Commemorative booklet proudly presented by Michael McCormack MP Federal Member for ANZAC SPIRIT ENDURES RIVERINA communities are acutely aware of the enormous and selfless sacrifice made by so many who have served our nation so well in all wars. Each we reflect on what has been done by those so brave, daring and valiant that we may now live free. Men and women who have taken on a role in defence have gallantly carried on the very proud ANZAC tradition so AWM MARKS CENTENARY courageously forged at Gallipoli. THE Australian War Everyone who enjoys the freedoms of Memorial in our society owes a huge debt of gratitude (pictured below) will to the Army, Air Force, Navy and AT AWM: With The Hon. Dr Brendan commemorate The Great medical personnel - heroes all - of not Nelson, Director of the Australian War War centenary with a major just yesteryear, but also those in uniform Memorial, the founder of which, Charles redevelopment of its First today. Bean, described in 1948: "Here is their World War galleries and a spirit, in the heart of the land they loved; variety of new public programs Many of those who went off to do their and here we guard the record which they and events. duty sadly never made it home. themselves made." Only 2½ hours drive from Because of this and as a reminder as well Remember always these noble Diggers, , the AWM is of those who went away yet returned nurses, pilots and seamen every day but one of the nation’s greatest with the horrors of war forever on their especially on 25 April and be thankful tourist attractions, with nearly minds, memorials and monuments are for what they gave and what we have as a million visitors a year. dotted across the country to keep these a result. AWM Director Dr Brendan supreme efforts to the forefront. Nelson said the revamped Each local community has people who gallery would remain have given mightily - some with their consistent with the vision of lives - fighting for what was seen as just MICHAEL McCORMACK MP historian Charles Bean, who saw the memorial as holding and right. Federal Member for Riverina the spirit of those who fought and died in WW1. FROM KAPOOKA TO A VC “We commemorate the LIKE so many of his mates serving in Afghanistan, Corporal sacrifices,” Dr Nelson said. Cameron Stewart Baird VC MG (pictured) graduated from “From a population of 4.5 the Army Recruit Training Centre at Kapooka. In doing so million people, one million he inherited the ANZAC spirit, pride, responsibility, role and men could volunteer. Four tradition which come from earning and wearing the khaki hundred and thirty thousand uniform. Tasmanian-born Cpl Baird (whose name on the did, 330,000 were sent AWM Roll of Honour is shown at right) enlisted on 4 January overseas. Sixty-two thousand 2000 and after completing his initial training was posted to were dead. Another 60,000 the 4th Battalion (Commando), The Royal Australian Regiment, now died within a decade of the 2nd Commando Regiment, in February 2000. He made five tours returning from the 155,000 of duty to Afghanistan and became the nation’s 100th recipient of a wounded or imprisoned. Cross when it was announced on 13 February he would be “What we will celebrate is a posthumously decorated “For the most conspicuous acts of valour, legacy that has been born of extreme devotion to duty and ultimate self-sacrifice at Ghawchak these cataclysmic events that village, Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan as a Commando Team Commander in shaped and defined largely the Special Operations Task Group on Operation Slipper” on 22 June 2013. way we see COVER: First World War official artist Wallace Anderson’s Australian Soldier, made circa ourselves as 1927, cast in bronze in and acquired by the Australian War Memorial in 2004. Australians and relate to OFFICES OF MICHAEL McCORMACK: one another CANBERRA: PO Box 6022, Parliament House, ACT 2600 P: 6277 4725 F: 6277 8563 in the world GRIFFITH: 100 Yambil Street P: 