Official Magazine of WODEN VALLEY SUB-BRANCH R.S.L.

The SERVICEMAN

First Published in January 1962

CHRISTMAS EDITION NOVEMBER 2018

Honour their Spirit Handcrafted Poppy display at the AWM representing the 62,000 lives lost during World War I. 1 CONTENTS

Office Bearers –– 2018-2019 Page 3 From the Editor’s desk Page 4 President’s Message Page 5 Vietnam Citation for Bravery Page 7 Honour their Spirit Page 9 Vale Lt Cdr J.J. Ravenscroft Page 10 Women in War Page 11 Recollections of Ethel Muller Page 12 . “Lest We Forget” and Last Post Page 14 Inside the Rock of Gibraltar Page 15 Invictus Page 17 Poppy Appeal and Office Hours 2018-2019 Page 18 Presentation of Meritorious Service Medal Page 19 Australian Jewish War Memorial Page 20 The Eddison Day Club Page 21 VLO Carmen Webb Farewell Page 23 HMAS Harman speech by Pauline Gribble Page 24 Memorial service HMAS Harman Page 26 OGM Dinner - 30th October Page 27 Jean McAlister - Working for the General Page 28 You too can defeat RDS Page 31 With friends like that ..... ? Page 32 Horrie - The Wog Dog Page 33 Entertainment - Les Cook Page 34 Wings and Missing - Helen Wilson AM Page 35

ADVERTISERS Sub-Branch Christmas Party Page 18 Grantley Perry & Sons Page 22 Canberra Southern Cross Club Page 30 Sub-Branch Services Page 36 Notice Unless specifically stated otherwise, the experiences and opinions expressed in any article are those of the author and do not represent the official position of, or endorsement by the RSL, or by The Serviceman as a journal. No responsibility is accepted by the RSL, the editor, or the publishers and printers, for the accuracy of information contained in the journal. The RSL is not liable for inaccuracy in any advertisement and does not accept responsibility for any claims made by advertisers. Any material considered misleading or inappropriate will be withheld at editorial discretion.

2 The SERVICEMAN OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE WODEN VALLEY RSL SUB-BRANCH (INC) RETURNED & SERVICES LEAGUE OF AUSTRALIA

Editor: Printed inhouse Bob Cremer in the Sub-Branch 14/27 Mulley Street, office Holder ACT 2611

ISSN 1325-4588(Print) ISSN 2207-9815(Online) Vol 53 NOVEMBER 2018 No 3 OFFICE BEARERS 2018-19 Patron His Excellency Mr Chris Seed, New Zealand High Commissioner to Australia President Jim Gilchrist Deputy President Brooke Thorpe Immediate Past President Peter McFetters (formerly Peter Collas) Vice President Neil Horn, Peter Eveille Secretary: Greg Kennett Treasurer: Jan Properjohn Assistant Secretary: Chris Hammond Assistant Treasurer: Alex Meiliunus Board Members Peter Dinham, Anthony John, Alex Meiliunas Finance Committee Neil Horn, Peter Dinham, Ken Neil Office Manager: Joyce O’Brien Chaplain: Reverend Mick O’Donnell Entitlements & Advocacy Administrator: Andrew Properjohn Community Support Co-ordinator: Florence Sofield Volunteer Coordinator: Rani Kalimeris Receptionists: Lynnda Liversey, Alex Solecka

The Sub-Branch meets on the last Tuesday of each month except April and December at the Canberra Southern Cross Club, Corinna Street, Phillip at 7.00pm. Membership Subscription is due on 1st January annually and should be posted to Grant Cameron Community Centre, 14/27 Mulley St, Holder ACT 2611. The Sub-Branch phone number and for ‘The Serviceman’ [02] 6285 1931. Email: [email protected] Web: www.rslwoden.org.au E&A: [email protected] Welfare: [email protected] Office Hours: Monday to Friday 0900-1500

3 FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK Bob Cremer

Honour their Spirit and Supreme Sacrifice. The poppy display at the on this the 100th Anniversary of WWI, it is a very poignant reminder of the tragic events of War. While we look at numbers generally, it has much more effect with a visual display of poppies each representing a life lost as a result of war; all a tragic loss of mostly young lives. Whilst he was not related at the time of his death, my Mother’s eldest brother, Arthur was killed at Mont St Quentin on 31st August, 1918, so I can claim that one of the displayed poppies is representing my uncle. A tragic loss along with all the others at the time - he was only 20 years old.

It would appear that the INVICTUS GAMES were a resounding success with men and women from all of the services competing, not just for a medal but to be part of a large group of injured veterans coming together as part of their healing process. An amazing initiative by HRH Prince Harry and the team that put INVICTUS together. No doubt that it will be just as successful in the coming years in participating countries.

NSW National Parks Pass - Discount for ACT Seniors Card Holders.

COTA ACT has been working with NSW National Parks and have an arrangement where ACT Seniors Card holders can obtain a discount of up to 20% on annual park entrance fees.

Verification of eligibility can be confirmed by contacting COTA ACT or via the Parks website: www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/passes-and-fees/annual-passes

FALL IN

A warm welcome is extended to the following new members. David Jenkins, Rodney Jaffray, Lindsay Naylor, Josef Simecek, Marcus Quinlivan, Neil Johnson, William Rudd, Liam O’Toole, Tracey Puxty, Alec Phillips

4 President’s Message Jim Gilchrist

Once again, it’s my pleasure to note we have been constructively busy since the last edition of The Serviceman. Our staff and volun- teers continue to provide excellent support to our members and other veterans and their families in the ACT and region. We consolidated much of this work in our submission to the Veterans’ Advocacy and support service Scoping Study a few months ago. This submission summarised some of our history, noted our outline organisation and highlighted the services we provide to our members and clients. We also raised a few issues we believe will contribute to the continuing future and success of veterans’ advocacy. For those of you who would like some late-night reading, our submission is available on our website or you could ask the office staff to provide you with a copy.

In thanking our people, I repeat my concerns that our success is a double-edged sword in that it is satisfying to achieve good outcomes and continue to do the right thing, but our notoriety also attracts more clients. Fortunately, we have recently attracted some volunteers to assist with various welfare tasks and to the pensions area. However, the present situation is one in which the more the merrier applies!

From a service delivery perspective, the VSC continued to attract many new clients, many of whom are presenting with complex claims and appeals, and a wide range of welfare issues: these numbers are showing no signs of abating. Our program to induct and train pension officers and welfare volunteers continues to evolve, particularly as we negotiate the new ATDP system. I encourage anyone who wants to have a go, to come along and we will find you a job!

While we continue to negotiate issues that affect the availability of and access to services, we have consolidated some new and useful contacts at the organisational and individual levels. These relation- ships will be critical to our continued ability to assist members and clients access essential services.

The Day Club continued to support our older members and others in the community who might otherwise be socially isolated. While the club has attracted some new volunteers, it will always welcome more. Concurrently, the monthly Burrangiri lunches organised by the Welfare Team pro- vide another opportunity to engage with older members, while also promoting the relative merits of respite care, and possible moves to residential aged-care.

A highlight of the general support we provide to members is recorded elsewhere in this edition. The Welfare Team escorted three of our female members to attend the Last Post Ceremony at the AWM as part of the Honouring Women commemorations. These three WWII veterans each met the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, the Director of the AWM and various other people of interest. >>> 5 At a Branch level, we continue to raise our concerns about the 2018 National March and services. Although we have not yet received formal feedback, we expect that most of these issues will be addressed for 2019.

Our coffee catch-ups for younger veterans are continuing each Friday, with an open invitation to all members and others to drop-in between 10:30am and noon for coffee and good company. While attendance at these sessions varies from not very many to a few, we hit a personal best a few weeks ago when about 25 people attended. All attendees appreciated this opportunity and most have said that they will be back. These sessions are informal, they are open to anyone and they provide an excellent opportunity to welcome potential new members and other interested parties to our Sub-Branch and VSC.

