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Australian Commando Association (NSW) Inc

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25.01.2022 John Kinsela passed away last night. RIPJohn Kinsela passed away last night. RIP

23.01.2022 We will never forget our honoured dead.

23.01.2022 As we approach Remembrance Day, we have in our thoughts our Commando brothers in the UK. Here is a picture of the 2019 Remembrance Sunday service at the Commando Memorial, Spean Bridge Scotland.

23.01.2022 Interesting article via Andrew Hastie.

22.01.2022 https://www.oneroomstreaming.com/view/authorise.php

22.01.2022 In 1942, HMAS Armidale was on its way to Timor to support Australian Commandos. It was attacked by Japanese aircraft and sunk. During the tragedy, Seaman Teddy Sheean performed an act of gallantry that has been overlooked for too long. He has now been awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSYKEtvR8ck

22.01.2022 On This Day 05 April 2013 COLONEL Hans Fleer, AM. DCM. Honorary Colonel, 2nd Commando Regiment Died In Service, Melbourne Victoria ... "Without Warning" Commando 4 Life COL Fleer was originally from 6 RAR and SASR and was instruemental in the raising of the Full time Commando Capability in 4 RAR Commando in the very early days. He played a huge role in the guidance and influence of many a young and aspiring Commando coming through the selection courses in those early years. He was affectionally called 'The Ice Man" by those who had known him due to his no nonsense look he gave you through his piercing cold blue eyes, as he didnt look at you, he looked through you. COL Fleer was bestowed the honour of the being 2 Commando Regiments first Honorary Colonel in 2012. He is a legend and an icon to those from the SAS that knew him and to those of the original full time Commando Capability. Our deepest sympathy go out to his family and he is surely missed by all that knew him. Lest We Forget, RIP.

22.01.2022 The year? 1956. The story? Australia regenerating the Commando capability that was stood down in 1945.

22.01.2022 Did you know that all Defence Force veterans, serving members and current cadets receive complimentary entry to the museum?

21.01.2022 The time for talk is done. It’s time for action Please show your support - Contact your elected Member of Parliament - Join us on Monday at the front of P...arliament House in Canberra - Contact a Veteran today and thank them for their service #Veterans #Support #Community #Purpose #RoyalCommission #Hope #Action #SuicidePrevention #Now

21.01.2022 Today, the President of ACA (NSW) Mr Wayne Havenaar, led a service to rededicate the NSW Commando Memorial in Martin Pl Sydney. It now features an updated plaque. LEST WE FORGET

21.01.2022 Remembrance Day Commemoration 2020 Commando Memorial Martin Place, Sydney (Between Macquarie and Phillip Streets.) On Wednesday 11 November 2020 at 1030 hours, the Australian ... Commando Association (NSW) will commemorate the signing of the Armistice that ended fighting on land, sea and air in World War I and to recognise the 75th Anniversary of the Victory in the Pacific. The Commando Memorial at Martin Place, Sydney was erected by the Association and dedicated on 31 January 1982 in memory of Australian Independent Companies, Command Squadrons and Special Forces who gave their lives during World War II. The Australian Commando Association (NSW) has refreshed the Commando Memorial and it will be rededicated to memorialise the Australian Commandos who served and those who gave their lives in World War II, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Timor-Leste. In the event of acceptance, you are invited to make a booking online via https://www.trybooking.com/BLUYS. For information on upcoming events, commemorations and application to join the Australian Commando Association (NSW), visit www.commando.asn.au Authorised by Wayne Havenaar, President, Australian Commando Association (NSW) See more

21.01.2022 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=a0u4YTCqq2Y

19.01.2022 Today's history snippet from the Commando History & Research Centre: WO2 Ron Scott was one of the two commandos serving with AATTV killed during the Vietnam wa...r. Whilst on patrol near My Lai on 10 September 1965 he was shot and subsquently died of his wounds. At the time the longstanding Australian government policy was to bury war dead overseas. His AATTV comrades raised money so that his remains could be repatriated home, where his fellow commandos, including Ray Simpson, bore his coffin to its resting place. This embarrassed the government, and combined with other public pressure, eventually led to a change of policy, where our war dead became formally repatriated at government expense. So following Ron's death, no Australian service member who has died on duty has been buried overseas. The CHRC is currently researching Ron Scott's life and service and any input is welcomed.

