25th April 2013

Commemorative booklet proudly presented by Michael McCormack MP Federal Member for ANZAC: OUR MOST IMPORTANT DAY THE emotions of the first ANZACs in the distance … then dig in. Most would have been swirling uncontrollably made it. as those brave soldiers huddled nervously Tragically, many did not, being stopped in their boats in the pre-dawn darkness in their tracks by enemy fire, becoming of 25 April 1915. the first of the 8709 fallen at that famous DOES Courage tinged with fear, eagerness yet peninsula during the ill-fated 8½-month BRAVE CREW: Group portrait of the Lancaster crew members in front of their aircraft at dread, excitement clouded by uncertainty. campaign which followed. RAF Station Hemswell, east of Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. (From left) F Sgt John Davis, FOREVER ITS DUTY Each hardy soul would have had a tight lost so many of its best and F Sgt Robert Masters, F Sgt Kevin Kee, FO Phil Morris, F Sgt Harvey Bawden, F Sgt knot in his stomach as he waited his brightest – too many young lives were James Griffin and WO Jim Gillies. THE 14 Tumbarumba-born turn to wade ashore and headlong into lost in The Great War of 1914-18 with YOUNG … men who served in Vietnam history. the final resting place of thousands of gave their all; their tours of those known only to God. DASHING, handsome duty comprising a combined The deeds of the Australian and New FInal flight for airman and young ... that was total of 3670 days. Zealand Army Corps at Gallipoli are Their actions have been immortalised Robert Masters when he forever etched into the consciences of by annual ANZAC Day services and ROBERT Masters of Tumut was Mid upper gunner Twelve were in the Army, with desperately lucky to survive when his F Sgt Harvey boarded the Lancaster for two nations mindful of their role in their names will last the ages – faithfully, the last time. the Air Force’s Leo Lees and world peacekeeping. reverently and gratefully recorded at plane was shot down over Germany in Bawden of Navy’s Frederick Vidler the such places as Menin Gate Memorial to World War II only to lose his life after Bendigo fractured His life was cut tragically Appropriately, ANZAC Day is others. the Missing near Ypres in Belgium, the making it to ground safely. his femur getting short during a daring commemorated with as much from his turret to German bombing mission. Ronald Hulm and Lindsay Roll of Honour at the Australian War He was one of four crew members significance and solemnity across the the fuselage, yet Morton, who served together Memorial in and for the locals murdered by German nationals after He is remembered on the Tasman Sea as it is in Australia. managed to leave in 110 Signal Squadron, were who fell, fittingly chiselled into the many landing. Roll of Honour at the in Vietnam the longest of all The tradition continues today with both cenotaphs and monuments dotted across the aircraft and Australian War Memorial in the locals, with 387 and 380 countries playing an important role in the – a beautiful part They were part of the famed 150 land, no doubt in Canberra (pictured below) days respectively. Afghanistan, ensuring there is no safe of the Riverina countryside. Squadron Royal Air Force which, terrible pain. and in his hometown at the between 11 November 1944 and 25 LOCAL HERO: haven for terrorist training bases. He and bomb ANZAC Day service in Both were National Lest we forget. April 1945, flew 827 operational sorties F Sgt Robert Masters aimer, Warrant Richmond Park (bottom). Servicemen. Australian and New Zealand troops out of RAF Station Hemswell in Officer Jim Gillies of Eastwood, knew their objective on that epic day 98 England, dropping 3827 tons of bombs For its size, Tumut Tumbarumba has an ended up in a camp where they were impressive monument to its years ago – get to shore, take the beach, while losing eight aircraft and 40 aircrew. contributed remarkably to find cover on the steep, rocky escarpment MICHAEL McCORMACK MP interrogated. World War II manpower, war Veterans (pictured) and The Squadron’s motto was “Always ahead”. a proud military heritage, which lay dauntingly and forebodingly Federal Member for Riverina They were subsequently both moved to a with 940 of those who with 363 who went to World Flight Sergeant Masters, a wireless Luftwaffe fighter station where Bawden served in the Australian War II listing the town as operator, died not long after his 24th was hospitalised but received little forces listing Tumut as their their birthplace whilst 195 ‘VC’ ON SHOW birthday. treatment as most of the medical staff place of birth, 471 as their from The Great War called had disappeared with the station under place of residence upon Six of the seven in the plane that fateful enlisting and 218 signing up Tumbarumba home. TUMUT and District Historical constant bombardment. flight belonged to the Royal Australian for duty