5 FIELD AMBULANCE RAAMC ASSOCIATION RESERVE FORCES DAY Newsletter WINTER ISSUE 2017 WEB SITE:WWW.RAAMC.ORG.AU A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THE RAAMC ASSOCIATION Inc.

WINTER ISSUE 2017 2 5 Field Ambulance RAAMC Association Patron: COL Ray Hyslop OAM RFD Office Bearers PRESIDENT: LTCOL Derek Cannon RFD– 31 Southee Road, Richmond NSW 2753— (M) 0415 128 908 HON SECRETARY: Alan Curry OAM—35/1a Gordon Close, Anna Bay NSW 2316 (H) (02)4982.2189 (M) 0427 824 646 Email: [email protected] HON TREASURER: Brian Tams—453/1 Scaysbrook Drive, Kincumber NSW 2251 (H) (02) 4368 6161 HON CHAPLAIN: Brian Hogan—1 Cook Road, Longwarry VIC 3816—(H) (03) 5629 9548 (M) 0405 443 771 COMMITTEE: WO 1 Warren Barnes OAM Mobile: 0409 909 439 Fred Bell (ASM) Mobile: 0410 939 583 Barry Collins OAM Phone: (02) 9398 6448 Ron Foley Mobile: 0422 376 541 Ann Jackson Mobile: 0407 236 724

CONTENTS VALE ------Page 3 RF Day/VP Day details/2017 Fund-raiser ------Page 4 President’s Message ------Page 5 Secretary’s Message/Poem ’Believe etc’ ------Page 6 AHS Centaur Summary/Centaur “Address”/’Snippet’ ------Page 7 “My Travels”/’Snippets’ ------Page 10 HAPPY BIRTHDAY/’Snippets’/Application Forms/Poem “Wounded from Tobruk” ------Page 11 Chaplain’s Corner/Poem-”Don’t Quit” ------Page 12 ANZAC Day Summaries ------Page 13 ‘Snippets’/THANK YOU ------Page 14 ANZAC Day photos/’Snippets’/Life Membership List ------Page 15 SICK PARADE/1 Field Ambulance Formal Dinner notice/NEW Members/’Snippets’ ------Page 16 5 CSSB Health Coy (ANZAC Issue Report)/Current Report ------Page 18 Messages from Members ------Page 19 Poem “The Veteran”/Flag Day Ceremony and Re-Enactment ------Page 21 Kind Acknowledgements/Sir Charles Rosenthal (omission)------Page 22 Items of Interest ------Page 23 ANZAC “Address” at KTMW/”Grandmothers” ------Page 27 Story “Choices”/Battle for Australia Luncheon details/Reply from Member ------Page 30 History of the “ODE” ------Page 31 “Ode to the Fallen”/Poem “Balm” ------Page 32 Story “Old Ed” ------Page 33 Activity Sheet ------Page 34 ‘Snippet’ ------Page 35

ADVERTISEMENTS: Any enquiries to advertise in our magazine, please contact myself or any committee member (details are listed above) We are a ‘Not-For-Profit’, community based organisation and we are unincorporated. And have been since 1982.

DISCLAIMER:

Opinions expressed in our quarterly newsletters are not necessarily those of our Patron, Executive or Commit- tee. We welcome any input as long as it is not offensive or abusive but if any member has a problem with a printed article we would like to be informed in order that the author may be contacted. We do encourage your opinion. 3

G.R.W (Roy) McDonald was born on 21 March 1925.

At school he was an above average student and excelled at sport, playing rugby in the 1st 15 and rowing in the 1st 8. His special leadership qualities were recognised and he was appointed Head Prefect in 1943.

He was first commissioned a Cadet lieutenant in the school cadet corps which was re- garded very seriously in those days. It was, of course, wartime.

He studied at Sydney University from 1944 and graduated in Medicine, February 1950.

He married Heather Fraser in 1952 and Heather cared for him devotedly at home in re- cent times until he died on 10 January 2017.

Roy enlisted in the CMF, posted to 5 Field Ambulance in July 1954. He had many fur- ther postings until Colonel, Commanding Officer, 1 General Hospital, to 1979.

In 1981, for three months, March to May, he served full time, from the Australian Army Reserves, in New Guinea.

Through the time in the CMF, his civilian work was in running a general medical prac- tice in Bondi Road, Bondi, most of the time with two partners, one of them this writer, who at one stage commanded 5 Field Ambulance.

Up the hill was another general practice with three partners. The two practices com- bined for many years to provide emergency general practice outside of normal consult- ing hours within the Eastern Suburbs. That other practice included the doctors Lt Col Tom Ritchie who had seen war service and in the CMF at one stage commanded 5 Field Ambulance, and Col Fred Grace who had fulfilled many postings in the CMF. That is, in an organisation of six doctors between mid Bondi Road up to Bondi Junction there were four CMF Lieutenant Colonel / Colonels.

It would have been an opportunity for four mad colonels to have initiated a revolution. Roy and the other three did not see the necessity.

Roy has served his Country with distinction. He is sadly missed by all who knew him.

Bob Reid.

The above information was imparted by his long-time friend and Roy’s wife, Heather. The family had a private service and I was grateful to Bob and Heather for giving us a small glimpse into Roy’s life. Bob touched a little on his military service of 27 years of unbroken service.

Roy’s full military service shows he enlisted in the CMF, with 5 Field Ambulance, on the 30 July 1954 with army number 2127049. He remained with them until 11th September 1957 when he was then posted to HQ 2nd Division until 23 August 1960. He was then posted to 3 RAR until the 9th April 1960 and then posted back to 5 Field Ambulance until 24th November 1964. (Continued on page 4) 4

(Continued from Page 3) Roy was then posted 1 General Hospital until 3rd August 1965 when he was then posted to 1 Field Ambulance until 1st August 1968 where he was posted to HQ Comm Z until 2nd August 1971. He was again re-posted back to 1 General Hospital until 1st August 1976. Roy was then placed on the Unallotted List of 2 Mil District until the 9th March 1981 when he accepted Full Time Duty in the Army Reserves for three months (from 9th March 1981 to 22nd May 1981) at which date he accepted his Discharge.

Roy discharged with the rank of Colonel. He had overseas service in New Guinea from 21 November 1966 to 20th December 1966. He was awarded “The Reserve Forces Decoration with First Clasp”, “The Efficiency Decoration with First Clasp” and although never claimed or received he would be entitled to “The Australian Defence Medal”.

COL George Roy William McDonald RFD ED LEST WE FORGET —————————————— RESERVE FORCES DAY PARADE DETAILS The “Theme” for the 2017 RF Day will focus on the “Desert Mounted Campaign” and the centenary of “The Charge at Beersheba”. Reservists now carry on the proud traditions established in the Boer War, the Army, Navy and the Militia Ex- peditionary Force, ANZACs and in subsequent wars. Reservists have served in every conflict and UN opera- tions since being re-formed after WW 2. More recently, Reservists of all ranks from the three services have served on Active Duty in Iraq, Afghanistan and with the UN, as well as humanitarian missions.

NEWCASTLE: Saturday 1st July. 10.30 am. FORM UP in Lamen Street and march down to Civic Park. DRESS: Lounge Suit, Medals, Beret and Name Badge. REUNION: Workers Club in King Street (at own expense)

SYDNEY: Sunday 2nd July at 10.30am. FORM UP: Hyde Park SOUTH (N/East corner). DRESS: Lounge Suit, Medals, Beret and Name Badge. Ladies, as appropriate. REUNION: Paddington RSL Club from 1pm. Parking is available on a ‘First Come’ basis. ——————————————

VP DAY 15th AUGUST This day is commemorated right around Australia. It marks the day that ended WW 2 when Japan surrendered unconditionally after the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima (6th August 1945) and Nagasaki (9th August 1945). Any member who is in Sydney is invited to attend the solemn Ceremony at the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway. It will be under cover with seating provided. Refreshments will be on hand after the Service. Parking is available and is about a 3 minute walk to the venue. PLACE: Killoola St., Concord TIME: 2pm DRESS: Lounge Suit, Medals, Beret and Name Badge. (For any information re the above items, please contact Alan Curry or any Committee member-details on Page 2) FUND-RAISER At this stage we don’t have a BIG item to raffle so we are continuing to sell $1 raffle tickets. We will sell them right up to our Annual Reunion Lunch on the 25th November. We look forward to your company and that of your family and friends. We will ’draw’ the raffle at the Reunion and the winner will receive 50% of the total money raised. We sincerely thank all our members and their friends for their participation. 5

Welcome to the 2017 Winter (Reserve Forces Day) issue of the 5 Field Ambulance RAAMC Association Newsletter.

At the end of March, Edna and I along with our daughter and son in law, Debra and Trevor Taylor, went cruising (or more aptly bumping and swaying) to New Zealand. Cyclone Debbie pushed us all the way to Dunedin. We had to abort two scheduled landings at Gisborne and Akaroa and after a couple of fine days visiting Dunedin and the Fiords we headed home buffeted by Cyclone Cook. Motion sickness was rife so our dining was roomy though bar facilities were packed during the day and the pool deck suffered from a lack of patronage due to wind and rain. You may recall our last cruise in February 2016 to Fiji where we had to divert out of the path of Cyclone Winston. Needless to say this trip we did not get our land legs for a while on returning home and are now seriously thinking of abandoning future maritime ventures.

I attended the Richmond RSL 102nd Commemoration of ANZAC on Sunday 23 April at the Richmond War Memorial the event was well attended in fine sunny weather. Likewise the Sydney Anzac Day march was again conducted in warm sunny weather and the turn-out of both marchers and spectators was good. My daughter Julie Evans marched with us while I and family members were keen watchers and supporters. It was great to see our 80 plus year old Patron COL. Ray Hyslop OAM, RFD sprightly leading our Association and a special thanks to MAJ Jane Currie (Officer Commanding 5 CSSB Health Company) and her unit members who marched behind our Association Banner, along with our Association members. Our Banner was expertly carried by two Health Company members. I wish to personally thank all members who marched or attended to cheer. My special thanks to 1 Field Ambulance Association for organizing lunch at the Sanctuary Hotel corner Liverpool and Kent Streets following the finish of the march. See full report with photographs later in this Newsletter. Alan Curry and I attended the AHS “CENTAUR” Commemoration at 113 AGH Memorial Chapel in the Concord Repatriation Hospital on Friday May 12 with my Granddaughter Brittany Evans and members Nelson Fiorentino and Tomas Hamilton. The ceremony was, as always, solemn and very touching. The Centaur address by Mr. Richard Jones, President of the CENTAUR ASSOCIATION was very moving. Tomas Hamilton sang his reflective poem entitled ‘CENTAUR’, which was well received. See full details later in the Newsletter. Reserve Forces Day is again upon us on Sunday 2 July and I would welcome a strong turnout. Details are provided later in this Newsletter. I and some of my family group (Association Life Members) will be there to cheer you on and join you for lunch at the Paddington RSL Club. To all our special members and with constant thought for our sick, Edna and I wish you all the very best for the future. Good reading and I hope to see many of you joining our ranks at this year’s Reserve Forces Day on July 2rd, VP Day at the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway in Concord in August and again in Sydney for Battle for Australia Day on September 6. Derek Cannon

~ SPONSORS ~ Our Association kindly thanks the following proud sponsors of our quarterly magazines and requests that you support them when able. 6

Message from the Secretary

Dear members, I hope this issue finds you in good health. To our sick and hospitalised members we are thinking of you and happy with the knowledge that almost all of you have loving family support. If any sick member feels the need for a ‘chat’ please contact myself or any committee member at any time. Our Association is most thankful for the caring concern of our honorary padre, Brian Hogan. Brian regularly contacts our sick members to say hullo and offer some cheerful fellowship.