6964 1212 F: 6962 7722 today almost WAGGA WAGGA: Suite 2 11-15 Fitzmaurice Street P: 6921 4600 F: 6921 5900 a century E: [email protected] www.michaelmccormack.com.au later.” https://twitter.com/M_McCormackMP RESTING PLACE: The peaceful grave where the remains from the ill-fated Lancaster Bomber which crashed nearby were interred. mystery of missing brother is solved A MISSING Lancaster Bomber, a that the crash and resulting explosion farmer’s field, a Dutch military buff caused.” whose persistence spanned more than Keith’s plane took off from Royal Air three decades and a well-known Wagga Force base Skellingthorpe, near Lincoln, Wagga man who never stopped wondering England … one of 136 bombers, what became of his long-lost brother. accompanied by five Mosquitoes, sent to They were the pieces in an intriguing attack the Dortmund-Ems Canal, a key World War II jigsaw puzzle solved only German transport link. recently. Despite thick clouds, the RAF squadron PILOT: Albert Keith Hornibrook Imagine the emotions of Wagga’s breached the banks and a six-mile Graham Hornibrook when he read an stretch of the canal was drained. official letter late last year confirming the Intercepted on its way home by a Junkers discovery of remains of the plane piloted Ju 88, a German night fighter, ED470 by his brother Albert Keith (known as had a fiery ending, its impact leaving a Keith) shot down on 23 September 1944. large crater in a paddock near the Dutch Graham said his parents James and village of Zelhem. Amanda long held hopes the dashing Local records stated a small amount of Flying Officer had survived the crash, recoverable human remains were buried especially as the rear gunner Sergeant at a nearby cemetery. John Miller parachuted to safety, linked up with the Dutch resistance who Retired Dutch civil servant Peter protected him and survived the war. Monasso traced the whereabouts and identity of each of the other 17 bombers “Slowly my parents accepted that Keith, lost that fateful night to determine along with all but one of his crew, had which one had crashed at the spot. been killed. But where?” Graham wrote relaying his parents’ enduring anxiety His insistence and the subsequent whilst responding to the news which had meticulous dig, which cost 400,000 brought him relief after such a long time. Euros (£335,000) to undertake, finally ensured the ground gave up its secret “The discovery,” Graham continued, “of and a brother’s burden on the other side the identifying engine parts of ED470 of the world could finally be lifted. is wonderful proof of the crashed Lancaster Bomber. This brings closure to Graham was invited to be guest of Keith’s disappearance and obvious death honour at Dutch Remembrance Day commemorations at Zelhem on 4 May to visit the site where Keith’s plane came down as well as the Museum Smedekinck FAMILY (Top): James and where parts of the ED470 are on display, Amanda Hornibrook with their but unfortunately is unable to attend. boys Kevin (back, standing), Keith (kneeling), Gordon (who Eldest brother Flight Lieutenant Harold served in the Navy in WWII) Kevin Hornibrook (known as Kevin) and Graham. CRASH SITE: The extent of the excavation was also a casualty of the war, shot down BROTHERS (Above): Keith looking for remnants of the crashed RAF in a flying battle over Germany on 24 (left) and Kevin Hornibrook in plane can be seen in this aerial view. August 1943. England in mid-1943. Mighty Men of

