RSL Stand To Aug & