The Black Soil Plains and Beyond | Media
The Black Soil Plains and Beyond
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22.01.2022 Lew’s Story (or Ghosts in Khaki) One of the beautiful things about writing history books is that you get to talk to people real people. In 2011 I advertised far and wide in as many publications as I could, aiming to reach as many veterans of the 1st Australian Armoured Division (who had been in Gunnedah during World War 2) as I possibly could. I was rewarded for my efforts by the conversations I had with some of the kindest, most thoughtful, sharp and witty folk that I hav...Continue reading
22.01.2022 Vale Aileen 'Brownie' Davidson who passed away 1 November at Gunnedah Hospital . Brownie told me many stories of the 1st Australian Armoured Division who were camped across from her family's dairy on Wandobah Road ... and I will never forget her signing copies of my book for those who asked her to on the pages that she was mentioned in To Fight and Do Our Best. One of the stories read as follows:... I had three older sisters so I went [to town for the dances]. Dad had an old Dodge that he bought when i was a baby .. it had a running board on it. Coming home the soldiers would be on the rack of the running board. It was alright when you were on the level but some of those culverts were pretty deep. Charlie [Aileen's brother] would get them off then and get them to push the car up to the other side. I can see it. Brownie told me many other stories and as recently as a month ago was answering questions about the history of Carroll. I can only say that i felt privileged to know her. Brownie's funeral is at 9th November @10am at the Graveside in Carroll. She is pictured in the middle of the photo below.
16.01.2022 On this Remembrance Day think of these almost forgotten casualties of World War 2.
16.01.2022 10 Copies of To Fight and Do Our Best remaining. UPDATE... NOW IT'S 6 COPIES ONLY LEFT...UPDATE Just did a stocktake on my first Armoured Division books. Was delighted to discover that I only have 10 copies left of To Fight and Do Our Best. With luck I will be sold out by Christmas - so if you want a copy ($25) get in now.... Thanks to everyone who has purchased copies and copies of the books sister publication The Black Soil Plains and Beyond.
16.01.2022 Quite a few Armoured Divvy boys ended up in Z Force. ------ Mr Tredrea held the pill in his mouth as he plummeted into unknown territory behind enemy lines; he spat it out just before he crashed into the canopy.
13.01.2022 Worth remembering.
12.01.2022 Onya Matt McMahon. You'll have to bring one of those babies my way one day.
10.01.2022 Can you imagine conducting military exercises in conditions like this. The 2nd Brigade of the 1st Armoured Division had to cope with these extraordinary conditions during November 1942. They were camped out near Wee Waa, NSW, and copped some tremendous rainfall. Peter Coghlan from the 2/9 Armoured Regiment remembers: 'I can remember coming across the Namoi River in a jeep with the hood up, sitting on the back seat with a pipe from the carburettor all greased up. We were testi...ng her to go underwater' The Regiment certainly had plenty of opportunity to do that with the Namoi in flood!! ______________________________________________ These photos come from Dick Hodgkinson via his beautiful wife Mollie (both of whom have since passed).
10.01.2022 The profile picture for this week is John Hicks - or Jack to his mates. John was a mechanic with the 2/4 Armoured Regiment which was formed at Narrabri, NSW (in November 1942) out of elements of the 2/11 Armoured Car Regiment and Armoured Brigade Recce squadrons - shortly after the DIvision was reorganised. John saw service in New Guinea recalling that "Wewak was a big one." _____________________________... The image is of Jack marching on Anzac Day 2015. He remains well turning 98 in one weeks time.
08.01.2022 Today's rather weather beaten profile picture is of Ron Clapham. The photo was taken by a street photographer in Adelaide while Ron was on the way to Western Australia.
03.01.2022 Mephisto safe for future generations to learn from. Safer now than on the Western Front on WW1.
02.01.2022 Today's profile picture is of Bert Binney. Bert was from the 2/5th Armoured Regiment from Queensland. Bert came back to Gunnedah after the war and was in integral part of the local Gunnedah community through his work and through his community endeavours.
01.01.2022 Grant for Armoured Division Memorial. Its bad news I am afraid. Saluting our Service DVA has knocked back the Anzac Committee's application for funding. Not sure what is happening - although the Committee does remain committed to finding some funds for this memorial.... Just wanted to thank everyone for the words of encouragement throughout this process. I may be looking for some more before the time is out .... That or a bloody magnificent benefactor :)
