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25.01.2022 Remembrance Day - November 11. On the 18th of April, 2015, I had gone into the city (Adelaide, South Australia) and was walking down North Terrace, near the King Edward VII Memorial, and looked up to see a statue with the woman's arms outstretched towards the WW1 Centenary poster with the soldier. It made me think of all the women who lost loved ones in WW1. The mothers, the wives, the sisters, the girl friends.... One the most memorable photographs I have ever taken. This photo has no photoshop work, no repositioning of statue or poster... it is exactly as it was. Lest We Forget.

24.01.2022 In Memory Of Private Desmond Michael Morris. A loving farewell for Private Desmond Michael Morris, 7th Reinforcements, 2nd Pioneer Battalion, a former sawmill hand of West Warburton, Victoria. He embarked on A20 HMAT Hororata on the 23rd of November 1916.... The photograph is really heartbreaking... on the 20th of September 1917, he was killed in action and has no known grave. He is memorialised on the Menin Gate at Ypres (Ieper), Belgium. Lest We Forget. Photograph and information came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM H16139.

24.01.2022 In Memory Of Flight Sergeant Ronald Henry Etherton RAAF. The photograph is of him with his sweetheart Jean Ayre. They met while he was stationed in Canada with the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS). He enlisted on th 20th of June 1942 and spent two years training in Australia and Canada before being posted to No. 76 Squadron, RAF in June 1944.... Flight Sergeant Etherton was lost on operations over France on the 13th of August 1944. He was on a mission heading for Russelsheim near Frankfurt, Germany. He was the son of Henry and Florance Wilson Etherton, of Kogarah, New South Wales. Lest We Forget. Photograph and information came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM2016.832.2.2.

24.01.2022 In Memory Of Private William Hindley, 4th Battalion, of Paddington, New South Wales (originally of Macclesfield, Cheshire, England). He was a cabinet maker prior to enlistment, and with previous service in the 10th Hussars, he embarked with the 6th Reinforcements of the 19th Battalion on HMAT Euripides on the 2nd of November 1915. In February 1916, he was taken on strength with the 4th Battalion and the battalion arrived in France on the 30th of March 1916.... A signaller with B Company, Private Hindley was killed in action when hit by a shell on the 24th of July 1916 in the vicinity of Pozieres. His name is recorded on the Villers Bretonneux Memorial for those with no known grave. The photograph on the right is of Mrs Margaret Mary Hindley, 21 year old widow of Private William Hindley, with their two children May, aged 2 years and 2 months, and baby William Alfred, aged six weeks. Their son William died in 1918. Lest We Forget. Information and photographs came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file numbers AWM P06371.001 (left) AWM P08796.003 (right).

23.01.2022 Another angel. The photograph on this post is of Sister Elaine Balfour-Ogilvy, 2/4th Casualty Clearing Station. She was the daughter of Harry and Jane Balfour-Ogilvy, from Renmark, South Australia.... Elaine was killed in the Banka Island massacre in WW2. Elaine was among the last group of 65 Australian nurses to leave Singapore on the merchant vessel Vyner Brooke on the 12th of February, 1942. The ship was sunk by Japanese aircraft in Banka Strait. 22 nurses came ashore on Banka Island and when they were discovered by the Japanese on the 16th of February, 1942, the nurses, including Elaine, were ordered to walk into the water and were shot by machine gun. Sister Bullwinkel was the only nurse to survive the massacre and gave evidence of the massacre at a war crimes trial in Tokyo in 1947. Lest We Forget. Photograph and information comes from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM P01021.001.

22.01.2022 In Memory Of all the Australians who gave their all in WW2. Today is the 75th anniversary of the end of WW2. The incredible photograph on this post is some of the crew of HMAS Australia carrying on their shoulders a propeller and other parts from a Japanese kamikaze (suicide) aircraft on the deck of the ship, January 1945. In January 1945, supporting the US Invasion of Lingayen Gulf in the Phillipines, HMAS Australia was hit five times by kamikazes.... Numerous kamikaze attacks were attempted on the invasion force as it sailed to Lingayen Gulf and HMAS Australia was struck portside amidships at 17:35 on the 5th of January. 25 were killed and 30 were wounded, mostly from the gun crews of the port-side secondary and anti-aircraft guns, but the physical damage was not considered severe enough to withdraw her from the operation. On the 6th of January, HMAS Australia had commenced pre-landing bombardment, then a second kamikaze rammed the cruiser at 17:34 between the starboard 4-inch guns, killing 14 and wounding 26. The casualties again consisted primarily of gun crews, and after this point, there were only enough trained personnel to man one 4-inch gun on each side of the heavy cruiser. Over the next few days, HMAS Australia was struck by three more kamikaze aircraft. There was further damage and some of the ships crew suffered shock. A total of 24 allied ships were sunk and another 67 were damaged by kamikazes in the invasion. On the 21st of October 1944, during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, in the Philippines, HMAS Australia was the first Allied warship to be hit by a kamikaze aircraft. 30 of HMAS Australias crew were killed or died of wounds, including her commanding officer, Captain Emile Dechaineux. Another 64 were wounded, 26 of them seriously. Lest We Forget. Most of the information came from Wikipedia. Some information and photograph came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM P00444.059.

22.01.2022 In Memory Of Lance Corporal Cecil George Harland, 32nd Battalion, of Adelaide, South Australia (and Broken Hill, NSW). The photograph mounted in a memorial brooch is circled by a kangaroo and emu, the Union Jack flag, the Australian flag (blue background), the word 'AUSTRALIA' and the date 25.4.15. He was metal worker prior to enlistment and embarked with the 3rd Reinforcements from Adelaide on HMAT Miltiades on the 7th of February 1916.... On the 20th of July 1916, he was killed in action at Fromelles, France, aged 25. Statement from the Red Cross File No 1270406, by Private R. McNAMARA, B Company, 32nd Bn, 18 December 1916: 'On 19th July 1916 we made a charge, we lost our Corporal, so I placed myself in charge of Lance Corporal Harland. We were in the 3rd line of German trenches about 11 p.m. I am sorry to state Lance Corporal Harland was shot through the chest, Private McKenzie and myself carried him to some shelter. I spoke to him, but he did not reply, he died about five minutes later.' Lance Corporal Harland has no known grave and is commemorated at VC Corner Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles. Previous military service: Served in the Senior Cadets, C Company, 82nd Battalion (18 months); Volunteer Militia (3 years). Lest We Forget. Photograph came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM P08378.001.