Cyclone “Debbie” struck the north of Queensland in late March. Its trail of destruction and devastation throughout the State and down into NSW, and also New Zealand, is still being felt as I write. The loss of life and immense property damage is enormous (estimated to date at $1.5 Billion). To hear some of the heart-breaking stories from the survivors was gut -wrenching. When one sees and reads of the deeds of our State Emergency Services, State police forces, our armed forces, the electricity workers and the hospitals and medical services, it must have instilled much needed hope and confidence to all those in need of assistance. And on the other hand, to read what some scumbags and low-lifers did, in looting and stealing from people at their most vulnerable moments, had me silently thanking all those who uphold the law.

I have been assisting some members to claim their medals from the Directorate of Honours and Awards. If any member thinks they should be the recipient of a medal, or if they have lost their medal/s, please contact me and I will assist your application.

I was given the honour of presenting the “Citation” at my local RSL Sub Branch Dawn Service on ANZAC Day. I spoke about the Royal Australian Navy and the fact that not one member has ever received the Victoria Cross. We had a big crowd in attendance at our small club but it was frustrating for all present because of the intermittent breakdown of our PA system (it worked perfectly before the crowds arrived), I was told later on that it also ‘played up’ during the main service.

On a sadder note, our Association extends its sincere sympathies to the families and friends of the two soldiers who were killed recently, whilst on friendly “Exercises”. Trooper Stuart Reddan died after an accident with his vehicle, in North Queensland and a week later PTE Jason Challis was accidently shot during a ’live’ exercise in the Mount Bundey Training Area in the Northern Territory.

Alan Curry OAM

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

Believe in yourself and in your dream, though impossible things may seem. Someday, somehow you’ll get through to the goal that you have in view. Mountains fall and seas divide before the one who is in his stride, And takes the hard road day by day, Sweeping obstacles away. Believe in yourself and in your plan. Say not..’I cannot’—but…’I can’. The prizes of life we fail to win is because we doubt the power within. 7

AHS CENTAUR CEREMONY (Summary – from Alan Curry) An overcast day with intermittent showers did not deter us from being in attendance to have our Banner stand in support of our kindred 2/12th Australian Field Ambulance, as we listened to the main “Address” . Our member, Richard Jones, who is also the President of the Centaur Association, presented a personal account of the fateful morning in May 1943, when the hospital ship AHS Centaur was sunk, off the coast of Fraser Island on Queensland’s east coast, by a torpedo from a Japanese submarine. (You can read Richard’s ‘Address’ which follows this ‘summary’).

Our Association was also given the privilege, to give the “Naval Prayer” as well as our other member, Tomas Hamilton, who played his guitar and sang his poem “Centaur” (which was placed in our WINTER Issue—2016). Our Association thanks M/s Alice Kang and her staff at the Concord Hospital for inviting us each year and supplying the sandwiches/tea/coffee etc afterwards. It is greatly appreciated. We also thank our President, Derek Cannon, Brittany Evans and Nelson Fiorentino for their most welcome attendance.

Group photo of soldiers are some of the compliment of the 2/12th Australian Field Ambulance. It relates to the service of NX33029 Pte George McGrath, who survived the sinking. (Kind thanks to the AWM)

*If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write things worth reading or do things worth writing. (Benjamin Franklin)

Richard Jones presenting the “Centaur Address” It is an honour to be the guest speaker and I especially acknowledge those here today who lost family members, friends and colleagues when Centaur was attacked and sunk some 70km east of Brisbane on 14th May 1943. To those long time supporters who contribute so much to this service each year, including Alice Kang and her team, the hospital padres, the musicians, members of the Merchant Navy, the 5th Field Ambulance and the Nursing Services, and representatives from the Armed Services, RSL, Federal, State and local governments and Police, I say thank you. My father, Dr. Keith Jones, later Sir Keith Jones, was a country doctor at Pambula in Southern NSW when the Second World War broke out. He joined up with the Army and initially trained in Australia with the 5th Field Ambulance in Greta then in Bathurst around 1940-41. 8

(Continued from Page 7) This Centaur service is greatly appreciated by the surviving relatives and friends of those on Centaur. Some on Centaur had served previously on other hospital ships and in Army medical units so there are many colleagues, links and connections that are part of the Centaur story. At Greta my father related that there were no motor ambulances at that time, they were all horse drawn relics from WW1.

Dr. Bernie Hindmarsh, father of Jan Thomas OAM, the founder of 2/3 AHS Centaur Association also served with the 5th Field ambulance at Greta at the same time. Bernie Hindmarsh was later on AHS Oranje and at this hospital, the 113th Australian General Hospital, before becoming a member of the Centaur Ship’s Medical Staff. He did not survive when Centaur was sunk.

My father’s time in the Army was later served as DADMS in New Guinea at Finschafen. However, near the end of the war my mother was badly burned in an accident at a wartime fund raising event when her dress was ignited by a kerosene heater or lamp. She was expected to die as a result of the burns so my father was brought home early from New Guinea. One benefit of his war theatre experience was that he was able to apply his new found war techniques for burns treatment, immersing the patient in a bath of water previously sterilised by boiling in a 44 gallon drum. When my mother was eventually transferred to RPAH in Sydney my father was posted for a period here at the 113th Australian General Hospital.

Keith’s brother, my uncle and godfather, Gordon, was also a doctor and had been posted to the 2/12th Field Ambulance then based in the Darwin area. Various detachments from the 2/12th were sent from there to Timor and Ambon. Many of those sent to Timor and Ambon were subsequently captured by the rapidly advancing Japanese Army and some slaughtered. Others died of malnutrition and mistreatment. According to his war service record at the AWM, Gordon was part of a detachment embarked on the ship United States Army Transport “Meigs” from Darwin to an unstated destination. I believe that their destination had been or was about to be captured, so they returned four days later to Darwin on 18th February 1942. The next day the USAT Meigs was bombed and sunk in Darwin Harbour. Gordon was not on board but his clothing and belongings were and went down with the ship. Nowadays USAT Meigs is a dive site in Darwin Harbour. Also bombed in Darwin Harbour was the AHS Manunda which continued its function as a hospital ship tending to its own wounded and those from Darwin during and after the bombing. Not long after this the 2/12th Field Ambulance, including Gordon, was regrouped at Reidtown near Corrimal just up the coast from Wollongong before embarking on 2/3 AHS Centaur. My father was offered a berth on Centaur with his brother as they were both destined via Cairns for the Army camp on Atherton Tablelands, before going to New Guinea to provide medical and ambulance services. My father declined the offer of the berth for two reasons. One he suffered terribly from motion sickness and two because he thought it not wise for two family members to be on the same ship. At that time Japanese submarines, and even a German U-boat, were sinking many merchant and military ships along the Australian East Coast from Victoria right up to North Queensland resulting in deaths and casualties. Australia was very unprepared for anti-submarine warfare and struggling to catch up. Fishing boats were being fitted with hand me down British sonar submarine detection equipment to carry out this task as an interim measure.

9

(Continued from Page 8) Centaur was a slow 19 year old flat bottomed cargo vessel previously used on the West Australian coast as general transport for cargo, cattle, grain and passengers. Her cruising speed of 12 knots was only slightly faster than that of a current day marathon runner. She was not a large vessel, about a third as long again as the ex-Manly ferry South Steyne. When under way there would probably have been constant shaking, vibration and noise from the propeller and engine. She was modified with an operating theatre, wards and a dental surgery, and painted and illuminated as a hospital ship. Photographs from the AWM show pristine wards with rows of neat beds and trunks at the foot of the beds. Centaur was acknowledged by the warring parties, including Japan, as a hospital ship, registered with the number 47 and used within the definition of a hospital ship under the Hague and Geneva Conventions. Centaur was crewed by 75 members of the merchant navy, the medical and hospital facilities were operated by the 64 medical and nursing staff including a dentist and a representative of the Red Cross. Also on board were 149 members of the 2/12 Australian Field Ambulance and 44 ambulance drivers attached from the Army Service Corps destined for Cairns. Many including twenty eight of the medical and nursing staff had already served on AHS Oranje as did the Red Cross representative and were dear friends of some here today. Centaur was sunk in the dark early hours of 14th May 1943. Only 64 of the 332 persons on board survived. At the time my father was travelling on a train north, destined for the Atherton Tablelands where he hoped to meet up with his brother. A rumour went around the train that a hospital ship had been sunk. His worst fears were confirmed that it was Centaur and that his brother was gone. There was much bravery in the long hours that followed as Sister Ellen Savage and other survivors tended to the most badly burnt and injured among the survivors in spite of their own injuries. Eventually, the survivors, after enduring a painful, miserable 34 hours of total isolation, were found almost simultaneously by the crew of a RAAF Avro Anson and a surprised lookout on the USS Mugford. USS Mugford was on routine escort duty at the time. As a boy I used to see photos of this smiling man whom I knew as Gordon on the mantel piece at my grandfather’s place but never really understood. It was only in later years that the pain in my family became apparent to me. In the early 2000’s I was living in Melbourne and saw a small notice in an RSL paper for the unveiling of a plaque near the War Memorial in memory of the 2/12 Field Ambulance. Knowing our family history I went along and met for the first time, Jan Thomas, the founder of our Centaur Association. I subsequently joined the Centaur Association and on returning to Sydney started attending this Concord service with my brother and my father who had already been attending for many years. Then, in March 2008 HMAS Sydney was found by David Mearns and his team. Immediately there was a push by our association to find Centaur which had never been located since the sinking though there had been several false claims to that effect. Thanks to the action of many of our members and friends, a search was funded by the Federal and Queensland Governments and successfully carried out under the direction of David Mearns. The Queensland Government was determined that the search and any subsequent photography should be carried out in a sensitive and respectful way. I was included in a Search Reference Committee formed by the Queensland Premier’s Department to ensure that this requirement was met. David was insistent that the association should place a memorial plaque near Centaur if found. We took a gamble that Centaur would be found. I used my drafting skills to design the plaque and had it manufactured. Fastened to the plaque is a DVD containing very poignant messages from relatives of those lost. The plaque was blessed in this chapel. 10

(Continued from Page 9) During this period Centaur was found lying on the ocean floor 2 kilometres below the surface and the plaque was taken on board the search ship in Brisbane ready for laying near Centaur. There was a last minute hitch. A trial steel plate was placed next to Centaur on the sea floor but was obscured by disturbed sediment. I was at my father’s apartment when I received this urgent phone call from the Queensland Premier’s Department. Would the members of the Centaur Association give permission to place the plaque on the foredeck? As many members as could be contacted, were, in a very short space of time. There were no objections and that is where the plaque now rests. A miniature facsimile of the plaque can be viewed in the glass case in this chapel.

I gave a photograph of the plaque, lying on the deck, to my father. I later received a letter from him saying that he felt that he had not thanked me enough for it at the time because he was so overwhelmed with emotion. A side benefit, following the discovery of the wreck of Centaur, was that at the associated memorials, relatives of those on Centaur met other relatives for the first time. The objectives of our Association are to honour those who gave their lives on Centaur; to provide a means of communication for survivors, relatives, descendants, friends and organisation’s interest in Centaur; to help the continuing healing process; to ensure the memory never fades and the facts not forgotten; and importantly, wherever possible, to turn our tragedy into positives. This annual Centaur service is an important contributor to our objectives. Those on Centaur came from as wide a variety of backgrounds as one could imagine. Times were different then as people struggled after the Great Depression. Some saw going to sea with the Merchant Navy, as great opportunity but then paid with their lives in war. Medical staff were looking forward to a career serving the sick in our society but paid with their lives in war. The population of Australia was much smaller in 1943 than now and the loss was felt widely by thousands of family, friends and colleagues and is still felt by those alive today.

