25th April 2013

Commemorative booklet proudly presented by MichaelCommemorative McCormack booklet proudly presented MP by Michael McCormackFederal Member for MP Federal Member for Riverina safe and also helping REMEMBERED: anzac legend lives on to make the world a Victor Frewin’s name liveth more peaceful place. forevermore at the Australian ON 25 April each year Australians War Memorial in Canberra. traditionally pause to pay respect to The legend began those who have served – especially those in 1915 with the who died doing active duty. Australian and ANZAC Day marks the first day of New Zealand Army landings at Gallipoli 98 years ago when Corps and continues our best and bravest young men of the to this day through era disembarked from boats and waded to the men and war hurt families ashore amidst a deadly hail of bullets women who proudly from Turkish defenders. wear an Air Force, Army or Navy Temora teacher made the COUNTRY towns uniform. particularly felt the ravages GALLANTRY This annual commemoration – our This ANZAC Day, of World War I, losing many PEOPLE knew where they most significant national day – means communities of the Riverina will again men from all walks of life. stood with James Verdon. different things to different people. ultimate sacrifice come to a silent standstill, paying solemn Labourers and lawyers alike For ex-servicemen and women it is He had fair hair and blue eyes, tribute to the Australians who paid the enlisted for active service ... a chance to catch up with former was as brave as anyone but also ultimate price of peace – their lives. they ate the same rations, a bit of a larrikin. A labourer colleagues and reminisce about days VICTOR Joseph Frewin was the Increasing attendances, particularly wore the same uniform and from Ardlethan, he went to spent together training here and in complete soldier. of children, at regional ANZAC Day the enemy’s bullets, disease The Great War as a private, conflicts abroad. services shows the importance of and shells were indiscriminate. gained three promotions yet For people right across the country it They did not come any braver or tougher. ANZAC not only endures, but grows. Outdoor workers were buried had his pay docked twice for is an opportunity to honour those – The Great War killing fields of the alongside those who had being absent without leave, particularly the fallen – who sacrificed so The ANZAC spirit will last the ages Western Front were far removed from worked in offices in what the second time for missing a much in the fight for freedom. as will the enormous admiration and the little classroom at peaceful Temora church parade! gratitude Australians share for those where this outstanding Australian taught became Europe’s “silent cities” For families who have lost loved ones in who went to war, many of whom did not - the vast military cemeteries. When it mattered most country schoolchildren, but that is where conflicts – either in the distant past or make it back to the land and the people though, he was right amongst he ultimately met his sad fate. The war cut a dreadful swathe more recently – ANZAC Day is a time they loved so dearly. the thick of things and his to mourn and to remember. Tragically, it was an awful end to such a through communities across comrades felt safe knowing he life of promise, with this gutsy 28-year- the young Australian nation, was alongside fighting with For all of us ANZAC Day is an occasion old being killed in action at Hangard federated just 13 short years them. to be grateful – to say thanks to the MICHAEL McCORMACK MP Wood, south of Villers-Bretonneux, on before the bloodshed began. military personnel, indeed all those who Federal Member for Riverina 15 April 1918. Wounded in the left thigh played their part in keeping Australia No family was spared from during the 56th Battalion’s Poor Victor had been wounded in battle the heartbreak. VALIANT: Lt Victor Frewin attack on Villers-Bretonneux in France three times. Temora teacher Victor on 24 April 1918, Lance ’s bravery He suffered a compound fracture of tale but this