22.01.2022 In Memory Of Private John Philip Saunders, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), of Canberra, ACT. A veteran of WW2, Private Saunders commenced service in Korea on the 9th of January 1953. After a raid to capture a Chinese prisoner, Private Saunders was assumed missing, presumed killed in action on or after the 25th of January 1953. Private Saunders would have turned 26 on the 26th of January 1953.... He is commemorated on Wall 2 in the United Nations Memorial Cemetery, South Korea. 43 Australian servicemen are still unaccounted for since the war ended. They are officially listed as missing in action, presumed dead. 340 Australians died and over 1,216 were wounded in the war. The 25th of June 2020, was the 70th year anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War. The war has been referred to as The Forgotten War. The reason the Korean War is referred to as The Forgotten War, is the coverage of the war was censored and its memory decades later is often overshadowed by WW2 and the Vietnam War. Lest We Forget. Photograph came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM P09264.001.

21.01.2022 In Memory Of Private Herbert George Pollard, 29th Battalion, from Betley near Dunolly, Victoria. Wedding photograph of Private Pollard and his wife Hilda. He was a 24 year old farmer prior to enlistment on the 7th of July 1915.... Private Pollard embarked for overseas with A Company from Melbourne on the 10th of November 1915 aboard HMAT Ascanius. He was killed in action at Fromelles, France, on the 19th of July 1916. After the war, his grave could not be located and he was commemorated on the VC Corner Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles. In 2008 a burial ground was located at Pheasant Wood, France containing the bodies of 250 British and Australian soldiers, including Private Pollard. All of the remains were reburied in the newly created Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery. Although the photo shows Private Pollard wearing Corporal stripes, his service records contain no details of a promotion to that rank. Lest We Forget. Information and photograph came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM P07723.001.

21.01.2022 In Memory Of Private Alec Ernest James Bell of Perth, WA. The photograph is of a young Vietnamese Montagnard boy being checked for a fever by Private Bell. The check up was part of a village Medical Civil Aid Project (MEDCAP), carried out by 7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (7RAR). Private Bell (platoon medic) died of wounds on the 29th of January 1968, in South Vietnam, aged 21, during enemy contact in Bien Hoa.... Even though shockingly wounded, Private Bell tried to get to the other wounded who were also hit directly by a rocket. When unable to move Private Bell gave orders to another soldier as to how to help them. Even on a stretcher, Private Bell was still giving advice as to the care of the other wounded. The enemy opened fire again, as he was lifted up through the trees by a casualty evacuation helicopter and it was forced to leave the area with Private Bell and stretcher hanging underneath. He was dead on arrival at the hospital. Private Bell was a postman when he was called up for National Service on the 13th of July 1966. Lest We Forget. Photograph came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM THU/68/0012/VN.

21.01.2022 In Memory Of Private Bryan James McGee, 13th Battalion. A wool classer from Kensington, NSW, Private McGee embarked with the 22nd Reinforcements from Sydney on SS Port Nicholson on the 8th of November 1916. He was killed in action at Bullecourt, France, on the 11th of April 1917, aged 26.... Private McGee has no known grave and is commemorated on the Villers Bretonneux Memorial, France. On April the 11th, 1917, the day Private McGee died, two brigades of the Australian 4th Division attacked German positions in Bullecourt, in the First Battle of Bullecourt. Caught in murderous machine-gun and artillery fire, the Australians were forced to retreat. The Australian 4th Brigade alone sustained losses of 2,258 killed, wounded or taken prisoner, out of approximately 3,000 infantry. 'Bullecourt, more than any other battle, shook the confidence of Australian soldiers in the capacity of the British command; the errors, especially on April 10th and 11th, were obvious to almost everyone'. - Charles Bean, Official Historian. Lest We Forget. Information came from Wikipedia and the Australian War Memorial. Photograph came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM P09874.001.

19.01.2022 In Memory Of Lance Corporal Herbert Austin West, 20th Battalion, of Leichhardt, NSW. Lance Corporal West enlisted on the 13th of May 1916 at the age of fourteen years and eight months. He claimed to be eighteen years and one month and his application to enlist claims a document recording his parents' consent was produced.... He embarked on the HMAT Ceramic on the 7th of October 1916 and fought for eight months in the trenches where he won his promotion to Lance Corporal. He was wounded on the 3rd of May 1917 and returned to the trenches a week later. On the 8th of October 1917, Lance Corporal West died of wounds in Belgium at the 2nd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, one month after his sixteenth birthday. Two brothers also served: Company Quarter Master Sergeant Harry Walter West of the 54th Battalion, who landed at Gallipoli, and Private Clifford Sydney West of the 56th Battalion. Both survived the war. Lest We Forget. Photograph and information came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM P02599.042.

18.01.2022 In Memory Of Sarbi, (11 September 2002 - 27 March 2015) - Australia's most decorated war dog. Sarbi was decorated with three medals of honour... the War Dog Operational Medal, the Canine Service Medal, and RSPCA Purple Cross. A dog park in Brisbane is named in her honour and a sculpture of her guards the grounds.... Sarbi was an Australian special forces explosives detection dog that spent almost 14 months missing in action in Afghanistan having disappeared during an ambush on the 2nd of September 2008. Sarbi was later rediscovered by an American soldier, and was reunited with Australian forces pending repatriation to Australia. Sarbi's handler, Corporal David Simpson, who was one of nine Australian soldiers injured in the ambush, was said to have never given up hope of finding her, and was profoundly relieved at her recovery. Sarbi died as a result of a brain tumour on the 27th of March 2015. Lest We Forget. Info from Wikipedia... photo from Australian Army website.

18.01.2022 In Memory Of Trooper William Harry Rankin Woods, 1st Light Horse Regiment (front right in the photograph). Apparently he was a good singer and during the time he was in the army, Trooper Woods was much in demand at concerts. He was the son of Flora Ann Woods, of "Talokan", Gordon Road, Chatswood, New South Wales, and the late William Frederic Woods.... Trooper Woods died of wounds on the 15th of May 1915. One of the first light horsemen to die during the Battle of Gallipoli. Trooper Woods enlisted on the 25th of August 1914 at Sydney and was born in Mudgee, NSW. He was 39 year old. The Trooper on the left and the one in the background are unidentified. The Troopers in the photograph are the original contingent of the Australian Imperial Force and the photo was taken prior to their departure from Australia in November 1914. Lest We Forget. Photograph came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM J00450.

18.01.2022 In Memory Of Sister Myrle Mary Eileen Moston, Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS), 2/3 Australian Hospital Ship Centaur. Daughter of Alfred Thomas Moston and Elizabeth Margaret Moston, of Stanmore, New South Wales. Sister Myrle Moston died at sea after the Centaur was sunk by a torpedo from a Japanese submarine on the 14th of May 1943.... Of the 322 crew and staff, only 64 survived, including Sister Ellen Savage, the only survivor from twelve nursing sisters. Lest We Forget. Photograph came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM P03730.001.