Yet even now the same sorts of atrocities are happening as we see on the news that hospitals are being shelled and bombed in conflicts in the Middle East. Their doctors, nurses, ambulance crews and patients are losing their lives or being seriously injured. Let us remember them also on this day of the Concord Centaur Memorial and International Nurses Day. (With our kind thanks to Richard Jones) MY TRAVELS—Where I have and have not been! CAHOOTS—I have never been in Cahoots. Apparently you can’t go there alone—you have to be in Cahoots with ‘someone’! CAPABLE—I have been in Capable. I find I go there more often as I get older. COGNITO—I have never been in Cognito. I have been told that no one recognises you there anyway. CONCLUSIONS—I have heard of this but I don’t think I would like to go there—apparently you have to jump and I’m not too much into physical activity anymore CONTINENT—I think I have been in Continent but I didn’t like the State I was in. It’s an age thing. DOUBT—I have been in Doubt. It is a sad place to go and I try not to visit there too often. FLEXIBLE—I have been in Flexible a couple of times, mainly when it was very important for me to stand firm. SANE—Now I have been in Sane. They don’t have an airport—you have to be driven there. I have made several trips there—thanks to my friends, family and work. SUSPENSE—One of my favourite places is in Suspense. It really gets the adrenalin flowing and pumps up the old heart. At my age I need all the stimulus I can get.

Ever notice that the people who are late are often much jollier than the people who have to wait for them? 11

JUNE JULY AUGUST MAJ Jane CURRIE Adam BAILEY Derek CANNON Michael CARLSON John CURRY Lee CASTLE Ben CASTLE Paul FOOKES Alan CURRY OAM John DAVIES Tomas HAMILTON Stephen CURRY Phillip FAGUE Nelson Eileen HENDERSON Marie DOYLE FIORENTINO WOUNDED FROM OAM Barry FOSTER TOBRUK Garry FLOOD John HEAD Dr. Jim ILIOPOULOS (with kind thanks from Paul John GALLAGHER Ken HELSBY Carleson—Author, F.Keleher Richard JONES 1943) Patrick JONES Sue JONES You come limping down Hugh (Macka) Peter KROGER Edwin LOWERY the gangplank, or you’re McCARTY Bill LAIDLAW carried down instead, Huss MAHOMET John LAYHE Trish McGRATH Bryan LINDSAY Covered by a blanket Dr. Helena MARTIN with a boot beneath your Tom McLANDERS Fay LYNCH head John McKEOWN John MAIR Ron PALMER And you look all lean and John McCARTHY Alan ROBINSON hungry underneath that Bill THOMPSON Donna PEACH Aussie grin, George SIP David PHILLIPS Keverell TURNBULL Sick of bully beef and Ron WEBB Tom PRITCHARD biscuits, but the sort that Ruth VAUDIN Rod SEARLE won’t give in. John WILSON Paul SHERGOLD Perhaps you’re smiled at The happiness of Robert by a bearer, who is your life depends SHILLINGSWORTH muscular and big. Ken SMITH on the quality of The heaviest thing you can Fishing fags out of his Bruce WHITTET your thoughts. carry is a grudge. pocket with a “Hullo, have one, Dig”. And you take it while he APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE lights it, and retains that wry, old grin, (SEE PAGE 3—Alan Curry OAM CONTACT DETAILS) making little of your If you would like to join 5 Field Ambulance Association you would be troubles, but there’s no one taken in. made most welcome. You may have served in the unit on a previous For they know that occasion. You may feel there is a ‘connection’ between you and our you’ve been through it Association even though you may not have served in the ADF. You are and there’s nothing much welcome. The cost is $15 per year. This entitles you to participate by to say. telling us your story and to receive a quarterly newsletter. You’re a Base job or a ‘Blighty’ and they’ll help For the RAAMC Association Inc. Are you serving OR have you served in you on your way. a Medical Unit, in any capacity? This Association is a “Band of Brothers And I’m proud that I’m Australian when I look at and Sisters” and is FREE to join (unless you offered a small donation to men like these. cover admin costs). They’re the men who marched beside us, back at Ingleburn, in threes, In the days when life was What is it about a grandparent that is so lovely? I’d like to say rosy and full of laughter, that grandparents are God’s gifts to children. And if they can love and cheer but see, hear and feel what these people have to give, they can And I never thought I’d mature at a fast rate—Bill Cosby. see ’em, carried down the gangplank here. 12 Chaplain’s Corner I’ve got a Love / Hate relationship with Signs

While driving down one of our Victorian roads I was captivated by one sign which read – “Police Enforcing Speed”. Immediately in my mind I saw one of my detective friends forcing motorists to take drugs. Then there was the sign writer who was having trouble trying to print the word Psychotherapist onto the office door window and wrote it as follows:- Psycho The Rapist. My son works in an office chasing up complaints by other staff members. His favourite saying is:- “I’ve got to stop saying “How stupid can some people be ?” Too many people are taking it as a challenge”.

Signs take a number of forms. Some signs are humorous and others are warnings. Most if not all signs deal with some facet of life.

Road signs:- I hate the sign which reads “Slow Down Road Workers Ahead”. I get frustrated when I discover that the sign is placed several kilometres away from what is happening, and discover that there are no workers in the vicinity. Health signs related to family matters:- When I live as if the world revolves around me, the result of my “Me First” attitude may lead to family violence.. Signs not heeded:- Why do politicians keep saying, “We need to listen to the man on the street”, yet seem to ignore their own commentary. Understanding signs:- One of my Aboriginal friends showed me how he reads signs which were nearly obliterated. Or you may belong to a club which has special handshake which is only known to the membership. Some signs are mottos:- The Pepsi motto was … “Beat Coke” . Or “The burgers are better at …… …..

As I read the Bible I discover that Jesus did a lot of things which backed up his claims that He is God in human flesh. But I also realise that there are some people, who, no matter what you do for them, will want more and more. Sadly after receiving some benefit from you, they will not accept advice from you because it might mean that they will have to make a major decision which would affect their lives. In the days of Jesus there were people just like this. They had been exposed to the lifestyle of Jesus and his care for the downtrodden, yet they wanted to destroy his credibility. On one occasion they wanted Jesus to give them a special divine sign. But Jesus was a wake up to them and their motivation. Matthew 16:1 – 4. The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. He replied, "When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,' and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah." Jesus then left them and went away.

It has been suggested we as a society ‘ARE GOING TO HELL IN A BASKET’. Surely it would be reasonable to ask, ”What are the signs that this could be true?” Give some thought to this because it does have an impact upon your life and mine. The sign of Jonah is about the death and resurrection of Jesus. This is God’s great sign for all of us. It is about our lives and our ultimate destiny. Do we believe that God has the power to bring about such a transformation for and in our lives ? We have the ability to read physical, psychological and relational signs, but can we read the signs of our heart and its deepest needs? Brian Hogan, Honorary Chaplain

DON’T QUIT (Author unknown) When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, and the road you’re trudging seems all uphill. When the funds are low and the debts are high, and you want to smile but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit, rest, if you must, but don’t you quit. Life is queer with its twists and turns as every one of us sometimes learns And many a failure turns about when he might have won if he’d stuck it out. Don’t give up, though the pace seems slow, you may succeed with another blow. Success is failure turned inside out, the silver tint on the clouds of doubt. And you never can tell how close you are, it may be near when it seems so far. So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit. It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit. 13

ANZAC DAY March (Summaries) Our Association was invited to attend the “Pre-ANZAC Day Ceremony”, by the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway Committee, under the guidance of M/s Alice Kang (Marketing Manager for Vet Affairs at Concord Hospital-Sydney). This was held on Friday 21st April at 10am, at the “Walkway”. It was a beautifully presented Ceremony with about 300 in attendance, on a lovely autumn morning. Everyone was seated and under cover. The memorable ANZAC Address was given by COL Prof. Robert Lusby AM, Chairman of the ANZAC Research Institute. (With Robert’s kind permission, Alice has sent this to me for you to ponder. I have included it in this Issue. )

The group photo with our Banner includes Alice Kang, Michael Ali OAM, John Haines AM and Dick Payton OAM. The group of ladies include Pam Dodd and her mum (and our Life Member) Olive Dodd. The Corrective Services Band did a great job in providing all the necessary music. The highlight was the memorable presentation of wartime photos on the big screen.

The Main March in Sydney saw another beautiful, overcast Autumn day. The unfortunate parts were, again, the standing around, but when you see all the friends chatting away and meeting old mates they hadn’t seen for 12 months or more, the time really doesn't matter.

The other unfortunate part was our friends from 5 CSSB Health Company were not in their Ceremonial Uniform due to not being allowed to parade without official permission (Our fault for not writing earlier). To their absolute credit a number of them marched, in civvies, with their OC, Major Jane Currie, accompanying them in our front ranks. They carried our Banner, for which I was most grateful. Their names are listed further on, in alphabetical order.

Our Association fell in behind the main RAAMC Banner. I must thank our member, Dick Bourke, for asking his two granddaughters, Cooper and Regan Fenton (dressed in their Girl Guides uniforms), if they would like to carry the main RAAMC Banner. They were most keen and did a sterling job in carrying the Banner such a long way. Both girls belong to the Kingsford Girl Guides Association and are a credit to this organisation. We had a very large contingent behind our Banner. Our President, Derek Cannon, although unable to lead us, greeted most of our members prior to the march. Derek met us after the march at our reunion. Our Patron, COL Ray Hyslop OAM, led our Association.

We started to arrive from 9am at our “Form Up” point in O’Connell Street but we didn’t actually start marching until about 11.30am. It is quite a march uphill in Hunter Street until we ‘right turned’ into Elizabeth Street where it was all level marching to our Dismissal Point in Liverpool Street (about 1 & 1/2 Klms). Fred Bell (our ASM) gave an “Eyes Left” to all the Legacy people who were seated, under cover, near St James Station. Then we had another “Eyes Left” further down the street to the entrance of the War Memorial in Hyde Park South.

