Citation for Moth Certificate of Merit

CITATION FOR MOTH CERTIFICATE OF MERIT

MOTH ROBERT H FLAVELL. [DIGGER]

On behalf of the Central South Coast District Dugout and the SKZN Provincial Dugout we recommend that Moth Flavell be awarded the Certificate Of Merit. The reasons for bestowing this honour is as follows:

Digger joined the MOTH on the 11th March 1983 at the Del Mein Shellhole in Malvern.

He later transferred to Pennington Jock Payne Shellhole, where he is still a member.

Digger took over from Moth Ralph Miller as the Old Bill of Central South Coast District and has served both diligently and tirelessly in this role for 15 years.

Whilst Digger has been the Old Bill of the CSC District, he has, at times, had to struggle with executive members who liked the idea of executive positions, but not the work involved and therefore let him down badly. This he did with no complaint and at one time was the Old Bill, Deputy & the Adj all in one. He never complained and he never, ever, had a bad word to say about the Moth who let him down so badly. During this time he has travelled to MOTH meetings as far afield as Harding, Kokstad, Matatiele, and Swartberg . He also travelled to Durban and Pietermaritzburg where meetings were held twice a year when the District fell under KZN Province. Since the formation of SKZN, Digger has attended meetings at almost every Shellhole in SKZN. Travelling to these meetings over the past 15 years has been largely at his own cost.

As District Old Bill, Digger has organised, led and conducted the service and addressed an annual Remembrance Day Parade in the Main Street of Scottburgh every year since he has been in office, until two years ago when the Municipality pulled the plug on the event. Digger continues to be a shining light in the organising of the annual NMR memorial service held in Pennington every year.

In addition, Digger volunteered and organised the Central South Coast in hosting the National MOTH Bowls Tournament held about 5 years ago.

As for fundraising this man is tireless in his efforts to raise funds for either the District or individual shellholes. He has also arranged “Forces Show” (concerts) in and around the Scottburgh area that were aimed at the general public so he could also talk to them about the Moth Order after the show. Moreover he has arranged numerous MOTH Bowls tournaments for the District over the years in order to raise funds. At each and every one of these he has promoted the good name of the Moth and the Moth ideals within the community, which has resulted in more than a few new recruits over the years. He has endeavoured for many years to boost the membership of Moth’s and goes to great lengths to promote the Moth & the Ideals of the Moth in the community Digger is always ready to be at any parade and is able to bring to mind so much from yesteryear. He tried everything in his power , for nearly three years, to keep Scottburgh Shellhole going and to boost membership. Digger attended every meeting of the Scottburgh Shellhole and was in the forefront of organising the new venue at Charles Hoffe Park and in seeing that the members and their respective kin were booked and coming to the lunches he had organised. In all of this Digger remains a very loyal member of Pennington Jock Payne Shellhole.

Apart from “telling a porkie” about his age in order to sign up in 1942, signing on behalf of his parents for overseas service and jumping onto nurses in trenches at night, MOTH Digger Flavell has proven to be an otherwise honest, dedicated and exemplary member living up to the MOTH Ideals at all times.

Digger has always been available to any Moth who is in need and always sees the best in people, and especially his fellow Moth. Digger is a fine example of a true Moth and continues to inspire those around him. Even at his advanced age, he still promotes the good name of the Moth wherever he is. Mothdom is his life. In fact there are very few people in and around Scottburgh who do not know “Moth Digger”, as he is affectionately know!! There is no better accolade and advertisement for the Moth.

His contribution to the Order has been a cornerstone of the Central South Coast District for 15 years and in his 91st year, he continues to be so. Digger has indicated that he would like to step down as the District Old Bill, but would still like to play an active role in the Moth, as a mentor or administrator. His enthusiasm in upholding the 3 ideals of the Order is still shining bright and has not dimmed over the years.

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PROVINCIAL OLD BILL DATE

Digger joined the Australian Army in March 1942 [before his 18th Birthday which was on the 11th June 1942] Diggers force number was V147422

A year later Diggers parents received call up papers for Digger which reflected his new force number which was VX140528.

On a day’s leave, Digger went home and his father asked him how he had got an X number - his Dad knowing that the X indicated external/ overseas service. Digger, who had forged his parents signatures on the forms requiring their approval, told his Dad that the forms had been posted to them. ‘Didn’t you get the forms?’ asked Digger. To which his father replied – you know bloody well I didn’t get the forms!

Digger then travelled from Sydney to Darwin via Melbourne, Adelaide and Alice Springs. In Darwin he served in the 1st Australian Infantry Troop Ordinance Field Park. Whilst in Darwin, Digger was hospitalised in the field hospital. One night all hell was let loose with the bombing of Darwin by the Japanese. Bombs were landing close to the hospital. Digger ran out the tent and leaped into a trench - only to land on top of six nurses who had got to the trench before him! The Doctor discharged him from hospital the next day! Wonder why? From Darwin he went to Tennant Creek, Mt Isa, Townsville, Cairns and to the Atherton Table Lands where he was fitted and trained for jungle warfare. Thereafter he was transferred to Cairns for Landing Barge training. He was still in Cairns when the war ended and was sent back to the Atherton Tablelands to dismantle equipment and get rid of supplies from the Ordinance. He was discharged in 1946.

Digger was married in 1946 and moved to Rhodesia primarily to find out more as to the disappearance of the HMAS Sydney on board which was Diggers wife’s brother. Digger saw an advertisement for ex senior NCO’s and Officers to join the Territorial Force as Instructors.

After rigorous training, only 3 were accepted of the 45 that had applied – Digger being one of the three!

Initially he held the rank of Volunteer Sergeant Instructor in the 1st Battalion, Royal Rhodesia Regiment and was soon promoted to WO II – Volunteer Sergeant Major Instructor - and found himself supplementing the Police at disturbances and hot spots.

In 1953, whist still active in the Royal Rhodesian Regiment, he joined the British South African Police [BSAP] and became involved in Riot Control and in Cordon & Search operations in Cities and Suburbs

In the mid 70,s the focus moved to Farms and remote hot spots as the bush war intensified. This went on for some years and at a certain stage his wife told him that the Army had called him up and that he had to report for duty or otherwise be charged.

Digger duly reported in and due to his age was given the option of continuing in the Army as a WO II, or a Reserve Section Leader in the BSAP. He chose the latter.

Things became worse and he found himself tasked with patrolling 7 farms on the border with Mozambique, billeted in a rondavel up against the Border Fence. He had to report every night by radio to the Mt Darwin Police Control. On one particular night he was warned of a confirmed Terrorist presence in his immediate vicinity. Two days later he was summoned to Police HQ and advised that a combined Army, Air force, and Police operation had neutralised 15 Terrorists in a dry river bed which he patrolled daily. As the situation deteriorated further, patrols were no longer conducted by 2 men but by sections. These operations saw Digger active in all areas including Zambezi, Bindura, Umtali, Eastern District etc.

In 1972 the Armoured Cars were decommissioned and handed over to the Central Mechanical Equipment Depot after Digger had, as the last Commanding Officer of the Recce Unit, insisted that a formal parade he held to mark the event.

Thereafter Digger continued as the Officer Commanding the Recce group responsible for Convoy duties from Fort Victoria to Beit Bridge.

He then together with his wife moved to South Africa in 1980.