THE World Wars claimed the lives of some of Stanley Hawkins, who died on Mangoplah’s finest. 8 October 1917 from shrapnel wounds to his spine and left Those who made the supreme sacrifice include a soldier thigh sustained in action with who used an alias upon enlistment and who died at the 23rd Battalion five days Gallipoli, an American-born farmer, an author, a Military earlier at Ypres, Belgium. He was Medallist and two brothers. only 23. Their names are amongst those etched in gold on the English-born Merlin Kinneir granite memorial at Mangoplah. Tarte was a short story writer whose works were published in The impressive monument is dedicated to the 14 . courageous locals – four from The Great War and 10 from World War II – who died on active service. A student at the Wagga Wagga Experimental Farm, Pte Tarte That was a significant loss from this tiny farming district was accepted into the AIF in HERO: Ancel Williams – 14 of its best and bravest who left the land they loved to 1917 on his second attempt, having been discharged as do their duty and never came home. medically unfit two years earlier. First to fall was a drover living at Walgett who signed on Shot in his right shoulder during action in France at the as James Taylor at Liverpool on 4 November 1914. start of March 1918, Pte Tarte recovered in England and He was listed as being 28 years of age, 5 feet 9 inches when he was fit again for duty joined the 2nd Machine tall (175 centimetres) with brown hair, blue eyes and his Gun Battalion. initials MJ tattooed on his left forearm … for he was, in He took a severe shrapnel wound in his back, penetrating fact, 34-year-old Michael Jones whose mother Sarah lived his chest, whilst serving on the Hindenburg Line near at “Green Ridge”, Road, Wagga Wagga. Peronne, France, and died the next day, aged 27. Sailing out of with the 7th Light Horse Four Great War deaths were a sad burden for Mangoplah, Regiment on the HMAT Ajana A31, Trooper Taylor a district which also readily provided volunteers when as he was known was sent to Gallipoli and lost his life hostilities broke out again in Europe in September 1939. during the epic August Offensive, the last major attempt by Allied forces to end the stalemate which had dogged Amongst Mangoplah’s fallen in World War II were the the ANZACs since the 25 April 1915 landings. Irvin brothers, Robert Leslie and George Henry. Army Chaplain Fr Michael Bergin officiated at the burial Their mother Christina was listed as next of kin on service; Michael Jones being laid to rest in Shell Green both boys’ enlistment papers, with Robert signing on at Cemetery No. 1, about 1150 yards south of ANZAC Mangoplah on 3 July 1940 and George joining the Royal Cove. Australian Air Force the day before ANZAC Day 1942. Creasy is a long-standing and Taken Prisoner of War whilst serving with the 2/19th respected family name in the Infantry Battalion, Robert’s presumed date of death in Mangoplah district yet Jesse Malaya was 22 January 1942. Maxwell Creasy, son of James, was With him that fateful afternoon was courageous Ancel born in Virginia in the United Arthur Williams, Mangoplah’s Military Medallist. States. Pte Williams earned his decoration for his deeds under Like so many other farmers, heavy artillery and rifle fire at Bakri and Parit Sulong Jesse Creasy enlisted with the on the west coast of Malaya, entering occupied territory Australian Imperial Force (AIF) at many times to bring in wounded soldiers. on 23 March 1916. Sadly, he would be dead within a It was said “he performed duties far beyond those required of year, sustaining a gunshot wound a stretcher-bearer and showed exceptional bravery.” to the abdomen in action at Robert and Ancel, both aged 24, were amongst 161 Dernancourt in France and dying severely wounded PoWs machine-gunned by their captors of wounds three agonising days at Parit Sulong, the first and tragically not the last large later. He was just 26. massacre of Australian soldiers by the Japanese during the Mangoplah’s close-knit Pacific theatre of war. FALLEN FARMER: community also mourned George Irvin, 23, lost his life in a flying battle over north Jesse Creasy the loss of Private John west Europe with 460 Squadron on 29 December 1943. Mighty Men of Mangoplah

Mangoplah’s war monument is a peaceful place, neatly fenced off from the Australian bush, where a shrill chorus of and warbling magpies can usually be heard from the surrounding gum trees and scrub.

