Cygnet RSL Sub-Branch Inc | Community organisation

Cygnet RSL Sub-Branch Inc

Phone: +61 488 580 283

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20.01.2022 Some photos from our Remembrance Day Service

20.01.2022 Remembrance Day tomorrow. We still have some merchandise available for sale. If interested send me a message.

20.01.2022 A reminder about the Veterans Health Week discussion on Mental Health being held tonight. Details below.

20.01.2022 The Club building has had a facelift. More to come.

17.01.2022 #OTD Sandakan Death March On the 26th of January 1945 the evacuation of the Sandakan POW camp began. Fearing an allied invasion, Japanese troops marched the a...llied prisoners from the camp some 260km inland to Ranau in terrible conditions. This event would go down in history as the infamous Sandakan 'Death' March. Across three marches, the Japanese evacuated thousands of Australian and British prisoners captured after the Fall of Singapore, many of whom were either malnourished or suffering serious injury. Although the journey was meant to take 9 days, the men were only given 4 days’ worth of rations. Those who collapsed along the route from exhaustion were either killed or left to die en route. It is estimated that a total 2,434 Allied PoW were killed during the Sandakan Death March. Of the 2,500 known Australians who were marched from Sandakan, only 6 survived having escaped during one of the three marches. During the second marches, Gunner Owen Campbell and Bombardier Richard Braithwaite managed to escape into the jungle, where they were assisted by locals and eventually rescued by Allied units. During July, Private Nelson Short, Warrant Officer William Sticpewich, Private Keith Botterill and Lance Bombardier William Moxham managed to escape from Ranau and were also helped by the local people, who fed them and hid them from the Japanese until the end of the war. Of the six survivors, only four (Sticpewich, Botterill, Short, & Campbell) survived the lingering effects of their ordeal to give evidence at various war crimes trials in both Tokyo and Rabaul. This event is considered to be the single worst atrocity suffered by Australian servicemen during the Second World War. Lest we forget. Image: An incident on the Sandakan Death March is depicted in a painting at Borneo's Kundasang War Memorial --------------------------------------------------------------- If you appreciate this content, please considering 'liking' the page and sharing this post so others can learn about Australia's fascinating military history! See more here: https://www.facebook.com/OTDAustralianMilitaryHistory

17.01.2022 #OTD Private Victor Wagstaff, KIA Today we pause to remember the life and service of 312756 Private Victor Neil Wagstaff, who was killed in action on the 29t...h of January 1970 whilst serving in South Vietnam. Originally from Maryborough, Victoria, Victor volunteered to serve in the ARA in 1969 and was posted to 8RAR. He deployed with the Battalion in November 1969. Victor was tragically killed in action during a contact with the enemy whilst serving in Phuoc Tuy Province. He was killed by a gunshot wound. Victor was 20 at the time of his death. Lest we forget. --------------------------------------------------------------- If you appreciate this content, please considering 'liking' the page and sharing this post so others can learn about Australia's fascinating military history! See more here: https://www.facebook.com/OTDAustralianMilitaryHistory

15.01.2022 Cygnet RSL Sub Branch is pleased to announce it has received a grant from the Tasmanian Government, under the Supporting Our Veterans - COVID 19 Grants Program. The Grant will enable the Cygnet RSL Sub Branch to continue to support the Veterans in our district. We thank the Tasmanian Government for their support during these difficult times.

13.01.2022 Great afternoon down at the Cygnet Ex-Servicemen’s Club with live music and cold drinks. Next live music starts at 6pm so come down and have a enjoy a cold drink and great company while listening to some live music

13.01.2022 We are down outside the Cygnet IGA selling merchandise for Remembrance Day. Come down and visit us and help support the Veterans of the Cygnet community.

11.01.2022 #OTD Five Australians killed in Vietnam Today we pause to remember the life and service of five Australian diggers who were killed on the 19th of January 1969... whilst serving in South Vietnam. The five men were: Sergeant John Cock, Private Robert Key, Corporal Harold Musicka, Private Peter Smith and Private Arnold Sykes. All five men were from 9RAR. On the 19th of January, 9RAR participated in a series of short, save actions during which Australian troops killed a number of Vietcong and took at least two prisoners across eight separate actions before noon. Battalion patrols were covering a suspected area of enemy infiltration about 20 miles north west of Nui Dat in the Bien Hoa province. During these engagements, elements of 9RAR came under heavy machinegun and rocket fire before retreating into thick undergrowth. During one engagement, an ambush by B Company made contact with what was believed to be at least 20 enemy combatants. During these engagements, Corporal Musicka was tragically killed by accident, whilst Sergeant Cock and Privates Key, Smith and Sykes were killed by enemy fire. Lest we forget. --------------------------------------------------------------- If you appreciate this content, please considering 'liking' the page and sharing this post so others can learn about Australia's fascinating military history! See more here: https://www.facebook.com/OTDAustralianMilitaryHistory

