DOCSLIB.ORG

Australians at War Film Archive James Haynes

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Australians at War Film Archive James Haynes Australians at War Film Archive James Haynes (Jimmy) - Transcript of interview Date of interview: 15th March 2004 http://australiansatwarfilmarchive.unsw.edu.au/archive/1590 Tape 1 00:40 Jim, can you just give us a summary of your life to date? I was born on the 24th of April, in 1923, which was exactly eight years after Anzac Day. 01:00 My father came to Australia from England in 1912. My mother came from a family that came to South Australia in 1848. I was born in a place called Clarence Park in South Australia. It was a suburb mainly of returned soldiers. 01:30 I went to school at Brighton for a while. There was a reason for that. My father was in hospital a lot, from problems encountered in the war. My grandmother lived there. I went to school at Blackforest Primary, and I did only high school. I started work in 1940 with Guinea Airways. I remained with them until 1941, October, when I went into the army. 02:02 After the war I recommenced in the airline business with the old Australia National Airways. They had taken over the Guinea Airways operation. I then went through the post-war period of the building of the airlines, that became a very big thing in Australia, as you know. 02:31 I was a traffic officer, as they call them these days. You did everything in the airline at that time. Then I became personnel officer in South Australia, Western Australian, and all that, and that was extremely interesting, interviewing people. At the same time I started to study at the South Australian School of Mines. I was studying management. And the School of Mines was similar 03:00 to what the Institute of Technology is today. As a matter of fact, the School of Mines is the South Australian Institute of Technology. In 1953, I married Kathleen – I probably jumped a bit there. In 1955, we had our first son Andrew. 03:31 In ‘57, our second son Richard. And then in 1960, along came Elizabeth. And all this time I was doing different jobs in the airline. Then in 1965, they wanted a manager for Darwin. So I up and took my wife and three kids from the comforts of suburban existence, to what would be called primitive existence in Darwin. 04:02 But it was a wonderful five years, everyone enjoyed it. The kids didn’t have television. That was one of the greatest times of our lives. we were then posted down to Brisbane, I became assistant Queensland manager, then I was Brisbane manager of Ansett. Then after the take-over by TNT [Trans National Truck], 04:30 like all things, my job as Brisbane manager had became redundant and I became personnel manager for Queensland, which I ended up doing. It was a very interesting period. Can you tell me a little bit about the town that you grew up in? Yes, Clarence Park was only four miles from Adelaide, it was on the railway line. It was a suburban town 05:02 When my father and mother moved there, the cow paddocks were still there. As a matter of fact, I used to go around the dairy and get the milk and bring it home. There was a big milk factory, and if you wanted cream or anything you used to go up there. But that was the sort of places they were, but like all places around here they became suburbanised, if that’s the right word. The people 05:30 had built, and slowly the whole area – I would doubt today if you could find a vacant block in that whole area. The town itself had a great spirit. Most of the chaps were ex-servicemen. From the First War, of course. A tremendous lot were from Gallipoli. They formed RSLs [Returned and Services Leagues], and unit clubs, and they had a great 06:00 espirit de corps, for people that had any problems. I remember my father was in hospital as a result of what happened in the war. He was in hospital and what happened, half the blokes would come around, they’d chop the wood, they’d dig the garden, they’d do all these sorts of things. And I know he used to do it for 06:30 other people when he was well enough. You could leave your doors open. There was no worry of any theft or anything like that. But generally speaking, it was a good place to grow up. We never had much money. No-one did, because you had the Depression years come along in the ‘30s. The job that my father had ceased to exist, but fortunately, he had a pension from the First War. It wasn’t very much, but it was more than what a lot of people had at that time. 07:02 My brother was born in 1930. There’s quite a gap between the two of us. Me in ‘23 – He was a long way behind. He’s now in his ‘70s, and we became quite close. In 07:30 schooling, I told you I went to school at Brighton. Now that was an interesting school. It was Church of England school. It was run by two ladies, Misses Flemings. And there’s been a book written about them. I even got my name in the book, I don’t know what for. Getting on into – later on, I went to Blackforest, which was near where I lived. Then I went to Unley High School, 08:01 which was the school about four miles away – We used to push our bikes there every day. It was a very good high school. A lot of prominent people came out of there. Talking of the war again, Dave Shannon, who was one of the pilots in the Dambusters [RAF bomber unit] – He featured in the film The Dambusters. It’s a very good film, they made it just after the war. 08:34 After I finished schooling there, at Unley High School, the school used to get one vacancy a year to go to the airlines, Guinea Airways, and I was the lucky one to get that, at the end of ‘39, the beginning of ‘40. The first school you talked about? What did it look like and who were your mates at school? Yeah, it was a very interesting school. It was in one 09:01 big hall, and these two ladies, they were old ladies to us, they probably weren’t at that time – It was situated at the entrance to a cemetery. We would see the funeral processions go by and wonder who that was. It was a different school. We used to start off the mornings singing a hymn. We were given a lot of freedom in our education. 09:31 I could speak French when I was about eight. I wish I had kept on with it. That was the sort of thing that they did. I think that’s one of the reasons that my parents thought I was getting some sort of education. That’s why I went back to Blackforest School in my final year, because you had to get what they called 10:00 a QC, Qualifying Certificate, to go onto high school. But that’s what it was like. You said there was a specific reason why you went to Clarence – Clarence Park? Well, we lived at Clarence Park. I went to the school at Brighton because my grandmother. Dad was crook [sick] a lot, from the First War, and my mother used to go down there. If she was out, 10:30 or was going to be out, I always went to my grandmother’s place, down at Brighton. Did you enjoy being with your grandmother?. Quite good. In those days, she lived right on the seafront. You walked out the front of her house and onto the beach, and that was wonderful, for young people. I could swim when I was five. It was great. We also had big sandhills. Interesting. One of the chaps who went to that school was Jim Hardy, Sir James. 11:02 He had quite a famous winery. And there were a lot of other people. Sir Douglas Mawson [Antarctic explorer], his daughter went there. It was a different school to the normal run of schools. Can you tell us a bit about your father, and his experiences in the war? Did he talk to you much about it? I wish I had talked to him a lot more about it. 11:32 He came to Australia in 1912, as I said earlier. And he joined up at 1914, at the outbreak of war. He went overseas in 1914, with the 10th Battalion. As you know, they all went to Egypt and they trained in Egypt. He very much enjoyed being in Egypt. He enjoyed the training. He’s told me that. And 12:00 how much it helped when they got to Gallipoli. They went on boats, a few weeks earlier, I believe. He was in the 10th Battalion. There were three battalions that did the landings. There was a 9th from Queensland, a 10th from South Australia, and an 11th from Perth. They were the three initial battalions who hit the beach. My father did not land on the initial lot. 12:30 He came in afterwards. He always said that. He was very, very lucky. When he was on Gallipoli, the only wound he ever got was on the hand, he said.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Empires in Flames
    Empires in Flames The Pacific and Far East Written by: Andy Chambers Edited by: Alessio Cavatore, Rick Priestley and Paul Sawyer Cover artwork: Peter Dennis Interior artwork: Peter Dennis, Steve Noon, Richard Sample file Chasemore, Stephen Walsh and Stephen Andrew. Photography: Bruno Allanson, Warwick Kinrade, Mark Owen, Paul Sawyer, and Gabrio Tolentino Miniatures painted by: Andres Amian Fernandez, Gary Martin, Bruce Murray, Darek Wyrozebski, and Claudia Zuminich Thanks to: Paul Beccarelli for help with the Chinese army lists, Bruno Allanson for images of his collection of militaria and John Stallard for his love of Gurkhas. OSPREY PUBLISHING ospreypublishing.com warlordgames.com © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com Contents What Is This Book? 6 Armies of China 31 Army Special Rules 32 The Pacific and Far East 7 Flag 32 Levy 32 The Second Sino-Japanese War 9 Sparrow Tactics (Communists only) 32 Prelude 10 Bodyguard (Nationalists and Warlords only) 32 1937 12 Legends of China: General Sun Li-Jen 32 Marco Polo Bridge 12 Headquarters Units 34 The Battle of Shanghai 12 Nationalist Officer 34 The Rape of Nanking 13 Warlord 34 Communist Officer 34 1938 14 Political Officer 35 Battle of Tai’erzhuang 14 Medic 35 1939 15 Forward Observer 35 The Nomonhan Incident 1939 15 Infantry Squads and Teams 35 World War II in China 15 German-Trained Nationalist Squad 35 Operation August Storm: The Soviet Invasion of Manchuria 16 Infantry Squad 35 Aftermath 18 Conscript Squad 36 X and Y Force Squad (Burma) 36 Fighting the Campaign Using Bolt Action
    [Show full text]
  • Traffic Impact Assessment
    APPENDIX Q9 Traffic impact assessment See attached Traffic Impact Assessment Report prepared by Arup. Olympic Dam Expansion Draft Environmental Impact Statement 2009 Appendix Q 165 BHP Billiton Olympic Dam Expansion Environmental Impact Statement Traffic Impact Assessment BHP Billiton Olympic Dam Expansion Environmental Impact Statement Traffic Impact Assessment October 2008 Arup This report takes into account the Arup Pty Ltd ABN 18 000 966 165 particular instructions and requirements of our client. It is not intended for and should not be relied upon by any third party and no Arup responsibility is undertaken to any third Level 17 1 Nicholson Street, party Melbourne VIC 3000 Tel +61 3 9668 5500 Fax +61 3 9663 1546 www.arup.com Job number 085200/01 BHP Billiton Olympic Dam Expansion Environmental Impact Statement Traffic Impact Assessment Contents Page Executive Summary i 1 Introduction 1 2 Existing Conditions 5 2.1 Road Network 5 2.2 Road Classification, Responsibilities and Policies 5 2.3 Road Environment 7 2.4 Traffic Data 13 2.5 Baseline Traffic Flows 19 2.6 Future Road Network Improvements 21 2.7 Rail Network 23 2.8 Rail Operations 25 2.9 Crash Analysis 26 3 Proposed Olympic Dam Expansion 32 3.1 Overview 32 3.2 Olympic Dam Site Expansion Heavy Vehicles AADT 33 3.3 Ancillary Traffic AADT 39 3.4 Total AADT 43 3.5 Traffic Movements Between Townships and Olympic Dam 54 3.6 Road Link Level of Service - Impact 60 3.7 Key Intersections, Peak Hour Traffic and Impacts 64 3.8 Over-Dimensional Load Movements and Impacts 66 3.9 Road Safety 81
    [Show full text]
  • The Thunder Anthony Beaucamp-Protor Farewell Uncle
    Military Despatches Vol 49 July 2021 The Aces The top fighter pilots of World War I Farewell Uncle Syd We pay tribute to Uncle Syd Ireland, the last South African signaller of World War II The Thunder Poland‘s Special Forces unit, JW GROM Anthony Beaucamp-Protor South Africa’s leading fighter ace of World War I and recipient of the Victoria Cross For the military enthusiast Military Despatches CONTENTS YouTube Channel July 2021 Page 14 Click on any video below to view Army Speak 101 The SADF had their own language. A mixture of Eng- lish, Afrikaans, slang and tech- no-speak that few outside the military could hope to under- stand. Paratrooper Wings Most armies around the world Elite Military Quiz also had their own slang terms. Units Quiz Most military paratroopers In this video we look at some Most military forces have an are awarded their jump wings of them. elite unit or regiment or a spe- Special Forces - JW GROM after they have qualified. cial forces component. In this quiz we show you 15 In this quiz we show you 15 different wings and you tell us and you tell us who they are and 30 where they are from. where they are from. Features 18 Battle of Britain - a few facts 6 The Battle of Britain lasted Top Ten WWI Fighter Pilots from 10 July – 31 October 1940 The Top Ten fighter aces of and was the first major mili- New videos World War I. tary campaign in history to be each week fought entirely in the air.
