NEWSLETTER 2/2014 SEPTEMBER 2014 about but had the suitable nightmares associated with war The Duntroon Story and the and death. Bridges Family A couple of years later my father was awarded the MBE, and remembering his comment that Bridges men only Peter Bridges survive one war with or without medals, I naively asked him if this was because he had been wounded in the war—in Charles Bean, in his 1957 work ‘Two Men I Knew’, WW2. He told me that the MBE medal was not for war time reflected that Major General Sir William Throsby Bridges achievements but for peace time achievements. As an eight- laid two foundations of Australia’s fighting forces in WWI— year old this seemed very odd that someone who worked Duntroon and the 1st Division. Many officers and soldiers in hard got medals. I still firmly believed you got medals for our Army have served in both these enduring institutions being enormously brave in war time. It didn’t make sense to and one might suspect, more than occasionally, reflected on me so I asked him why Bridges men died in war and he was Bridges significant legacy in each. still alive. The story then came out. I had the great pleasure to welcome Dr Peter Bridges to His grandfather, the General (WTB), had fought in the Duntroon in 2003 and from that visit, the College held for a Boer war in South Africa (against my mother’s grandfather decade, and to its Centenary, the medals of its Founder. The as it turns out) and had been wounded in the relief of willingness of Peter and the greater Bridges family to lend a Kimberley. This was not in fact so—I do believe he very personal family treasure to Duntroon is testimony to contracted typhoid fever and was evacuated back to the UK, the affection with which the College and its graduates are although he did however nearly die of this illness. held. We owe the Bridges family a debt of gratitude. My father’s father, William Francis Noel Bridges was From that 2003 visit a quite remarkable and personal the second oldest surviving child in the General’s family and friendship has formed and when we met in Cape Town according to my father had a torrid time with his father the recently, I imposed upon Peter the obligation to tell the General, because the General was such a disciplinarian, a story of the Bridges family after the Founder’s death in May trait applied equally to both his troops and children. So 1915. It’s a question often not asked but one that interested much so that my grandfather, on completing his schooling in me—it’s the story that’s beyond Bridges’ Grave on Mt 1917 at the Melbourne Grammar School, found his way to Pleasant. At lunch that day overlooking Cape Town, Peter the shores of England to join up with the British Armed told the story that is outlined in the following article—it Forces in the UK. He fought and was wounded in action in represents a family that understands the notions of service World War 1. He was mentioned in a number of military and duty. dispatches and awarded the DSO in 1918. It was after World Bridges’ medals now reside in the care of the Australian War 1 that he returned to Australia and made peace with his War Memorial for a period that coincides with the relationship with the old man, who had been killed at Centenary of World War I. Quite rightly they sit in the heart Gallipoli. He joined the Australian Military Forces when of the institution that honours the service of so many and in World War 2 was imminent, and sadly lost his life at sea this case, the man who raised those two institutions and the during the evacuation of Singapore. I have the last letter he laid the foundations of our country’s land forces. wrote to my grandmother the day before he left Singapore, Michael (M.F.) Paramor (1976) AM and it really brings tears to my eyes each and every time I Commandant RMC, 2002–2003 read it. My father was born in Malaya in 1923 as his father was then the Surveyor General in Malaya. In today’s terms my I recall the exact moment my father told me about the father’s upbringing would I believe be considered Bridges men and their involvement in war. It was 1956 and I dysfunctional. He was sent to boarding school in the UK at was six years old. We were at the dinner table and my father the age of seven and only saw his parents when they came asked me why I had a scratch on my face and a black eye. I over to the UK from Malaya for their long leave which told him we playing armies at school in the break period, happened every four years. Strangely my father had no ill and that all the older boys were in the British army and we, feeling about this and regarded it as part and parcel of the the younger boys, were made to be in the German army. The times, and in his own words he was very lucky to attend two British army won and we were beaten up! great schools, Port Regis Junior School, and then onto senior My father looked at me and said ‘Son, the Bridges men school at Marlborough College. He was head boy at both only ever survive one war—so no more wars or you will die schools. with or without medals’. I had no idea what he was talking 1 My father joined the armed forces as soon as he finished Duntroon on the Rocks, my brother had a farm called school in 1944 and did his training in Scotland with the Duntroon Orchards, so it would be safe to say the old Black Watch. He was involved in the invasion of France in General was still exerting his influence three generations 1944 as a young captain, and was seriously wounded a week later. after the landing. All he would ever tell me about the war My daughter Sharon and her husband Erik were in and the circumstances of the time he was wounded was that Australia on vacation in 2001 and ended up in Canberra it was all worthwhile, particularly as he got flown out of specifically to see the Royal Military College. They still France in a Dakota DC3—his very first flight ever. regard that day as one of the special days in their lives as It always amazes me that, to the day he died, he never they were shown around the College. Sharon said it was a talked about the horrors of war—only the honour of war. very moving experience as she sat next to her great-great- After the war, my father did a stint at Cambridge University, grandfather’s grave and the tears flowed. I recall a few years where he met my mother. He spent the first three years of later feeling the same emotions, particularly for the privilege marriage in Basutoland (now Lesotho) as a District of being allowed to step over the chains surrounding the Commissioner, and went on to become the British High General’s grave. Later in the day, Sharon was saying Commissioner’s Private Secretary in South Africa until goodbye to the historian, who happened to mention that he 1957. Thereafter, he was Clerk of the Legislate in East had spent years searching high and low for the General’s Africa until independence in 1963. It was then the family medals but had not been able to locate them. Sharon laughed moved to South Africa. and told him they were very beautifully mounted in a I recall my father asking me at the age of 16 if I would display frame next to the portrait of the General in her consider a career in the armed forces—well this nearly father’s study—my study! And that is how I met Michael brought about World War 3 in our house. I was at that Paramor and ended up lending the medals to the College. As impressionable age of defiance and was furious that my a family we were very proud to know that the General’s father had surrendered my British passport for a South medals contributed in a small way to the RMC centenary African passport which now meant a compulsory period in celebrations in 2011, and are equally delighted that they will the South African armed forces—certainly not an army or contribute to the commemoration events at the Australian defence force that could be considered as the world’s War Memorial in the next five years. flavour of the month in 1966. I’m afraid I was the first of the I have often wondered what would have happened if my male Bridges line, from the General’s father who was a father had returned to England rather than coming out to Captain in the Royal Navy, who would not consider any South Africa when he left the colonial service. I also wonder form of military involvement on a voluntary basis. I do why Australia was not on his radar—maybe it was a South know that had my father suggested Duntroon or the RAF as African wife—however she adamantly denies any influence possible choices there just might have been some discussion here. about their merits. My dad was a wonderful family man and had a passion And so it was that every Bridges man or woman that has for the history of our family.