Murray Bridge RSL Club in Murray Bridge, South Australia | Community organisation

Murray Bridge RSL Club

Locality: Murray Bridge, South Australia

Phone: +61 8 8532 1314

Address: "Just Over The Bridge" 5253 Murray Bridge, SA, Australia

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24.01.2022 On this day... in 1948, the Australian Regiment was formed, with three battalions. The following March, the regiment was given the prefix "Royal". The Royal Aus...tralian Regiment (RAR), which was nine battalions strong at one time during the Vietnam War, has played a prominent role in all of Australia's wars and peacekeeping deployments since its formation. Its motto is "Duty First". Currently the RAR has seven battalions. It has battle and theatre honours from Korea, Vietnam and East Timor. The RAR Association is represented on the RSL (SA) Anzac Day Committee by Adrian Craig, and all RAR battalions have sections within Group 9 of the Adelaide Anzac Day Commemorative March. Ian Smith Chair Anzac Day Committee

23.01.2022 RSL MEDIA RELEASE - Any revocation decision premature. The Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL) says any decision to revoke the Meritorious Unit Citati...on (MUC) for the Special Operations Task Group, would be premature. RSL National President Greg Melick said considering views expressed by the Prime Minister, other leaders, ex-service organisations and respected serving and ex-service personnel, any decision should await the final outcome of any further investigations and proceedings. A revocation of the citation is all-encompassing and the RSL is extremely concerned at the message this would send and the impact on the personnel and veterans who are affected by this action, Major General Melick said. We appreciate the difficulties faced by the Chief of the Defence Force, General Angus Campbell, in that an MUC is a commendation awarded to a unit, not individuals, reflecting the unit’s collective actions, some of which, when considering the aggregate of the matters raised in Justice Brereton’s report, may if substantiated, warrant the removal of the MUC. The current regulations do not allow the removal of an MUC from designated individuals. Perhaps consideration can be given to amending the regulations to allow most individuals to continue wearing the citation if at the end of the day it is removed from the unit? As we said on November 20, all personnel suspected of alleged war crimes in Afghanistan are entitled to due process and in line with this position, any removal of decorations and citations should await the final resolution of the pending investigations. The RSL views the allegations as extremely serious but actions such as this impact adversely on veterans who served in Afghanistan, the vast majority of whom are in no way involved in the alleged conduct. Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel serve in a unique and highly challenging environment and the allegations, resulting inquiry, report, subsequent announcements and media speculation have caused considerable distress and mental health concerns, General Melick said. The RSL is committed to supporting all serving and ex-serving members of the ADF through the provision of wellbeing and general support to veterans and their families. Any former or serving personnel suffering adverse impacts and distress to immediately contact their local RSL Sub-Branch for direction to access wellbeing and other support services or call Open Arms on 1800 011 046.

21.01.2022 His Excellency the Governor, Hieu Van Le, officially opens Murray Bridge's new war memorial at Sturt Reserve on Sunday morning. Story: https://murraybridgenews.substack.com/p/war-memorial-opened

14.01.2022 Great day at Murray Bridge RSL Sub branch Annual Dinner, Great food & camaraderie, Many thanks to our staff, helpers and president for a brilliant afternoon. Special thanks to John Ali for inviting members of the AATTV association to our dinner where a plaque was presented from the AATTV association to Murray Bridge RSL, also John was made an honorary associate member for his ongoing support for our esteemed member WO1 "Rocky" Massingham AATTV, Members in the pic (L-R) are, Jack Boyce, Rocky Massingham ,Snow Chester and association president, Mick Dolensky.