After the March those who were able met at the Sanctuary Hotel where the RAAMC had ‘booked’ a room for all to have lunch and refreshments. It was another successful and most pleasant ANZAC Day. Our Association sincerely thanks the following members and friends who either marched or met us at our reunion venue:- Samuel ALEXANDER, Fred BELL (ASM), Dick BOURKE, Linda BURKYS, Derek CANNON (President), MAJ Jane CURRIE (OC 5 CSSB Health Coy), Alan CURRY OAM, David CZERKIES (President, RAAMC Assn . Inc. NSW Branch), Anthony DAWSON (member of 5 CSSB Health Coy), Theo DECHAUFEPIE (RAAMC Assn. Inc. NSW Hon Sect), Pam DODD, Britany & Julie EVANS, Laurie FARRUGIA, Cooper & Regan FENTON, Brett & Jaqui FERRARI, Ron FOLEY, John GALLAGHER, Simon HERLIHY, Joanne HOVELING, Kevin HURRELL, COL Ray HYSLOP OAM (Patron and led our Association), Ann JACKSON (Williams), Stu’ Jones (Patron-1 Fd Amb Assn and RAAMC Assn Inc. Hon Sect), Sue, Patrick and Sarah JONES, (Continued on Page 14) 14

(Continued from Page 13 Steve LINDSAY, Robert LOVE, Edwin LOWERY, Anthony LY (carried Banner, member of 5 CSSB Health Coy), Michele & Georgia MAROON, Paul MISTO, David MOLESWORTH, Michael MORONEY, Charles MURRAY, Hugh (Macca) McCARTY, John McKEOWN, James McNEIL (member of 5 CSSB Health Coy), Geraldine OLIVIERO, John OVERTON AM, Peter PETHER (Paraded with 3 Coy), Ken PHILLIPS OAM, Mitch PICKETT (member of 5 CSSB Health Coy), Mark & Vicki ROBERTSON, Mel ROBSON, Bill & Shannon RYLANDS, Paul SHERGOLD, Chris STRODE, Teddy SUGPATAN (member of 5 CSSB Health Coy), Tyrone SUTTON (carried Banner, Member of 5 CSSB Health Coy), Noel TAME, Brian TAMS, Debra & Trevor TAYLOR, Courtney THOMAS (5 CSSB Catering Corps), Mick WALSH, Darren WATERSON, Ian & Paloma WHITE, Bruce WHITTET and David WILLIAMS. (sincere apologies if I have omitted your name and thanks to all who either rang or emailed their Apologies)

* Life is too short to wake up with regrets, so love the people who treat you right, forget about the ones who don't. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it. 15

(Continued from Page 14)

ANZAC DAY 2017 SYDNEY

* Friends are like balloons; once you let them go, you might not get them back. Sometimes we get so busy with our own lives and problems that we may not even notice that we’ve let them fly away. Sometimes we are so caught up in who's right and who's wrong that we forget what's right and wrong. Sometimes we just don't realise what real friendship means until it is too late. I don't want to let that happen, so I'm going to tie you to my heart, so I never lose you.

LIFE MEMBERSHIP LIST In an effort to conserve pages we have decided to print our Life Members’ names in our CHRISTMAS Newsletter for the time being. When our finances ‘pick up’ we will re-assess this situation. * Ideas won't work unless you do. 16

SICK PARADE 1 Field Ambulance Formal Dinner Bob BUTLER, Derek CANNON, Kevin Stuart Jones, the Patron, has CARTER , George CARUANA, Ben CASTLE (Mona Vale House, 33 Bassett St., Mona Vale advised us they will hold a Formal NSW Ph: 9910.7900), John CLEGG, Barry Dinner Saturday 2nd September COLLINS OAM, Roy CROSSLEY, Gordon CURTIS, 2017, 6pm for 6.30pm. It will be at John DAVIES, George DONNELLY, Gavin DRISCOLL, Nelson FIORENTINO, Garry FLOOD, Richard FORD, the same venue as previous i.e. Gordon GRANT, Kevin HURRELL, Norma HUTTON The North Sydney Education (Minnamurra Aged Care, 12-14 Clements St, Drummoyne NSW 2047), Ken ILES (need a contact number? Please call Centre, which is in the grounds of me.), Brian INMAN, Terry IRVINE, Ann JACKSON (nee the Macquarie Hospital off Wicks Williams), Neville JOHNSON, John LAYHE, Huss MAHOMET, Charles MURRAY, John McCARTHY, Hugh Road North Ryde. Please contact (Macka) McCARTY, Ken McNUFF, Rayda NOBLE, Mike Stu’ on 0412.410.019 if you would O’KEEFFE, Charles O’MEALLY (Calvary Aged Care, like to join them, or if you require Cessnock. (02)4993.9150/0474.305.145), Chris O’REILLY, Barry & Heather PERIGO, Karen PHILLIPS (nee Stead), Alan any further info. The cost will be ROBINSON, Diana ROTHFIELD, Robert SHILLINGSWORTH, approx. $100 per head Stephen STANSFIELD, Rob STEWART, Judith STRACHAN, Harry STRONG, Natalie SWAN (nee Lloyd), Keverell TURNBULL, John WEAVER, Bruce WHITTET, Warwick IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO BECOME WHAT WILKINSON, John WILSON and Margaret WOODHEAD. YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN.

NEW MEMBERS Betty HAMILTON is warmly welcomed into our Association as an Associate Member. Betty is the wife of our member, Tomas. Betty was born in Scone in NSW and grew up in the ‘bush’ in the small township of Keepit—the dam (and watching its construction) was one of her fascinations. Her family then moved to Tamworth but Betty was not happy there. She moved to Maitland and did four years nursing in Maitland Hospital.

It was here she met Tomas. He was in the RAAF. They fell in love and married. While on their honeymoon Tomas received the news that he was to be posted to Amberley in Queensland! They spent the next 12 years, and five children in between, being moved around the country by the RAAF until they reached Richmond in NSW. Betty and the kids (who were now entering high school) had had enough of re-locations at this point and told Tomas “This is it, we can’t move again”! Thankfully, Tomas was to remain at Richmond.

Three of their children followed their father’s footsteps and enlisted in the RAAF. Her daughter, Katherine, is currently a Squadron Leader and their son, Eamon, is a Flight Lieutenant. Their other son, Conor, joined the Army for a short time. Their eldest boy, Ryan, is an environmentalist and their other daughter, Fiona, is married and has 2 children and they live in Cairns. Betty remarked that the family has ‘notched up’ 80 years service in the ADF!

She said she has never been busier now that her and Tomas have retired. Betty and Tomas work in harmony and between them they produce some wonderful poems and are occasionally contacted to perform their work at various function centres. Betty is a member of the Hawkesbury Show auxiliary. She is also the catering organiser for the Richmond RSL Sub Branch and added…”a full time spoiler of my grandchildren” ————————————— Olive DODD is warmly welcomed into our Association as an Associate (and Life) Member. Her husband, Gordon, was also one of us but sadly he passed away on the 20th May in 2015. Olive kindly accepted my invitation to join us. Her daughter, Pam, usually accompanies her to any of the Ceremonies we are involved in.

I am hoping Olive, with the help of Pam, will furnish more details of Olive’s story so as to introduce her more formally to you. —————————————— 17

(Continued from Page 16) Mitch PICKETT is the most recent member of the 5 CSSB Health Company to join us and we wish him a warm welcome and our thanks. Mitch is a committed Reservist and enjoys the company of fellow reservists. His working life, to date, is a new graduate nurse and hoping to be working in ‘Emergency/Trauma’ capability. At present he is in his second rotation at the Royal North Shore Hospital in the Cardiothoracic Ward.

Mitch said he is grateful to be accepted in our Association which has such a rich and proud history. He is looking forward to meeting us again in the near future. Mitch was one of the Reservists who marched with our Association on ANZAC Day and it was a pleasure and an honour to have him in our ranks. ————————————- Julie EVANS Is warmly welcomed into our ranks as an Associate (and Life) Member. I am waiting for a more comprehensive story from Julie and her life, so as to introduce her more formally to you.

You may have read, in previous issues of our quarterly magazines, that Julie was an immense help in getting our Christmas Issue (2016) finalised so we could get it to our printers. (This came to fruition through our member, Noel Christensen and his very competent daughter, Pamela.). Had we not have had their most invaluable services I think we would be struggling. I can’t contemplate the thought of what we will do if Noel and Pamela are unable to assist us until we can build up our finances.

That being said, Welcome again Julie and Tony (as you will read below). ———————————— Tony EVANS As you have probably worked out, Tony is the husband of Julie (above) and he is also warmly welcomed as an Associate (and Life) member to our Association. I am also waiting for Tony to tell us some of his life story so that we may formally introduce him to you.

Tony and Julie attend our functions when able. We look forward to their company whenever this occurs. ————————————-

OUR ASSOCIATION IS ON FACEBOOK

Any member who has a computer and has access to the Internet can now visit our ‘Facebook’ page. We thank our commit- tee member, Ann Jackson, for ‘opening up’ another avenue to connect to our members who are already on Facebook. We also would like to reconnect with any past member.

ಫAdmin’ will then accept members to that group. Our group will be a ‘closed group’ which means only members of the group can see ‘posts’.

[email protected].

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5th HEALTH COMPANY Report (omitted from ANZAC Newsletter 2017 ) The first quarter of 2017 has been extremely stimulating for 5 Health Company members. In February our CSM, WO2 Christian Oakley, discharged from regular service to train as a paramedic with NSW Ambulance. WO2 Oakley had served for 29 years in the Australian Army. At his farewell he shared a delightful analogy of Army life being similar to his experiences of an 18-hole golf course, sometimes we end up in the rough, but most of the time we are on the fairway and every now and then we will hit a ‘hole in one’! On behalf of 5 Health Company we wish WO2 Oakley every success in his new career and we hope that he uses his farewell gift, a stethoscope engraved with his name, as often as possible in his duties as a paramedic. We now welcome WO2 Glen Watson as our CSM for the remainder of 2017. The transition between CSMs meant that all members of the Company stepped up in their support of the soldiers, ensuring that training and administration were conducted to the highest standards. I would like to take the opportunity of thanking all members of the Company, particularly the 2IC, CAPT Charlton, the Pl Comds, LT Robson and LT Looney and the SNCOs, SGT Dickie, SGT Yang and SGT Salleo for their enduring commitment and support to 5 Health Company. In February, our first parade weekend focused upon mandatory training activities and we also commenced a suite of training to ensure that our Combat Medical Attendants (CMA) were credentialed for the year. This CMA training culminated at the parade weekend in March where the competency of all CMAs was tested, ensuring their ability to perform necessary clinical skills. In March we also ran a Combat First Aid Course and a Combat First Aid Re-cert Course. I would like to thank MAJ Easterbrook for her support of this training and SGT Dickie for his exceptional organisation. The 5 Bde Comd was particularly impressed with the standard of training delivered. Well done to all involved. Two of our members nominated their employers for a Defence Employer Award, in recognition of their exceptional support of their Army Reserve attendance. CPL Sugputan nominated his employer Australia Post and won an award in the category of Public Service. L/CPL Vaughn nominated his employer, NSW Ambulance Service and was the overall winner of the Public Service category. We are extremely grateful to all employers of the 5 Health Company members and their support of our members. Looking forward, we have a busy few months ahead as we transition to the readying phase of our training cycle and commence preparations for our support to key exercises. Our next key activity will be ceremonial duties as part of ANZAC day. Best wishes MAJ Jane Currie OC 5th Health Coy.

5th HEALTH COMPANY REPORT (for this WINTER Issue) The tempo of activities for 5th Health Company has remained high. Over the past few months we have provided health support to a number of range activities. We have undertaken credentialing and training processes to ensure all our members are fit for purpose. We had the pleasure of parading with the 5th Field Ambulance Association during the ANZAC day march in Sydney CBD – I believe we were all in step when we were caught on camera by the ABC! Our ongoing focus is preparation for Waratah 2018, a 5th Brigade led exercise. This year we have already attended weekend preparatory training and in June/July we will be exercising in Singleton for a nine-day activity involving a series of range exercises, to which we will provide health cover. We will also be delivering Army First Aid training. In April, we welcomed our interim CSM, WO2 Watson, RAIC, and he has been doing fantastic work on behalf of the Coy, we are most grateful to be working with him. Our previous CSM, WO2 Oakley, is now training to become a paramedic with NSW Ambulance Service. Highlights over the past few months include the contributions of our members to Brigade taskings, particularly CAPT Charlton, CAPT McNeil and SGT Yang. Also, the contribution of our training team to the delivery of combat first aid courses, particularly, MAJ Easterbrook, SGT Dickie, CPL Spurway and PTE Blanch. One of our combat paramedics, LCPL Vaughn, spent two weeks on OP Resolute, with a Regional Force Surveillance Unit in the Pilbara region. The 5th Health Company team are relentless in their service to Army, and I live in both awe and privilege to their commitment. In the next few months we look forward to four of our nursing officers, LTs Robson, Looney, Foce and Wade becoming fully qualified after they complete the final section of the ADF Extended Nursing Practice course at the Army School of Health. Good luck and best wishes to all. That’s all for now, I look forward to updating you with more of the 5th Health Company activities in the future. Yours sincerely, MAJ Jane Currie OC 5th Health Company 19 MESSAGES FROM MEMBERS Paul MISTO enjoys reading our magazine in the PDF format and he passes on his good wishes to his friends in our Association. In mid April he is meeting family members, on his mum’s side, to gather at the Woy Woy Memorial Park in remembrance of his pop’s life (Ted Sharkey). Paul said there is a plaque in the wall at the park.

