnell, Howard Smith, Clayton Scott, and Richard Morton. On the last evening, as the course all sat together on the front beach awaiting the Chief's word that all had passed, CPOCD Harry Brankstone, gave the Course members the privilege of naming the beach they sat on. After a round table of discussions between themselves, the spokesperson for the course, ORDCD Mark Hansen, stood up and declared that from that day forward, the front beach was to be known as “Big Bang Beach” a name which still stands today.

The next course was the first POCD's course to be conducted on Triangular Is. The instructors were CPOCD Peter Reynolds (aka Debbie), CPO Harry Brankstone and POCD Russ Steer. The students were LSCD Bob Angel, LSCD Ken Barnes, LSCD Ken Wightwick and Corporals Simi and Sipan of the PNGDF's EOD Unit. This course is remembered for the start of the “Reynolds bunker building project”, which continued for many years to come.

There has been four generations of bunkers built on this island; three here at base camp (the third bunker is the present one here). The other was a two man shelter down at Eagle's Nest Point and used for firings which were conducted at the Hide Away Boat Pound.

The course was MCDO 1/77, and the instructors were, CPOCD Harry Brankstone, MN1(DV) Dave Wilson USN and LEUT Barry Gibbons. The students were LEUT Al Irving, LEUT Garry Kennedy, SBLT Russ Crane and SBLT John McAree. The name Crane should ring a bell to everyone, as he is our DCN today, and I would like everyone to know CMDR John McAree was to become the first MCDO to make Commander Sea Training (CST) over the period of 1993 - 94.

It was also in 1980 that the USN exchange officer at the time, LCDR Monty Mathews, staffed a paper recommending stopping U/W demolition training at SWB and replacing it by simulated training in Hunters Bay adjacent to the PENGUIN wharf. CPOCD “Debbie” Reynolds argued that this would be a huge step backwards. He was given 12 months by the Officer in Charge of Diving (OCD) to justify why we should continue training at SWB.

The OCD of the time, then CMDR Clem Littleton, visited the island in 1981. This was his second visit, and he flew out by an Iroquois helicopter. The Chief Instructor recalls CMDR Littleton's most rewarding statement came from the bunker after a shot of 1600 kgs on Big Bang Beach, “that was f-----g impressive and I wish was an AB at the coalface again!”. The staff paper by Monty Matthews was ripped up and filed in the bin on his return. Debbie Reynolds thought that the CD branch, and in turn the Navy, came of age in demolitions in the 80's.

In 1985 all Ship's Demolition training was transferred from the TAS School at HMAS WATSON to the EOD Section HMAS PENGUIN. The initial instructor was POCD Pat Conaughton, followed by POCD Terry Oxley and the OIC was WOCD “Dixie” Raymond Foord Jnr. This training is still provided by the RAN Diving School.

Over the years here at Triangular Is, we have all been involved in some massive shots. My biggest was on my ADVANCED course in 1979, when for three days we transported 80 MK5 500lb GP British bombs from the LCH to the back beach known as Little Bang beach. This was to create a boat channel which is still in use today. The all up weight was 40,000 lb! We also divided the island into quarters, with MK 8 hose charges to create fire breaks. The tracks are still in use and run from the camp to Lik Lik beach and up to the Hide Away boat pound.

In the base camp at the top of a gum tree was a lookout platform built so the Range Safety Officer could lookout around the island for the detection of fires. Up on the hill, adjacent the radio mast, were huge sullage pits dug by using explosives and many a shitter hole was dug beyond the present bunker using small amounts of PE over the duration of the deployment. All projects were done by staff and students, making Triangular Island, also known as the Divers Tropical Retreat, as habitable as possible.

This island has many a story to tell. Fortunately today we are wiser and more environmentally aware and have strict guidelines on where and how much bang we can use. This will enable the RAN and ADF to continue U/W demolitions here for years to come, by protecting both the Fauna and Flora on and around this unique Island.