HERO: Ancel Williams

HOME AMONG THE GUM TREES: Mangoplah’s main street war memorial. ’s brothers in arms JUST 38 years young when she died, Louisa Hughes left a large and loving family when she was laid to rest in the Cemetery in 1909. She died too soon, before the bloodshed and madness of the two world wars which would take the lives of two of her cherished sons. Her marble headstone has a black IT IS THE SOLDIER granite memorial in front of it upon HIS is a which in gold lettering are etched the cheeky names of her two beloved boys - Sydney smile... Stacy and John Enoch - both of whom a face of paid the supreme sacrifice whilst doing youthful their duty. vitality. Matong-born Sydney was a month shy He is an of his 21st birthday when he enlisted unknown with the Australian Imperial Force at Australian soldier Cootamundra on 24 May 1916. MUM MOURNED: Louisa Hughes’s of the First World War for Listing his occupation as a farmer and headstone in Ganmain Cemetery. whom, as well as all others his father Enoch (who lived until 1944) Pte George Hill, a Holbrook grocer, was who have in the past and who as next of kin, Sydney sailed for the one of the fatigue party who buried Pte will in the future march out Western Front on SS Port Nicholson on Hughes in an old brick kiln yard, the from Kapooka’s Army Recruit 8 November the same year. spot marked by a temporary cross with Training Centre, the following his dog tag on it. poem by American Army On the same ship was 20-year-old Veteran Charles M Province Sydney Spurway, a labourer from John Hughes signed up with the Army applies: Orange. at Paddington on 30 May 1941; wife Myrtle his next of kin. It is the soldier, not the minister, Pte Hughes was well liked in the 2nd who has given us freedom of Battalion and was nicknamed “Billy” - He served with the 2/20 Australian religion. no doubt in reference to Australia’s war- Infantry Battalion but sadly died of time Prime Minister Billy Hughes. illness as a Prisoner of War in Thailand It is the soldier, not the reporter, on 3 June 1945. who has given us freedom of the Pte Spurway was beside his Matong press. mate when Pte Hughes was killed by Ashbridge, Ganmain and Matong - machine gun fire as he was “going over where the Hughes brothers called home It is the soldier, not the poet, who the top”, leaving his trench to attack - gave mightily to the war efforts and too has given us freedom of speech. the enemy at Hermies, France, on 9 many of the district’s best and bravest are It is the soldier, not the campus April 1917. buried in foreign fields. organiser, who has given us freedom to protest. It is the soldier, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial. It is the soldier, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, Who serves beneath the flag, And whose coffin is draped by the flag, KILLED IN ACTION: Sydney MEMORIALS: The Matong (left) and Hughes, taken from the book Who allows the protester to burn Ganmain war memorials which honour the The Settlers and Settlement of the flag. Hughes brothers, Sydney and John. Ganmain by Lorna H Gilmore. 2014 ANZAC DAY SERVICE times and venues

Wagga Wagga 10.30am Baylis Street and district: march begins. 11am March concludes 8am Service at Memorial Hall, at cenotaph. . 11.15am Wreath- laying and COOLAMON (Includes Marrar) commemorative service at 6am Dawn service at cenotaph, cenotaph. Address by Rear- Street. Admiral Clinton Thomas AM 10.30am Ex-servicemen and women CSC RAN, Commander Joint and all groups marching to line Logistics (pictured). up outside RSL Memorial 12.30pm ANZAC luncheon at RSL Club. Museum, Loughnan Street. IN RESPECT: Players observe 11.15am March to centopath. Capital city services: a minute’s silence before the 11.30am Main service. CANBERRA annual ANZAC matches in 5.30am Dawn service at the Australian 2013. FOREST HILL War Memorial (suggested 5.55am Dawn service, cenotaph, front arrival from 4.30am onwards). ANZAC FOOTBALL gate of Royal Australian Air 6.30am The Aboriginal and Torres (, Force Base, Sturt Highway. Strait Islander commemorative Wagga Wagga) GANMAIN (Includes Matong) ceremony at the Aboriginal Thursday 24 April 6am Dawn service, Memorial Gate Memorial Plaque on the side of in front of Bowling Club, Mount Ainslie. 5.30pm Reserves: Marrar v Waterview Street. 10.15am National ceremony at the The Rock-. 10.00am March starts at corner of Ford Australian War Memorial and 7.15pm ANZAC service. and Waterview Streets and Veterans’ march (suggested arrival 9.45am). 7.30pm First grade: Marrar v proceeds to Memorial Gate. TRYC. 10.30am Main service. SYDNEY 4.15am Dawn service at the cenotaph, Friday 25 April KAPOOKA Martin Place. 