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