13.01.2022 On this day in Australian military - 1st December, 1942 - HMAS Armidale sunk. HMAS Armidale was sunk by Japanese aircraft near Timor. As the Armidale sank Abl...e Seaman Teddy Sheean fired at attacking bombers until he was lost with his ship.. Edward "Teddy" Sheean was an ordinary seaman serving on HMAS Armidale whose death during a Japanese aerial attack on his ship has become a well-known episode in Australian Second World War lore. Sheean was born at Lower Barrington, Tasmania, on 28 December 1923. He received his education in a Catholic school at Latrobe in Tasmania and, having completed his schooling, worked on farms in the area where he grew up. He enlisted in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve in April 1941 and began his initial training in Tasmania. In February 1942 he was sent to the Flinders Naval Depot at Westernport in Victoria to continue his training, and the following May he was posted to Sydney. At the end of that month, the vessel on which he was billeted, the former ferry Kuttabul, was sunk during the Japanese midget submarine attack on Sydney Harbour. Fortunately for Sheean he was in Tasmania on home leave that night. He returned to Sydney 11 days later to begin his service as an Oerlikon anti-aircraft gunner on the newly commissioned corvette, HMAS Armidale. Armidale spent her early months on relatively uneventful convoy escort duties along Australia's east and northern coasts. In October 1942 Armidale's captain, Lieutenant Commander David Richards, was ordered to Darwin and, on 29 November, the corvette began her last operation. Along with two other vessels, she was to undertake a resupply and evacuation mission to Japanese-occupied Timor. Having been seen by Japanese reconnaissance pilots shortly after leaving the port, Armidale was destined for a dangerous journey. She and the other corvette on the operation, HMAS Castlemaine, missed the rendezvous with the third ship, in Timor's Betano Bay, but met her later some 100 kilometres off-shore. The plan having gone awry, Armidale was ordered to return to Betano the following night. Facing a long day in enemy waters and the certainty of attack, the crew waited. When in the mid-afternoon she was hit by two aircraft-launched torpedoes, Armidale began to sink fast. Sheean was wounded and, rather than abandon ship, he strapped himself to his Oerlikon and began to engage the attacking aircraft even as the ship sunk beneath him. He shot down two planes, and crewmates recall seeing tracer rising from beneath the surface as Sheean was dragged under the water, firing until the end. He died on 1 December 1942 aged just 18. Only 49 of the 149 men on board survived the attack and subsequent ordeal on rafts and in life boats. Many consider that Sheean's actions deserved the Victoria Cross, an award for which he was not recommended at the time although he was Mentioned in Dispatches. He has subsequently been honoured in a well-known painting at the Australian War Memorial and by having a Collins Class submarine named after him in 1999 - the only vessel in the Royal Australian Navy to be named after an ordinary seaman. On 12th August, 2020 he was awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia.

12.01.2022 Dear Members We wish to advise you that the RSL Bistro will be closed for a Christmas break between Thursday 24th December until 6th January 2021.... The Bistro will reopen for meals on Thursday 7th January. Regards Ann-Marie Kuchel Secretary

12.01.2022 Dear Members President Rod Harris, under consultation with RSL State President Cheryl Cates wishes to advise you that our next General Meeting, at this stage, will be... held late January, 2021. Due to continued COVID restrictions we are unable to convene a meeting for large numbers. Regards Ann-Marie Kuchel Secretary

10.01.2022 On 1 December, 78 years to the day after Teddy Sheean gave his life trying to save his shipmates, the Governor-General will present his family with the insignia... of the Victoria Cross for Australia. Teddy Sheean chose certain death over the chance of survival, to try and save his mates in the water. None of us can know what he was thinking or feeling but in this video, Brad Manera, the Senior Historian at the Anzac Memorial, talks about life on a ship like HMAS Armidale, the risks they faced and the bonds between shipmates. Anzac Memorial Royal Australian Navy Defence Australia Australian Government Department of Veterans' Affairs Australian Army Royal Australian Air Force