courageous and patched-up Frewin’s family members were Sergeant Verdon was his right humerus and a chest wound Digger finally fell during a push by his still coming to terms with evacuated to the 10th General ILLABO’S contribution to The Great War effort was considerable on 11 May 1916 and a bomb wound famed 18th Battalion which proved both the shock of his loss when Field Hospital at Rouen, with 73 from the district having their names remembered in the park to the head and left arm at Butte de costly and unsuccessful. news filtered through that France, where he died three on the corner of the Olympic Highway and Layton Street. Warlencourt in the Somme on 22 th his cousin, Sapper Stanley days later, aged 26. The men of the 18 regrouped and Of those valiant men, 14 paid the ultimate price for doing their duty February 1917; being transferred to before the year was out made significant Muddell of the 2nd Field He was buried in the nearby … their names inscribed on the village’s stone obelisk memorial hospital in England to recover both contributions to winning the war at Company Engineers, aged 31, St Sever Cemetery, a man of (pictured). times. Morlancourt and the Beaurevoir Line died of dysentery at Damascus courage ... taken way too early. Labourer Donald MacKenzie, husband of Annie, unusually went to Returning to France and promoted near St Quentin Canal. on 14 October 1918, less than war twice, sailing with the 1st Infantry Battalion on HMAT Afric a month before hostilities to Lieutenant, he was then unluckily Alas, however, Victor was gone and his on 18 October 1914 but was discharged as medically unfit and sent ceased. wounded a third time, on 6 October parents Joseph and Harriet wept bitterly home the following April. He signed on again and headed back to 1917, yet pluckily remained on duty. th for their precious son and the children Europe with the 35 Battalion on HMAT Miltiades on 2 August 1917 but, of Temora very much missed a man who sadly, was shot and killed by a sniper east of Villers-Bretonneux on 4 April 1918. Gosford-born Victor had three brushes with death, each time living to tell the was taken too soon. COVER: The Robinson family of (from left) Kelly with her grandmother Maisie and parents Wayne and Lorraine at the ANZAC Day service last year. Maisie lovingly holds a photograph and other war-time memorabilia of her uncle, Private Charles Mills, who died of wounds at Gallipoli in 1915. See feature story, centre pages. OFFICES OF MICHAEL McCORMACK: CANBERRA: PO Box 6022, Parliament House, ACT 2600 P: 6277 4725 F: 6277 8563 GRIFFITH: 100 Yambil Street P: 6964 1212 F: 6962 7722 : Suite 2 11-15 Fitzmaurice Street P: 6921 4600 F: 6921 5900 MEMORIAL: Lt Victor Frewin DIED OF WOUNDS: E: [email protected] www.michaelmccormack.com.au TROOP SHIP: The 10,392-ton HMAT A8 Argyllshire upon which Lt Victor Frewin is also immortalised on Temora’s L/Sgt James Verdon https://twitter.com/M_McCormackMP sailed to do his war duty. cenotaph. KIA PETER KAHLEFELDT KIA CHARLES MILLS KIA ALBERT WHILES DOD LESLIE BLACK KIA JOSEPH BROWN MARTIN DILLOW KIA ALLEN HILLAM KIA JOHN O’DONNELL MM WIA

‘THEY SHALL GROW NOT OLD, AS WE THAT ARE LEFT GROW OLD’

THE Great War sacrifices of the mighty men from Junee Reefs may earned a Military Medal in 1917 and returned home with in the Greek hospital at Alexandria whilst Pte Albert have been made in the distant past yet still evoke strong feelings of the rank of Sergeant the following year. Whiles, only 19, died of pneumonia at sea in 1915 en route to the war. admiration and respect each ANZAC Day at the splendid soldiers’ One of the saddest Gallipoli stories was that of the Alice memorial at the district hall. and John Hancock’s sons Thomas, 20, and Vivian, 25 – Junee Reefs lost five on the bloody battlefields of the both Privates, both killed in action at Lone Pine between Western Front: Pte Eric Ball, 23, at Villers-Bretonneux in Many of the locals who attend the moving service have close blood 6 and 9 August. 