7th Division Engineers Association | Non-profit organisation

7th Division Engineers Association

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25.01.2022 In commemoration of Remembrance Day 11th November 2020 PEACEFUL PENETRATION A poem by 7th Division Sapper- Sappers the Silent Seventh... We seem to be sure about Winning this War It's winning the Peace that's the worry, We know that the last was a failure that passed To die in a chaos of flurry. When asked by the mites what we did in the fights Our boastings and tales never cease; It's just as well they never face us and say. "And what did you do in the Peace?" Would we wave it aside as it only applied To Parliaments Mayors and Kings? Or be honest and say, "My child, in my day I failed in responsible things. I never could see that the world was just me In thousands and thousands of men, And that Peace-terms were born in the things that I'd scorn As being too trivial then. What things? Oh, a shake of the hand for the sake Of straightening quarrels and strikes, And saying "I'm wrong" to help things along, For pride is the source of dislikes." When boosting this strife we've made ev'ry life A servant to national claim, And now ev'ry man must honestly plan To make Peace his personal aim By facing his wife, his office, his life From ill-feeling seeking release; With an honest delight in setting things right, Determined to hang on to Peace.

25.01.2022 William Thomas (Bill) COREY OAM SX5389 Private 2nd/43rd Infantry Battalion Born: 7 August 1917 Riverton, South Australia, ... Enlisted:17 June 1940, Adelaide, South Australia Bill Corey was one of 14,000 Australians who held the Libyan port city of Tobruk against German General Erwin Rommel's forces in 1941. He was well known for his generosity in speaking at ceremonies and with young people about his experience in World War II.In 2016, he cut the ribbon to officially open Adelaide's Anzac Centenary Memorial Walk after which South Australian Premier Steven Marshall stated "There could not have been a more fitting person to represent the veterans' community at that wonderful occasion." " Bill Corey typified the humble nature and selflessness of our diggers, and was very generous with his time in speaking with members of his community and many schoolchildren about the Anzac legacy." "An unfailingly positive and optimistic gentleman, Bill has inspired thousands of children and adults alike." "His passion for passing on his life's experiences to the younger generations remain with him until his final days. Mr Corey told the ABC in 2012 his most enduring memory of Tobruk was the ever present dust."You ate, slept, drank everything in the dust and if there was a dust storm you still ate and drank your meal in the dust," he recalled."Sometimes when you got to the bottom of your cup of tea, it was muddy.

24.01.2022 The final Post for Anzac Day 2020

24.01.2022 Thanks to the Nth Qld Sapper Association We have found out: We have lost another Sapper, a proud member of the Corps. Spr VX136605 ... Colin Lindsay Fulford 2/5 Fd Coy. RAE New Guinea Morotai Borneo 103 years young. Unfortunately at the moment we have no other details or even a picture. However, on behalf of the whole 7th division we send our condolences to the family and friends. Rest in peace Colin thank you for everything you have done for us.

24.01.2022 Major General Gordon Maitland AO OBE RFD ED (Ret’d) Service Rank: Lieutenant Service number; 275649 (NX204427) Service name: ALLIED TRANSLATOR & INTERPRETER SECT Date of birth: 25 Aug 1926... Date of Enlistment: 08 Sep 1944 Major General Gordon Lindsay Maitland AO OBE RFD ED (1926 - 2018) was born in Rockdale on 25 August 1926. He was aged just 17 when he enlisted in the 2nd AIF during the Second World War; as an enlisted man he was identified as intelligent, sent to the Army school of languages. 1947 saw him commissioned, serving in the allied translator and interpreter section. He was fluent in Japanese, he translated at the trials of Japanese war criminals in Indonesia. After the war he continued to serve and rose through the ranks earning the OBE as a battalion commander and the AO as the commander of the 2nd Division. When his army career ended he was Chief of Reserves at Army Headquarters and a member of the Chief of Army's Advisory Council. His civil life was also distinguished; CEO of The Royal Agricultural Society; member of NSW Government Committees; Chief Manager of the Commonwealth Bank. For the last 30 odd years he has devoted his life to commemorative and community activities, particularly assisting veterans and their organisations a number of which he has led. He has also had a lifelong dedication to military history and has had 6 books published. Gordon Maitland was a long time champion and supporter of the Battle for Australia Association and although he could not attend our recent events due to health reasons, we remember his great contribution to our nation.