Having again been late in submitting this report to our Editor, I apologise to Bob for making him wait and take the opportunity to thank him for the work he does to produce this excellent publication. My tardiness also allows me to report on the October OGM Dinner, at which the Deputy President of the Repatriation Commission, Craig Orme, reflected on the importance of the ESO community as a whole and highlighted the continued relevance of volunteers who support veterans in ways and to the extent that DVA cannot do. We intend to provide a more detailed report in the next edition of The Serviceman, as his comments were very positive and reassuring. Craig did, however note a few issues that we should monitor to ensure we remain relevant and responsive to veterans of all ages, and, where appropriate, to their families.

Although we have been unable to provide a formal tribute to her, I note the recent passing of Professor Beverley Raphael, whom many of you will know or have heard about. Beverley was an eminent psychiatrist who pioneered much of the doctrine relating to disaster medicine and the effects that trauma has on people. In addition to her work with the general population in Australia and overseas, Beverley worked extensively with veterans in relation to PTSD and other mental health issues; she was instrumental in the development and evolution of the Repatriation Medical Authority, and was a good friend to, and tireless worker for, veterans and the veteran community. Many suvivors of the HMAS Voyager disaster will remember her well.

In closing, I again thank our staff, volunteers and other members for their efforts to support veterans in the ACT and beyond. I look forward to working with the Board and others to ensure this support will continue to be available well into the future.

Poppy sales underway in Cooleman Court Weston, with Chris Hammond and Bill Rush attending

6 Unit Citation for Gallantry

The Governor-General is pleased to announce the following and award of the Unit Citation for Gallantry: 1st Australian Task Force (Forward) Headquarters 1st Australian Task Force (Forward) 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment 3rd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment A Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment C Squadron, 1st Armoured Regiment 12th Field Regiment, Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery 1st Field Squadron, Royal Australian Engineers Detachments in direct support of and located with 1st Australian Task Force (Forward)

For extraordinary gallantry in action in the Dinh Duong/Bien Hoa Provinces of South Vietnam from 12th May 1968 to 6th June 1968, during Operation THOAN THANG.

By His Excellency’s Command Mark Fraser LVO OAM Official Secretary to the Governor-General

On 12th May 1968, the 1st Australian Task Force (Forward) (1 ATF (Fwd)) deployed into Area of Operations (AO) SURFERS on the border of the Dinh Duong/Bien Hoa Provinces of South Vietnam. Their task was to establish two Fire Support Patrol Bases (FSPB) from which to mount patrols to interdict enemy infiltration and supply routes between War Zone D and Saigon. Intelligence had informed the Task Force that at least five enemy regiments were known to be operating in the vicinity of AO SURFERS and prepared to mount attacks against Saigon and the United States military base at Bien Hoa. It was believed that the forces the Australians would operate against were disorganised and withdrawing from Saigon after protracted combat in the Saigon area.

FSPB Coral was occupied late on 12th May by the headquarters and guns from the 12th Field Regi- ment, mortars and anti-tank crews from the 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (1 RAR), and personnel deployed to set up the Task Force headquarters. Unknown to the commanders, the area chosen for the insertion was the forward staging area of two regiments from the 7th Division of the People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN) which was preparing to advance on Saigon. The Australians had only enough time to prepare basic fighting positions when the PAVN forces launched human wave attacks against the hastily-prepared defences. >>>

7 At around 1:45am on the morning of 13th May, the enemy launched their first attack with rocket propelled grenades and heavy, accurate mortar fire, followed by a ground assault against the 1 RAR mortar position. With support from the guns of 102 Battery of 12th Field Regiment firing over open sights, the mortar crews held their ground, but elsewhere enemy forces penetrated the position and threatened to capture the guns. In the darkness, gun crews, men from the divisional locating battery and anti-tank platoon, and headquarters personnel on their own initiative mounted repeated counter-attacks to clear the enemy from the position. With the arrival of US helicopters and ‘Spooky’ gunships, the defences were held and shortly after first light the enemy withdrew.

The next day the defences were strengthened by troops from 1 RAR and Armoured Personnel Carriers of A Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment. The arrival of the United States’ M109 self-pro- pelled artillery from Battery A of the 2nd/25th Artillery Regiment and the M42A1 ‘Duster’ tracked anti-aircraft vehicles from 5th/2nd Air Defence Battery, gave the defenders much needed additional firepower. Engineers from the 1st Field Squadron worked around the clock to harden the defensive position and help establish a Task Force Maintenance Area to provide continuous logistical support to the deployed Task Force.

Over the next two weeks further attacks were mounted against the FSPB, but the arrival of Cen- turion tanks from C Squadron, 1st Armoured Regiment and direct support from helicopters from 9th Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force and 161 Reconnaissance Flight, added to the defenders ability to repulse repeated regimental size assaults. FSPB Coogee had been initially established by 3rd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR), with tanks from C Squadron, however the greater threat identified in the north of AO SURFERS saw them redeployed to occupy FSPB Balmoral on 24th May. Two days later FSPB Balmoral was attacked by a suspected regimental sized enemy force. This attack was defeated by the combined firepower of the tanks and infantry fighting from well prepared positions. A further attack mounted on 28th May was also defeated by supporting fire from the tanks, infantry and accurate mortar fire.

For two more weeks the Australian forces, supported by US and New Zealand artillery, continuously mounted fighting patrols against the enemy entrenched in bunker systems within AO SURFERS. Operating out of FSPBs Coral and Balmoral, the Australians aggressively sought out and defeated well prepared, highly motivated and well supplied enemy forces in fierce, close-quarter fighting. The aggression shown by the Australian forces and the combat support troops deployed forward working long hours over a long period and under arduous conditions, supported by US and New Zealand air assets and artillery, significantly contributed to the failure of the North Vietnamese forces to mount coordinated attacks against Saigon and Bien Hoa.

With limited experience at fighting high intensity combined armour/infantry engagements, the Australians demonstrated extraordinary gallantry in the defence of FSPBs Coral and Balmoral. The exceptional leadership and soldiering skills of all members of 1 ATF (Fwd) and their sustained outstanding performance in the face of overwhelming odds during the largest and most hazardous battle of the Vietnam War were in the finest tradition of the and the Australian Defence Forces.

8 Honour their Spirit

A display of 62,000 handcrafted, red poppies on the grounds of the Australian War Memorial is the centrepiece of commemorations, symbolically representing Australian lives lost during WWI.

Visitors can walk around the Sculpture Garden on the Memorial’s western grounds to view this moving display. Each poppy has been created by a volunteer and represents an Australian life lost. The names of those lost are individually listed on the Memorial’s Roll of Honour.

The recently dedicated statue of Sir John Monash is surrounded by the poppy display. The accompanying plaque reads:

GENERAL SIR JOHN MONASH GCMG KCB VD (1865-1931)

An ANZAC, Commander of the Australian Corps, Scholar and Engineer, Monash is widely regarded as one of Australia’s greatest military and civilian leaders. This sculpture commemorates Monash’s legacy as an outstanding General of the first World War and his dedication to civic duty in the years after the war. Dedicated by: Lieutenant General Angus Campbell AO DSC, Chief of Army.

Mr Kerry Stokes AC The Honourable Chairman of the Council Dr Brendan Nelson AO of the Director of the Australian War Memorial Australian War Memorial

4 July 2018 9 Vale Lieutenant Commander John Ravenscroft VRD, RAN (Retd)

John Joseph Ravenscroft, aged 97, died on Saturday 28th July 2018 in Vincentia NSW. He was the last surviving crew member of HMAS (II) who served on both the Australian and the Mediterranean stations.

Born on 10th May 1921 in Subiaco, Western Australia, he entered the Reserve in 1939 as an Ordinary Seaman. He was mobilised for war service on 31st August 1939 and joined HMAS Sydney in September 1939. Promoted to Able Seaman in 1940, he served on Sydney throughout her service in Australian waters and in the Mediterranean between May 1940 and January 1941, and was a member of ‘X’ Turret gun crew when she sank the Italian destroyer Espero on 28th June 1940 and the Italian light Cruiser Bartolomeo Colleoni on 19th July 1940. Suffering eye problems in June 1941, he transferred to the Writer category and remained onboard, but was posted off to the shore Depot HMAS Leeuwin on 26th October 1941. Less than 4 weeks later HMAS Sydney was sunk off the Western Australian coast on 19th November 1941 with the loss of all 645 crew.