18.01.2022 This chap was out and about recently. I asked him to play the customary Commando lament Auld Lang Syne. He said, "for you guys, anything." The song itself reminds us to recall old friends and drink to their memories.

16.01.2022 "I can tell you I never saw anything on that gun that I didn't like," a seasoned US Army sniper told Insider of the new sniper rifle.

14.01.2022 On 1 July 1942, a Japanese POW ship, the Montevideo Maru, sank off the coast of the Phillipines. 1054 Australian prisoners were on board and none survived. Of those prisoners, 133 were commandos from 1 Independent Company. This is the greatest single loss in Australian Special Operations history. As the ship sank, the Australians sang "Auld Lang Syne" to each other. For this reason, Auld Lang Syne became the traditional lament often played at commando memorial services.

14.01.2022 "Supercavitating bullets could allow SEALs, others to shoot targets underwater.

13.01.2022 History Snippet from the Commando History & Research Centre: The first individual award made to a post WW2 commando was to Captain John (Jack) Fletcher. Jack jo...ined the Army in 1952, graduated from RMC Duntroon in 1955 and was allotted to Infantry. Whilst a captain and serving as the adjutant of 2 Commando Company he was present during the Rip Tragedy of 1960 where three soldiers drowned on an exercise. For his actions that night, Jack was awarded the George Medal. From the citation: ‘On the night of the 17th February 1960, 2 Commando Company, was engaged in an amphibious exercise crossing the entrance to Port Phillip Bay. A change in weather resulted in the craft being swept from their course and into difficulties. A number were capsized and sunk and the occupants cast into the sea.Captain Fletcher was in command of a two-and-a-half ton amphibian, which was accompanying the inflatable small craft. This amphibian, with himself and eight other soldiers on board was sunk at approximately 2000 hours.Captain Fletcher recovered a life buoy and immediately organised the members of the party around the life buoy. Captain Fletcher noticed that the life preserver of Lance Corporal Doyle, had become deflated and he directed him to maintain a hold of his shoulders at all costs. Although being constantly submerged owing to the added weight, Captain Fletcher continued to exhort Doyle to maintain his hold. For some three hours Captain Fletcher supported Doyle and constantly checked to ensure that the party remained together and assisted each other. Though two of the party died as the result of immersion, Captain Fletcher, by strength of personality alone retained control in circumstances requiring the highest characteristics of leadership. Captain Fletcher's behaviour throughout a terrible ordeal was an example of selfless courage and an inspiration to those of this party. He most assuredly saved the life of Lance Corporal Doyle and it was largely as a result of this courage and leadership that the remaining members of his party were ultimately rescued.’ If anyone has photos of Jack then the Commando Research & History Centre would be interested. Please indicate in comments.

13.01.2022 If you are struggling then know that your Brothers are here.

12.01.2022 Today we honour the fallen and renew our promise to remember them . Lest We Forget.

12.01.2022 On 24 October 1943, Sergeant Leonard Siffleet of M Special Unit was a prisoner of the Japanese and was taken to a beach at Aitape in New Guinea and killed. This photo of the execution surfaced near the end of the war and the war crime went unpunished. May he rest in peace.