10.01.2022 #OTD Sergeant Tom Currie ‘Diver’ Derrick, VC, DCM On the 24th of November 1943, Sergeant Tom Derrick performed a heroic assault on a heavily defended Japanes...e position at Sattelberg, New Guinea which would see him awarded the Victoria Cross. During the engagement, he scaled a cliff face whilst under heavy fire and silenced seven machinegun posts, before leading his platoon in a charge that destroyed a further three. Diver saw service in North Africa prior to serving in the Pacific. It was during the First Battle of El Alamein that Tom would be awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for singlehandedly destroying three machinegun positions and capturing over 100 prisoners, before destroying two German tanks using sticky bombs which had been launched in a counterattack. He then deployed with the 2/48th to the South West Pacific and participated in the Battle of Lae in the Huon Peninsula Campaign. Following the capture of Lae, the 2/48th was involved in the capture of the town of Sattelburg. During the attack, Tom attacked a Japanese post that had been holding up the advance. Night was about to fall and an Australian withdrawal was imminent if the machinegun post could not be silenced. Advancing on his own, Diver personally destroyed the post with grenades, before ordering his section around the right flank. When his section came under fire from another six positions, he clambered ahead, exposing himself to throw grenade after grenade and giving his men the opportunity to secure the ground. He then returned to his section and then proceeded to deal with another three posts in the area. On four separate occasions he dashed forward and threw grenades at a range of six yards until the positions were silenced. In all, Sergeant Derrick silenced posts during the evening. For his bravery that day, he was awarded the Victoria Cross. He would later commission from the ranks before re-joining his battalion to fight at Tarakan. Derrick was killed in action on the 23rd of May 1945 whilst fighting at Tarakan. --------------------------------------------------------------- If you spot an error, please send me a message. Join our group here: https://business.facebook.com/groups/2626189084317964

07.01.2022 https://www.facebook.com/Murray-Bridge-RSL-Bistro-On-The-Bridge-102400218255847/

06.01.2022 Great Meals tonight thanks to our new Chef and kitchen staff !!! New special "Moroccan Chicken Salad" And "Mega Chicken Schnitzel Burgers" with Bacon and Onion ...rings Just a couple of the new dishes and part of our modified menu for your enjoyment, Our "Bain Marie" is back in operation with our staff serving Vegetables or salad of your choice. See more

05.01.2022 RSL MEMBERSHIP REMINDER For all service and affiliate members, that membership fees can be paid from 1st October -31st December 2020 for 2021 membership. Membership to the RSL in South Australia, the Northern Territory and Broken Hill is available in the following categories: Service Membership... Admission to Service Membership of the League is open to any member or ex-member of the Australian Defence Force and allies who in general terms has completed 6 months service. For a better understanding of the criteria and eligibility please refer to the Sub-Branch By-Laws. ADF 12 Month Free Membership RSL SA offers a free 12 month first-time membership to all Australian Defence Force serving Regular and Reserve personnel. Affiliate Membership Admission to people who have not worked for the Australian Defence Force is also available and the terms and conditions for Affiliate Membership are outlined in the Sub-Branch By-Laws. See more

02.01.2022 #OTD HMAS Sydney Sunk On the 19th of November 1941, the light cruiser HMAS Sydney participated in a single ship action with the German auxiliary cruiser Korm...oran off the cost of Western Australia. Both ships were destroyed in the half hour engagement but the outcome was only realised after Sydney failed to return to port. From the 24th of November air and sea searches were conducted for the missing ship. Boats and rafts carrying survivors from Kormoran were recovered at sea but none from Sydney were found. In total, 318 of the 399 personnel on Kormoran were found, but although debris from Sydney was located, no survivors were found. It is assumed that in total all 645 men aboard Sydney were lost at sea. The loss of Sydney marked the largest loss of life in the history of the Royal Australian Navy and the largest Allied warship lost with all hands during WWII. The ship’s company made up over 35% of the RAN’s naval personnel killed during WWII. In 2008, the wrecks of the two ships were discovered. The actual events of the battle were never confirmed, and speculation continues as to how a modified merchant ship was able to beat a modern cruiser with superior weapons range and armour. Regardless of what happened, let us pause to pay our respects to the brave men of Sydney who fought and paid the ultimate price. --------------------------------------------------------------- If you spot an error, please send me a message. Join our group here: https://business.facebook.com/groups/2626189084317964