Commemorative booklet proudly presented by Michael McCormack MP Federal Member for Riverina NATIONHOOD WON AT GALLIPOLI GALLIPOLI, our opening foray in The Great War of 1914-18 – supposedly “The war to end all wars” – is widely considered the making of our nationhood. ANZAC Day is our most significant national occasion – a day on which we stop and think about all those who bravely served in all wars. Lately, the spotlight has been AWM MARKS CENTENARY appropriately thrust on the fact 2014 marks the centenary of the start of the THE Australian War First World War with the countdown Memorial in Canberra now very much on to that epic date – 25 (pictured below) will April 2015. commemorate The Great AT AWM: With The Hon. Dr Brendan Little did those brave souls who Nelson, Director of the Australian War War centenary with a major enthusiastically enlisted for The Great Memorial, the founder of which, Charles redevelopment of its First War know what lay in store for them Bean, described in 1948: "Here is their World War galleries and a … the scale of the fighting, the horrors spirit, in the heart of the land they loved; variety of new public programs of trench warfare, the disease, the shell- and here we guard the record which they and events. themselves made." shock – it was truly awful. An easy drive from anywhere In those far-off days it would have same beliefs, ideals and principles which in the Gundagai, Tumbarumba have guided us well and which make our or Tumut Shires, the AWM initially seemed like some sort of grand adventure – a once-in-a-lifetime democratic society and way of life what is one of the nation’s greatest they are today. tourist attractions, with nearly opportunity to travel overseas – for many a million visitors a year. of the recruits who willingly went to do Lest We Forget – powerful words with their duty “for God, King and Country”. an enduring message for all. AWM Director Dr Brendan Nelson said the revamped Peace is something these days most of us It is important … absolutely essential … gallery would remain largely take for granted even though we that we always remember the sacrifices consistent with the vision of admire and appreciate what was done in made so that we may now live free. historian Charles Bean, who the past on our behalf. saw the memorial as holding Over the decades, many selfless men and the spirit of those who fought women have nobly and proudly worn the and died in WW1. Australian uniform to defend our shores MICHAEL McCORMACK MP “We commemorate the and the lands of others who uphold the Federal Member for Riverina sacrifices,” Dr Nelson said. “From a population of 4.5 million people, one million FROM KAPOOKA TO A VC men could volunteer. Four LIKE so many of his mates serving in Afghanistan, Corporal hundred and thirty thousand Cameron Stewart Baird VC MG (pictured) graduated from did, 330,000 were sent the Army Recruit Training Centre at Kapooka. In doing so overseas. Sixty-two thousand he inherited the ANZAC spirit, pride, responsibility, role and were dead. Another 60,000 tradition which come from earning and wearing the khaki died within a decade of uniform. Tasmanian-born Cpl Baird (whose name on the returning from the 155,000 AWM Roll of Honour is shown at right) enlisted on 4 January wounded or imprisoned. 2000. He earned his VC for an act of valour and self-sacrifice as a “What we will celebrate is a Commando Team Commander in an attack at Ghawchak village, legacy that has been born of Uruzgan Province, on 22 June 2013. these cataclysmic events that shaped and defined largely COVER: Young Tumut Private Hillary Austin Pike, killed in action at the Battle of Lone Pine, Gallipoli, superimposed on a backdrop of red poppies at the Australian War Memorial’s the way we see ourselves as Roll of Honour. See feature article in the centre pages. Australians and relate to one another in the world today OFFICES OF MICHAEL McCORMACK: almost a century later.” CANBERRA: PO Box 6022, Parliament House, ACT 2600 P: 6277 4725 F: 6277 8563 GRIFFITH: 100 Yambil Street P: 6964 1212 F: 6962 7722 WAGGA WAGGA: Suite 2 11-15 