25th April 2013 Commemorative booklet proudly presented by Michael McCormack MP Federal Member for Riverina 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 TUMBARUMBA 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 Australia 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 TUMUT 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 Canberra 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 Snowy Mountains – 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 Gundagai 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 WAGGA WAGGA: 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 Jugiong 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 New South Wales 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.