Central Bureau Intelligence Corps Association Newsletter June 2002 CENTRAL BUREAU INTELLIGENCE CORPS ASSOCIATION CB June 2002. Publicity Officer: Helen Kenny. 27/1-13 Mackenzie St. Lavender Bay NSW 2060 Email: [email protected] PRESIDENT'S REPORT audience with the Minister on the 4th June when she Thirteen months after our application for funding of is scheduled to attend a meeting of the directors of a Unit History was submitted, a reply was received the Australian War Memorial Foundation in in the following terms: Canberra. Dear Mr Gibson, Failing that. Bill will try to arrange that monies can I refer to your application requesting financial be given to the War memorial of the Foundation, assistance towards the cost of travel expenses and a which could then be utilized for the history. stipend to allow an historian to research and write a history of the contribution made by Australian "It is going to be difficult," Bill writes, "but I will servicemen and women in the Allied Signals give it my best shot." Thank you for trying, Bill Intelligence during World War II. The Minister for and our best wishes go with you in your efforts. Veterans' Affairs, the Hon Danna Vale MP, has asked me to respond on her behalf. I regret the Just a few words about ANZAC Day. Every year I delay in replying. say, "this must be the best ANZAC Day ever!" The weather seems to be perfect, the crowds bigger Your application was considered for funding under and more supportive and the reunion with old mates the Federal Government's commemorations so friendly. Joy Granger has also written a letter to program. the Mercure expressing our appreciation at the high standard of the venue itself and of the food and On this occasion, the Minister regrets to advise that service at our luncheon. On this topic, it is not too your application for a grant has been unsuccessful. early to remind you of the November reunion which The travel and stipend costs are not covered under is set down for Tuesday 12 November at Kirribilli the guidelines for the commemorations program. RSL. How about noting that date in your calendar The Minister thanks you for writing and trusts you now? are able to secure funding from another source for your histoiy project. Gordon Gibson - President 67/1-9 Yardley Avenue Yours sincerely WAITARA NSW 2077 Peter Hulsing Phone 02 9487 3029 Email [email protected] Adviser ooooooOOOoooooo On Friday 26th April a sub-committee comprising Bill Rogers, Frank Hughes, Helen Kenny and I met HON. SECRETARY'S PAR at the Masonic Club in Sydney and after discussion it was decided not to give up without a struggle. On a glorious autumn day our stalwarts lined up for We have adjourned to do further research with the the ANZAC march - Kath Burns, Bruce Bentwitch, object of marshalling a dossier of cogent arguments Gordon Gibson, Les McClean (not long out of in favour of the project for presentation to Bill hospital), Max McCredie, Doug McNally, Roy Rogers. Bill is hopeful of gaining a personal Perry, Brian and Bruce Lovett, courageously Page 1 Central Bureau Intelligence Corps Association Newsletter June 2002 carrying the Banner, John Shoebridge, Rob Moore (for Dennis) Bert de Mars, Ellen Barn, (for grandfather Ken Robbins) Ailsa Hale, Norm Allen, Allan Norton drew attention to a Memorial Service Steven Kirsten, to be held on 27 April for Earle Heap, an original Allan Norton, Bill Estep, Syd Cooper, Keith Kana interceptor. Carolan, Noni Benn, Peg Teague, David Hansen, Eric Webb, Elizabeth Lewis, (for father Chris Other matters briefly - We are still hot on the trail Mcintosh) Joy Granger, and sister Pam Porteous of a grant for the Australian SIGLNT history. (AWAS W/T). I hope I haven't omitted anyone. Don't know about anyone else, but the march The Kirribilli RSL Club has been mooted for the seemed a lot longer (!) and we had to stop next mini-reunion in November. Whatever, details frequently (ours not to reason why). When we will be in the September newsletter. Until then, be reached Hyde Park they'd run out of hot water for well and Farewell. tea/coffee - catastrophe. Joy Granger, 2N RSLVRV Oh well, off the Mercure. Numbers were down but PO BOX^56, NARRABEEN 2101 those who enjoyed the convivial gathering and a 02 99812397 truly splendid smorgasbord were Norm Allen, Noni ooooooOOOoooooo Benn and Hope Creary, Bruce Bentwitch, Col and Mark Brackley, Joyce Casey (good to see her), HON TREASURER'S REPORT Keith and Joan Carolan with Diane and Chris Bath, Syd Cooper, Bert and Beth de Mars, Gordon and Another Anzac Day has passed and I noticed Sue Gibson, Joy Granger, and Pam Porteous, Helen three of our regular marchers, Stan