17.01.2022 In Memory Of Eleanor Elizabeth Bourne (18781957). She was the first Queensland woman to study medicine. She also was one of only 15 women doctors in Australia who volunteered for service in WW1. Undeterred that the Australian Army did not admit female doctors, and determined to support the Allies, she embarked for England in early 1916 at her own expense, and enlisted in the Royal Army Medical Corps in London in May 1916.... As a Lieutenant, she served in the Endell Street Military Hospital, London, founded by Dr Flora Murray and Dr Louisa Garrett Anderson, and staffed entirely by women. Promoted to Major in 1917, Eleanor Bourne was attached to Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps and appointed Medical Controller, Northern Command until the end of the War. Eleanor Bourne obtained a Diploma of Public Health in 1920, and continued her career in Britain, appointed assistant medical officer to the city of Carlisle, responsible for child and maternal welfare services and the new maternity hospital. She returned to Queensland upon retirement in 1937. Eleanor Bourne died on the 23rd of May 1957 in Nundah Private Hospital and was buried in South Brisbane cemetery. She never married. Bourne Street in the Canberra suburb of Cook is named in her honour. Lest We Forget. Information and photograph came from Wikipedia.

17.01.2022 In Memory Of Bombardier Stanley Francis Chippindale DCM, 52nd Battery, 25th Brigade Australian Field Artillery (previously with the 12th Light Horse Regiment), of Parramatta, NSW. A draper prior to enlisting, he embarked from Sydney aboard the RMS Moldavia on the 2nd of October 1915. Bombardier Chippindale was awarded a DCM for gallantry and was wounded in action on the 19th of July 1916 at Fleurbaix, France.... He died of his wounds on the 17th of August 1916 in Newcastle-On-Tyne, aged 21. He is buried in Northumberland 4 St Andrew's and Jesmond Cemetery, United Kingdom. Lest We Forget. Photograph and information came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM H05946.

16.01.2022 In Memory Of Private Jeremiah Hughes, 27th Battalion. He was born in Lancelot, South Australia, and his occupation before enlistment was as a Station Hand. He enlisted in Adelaide, SA, and was killed in action on the 9th of August 1918.... The photograph taken in February 1919, is of a soldier of the 24th Battalion placing a tin helmet on the isolated grave of Private Hughes in Heath Cemetery, one and a half miles north of Harbonnieres. This image is one of a set of photographs of the original graves of some members of the 27th Battalion. The Battalion funded the purchase of the camera through its adjutant Captain Southon for Private G R Barrington to photograph the graves. The camera and negatives were then acquired by Major John L Treloar on behalf of the Australian War Museum, reimbursing costs for the camera to Captain Southon. Lest We Forget. Photograph and information came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM J00061.

16.01.2022 In Memory Of Horrie. Horrie, an Egyptian terrier, was befriended as a puppy by Australian soldier Private Jim Moody when he was stationed in the Ikingi Maryut area of Egypt in 1941. Horrie became the unofficial mascot of Private Moody's unit, the 2/1st Machine Gun Battalion, and followed them as they moved around the Middle East and Greece during their various campaigns.... Horrie was described by his owner as being "intelligent and easily trained", and he was employed as an air sentry, alerting troops to approaching enemy aircraft. Horrie was promoted to the rank of corporal, and during the evacuation of Greece, he was aboard the troopship Costa Rica when it was sunk. He managed to survive and later made it to Crete when he was subsequently wounded by a bomb blast. In 1942, after further service in Syria as part of the Allied garrison, Horrie was brought back to Australia when Private Moody was repatriated. In order to get around stringent quarantine laws which would have prevented him from bringing Horrie back, Private Moody smuggled Horrie home in a canvas bag, which was reinforced with wooden slats so that he could breathe. Private Moody was ordered by quarantine officials to surrender Horrie to be put down. It remains uncertain as to whether this occurred. It is believed that Horrie was destroyed on the 12th of March 1945, though another story has Horrie living out his natural life near Corryong, in rural Victoria. Lest We Forget. Information and photograph came from Wikipedia.

16.01.2022 In Memory Of two mates. The photograph was taken at the ANZAC Day March in London in 1919. An Australian soldier, who lost both his legs, being carried into Australia House by a mate to obtain a position of vantage to view the ANZAC Day March through the streets. Lest We Forget.... Photograph came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM H18643.

15.01.2022 In Memory Of stretcher bearers and dressers, who risked their lives to save others during WW1. The very poignant photograph taken in October 1917, is of Australian stretcher bearers and dressers of the 9th Field Ambulance, asleep on the railway embankment in front of Thames House, beyond Zonnebeke Railway Station. The men are utterly exhausted and have fallen asleep in the mud at their relay post, in total disregard of the cold and drizzling rain, which had just commenced to ...fall and the harassing shellfire of the enemy upon the Broodseinde Ridge area where they were on battle duty. They had worked sixty hours without rest. Australian divisions suffered 6,500 dead or wounded at the Battle of Broodseinde Ridge. The battle was part of the Third Battle of Ypres a major Allied offensive in Flanders which became known as Passchendaele. Identified, left to right: (the soldier extreme left is unidentified); Private S J Watson; Private Jim Campbell of 'Pendeen', O'Brien Street, Bondi, NSW (face obscured behind Watson); Private R 'Bob' Mowbray (right foreground, looking to the right); Private R (Roy or Ray) Jamieson of 'Lumeah', Railway Street, Petersham, Vic (beside Mowbray, on his left); Private Robert Barker of 'Mimosa', Abbotsford Road, Homebush, NSW (beside Jamieson, half face visible, looking to his right); Private J O'C Arkins of 'Moama', Murray River, NSW (to Barker's left, half face visible, looking straight at camera); Private Alfred W Moss of 'Kilmuir', Hampstead Road, Petersham, Vic (beside Arkins, face visible); unidentified. Lest We Forget. Photograph and information comes from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM E00941.

15.01.2022 In Memory Of Sergeant David Samuel Anderson, 54th Battalion. He was a jeweller from Randwick, NSW, prior to enlistment. His parents were Joseph and Kissock Anderson, 21 Holt Avenue, Mosman, New South Wales. Prior to enlisting, he served for 2 years in the Scottish Rifles, Citizen Military Forces.... Sergeant Anderson embarked with the rank of Private with the 8th Reinforcements, 2nd Battalion, from Sydney on HMAT Runic on the 9th of August 1915. After serving at Gallipoli, he transferred to the 54th Battalion with the rank of Corporal. Later promoted to Sergeant, he was initially posted as missing in action at Fromelles, France, however a subsequent Court of Enquiry determined that he had been killed in action on the 19th of July 1916, aged 24. In 2008 a burial ground containing the bodies of 250 British and Australian soldiers was located at Pheasant Wood, France. The soldiers died during the Battle of Fromelles on the night of 19-20 July 1916 and were buried by German troops. In 2010 all of the remains were reburied in the newly created Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery. At the time of the official dedication of the cemetery on the 19th of July 2010, 96 Australians had been identified through a combination of anthropological, archaeological, historical and DNA information. Since then other Australians, including Sergeant Anderson, have been identified. Lest We Forget. Photograph and information came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM P10534.001.