10.01.2022 "Private David John Elkington Fisher was a young Australian who had volunteered for national service, and had been selected for the Special Air Service Regiment... (SASR). On 27 September 1969, he was a member of an SASR patrol in an area to the west of the Nui May Tao in Long Kanh province, Vietnam. After a number of contacts the patrol requested a 'hot extraction'. During this extraction Private Fisher fell into thick jungle from a rope that suspended him below the helicopter. Several air and ground searches over of the next week failed to find any trace of Private Fisher. He was officially listed as 'missing in action presumed dead'. Unrecovered War Casualties Army commenced a careful examination of all available Australian records and unit war diaries, and interviewed Australian veterans involved in the incident in which Fisher was lost. They also appealed to the Australian Vietnamese community for help. Armed with the information gathered in Australia, the team travelled to Vietnam in March 2008 to find information from local sources. What followed was two weeks of interviews with former Viet Cong and North Vietnamese soldiers. In archived documents, Unrecovered War Casualties Army discovered a small piece of information that had previously escaped attention. It was a reference to the discovery of a pool of water 'red in colour' that was just outside of the original designated search area. The find was considered significant enough at the time for a sample of the water to be given to the 1st Australian Field Hospital for analysis. No record of what happened to the sample was found. Another key piece of information came from a member of the Australian Vietnamese community. He told investigators that in October of 1969 he and another soldier found the body of a 'dead American' (Fisher, like most SASR soldiers, wore US camouflage uniform) and had buried his body in a shallow grave beside the Suoi Sap. He was able to provide a detailed description of the location. The missing piece in the Fisher puzzle was a more precise indication of where Private Fisher may have landed. Details of the direction and speed of the aircraft and the time of flight before the fall were calculated and applied to a map. It became apparent that earlier searches had concentrated on an area too close to the roping extraction point. In August 2008, Unrecovered War Casualties Army returned to Vietnam and began the careful examination of the area bordering the Suoi Sap from its confluence with the Song Ray to the newly plotted area of interest. While examining a shallow pool of water a Vietnamese team member, close to the Suoi Sap, found a large piece of bone believed to be human. Also found was a piece of plastic from the inside of an Australian-issue collapsible water bladder used by the SASR in Vietnam. The next day, after examining a photograph of the bone fragment an Australian forensic anthropologist was able to confirm that it was most likely the lower end of a human femur (thigh bone). This was supported by the director of the Military Forensic Institute in Hanoi. After Vietnamese Army engineers conducted an unexploded ordnance search, work commenced to recover Private Fisher's remains before the return of the wet season. Following a week of careful excavation more remains were unearthed along with Private Fisher's dog tags. Private David John Elkington Fisher was repatriated to Australia by the Army in October 2008." https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/654323

10.01.2022 Congratulations to Major General Paul Kenny DSC DSM.

10.01.2022 Do you miss that sense of service? Do you want to help your fellow commandos more directly? The ACA NSW needs volunteers to fill the role of Secretary, and of Treasurer. Please contact the Committee via www.commando.asn.au if you are interested.

08.01.2022 Sir Arthur Roden Cutler VC AK KCMG KCVO CBE The main thrust north from Palestine was led by the 7th Australian Division. There were many notable actions during ...the campaign but one at least, by a forward artillery observer, was not forgotten. The citation for Lieutenant Roden Cutler gives some idea of the fighting in just one of the towns during the advance: For most conspicuous and sustained gallantry during the Syrian Campaign and for outstanding bravery during the bitter fighting at Merdjayoun when this artillery officer became a byword amongst forward troops with which he worked. At Merdjayoun on 19th June, 1941, our infantry attack was checked after suffering heavy casualties from an enemy counter-attack with tanks. Enemy machine gun fire swept the ground, but Lieutenant Cutler with another artillery officer and a small party pushed on ahead of the infantry and established an outpost in a house. The telephone line was cut and he went out and mended this line under machine gun fire and returned to the house, from which enemy posts and batteries were successfully engaged. The enemy then attacked this outpost with infantry and tanks, killing the Bren gunner and mortally wounding other officers. Lieutenant Cutler and another manned the anti-tank rifle and Bren gun and fought back, driving the enemy infantry away. The tanks continued the attack, but under constant fire from the anti-tank rife and Bren gun eventually withdrew. Lieutenant Cutler then personally supervised the evacuation of the wounded members of his party. Undaunted he pressed for a further advance. He had been ordered to establish an outpost from which he could register the only road by which the enemy transport could enter the town. With a small party of volunteers he pressed on until finally with one other he succeeded in establishing an outpost right in the town, which was occupied by the Foreign Legion, despite enemy machine gun fire which prevented our infantry from advancing. At this time Lieutenant Cutler knew the enemy were massing on his left for a counter-attack and that he was in danger of being cut off. Nevertheless he carried out his task of registering the battery on the road and engaging enemy posts. The enemy counter-attacked with infantry and tanks and he was cut off. He was forced to go to ground, but after dark succeeded in making his way through enemy lines. His work in registering the only road by which enemy transport could enter the town was of vital importance and a big factor in the enemy’s subsequent retreat. On the night of 23rd-24th June he was in charge of a 25-pounder sent forward into our forward defended localities to silence an enemy anti-tank gun and post, which had held up our attack. This he did and next morning the recapture of Merdjayoun was completed. Later at Damour on 6th July, when our forward infantry were pinned to the ground by heavy hostile machine gun fire Lieutenant Cutler, regardless of all danger, went to bring a line to his outpost when he was seriously wounded. Twenty-six hours elapsed before it was possible to rescue this officer, whose wounds by this time had become septic necessitating the amputation of his leg. Throughout the campaign this officer’s courage was unparalleled and his work was a big factor in the recapture of Merdjayoun. Roden Cutler went on to become Sir Roden Cutler VC AK KCMG KCVO CBE , a distinguished diplomat who became Governor of New South Wales, Australia. [Courtesy of the Today Show/Network9]