    [Show full text]
  • Pro Patria Commemorating Service
    PRO PATRIA COMMEMORATING SERVICE Forward Representative Colonel Governor of South Australia His Excellency the Honorable Hieu Van Le, AO Colonel Commandant The Royal South Australia Regiment Brigadier Tim Hannah, AM Commanding Officer 10th/27th Battalion The Royal South Australia Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Graham Goodwin Chapter Title One Regimental lineage Two Colonial forces and new Federation Three The Great War and peace Four The Second World War Five Into a new era Six 6th/13th Light Battery Seven 3rd Field Squadron Eight The Band Nine For Valour Ten Regimental Identity Eleven Regimental Alliances Twelve Freedom of the City Thirteen Sites of significance Fourteen Figures of the Regiment Fifteen Scrapbook of a Regiment Sixteen Photos Seventeen Appointments Honorary Colonels Regimental Colonels Commanding Officers Regimental Sergeants Major Nineteen Commanding Officers Reflections 1987 – 2014 Representative Colonel His Excellency the Honorable Hieu Van Le AO Governor of South Australia His Excellency was born in Central Vietnam in 1954, where he attended school before studying Economics at the Dalat University in the Highlands. Following the end of the Vietnam War, His Excellency, and his wife, Lan, left Vietnam in a boat in 1977. Travelling via Malaysia, they were one of the early groups of Vietnamese refugees to arrive in Darwin Harbour. His Excellency and Mrs Le soon settled in Adelaide, starting with three months at the Pennington Migrant Hostel. As his Tertiary study in Vietnam was not recognised in Australia, the Governor returned to study at the University of Adelaide, where he earned a degree in Economics and Accounting within a short number of years. In 2001, His Excellency’s further study earned him a Master of Business Administration from the same university.
    [Show full text]
  • Saunders Scholarship Background Parameters
    The Captain Reg Saunders Memorial Scholarship Background The RSL established this tertiary level scholarship for drug and alcohol abuse studies in 1992 for students of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background. The Scholarship was named for Captain Reginald Walter Saunders MBE. In the development of the Scholarship, consultation with ATSIC revealed then, the urgent need for qualified substance abuse professionals among the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. As such, the Scholarship required an applicant to follow studies associated with the eradication of drug and alcohol abuse. Where student’s courses did not specifically contain subjects or units dealing with substance abuse, (e.g. nurses aid) the students must be able to provide scope for such studies in their elective subjects and/or field placements. For some years now the RSL administration of the granting of the scholarships has been established through the RSL National Trustees. The Scholarship One scholarship per year of $2000 to a student nominated by the University for agreement by the RSL National Trustees. The successful student must be of good academic standing and have the intention to use their skills or profession for the benefit of the aboriginal community. While a need for the eradication of drug and alcohol abuse remains important in applying the scholarship money, the grants may be used for leadership and personal development of recipients such that on their placement back in their communities they will be better equipped generally to provide a positive example and to advise on and assist in substance abuse among their other professional skills. Half yearly progress reports are required.
    [Show full text]
  • Unusual Military Units Army Speak 101 Heinz Guderian Forged in Battle
    Military Despatches Vol 19 January 2019 Unusual military units Strange units, regiments and armies Insane, effective, deadly IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) Army Speak 101 Military slang from around the world Heinz Guderian The father of modern tank warfare Forged in Battle The French Foreign Legion For the military enthusiast CONTENTS January 2019 Page 16 Click on any video below to view How much do you know about movie theme songs? Take our quiz and find out. Hipe’s Wouter de The old South African Improvised Goede interviews former Defence Force used 28’s gang boss David a mixture of English, Explosive Williams. Afrikaans, slang and techno-speak that few Devices outside the military could hope to under- 31 stand. Some of the terms Features were humorous, some A matter of survival 6 This month we look at animals were clever, while others as a source of food. were downright crude. The Most Unusual Military Units Ten military units, regiments, or armies that were unusual or Quiz Part of Hipe’s “On the downright strange. 21 couch” series, this is an 12 22 If the helmet fits... interview with one of Disobedient heroes Army Speak 101 Putting your thinking helmet on author Herman Charles In the military it is expected The military has always had because this month our quiz is Bosman’s most famous that you obey orders. Yet there their own way of doing things. about exactly that - helmets. We characters, Oom Schalk are cases where there is a good And this includes have a rich show you 15 helmets, you tell Lourens.