Afterwards, they are going to Point Clare Cemetery to lay a wreath at his grave. Paul obtained his pop’s war records many years ago and although they had lovely moments together his pop only told them funny stories.

His pop was captured by the Germans, after an assault at Fromelles. He was blown up by a German shell and treated in a German field hospital near Fleurbaix. Some of his 53rd Bn mates had reported they had seen his body—it was his unconscious body they had seen! Eventually, his name turned up on a list and released to the RED CROSS. (Photo at right shows of part of the Red Cross list)

Paul taught in Germany many years ago and said he was only 30klms from Duelmen, Westphalia, where his pop was a POW for part of his captivity. At the time, he sent his pop the postcard (on left) and when he got back home his pop told him he remembered being marched in through the big stone ‘tor’ or gate tower that was depicted on the postcard!.

Paul asked if we might be interested in his pop’s war records and experiences, as Paul remembers, so as to place it in one of our newsletters? (YES please Paul, we certainly would). (Thank you Paul, for your emails and wonderful support. I hope this finds you in good health.) —————————————- Charles MURRAY wrote to express his thanks for sending him his Beret and Badge. He is looking forward to wearing it with much pride when he marches with us next ANZAC Day in 2018.

Murray is a much respected poet and we had the honour to publish one of his poignant poems, “The Christs of Fromelles”, in our APRIL 2010 Newsletter. I have Charles’ permission to print another evocative poem called “The Broken Boys, The Shattered Men” in one of our future newsletters.

He very kindly sent me a book, which I very gladly share with you. (see “Items Of Interest” (vi) on page 22). Charles is a keen attender at ‘Poetry Nights’ which are held at Rubino’s Restaurant in Willoughby (Sydney) (phone 02.9958.0833). I thank Charles for one of his poems, “Balm”, which is placed on page 32. (Thank you Charles for your emails and encouragement. We look forward to your company in the near future.) ——————————- Ross SMITH wrote to say how much he enjoys receiving and reading our magazines even though he doesn’t know any member personally. Ross was stationed in Queensland in WW 2 and mainly in the Townsville area. He kindly gave us a small glimpse into his life, when I wrote about him in our April Issue of 2011. Although he is in his early 90’s you wouldn’t think so if you could read his beautiful hand-writing. (I wish I could write cursively like him!).

Ross has given me an open invitation to have a ‘cuppa’ with him and his lovely wife, Jean, if ever I get down to his neck of the woods.

If any member lives near the ANZAC Village in Colooli Road, Narrabeen, call in and ask for Ross and wish him “all the best” from a fellow member. (Thank you Ross for your letter and support. Pass on our good wishes to Jean and we hope this finds you both cosy and warm.) —————————— Paul FOOKES passes on his good wishes to all his friends in our Association. He was pleased we were able to place our magazines to all who have an email address and especially to our 5 Field Ambulance “Facebook” page. He and his wife, Fran, enjoy all the items in each magazine.

Paul wrote that any advertiser who places an ‘ad’ in our magazine will be assured of it getting a much wider exposure as members pass the PDF version to friends and family.

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(Continued from Page 19) Paul congratulates all who have an ‘input’ towards the publication of each Issue. He asked us to pass on his kind regards to our member Trevor Barnes. Paul said it was... “Trevor who recruited Fran into 1 Field Ambulance in 1976 and me into 5 Field Ambulance in 1974. I was the last Assistant Treasurer of the OR’s Mess of 5 Field Ambulance in Carrington Rd, Randwick, before it was taken off the ORBAT in 1975. It was re-established in Carlow Street, Crows Nest but by then Fran and I were posted to 4 FER in Gladesville. Fran was the squadron medic for 5 Sqn at Penrith and I was the RAP Sgt. CAP A. D. Patterson was our MO”. (Thank you Paul for your email and some reminiscences. Pass on our kind regards to Fran and we hope this finds you both in good health.) ——————————— Bob GRIEVES Passes on his good wishes to all his friends in our Association and enjoys reading all our news. Bob sent me a few emails to sympathise with me and my ongoing troubles with the NBN because he was also experiencing similar problems. We both lost our internet and our home phone and fax lines.

Mine is all good FOR NOW! As of late May, Bob still has no service (phone or internet) and this is since late February! I just rang him on his mobile and he told me it is in the hands of the “Ombudsman”?? And has been for some weeks. (Hi Bob, I can only sympathise with you and say it is a dreadful situation to be in. I hope when you receive this (by post) you will be ‘up and running’.) —————————— Tomas HAMILTON is thanked for the poems he sends me, especially the poem “KAPYONG” which can be read in “ITEMS of INTEREST” (13) Pages 25/26. Tomas and his wife Betty are frequent attendees at our various activities and they are always ready to lend a hand if needed. Tomas and Betty are kept busy with a repertoire to RSL Sub Branches/Probus Clubs and the like. If you belong to a like club (in the Sydney area) you might like to give Tomas a call for more information. They can be contacted on 0412.784.984. (Thank you Tomas for your poems and emails. I hope this finds you and Betty in good health) ———————————— Barry and Heather PERIGO pass on their good wishes to all their friends in our Association.

Barry recently sent me this group photo taken in September 1967 whilst on “Exercise Foxtrot”. Barry is standing (3rd from Left). I also noticed Ron Waterson and my old OC (then Major) John Hill from 3 Coy when we were at Haberfield before moving the depot to Ashfield. What a “blast from the past”!!

Barry and Heather live on a 5 acre farm in Orchard Hills (near Penrith) and they raise goats and grow their own vegetables.

Some of their children live nearby and are a great help to them.

Heather said you still have to be careful around the goats because they will ’butt’ if you aren’t careful. Heather found out the hard way, about 18 months ago, when one of the ‘Billies’ butted her hard and sent her flying. It took Heather a long time to get back to normal.

I have asked Barry, when he has time, to write his/their story for us to read. (Thank you Barry for your emails NS Newsletters. I hope you and Heather are both in good health) ———————————- Steve (“Boris”) PARIS sent us an email to pass on his good wishes to his friends in our Association. He and his wife, Mary, have embarked on an overseas trip where they will be visiting Russia, Japan, Sweden, Holland, the UK and The Isle of Mann (he was anxious to see the TT Motor Cycle races). (Thank you Steve for your email. I don’t know if any of our members saw that beautiful photo that you (or Mary) posted on ‘Facebook’ which shows Mary taking in the sights at one of the Russian tourist spots—the weather looks great! We all hope you both have an enjoyable time and get back safely.) ——————————— Robert (“Scotty”) BOYD sends his good wishes to all his friends in the Association. He sent an email to wish us all well for ANZAC Day.

Scotty was on a cruise in the Pacific Ocean at the time. He was aboard the Royal Caribbean cruise liner (“Explorer of the Seas”) and attended a most poignant Dawn Service, as the sun rose, about 5.30am with about 800 passengers and crew in attendance.

Prior to the Service, the staff handed out programs and poppies and when the Service concluded with the ‘Reveille’, all the attendees were supplied with coffee and a ‘tot’ of rum. 21 (Continued from Page 20) Scotty was sorry he did not take his camera but he kindly sent me the ANZAC Day program.

He said it was very well conducted and a credit to the organisers on board.

(Thank you Scotty for your email and the attached ANZAC program. It seems like you had a wonderful time. We hope you had good shipmates around you. It was good to read you are back safely in OZ. I can only add a few lines from the poem by A.E. Housman…”Home is the Sailor from the sea and the Hunter from the hill”)

—————————————- Bruce WHITTET passes on his kind regards to his friends in our Association. He and his wife, Margaret, moved into their new unit in Manly just over 12 months ago and they are both very happy now and have ‘settled in’ nicely. He said they moved from a fairly big home to a 2-bedroom unit but Bruce said “after you have lived in a Navy married quarter you can live anywhere”?

Bruce recently underwent an operation for a left shoulder replacement and is still having rehabilitation.

I recently sent Bruce (and our other members) an email that was sent to me concerning the Vietnam Veteran’s Counselling Service and the DVA. He, like other members, was concerned about patient confidentiality and ‘trust’ issues. (Thank you Bruce for your Email. I hope when you receive this newsletter your rehab has been successful and you are able to resume your normal routine.) ———————————

THE VETERAN

(with kind thanks to Author-Tomas Hamilton, December 2016 Most of you will know me, for I Korea was a hellhole, as cold as it And returned to find the black dog have a familiar face was hot growling at my door Amongst the childhood Some called it a police action, the photographs, I would not look one the world forgot Now I pause and say a prayer, for out of place those who gave up hope

Bunkered down in a blizzard, I knew Our nation has forsaken them, the I put my age up to enlist, for that it would not be long ones who could not cope there is no shame Before the blaring of a bugle, would For of all those who followed herald the screaming throng It’s just my Aussie nature, part larrikin me, you’ll find some did the part lout same I served in unofficial wars, from And I’ve dragged my weary arse, from

Malaya to Borneo Suvla to Tarin Kowt In Gallipoli and the mud of Firedog and confrontation, are code France, I received my education words few will know Though I now have all the coms, like A generation cruelly lost, the emails, skype and text pride of this great nation An enemy defeated, but it still came I scratch my head and wonder, where

at a cost will they send me next. I know not where they lie, those Just a minute’s silence, for all the ——————————— who gave their all mates I lost Names consigned to history, FLAG DAY CEREMONY: names found on a wall Friday 1st September at the I next went off to Vietnam, and to this Martin Place Amphitheatre from I must confess All too soon I volunteered, when NOON. (Kind thanks to member, Noel Once again I had been conned, to the bells of war again did ring Christensen) clean up France’s mess You’d thought I’d learned my This will be to honour a man lesson, but I hadn’t learnt a thing Now in my senior years, I’m left in and an act who, 100 years ago,

little doubt planted our Australian Flag atop All across this planet, I marched I didn’t lose that bloody war, my a ‘captured-in-blood’, a German, and sailed and flew country sold me out double storied, redoubt during Till a fragile peace was restored, the WW 1 battle of the Menin under the mushroom cloud that Then for over twenty years, I knew Road in Belgium. grew peaceful times He was Lt. Arthur Hull of 18th I spent my days giving aid, and to Some see me as an angel, Bn. He was a farm boy from clearing deadly mines. dressed in nursing attire Galore (near Wagga Wagga) and

You think I served behind the was thrilled that he had beaten Now when locals see me, I banish all lines, away from the deadly fire two of his trench mate rivals to their fears But my sisters fell on a sandy plant our flag in the pile of For I can bring them solace and dry beach, or beneath an oceans rubble! Sadly, he was KIA two the children’s tears weeks later. swell

Yet you are slow to recognise, I deployed to the Middle East, A “Re-Enactment Group” will be they gave their lives as well Australia’s longest war there on the 1st. Come along and stand with our Banner. 22

KIND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Anonymous (EFT $200) for Donation. Warren BARNES (Cheque $50) for Raffle Tickets $30 and Donation $20. Bondi Junction-Waverley RSL Sub Branch (Cheque $500) for advertisement in our quarterly magazines for 2017. Derek CANNON (Cheque $240) for New Associate Memberships and Life Memberships for Tony and Julie Evans $200 and Name Badges for both $40. Olive DODD (Cash $100) for New Associate Membership and Life Membership. David EMANUEL (EFT $15) for Subs. Paul MISTO (EFT $150) for Beret $40, Beret Badge $23, RAAMC Lapel Pin $15, Key Ring $20, RAAMC Centenary ‘Coin and Token Set’ $30 and 12 RAAMC Centenary ‘self-stamped’ envelopes $24. Charles MURRAY (Cheque $80) for Beret and Badge $63 and Donation $17. Mitch PICKETT (Cash $15) for New member Subs. Portside Real Estate (EFT $50) for ‘Strip Ad’ in our Quarterly Magazines for 2017. Ross SMITH (Cheque $50) for Donation. SMITHFIELD RSL S/B (EFT $250) for Ads for 2017 in our quarterly Newsletters. Darren WATERSON (Cash $50) for RAAMC Corps Tie.

