About

Frontrank Drill canes are made by Steve Bailes and have been supplying superior quality Drill canes to the Australian Defence Forces since 1998, and soon thereafter to the New Zealand, Canadian Defence Forces additionally supplying canes to their respective Cadet Forces also to the Canadian Fire Service and the Swedish Defence Force.

ENGRAVING

Can be provided by the customer or sourced local - POA

REFURBISH/REPAIR
We also offer a Cane Repair and Refurbishment service.

GUARANTEE
All canes are covered by “absolute no quibble” guarantee replacement or money & postage costs refunded.

ABOUT STEVE BAILES

Steve enlisted in the British Army on the 10th May 1966. He joined the Army Apprentice College in Harrogate, England on the 26th April 1966 where he graduated as A/T RSM.  Whilst at the Army Apprentice College Steve gained Junior Army Colours for rugby and judo plus Regimental Colours for athletics (200m, pole vault, shot), swimming and Squadron Colours for the assault course.  During this time his Squadron, Rawson Sqadron, was Champion Squadron for four consecutive terms --a record.  He was selected for the appointment of A/T Regimental Sergeant Major (Senior Apprentice) and awarded the Commandants Prize for all-round excellence.

Steve served 24 years with the British Army attaining the appointment of Warrant Officer Class 1 (RSM).  His service was predominately with the Royal Corps of Signals, however, he also saw active service with the Royal Artillery in Northern Ireland as infantry  Section Commander and also with 264 (SAS) Signal Squadron.  He considers himself fortunate to have served continually on overseas operational appointments which included active service in Oman, Dhofar, Northern Ireland and the Lebanon.  He has also served in Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Norway, Cyprus, Germany, France, and Gibraltar.

Sport at representative level continued to play a significant part in his British military life with him taking part in pistol shooting (3rd Armoured Divisionan Champion), falling plate, and other Military Skill at Arms competitions. A keen all-rounder he also gained Regimental colours for cross country running, athletics, basketball and volleyball gaining Corps sports colours for rugby and windsurfing,  and Army Colours for swimming and windsurfing.  He is a qualified Royal Yachting Association Windsurfing Master Trainer, and small boat instructor and safety boat crewman.  He has also taken part in and coached Tug of War.

Steve gained a number of military qualifications outside the scope of his role as a Signaller including:

Small Arms Master Coach, 

Range Management III (Inf)

Brigade of Guards Senior Drill instructor

British Army career highlights include 2 active service tours with Special Forces, appointment as Squadron Sergeant Major of 7th Armoured Brigade, the premier British Armoured Brigade, culminating in the coveted and high profile appointment of Senior British Warrant Officer - Berlin, Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) British Berlin Infantry Brigade.  During this appointment his duties also included Parade RSM for the Berlin Queen’s Birthday Parade, the largest British Military Parade outside of the UK (Trooping the Colour), Tattoo RSM for the Berlin Military Tattoo, which was second only to the Edinburgh Tattoo.  He was also the Parade RSM for the Allied Forces Day Parade, the largest military parade in Europe, and the 40th Anniversary of the Berlin Air Lift, which encompassed the coordination of contingents from the Army and Air Forces of Britain, USA, France and the West German Civilian Police.

On completion of his British Army service Steve joined the Australian Army Royal Australian Signals.  He served a further 10 years with the Australian Army in various appointments within units in the Melbourne area.  Sadly, in an accident at work in 1990 he sustained a career-shortening injury after which he was eventually medically discharged in January 2000.  He has since acted as the Commanding Officer of the Melbourne Grammar School Cadet Unit, and supported Cadet Headquarters Victoria with their Leadership and specialist courses until his retirement in 2010.

He began making drill canes to support Cadets Victoria in 1998 however they proved very popular with regular Army soldiers too and the demand grew to now supplying canes both  nationally and internationally.