    [Show full text]
  • AMOSA August 2019 NEWSLETTER V1.1.Pub
    THE EXHIBITOR THE NEWSLETTER OF THE ARMY MUSEUM OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA AMOSA August 2019 VOLUME 9 I UE 2 No place to ight a war …. Inside this issue There never has been a good rations could not be consumed and parts From the Manager 2 environment in which to wage war! of the brain closed down along with the Harry’s Corner 2 From the trenches of Europe to the organs in the bod 8soldiers dropped, Veterans Health Day 3 Russian Front, from Korea and fro)e as stiff as hardwood and died. 0t was Borneo to Vietnam and Afghanistan, reported medics carried morphine Ambassador George 3 ampules in their mouths to stop them the climate always conspired and Dikko 3 both sides of the con!lict suffered in free)ing. Sound Ranging 4 heat or cold. None more so than 0t fell to families bac1 home to 1nit and Development Korea, where the winter was as dispatch scarfs, balaclavas and beanies to Myrtle Bank RSL Care 4 deadl as a bullet. The theme in send to their sons, who onl had a basic Studebaker update 5 AMOSA's latest displa graphicall cold weather combat 9ac1et. Along with Paul Longstaff R & E 5 portra s in some wa the horror of gear from home, Australians ac/uired shin Centre the cold. Korea could be hot and 2high Marine gaiters to stop snow getting Long Tan 6 sti!ling in the summer, but come the into boots, cold weather hats to shield the Remembered winter came a different sort of face and pulled soc1s over their hands.
    [Show full text]
  • 4.0 Analysis and Assessment of Components Karrawirra
    4.0 ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT OF COMPONENTS Hall Chapman, construction of the footbridge proceeded with monies from the Council as part of its commitment to the state’s centenary celebrations, and with a gift of £2,000 from Misses E and L Waite. Reputed to be the first welded steel bridge in South Australia it involved a balanced cantilever structure formed in two identical halves pivoting on two pin bearings. The halves were joined at the middle by two lateral shear locks to minimise sideways movement. The span was 152 feet (46.3m), and the bridge was fabricated by L Grove & Sons of Highgate from steel sourced from Perry Engineering. The footbridge was opened on 9 August 1937. Of some engineering, design, historic, social and aesthetic merit. Christian Brothers College Boathouse: located in the University Oval portion of Karrawirra/Park 12, a nondescript red brick two storey structure sited on War Memorial Drive overlooking the River. Erected in 1961 by builders Blunden & Co at a cost of £8,000. Of some social merit. University of Adelaide Boathouse A: located in the University Oval portion of Karrawirra/Park 12, a two storey gabled iron roofed structure sited on War Memorial Drive overlooking the River. Designed in an Edwardian style by architects English & Soward, Robert Barr Smith funded the “handsome boathouse,” measuring 18.2 x 9.1m, Victoria Drive Maintenance Building: located in the River Torrens/Karrawirra Parri at a cost of £750. The boatshed included a balcony that provided views of the Lake and portion of Karrawirra/Park 12 at the eastern end of Victoria Drive, a red brick structure a finishing line for races and electric lighting.
    [Show full text]
  • City of New Richmond, Wisconsin
    City of New Richmond, Wisconsin Architectural and Historical Intensive Survey Report South Main Street (now Knowles Ave.), looking southwest at the 200-block, c.1920 By Rowan Davidson, Associate AIA Robert Short, Associate AIA & Jennifer L. Lehrke, AIA, NCARB Legacy Architecture, Inc. 605 Erie Avenue, Suite 101 Sheboygan, Wisconsin 53081 Project Director Joseph R. DeRose, Survey & Registration Historian Wisconsin Historical Society Division of Historic Preservation – Public History 816 State Street Madison, Wisconsin 53706 Sponsoring Agency Wisconsin Historical Society Division of Historic Preservation – Public History 816 State Street Madison, Wisconsin 53706 2018-2019 Acknowledgments This program receives Federal financial assistance for identification and protection of historic properties. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, the U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, or disability or age in its federally assisted programs. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility as described above, or if you desire further information, please write to: Office of the Equal Opportunity, National Park Service, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20240. The activity that is the subject of this intensive survey report has been financed entirely with Federal Funds from the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior and administered by the Wisconsin Historical Society. However, the contents and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of the Interior or the Wisconsin Historical Society, nor does the mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Department of the Interior or the Wisconsin Historical Society.