Fitzmaurice Street P: 6921 4600 F: 6921 5900 E: [email protected] www.michaelmccormack.com.au https://twitter.com/M_McCormackMP GUNDAGAI GAVE MIGHTILY FAR too many names with a cross arriving in Sandakan Harbour 11 beside them are inscribed on days later. Gundagai’s imposing main street war Pte Smith, aged 36 and one of dozens of locals captured by the Japanese, died memorial which is dedicated to those from illness on 7 June 1945. who served in the World Wars, Korea When the war was over there were and Vietnam. about 30 Gundagai men in captivity but thankfully a good number returned, Amongst those who never made it home including brothers Jack and James from the 1939-45 conflict was Francis (“Paddy”) Heydon. Albert Oliver Smith who died as a PoW: Private Francis Smith Prisoner of War not long before World Sadly the town also mourned for War II ended. 28-year-old Sgt Abbie McAlister, one of six brothers from Gundagai who had The son of Thomas and Ethel and gone off to do their duty, who died in a husband of Dorothy of South Gundagai, PoW camp in Thailand, on 12 December Private Smith enlisted on 26 March 1941. 1943 as well as for Pte George He was one of more than 2000 Allies Hutchings, 25, who died just eight days held in the infamous Sandakan PoW later on the Burma Railway. camp in North Borneo, having been transferred there from Singapore as a part of B Force. The 1494 PoWs who comprised B Force were taken from Changi on 7 July 1942 on board the tramp ship Ubi Maru,

REMEMBERED: Francis Smith’s name on Australian War Memorial’s Roll of Honour (top) and the Gundagai cenotaph (above), the foundation stone of which was laid on 24 May 1928 and which features as the main picture on this page. DESPERATE PLEA: Alice Pike’s letter seeking answers from authorities, long after her boy Hillary bravely fell at Gallipoli. A mother aches for her Tumut son

THE anguished words of a distressed mother spell out from the main assaults against Sari Bair, Chunuk Bair and a tale of torment for a lost son amidst the backdrop of Hill 971, which became known as the ANZACs’ August an awful war the scale of which the world had never Offensive. Australia suffered 2277 casualties at Lone Pine and seven known. Diggers earned Victoria Crosses, two posthumously. Alice Pike, living in East Street, Narrandera, wrote her Private Pike’s Australian Red Cross Society Wounded heartfelt letter requesting information about her cherished and Missing Enquiry Bureau Files indicate that he was son Hillary, missing at Gallipoli for nearly 14 months. killed in action but no burial report was ever received; not an unusual occurrence amidst the carnage and mayhem of Her correspondence held little hope for her poor boy: Gallipoli or, indeed, the Western Front in the years which “I feel that he is dead.” followed. By the time she put pen to paper the Australian and Pte Pike’s file was not certified by Australian Imperial New Zealand Army Corps had already long deserted the Force Headquarters until 29 August 1919 – well and truly Turkish Cove (shown in the background photograph on after the 11 November 1918 Armistice. 25 April 1915) where our nationhood was forged yet at which so many of our finest fell. A 22-year-old trapper when he enlisted at Liverpool on 16 January 1915, Pte Pike sailed to war with the 3rd Mrs Pike expressed her sorrow at not knowing Hillary’s Infantry Battalion 5th Reinforcements on HMAT Kyarra fate, especially as he had helped to support his father A55 and landed at Gallipoli on 20 June. Robert and a sister, both invalids, as well as his two other sisters. He gave his all for his country, one of 8709 Australians who died at Gallipoli, to join the pantheon of Riverina The tragic reality – one that Mrs Pike would eventually heroes whose deeds and sacrifice will always be learn – was that Hillary, of Tumut, had been killed in remembered. action on 7 August 1915, one of the deadliest days of the entire Dardanelles campaign. That was the time of the Battle of Lone Pine, a diversionary attack to draw Ottoman attention away

TROOP SHIP: HMAT Kyarra A55, which took Hillary Pike to war.