He was selected as an Officer candidate and undertook training at HMAS Cerberus and on completion promoted to Supply Sub-Lieu- tenant and posted to HMAS Melville (Darwin) in 1943 as the Captain’s Secretary. Promoted to Lieutenant in May 1945, he was the Supply Officer on HMAS Moresby, which served in northern Australian waters and was present at the Japanese Surrender at Koepang (Kupang) in Timor on 11th September 1945.

Demobilised from the RAN Reserve on 30th September 1946 he re- joined the RANR in 1949 and was awarded the Volunteer Reserve Decoration in 1951. He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in June 1957 and retired in 1981. John as a young officer and (left) HMAS Sydney (II) When Sydney (II) was found ten years ago, John generously gave evidence to the Board of Inquiry, which must have been a difficult duty for him, but was of great assistance to the inquiry. He had previously been honoured by the Navy when he was escorted from his retirement village in Vincentia to Sydney for the official decommissioning of HMAS Sydney (IV) on Saturday 7th November 2015. (The Service- man, ANZAC Edition, April 2016) >>>

10 John with the Commanding Officer of HMAS Sydney (IV) Lieutenant Commander David Murphy and be- low with His Excellency, Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd) and Lady Cosgrove at the decommissioning ceremony.

He was farewelled at a funeral service at the Shoalhaven Crematorium, Nowra on 3rd August, 2018 with an RSL Tribute provided by the RSL Sub-Branch at Huskisson. On a return visit to Jervis Bay on 7-9 September, we scattered his ashes on the Bay in accordance with his wishes.

Women in War

At the Women in War - Last Post Ceremony on 11th Septem- ber 2018, the Sub-Branch arranged for Sub-Branch members, Terri Lessels (standing), Jean McAlister and Ethel Muller to be in attendance. These three impressive WWII ladies can share an amazing 293 years of life experiences between them.

Sadly, Ethel Muller passed away on 30th September, just before her 102nd birthday.

As well as the three ladies above, the Ceremony was also attended by Sub-Branch Deputy President, Brooke Thorpe, his wife Jacqui, Jane Hiatt and Peter Eveille.

11 AANS Australian Army Nursing Service The Experiences of Ethel E. Dawson 1939-1946 [Recollections of Ethel Elizabeth Muller(nee Dawson)

Established in 1902, the AANS - (much later becoming the Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps) was the oldest of all the women’s ser- vices. Prior to this, during the Boer War, medical officers recommended having female nurses in army hospitals, but a report at the time stated that “this may lead to flirtations”. Up to this time, men had attended to the sick and wounded - at least, since Florence Nightingale’s Young Ladies in the Crimea (1857).

Thirteen nurses sailed from NSW to South Africa in 1900 and were posted to various locations including East London, Sterkstroom and Bloemfontaine. Conditions were difficult with poor equipment and uniforms that included long bulky dresses with corsets and bonnets.

In 1914, 24 nurses embarked from Australia. They served in France, England, Egypt, Palestine, Italy, Burma, India and Greece. Not commissioned initially, they were later commissioned as Colonel and Major for Matrons, Captains for senior staff and Lieutenant for junior sisters. No saluting was expected, but men usually did salute them, and one was expected to smile in acknowledgement.

1940 - WWII. The AANS served in the Western Desert, England and on hospital ships and served all over the South West Pacific. Many lost their lives in POW camps and in incidences such as the sinking of the Hospital ship Centaur. Also well documented was the Banka Island Massacre with one surviving nurse, Vivian Bulwinkel.

My part in the AANS. After signing up in July 1942, I had just finished Midwifery and was on the staff of Queen Victorial Hospital when told to report immediately to the Heidleburg Military Hospital. I was 23 years old - the youngest accepted into the service. With 6 other Sisters, I did as instructed, was interviewed, given a medical exam and after fittings, issued with street and working uniforms.

My first job at Heidelberg was in the Officer’s ward. Some were very sick, others up and conva- lescing. When fit enough, they could obtain day or weekend leave. After six months at Heidelberg, I transferred to 1st Australian Orthopaedic Unit Frankston, formerly the convalescent branch of the Royal Children’s Hospital. This hospital near the beach had open-sided wards with canvas roll-up blinds and could be very windy and unpleasant doing night rounds with a torch. After 12 months there, mainly recovery and bone surgery, the unit was transferred to Toowoomba Army HQ.

Twelve months later, I had just finished operating on a young soldier when told to pack my gear and catch the train to Tamworth to join 2/9 AGH (an AIF Unit). Arriving at Tamworth at 3:00am and with nobody to meet me I secured a ride with a nursing aide to the camp. After a week in this camp awaiting departure for an overseas destination (the details of which were not revealed) three of us were sent to Cooma in southern NSW to help out as they were short of staff. >>>

12 I spent six weeks in Cooma on night duty and spent most days on the golf course. After six weeks we were notified to report to Newcastle to join a Hospital ship, AHS Wanganella. On arrival, we beheld the ship at the wharf lit up like a Christmas tree for identification at sea. We had eleven days onboard with activities of feeling sick, boat drill, card playing and deck games. After the eleven days, the Captain notified the command personnel at Morotai where we were met by American landing barges circling us to transport us to landing stages some distance away.

After settling in camp, we worked on various wards, on day and night shifts looking after wounded soldiers suffering tropical diseases. Each ward contained about 30, with personnel from the North- West Frontier of India who had been badly treated by the Japanese in POW camps in Amboina. They were handsome fellows with long hair covered with turbans and black beards which they used to plait each night so they would be curly the next day. One day, we were told a Japanese invasion party was approaching the island and to stand by the patients and wait.

We heard horrifying stories of Japanese behaviour with hospital patients and nurses, so we feared the worst. Fortunately, for some reason, they were diverted in another direction. We soon became as yellow as daffodils with the Atropine anti-malerial tabets we had to take.

American bomber squadrons were stationed on the island and we often admired the smart uniforms of the American nurses which were thought more stylish than ours. Off-duty passtimes were mainly swimming and surfboard riding as the climate was hot and sticky. Occasionally, groups of us were taken out in army ducks for picnics on nearby islands. One had to watch out when swimming for the shockwaves in the water if soldiers were ‘fishing’, by stunning fish with hand grenades. Sharks were another concern.

The Dutch civilian administration also still had a few officers on the island, as prior to the war, it had been Dutch territory. We went to their Officers Mess one night for my first taste of Nasi Goreng; it was very nice! Apart from that, we used to receive invitations to dinner from Captains of Amer- ican ships in the harbour. We were allowed to go if accompanied by an armed Australian officer.

On many nights, the Japanese bombers would bomb the harbour close to the hospital. The ear splitting bangs used to be frightening, so we put on our tin hats. We had no air-raid shelters, but the psychological effect of the helmets was probably useful.

Heat rash due to excessive perspiration was also a major problem; all that could be done was to shower often and use lots of talcum powder.

Finally, I returned home in 1946, disembarking in Sydney Harbour. Everything in my kit smelt musty, but what a great feeling to be home!

Ethel with one of her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

13 LEST WE FORGET “The price of Liberty is Eternal Vigilance”

“They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them”.

Americans Sapper Bert Beros The Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels and other verses. . .’

At home you see them in streets, With gaiters on like spats, The navy men in nice blue suits, And funny porky hats. Those flash marines in fancy clothes, Are like a small-town band, With downstairs stripes and medals on, And girlies by the hand. You might hear someone going crook, But he will be a crank, If we were in the USA, You bet we’d have a yank. For Ginger Meggs and Uncle Sam, Good cobbers are today; Australia has a lot of thanks, To give the USA.