King, Noel Kenny, Steven Kirsten (became lost and walked all Langby and Eric Fleming could not attend and I the way from Hyde Park) Allan and Pam Langdon, trust they are much healthier now, but this year Reg Elizabeth Lewis, Margaret McCafferty, Les Murphy who must be one of the few RAAF officers McClean, Doug McNally, Peg (so welcome) and still with us had no trouble completing the march. Rob Moore, Allan and Katie Norton, Diana Parker, Roy Perry, Bill and Jan Rogers, John Shoebridge, Syd Carey, who was a regular at our reunions, Peg Teague, Eric and Eve Webb, Jim Williams moved to Perth a few months ago and tells me he is (determined as ever), escorted by Shelia Gregory. now 86 years of age. He and his wife visited Darwin for the 60th anniversary of the bombing and Apologies were received from Frank Hughes (in sent me a photo of him placing a wreath at the hospital with pneumonia), Keith Phillips (leg grave of Sqn/Ldr Strauss who was killed when his problems), Madge Chidgey (away in Queensland) Liberator crashed shortly after take off. Apparently Norma Keeling (not well enough), Ailsa Hale (had a Jap had got ashore and sabotaged two of the Libs. to leave after the march to look after her husband), Syd was Orderly Sergeant at the time and had to Betty Chessell (in Perth celebrating her birthday), wake the crews for a strike. This was prior to Syd Nancy Goldsteen (not very well). Gordon joining C B. mentioned messages from Ron Tabley, Joyce Grace, Jack Bennett, Les Perkins, Jean Robertson, Another recent letter was from Olive Williams and Doug Pyle. Also in touch was Syd Carey, now (nee Barlow) who was administration assistant to resident of Perth, who recently celebrated his 86th Flt/Lt Ward at 21 Henry St. She and her husband of birthday and Myron Scougale (USA) who has 55 years reside at Withcott, a town east of Parkinson's disease. Our good wishes go to them Toowoomba, Qld. She sent a cutting from the local all. newspaper of the Anzac Day ceremonies at Withcott and Helidon a nearby town, which they From a recent ABC programme (video kindly attended. The attendance has grown from a small supplied by Frank) we saw an extremely brief gathering several years ago to approx 250 this year. segment mentioning the reconstruction of General Incidentally both Olive and her husband are lawn Mac Arthur's office, showing it stripped; apparently bowlers and enjoy good health. everything went back to the States. Page 2 Central Bureau Intelligence Corps Association Newsletter June 2002 Bob Leonard reports he is now much better had undergone an intensive course in Japanese following three operations while Jean Hicks of Phonetics at the School of Oriental and African Yeppoon Qld tells she had a fall just before Studies (AOAS), University of London, organised Christmas breaking a hip and wrist then to cap it all by the brilliant, redoubtable Professor of Phonetics, had her gall bladder removed in March. Do hope J.R. Firth. they enjoy reading the newsletters and are mobile again. From Bristol they flew to Shannon in Eire and from Foynes they crossed the Atlantic to Newfoundland Geoff Howard, one of our Canberra members, in a BOAC flying boat, thence to Baltimore. The who does odd volunteer jobs for the War Memorial RAF men, after some time in Washington and New and Museum was asked to inspect odd markings York, crossed the States to San Francisco by train, scratched on the hull of a Japanese submarine being while the Canadians enjoyed a short leave in restored for exhibition. Geoff could not understand Vancouver, before flying over the Pacific in a how anyone trapped inside could have scratched the Liberator, arriving in Brisbane early in August. hull and it was assumed they were not man made but the hull must have scratched something hard, At Central Bureau (Henry St. and Ascot Park) they perhaps in Sydney Harbour. continued training. Here the group was joined by Canadian Billie Blinkhorn, a well-known Incidentally a few days ago I met a young couple entertainer, serving in the Australian Army and from Chicago who were on the way to Darwin for a introduced to Capt. W.E. Clarke (Nobby), who was tour. They were amazed when told of the 1942 later to be CO. of the unit in the Philippines. bombing, the first being by the Jap bombers that had earlier attacked Pearl Harbour. World War On 17 October the group joined 6WU and the next Two history taught in US schools make no mention day flew by stages to Hollandia, New Guinea, in the of such events. then Netherlands East Indies. On the 24th they embarked on the USS Carter Hall, landing near Finally when sending cheques or money orders DULAG, Leyte, on 5 November 1944.