IMMORTALISED: Hillary Pike’s name on the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour. TELL YOUR WAR STORY STRIKE FIGHTER: The Beaufighter named Tumbarumba. BOUYED by the achievement of her first book Gundagai Goes To War in April 2010, TUMBARUMBA’S ‘WHISPERING DEATH’ author Rachel Murray (pictured) is looking to update the work with NOT only did Tumbarumba volunteer The origin of this nickname is generally more biographies of local enthusiastically to assist Australia’s attributed to Japanese troops. servicemen and women. World War II efforts, the town’s name The Beaufighter was also operated by “There is so much history was carried proudly into the skies on a seven RAAF squadrons – 455 and 456 with those who served from in Europe as well as 22, 30, 31, 92 and Gundagai, Tumut, Adelong, fighter plane. 93 in the South-West Pacific Area. Grahamstown and surrounds Emblazoned across the nose of Squadron 456 operated the Beaufighter I felt compelled to put a book as a night-fighter, 455 in a specialised together so future generations this Beaufighter 21 aircraft, serial number A8-250, was Tumbarumba, maritime strike configuration and the have it as a record of just how others as a general strike aircraft. significant the contribution acknowledging the Snowy Mountains was from this district,” town which contributed so greatly in In total, 5584 Beaufighters were built Rachel said. manpower and so many other ways – on between 1939 and 1946, including the ground, in the air, at sea and on the 365 built in Australia; 581 served with Her first effort contained the home front. RAAF squadrons in Australia and the personal histories of 88 locals South-West Pacific. and Rachel and her friend This picture was taken at the Royal Lena Elphick are hoping more Australian Air Force base at Laverton, Tumbarumba was “struck off ” on 8 information and photographs Victoria, on 25 June 1945 with August 1949 with the last Australian come forward for the next Tumbarumba being home built, one Beaufighter retired from service in 1957. publication. of 365 by the Department of Aircraft Production (DAP). Anyone wishing to submit words or pictures on behalf “Fast, robust, and able to carry a of their family should e-mail wide and heavy range of armaments, SPECIFICATIONS Rachel, who is a learning the Bristol Beaufighter proved Bristol/DAP Beaufighter 21 (Mk TF.X) support officer at Gundagai to be one of the most successful High School, at: British-designed strike aircraft of Type: Strike fighter [email protected] the Second World War,” according Entered service: to the Australian War Memorial. 1944 Crew: 2 “Fitted with airborne interception Wing span: 17.63m radar from November 1940 onwards, Length: 12.7m it also proved a capable night Weight (unladen): fighter.” 7076kg Ceiling: 5791m The first Beaufighters did not arrive Endurance: in Australia until March 1942. Maximum range 2365km Speed: 515 km/h In the Asia-Pacific theatre of war Armament: the Beaufighter was nicknamed 4 x 20-mm cannons, “Whispering Death” due to its quiet 4 x .5-in machine-guns, 907kg of engines and heavy firepower. bombs or 8 x 41kg rockets 2014 ANZAC DAY SERVICE times and venues SNOWY MOUNTAINS: Winton Street. ADELONG TUMBLONG 9.45am Pilgrimage to Adelong 9am Service at memorial, Saint Cemetery to lay flowers on James’s Anglican Church, graves of recently deceased ex- Adelong Road. servicemen and women. 10am Contingents assemble in front TUMUT (Includes Brungle, Lacmalac) of Services and Citizens Club, 6am Dawn service at cenotaph in Tumut Street. Richmond Park, corner of Russell, Capper and Robertson 10.45am Service at cenotaph in Memorial Park, corner Lynch Streets. and O’Neill Streets. 10.15am March leaves from front of the 11am Wreath laying at cenotaph. fire station. 11.15am Combined service at 10.30am Main service at cenotaph. Grahamstown-Shepardstown WAGGA WAGGA monument, Tumut Street. 5.45am Dawn service, Victory 11.45am Return to S&C Club. Memorial Gardens cenotaph. 12.30pm Lunch. 6.45am Pilgrimage to Wagga Wagga BATLOW War Cemetery, Kooringal Road. 6am Dawn service at cenotaph, 10.30am Baylis Street march begins. Memorial Park, Park Avenue. 11am March concludes at cenotaph. 3pm March leaves from RSL Club 11.15am Wreath-laying and car park, proceeds to cenotaph. commemorative service. CENTENARY WAR COINS Followed by main service. WALWA, VICTORIA (Includes THE Royal Australian Jingellic) GUNDAGAI (Includes Coolac, Mint, in partnership with Mount Horeb, Tumblong) 10am Service, cenotaph in Walwa’s main street (Murray River the Department of Veterans’ 6am Dawn service at ANZAC Affairs and the Australian Grove. Road), followed by free lunch provided by Walwa-Jingellic War Memorial, has produced 10.30am Gather and march from Family Lions Club then two-up with a collection of superb Hotel, Sheridan Street. proceeds to Legacy. commemorative coins which 11am Main service at cenotaph, top capture the history, service end of Sheridan Street. Capital city services: and sacrifice of Australians at NANGUS CANBERRA war. A number of coins, some To be commemorated on Thursday 1 May. 5.30am Dawn service at the Australian for currency and others to be 10.30am Service at Public School, War Memorial. uncirculated, will be struck to Hulong Street. Includes 6.30am Aboriginal and Torres Strait mark The Great War centenary. speeches by Gundagai RSL Islander ceremony, Aboriginal There will also be a unique $5 Sub-Branch and Kapooka Memorial Plaque, Mt Ainslie. fine silver proof triangular Army Base representatives. 