[Written at Soputa, Papua. I met these Americans going into action, their first time on the north coast of Papua]

William Schleiger, Ralph Sullivan, Keith Revill, Irene Coping, Geoffrey Carter, Horace Doyle, Norman Alexander, Keith Goodwin, Leonard Griffith, Thomas Hopkinson, Ethel Muller, Paulette Raison

14 Inside the Rock of Gibraltar Ros Crawley

Whilst visiting the beautiful tax free haven of Gi- braltar recently, we took a tour inside the Rock of Gibraltar to the secret labyrinth of WWII tunnels. My husband John was fascinated as he did not know much about the tunnel’s existence, even though he visited Gibraltar in 1967 whilst working with the Royal Navy. Gibraltar is just 6.8km2 in size including the Rock. Gibraltar was reluctantly ceded to Great Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht, the British garrison formally declared a colony in 1830. The Rock itself rises 426 metres above sea level, and remains strategically important even today. In 1940 the British Army, anticipating hostilities with Germany commenced drilling deep into the Rock to create a huge underground fortress with a view to pro- tecting British troops from aerial bombing raids. The 55km length of tunnels was ultimately constructed by a Canadian Mining Company following the failure of the British to make any headway into construction into the limestone rock on their own.

Tunnels were certainly not a new thing to the Rock as the first tunnels were excavated in the late 18th century and served as communication passages between artillery positions and housed guns within embrasures cut into the North Face. Gibraltar’s first tunnels were constructed by hand in a slow, backbreaking but remarkably long-lasting method of excavation. More tunnels were constructed in the 19th century to allow easier access to remote areas of Gibraltar and accommodate stores and reservoirs to deliver the water supply of Gibraltar. In 1949, the finished tunnels housed everything 16,000 soldiers needed to survive for 16 months - a telephone exchange, a generating station, a water desalination plant, a hospital ward, a bakery, a frozen food store, munitions stores and a station to repair damaged vehicles and passageways.

The mile-long complex includes this large chamber, named the Great North Road. The tunnel is one of the largest man made underground spaces without roof supports. The separate passages leading off the main 60ft-wide tunnel ‘highway’ were named after British districts and cities so soldiers knew how to get around. The place names include Maida Vale, Peter- borough, Doncaster and Durham. The tunnels were so well positioned and equipped that General Dwight Eisenhower used the Admiralty Tunnel for the Allied Command Headquarters in 1942 to plan the allied invasion of North Africa. >>>

15 Water continually drips off the roof as it makes its way through the limestone rock., you will note from the photos that there are runoff channels to carry away excess water. We wore hard hats and raincoats with hoods or we would have been drenched and in places the floor was very slippery. We envisaged life in the tunnels could not have been much fun as everything was continually damp, bedding, food and nowhere to get away from the damp. Rotation in the sun occurred infrequently but there were occasional ‘windows’ in the rock for fresh air. Abandoned rooms off a tunnel leading to the underground Calpe Hospital and right, a ‘window’ looking out over the existing airfield and Gibraltar Cemetery. Birds nest just outside and the wind whistles eerily verifying the height we are above sea level.

The tunnel network is so big that it needed its own power supply. The Calpe Hole Generating Station, (below) supplied power to all areas under the Rock along the Great North Road.

Guides told us women and children were evacuated when hostilities broke out in 1942 and sent back to Britain where they fared much worse from bombing than if they had stayed in Gibraltar, which as it happened, was never attacked. The only females left during the war were nursing staff who had security guards to protect them from any unwanted attention of the 16,000 soldiers. Peterborough Chambers (pictured below) are located half way through the main Great North Road. This large open space was one of the underground WWII wards at Calpe Hospital.

Barbary apes or Macaques, which infest the rock, although not in the tunnels, are part of the rock history. A popular belief during WWII was that as long as

Barbary macaques exist on Gibraltar, the territory will remain under British rule. However, during WWII, there were just 7 left but the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, ordered that new ones be brought from North Africa to replenish the colony. Now about 300 of them wander around the rock, stealing food from unsuspecting tourists. The apes themselves, although roaming freely, are looked after by the local Government. >>>

16 Tunnelling of the rock ceased in 1968. After the war, the tunnels were kept intact in case they should ever be needed again. Above ground, the Devils Gap Battery, built in 1902, still faces out towards the Spanish coast to guard against enemy warships trying to pass through.

A visit to Gibraltar and the WWII tunnels should not be missed.

INVICTUS Undefeated or Unconquerable –– Latin A poem by William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be, For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance, I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance, My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears, Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years, Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.

HOSPITAL VISITING

The Sub-branch has an ongoing need for volunteers to participate in our Hospital visiting program. The commitment is for one half day each week, for two months per year (eg., March & September). This is not an onerous task for those participating, but comforting to those in hospital. For further information contact the Sub-branch office –– 6285 1931

17 RSL POPPY APPEAL Mon 5th to Sat 10th November 2018 Woden Valley RSL Sub-Branch wishes to acknowledge the partnership between WESTFIELD WODEN, MIRVAC and the Sub-Branch in providing sites in Woden Plaza and Cooleman Court for our Poppy Appeal. Other sites for our Poppy Appeal are Kambah Village Shops, Wanniassa Shops and the Canberra Hospital. These facilities contribute significantly to the success of the Sub-Branch important fundraising activity.

Appeal Coordinators: Jan Properjohn & Chris Hammond

Sub-Branch Notices

Christmas Party Wed 5th Dec 12:00 for 12:30pm CSCC Orion Room

Closing date for the 2018 ANZAC Edition of ‘The Serviceman’ - Fri 15th Feb.

Closure of Sub-Branch Office over the Christmas/New Year Period

The Sub-Branch Office will close at Midday on Friday 14th December 2018, reopening at 0900 on Wednesday 2nd January, 2019.

Christmas Party Wednesday 5th December 2018 Venue ––”Orion Room CSCC” 12.00 for 12.30pm - Dress Casual For Members & Partners Take special note of the time OOWII ‘Gongs’ should be worn. Make a note in your diary for this year’s Christmas Party. Book now at the Sub-Branch office.

18 Presentation of the Meritorious Service Medal

On Friday 19th October 2018, at a special presentation in the AFP Training Building in Barton ACT, attended by AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin and invited guests the following address was given by Gerard Pratt, RSL ACT Branch to a very surprised Gary Brodie OAM.

“Tonight it gives me great pleasure to award you with the Returned and Services League of Aus- tralia’s Meritorious Service Medal.

The Meritorious Service Medal is the League’s highest honour over and above Life Membership. The medal is awarded on a restricted basis to preserve its prestige. There are members within our ranks who have given exceptional service over a sustained period of time and deserve to be acknowledged in a particular way. This award caters for those members. Conditions for the Award of the Meritorious Service Medal are defined in the Articles of Association of The Returned & Ser- vices League of Australia. It is to be awarded only to those already holding Life Membership, and who have had 30 years continuous membership and who have given 25 years outstanding service.

The award comprises: A Medal worn on the right breast whenever Service medals, decorations and awards are worn in the usual place on the left breast, or when the recipient is on official RSL duties or at official RSL functions; A lapel badge in the form of a life member’s badge surrounded by a laurel wreath worn by recipients in place of their previously awarded life member’s lapel badge; and a certificate.

Gary, you have been put forward and awarded the MSM on account of your outstanding service to the League since you joined on the 5th January 1984. Since that time you have: • Served as President of the Peacekeepers Sub-Branch 1994-2018 • Founding Father of AFP Sergeants Mess • Served as Deputy Branch President prior to 2004 and Branch President ACT 2004-2008 • President/Chairman and Trustee Director of RSL Community Care Ltd 2007-2018 • Hon RSL National Vice President for Life 2008 • RSL National Trustee 2009-2015 • Life Membership 24th June 2011 • Council Representative for Peacekeepers Sub-Branch; and significantly • Served on the Peacekeepers memorial Committee which resulted in the opening of the Peacekeepers Memorial on Anzac Parade in September 2017. It would also be remiss of me not to mention that as part of The Queen’s Birthday 1999 Honours you were awarded an OAM for service to the community as a member of the Australian Federal Police.

On behalf of the ACT Branch, my heartfelt congratula- tions Gary, you are a most worthy recipient”. Gerard Pratt with Gary Brodie OAM.