APOLOGY for the Sir Charles Rosenthal article (ANZAC Newsletter-AUTUMN Issue 2017, pages 15 and 16) Owing to my inexperience with “Publisher” I ‘doubled up’ on some paragraphs and left out the last piece of his important story. In 1937, Charles accepted the post of Administrator of Norfolk Island (which he governed throughout WW 2). Charles and Harriett lived in a stone, convict-built house, with peaceful views and from here he was able to promote his career interests, albeit on a lesser scale, with freedom from his recent financial difficulties. He supported tree planting and conservation of the old convict buildings, fostered education and the work of the Red Cross Society. After the outbreak of War, in September 1939, he raised a volunteer infantry unit and set up coast-watching posts which reported sightings of aircraft and ships at sea.

He retired as Administrator in 1945 but he and Harriett lived privately on the Island until his health began to fail and they returned to Sydney in 1948. Harriett passed away in 1952.

In July 1953 Charles married Sarah Agnes Rosborough (nee McKinstry-d.1987) in St Stephens Presbyterian Church in Sydney. Charles was frequently in hospital due to chronic nephritis but was always seen as cheerful and mentally vigorous. Charles passed away in their Green Point (Central Coast of NSW) home on the 11th May 1954. His funeral, with full military honours, was held in St Andrews Anglican Cathedral, Sydney. His portrait hangs in the Australian War Memorial.

It was written that he was among the most remarkable leaders of his time. He was a good speaker and much sought-after at soldier’s reunions. It was said …”No head of the AIF was better liked and has always been “Rosie” with respect”. ------23

ITEMS OF INTEREST (1) Magazines, Newsletters etc (sent from members and other sources-please contact Alan Curry if you would like any posted to you (Postage FREE- (up to $5) if I have the hard copy)! (i) FRONTLINE (Journal of the 1st and 2nd 19th Bn)-March (courtesy-Bob Pink OAM) (ii) Tobruk House News (Victoria Branch)–April (courtesy, Reg Lawrence) (iii) BOOK -”The Hunter Region in the Great War” (courtesy, Kevin Hurrell) (iv) 3 TPT ASSN-April (courtesy, Gary Smith) (v) 2/3 AHS Centaur Newsletter-May (Courtesy, Jan Thomas OAM). (vi) Book of Poems “A Patch of Sun”-Café Poets Anthology (courtesy, Charles Murray) (vii) The National Serviceman—April (courtesy, Ron Brown, NSW Sate President) (viii) Reveille (NSW Journal) May/June (courtesy, Alan Curry OAM) ————————————— (2) NATIONAL SERVICEMEN WANTED: The National Servicemen’s Association and Affiliates Inc. welcomes you to join their Association, if you are not already a member of a Sub Branch. Their NSW Head Office is ‘manned’ Monday-Wednesday and Friday from 8.30am-1.30pm (Phone: (02) 9759.3624/29). For further information please contact Ron Brown (President) (02)9607.2350 ——————————— (3) THE NATIONAL FILM AND SOUND ARCHIVES (NFSA): Have published a selection of early 20th century songs online. This content is available on “Sights and Sounds of WW 1”:- http://anzacsightsound.org to commemorate ANZAC Day. New ‘updates’ will occur throughout the centenary period. For more information please contact :- Miguel Gonzales (02) 8202.0114 or email- [email protected] ———————————— (4) THE RUSSIAN CIVIL WAR (1917-1921) (Kind Thanks to Wikipedia) This started when the Bolshevik Party assumed power in Russia in October 1917. Fighting occurred between the Bolsheviks (Red Army) and a group of ’loosely allied’ Anti-Bolsheviks (White Army). A number of foreign armies took part, mainly against the Red Army. The Australian Prime Minister, at the time, was Billy Hughes and although ‘pressured’ by Britain at the end of WW 1, refused to commit Australian forces to Russia. However, individual Australian soldiers did volunteer their services to fight against the Red Army. It is estimated that about 150 AIF who were still in England at the end of the war, waiting to be repatriated, joined the North Russian Relief Force (NRRF) and they were involved in a number of sharp battles. In fact, one soldier, Corporal Arthur Sullivan was awarded the VICTORIA CROSS for his heroism in saving a group of drowning men, whilst under enemy fire. The RAN was also involved with HMAS Swan. They were engaged on an Intelligence gathering mission in the Black Sea, on behalf of the British military. ———————————- (5) THE BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA: 4-8 MAY 1942 What a ‘turning point’ for the Allies in WW 2! It was fought between the Japanese Imperial Navy and Naval and Air Forces of the United States of America and Australia. It was the first action in which aircraft carriers engaged each other, as well as the first in which neither side’s ships, sighted or fired directly upon each other! The US uncovered plans through signals intelligence and sent two US Navy Carrier Task Forces and a joint Australian-US Cruiser Force to oppose the Japanese offensive.

On the 3rd/4th May, Japanese forces successfully invaded, and occupied, the small island of Tulagi, in the Solomon Islands group. However, several of their supporting war ships were surprised and sunk or damaged severely by aircraft from the US Fleet Carrier “Yorktown”. The Japanese Fleet Carriers then advanced to the Coral Sea with the intention of finding and destroying the Allied naval forces. Beginning on the 7th May the Carrier Forces from the two opposing sides exchanged in air strikes over the two consecutive days. Aircraft from both sides destroyed or damaged their Fleets. Both sides disengaged after having suffered heavy losses to both aircraft and ships. 24

(Continued from Page 23) The Japanese Naval Commander, Admiral Inoue, recalled the Port Moresby Invasion Fleet with the intention of trying again at a later stage. The battle was seen as a tactical victory to the Japanese, in terms of ships sunk. However, this battle proved to be strategic victory for the Allies. The Coral Sea battle marked the first time since the start of the war that a major Japanese advance had been checked by the Allies.

The Coral Sea battle saw the severely damaged Japanese Carriers “Shokaku” and “Zuikako” unable to participate in the decisive “Battle of Midway” in June. This battle resulted in a victory to the Allies and saw the intended invasion of Port Moresby, via the ocean, thwarted. These most important and decisive battles saw the Allies gain the upper hand when the “Battle for Guadalcanal” started in August 1942. ———————————- (6) AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL ACQUIRES HEADSTONES: The Director of the Australian War Memorial is to be applauded for his Department purchasing TWO Headstones which belonged to two Australian War Heroes. They were Private Benjamin Hardy and Private Ralph Jones. Both soldiers were posthumously awarded the GEORGE CROSS (the second highest Award for valour and courage, after the Victoria Cross) for their heroic actions and conspicuous courage in manning their machine gun post during the mass Japanese POW camp ‘break-out’ in the NSW Township of Cowra, on the 5th August 1944. They both lost their lives.

Their Headstones were removed from the Cowra Cemetery in the 1970’s when they were replaced with NEW markers which displayed the insignia of the GEORGE CROSS. Their old Headstones were sent to the local tip where they were found by the owner of the Cowra War and Rail Museum.

The Headstones were put up for auction in April this year! The AWM was informed and ’they’ purchased them for $325 to keep them from the private market and ensure they were treated with the dignity they deserve.

Dr Nelson said it was disappointing to see that someone would seek to profit by selling the Headstones of two men who died in the service of their country. He said the Headstones of any human being, let alone highly decorated Australian soldiers, should be handled in a most dignified way, why on earth they would end up at an auction is something he found irritating and disappointing. ————————————- (7) HMAS BALLARAT: Was on ‘Exercise Passex’ (in April) with The Peoples Republic of the Chinese Navy ship ”Huangshan”. The ‘exercises’ were all successful and included; Surface Target Firing, Search & Rescue, Communications and Formation activity with aerial photography. ———————————- (8) 6th ROTATION OF US MARINES TO DARWIN: The Marine Rotational Force (MRF-D17) of about 1,250 US Marines, arrived in Darwin in April to be the most advanced to date. They are here as part of the US engagement in the Asia Pacific region. The US presence enhances the practical military cooperation and interoperability which contributes to regional security and engagement. ————————————- (9) AUSTRALIAN ARMY CADETS: 106 (96 Army and 10 Air Force) selected cadets have recently completed and received their National Adventure Training Award (ATA) Badge at Majura Training Area in Queanbeyan (NSW).

It was a ‘challenging’ week in which the cadets participated in Navigation, Field Engineering, Survival Skills, Physical and Mental Endurance, Teamwork ability, Initiative and Leadership. MAJGEN Angus Campbell, Deputy Chief of Army, presented the cadets with their ATA Badge and said…”Your awards were well-earned, keep in mind that whenever you encounter challenge, strive to overcome it. That is how you will achieve in life—and wear your ATA Badge with pride”. ————————————- 25

(Continued from Page 24) (10) JOINT TASK FORCE 661: Completed “Operation Queensland Assist Mission 2017” being the immense effort put in by the ADF, as the result of the recent ‘Cyclone Debbie’. Over 1,600 personnel worked to assist the State Emergency Services (SES) and affected communities. The RAN presence of HMAS Choules (a Bay Class Landing Ship Dock) and HMAS Melville (Hydrographic Survey) were also involved to provide valuable assistance. ——————————— (11) INDEPENDENT DEFENCE HONOURS & AWARDS APPEALS TRIBUNAL: An inquiry is being conducted regarding the issue of Unit recognition for service with the RAN Helicopter Flight-Vietnam and service of the battles of Fire Support Bases—”Coral” and “Balmoral” which saw 26 Australian soldiers killed and many wounded. ——————————— (12) TASK GROUP TAJI– OPERATION “OKRA”: Operation OKRA is the name given for the ADF’s contribution to the international effort to combat DAESH (ISIL) terrorist threats to Iraq and Syria. 780 ADF personnel make up the Air Task Group (ATG) , Special Operations Training Group (SOTG) and Task Group-TAJI. To date TG-Taji has trained more than 21,000 Iraqi Security Forces. Recent graduations saw 276 police (who provide security for Iraqi infrastructure) and another 940 police from Ninewah Province in northern Iraq who will be deployed to hold and secure areas that have been liberated from DAESH. There were also 280 NCO’s who have completed TG-Taji’s first Officers and Junior Leader’s Course. ——————————- (13) BATTLE OF KAPYONG (22-25 April 1951) Much has been written about the Korean War (The ‘Forgotten War’) but we should remember the momentous events which led to the United Nations forces of the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade opposing the Chinese Communists forces from North Korea, as they endeavoured to take control of South Korea. The Battle of Kapyong is one of those events.