1918, Sgt Leslie Black, 27, near Fleurs in 1917, Pte Allen Hillam, 31, in France in 1918, Lance-Corporal Peter ties to those who went away to serve their nation. News of their deaths must have been shattering to the Kahlefeldt, 28, in France in 1918 and Pte John Moore, 24, couple. Sadly, too many who took up arms did not return; their names at Lagnicourt in 1917. chiselled into the granite monument upon which an impressive The Hancocks were cousins of Martin Dillon, a 21-year- The close-knit community mourned then and still marble sentinel stands guard. old nephew of John O’Donnell, also killed at Gallipoli in remembers now. A wooden honour board (pictured left) inside the 1926-built hall August, the deadliest month of the whole campaign. Pte lists names of the 30 public school pupils who did their duty; Dillon’s official papers were marked “one of the many of whom no trace has ever been found”. (Above) PAYING TRIBUTE: Shane Logan plays the seven of whom lost their lives. Reveille as the Australian flag is proudly hoisted by Don Walker Junee Reefs counts amongst its finest John O’Donnell who Pte Gordon Davis, 31, was the first from the district to at the 2012 ANZAC Day service at Junee Reefs-Ivor Hall. enlisted at age 23 on 19 November 1914, undertook initial perish on the ill-fated peninsula, dying of wounds on May 3. Chairman of the Hall Trust, Glenn Curry, is at the far right. training in then sailed for Egypt before landing at Pte Joseph Brown, 22, from Winchendon Vale was A wooden honour board (pictured far left) inside the hall lists Gallipoli on the afternoon of that historic first day – 25 April another to fall in the Lone Pine offensive, the same day as names of the 30 Junee Reefs Public School pupils who did their 1915. Pte Charles Mills, 20. duty; seven of whom lost their lives. Twice wounded in action, a gunshot wound to the shoulder Boer War Veteran Pte Alfred Robbins, a 35-year-old KEY: DOD Died of Disease, KIA Killed in Action, at Gallipoli and a shell in the face in France in 1916, he farmer and horse breaker, died of his Gallipoli wounds MM Military Medal, WIA Wounded in Action. 2013 ANZAC DAY SERVICE times and venues SOUTH WEST SLOPES: Callaghan Park, Loftus Street. ARDLETHAN (Includes ) 10.50am March from opposite Courthouse. 11am Service at Memorial Hall, Ariah St. 11am Service, cenotaph, Callaghan Park. (Includes Quandary) UNGARIE 10am March along Coolamon St from 6am Dawn service, RSL Park, Bowling Club to cenotaph for Ungarie Street. main service. 9am Service at Cemetery at graves of BARELLAN (Includes Binya, Moombooldool) ex-servicemen and women. 10.30am Assemble “Pink Shop” On duty at IN REMEMBRANCE: The Memorial Arch and avenue of trees honours West Wyalong’s fallen. 2.45pm Meet at the Barellan & District War Memorial Club, 62 Bendee St. Wollongough Street, walk to RSL Park. Of the 267 Australians from Java and 3pm Service at cenotaph on corner of Ariah park Boree and Mulga Streets. 11am Service. Flag raising. Last Post. Timor sent to Japan via Singapore and WEST WYALONG BARMEDMAN WAGGA WAGGA HE KEEPS watch over Ariah Takao, in Formosa, on the Tamahoko Park ... a Great War Australian Maru, only 73 survived and were taken 10.45am March commences along Queen 5.45am Dawn service arranged by Legacy infantryman in resplendent Street to Memorial Park. at the cenotaph, Victory to Nagasaki. Memorial Gardens, Baylis Street. white Carrara Italian marble. SOLDIER 11am Service at Memorial Park. Born at Wyalong on 14 January 1920, 6.30am Pilgrimage to Wagga Wagga War More importantly, he stands William Edward Smith enlisted at BETHUNGRA (Includes Frampton, Illabo) Cemetery, Kooringal Road. guard over the revered names of ANZAC’S 1ST LOST AT SEA Paddington on 19 September 1941 - a 6.30am Dawn service at Bethungra 10.30am Baylis Street march begins. the 290 from the district who fresh-faced 21-year-old seeking to do Memorial Park, Baylis Street/ 11am Wreath laying at Victory Memorial served in the two World Wars OF THE many tragic tales of World his duty for his country. Olympic Highway. and Vietnam. War II, amongst the saddest was that Catafalque party will be in Gardens cenotaph. Address by ANNIVERSARY He