09.01.2022 #OTD Battle of Shaggy Ridge On the 6th of October 1943, Australians of the 7th Division commenced the assault on Shaggy Ridge, New Guinea as part of the Finisterre Range Campaign. Shaggy Ridge was a vital Japanese defensive position and battles raged until the 31st of January 1944. A 6.5km spur dotted by several rocky outposts, Shaggy Ridge had only a single track along the ridge line which in places was only wide enough for one man to pass with sheer drops on either side.... The position was defended by the Japanese 7th Infantry Regiment, with artillery support, and totalled a force of approximately 3,000 men. The Australians of the 7th Division were supported by artillery from the 2/4th Field Regiment and aircraft from the RAAF and USAF. In December 1943, the Australian assault began on one of the outcrops nicknamed by the Australians as ‘The Pimple’. After heavy artillery and aerial bombardments, the Australians captured the position on the 27th of December, and proceeded to hold it against further counterattacks. Despite their gains, the Japanese continued to hold the remainder of Shaggy Ridge in strength. In January 1944 the Australians resumed the attack in earnest, advancing on the eastern face of Shaggy Ridge. Sustaining heavy casualties against the well entrenched Japanese machinegun and artillery positions firing from fortified bunkers, the Australians nonetheless secured the Ridge in early February after continuous fighting against dug-in strong Japanese defensive positions. In total, casualties during the fighting to secure Shaggy Ridge amounted to 46 Australians killed and 147 wounded. The Japanese suffered an estimated 500 killed and an unknown number further injured. The gruelling fighting was ultimately a success, but proved to be a harrowing experience for the Australian soldiers. With the track only wide enough for one person to advance at a time, the soldiers who fought there would come to describe the battle of Shaggy Ridge as occurring on a one-man front. --------------------------------------------------------------- If you enjoy this content, please considering 'liking' the page and sharing this post so others can learn about Australia's fascinating military history! See more here: https://www.facebook.com/OTDAustralianMilitaryHistory

07.01.2022 A great article featured in this weeks Huon News.

06.01.2022 We have received our first batch of commemorative chocolates as part of our fundraising for the Cygnet RSL sub-branch. Funds raised go towards supporting Veterans of the Cygnet Community. We have milk chocolate and dark chocolate available for $5 per block. Message me if you wish to purchase.

05.01.2022 #OTD Massacare at Ambon On the 3rd of February 1942, the Australians of ‘Gull Force’ defending the island of Ambon surrendered after four days of fighting. On... capturing the island, the Japanese immediately executed 300 Australians who were defending the Laha airfield in one of the worst massacres of WWII. The surviving Australians would suffer deprivation and conditions so harsh that over 75% of them would die in captivity from overwork, malnutrition and Japanese brutality. The experience of Gull Force in Ambon is often overshadowed by that of Sandakan or the Borneo death camps. Their ordeal was just as harrowing their death rate was far worse than any Force on the Thai-Burma railways. Less than a quarter of the men left on Ambon in October 1942 were still alive three years later. In 1946, the incidents which followed the fall of Ambon became subject to one of the largest ever war crimes: 934 Japanese personnel were tried by an Australian military tribunal at Ambon. Rear Admiral Hatakeyama was found to have ordered the Laha massacres, however he died before he could be tried. Commander Kunito Hatakeyama, who was in direct command of the massacres, was sentenced to execution by hanging. Lieutenant Kenichi Nakagawa was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment. Three other Japanese officers were executed for mistreatment of POWs and/or civilians on other occasions, during 194245. We must never forget bravery, sacrifice and service, both in action and in captivity of these Australians. The men of Gull Force and their terrible loss must be remembered. Let us pause to pay tribute to these brave men. Officers of Gull Force in Darwin prior to embarking for Ambon. Admin note: the images I have found of Gull Force are very confronting so I have decided not to post them here. You can find them here https://www.awm.gov.au//exhibi/stolenyears/ww2/japan/ambon. Lest we forget. --------------------------------------------------------------- If you appreciate this content, please considering 'liking' the page and sharing this post so others can learn about Australia's fascinating military history! See more here: https://www.facebook.com/OTDAustralianMilitaryHistory

05.01.2022 #OTD We Remember Corporal Ronald Harris, SASR Today we pause to remember the life and service of 5410968 Corporal Ronald Arthur Harris, SASR, who was accide...ntally killed on the 17th of January 1969 whilst serving in South Vietnam. Ronald (Harry) Harris was born in Western Australia on 14 April 1942. He enlisted in the Army on 5 September 1960 and was allocated to the Royal Australian Artillery. He underwent SAS selection in 1966 and was posted to SASR on 21 October 1966. Harry transferred to the Royal Australian Infantry on posting to SASR. Harry came from 131 Divisional Locating Battery with the rank of Lance Bombardier and retained his stripe on posting to SASR. Harry was tragically killed on 17 January 1969 when he was accidentally shot during a six-man reconnaissance patrol in South Vietnam. Harry, an indigenous Australian, was mistaken for a Viet Cong when returning from an observation post to the Patrol lying up point. Lest we forget. --------------------------------------------------------------- If you appreciate this content, please considering 'liking' the page and sharing this post so others can learn about Australia's fascinating military history! See more here: https://www.facebook.com/OTDAustralianMilitaryHistory