    [Show full text]
  • Autumn 1989-Page 3
    POSTAGE PAID -~· 7(, PERTH, W.A. LISTENING 6000 THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE RETURNED SERVICES LEAGUE WA BRAN~H (INCORPORATED) POST Autumn, 1989 Registered by Australia Post Publication No. WAS 1158 Vol. 12 No. 1-Price $1 .,. / . ~;.: .~ .. •. • • ~? • • ANZAC COITAGE MT. HAWTHORN (1916) ,.,. : .. / ·~ ~ ' ' ·. · . Now COMPLETED. ESTATE C LARE MONT LLY SERVICED • in Claremont, a most sought after location! St. Louis Estate now offers for All part of a wonderful lifestyle reservation, the best example of at St. Louis Estate. this form of accommodation for the retired in Western Australia. Call today on 385 1420, or w rite to St. Louis Estate, But be early - St. Louis has The Homestead, 14 Albert Street, experien ced an enthusiastic ClaremOI)t, 60 10. Monda o:!"~~bdw ee n demand wi th a third of available ~~ ~ · 9 ·=-~~~~m Sales Office, 4\.M·.' . 4 Hostel accommodation already 1 Dean Street .· · E.- · • ·. I.OOpmand .00pm ' . """· \..._ mr 1·1~ sold. Claremont, · · , . 6010 or mtJWJII~ l • Meals • Cleaning • Linen phone the ~~~~~ Services • Director of Care ( I :\ 1, I. :"-.l l :'...: I on 24 hour call • Visiting Manager, Ancillary Health & Welfare after hours 384 2232. Applications can only be made on the form Services • Social Activities. contained in the prospectus LISTENING POST . Publisllers Returned Services Leque W.A. Branch (Incorporated) S1xlh !nternai!011Cl l ConlerL·"··· I ADZIC House 'G.P.O. Box C128, 28 St. ~ Terrace, Perth W.A 6001. Perth W.A 6000 Tel: 325 9799 AnnuCll SIClle Congrc·~s 1 S A~:zac Cott<lge .:. 1 Mol<.1ng il Will ;,-::; A T1111e of Cl1ange 2'J Reunron~ JS / L c 11 e r s Io I lw E d1 I o r 3 I Editorial Committee Lost Trail" l~ Mrs H.f.
    [Show full text]
  • Lieutenant General Frank Berryman 1894-1941
    ‘The Making of a General: Lost Years, Forgotten Battles’ Lieutenant General Frank Berryman 1894-1941 by Peter J Dean B.A. (Hons), Grad Dip Ed. Major-General Frank H Berryman, 1942 A thesis submitted to the University of New South Wales in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History Sydney, Australia, 2007 COPYRIGHT STATEMENT ‘I hereby grant the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here after known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all proprietary rights, such as patent rights. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation. I also authorise University Microfilms to use the 350 word abstract of my thesis in Dissertation Abstract International (this is applicable to doctoral theses only). I have either used no substantial portions of copyright material in my thesis or I have obtained permission to use copyright material; where permission has not been granted I have applied/will apply for a partial restriction of the digital copy of my thesis or dissertation.' Signed ……………………………………………........................... Date ……………………………………………........................... AUTHENTICITY STATEMENT ‘I certify that the Library deposit digital copy is a direct equivalent of the final officially approved version of my thesis. No emendation of content has occurred and if there are any minor variations in formatting, they are the result of the conversion to digital format.’ Signed ……………………………………………..........................
    [Show full text]
  • Forgotten Heroes: Honouring the Service and Sacrifice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
    Forgotten heroes: Honouring the Service and Sacrifice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples South Australian Education Pack FOREWORD I was sitting in my seat on the plane just thinking about home and why I had to leave home. “ Yet I was very glad I had joined the Army because my grandfather was in the First World War. My two uncles Reg and Tom were in the Second World War and Tom was in Korea and Malaya as well and I thought I might as well join the Army too. And now I was in 5RAR on my way to Vietnam. Frank Clarke, Vietnam Veteran” I was standing in line in my socks and jocks along with the other National Servicemen who “ had been called up into the Australian Army waiting for my medical at Murray Bridge. When it was my turn Dr Heddle said, “Do you want to go any further?” I asked, “What do you mean?” He replied, “You are Aboriginal. I can exempt you and you can go home.” I said, “The marble didn’t differentiate, so I will keep going. Les Kropinyeri, Vietnam Veteran ” In the Army in Vietnam we were all part of the green machine. Some of us were light green “ and some of us were dark green. Gil Green, Vietnam Veteran ” As Aboriginal Veterans we are proud of our military service in Vietnam. The good mates we met were like family, we stuck together and we still do today. Vietnam was a different sort “ of war. It was a fight to stay alive and come home and at the time our efforts and sacrifices were not appreciated by many Australians when we came home.
    [Show full text]