21.01.2022 Cyril Allender Cyril served in the 2/16th and later in Kokoda with the 2/14th. He was cut off from his platoon for 14 days with only a couple of biscuits to eat, and was shot by the Japanese at Kokoda. But Cyril Allender still considered himself to be lucky.... All my life, I’ve had luck, he said with a smile. There were 13 of us and we got cut off. We had to fight our way through the bush to try and get in front [of the Japanese] We got to the Japs when they started to say that they’d had enough and they turned around, so we were lucky that day It was just one of those things You just tried your best to keep yourself alive." For Allender, the memories of the Second World War remained vivid and he never forgot hiding from the Japanese in 1942 as he and his mates fought their way through the jungle to get back to their platoon.

20.01.2022 John Hamilton Arnott Service Rank: Private Service number: VX108943 Service name: 2/33 AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BATTALION Date of birth: 22 Feb 1919... Date of Enlistment: 26 Jul 1942 In recent years John had moved to Narrabeen (NSW) but originally came from rural Victoria. For many years John travelled from Sydney to Melbourne to participate in the march and the Shrine pilgrimage. John was originally with the 2/14th Battalion 2nd AIF and wounded in the Kokoda campaign. Upon being returned to active service, John was posted to the 2/33rd Battalion as a reinforcement, and served the remainder of the war with the 2/33rd. 2/14th Battalion 2nd AIF. 1,176 likes 32 talking about this. North Africa, Syria 1941, Syrian Frontier, Adlun,... He was very active for his age and supported the Victorian chapter of the 2/33rd Association in every way possible.

20.01.2022 Remembrance Day Service Martin Place 11th November 2020 Remembrance Day Service Martin Place. Reg Chard was present, representing the Army as special guest, Gov...ernor NSW car leaving the Service, Wreaths on Cenotaph, if you look closely you will see a single Red Poppy, which is what Dawn Holden and Bruce Kennedy laid after the Service for our boys 7th Div, it was a pretty good crowd with numbers who came to show their respect, a good day. See more

19.01.2022 Brigadier Jeffrey James JJ Shelton DSO MC. 3395 (VP16142, VX150773) 29 Jun 1926 Brigadier Shelton served with Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) as a reinforcement officer after the battle of Kapyong and commanded A Company during the battle of Maryang San, for which he was awarded a Military Cross for his personal bravery and leadership.... In 1967, Shelton was posted as commanding officer of 3RAR. Shelton and his men took part in numerous operations in Vietnam, most notably the battles of Coral and Balmoral in May of 1968, in which the battalion experienced the most sustained combat experienced by Australian soldiers in the Vietnam War. Shelton was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his leadership during the long month of near-constant fighting. Shelton will be remembered by those who knew him and those who served with him as a true gentleman and a soldier’s soldier.

19.01.2022 Murray Willing SX2079 2/10 Battalion Rank: Corporal Date of Birth: 2/10/1919 ... Date of Enlistment: 11 Mar 1940 Rat of Tobruk Sportsman, soldier, Rat of Tobruk, a man's man who was fiercely loyal to his mates. Before the war Murray Willing worked as a labourer. He enlisted in Wallaroo, South Australia in March 1940. His first overseas service was in the Middle East and North Africa from December 1940 until March 1942, enduring the Siege of Tobruk. He embarked for service again in PNG with the 2/10th Battalion in August 1942, serving in B Company as a rifleman. Murray vividly remembered one particular aspect of the battle with Japanese forces at Milne Bay. He was part of a forward company of the battalion which was on a fighting patrol to KB Mission when Japanese forces attacked their hasty defensive positions at night. Lightly armed and provisioned the battalion was attacked by two midget tanks supporting enemy infantry. He recalls fighting at night made control difficult and the battalion was split, some went directly to Milne Bay, but Murray was part of a small group that was cut off by the enemy. They returned silently inland through the Stirling Range to make their way back to the battalion. In 2012 Murray revisited Milne Bay on a DVA commemorative mission. He needed a passport for this and said "The Japs didn't care about a passport last time I was there". He enjoyed the trip and spoke highly of the DVA staff and carers from the mission. In December 1942, Murray moved to Buna with the 2/10th Battalion and took part in the Battle of Buna, during which he was seriously wounded in action, with a gunshot wound to the chest. As he was being transported to an aircraft for evacuation the airfield was strafed by Japanese Zeros. Still strapped to the vehicle, Murray pulled the blanket over his head and waited, but fortunately the bullets missed him. Murray was discharged in August 1943 and after the war he established a heavy haulage company. He was an active member of the RSL and participated in the Adelaide ANZAC Day march, in latter years as the last 2/10th Battalion marcher. He maintained many friendships with his wartime mates and their families and had a close affinity with younger generations of soldiers.