The Battle Of Kapyong mainly involved Australians from 3 RAR, 2 Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, with added support from 1 Bn Middlesex Regt, 16 RNZA and USA’s 5th Cav Regt.

This Battle saw the Australians defending Hill 504 and, across the valley, the Canadians defending Hill 677. There were 3 days of unrelenting fighting, against vastly superior numbers, in the most harshest conditions.

At the cessation of fighting the Australians had 32 killed and 59 wounded, the Canadians suffered 10 Killed and 23 wounded, US Forces had 3 killed and 2 wounded, and the NZ Artillery had 2 killed and 5 wounded. 3 RAR and 2 PPCLI were awarded the US Presidential Unit Citation and the NZ gunners were awarded the South Korean Presidential Unit Citation. The Poem below, by our member Tomas Hamilton, is a story in itself:- Poem-KAPYONG We thought all wars were banished, when they dropped the mushroom bomb And peace would finally shroud the world, but we’d never been so wrong A new peril rose from the flames of hate, so once more we went forth To defend a weak and helpless land, from its brothers in the north

Most of us didn’t come, to loyally serve the crown After fighting in New Guinea, we just couldn’t settle down

We stood out from the others, dressed in jungle green So we traded our gear with the Yanks, to make us harder to be seen

Bullets weren’t our only foe, there was snow and the blizzard’s gale Which cut you to your very core, but we knew we dare not fail 26

(Continued from Page 25) And in spring the mud and rain, would bog you down for days And the refugees would all stream past, with their carts and bullock drays The U.N. pushed back bravely, and thought the threat dissolved Till the forces of Red China, somehow became involved

They took back all the gains we’d made, it was time to show some spine So at a place called Kapyong, we finally drew the line

We were the proud 3 RAR, just one battalion strong With the Canucks and the Kiwis, we faced the charging throng

We fought on like the hounds of hell and dared not show some slack Till finally on an Anzac Dawn, the enemy fell back

More Aussies fell at Kapyong, than have ever fallen since And if you think they died in vain, my soul you won’t convince

The only token that I have, of that fatal test Is a presidential citation, worn proudly on my chest

In the War Memorial, there’s a painting I recall A memory of Kapyong, hanging on a wall

Captain Reginald Saunders, is a warrior his troops thank The first from First Nation, to hold commissioned rank

I think of all my cherished mates, entombed ‘neath Pusan’s loam Forever to lie in that foreign land ‘cause they would not bring them home

When I hear someone complain, they’re not happy with their lot My thoughts fly to Korea and the war the world forgot

Tomas Hamilton 18FEB2017 —————————————————

(14) HUNTER POSTGRADUATE MEDICAL INSITUTE, HPMI NEWCASTLE WEEKEND PTSD PUBLIC FORUM, SATURDAY 5 AUGUST 2017: The Hunter Postgraduate Medical Institute has organised a Public Forum to be held in City Hall in King Street, Newcastle (opposite Civic Park) on the weekend of 5th August from 2:00-4:30 PM .

This Forum is specifically designed to address the problem of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the problems in its detection and management.

There will be a number of speakers including Professor Patrick McGorry and Dr. Michael Campion. This session is aimed at nonprofessional people, as well as professionals who are involved in helping manage this problem, or have an interest in it. It is intended to be inclusive of any individual, whether ADF or not.

The session is looking forward to answering any questions (written or verbal) from any interested person- Medical/ADF/Police/Paramedics/Firey’s and the like. Alternatively, if you have a friend suffering from a stress disorder you will be warmly received and hopefully may find answers to any questions you may pose.

The session is FREE, and parking is available close by. If you require any further information please call the HPMI office at (02)49138178 or Professor Hewson at (02)40211749 or mobile 0428496714. ———————————— 27

ANZAC DAY 2017 Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway, Concord Address by Emeritus Professor Robert Lusby AM Chair ANZAC Medical Research Institute, retired Colonel RAAMC

Gallipoli, Palestine, The western front, Tobruk, Crete, Kokoda, Korea, Malaya, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq: These are the names of some of the places Australians have fought and died in the name of Freedom and our Democratic way of life. The name ANZAC was conjured up in the HQ mail room in Egypt where the Australian and NZ troops were stationed just before the Gallipoli landing. In our young country, voluntary recruitment was on a state by state basis. In Gallipoli, where men fought and died side by side, we were united as a single nation for the first time. The actions of our men on Gallipoli displaying bravery, valour, courage, determination and above all a unique spirit of mateship, provided a much needed national story that would help define our values. Although we were unsuccessful in a military sense, under fire we forged a new identity that has led to the 25th of April being observed as a sacred event, observed by Australians of every age. In the 20th Century some 500,000 Australians and New Zealanders have been casualties of war, fought mainly on foreign soils but in defence of what our two nations value most highly- independence, freedom and the democratic western way of life. Today I would like to focus on the Western Front where so many ANZAC lives were sacrificed. Why the first world war happened still is difficult to explain but in retrospect it brought to a close the greatest period of European culture, led to the deaths of up to 10 million lives and scarred forever the emotional lives of millions more. Of course it was Paris that was the German objective and the progress through neutral Belgium that saw the Germans nearly thirty miles from Paris in just 35 days. The Belgians put up unexpected resistance and as the French fell back to defend Paris the British Expeditionary Force with the French were to join battle near the Marne River and halt the German advance. It was the first battle of YPRES in October 1914. These were large battles involving thousands of troops on the move- Technology helped hold the line in the form of the humble Lee-Enfield rifle with its magazine that allowed the British to fire 15 rounds a minute versus the single shot Mauser rifles, so much so that the Germans mistook them for machine guns. In addition British servicemen received a daily marksman allowance for proven efficiency in shooting! By the end of October the German Offensive had failed at enormous cost. An example was the German Volunteer Corp made up mainly of university students, many stopped by British rifle fire. Some 25,000 are buried in a mass grave in what became known as the Massacre of the Innocents at YPRES— A result that served to disabuse the German belief that the war would be short and glorious-- instead attrition and mass death would become the norm with there being little hope of victory. By the end of 1914 the allies had checked the German advance and the two sides had become entrenched. The next phase of trench warfare was to see not a great deal of change in the front line from 1915 to 1917. By then things had bogged down such that General Haig commanding the British Expeditionary Force desperately attempted to break the German line in Flanders which saw the third battle of Ypres—commonly known by one word –Passchendaele. 28

(Continued from Page 27) The battle of the mud as it became with the onset of rain is one of those pointless exercises which in the end led to yet another futile loss of life similar to the Somme and Verdun but this time involved troops from both Australia and New Zealand. This was a war of attrition and despite initial success by the ANZACS the loss of life could hardly be justified. Some 38,000 Australians had been killed or wounded! And the offensive saw 245,000 British casualties with less than 8 kilometres gained. General John Monash, in his letters to his wife noted ‘our men are being put into the hottest fighting and are being sacrificed in hair brained ventures, like Bullecourt and Passchendaele, and there is no one in the war cabinet to lift a voice in protest”. Military Historian John Keegan points out that all armies have a breaking point. By 1917 the French army in essence had had enough and while they held their lines by and large, the soldiers were reluctant to engage in any new initiative. When the odds of survival have passed the dividing line between the possibility and the probability of death, a certain reluctance grips and reality induces a pause. Over 1,000,000 French deaths exceeded the strength of the army’s 135 divisions. With the withdrawal of Russia in 1917 on the eastern Front some 50 German divisions were free to reinforce the effort on the western front in what was to become the “Spring Offensive”. Operation “Michael” on the western front saw an initial advance by the Germans so much so that the Kaiser, delighted with the results gave the school children a “Victory” holiday. The German attacks however were checked, with the aid of the stiffening resolve of the ANZACS, at Villers-Bretonneux in early April. Plans were then developed for a counter offensive. Here the ANZACS were to play a major role. On the 31st May 1918, Monash took command of the Australian Corps and in his letters he describes his first divisional Commanders conference attended by all the Major Generals and their chiefs of staff. It is of historical significance, being a council of war held in the middle of a great campaign and close up to the front, where every member present was a native born Australian. Technology and a marked change in tactics intervened as the allies launched a counter attack led by the Australian Corps, with the New Zealanders, the British Tank Corps and for the first time soldiers of the USA also under Monash’s command. Tanks had emerged as a tool of warfare, an initiative of Churchill and called a tank to disguise its nature- the factory let it be known they were constructing water tanks! These were capable of travelling over the rough terrain, of cutting through the barbed wire defences and sheltering the troops as they advanced. Monash abhorred the needless loss of life and saw in the Tank a way forward in battle that would offer protection. The Germans had missed the boat in the development of the Tank. The battle of Hamel, 4th July 1918 after meticulous planning by the engineer Monash, saw a coordinated combined – arms operation that included smoke and gas diversions, creeping artillery, 50 Mark V assault tanks, 5 resupply tanks followed closely by the infantry and the use of aircraft. The first ever resupply by air drops occurred using an Australian invented parachute.

Continued from Page 28) 29 The “combined arms” approach was a transition from the massed attacks that characterised the battles of 1914 and the intervening trench warfare. For two weeks shelling accompanied by smoke and gas was unleashed on the enemy but on the day of the attack no gas was used, however gas masks were donned by the Germans in anticipation, restricting their vision. Most commanders till then could not see what was going on during the battle so Monash endeavoured to keep informed using Radio for the first time, also phone links carried forward and aerial observation with messages dropped to motor cyclists updating the fronts as the men advanced. To help with communication he insisted the tank crews lived with the troops to which they were assigned in the lead up to battle and each tank carried the insignia of the troops so a mutual understanding would develop. The attack took 93 minutes- 3 more than Monash had calculated. The next day the German high command decided to abandon the attack on Amiens… “the enemy resistance was beyond our powers”. The French Prime Minister Clemenceau visited and congratulated the Australians, making a fiery speech in ‘very good English’, said Monash. The significance of Hamel lies not so much in territory gained or the size of the victory but in the fact it showed a new way to fight a battle. It represents a turning point, a method of approach using the concept of “combined arms” that could bring an end to the war. This battle carried another special significance as it was the start of the Australian USA military alliance that has seen us fighting side by side in every major conflict through WW2, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf war, Afghanistan and Iraq and elsewhere. Human life is the greatest casualty in war but human spirit possibly the greatest survivor. From Gallipoli to the western front and beyond, in the darkest hours on the battle front, in trenches, in the mud and dugouts, men were cast into mutual dependency and sacrifice, developing deep bonds between strangers and colleagues as they were thrown together. Mateship developed stronger than any friendship made in peace time, life and death blood ties, a mutual understanding that required few words. Experiences not talked about but which underpinned an understanding that would help support the lucky survivors. A special silence developed about their experiences and it is not uncommon even today to hear people say ‘dad never talked about the war’. Well there is little more to be said today about this great tragedy but our thoughts should go out to the missed opportunities of all those who died, of the thousands of wounded, the widows and the large number of young women forever deprived of the chance to marry and the many children deprived of a father. Lest We Forget

GRANDMOTHERS * Grandmothers are mums with lots of icing. * What a bargain grandchildren are! I give them my loose change and they give me a million dollar’s worth of pleasure. * Grandmothers are just ‘anque’ lile girls. 30

CHOICES! (Received from a member by email—with thanks) John is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would invariably reply…”If I were any better I’d be twins”! He was a natural motivator. If a workmate was having a bad day he would be there showing him how to look at the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up and said to him…”I don’t get it. You can’t be a positive person all the time, how do you do it”? He replied…”Each morning I wake up and say to myself—you have 2 choices today, you can choose to be in a good mood—or you can choose to be in a bad mood. I choose to be in a good mood”! Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim, or I can choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept the complaining—or I can point out the positive side of life.”