19 Australian Jewish War Memorial

A dedication ceremony of the new Australian Jewish War Memorial was held on Sunday, 12th August 2018 to coincide with the commemoration of the Centenary of General Sir John Monash’s knighthood.

The service, conducted in the grounds of the National Jewish Memorial Centre in Forrest, ACT, incorporates a memorial honour roll of Australian Jews who died while serving with the Australian Defence Forces from 1900 to the present day.

More than 330 names are engraved on the me- morial Roll of Honour, having been collated with the assistance of the Australian Jewish Historical Society.

The service was conducted to acknowledge those members of the Jewish community who served and, in particular, those who sacrificed their lives in the Boer War, WWI, WWII and subsequently for the love of a country that had given many refuge from persecution.

Government dignitaries, senior representatives of the ADF and Jewish organisations from all states and territories of Australia attended, together with Jewish ex-service and currently serving men and women.

Also included in the ceremony were military elements which highlight Monash’s decisive victories on the Western Front in 1918 in Hamel and Amiens.

20 The Eddison Day Club Peter Sutton Chairman & Co-ordinator

The Eddison Day Club is a social group of ex-Service personnel, widows, widowers and senior citizens who meet each Friday for at least 48 weeks of the year. The venue is the Canberra Irish Club in Weston, who provides this venue at no charge through the ACT Government’s community support requirements. The Day Club organisation was initiated in 1977 by the Dept of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) and the Returned and Services League (RSL). Our Club is a financially independent club within a total of 67 Day Clubs throughout NSW and the only one in the ACT. Our Day Club is due to celebrate our 15th birthday in February 2019.

We have persons aged from 98 years down to mid 70’s. Many live on their own whilst some have moved into aged care facilities. This Day Club provides an outlet for persons who may be under threat of social isolation and loneliness. Some drive themselves to the Club, whilst others come by public or community transport.

We commence each week with the Club song, a light exercise program followed by morning tea. We then have a mental stimulation quiz or game. Each week we have a guest speaker on a varied range of subjects or a single or group of entertainers who donate their time and talents. The concept is to educate, inform or entertain those who attend. After the entertainment for the day, we have a cooked lunch that is prepared by the Irish Club. We charge a fee to cover the cost of the lunch and a ticket in a raffle that is drawn after the lunch. Prizes for this raffle are donated or made by those who attend the Day Club. Some excellent prizes have been recently donated by Chris from Longbeach in appreciation for work conducted on his behalf by the Veterans’ Support Centre.

During the last three months we have had Mr Doug Hurst come and speak about a book he wrote on Vietnam, remembering Vietnam Veterans Day on 18th August. We have had speakers talking on DNA research at the Australian National University, a talk on the unique plants at the National Botanical Gardens, a talk on the new exhibitions at the Australian War Memorial, and a recent talk on two unique birds that live in the ACT. Several entertainers over the last few months have given freely of their time to come to sing and play music for our enjoyment. Some of these people have been coming to the Day Club for many years and are much appreciated by members and volunteers. The same applies to another pair who are local poets who attend at least twice each year with new and traditional Australian poetry. The Military Wives Choir will be coming to sing early next month, and they are always popular.

We end our year on the 7th December with a Christmas Themed Day, with a traditional Christmas roast lunch, followed by individual Christmas steamed pudding. This is followed by an appearance of Santa who will assist with the drawing of the prizes for the monster Christmas raffle. The Day Club will then close for the year and return on Friday 11th January 2019 and will hold our 15th Birthday celebrations on 8th February 2019. >>>

21 The members and volunteers would like to thank the Canberra Irish Club for its ongoing support for the Eddison Day Club over the nearly 15 years of our existence. The same goes to the Presi- dent and Board of the Woden Valley RSL Sub-Branch for their encouragement and support during those 15 years. We also thank the staff and other volunteers at the Sub-Branch for their support.

We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, may your Santa be kind to you and may 2019 be a year full of happiness and joy for you and yours. Gunsmoke to Chalkdust

The initial print of this book published by Grinkle Press in 2014 was revised and published by the author in April, 2018.

In “Gunsmoke to Chalkdust”, Jack has eloquently recorded an im- portant and dynamic period in the Royal Australian Navy’s history. In doing so, he has captured a multitude of operational and social aspects of naval life in the lower deck. I consider it an important addition to the Royal Australian Navy’s history and indeed to other national collections whose aim it is to record and commemorate the service of Australian Defence Force veterans. John Perryman CSM, Senior Historian, Sea Power Centre –– Australia Copies are now available at $25:00 each with $5:00 of the proceeds of each sale to be donated to the Woden Valley RSL Sub-Branch Veterans’ Support Centre.

Funeral Directors Grantley Perry & Sons A LOCALLY OWNED FAMILY BUSINESS With Bryan Perry, a Vietnam Veteran available to serve you personally.

CANBERRA-QUEANBEYAN & YASS DISTRICTS TUGGERANONG 6294 8003 MITCHELL 6241 4101

HEAD OFFICE 12 SANDFORD STREET MITCHELL ACT 2911

PROUDLY SUPPORTING THE VETERAN COMMUNITY

22 Morning Tea & Farewell

On Friday 27th July 2018, at a regular Sub-Branch morning tea, as well as the usual coffee and nibbles get together event we farewelled Sub-Branch member and Canberra Hospital VLO, Carmen Webb who is retiring from her VLO position. Carmen has been in the position at the hospital for more than 10 years and her position as VLO has been taken over by Rhonda Capamagian, who will act in the position until a permanent replacement is found.

Sub-Branch President Jim Gilchrist gave an appropriate speech highlighting Carmen’s career at the hospital as a nurse and VLO and her exceptional service and support to the veteran community.

Representatives from RSL ACT Branch and RSL National also attended this special farewell.

23 HMAS Harman - WRANS Memorial Speech - 20th October 2018 Edited version of a speech by Pauline Gribble

Today we are here to acknowledge the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS), formed 77 years ago. While the world has changed, it is important to acknowledge and remember the past, and to celebrate the ongoing friendships many WRANS still maintain.

In 1939, Mrs Florence Mackenzie (known as Mrs Mac) was a female engineer, who formed the Women’s Emergency Signalling Corps (WESC). Mrs Mac offered free training for telegraphic and visual signalling to men and women who went on to join the Defence forces and Merchant Navies. In April 1941, 14 women of the WESC formed the nucleus of women’s involvement with the RAN. The WRANS was formally gazetted in October 1942 as a non-combat branch of the RAN, carrying out jobs, previously considered male-only. The WRANS freed men to go to sea, and enabled shore establishments to maintain their full strength.

The WRANS served in many shore establishments and performed various duties as; communi- cators, coders, writers, drivers, radar counter-measure, mechanics, cooks, stewardesses and sick berth attendants. In addition, some worked for the intelligence organisations and as domestic staff at Government House in Yarralumla. To honour those pioneers and our own WWII WRANS still with us, I would like to speak today about some interesting WRANS activities in WWII, which may be unknown.

Third Officer Olive Boye - WWII Coastwatcher - an unpaid honorary WRAN

Olive Boye, known as Ruby, was an Australian who lived in the Solomon Islands with her husband Skov Boye. He was the manager of the Kauri Timber Company on Vanikoro, an island - part of the Santa Cruz group of the Solomon Islands. After the timber company radio operator left to join the RAAF, Ruby decided to ‘do her bit for the war effort’ and took over radio operator duties. Ruby was the only white woman within hundreds of miles. She relayed messages via voice radio, taught herself Morse Code so she could work in the highly classified unit of coast watching. The height of the radio aerial on Vanikoro gave Ruby a wide transmission coverage. She sent coded information of enemy ship/troop movements and organised native inhabitants to pass information to headquarters. In 1942, after America entered the Pacific theatre of war, Ruby reported to the US Army and con- sequently to Admiral Halsey. Admiral Halsey and the men at coastwatchers HQ held Mrs Boye in high esteem and complimented her by saying: “Mrs Boye could use the Morse Code key as fast as almost any male operator could”.