was posted to the 3 Reserve Motor WWII Veteran Jack Calder, a Rat of the Japanese ship Tamahoko Maru, attendance. Special service for The monument (pictured Transport Company at the time of his of Tobruk and PoW THIS magnificent old the sinking of which cost gallant West 20th anniversary will feature below) indicates 35 of the 139 capture and death. photograph (above) is Wyalong soldier William Smith his life. Lighthorse group from the WEST WYALONG (Includes North locals who went to The Great Integrated Servicepeople’s Yalgogrin, Wamboyne, Weethalle, Wyalong) captioned “ANZAC Day War died on active service. Private Smith had been taken Prisoner Association. In the event of 6am Dawn service at Services and Sydney 1916” and shows a This fine memorial, on the of War and was with hundreds of wet weather the service will move Citizens’ Club cenotaph. huge throng of people lining intersection of Coolamon men being transported to Nagasaki to St Augustine’s Church. 8.45am Wreath-laying ceremony at the street straining to get a and Pitt Streets and Mary aboard the 6700-ton vessel in a convoy JUNEE (Includes Illabo, ) cenotaph at Soldiers’ Memorial glimpse of the brave soldiers Gilmore Way was unveiled on comprising a dozen ships escorted Hall, Neeld Street, Wyalong. marching by. by two Corvettes, a minelayer and a 5.45am Dawn service in Broadway. 15 October 1919 by Chaplain 10.30am March from Memorial Park, 10.15am March, Main St, West Wyalong. Flags of Allied nations hang Major William McKenzie. whaling ship. Peel Street to Railway Square, 11am Wreath laying at S&C Club. proudly as these volunteers Just 10 minutes before midnight on 24 His reputation as a dedicated two-minute ceremony at plaque 11.30am Service in S&C Auditorium. June 1944, about 40 miles south-west file past, no doubt soon to and fearless Salvation Army on Broadway. March finishes at of their destination, those on board the CAPITAL CITY SERVICES: board a troopship to take officer grew during his time cenotaph, Broadway. Tamahoko Maru were abruptly awoken CANBERRA them to war. at Gallipoli, earned him the 10.45am Ceremony at cenotaph, Broadway. by the sound of an explosion. 5.30am Dawn service at the Australian nickname “Fighting Mac” and JUNEE REEFS War Museum (suggested arrival The 25th of April was (unusually for a Chaplain) the A ship in the fleet had been torpedoed 3pm Wreath laying conducted by from 4.30am onwards). officially proclaimed ANZAC award of a Military Cross. by an American submarine and within Junee RSL Sub-Branch at Junee 6.30am The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Day in 1916. seconds another torpedo pierced the The names of the nine Ariah Reefs-Ivor Hall, Junee Reefs Road. Islander commemorative Marches were held across Tamahoko Maru just forward of the ceremony at the Aboriginal Park women who served in bridge on the starboard side, blowing the Australia and in Sydney World War II are also listed. 9am Service at cenotaph in Ariah St. Memorial Plaque on the side of convoys of cars carried covers off the hatches. Mount Ainslie. 9.45am Morning tea in Ariah Street. wounded soldiers from This explosion must have killed many 10.15am National ceremony at the Gallipoli, with nurses in SPRINGDALE Australian War Memorial and men who had been sleeping on the attendance. hatches and numbers of others on deck 9am Introduction by Colonel Pat Veterans’ march (suggested were struck by falling debris. Thorne AM RL at cenotaph, arrival 9.45am). Burley Griffin Way. PLEASE NOTE: All The strike left two large holes in the SYDNEY 9.10am Guest speaker senior RAAF 4.15am Dawn service at the cenotaph, times and venues have deck of the hold and many men, representative. rushing for the ladders which had Martin Place. been supplied in good been blown away, would have fallen 9.15am Fly-over by Australian-built 8.30am Wreath-laying ceremony at the faith by various RSL World War II plane Wirraway. into the cargo. cenotaph, Martin Place. Sub-Branch officials and 9.20am L/Cpl Peter Kahlefeldt Scholarship 9am ANZAC Day march starting were correct at the time Other men fled towards the life belts Speech: Tom Reid of Temora and were trapped. at Martin Place/George Street/ of publication. Every care High Year 10 about WWI Digger Bathurst Street/Hyde Park. Pte William Reid. Musical interlude. has been taken to ensure as Escape by those below was made 12.30pm Commemorative service, via the iron ladders under the 9.30am Morning tea. many services as possible ANZAC Memorial Park, Hyde have been included. For hatches, or, for the most part, by TALLIMBA Park South. verification of other being washed out by the sea. 3pm March along Pope Street. 