there. Eight who were originally Society now has a replica Victoria Air Force, on secondment to the RAF. Gillies was moved by train and truck from Tumbarumba fought in Cross for its wonderful collection of through Germany, finishing up at local significance. These were brave men carrying out a the Korean War (1950-53) dangerous mission. Fallingbosten Prisoner of War camp with Alwyn I was able to source a VC medal to with Bawden repatriated some weeks McGrath, a commemorate the town’s greatest They were on a raid to bomb the later when the United States Army Private with the hero, John Ryan, who was awarded oil refineries of Harpenerweg near arrived, taking him out on his stretcher 3rd Battalion, the highest military decoration for Dortmund and Bochum when their wired to the bonnet of a Jeep! valour in 1918, little more than six aircraft, Lancaster PB 853 P, was struck going twice for Born at Tumut on 5 March 1921, Robert a total of 343 weeks before World War I ended. by anti-aircraft flak and crashed on 24 March 1945. Lockyer Masters made the ultimate days. Society president Marcia Commins sacrifice for a noble cause - a life so was thrilled to receive the donated The body of F Sgt James Griffin of full of promise taken way too soon. medal which will be showcased at the South Brisbane was found in the COVER: The Society’s wonderful museum at 63 wreckage. His final resting place is the Lighthorse (see story centre Capper Street, Tumut. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery in pages) with Andrew Kelly The remainder of the crew managed to Germany. (Australian flag) and Peter bail out and make it to ground but four OFFICES OF MICHAEL McCORMACK: A War Crimes Group later Beale (red ensign) leading CANBERRA: PO Box 6022, Parliament House, ACT 2600 P: 6277 4725 F: 6277 8563 were then murdered: F Sgt John Davis (from left) Lockie Owen, Kevin of the RAF - the flight engineer, F Sgt investigated the murders of the GRIFFITH: 100 Yambil Street P: 6964 1212 F: 6962 7722 four airmen at Bochum with one Meagher, Luke Dowell, Noel : Suite 2 11-15 Fitzmaurice Street P: 6921 4600 F: 6921 5900 Kevin Kee of West Brunswick - the perpetrator gaoled for 20 years and Bridle (partly obscured) and Wal E: [email protected] www.michaelmccormack.com.au navigator, Flying Officer Phil Morris of Bradford (obscured). Photograph those who had more involvement Maroubra - a pilot, as well as our gallant courtesy Malcolm Lloyd. https://twitter.com/M_McCormackMP Tumut hero. sentenced to death by hanging. A SOLEMN pledge made 35 years ago, a deep love of Its first outing was the Gundagai Remembrance Day horses, a desire to add more colour and movement to service – a special occasion as 52 plaques, each dedicated to a fallen local soldier from The Great War of 1914-18, local military services and a rich family heritage were were unveiled in ANZAC Grove. the “spurs” which led Ron Dowell to establish the The arrival of the troop was indeed memorable, with the Gundagai Lighthorse. well-groomed horses and uniformed riders attracting considerable interest amongst the large crowd in After initially seeking the advice of two of the town’s attendance. World War II Light Horsemen, Rolfe Bridle and George Six days later the men remounted for a re-enactment of Smart, Ron called a meeting at the Gundagai District the 16 November 1864 shoot-out between bushrangers Services Club to gauge interest in the idea. and colonial police near when the Ben Hall gang Eleven people turned up and all were keen so bailed up the Gundagai mail coach resulting in the fatal an organisation was formed with Ron, a man of shooting of Sergeant Edmund Parry. determination and drive, elected president and local The thrilling event was staged to commemorate the school bus driver Wayne Carthew his able secretary. The sesquicentenary of policing. other nine who attended the meeting were quickly “roped in” to make up the committee. But the main reason for the Gundagai Lighthorse formation was the ANZAC Day parade and they are sure Ron had promised Gundagai’s World War II Veterans he to be a highlight as they make their way along Sheridan would organise a Lighthorse group and 35 years on he Street for this year’s commemoration. has kept his word. “I told Rolfe Bridle, Ted Daley, Ron Elphick, Reg Hindmarsh, Jack Pollack and George Smart way back then I would do it and it is now a reality,” Ron said. “Some of them are no longer with us unfortunately but Rolfe and George have been very supportive. Everyone is so pleased. It is good for all of our ex-servicemen, good for the ones involved and certainly good for the town and the district.” Ron also had family reasons for the initiative with his son Luke’s great-grandfathers Bill Crane and Jack Vaughan both associated with the Australian Lighthorse. Luke also had a big hand in pushing Ron to start a Gundagai troop after riding with the Harden- Murrumburrah Lighthorse