15.01.2022 In Memory Of Sister Mary Elizabeth (Beth) Cuthbertson, 2/20th Australian General Hospital, Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS). She died on the 16th of February 1942. Sister Cuthbertson was the daughter of Mr W M Cuthbertson of Ballarat, Victoria. Sister Cuthbertson, along with 64 other Australian nurses and over 250 civilian men, women and children, were evacuated from Singapore, three days before the fall of Malaya, onboard the SS Vyner Brooke.... On the 14th of February 1942, the SS Vyner Brooke was bombed by Japanese aircraft and sunk in Banka Strait. Twelve Australian nurses were killed and 31 of the nurses who survived the sinking were captured as Prisoners of War, eight of whom later died during captivity. The remaining 22 nurses, including Sister Cuthbertson, aged 32, were washed ashore on Radji Beach, Banka Island, where they, along with 25 British soldiers, surrendered to the Japanese. On the 16th of February 1942, the Japanese bayoneted the soldiers and ordered the nurses to march into the sea and they were shot. The only survivors of the massacre were Sister Vivian Bullwinkel and a British soldier. Both were taken POW, but only Sister Bullwinkel survived the war. Lest We Forget. Photograph and information came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM P04131.001

15.01.2022 In Memory Of all those lost aboard HMAS Sydney during WW2. The photograph is of Hunter Valley, NSW, crew members of HMAS Sydney II, with family and friends, at Newcastle Railway Station in the evening of the 12th of February 1941. Able Seaman Martin Curtis James (front, second from left), of Newcastle, NSW, who is standing next to his mother, Rose James, was 19 years of age at the time of his death. The other two crew members who were also probably on board the Sydney when it... sank, are unidentified. The ship had returned to Sydney after service in the Mediterranean, and on the 11th of February the crew had enjoyed a luncheon in Sydney Town Hall following a ceremonial welcome home march through George Street, Sydney. On the 19th of November 1941, the Sydney was sunk in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Western Australia, by the German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran. All 645 crew members aboard HMAS Sydney were lost. Lest We Forget. Photograph and information came from the Australian War memorial. Image file number AWM P06554.004.

15.01.2022 In Memory Of Sister Ethelda Runnalls Uren, of Adelaide, SA, who served in the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS) during WW1. Sister Uren joined the AANS in 1904 after it was established in 1902 as reserve force of civilian nurses. Sister Uren became Acting Principal Matron on the 18th of July 1915, and reverted to the role of Matron on the 22nd of May 1917 prior to embarking from Australia aboard RMS Mooltan on the 9th of June 1917. Sister Uren served at Salonika and was ...awarded the Royal Red Cross for her service with the British Forces in Salonika. She was responsible for a 90-strong nursing staff and the overall care of more than 1,560 patients. Conditions in the Mediterranean were harsh. In the hot summer months, malaria was a constant problem and the disease struck down nurses and patient alike. Winter was terribly cold and the nurses wore several layers of clothing to keep warm whilst working in the canvas tent hospitals. Fresh water was in short supply and food was often scarce as Allied supply boats came under constant attack from German submarines. Ethelda would regularly walk over five kilometres to a nearby Greek village just to buy a few eggs. But most worryingly of all were the enemy planes that flew over the hospitals. Salonika was bombed two or three times a week at first but this grew more infrequent as time passed. Sister Ethelda Uren's sisters, Amelia and Catherine also served as nurses in AANS during WW1. Years later, during WW2, their niece, Elizabeth, followed in their footsteps. Betty, as she was known, served as a Captain with the AANS, tending to the sick and wounded in the Middle East and New Guinea. Matron Ethelda Runnalls Uren died at home "Gnarwyn" Mount Lofty, SA, on the 2nd of October 1947, aged 76 years. Burial: Payneham Cemetery, Adelaide, S.A. Lest we forget. Image comes from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM P10964.001. Info from Wikipedia and AWM.

13.01.2022 In Memory Of Warrant Officer 2 (WO2) John William 'Jack' Kirby, Company Sergeant Major (CSM) D Company, 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (6RAR), of Windsor, Brisbane, Qld. The photograph is of him taken in Nui Dat, Vietnam, in January, 1967, receiving the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) from Brigadier O. D. Jackson, former Commander of the 1st Australian Task Force. Jack Kirby distinguished himself at the Battle of Long Tan on the 18th of August 1966 and was awa...rded the DCM on the 21st of December 1966 for his actions. On the 6th of February 1967, whilst participating in Operation Tamborine, he was fatally wounded by artillery fire from the 161st Battery, Royal New Zealand Artillery (RNZA), when 12 105 mm rounds accidentally fell amongst the D Coy Headquarters. This friendly fire incident killed four Australians (including Jack Kirby) and wounded 13 others. He born on the 11th of February 1935 in Sydney. He Enlisted in the Australian Regular Army on the 18th of May 1953, and served in South Korea with (1RAR), in 1954-55. He was in Malaya with 3RAR in 1957-59. Jack Kirby married Beverley Anne Bailey on the 10th of June 1961. Lest We Forget. Photograph and most of the information came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM CUN/67/0015/VN.

13.01.2022 In Memory Of Mrs Minnie Augusta Rattigan. One Australian woman who made the lives of Australian soldiers far away from home much better in WW1. Also giving comfort to the severely wounded. The photograph on this post is of Mrs Minnie Augusta Rattigan and a soldier, believed to be Private Frederick Trice 4th Pioneer Battalion, one of the three double amputees soldiers involved in making the patriotic outfit worn by Mrs Rattigan in this photograph.... The three soldiers may have met Mrs Rattigan at the canteen at No 2 Australian Auxiliary Hospital in London. The canteen had been opened in late 1916, as a branch of the Anzac Buffet. Mrs Rattigan was one of the co-founders of the Anzac Buffet. The staff at the Buffet generally fed and entertained 1000 Australian servicemen a day. In addition to serving meals, the Anzac Buffet had billiard, reading and music rooms. This outfit was made by three double amputees, Private Malcolm Brown 47th Battalion, Private Joseph Allen Baillie 35th Battalion and Private Trice while at No 2 Australian Auxiliary Hospital (2 AAH) between November 1918 and January 1919. The cloche hat and tabard she is wearing each have a Rising Sun badge embroidered on the front. The skirt has battalion colour patches forming part of the design. Mrs Rattigan was born at Barooga Station near Tocumwal, NSW on the 23 of July 1870. She travelled to England with her second husband, Alan Mansell Rattigan. When WW1 broke out her husband, Captain Rattigan, served on the Western Front, while Mrs Rattigan did her bit back in London. Mrs Rattigan, who lived in France, died during WW2 due to a medical condition and was buried at Cagnes-sur-Mer. Photograph and information came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM P01441.001.