19.01.2022 Remembrance Day service at the Masonic club attended by Dawn Holden & Bruce Kennedy Dawn these photos are missing: 1st photo: Major Robert Eaglesham.... Vice President NSW Masonic Club He was the MC for the Remembrance Day Service. 2nd Photo: Mr Ken Guillabe. Secretary Masonic Sub Branch RSL NSW. And: Captain Graham Berry OAM President Masonic Sub Branch RSL NSW. They Laid The Wreath. See more

18.01.2022 Keith Edward Beckmann NX 140964 Private 55/53 Battalion Date of Birth: 17 Oct 1921... Date of Enlistment: 24 Sep 1941 Depicted here in one of the most famous images of the World War II Australian Kokoda campaign it is one of the few images on display at the National War Memorial Canberra and was taken on the most famous day of our battalions history at the battle of Sanananda where we lost hundreds of brave soldiers Keith is pictured far left of this famous image See more

16.01.2022 Dawn Holden went to the War Graves Cemetery, at Rockwood today, representing all our boys from the 7th Division. The Remembrance Day Service, is an annual event put on by Western Sydney District Council RSL, the chairman is Mr David Collins, John Moore was the MC, it was a smaller event than usual due to Covid 19, restrictions, 25-30 people attended by various RSL Sub Branches, from the inner west, after the Service we than all had lunch at Croydon RSL, which was a end to a very moving day.

16.01.2022 Thea Commins A 19-year-old Thea joined the Australian Women’s Army Service (AWAS). The AWAS was formed in 1941 to help the war effort by training women in a multitude of roles including signallers, drivers and manning Fixed Defence units. It was an honour to have heard her stories, and a privilege to witness her contribution to the By the Left campaign.

16.01.2022 Walter Gordon Wallace Service Rank: Sergeant Service number: QX7646 Service name: 2/15 Battalion Date of birth: 07 Nov 1918... Date of Enlistment: 01 Jun 1940 "We took our turn going up the coast. At one stage I was the lead platoon and we hadn’t seen many Japs but we smelled this fire, terrific fire. We’re going up the track and I’ve got my platoon stretched out and we came across this Salvation Army bloke with a fuzzy wuzzy with a Jeep, and a big boiler boiling coffee, which he was going to hand out to the troops going past."

15.01.2022 VP Day Ceremony 2020 Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway 2020 First Photo: Reg Chard and Lloyd Birdsall being presented with hand made quilts from the RSL Ladies Auxiliary Second photo: Wreath Laying... Third photo: Dawn Holden's Grandaughter Brieana turned 21yrs old today, Dawn and my daughter Sandra, Brie is my VP Day baby, 3 generations of my Dad, Kenneth Holden, NX48367 2/5th Fld Coy, RAE. 4th Photo:Lloyd Birdsall and Reg Chard at end of Service Fifth photo: L/R Lloyd, Ray James President RSL, Reg, Dawnfirts Phoyo: Katie, we represented the 7th Div today Order of Service 6th Photo the program

14.01.2022 Gary Swift our Vice President also commemorated VP day yesterday with a trip to North Fort Memorial Walkway. He remembered all our men at our memorial. Remembering our engineers on this day