After the Japanese murdered and tortured a coastwatcher in New Guinea, the RAN enlisted or com- missioned all coastwatchers into uniform. In theory, combatants in uniform could not be executed as spies. On 27th July 1943, Ruby received her honorary rank of Third Officer WRANS. Ruby spent many hours on her own as her husband worked in another part of the island. The Japanese were aware of her work and identity and threatened to “come and get her”, but her plan for escape was to melt into the forest. She was the only known female coastwatcher in WWII. In 1944, she received the British Empire Medal (Civil) for her work as a coastwatcher. >>>

24 On 30th September 1946, Ruby’s appointment as Third Officer WRANS ended. It is noteworthy that Ruby did not receive any money, allowances or benefits from her honorary rank during WWII. After Skov’s death Ruby remarried and was known as Ruby Boye-Jones. The NSW Ex-WRANS Association have dedicated a page in the Garden Island Chapel Remembrance Book to Ruby. In 1985, at the age of 94 Ruby received a letter from the RAN informing her an accommodation block at the Australian Defence Force Academy was named Boye House. Ruby was born on 1st July 1892 and died on 14th September 1990.

Our Local WRAN - Merle Storrie (Hare) a WWII WRAN.

IN March 1943, Merle (Storrie) Hare enlisted and served at HMAS Lonsdale in . Lons- dale was a gunnery-training establishment and received new entries to the WRANS. Merle served as a Leading WRAN Writer and Supply Assistant. In 1944, Merle married Robert who was an AIF soldier on active service. In 1946, Merle discharged and remained in to raise her family. In 1997, after the death of her husband, Merle moved to Canberra to be near her two children. In 2003, at the age of 77 Merle participated in the steering committee to form the WRANS Association ACT. Merle lives independently, still has her driver’s licence but gave her car to her grandson. Our lives are richer for Merle’s ongoing presence in the WRANS association. HMAS Harman means something special to many WRANS, as it was the birthpace for the WRANS, who were engaged in duties of a secret nature, and who worked long hours under exacting conditions. For many, this meant absolute silence about their work, which continued after discharge. On 19th November 1941, when HMAS Sydney was lost, three WRANS and two RAN telegraphists were on watch at Harman. When nothing was heard from the Sydney, it was assumed the ship was maintaining radio silence. Three nights later the duty WRAN operator was instructed to call the Sydney continuously because the ship was overdue. A senior officer from the Department of Defence stormed into the receiving room and said;

“The Sydney’s lost, I hope those damned women haven’t missed the message”

As a 19-year-old WRAN, this accusation was hard to cope with and many continued to be haunt- ed by these words for the next four years. After the bombing of Pearl Harbour in 1941, Harman became the communication centre for ships of the allied navies in the Pacific region for the RAN, the RN and the US Navies. For the WRANS the war became all too vivid and real with the threat of a Japanese invasion. Air raid shelters were built, slit trenches dug with ongoing practice drills. As the Japanese moved south, operators at Harman worked right up to the last taking final messages from operators in the Phillipines, Indonesia and Singapore as they fell under Japanese control.

In conclusion.

The pioneers, who achieved a first for women in the RAN, have made the path easier for those who followed. There have been many changes over the years and every WRAN has a different story to tell. However, the one thing that has not changed is the spirit that existed from the beginning of the WRANS. When the time came that our service was no longer required some of us went home, got married or started new careers. However, some of our fondest memories are of being a WRAN.

25 HMAS HARMAN WRANS - Naval Women’s Association (ACT) Memorial Service at HMAS Harman

The WRANS Memorial was dedicated on 1st July 2003, rec- ognising HMAS Harman as the birthplace of the WRANS. It is dedicated to women who served in the WRANS, and to women who have served in, or are currently serving in the RAN. During WWII, more than 2,000 women served in the WRANS in shore establishments known as ‘stone frigates’, which is why the memorial is in the shape of a building. To show that the focus of the work of the WRANS was in support of those at sea, the sides of the ‘stone frigate’ are covered in tiles of a colour that evokes the sea. In the foreground of the memorial are two bollards to represent the ‘ties to the shore’ of those at sea. The top of the memorial is sandstone with three distinct capping pieces, one each for the two service periods of the WRANS, 1941-1946 and 1951-1984, and the third to represent the ongoing contribution of women to the RAN. The sandstone represents the seabed and the seashore.

At the rear are two flagpoles from which fly the Australian White Ensign and the White Ensign. The July 2003 dedication of the WRANS Memorial brought together for the first time former serving members of the WRANS, the Royal Australian Naval Nursing Service, and serving and former serving women of the RAN. The significance of this occasion led to the idea of the formation of a women’s naval association in Canberra.

The Naval Women’s Association was formally established on 20th October 2003, and it affiliated with the ACT Section of the Naval Associatioin on the 2nd June 2004.

On 11th February 2013, the Association changed its name to ‘WRANS’ - Naval Women’s Association (ACT) to better reflect that some members have served or are still serving in the RAN, and that some members did not serve in the WRANS.

Above Terri Lessels with the Commanding Officer of HMAS Harman, Commander David Luck and, right Jeremy Hansen MLA with Merle Hare at the Memorial Service.

26 Ordinary General Meeting Dinner Canberra Southern Cross Club Tuesday 30th October, 2018

A pleasant OGM Dinner instead of the usual meeting was held in the Canberra Southern Cross Club, with Sub-Branch members and invited guests and with MC Jack Aaron in charge of pro- ceedings. Guests were entertained with a true story or two and after dinner we were addressed by Craig Orme DSC AM CSC, Deputy President of the Repatriation Commission at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Craig was formerly Commander Joint Task Force in the Middle East Area of Operations Command of Australian Military Forces in the Middle East, Afghanistan and Iraq; Commander Australian Defence College; Head of People Capability (ADF) and Senior Military HR Leader for the Australian Defence Force.

A very enjoyable evening and an opportunity to catch up with those members not seen on a regular basis.

27 Working for the General Life as a WAAAF in General MacArthur’s Brisbane HQ Jean McAlister (nee Pollock)

1942 was a decisive year for Australia and Jean Pollock. It began with Australia threatened by Japanese forces to its north and Jean working as a stenographer in Sydney, helping process government defence contracts. By year’s end both things had changed significantly.

The Allies had halted the Japanese advance and Jean was now a member of Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF). Along with dozens of other WAAAFs, she was working in the HQ of the Supreme Allied Commander, General Douglas MacArthur, in the AMP building in Brisbane.

The WAAAF was a separate force but it often worked so closely with the RAAF that in many cases they effectively became single, integrated units. Formed in March 1941 under the leadership of the remarkable Clare Stevenson, previously the boss of Berli, it became one of Australia’s great WWII success stories. Starting from scratch, over 27,000 WAAAF enlistees created a skilled workforce of more than 70 musterings covering almost everything except aircrew. In other words, from March 1941 on, the WAAAF grew from nothing to an effective war-time force almost twice the size of today’s RAAF - an amazing achievement in so little time, and one that rates far more recognition than it usually gets.

Pay and conditions were different from the RAAF, but as Jean and the other trainees soon found out on recruit training at Bradfield, in Sydney, much else was the same. In particular, discipline was expected, as was hard work to learn the ways of military life and, just like the RAAF of the day, they often finished up in unexpected places doing things they had never thought of. This happened to Jean and others from her recruit course. On graduation, they were posted to RAAF Station Sandgate, Brisbane, with no indication at all of what they would do on arrival.

Things became a bit clearer when they were taken to the AMP building in Brisbane. There they began training to work in the Signals Office attached to MacArthur’s headquarters that took up most of the building. The AMP building was selected for MacArthur’s HQ because it was the largest and most modern building in Brisbane. There were eight floors, served by lifts, and a loft on the top floor reached by stairs from the eighth floor. The loft was a very large room, taken over entirely by the signals office. WAAAFs worked mainly as teleprinter operators, radio operators and encryption specialists who coded and decoded classified messages on one side of the loft, the other side occupied by Americans who, while quite friendly, never discussed their work and were generally believed to be intelligence operatives of one kind or another.