13.01.2022 In Memory Of Captain Harold Boyd Wanliss DSO. He was born on 11th of December 1891 in Ballarat, Victoria. Captain Wanliss embarked with the 2nd Reinforcements from Melbourne on HMAT Demosthenes on the 29th of October 1915. Later transferring to the 14th Battalion, he was promoted to Lieutenant and wounded in action and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) For conspicuous gallantry and determination when leading an attacking party during a raid on a German trench... in France. While recovering in England he was promoted to Captain. On re-joining his unit he was Mentioned in Despatches and, on the 26th of September 1917, aged 25, he was killed in action at Polygon Wood and buried where he fell. Following the Armistice, his remains could not be recovered and he is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium. His father, Newton Wanliss later wrote a history of the 14th Battalion titled The History of the 14th Battalion AIF. Lest We Forget. Information and photograph came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM DASEY1210.

12.01.2022 In Memory Of the Battle of Fromelles, 19th of July 1916, 104 years ago today. Some consider Fromelles the most tragic event in Australias history and definitely the greatest loss of Australian lives in 24 hours. The photograph is of a German collecting station on the morning of the 20th of July after the battle of Fromelles with wounded Australian prisoners of war.... The only identified soldier is Private Andreas Voitkun, 32nd Battalion. Private Voitkun is sitting on the square box on the left hand side of the photograph with the top of his left arm bandaged. He was captured on the 20th of July 1916 and interned at Gefangenenlager Langensalza Germany. Private Voitkun survived captivity and returned to Australia in 1919. Australian and British soldiers attacked in broad daylight over open ground, under heavy machine-gun fire from the Germans. More than 5,500 Australians became casualties. 2,000 of them were killed in action or died of wounds and some 400 were captured. Charles Bean said, after seeing the battlefield: We found the old No-Mans-Land simply full of our dead, he recorded, the skulls and bones and torn uniforms were lying about everywhere. 1,299 Australians have no known grave from that battle. My Great Grandmothers brother, Private Josiah Willey, died in that battle and has no known grave. He was married with four children. Lest We Forget. Photograph came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM A01551.

12.01.2022 In Memory Of Pilot Officer Francis Howard Russell, 20 Squadron, RAAF. Pilot Officer Russell disappeared whilst on operations in the South West Pacific area on the 21st of May 1944. He was stationed in Cairns and a crew member of Catalina A24/73 aircraft piloted by Wing Commander H. G. Havyatt, Commanding Officer, at the time of his disappearance.... Other crew were: Flying Officer H. B. Gill, Flying Officer J. A. G. Maslin, Flight Lieutenant F. W. Jeffrey, Pilot Officer R. C. Phinsup, Sergeant H. W. Hall, Flight Sergeant L. Dellitt, Sergeant K. H. J. Clarke and Sergeant J. D. Cowley. The crew were on a sea mining mission in the Java Sea and on the 20th of May 1944, a signal was received that the aircraft had been badly holed in both tanks and an attempt was to be made to get to a prearranged escape point. Although searches were carried out there were no sightings of the crew or plane. Lest We Forget. Information and photograph came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM P02565.001.

11.01.2022 In Memory Of Sapper John Frederick Haynes, New Zealand Engineers. Very poiyant photograph of New Zealand soldiers at the burial of Sapper Haynes, Romarin, France, in 1917. Son of Thomas Francis and Susan Haynes, of 61 St. James St., Linwood, Christchurch, New Zealand.... He also served at Gallipoli. Sapper Haynes died of wounds, aged 23, and he is buried at Maple Leaf Cemetery, Comines-Warneton, Hainaut, Belgium. 16,697 New Zealanders were killed and 41,317 were wounded during WW1 a 58 percent casualty rate. Approximately a further thousand men died within five years of the war's end, as a result of injuries sustained, and 507 died while training in New Zealand between 1914 and 1918. Lest We Forget. Some information came from Wikipedia. Every effort was made to research the accuracy of the content on this post, but information can vary from different sources.

11.01.2022 In Memory Of Sergeant Henry James Nicholas, VC, MM (11 June 1891 23 October 1918). He was a New Zealand recipient of the Victoria Cross. He was killed in action three weeks before the end of the war. The photograph is of the funeral of Sergeant Nicholas, who was born in Lincoln, near Christchurch. He worked in Australia for four years. In February 1916, he enlisted in the New Zealand Military Forces, giving his occupation as a carpenter. The total number of New Zealand troo...ps and nurses to serve overseas in 191418, excluding those in British and other Dominion forces, was 100,444, from a population of just over a million. Forty-two percent of men of military age served in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, fighting in the Gallipoli Campaign and on the Western Front. 16,697 New Zealanders were killed and 41,317 were wounded during the war a 58 percent casualty rate. Approximately a further thousand men died within five years of the war's end, as a result of injuries sustained, and 507 died while training in New Zealand between 1914 and 1918. WW1 saw Maori soldiers serve with the New Zealand Army. A contingent took part in the Gallipoli Campaign, and later served with distinction on the Western Front as part of the New Zealand (Maori) Pioneer Battalion. 2688 Maori and 346 Pacific islanders, including 150 Niueans, served with New Zealand forces in total. On October 12, 1917, the darkest day in New Zealand's military history arrived. The New Zealand division advanced on Bellevue Spur at Passchendaele, a decision that would cause catastrophic losses in just a few hours. The toll was horrendous: 843 New Zealand soldiers were either dead or lying mortally wounded between the lines. Lest We Forget. Information came from Wikipedia.

11.01.2022 In Memory Of Trooper Alexander Gibson Forsyth of the 4th Light Horse Regiment. Trooper Forsyth died of pneumonia on the 2nd of April 1917 in England. He was from Mansfield, Victoria.... Lest We Forget. Photograph comes from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM H05924.

10.01.2022 In Memory Of Private Vasil (Basil) Albert 'Babe' Lucas who enlisted on the 20th of June 1940, aged 15. Private Lucas had put his age up to enlist. He was discharged on the 17th of November 1940 and re-enlisted on the 4th of April 1941, in 2/3 Battalion.... He served in Syria, Bardia and Tobruk and later in New Guinea on the Kokoda Trail. Private Lucas was killed in action on the 25th of November 1942 after an advanced dressing station to which he had been admitted with scrub typhus was strafed by Japanese aircraft fire. He was one of nine brothers from the Lucas family who enlisted from the Bega district in NSW. Many of the brothers had multiple enlistments and some enlisted together and served together for periods of time. Seven brothers returned home. Along with Basil, who died in Papua, his brother Private Dudley 'Dick' Lucas, also died in WW2. Private Dudley Lucas was killed in Malaya. Lest We Forget. Photograph and information came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM P00322.009.