“Yeah, right, it’s not that easy.” I replied.

He said…”Yes, it is. Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how to react to situations. You choose how people affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or a bad mood. The bottom line is it’s your choice how you live your life.”

I reflected on what he said. Soon, thereafter, I left the Tower industry to start my own business and we lost touch. I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.

Several years later, I heard that he was involved in a serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, he was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back. I saw him about 6 months after his accident.

When I asked him how he was, he replied…”If I were any better I’d be twins…wanna see my scars”? I declined the offer to see his wounds but I did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place. He replied…”The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my soon-to-be-born daughter. Then as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had 2 choices. I could choose to live—or I could choose to die. I chose to live.” I asked him if he was scared or did he lose consciousness but he said the paramedics were great. “They kept telling me I was going to be fine, but when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. I read in their eyes.. ‘he’s a dead man’. I knew I needed to take action.”

“What did you do”? I asked. John replied…”Well, I remember there was a big, burly nurse shouting questions at me… ”Are you allergic to anything”?...”Yes”, I replied. “The doctors and nurses stopped working on me and waited on my reply”. I took a deep breath and yelled… ”Gravity”! Over their laughter I told them.., ”I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead”.

John lived, thanks to the skill of the doctors but also because of his amazing attitude. I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully. Attitude, after all, is everything.

Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow—tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own—After all, today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday! ———————————— BATTLE FOR AUSTRALIA LUNCHEON If you would like to be in attendance at this Luncheon, please contact me (Alan Curry 0427824646) by the 19th AUGUST and I will arrange to send you the attendance form. The Date is Wednesday 6th September. Time is 12.30pm-2.30pm. Place is Mosaic Restaurant, 1st Floor, Westin Hotel, Martin Place Sydney. The cost is $65 for meal and beverages.

REPLY FROM A MEMBER: One of our respected members sent a reply back to me (in a similar vein to Bruce Whittet- see “Messages from Members”) in that the member has experienced first hand, bad treatment from Defence and the MECRB process. The member does not recommend the Defence Health system in regards to psychological issues they suffer. In giving an example, the member, who was suffering depression, was placed on sedentary duties. No sport, no PT not even PT at own pace. The member said this is contrary to best practice which encourages moderate to high levels of physical activity. Although our member has been well for the last 10 years but is still on preventive medication though still feels being treated like a third rate individual! The member has been on “Exercise” in the ‘bush’ carrying out medical duties, yet unable to perform everyday nursing duties because a ‘box’ has not been ticked! 31 HISTORY OF THE "ODE"

Lawrence Binyon wrote the “ODE”. He was born in England in 1869 and died in 1943. He was a stretcher bearer in World War 1 and this moved him to write his “Ode to the Fallen” which, incidentally, had seven verses.

It is the fourth verse that is recited in Ex-Service Clubs around the Country, every single day of the week, usually at 6pm, and affects people in different ways. To some, it is probably only a routine to be endured, but to others it does stir up a “feeling” of Reverence and possible memories of comrades and events of years gone by, BUT do we stop to think of the meaning of the words as Binyon wrote them.

“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.”

We remember people as we saw them last, and those who died so young and so many years ago, we still remember them as young and virile, while those friends who have grown old alongside us, we shall remember when they are gone, as old and less active persons as when we first met them.

“Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn.”

The trials and tribulations of life can no longer sicken or pall them. As the years go by we will still remember them in high esteem with respect for the cause for which they died. They will never be despised or scorned. The original word at the end of this line was “CONTEMN”- it is hardly used these days- The word “CONDEMN” has, by general usage, taken its place.

“CONTEMN”- Despise, Scorn, Disdain, hold cheap or unworthy.

“CONDEMN”- Blame, Censure or Reprove.

“At the going down of the sun and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM”.

They will be remembered somewhere by someone each minute of the day. They are enshrined by our memory forever.

The Ceremony of the “ODE”

Although this Ceremony has only been adopted by Ex-Service Clubs since World War 11, its history is reported to go back to World War 1.

“The SILENT MINUTE.”

The chimes and strokes of “BIG BEN” in the Tower of the Houses of Parliament in London at 9 o’clock each evening are used to signal “The Silent Minute”.

This signal was first broadcast by the B.B.C. on November 10, 1940 and is still broadcast each evening, at 9pm to MILLIONS of PEOPLE.

The Ceremony of the “ODE” is also held nightly at “THE MENIN GATE” in FLANDERS. The MENIN GATE is a British War Memorial astride the Menin Road. It was here around YPRES that three great battles were fought on the BELGIAN FRONTIER, with France, in the first World War. There are 55,000 NAMES inscribed on the Monument in its huge wall AND 6176 of them are AUSTRALIANS – who died there.

The power of Silence is greater than you think, depending on what you do with it.

(With thanks from “SALUTE”, the T.P.I. Official Journal - Feb.1990) 32

For the Fallen (Author-Laurence Binyon) With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children, England mourns for her dead across the sea. Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit, Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres, There is music in the midst of desolation And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young, Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow. They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted; They fell with their faces to the foe.

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.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again; They sit no more at familiar tables of home; They have no lot in our labour of the day-time; They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound, Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight, To the innermost heart of their own land they are known As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust, Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain; As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness, To the end, to the end, they remain.

(written in remembrance of the millions of soldiers who gave their lives during WW 1)

With Kind Thanks to the author, and our member, Charles Murray

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OLD ED (with kind thanks to member-James Hoolan Jr.) It used to happen every Friday evening, almost without fail, when the sun resembled a giant orange and was starting to dip into the blue ocean. Old Ed would come, strolling along the beach to his favourite pier and clutched in his bony hand was a bucket of prawns. He would walk out to the end of the pier, where it seemed that he almost had the world to himself. The glow of the sun is a golden bronze now. Everybody is gone, except for a few joggers on the beach.

Standing out on the end of the pier, Ed is alone with his thoughts and his bucket of prawns.

Before long, however, he is no longer alone. Up in the sky a thousand white dots come screeching and squawking, winging their way toward that lanky frame standing there at the end of the pier. Before long, dozens of seagulls have enveloped him, their wings fluttering and flapping wildly. Ed stands there tossing the prawns to the hungry birds. As he does, if you listen closely, you would hear him say with a smile, “Thank you. Thank you”. In a few short minutes his bucket is empty, but Ed doesn't leave.

He stands there lost in thought, as though transported to another time and place. When he finally turns around and begins to walk back towards the beach, a few of the birds hop along the pier with him until he gets to the stairs, and then they, too, fly away. Ed quietly makes his way down to the end of the beach and on home.

If you were sitting there on the pier with your fishing line in the water, Old Ed might seem like ‘a funny old duck’ as my dad used to say. Or, ‘a guy who’s a sandwich shy of a picnic’, as my kids might say. To onlookers, he’s just another old codger, lost in his own weird world, feeding the seagulls with a bucket full of prawns. To the onlooker, rituals can look very strange or very empty. They can seem altogether unimportant. Maybe even a lot of nonsense. Old folks often do strange things, at least in the eyes of ‘boomers and busters’. Most of them would probably write Old Ed off. That's too bad. They’d do well to know him better.

His full name is Eddie Rickenbacker. He was a famous hero back in World War II.

On one of his flying missions across the Pacific in 1942, he and his seven-member crew of their B-17 went down in the ocean. Miraculously, all of the men survived, crawled out of their plane, and climbed onto a life raft.

Capt Rickenbacker and his crew floated for days on the rough waters of the Pacific. They fought the sun. They fought sharks. Most of all, they fought hunger. By the eighth day their rations had run out. No food. No water. They were hundreds of miles from land and no one knew where they were.

One of their crew died and was buried at sea.

They needed a miracle. That afternoon they had a simple devotional service and prayed for a miracle. They tried to nap. Capt Rickenbacker leaned back and pulled his military cap over his nose. Time dragged. All he could hear was the slap, slapping of the waves against the side of the raft. Suddenly, Eddie felt something land on the top of his cap. It was a seagull!

Ed would later describe how he sat perfectly still, planning his next move. With a flash of his hand and a squawk from the Gull, he managed to grab it and ring its neck. He tore the feathers off, and he and his starving crew made a meal--a very slight meal to 8 men--of it. Then they used the intestines for bait. With it.. they caught fish, which gave them food and more bait… and the cycle continued.

With that simple survival technique, they were able to endure the rigours of the sea until they were found and rescued (after 24 days at sea).

Eddie Rickenbacker lived many years beyond that ordeal, but he never forgot the sacrifice of that first life- saving seagull. And he never stopped saying “Thank you”. That's why, almost every Friday night, he would walk to the end of the pier with a bucket full of prawns and a heart full of gratitude.

PS: Ed Rickenbacker started Eastern airlines.

(“When you change the way you see things, things you see change”.) ------34

ACTIVITY SHEET (Please advise your choice/s. Any item ordered includes postage) Please find enclosed my Subs for 2017 ($15) (cover from January to December) or LIFE MEMBERSHIP ($100) or Donation (See my details below).

I will/will not be in attendance for the Lunch at the Paddo RSL on Sunday 2nd JULY (after the RFD Parade) I would like to pay for ____$1 Raffle Ticket/s in our Yearly Fund-Raiser

Please post me a “Surplus” Newsletter @ $7 each. (If available) Please send me____”Special Edition” 2015 Centenary Calendar/s @ $7 each. Please order me a Centenary “T” Shirt @ $70 each. SIZE______. Please order me____copies of the DVD of our 50th AND/OR 100th Anniversary Parade @ $20 ea. (The 50th also includes a brief history of the 2/5th Australian Field Ambulance) Please send me____ RAAMC Centenary “Coin and Token” set/s @ $30 each. Please send me a RAAMC coat/jacket Lapel Pin for $15. Please send me a RAAMC Red Cross Arm-Band @ $10 each. (7 left)

Please send me a 5 Field Ambulance RAAMC KEY RING ($20). (With my membership number on it, if possible.) Please ORDER me a NAME BADGE ($20) Please ORDER me a (XL/Large/Medium/Small) BERET ($40),*BERET BADGE ($23),*LAPEL BADGE ($7), *CORPS TIE ($50) ---please indicate size of Beret & whether Badges/Ties are to be RAAMC or RAASC/RACT or RAEME. Please send me a copy of “Little by Little”--- A Centenary History of the RAAMC by Dr. Michael Tyquin (Army Historian). @ $70. (2 left) (Please make any Cheques/Money Orders etc payable to:- “5th Field Ambulance Association” and post to either:- Alan Curry OAM (Hon Sec) 35/1a Gordon Cl., ANNA BAY NSW 2316 OR ,Brian Tams (Hon Treas.), 453/1 Scaysbrook Dve., KINCUMBER NSW 2251—All acknowledgements will be in our next issue. Our EFT details are: BSB: 637000, Account Number: 717253825, Account Name: 5th Field Ambulance Association, BANK: Greater. (Please Identify your name) COMMENTS/ORDERS ETC: FROM:______

CONTACT No:______MONEY ENCLOSED $______

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MISSING YOU It’s surprising how often I think of you, turn to speak to you, and realise you’re not there as I expect you to be. I guess I hold you so close in thought that it’s hard to understand sometimes that you aren’t close in person. But I wanted to let you know I’m thinking of you and wishing we could talk and just be together awhile—missing you. 36

A Proud Supporter of 5 Field Ambulance Association