The Australian part of the loft was a RAAF unit, commanded by a RAAF signals officer, Wilmot. He was supported by a mix of RAAF and WAAAF officers and some RAAF technicians, but the operators were mostly WAAAFs. >>>

28 The loft ran 24/7 (as we now say), with three shifts per day and a full day off at set intervals. Jean was a teleprinter operator, tasked with dispatching messages via teleprinter throughout Australia to varied addresses, mostly RAAF. Ensuring the right messages went to the right addresses was obviously important and care and concentration were needed to avoid mistakes and a ticking off from those on high. The WAAAFs were driven to and from their Sandgate barracks in trucks - a ride remembered chiefly as rough and unpleasantly cold during winter nights. But in most ways they lived comfortably and when not working always found plenty to do.

Visits to the beach were popular and dances eagerly anticipated, especially if civilain cothes could be worn. Photos of the day show that ‘big hair’ was very much in vogue, but this could be problematic. Regulations called for much shorter styles and measures had to be found to ‘shrink’ the amount of hair when at work. Jean recalls that they ‘shoved their hair up under their hats’ and tied it up at other times.

The AMP still occupied much of the ground floor and could be accessed by civilians via the main entrance. The rest of the building was dedicated to approved military personnel who entered via a side entrance always guarded by two US servicemen. When General MacArthur was about to arrive, the two guards would block access to the lifts and lesser beings would have to wait until the General had taken a lift to his offices on the eighth floor. Jean was stranded one day when the guards froze the lifts. General MacArthur noted her plight and invited her to share his lift. He chat- ted amicably with her on the way up, asking where she was from and what she did in the RAAF. It was not what she expected from so famous a general and Jean remembers fondly her short chat with the gracious commander they worked for but almost never got to meet.

Most of the work in the loft was classified and when asked what they did the WAAAFs simply answered that they worked in MacArthur’s headquarters. During 1944 MacArthur spent increas- ing time in PNG and when he moved his headquarters there permanently the Brisbane HQ in the AMP building was closed. Jean and the other WAAAFs from the loft were transferred to a RAAF communications base at Victoria Park, Brisbane, where most of them served until war’s end.

In general, the WAAAFs enjoyed their time in war-time Brisbane. The work was interesting and useful and they seldom wanted for company, male or female. Americans were there in large numbers and invariably invited the WAAAFs to their dances and oher social events. Romances blossomed and some married US servicemen and migrated to the US after the war.

After the war, Jean Pollock became Jean McAlister when she married Fredrick McAlister, an Army veteran of Greece and Crete and successful escapee from a Geman POW camp. She now lives in Canberra.

The AMP building has long since been turned into apartments and renamed MacArthur Chambers. For those seeking more knowledge of the role the WAAAF and Geneal Douglas MacArthur played in this part of Australia’s military history, there is a museum on the eighth floor.

[An extract from the magazine ‘WINGS’ Summer Edition 2013... Editor]

29 30 You Too Can Defeat RDS! Ian Gollings

What is RDS I hear you say? It is an insidious disease that afflicts many mature aged Australians when they retire from paid employment. Relevance Deprivation Syndrome often happens when, or soon after, they leave the workforce. Medically, RDS is described as a physical and emotional condition that causes anxiety and lethargy and can lead to depression and, over time, to physical and/or mental disabilities. But it need not do so.

There are many medication-free and fun ways of defeating RDS and here are one layman’s sug- gestions: • Making colourful wooden toys for charities to distribute to disadvantaged children. • Reading to children with language disabilities and listening to their reading - talk to your nearby primary school. • Visiting home-bound people for a chat. • Guiding visitors through institutions such as the National Library, Australian War Memorial, National Gallery, Museum of Australian Democracy and so on. • Assisting with fund-raising activities by charities and other not-for-profit groups. • Providing secretarial, newsletter editing or book-keeping services to charities or not-for-profit groups.

Why not give one of these a try? Or offer your own particular skills/talents/qualifications to a not- for-profit organisation or charity of your choice and let them suggest a role for you. Imagine the warm inner glow you would get when you receive a phone call, “We know you’re a busy person but, as one of our most valued volunteers, could you find time next week to help us with.?”

Oh, and by the way, if you can prevent or defeat RDS by keeping your mind and body active, you are well on the way towards preventing or defeating that other dreaded disease: the “Big D” - Dementia.

Editor’s Note: Your Woden Valley RSL Sub-Branch is always looking for more volunteers. Phone Rani on 6285 1931 to discuss opportunities.

31 With Friends Like That ...... ? Don Balfour

My home for the last two years of WWII was HMAS Vigilant, a small ship of the RAN. The size of a Manly ferry, Vigilant was none the less a sea-going vessel. Pre-war she had been a Patrol vessel belonging to the Queensland Government, by name, Vigilant, and requisitioned by the Federal Government in 1940 she was commissioned HMAS Vigilant. At war’s end she was HMAS Hawk. HMAS Vigilant was present at the bombing of Darwin on 19 Feb 1942 with later commendable activities covered in the official history of the RAN 1942-45.

When I joined Vigilant in 1943, things were quieter and much of our work was connected with surveying duties, plus other jobs as were normally the lot of small ships. So it was that day in 1944 we found ourselves part of a mine-clearing operation somewhere east of Cairns. The actual work of clearing was done by Corvettes of the RAN. Vigilant’s task was to drop flagged dan-buoys as directed to indicate cleared channels.

Leading Seaman Charlie Woods, a survivor of HMAS Waterhen in the Mediterranean and HMAS Voyager, off Timor, was supervising a group on the foredeck preparing dan-buoys and for their dropping overboard when directed. My task was to watch for any floating mines which might appear in the path of Vigilant as she moved slowly forward. For this I was positioned on the yardarm, directly above the foredeck. There was no crows nest on Vigilant, hence my position. My left arm was tightly around the mast. I had no head for heights and so was not very happy up there, but orders are orders.

The ship stopped. A dan-buoy was about to be dropped. I heard the splash as it hit the water. Then a loud cry from Charlie, “Skipper, mine!” The calm voice from the wheelhouse, “Where?” Charlie pointed at his toes. Four or five heads were transfixed over the guard rail. Mine likewise from the yardarm. There in the crystal-clear tropical waters was a large mine, seemingly touching the ship’s side. Every detail was clear, even to the barnacles attached to the monster. An earlier sweep had obviously missed this mine. The dan-buoy had likewise just missed dropping on the mine. The Skipper’s quiet voice to the helmsman, “Slow ahead port”. The engines rumbled and the ship edged slowly forward, swinging gently to starboard. I watch transfixed as the mine seemed to bump and scrape along the ship’s hull until it was suddenly swept under the cut-away stern in a flurry of disturbed water from the propellar. I tightened my grip on the mast and held my breath. Nothing happened, and without waiting for orders I climbed down the rope ladder and joined my shipmates, ordinarily noisy creatures, but now rather quiet, although that did not last for long.

Thinking about it later I reasoned that we had not really been in any great danger. Mines were usually set at 10 feet below the surface, and Vigilant drew 7 feet, sometimes a little more. So there was a margin of safety. Moreover the mine was one of ours, that is to say, a “friendly” mine. Mind you, it did not look very friendly from where I sat directly above it. I was happy to be rid of it.

Of course the mine was reported and quickly swept and destroyed. We ‘spliced the mainbrace’ when ‘stand down’ arrived.

32 Horrie - The Wog Dog

Friends returning home from a visit to Victoria reminded me of a story that I read some years ago at the Australian War Memorial.

Horrie the Wog Dog was the unofficial mascot for the 2/1st Machine Gun Battalion of the Second Australian Imperial Force. An Egyptian terrier, the dog was befriended by a sol- dier serving in the unit when it was stationed in Egypt during WWII. The dog subsequently followed the battalion through various locations in the Middle East and in Greece and Crete before being smuggled into Australia in 1942.

In 1945, the dog became the subject of a book by author Ion Idriess, and is believed to have been destroyed by quarantine officials, although this remains the subject of speculation with researchers claiming that the dog survived after its owner switched it with another dog.