10.15am National ceremony at the coin – Lest We Forget – (pictured) which will retail for TALBINGO Australian War Memorial and Veterans’ march. $85. For more information 6am Dawn service at Miles Franklin visit www.ramint.gov.au Park. SYDNEY TUMBARUMBA (Includes 4.15am Dawn service, Martin Place cenotaph. PLEASE NOTE: All Khancoban, Rosewood,Tooma) times and venues have 8.30am Wreath-laying ceremony at 6am Dawn service at District War been supplied in good Memorial, corner of Bridge and the cenotaph, Martin Place. Winton Streets. faith by various RSL 9am ANZAC Day march starting Sub-Branch officials and 6.30am Cheese and biscuits at the at Martin Place/George Street/ were correct at the time Memorial Hall. Bathurst Street/Hyde Park. of publication. Every care 7am Travel to cemetery to lay 12.30pm Commemorative service, wreaths on the graves of ex- has been taken to ensure as ANZAC Memorial Park, Hyde many services as possible servicemen and women who Park South. have been included. For have died during the past year. 1.45pm Aboriginal ANZAC Day 10.30am March. verification of other march in Redfern. services please contact your 11am Main service at cenotaph. 5pm Sunset service at the cenotaph, local RSL Sub-Branch. Noon Lunch at the Bowling Club, Martin Place. ANZAC WRITING SUCCESS RIVERINA school children have been busy penning, typing and colouring in their entries for the 2014 ANZAC Day writing awards with a record 1200 submissions received in the fourth annual competition. The number easily exceeds that of previous years. Authors of the best secondary and primary entries from the four regions within the Riverina will receive book prizes from the Australian War Memorial. Juan Mahony’s magnificent hard cover work The Digger’s View – WWI In Colour – is the reward for the senior students whilst the young winners will enjoy the magnificent RIVERINA and locally significant picture book Along the Road to Gundagai, beautifully illustrated by MARCHES ON Andrew McLean to the famous 1922 song lyrics by Jack O’Hagan. Each student who sent in an entry will receive a commemorative signed certificate. EVERY year on ANZAC Day, Winning entries from the Snowy Mountains feature on this page. When Autumn’s halfway through, I think of the ANZAC soldiers, remember with pride And all their hardships too. ON ANZAC Day we remember them, We remember the I think of all their sacrifices, Those who gave their lives all those ANZACs and their In the name of freedom and brave men. trust. We take time to look back at the people peace. When we arrive at the And all their bravery fighting, who died, We march for them with love and pride. tall cenotaph, So the “The war to end all We line up and rest wars” may cease. We remember the people who gave their from our march. Serena Petty, I think of all their pain, lives, We have a moment of They were shot by guns or stabbed by 11,Year 6, And all their courage too, silence, Saint Patrick’s For they faced their deepest knives. And think about all Primary School, fears, Or killed by explosions and carried a the violence. Gundagai With horrendous conditions gun, too. So that we could live in our country and We lay wreaths in honour of those men, have some fun. Who saved us from the enemy. But most of all I think about, We look at the men standing still, How the ANZAC legend lives, When we march down the street, And think about all those who were And the pride in the Riverina, We can feel our feet dancing to the killed. That thinking about it gives. band’s beat. We wave and smile at the people Although I feel very proud, The legend speaks of courage, watching us, I wish that they did not have to drop to Mateship and resourcefulness the ground. too. And I know the ANZAC centenary, We stand their watching and waiting for And their ability to have them to speak, humour, In my Riverina will be immense, But while that’s happening I think of Despite the adversity they For the pride I see day to day, those willing to seek. went through. Is anything but dense. So this year on the hundredth So this year on ANZAC Day, As we march back up the street, anniversary, When Autumn’s halfway through, We are smiling proud of the ANZACs Of the start of World War My Riverina will be who fought in the heat. One, marching down the We think of those who we love, I’ll be marching down the street, While smiling like a white dove. And I will be there street, When we sit at home on our beds, too. Through rain or storm or sun. We think of those who were scared in their heads. And many in the Riverina, Madeline Rusconi, Will be marching with me as 15, Year 10, I feel very proud of today, well, McAuley Catholic Ninety-nine years later they are still in For thinking of the ANZACs, Central School, their graves. Makes our hearts swell. Tumut Lest we forget! Authorised by Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack MP, Suite 2 11-15 Fitzmaurice Street Wagga Wagga NSW 2650. Printed by Chambers Whyte Design and Print, 5 Rabaul Place Wagga Wagga NSW 2650.