10.01.2022 In Memory Of Lance Corporal Allan Wesley Gambrill, 2/33 Battalion, of Windsor, NSW. He was a farmer prior to enlistment from Paddington, NSW on the 21st of February 1942. Lance Corporal Gambrill died of injuries in New Guinea on the 7th of September 1943. He was 21 years of age.... Lance Corporal Gambrill was one of 62 Australians who died on September the 7th, 1943, when a B-24 Liberator heavy bomber crashed into them in a failed take-off. 11 American aircrew also died and 90 Australians suffered horrific burns. The Australian Government, worried by the effect on morale, suppressed details of the incident. The incident is still not well known today. Burial Cemetery: Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery, Bomana, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. Lest We Forget. Photograph came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM P09780.001. Note: Casualty numbers can vary from different sources.

09.01.2022 In Memory Of Lieutenant William Stewart McKay, 50th Battalion, from Croydon Park, South Australia. A 24 year old tailor prior to being appointed a Lieutenant in the AIF on the 16th of September 1915. He embarked for overseas with the 5th Reinforcements from Adelaide on the 21st of September 1916 aboard HMAT Commonwealth.... Following further training in England, he joined the 50th Battalion in France on the 13th of February 1917. After six months with the 70th Battalion in England, he re-joined the 50th Battalion in France in December 1917 and was killed in action at Villers-Bretonneux on the 24th of April 1918. Lieutenant McKay is commemorated on the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux, France with others who have no known grave. Lest We Forget. Photograph and information came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM P09291.001.

09.01.2022 In Memory Of Thomas Cooke VC. Thomas Cooke served as an Acting Corporal with the 24th Battalion from November 1915 to February 1916, and reverted to the rank of Private upon joining the 8th Battalion in Egypt. Private Thomas Cooke was killed in action at Pozières on the night of 24/25 July 1916.... He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross - the award gazetted on the 9th of September 1916. His citation read: For most conspicuous bravery. After a Lewis gun had been disabled, he was ordered to take his gun and gun-team to a dangerous part of the line. Here he did fine work, but came under very heavy fire, with the result that finally he was the only man left. He still stuck to his post, and continued to fire his gun. When assistance was sent he was found dead beside his gun. He set a splendid example of determination and devotion to duty". His body was lost in the later fighting around Pozières. He was born in Kaikoura, New Zealand and served in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) during WW1. Lest We Forget. Information and photograph came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM A02649.

09.01.2022 In Memory Of Private Paul Large, 12 Platoon, D Company, 6 RAR, of Coolah, NSW. The photograph taken on the 25th of June 1966, is of Private Large taking a long refreshing drink from a water bottle as he pauses during digging in on Operation Enoggera. It was the first mission by the 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (6 RAR), against the Viet Cong.... Private Large was later killed in action on the 18th of August 1966, at Long Tan. Private Large was born on the 6th of June 1945, in Wellington, NSW. He was conscripted into the army when his number came up in the National Service Scheme birthday ballot in 1965. Private Large is buried in his hometown of Coolah, NSW. He was 21 years old. The Battle of Long Tan was the most costly single engagement for Australians in the Vietnam War. 18 Australians lost their lives, including Private Large. Lest We Forget. Information and photograph came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM CUN/66/0509/VN.

09.01.2022 In Memory Of Walter Leslie Schwarz. The photograph is of him with his mother. Walter Schwarz was born in Toowoomba, Queensland, and worked with a local grocery and was very active in the Commonwealth Cadet movement. Walter Schwarz enlisted with the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in 1915, but felt he was being discriminated against because of his name.... He deserted in England and joined the Royal Fusiliers under his sister's married name Merritt. He became a Lieutenant, awarded the MC and bar and was mentioned three times in despatches. His right leg was amputated above the knee to save his life after he was severely wounded at Ledeghem on the 14th of October 1918. To the British he was a hero, to the AIF a deserter. This problem was resolved in 1921 when King George V granted him a pardon. He returned to Australia using his true name. He served briefly during WW2 as a lieutenant in the 1st Australian Garrison Battalion. Walter Schwarz died on the 9th of January 1969 in Greenslopes Military Hospital, Brisbane. Lest We Forget. Most of the information and photograph came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM P00159.001.

08.01.2022 In Memory Of Trooper Stephen John Arbuthnot, 8th Light Horse. He was a grocer's assistant of Bonnie Doon, Victoria, prior to enlistment. Trooper Arbuthnot was killed in action on the Gallipoli Peninsula on the 7th of August 1915.... Lest We Forget. Photograph came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM H06442.

07.01.2022 In Memory Of all the Australians who gave their all in the Vietnam War. Today is Vietnam Veterans Day. One of the most memorable photographs of the Vietnam War was captured by Michael Coleridge on the 26th of August 1967. The photograph which has been etched on the rear wall of the Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial on Anzac Parade in Canberra, shows members of 5 Platoon, B Company, 7RAR waiting to be airlifted by US Army helicopters from an area just north of Phuoc ...Hai. Lest We Forget. Photo comes from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM EKN/67/0130/VN.

07.01.2022 In Memory Of Private John Jack Trevallon Mathewson. The photograph was taken by his father in 1916, who was one of Queenslands most famous photographers. Jack was born in Brisbane, Queensland, in 1891, and enlisted in Brisbane on the 30th of August 1916.... I have read Jack was with the Royal Australian Flying Corps as a photographer and a mechanic. Some information has him returning to Australia in 1919, and other information has 1920. Jack had a very interesting life after the war, becoming a missionary in China. Stories of his time in China was published in the Brisbane Courier, in a series of articles. Jack was believed to have been murdered near the border of China and Tibet, and a memorial service was held in Brisbane to commemorate his life. Later, it was found he was still alive and he returned to Brisbane in 1928. Jack married in September 1928. He passed away on the 17th of April 1974. The photograph of Private Mathewson by his father, ensures he will not be forgotten. Lest We Forget. The photograph came from the State Library of Queensland.

07.01.2022 In Memory Of Private George "Dick" Whittington. The photograph on this post was taken at Buna, Papua New Guinea, on Christmas Day, 1942. An Australian soldier, Private George Whittington is aided by a Papuan orderly, Raphael Oimbari.... Private Whittington recovered from his wounds but died of scrub typhus and dysentery on 12th of February 1943. I have read that Private Whittington was born in Kilcoy in Queensland on October the 18th, 1919. Apparently, Constance, Private Whittington’s widow, met and thanked the Papuan orderly, Raphael Oimbari, in Port Moresby in 1973, for assisting her wounded husband, as in the photograph. Lest We Forget. Some information came from Wikipedia. Photograph came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM 014028.