1pm Aboriginal ANZAC Day march services please contact your The ship disappeared within two Service to follow in Tallimba Hall. in Redfern. minutes. BRAVE: PoW William Smith TEMORA (Includes Reefton) 5pm Sunset service at the cenotaph, local RSL Sub-Branch. 6am Dawn service at cenotaph, Martin Place. 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 WEETHALLE WARRIORS to Remember by Jackie French with illustrations by Mark Wilson presented to the THERE are 99 names on younger winners. Weethalle Memorial Hall’s two Each student who sent in an entry will receive a commemorative signed certificate. honour boards (pictured below) Winning entries from the South West Slopes feature below. commemorating locals who served in World War II. Of those, six lost their lives, MEMORIES amongst them courageous IT’S the breaking dawn Sapper Lance Boardman, killed of another ANZAC Day in action aged 25 in Java on 4 morning. I sit rocking March 1942. slowly on my old, -born Boardman wooden chair, looking is also remembered on the back on my life with a Singapore Memorial, in the red poppy in my hand. Kranji War Cemetery, where I remember how I the names of 24,000 Allied would sit with my airmen and soldiers, who have father and watch my SECONDARY no known grave, are recorded. PRIMARY WINNER: Jack De Britt, WINNER: Reagan 12, Year 6, Wyalong Public School brothers playfully Hetherington, 13, Private Walter Bedford, 22, wrestle on the Year 8,West Wyalong died as a Prisoner of War in grassy banks of the High School the Thailand Camp on 26 ANZAC DAY . September 1943. Later, we would build cubbies and catch Australian citizens are brave to sign yabbies. The river was an important part of so Pte Robert Paginton, 33, had up. been in the Army less than a many wonderful memories. year when he died on 22 June I remember the saddest time of my life. 1941 and was buried in the New Zealand was a small country Waving goodbye to my eldest brother who Tobruk War Cemetery. brave to enter the war. was off to war, with his shiny, new uniform, Lieutenant George Parkinson, polished boots and a big smile. He was a 25, died on 16 August 1943 Zephyrs blew through the poppies young man off to explore foreign lands. A and was laid to rest in the as we remember the lost. short time later, a letter would arrive to say he inland New Guinean village would never be coming back. of Soputa, his remains later Appreciate men that have fallen, lost Lost in my grief, I spent hours in this chair exhumed with others buried their families young and old. overlooking the river. My much-loved there and re-interred in the brother was gone forever; such a waste of a Bomana War Cemetery, Port Create peace and experience for our young innocent life. Moresby. children, let us never go back to war. Time passing helped heal my broken heart. Eventually I had a family of my own. Once Do them good for they have fought again, I felt happiness and joy as I watched for us, remember all the lost. my family grow by the river, just like my brothers and I did many years ago. Ammunition strayed through our I’m an old lady now. I spend my days in this fellow men and allies from the enemy trusty old chair watching over my friend, side. the Murrumbidgee. Remembering, dozing peacefully, feeling the breeze gently blowing Youthful men held their nation’s my hair. ground, saved the young and old to I’ve seen the best and worst of what life can keep our faithful land. offer. Lest we forget. 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.