Horrie, an Egyptian terrier, was befriended as a puppy by Australian soldier Private Jim Moody when stationed in the Ikingi Maryut area of Egypt in 1941. The dog became the unofficial mascot of Moody’s unit and stayed with them as they moved around the Middle East and Greece during various campaigns. According to the AWM, Horrie was described by his owner as being “intelligent and easily trained”, and was employed as an air sentry, alerting troops to approaching aircraft. He was promoted to the rank of corporal and during the evacuation of Greece, Horrie was aboard the troopship Costa Rica when it was sunk. He managed to survive, and later made it to Crete when he was subsequently wounded by a bomb blast.

Horrie was brought back to Australia when Moody was repatriated. In order to get around strin- gent quarantine laws , Moody smuggled the dog home in a canvas bag, which was reinforced with wooden slats so that the dog could breathe. In 1945, after Horrie came to public attention following the publishing of a book by Ion Idriess, Moody was ordered by quarantine officials to surrender Horrie to be put down. It remains uncertain as to whether this occurred. It is believed that Horrie was destroyed in 1945, although it was claimed that Horrie survived after Moody substituted him with another dog from the pound and that Horrie lived out his natural life near Corryong, in rural Victoria.

During the 2016 ANZAC Day service at the Corryong Memorial Hall & Gar- dens, a statue of Horrie the Wog Dog was unveiled to the public. The statue depicts Horrie in a pose on a kerosene tin in Egypt.

(Photos by Don Mountain) 33 Entertainment Les Cook

In the early days of the war there were many entertainers who gave their time free of charge to entertain the troops in camp. Some of them were good, but most of them, however willing, had never been good, or else were past it. Looking back, whoever was responsible for selecting the artists obviously had no understanding of what might entertain young soldiers. On the other hand of course, the well-meaning entertainers who came were probably the only ones prepared to give up their time for this cause. Apparently the popular entertainers of the day were not so willing.

I can’t remember a single show that included any young girls, and those comediens who came were not very funny. There were vocalists in their fifties who sang opera and other serious works that we didn’t understand. Perhaps they were really very good at what they did, but, through no fault of our own, we were unable to appreciate them. It was like feeding strawberries to a donkey. Needless to say attendance at the concerts started to fall off. Our CO upbraided us for our lack of interest. He pointed out that the entertainers were generously giving up their time to entertain us, and that the very least we could do was to attend the concerts to show our appreciation of their efforts. If the attendance didn’t improve, he said, the concert parties would lose interest and we would be left without any entertainment, and if that happened it would be our own fault. This lecture had little or no effect on attendance because most of us didn’t think we would be disadvantaged in any way if the concert parties stopped altogether.

As appealing to our better nature didn’t achieve the desired result, the CO decreed that, henceforth, attendance at the concerts would be compulsory. Perhaps the CO had requested the concert parties in the first place and his honour was at stake. Whatever the reason, we were marched down to the building and required to sit by sections and companies as if we were on parade. The officers, and more importantly the Regimental-Sergeant-Major (RSM) sat in the front row.

We could see the humour of being forced to attend, and it really wasn’t a very onerous task for us anyway, but inevitably there were some displays of passive resistance. Unfortunately for them, the entertainers were the innocent victims of this rebellious behaviour. At the end of an act, when it is customary for the audience to applaud, there would sometimes be dead silence in the hall except for the front row. Clapping in an enthusiastic manner himself, the RSM would turn around and glare at those silent members nearest to him. We held the RSM in much greater awe than we held our officers; he was the disciplinarian to end all disciplinarians, and he never forgot a face. One threatening look from him was enough to cause those near him to start clapping, albeit somewhat half-heartedly. This would slowly spread through the hall, but the long pause must have been painful to the performer.

The following act might be accorded different treatment. When a singer paused for breath at the end of a line halfway through a song there would be loud clapping and cheering and even stamping of feet. This untoward behaviour would cause the RSM to glare at those nearest to him who, with visions of interminable sessions of pack-drill, would lapse into silence. Order would eventually be restored in the hall and the singer would continue. >>>

34 That the performers were able to carry on with the show at all in the face of our unfair behaviour is to their everlasting credit. Either they were completely insensitive or were very seasoned troupers. We should have been ashamed of ourselves, but I can’t remember hearing anybody express any sympathy for them. The only possible justification for what we did was firstly that many of the entertainers really were awful, and secondly that they didn’t appear to be at all upset by our un- seemly behaviour. Perhaps if they had burst into tears and run off the stage we might have realized how unfair we were being to them.

Wings

Today they pinned the silver wings, Upon your broad, blue breast, Your face is turned to sterner things Where far horizons rest. And you have gone from me at last, Beyond my jealous care, Your young eyes fixed on visions vast, Which I may never share. Like eagle proud you sweep the skies, Imperious, fearless, free, Earthbound, I watch with wond’ring eyes, Your winged mastery. Today, the narrow silver wings, Proclaim your manhood’s power, Dear lad, I would not change with Kings, This pride of this one hour!

Missing

I know not where you lie dear lad, How deep the sea and all, Nor whether a rough, earthen mound, Is all the resting place you’ve found, With dry, sweet grass your pall.

But there is this I know dear lad, That wheresoe’er you lie, Hope flowers again because of you, Life is a finer thing and true, And you more proud to die.

By the Late Mrs Helen Wilson AM and salvaged from a dilapidated book of her Poems by her brother Jim Mayne.

35 SUB-BRANCH SERVICES

Sub-Branch Office Hours. The office is open from 9:00am until 3:00pm Monday to Friday, except public holidays. The services of the Sub-Branch are available to all Sub-Branch members, and all serving and former members of the Australian Defence Force and overseas defence forces. Office Manager. Joyce O’Brien administers the Sub-Branch office and is responsible to the Exec- utive for the efficient day-to-day routine of the office. Joyce will supervise all Sub-Branch matters including membership, correspondence, functions and access to Sub-Branch services. Veterans’ Support Centre (VSC). The office is open from 9:00am until 3:00pm Monday to Friday, except public holidays, and at other times by appointment. The services of the VSC are available to all Sub-Branch members, and all serving and former members of the Australian Defence Force and overseas defence forces. Entitlement and Advocacy (E&A). A team of trained advocates and entitlements/pension officers, both male and female, is available to provide assistance with claims under the Veterans’ Enti- tlement Act 1986 (VEA), the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (SRCA), and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA). We also provide support and advice to war widows and widowers regarding pensions. Andrew Properjohn, the E&A Adminis- trator, will assist you with your enquiries. Community Support. Florence Sofield co-ordinates the provision of welfare to Sub-Branch mem- bers and their families. Advice is available on matters such as DVA Gold and White Cards, travel, Veterans Home Care, residential and transitional care, HACC services, DVA Housing and finan- cial information. Hospital Visiting: Volunteers visit each of the three southern hospitals, The Canberra Hospital, Calvary John James and National Capital Private Hospital. They aim to visit every veteran, RSL member, Legacy widow and widowers. Hospice Visiting: Visits can be arranged for Sub-Branch members in Clare Holland House. Christmas Visits: In December each year, all Sub-Branch members 80 years of age and over, and all Sub-Branch widows and widowers receive a home visit and a gift. Health and Fitness Program. Arrangements between the Southern Cross Health Club (SCHC) and Sub-Branch members relating to gym use have changed. For details call the office on 6285 1931. Sub-Branch Publication. The Sub-Branch Publication, ‘The Serviceman’ is published three times per year and distributed free to all Sub-Branch members, widows and widowers. A special edi- tion is also published for schoolchildren attending the annual ANZAC and Peace Ceremony at Eddison Park. Eddison Day Club. Sponsored by the Sub-Branch, the Day Club caters for members, their spous- es, widows, widowers and the general community. It meets every Friday from 10:00am to 2:00pm (except Good Friday) from mid-January to mid-December at the Irish Club, Parkinson Street, Weston.

If you know of any member who would benefit from any of these services, but is reluctant to apply, please let our office know.

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