08.01.2022 Australian Commando Association (NSW) is very pleased to announce that our immediate Past President Mr Barry Grant, who has worked tirelessly over many years for this association and the RSL, has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division in today's Australia Day Honours List. Well deserved Barry!

07.01.2022 Following the tragedy of Operation Rimau, the Royal Navy had one (relatively little known) last crack at attacking a ship in Singapore harbour.

05.01.2022 The Passing of WX12804 CPL Jack Hanson, last Commando veteran of the 2/2nd Australian Independent Company, Timor WW2. Dear members, It is with sadness that I m...ust inform you all of the passing of Australia’s last Timor Veteran aged 98, CPL Jack Hanson of the 2nd Australian Independent Company, late of Hervey Bay Queensland. Wayne Kedron from the 2/2nd Association in Perth messaged me tonight with the news. He says that Jack’s extended family will come across from WA for a memorial once CV-19 restrictions have been relaxed. No further information is available at this time, but I will keep you all posted as it comes to hand. Jack said of his experience in Timor, We went in as a little Company, and came out as Commandos! Jack Hanson embodied the spirit of the Australian Commando soldier throughout his long life. Jack was made a Life Member of ACA QLD late last year. May he now rest in piece, his duty proudly done for his country. At the going down of the sun, And in the morning, We will Remember them. Lest We Forget Commando 4 Life Graham Gough President ACA QLD. https://www.abc.net.au//last-soldier-of-timor-jac/11395916 https://doublereds.org.au/files/JackHanson-TheWhiteGhost.pdf https://www.abc.net.au//remembering-the-diggers-wh/7356020 https://doublereds.org.au//243-commando-campaign-sites-%E/

03.01.2022 The celebration of John Kinsela life will be held at Monday 16 November 2020 at 11.30am Pine Grove Cemetery West Chapel Due to Covid restrictions there is a very limited amount of people who are allowed to attend. ... It will be live streamed and I will put the link on Facebook so people can access it. See more

02.01.2022 In their Words: Felix and Yvonne Sher This Remembrance Day, as we commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, we reflect on those who h...ave died as a result of war, warlike operations, peacekeeping and humanitarian operations. In their words is a collection of short films sharing personal stories of service and sacrifice from the front line and at home. www.awm.gov.au/intheirwords #IntheirWords #WeRememberThem #OurContinuingStory #LestWeForget

02.01.2022 Wonder where ANDO is these days?

01.01.2022 Today is Ken Currans birthday. RIP mate You will never be forgottenToday is Ken Currans birthday. RIP mate You will never be forgotten