when he was living at Harden and then reading Roland Perry’s book Bill the Bastard, about Australia’s greatest war horse. Fittingly, there is a memorial to the 1st Australian Light Horse at Harden- Murrumburrah featuring a life-sized bronze Corporal of the 1st Australian Horse, a water-trough fountain, memorial wall and a garden. MONUMENT: Gundagai’s unique LOOKING THE PART: (above left) Bill Crane of Gundagai is dressed to impress. The twin towns were the site of the first call- Great War memorial in ANZAC Park This and the main picture courtesy of Malcolm Lloyd. is an obelisk shaped as a grey-painted up muster to the 1st Australian Horse for the THREE GENERATIONS: (above right) Ron Dowell, 62, his son Luke, 33, and Second Boer War in 1897. tree stump with a green and red laurel wreath hooked over one of its branches grandson Gus, 1, at Gundagai’s 2012 Remembrance Day service. Since its establishment on 8 July last year, the sitting upon a concrete base with TERRIFIC TROOP: Gundagai’s Lighthorsemen (from left) Kevin Meagher of Gundagai Lighthorse troop has had a busy granite and marble name plaques Harden, Lockie Owen (Gundagai), Noel Bridle (Tumut), Luke Dowell (Gundagai), and exciting time. attached to the base. Wal Bradford (Harden), Andrew Kelly (Yass) and Peter Beale (Harden). 2013 ANZAC DAY SERVICE times and venues TRAGIC TALE OF SNOWY MOUNTAINS: Russell, Capper and Robertson ADELONG Streets. 9.45am Pilgrimage to Adelong 10.30am March from Wynyard Street. TUMBLONG PILOT Cemetery to lay flowers 11am Main service on graves of recently deceased WAGGA WAGGA ex-servicemen and women. BEHIND a simple cross alongside Frederick 5.45am Dawn service arranged by 10.45am March. James Lawrenson’s name on Tumblong’s historic Legacy at the cenotaph, war memorial is a heartbreaking story of a 11am Wreath laying and service, Victory Memorial Gardens, plucky pilot who never made it home. Memorial Park cenotaph. Baylis Street. FARMER WAS 11.45am Service at Grahamstown- 6.30am Pilgrimage to Wagga Wagga Brave Lawrenson, a Royal Australian Air Force (Main picture) Set in the peaceful Shepardstown monument, Squadron Leader in the Korean War (1950-53), grounds of St James’s Anglican War Cemetery, Kooringal Road. Tumut Street. lost his life on Christmas Eve 1952. Church, Tumblong’s war memorial is 10.30am Baylis Street march begins. ON a white marble obelisk, unveiled on 14 BATLOW 11am Wreath laying at Victory THE sinking of the Centaur His plane went down during a flying battle. November 1917 and 6am Dawn service at cenotaph. re-dedicated on 11 November 1995. Memorial Gardens cenotaph. Hospital Ship off Brisbane by “Sqn Ldr Lawrenson’s body was never recovered 3pm March from RSL to cenotaph. Address by 93-year-old World a Japanese submarine at about (Above) A group portrait of pilots of 77 and is therefore regarded as missing, presumed 3.15pm Service. War II Veteran Jack Calder, a 4am on 14 May 1943 was killed in action,” according to the Australian Squadron RAAF, including Sqn Ldr Frederick Lawrenson (front, seventh Rat of Tobruk and Prisoner of regarded as an atrocity. War Memorial. GUNDAGAI (Includes Coolac, from left) who went missing on flying Mount Horeb, Tumblong) War. Of the 332 on board only 64 operations over Korea on 24 December He made the ultimate sacrifice in the prime of 6am Dawn service, ANZAC Walk. WALWA, VICTORIA (Includes survived, including just one of his life – aged just 31. 1952 and was presumed killed in ) 12 nurses. action. 10.30am March from Family Hotel, His aerial and combat skills were recognised Sheridan Street. 10am Service, cenotaph, Services Those who lived spent 35 (Below) Inscriptions of the locals who Memorial Hall, main street of with the awarding of the Distinguished Flying went to the Korean War. 11am Main service, cenotaph, hours clinging to rafts before Cross with 450 Squadron in World War II as Walwa ( Road), being rescued. intersection of Sheridan and followed by free lunch provided well as being Mentioned in Despatches and an Amongst those lost was New Virgil Streets and Railway by Walwa-Jingellic Lions Club Air Force Cross was posthumously granted in Zealand-born Walter James Parade. then two-up with proceeds to the 1953 New Year’s Honours. Colemane of Batlow. NANGUS Legacy. Gundagai-born William George Smith, To be commemorated on Tuesday, 7 May Capital city services: Married to Evelyn and aged a private in the Royal Australian Infantry 27, this brave farmer’s name 10.30am Service at Public School, CANBERRA Corps, is also remembered on the Tumblong is inscribed Hulong Street. Includes 5.30am Dawn service at the Australian monument, thankfully surviving the Korean speeches by Gundagai RSL on the conflict which resulted in more than 1500 War Museum (suggested arrival Batlow war Sub-Branch and Kapooka from 4.30am onwards). Australian casualties, of whom 340 were killed. Army Base representatives. memorial 6.30am