05.01.2022 #OTD Z Special Force raid Singapore Harbour On the 26th of September 1943, 14 Commandos from Z Special Force launched a daring raid on Japanese shipping in Singapore Harbour, sinking six ships as part of Operation JAYWICK. Utilising a captured Japanese coastal fish carrier renamed the Krait, the 14 men (three British and 11 Australians) set sail from Australia on the 2nd of September 1943, arriving off Singapore on the 24th. Six men then left the boat and paddled 50km wit...h collapsible canoes to a cave on a small island near the harbour where the men established a forward base. On the 26th of September, the six men paddled into the harbour and placed limpet mines on several Japanese ships before returning to their hideout. In the resulting explosions, the mines sank or seriously damaged seven Japanese ships, comprising over 39,000 tonnes between them. The commandos waited until the commotion over the attack had subsided, before returning to the Krait on the 2nd of October. The crew safely returned to Australia on the 19th of October. --------------------------------------------------------------- If you enjoy this content, please considering 'liking' the page and sharing this post so others can learn about Australia's fascinating military history! See more here: https://www.facebook.com/OTDAustralianMilitaryHistory

04.01.2022 #OTD: INTERFET Today we remember and thank all the men and women who served in East Timor as part of the UN International Force East Timor (INTERFET). Arriving ...in country on this day 20 years ago, approximately 5,500 Australians served, and two Australians died from non-combat related injuries. Although a multinational deployment, Australia was by far the largest contributor. Australians would continue to serve in East Timor in other peace keeping operations until December 2012. Courtesy of Australian Army ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ If you enjoy this content, please consider ‘liking’ this page and sharing this post so others can learn about Australia’s rich military history. See more here: https://www.facebook.com/OTDAustralianMilitaryHistory

04.01.2022 Come down and visit us at the Cygnet Market today and see all the new merchandise. Australian made pewter products Australian made chocolates Australia made scarves ... And more.........

04.01.2022 #OTD Private Ronald Field, KIA Today we pause to remember the life and service of 214479 Private Ronald Eric Field, who was killed in action on the 9th of Oct...ober 1965 whilst serving in Vietnam. Ronald was posted to 1RAR on the 3rd of June 1965 and deployed with the Battalion to Vietnam that year. On the 9th of October he was shot by a sniper whilst on patrol in the Ben Cat area of Phuoc Tuy province. He was only 22 at the time of his death. Lest we forget. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ If you enjoy this content, please consider ‘liking’ this page and sharing this post so others can learn about Australia’s rich military history. See more here: https://www.facebook.com/OTDAustralianMilitaryHistory

03.01.2022 To our local community of Cygnet and surrounds. ANZAC Day is a time where we are able to raise money to allocate to out Welfare Fund so that we can support all Veterans and their families in our area who require assistance. Unfortunately COVID-19 restrictions have put a hold on our Anzac Day traditions. Community dawn services and marches cannot proceed, and our veteran fundraisers are missing from the streets. This is a big blow for all, but for local veteran charities who ...use Anzac Day fundraising to care for veterans and families in your community, it is devastating. We’ll miss them outside our local shop and no doubt they will miss catching up with us, but working together we can still support our veteran fundraisers. You’ll find all your favourite military gifts and collectables online and 20% of every sale goes to supporting your local charities in this easy giving initiative. We have also included a really special offer to increase our support. Or you can simply donate to your favourite charity. If you feel you can support please go to the link below. http://diggerstribute.com.au/

02.01.2022 #OTD Private George Nagle, KIA Today we pause to remember the life and service of 39565 Private George Nagle, who was killed in action on the 6th of January... 1969 whilst serving in South Vietnam. Originally from Tipperary, Ireland, George enlisted in the Australian Army in 1968 and deployed with 9RAR to South Vietnam in November that year. He was killed after being in country for only 47 days during Operation GOODWOOD, 35km from Nui Dat on the 6th of January 1969 when a claymore mine detonated during an extended contact in Phuoc Tuy. George was 23 at the time of his death. Lest we forget. --------------------------------------------------------------- If you appreciate this content, please considering 'liking' the page and sharing this post so others can learn about Australia's fascinating military history! See more here: https://www.facebook.com/OTDAustralianMilitaryHistory

01.01.2022 Welcome to the Cygnet RSL Sub-Branch Inc facebook page. This page is to provide information updates for Veterans, Ex-Servicemen/Women, their families and members of the public.