07.01.2022 In Memory Of Corporal James Jim Hannah Gordon, VC. He was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross. He was one of 20 Australians to receive the award for their actions during WW2. Jim Gordon was born in Rockingham, Western Australia, one of eight children born to William Beattie Gordon, a farmer who served as a state parliamentarian between 1901 and 1911, and his wife Harriet Ann Scott.... Growing up on farming properties near Moora and in Gingin, Western Australia, after completing his schooling, he undertook various labouring jobs including droving, farming and working on the goldfields. Jim Gordon enlisted in the army in 1940 aged 33. In Syria his infantry company was ordered to capture a Vichy French-held feature but became pinned down by intense machine-gun fire from a strongly fortified position. Jim Gordon crawled close to the enemy post and then launched a solo attack with rifle and bayonet, killing the four machine-gunners with his bayonet. His action demoralised the enemy in this sector and the company advanced and took the position. Jim Gordon later served in Papua and New Guinea. He joined the Australian Regular Army after the war. Even after his retirement as a warrant officer in 1968, he continued to work at Campbell Barracks, Swanbourne, Western Australia. "I always liked the army life," he once said. He died in 1986, at the age of 77. Lest We Forget. Photograph came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM 021197.

07.01.2022 In Memory Of Lieutenant Parker Whitely Symons, 4 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps (AFC), of Adelaide, SA. Lieutenant Symons was one of the last Australians to be killed in action in WW1. He was born in Moonta, South Australia, and was a farmer before enlisting.... Lieutenant Symons enlisted on the 30th of September 1916 with the Australian Army Service Corps (AASC) and later transferred to the AFC. He embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT Persic (A34) on the 22nd of December 1916. This photograph was taken shortly before Lieutenant Symons flew to Belgium, where he was killed in action on the 4th of November 1918, during an air battle that took place immediately following a raid by No 4 Squadron on the German aerodrome at Chapelle-a-Wattines. Originally buried in Russeignies Churchyard before being exhumed and reburied at Cement House Cemetery (Plot XVIII, Row A, Grave No 9), Langemark, Belgium. His brothers who served during WW1: Leading Stoker Reginald James Magar Symons, HMS Conquest, killed in action, 25th of April 1916; Private Lionel Hamilton Hyde Symons, 3rd Light Horse Regiment, returned to Australia, 10th of May 1916; Gunner L.K.C. Symons, 7th Field Artillery Brigade, returned to Australia, 1st of July 1919; Stoker F.M.S. Symons, RAN. Lest We Forget. Most of the information and photograph came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM P04589.001.

06.01.2022 In Memory Of Corporal John Hurst Edmondson VC, who was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross in 1941. He was born on the 8th of October 1914, at Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. On the night of 13th14th April, 1941, a party of German infantry broke through the wire defences at Tobruk, and established themselves with at least six machine guns, mortars and two small field pieces.... It was decided to attack them with bayonets, and a party consisting of one officer, Corporal Edmondson and five privates, took part in the charge. During the counter-attack Corporal Edmondson was wounded in the neck and stomach but continued to advance under heavy fire and killed one enemy with his bayonet. Later, his officer had his bayonet in one of the enemy and was grasped about the legs by him, when another attacked him from behind. He called for help, and Corporal Edmondson, who was some yards away, immediately came to his assistance and in spite of his wounds, killed both of the enemy. This action undoubtedly saved his officer's life. Shortly after returning from this successful counter-attack, Corporal Edmondson died of his wounds. His actions throughout the operations were outstanding for resolution, leadership and conspicuous bravery. The photograph on this post is of five Victoria Cross recipients standing behind of the grave of Corporal Edmondson VC and was taken on the 25th of April, 1953, in the Tobruk War Cemetery, Libya. They were there while on their way to England to attend the coronation of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. They are left to right. Private F.J. Partridge VC, (Australia). Private E. Kenna VC, (Australia). Sergeant J. D. Hinton VC, (New Zealand). Private R. Kelliher VC, (Australia). Sergeant R. Rattey VC, (Australia). Lest We Forget. Information came from the Australian War Memorial and Wikipedia. Photograph came form the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM P01895.001.

06.01.2022 In Memory Of Corporal Ernest Albert Corey, MM & Three Bars (20 December 1891 25 August 1972). He was awarded the Military Medal four times serving as a stretcher bearer during WW1. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on the 13th of January 1916, and was allocated to the 55th Battalion, where he was initially posted to a grenade section before volunteering for stretcher bearing duties.... In 1917 he was twice awarded the Military Medal for his devotion to duty in aiding wounded soldiers, and twice again in 1918; becoming the only person to be awarded the Military Medal four times. Born in New South Wales, Corporal Corey was employed as a blacksmith's striker upon leaving school. In January 1916, he became a member of the 'Men from Snowy River' recruiting march, enlisting in Goulburn. Returning to Australia after the Armistice, he was discharged on medical grounds in 1919 and was employed in a number of jobs before re-enlisting in a militia battalion for service in WW2. Corporal Corey died in 1972 and was buried with full military honours in the Ex-Servicemen's section of Woden Cemetery, Australian Capital Territory. Lest We Forget. Information and photograph came from Wikipedia.

05.01.2022 In Memory Of Driver William Thomas Doolan, born in Werribee and raised in Morwell, Victoria. He was 27 years old when he enlisted in the AIF in July 1940. He became a driver in the transport section of 2/21st Infantry Battalion, and in December 1941 was sent to Ambon as part of the ill-fated Gull Force. Following the Japanese invasion on the night of the 30th of January 1942, orders were received to go into action stations.... Driver Doolan was based near the foot of Mt Kudamati, and angered by thoughts of the invading Japanese, he was alleged to have said Give me a yard of bike chain, and Ill do em over myself. With that he armed himself, most probably with a rifle and hand grenades, and hid in the bush and waited. On the 1st of February, with the approach of Japanese trucks, Driver Doolan mounted a single-handed attack. Although never confirmed, it was reported at the time that he killed up to 80 of the enemy. Driver Doolans bullet riddled body was found by members of his battalion a few days later, once the action had ceased and the surrender had taken effect. He was buried in a marked grave near to where he fell. A very brave Australian soldier. Lest We Forget. Photograph and information came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM 133887.

05.01.2022 In Memory Of a mother who lost her son. The poignant photograph on this post was taken on ANZAC Day, 1944 (25th of April), of Mrs F. Inglis protecting her wreath from the rain with an umbrella as she walks up the steps of the Shrine of Remembrance to lay the wreath in remembrance of her son who died at Gallipoli. Lest We Forget.... Photograph came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM 140948.