The Aboriginal and Torres (pictured) TALBINGO Strait Islander commemorative with 11 6.30am Dawn service, cenotaph, Miles ceremony at the Aboriginal others Franklin Park. Memorial Plaque on the side of with local TUMBARUMBA (Includes Mount Ainslie. links who , Rosewood,Tooma) 10.15am National ceremony at the made the 6am Dawn service, District War Australian War Memorial ultimate Memorial, corner Bridge and and Veterans’ march (suggested sacrifice Winton Streets. arrival 9.45am). in World 7am Travel to local cemetery, lay War II. wreaths on graves of 4.15am Dawn service at the cenotaph, ex-servicemen and women who Martin Place. PLEASE NOTE: All have died during the past year. 8.30am Wreath-laying ceremony at times and venues have 10.30am March from cenotaph, along the cenotaph, Martin Place. been supplied in good Main Street and return to 9am ANZAC Day march starting faith by various RSL cenotaph. at Martin Place/George Street/ Sub-Branch officials and 11am Main service. Bathurst Street/Hyde Park. were correct at the time of publication. Every care TUMBLONG 12.30pm Commemorative service, ANZAC Memorial Park, Hyde has been taken to ensure as 9am Service at cenotaph outside St Park South. many services as possible James’s Anglican Church on have been included. For Adelong Road. 1pm Aboriginal ANZAC Day march in Redfern. verification of other TUMUT (Includes Brungle, Lacmalac) 5pm Sunset service at the cenotaph, services please contact your 6am Dawn service, cenotaph in Martin Place. local RSL Sub-Branch. Richmond Park, corner of RECORD WRITING ENTRIES BY FAR the most entries for the Riverina school students’ ANZAC Day writing competition were received this year. Hundreds of poems and short stories were submitted from right across the region in the third annual competition. Authors of the best secondary and primary entries received book prizes from the Australian War Memorial with Ross Coulthart’s superb The Lost Diggers on offer for the senior students and the splendid picture bookA Day HEROES FROM to Remember by Jackie French with illustrations by Mark Wilson presented to the younger winners. UPPER MURRAY Each student who sent in an entry will receive a commemorative signed certificate. MATES in life, together in Winning entries from the Snowy Mountains feature below. death … it was the ultimate story of close companionship. HEROES ALL John Patrick Joy from Jingellic and Victorian duo John Leslie MARCHING down Johnson and Alan Clement the line Kelly from Walwa (pictured With followers behind below, left to right) were good We pay respect friends. For the troops who Following initial training in trekked Hannah Radford, Australia they embarked from The guns would scream 13, Year 8 Port on board In the morning steam Tumbarumba HMAT Strathmore on 17 High School November 1940, arriving in long muddy trenches Egypt on 17 December. Molly Baron, 9, The wounded with nurses After more training in desert Year 4 Saint Mary’s Primary School, Batlow As the poppies would bloom warfare their unit, 2/23 They would be engulfed by the fume Australian Infantry Battalion, was sent to Tobruk, Libya, WE REMEMBER As the shadows lay low arriving on 18 March 1941. IT’S nearly ANZAC Day again, They wished they could go All three were killed in action When we remember the women and men; They cried in pain during a counter attack on 17 Who bravely fought for you and me, Going through this again May 1941. To keep our country safe and free. Some thought they were strong Corporal Joy was 27, Cpl On the 25th of April 1915, But turned out to be wrong Johnson 38 and Private Kelly just 22. The troops tried to get to Gallipoli shore The men were all brave unseen; They fought to save These fine sons of the Upper But the Turks were waiting up in the hill, Murray were buried in Tobruk The families at home War Cemetery. With their guns and weapons ready to kill. Who were all alone As it was early in the morning before They will be heroes sunrise, For everybody we know When the Turks took the ANZACs by We say thank you surprise; For letting us grow Many brave men died that day, Around 8709 they say. Standing on the platform Dressed in uniform While on the beach many men lay dying, Badges pinned on their chest Along came Simpson and his donkey Awarded for their best trying … To take the badly wounded men, As the bugle plays Back to a safe and sound place again. They will be in our hearts always Old will share the stories So 98 years later I will march with pride, About the glories On ANZAC Day to remember all those We thank you all people who died; The nurses we adore From dawn until the Sun begins to set, You helped the men I will say in my heart “Lest we forget.” Continue again. Authorised by Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack MP, Suite 2 11-15 Fitzmaurice Street Wagga Wagga NSW 2650. Printed by Chambers Whyte Design and Print, 5 Rabaul Place Wagga Wagga NSW 2650.