08.01.2022 Sidney Louis (Sid) EY SX6653 Rank: Sergeant 2/8 FIELD AMBULANCE Born: 31 May 1916 ... Date of Enlistment: 24 Jun 1940 Sid was a Sergeant in the 2nd/8th Field Ambulance during the Second World War and was a "Rat of Tobruk." Sid enlisted in the Australian Army at Wayville on 24 June 1940. He served with the 2nd/8th Field Ambulance in North Africa from 1941 until 1942 at El Alamein and during the siege of Tobruk. Sid saw further service with the 2nd/8th in the South West Pacific, particularly in Borneo, which helped to turn the tide of war against the Japanese and to prevent the possibility of a Japanese invasion. See an interview with Sid at: https://static1.squarespace.com//Sidney+Ey+transcript+The+

08.01.2022 SGT Bernard Hogan 2/9 Aust Field Coy 7th Division Royal Australian Engineers. First man to join the 2/9th field company and last man off, you served your countr...y bravely in three theatres of war from June 1940 to July 1948. You proudly lead the purple diamond 7th division engineers banner for many Brisbane Anzac marches with a sincerity fitting the occasion, but always ready to acknowledge family and friends in the crowd. Rest In Peace Dad, and thinking of you on this ANZAC DAY and the sacrifices you and so many servicemen made for us. RIP. #anzacday #dawnservice #restinpeace #7thdivisionroyalaustralianengineers #purplediamond #brisbane #anzac2020 @ Brisbane City See more

07.01.2022 Leslie Bolden ARNEL V57965 CPL Les Arnel, A & B Coy. 9 HQ & 12 Platoon. Veteran of 39th Battalion... One of the first Australians to confront the marauding Japanese as they advanced down the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea in July, 1942. Mr Arnel’s daughter Cheryl Doherty said he was a kind and caring man who ‘just loved people’. He was very caring and made lots of acquaintances through talking about his war years, Mrs Doherty said. He was also involved in singing and lots of activities in the nursing home - he literally just loved people. The 39th Battalion is famous in Australian military folklore being the rag-tag group of under-trained and undermanned men who delayed the Japanese advance along the Kokoda Track for critical days before reinforcements arrived at the Battle of Isurava. Mr Arnel was just 17 when he lobbed in Port Moresby in 1942 and had lied about his age to get into the army. He put up his hand to be a member of the first group of volunteers who traversed the Kokoda Track the first white men to do so in early July, 1942, to confront the Japanese forces.

06.01.2022 Bill Beiers Full name: Pierre William Beiers NX136161 1 AUSTRALIAN PARACHUTE BATTALION Rank: Lieutenant... Date of Birth: 21 Feb 1921 Date of Enlistment: 22 Sep 1942 Bill graduated from RMC in the early 40's and served with the Australian Parachute Battalion and Z Special Unit. Bill was active in veteran circles and in 2016 and 2018 attended respectively the Z Special Unit plaque ceremony and the "Matter of Trust" exhibition at the AWM. Bill was one of the first jumpmasters in the Australian Army and served behind the lines towards the end of WW2. Bill Beiers, a great Australian and parachuting and Special Forces pioneer.

05.01.2022 NX30953 Cpl Edward McLoughlin 2/6. Photos care of Graham McLoughlin In the second photo the smaller chap on left back row with the raked slouch hat, in the one where Cpl Edward McLoughlin is kneeling in the centre could be Geoff Bott

05.01.2022 Graham McLoughlin son of NX30953 Cpl Edward McLoughlin 2/6. Shared this poem he wrote about his dad and has asked to share some photos in the future. Thanks for the contribution Graham....Continue reading

01.01.2022 William Robert John Meikle NX124384 (439843, N51282) Rank: Sergeant 5 Field Company Date of Birth: 29 Apr 1920... Date of Enlistment: 24 Jul 1939 William was a Sergeant in the Australian Army, enlisting in July 1939 and serving in in Bougainville in 5 Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers.

01.01.2022 Sergeant George Cops Service number: V58666 Service name: 39 BTN (AUST INF BN). Yesterday we lost one of the few remaining veterans of the Kokoda Track Campaign,... A true friend & a great man to all who knew him. George will be sadly missed See more