1pm Gates open (gold coin 5.30am Dawn service at Blamey donation, proceeds to Wagga 8.30am Wreath-laying ceremony at Barracks, Army Recruit Wagga RSL Sub-Branch). the cenotaph, Martin Place. Training Centre. All members 1.30pm Group Nine Rugby of the public need to be in the 9am ANZAC Day March starting League: Kangaroos v Base no later than 5.20am. at Martin Place/, Brothers. Junior league at finishing at Elizabeth Street half-time. (Includes ) opposite Hyde Park. 11am Service at Memorial Hall, 3.15pm ANZAC Day 12.30pm Commemorative service, formalities including bugler. Sydney Street. Park, Hyde 3.30pm Riverina Football Park South. League: Wagga Tigers v 9am Service at Wirraway Park rest 1.45pm Aboriginal ANZAC Day Collingullie-Ashmont- area, Morgan Street. march in Redfern. Kapooka. Auskick at half- WAGGA WAGGA 5pm Sunset service at the cenotaph, time. Martin Place. 5.45am Dawn service arranged by (Ex-Servicemen’s Oval, Griffith) Legacy at the cenotaph, Victory PLEASE NOTE: All times and Memorial Gardens, Baylis Street. venues have been supplied in good Friday 25 April 6.45am Pilgrimage to Wagga Wagga faith by various RSL Sub-Branch Riverina Football League War Cemetery, Kooringal officials and were correct at the Griffith v Leeton-Whitton time of publication. Every care Road. ANZAC Day speeches by 2pm Under 17s. captains has been taken to ensure as many Fraser Noack and services as possible have been 4.10pm Reserves. Meg O’Donnell. included. For verification of other 6.15pm ANZAC Day services please contact your local formalities including bugler. 7am Breakfast at Wagga RSL Club, RSL Sub-Branch. Dobbs Street. 6.30pm First grade. 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 ANZAC CENTENARY – is the reward for the senior students whilst the younger winners will enjoy the magnificent and locally significant picture book Along the Road to , beautifully THE Riverina gathers today illustrated by Andrew McLean to the famous 1922 song lyrics by Jack O’Hagan. in gratitude and in sorrow. Each student who sent in an entry will receive a commemorative signed certificate. Relatives and friends in debt Wagga Wagga and district winning entries feature on this page including, for the first to our men, time, joint winners in the senior category. As they sacrificed their lives for ours. Your resilience and The courage, the bravery, the REMEMBRANCE camaraderie defined endless alarming nights, us Australian-made! They fought for us in ONE hundred years ago Gallipoli was a Our debt can never great honour. time to take a stance. be repaid. For today we owe them our Our Diggers fought with mighty Remembrance, thanks and they will forever be resistance. remembrance, in our hearts. They wore their uniform with pride remembrance. Respect the wounded, recall and glory. Lest We Forget! And now it’s our time to tell their story. the dead. Jessy Law, 14, Year Rejoice that it is all in the past, Remembrance, remembrance, remembrance. 9, Coolamon Central That it is all over and done School, Coolamon with, The battle was tough to say the least. But never forget what we are But they fought on despite the grief. indebted to our Australian They stood united all as one, BRAVE MEN ALL men. So our nation could continue to see the It does not matter if they were Sun THEY were, family or not, Rise and fall, as a new day begun. Young, brave and eager, We should all keep our Remembrance, remembrance, Those men who signed up from around soldiers close, remembrance. the Riverina. And we will remember them. Commitment, mateship and national pride The sacrifices that were made, were important to them. The Aussie spirit will be saved. Our country and future is now secure. Self-sacrifice for our country’s freedom. Even wounded diggers returned for Fears of injury and not coming home, more than one tour. But knowing their Remembrance, remembrance, mission was for a remembrance. greater cause. They came from the Some returned to loved ones and hills in the east, and the others stayed. plains in the west. Their memories will never fade. Wreaths aplenty will be laid. A century ago, they In cities, the bush and Riverina towns, were led by the our respect will be paid. bagpipes in the Remembrance, remembrance, enlistment march. remembrance. They took on responsibility despite Ella Bergmeier, 12, Aaliyah Fikkers, 11, We salute you Diggers, bravery and all. uncertain future. Year 7, Wagga Wagga Year 6, Kooringal Public School, Our country survives ’cos of your rise This was them, the Christian College, Wagga Wagga and fall. ANZACs! Wagga Wagga 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.