05.01.2022 In Memory Of Vance Drummond, DFC, AFC (22 February 1927 17 May 1967). He was a New Zealand born Australian pilot who fought in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He initially saw service in the New Zealand military, but joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1949 and graduated as a sergeant pilot in 1951.... Posted to No. 77 Squadron in Korea, he flew Gloster Meteor jet fighters and earned the US Air Medal for his combat skills. He was shot down by a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 in December 1951 and imprisoned for almost two years. After returning to Australia he converted to CAC Sabre jets and in December 1961 became a flight commander with No. 75 Squadron. He subsequently led the squadron's Black Diamonds aerobatic team, and was awarded the Air Force Cross in 1965. Vance Drummond was promoted to acting wing commander in December 1965 and posted to South Vietnam on staff duties with the United States Air Force. He joined the US Air Force's 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron, operating Cessna Bird Dog aircraft, as a forward air controller in July 1966. That month he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for his part in rescuing a company of soldiers surrounded by Viet Cong forces. In October he was awarded the South Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star. Vance Drummond took command of No. 3 Squadron, flying Dassault Mirage IIIO supersonic fighters out of Williamtown, New South Wales, in February 1967. His Mirage crashed into the sea during a training exercise on the 17th of May 1967. Neither Vance Drummond nor the plane was found. Lest We Forget. Photograph came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM JK0163. Information came from Wikipedia.

05.01.2022 In Memory Of Ordinary Seaman Edward "Teddy" Sheean (28 December 1923 1 December 1942). I have posted his story before, but today it was announced this incredible young Australian war hero will posthumously receive the Victoria Cross. The first in the history of the Royal Australian Navy. Edward was a sailor in the Royal Australian Navy during WW2. Born in Tasmania, Edward was employed as a farm labourer.... On the 21st of April 1941, he enlisted in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve. Edward had followed in the steps of five of his brothers who had already joined the armed forces. Four in the Australian Army and one in the Royal Australian Navy. He was serving on HMAS Armidale during a heavy air attack by the Japanese. The ship listed sharply to port and the order was given to abandon ship. As the crew leapt into the sea, they were strafed by the attacking aircraft. Edward, after assisting to free a life-raft, was hit by two bullets from one of the aircraft, wounding him in the chest and back. Scrambling across the deck, he strapped himself into the aft Oerlikon 20 mm cannon and began shooting at the fighters in an effort to protect some of the sailors already in the sea. Subject to the fire from Edward's Oerlikon, the Japanese aircraft were kept at bay and were unable to effectively strafe those in the water. With HMAS Armidale rapidly sinking, Edward continued to fire and managed to shoot down one of the Japanese bombers. He damaged a further two aircraft before HMAS Armidale's stern was engulfed by the sea. Despite this, Edward maintained his fire as the water rose above his feet, and remained firing as he "disappeared beneath the waves". Edward's crewmates later testified to witnessing tracers rising from beneath the water's surface as he was dragged under. Many of the survivors attributed their lives to Edward, for his "bravery and devotion when HMAS Armidale was lost." In 1999, the submarine HMAS Sheean was named in his honour. Lest We Forget. Information came from Wikipedia. Photograph came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM 044154.

04.01.2022 In Memory Of Staff Nurse (or Sister) Frances Mary Byron MacKellar, Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS), of Maryborough, Queensland. Staff Nurse MacKellar enlisted on the 19th of May 1917, and embarked from Sydney, NSW, aboard RMS Khiva on the 26th of May 1917. She was posted to the 34th Welsh General Hospital at Deolali, India, situated in open country 160 miles from Bombay.... In January 1919 she travelled from Bombay to England, where she was attached to No 3 Australian Auxiliary Hospital (AAH) at Dartford, a hospital established to treat 'shell shock' and similar cases requiring specialist treatment. Staff Nurse MacKellar was promoted to the rank of Sister in June 1919, and returned to Australia aboard SS Runic on the 20th of December 1919. She passed away in Brisbane on the 1st of February 1973, aged 85 years. Two of her brothers served in WW1; Private Robin MacKellar and Sergeant Duncan MacKellar. Private Robin MacKeller was killed in action at Pozieres on the 29th of July 1916. He has no known grave. Lest We Forget. Information and photograph came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM P11241.001.

04.01.2022 For those who don't go to my other Facebook Page This post has reached over 2.25 million people so far. In Memory Of Sergeant Reckless - A wonderful and brave war horse.... Lest We Forget.

04.01.2022 In Memory Of Lance Corporals William John Goodgame and Gordon James Watkins. The photograph is of Australians standing by in a hot section of the front, 400 yards from the enemy at Tobruk in August 1941. Many forward posts like this were isolated during the daylight hours.... This photograph was reproduced in the unit history 'Purple and blue: the history of the 2/10th Battalion' published in 1958. The men identified in the unit history, front to rear: Private William John Goodgame, Private Gordon James Watkins and Private Charles George Stening. All three were promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal during their service. Lance Corporals Goodgame and Watkins were killed in action at Buna, Papua, on the 24th of December 1942. Lance Corporal Goodgame, age 23. Son of Alexander and Minnie Louisa Goodgame; husband of Jean Goodgame, of Seddon, Victoria. Lance Corporal Watkins, age 22. Son of George and Kathleen Florence Watkins, of Creswick, Victoria. Both soldiers are buried at the Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery. Lest We Forget. Most of the information and photograph came from the Australian War Memorial. Image file number AWM 009514.

04.01.2022 In Memory Of Private First Class Dan Bullock (December 21, 1953 June 7, 1969). He was the youngest American serviceman killed in action during the Vietnam War. He was born in Goldsboro, North Carolina. He lived in North Carolina until he was about 12, when his mother died and he and his younger sister, Gloria, moved to Brooklyn to live with their father and his wife.... Dan Bullock dreamed of becoming a pilot, a police officer, or a U.S. Marine. When he was 14 years old, he altered the date on his birth certificate to show he was born December 21, 1949. He processed through the recruiting station, and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on September 18, 1968. As a member of Platoon 3039 in Parris Island, he graduated from boot camp on December 10, 1968. Dan Bullock arrived in the Republic of Vietnam on May 18, 1969, and was assigned as a rifleman in 2nd Squad, 2nd Platoon, Company F, 2nd Battalion 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. He was stationed at An Hoa Combat Base, west of Hi An in Qung Nam Province. Less than a month later on June 7, 1969, Dan Bullock and 3 other Marines were occupying a bunker near the base airstrip when a People's Army of Vietnam sapper unit attacked the base at night, throwing a satchel charge into the bunker killing all 4 Marines. Dan Bullock was just 15 years old. He had been assigned to cleaning duty that night, but was transferred to the night watch after one Marine was wounded on night duty. After he was interred, his gravesite did not have a marker. A veteran's marker was finally provided in 2000. Lest We Forget. The photograph of Private First Class Dan Bullock and the information on this post come from Wikipedia.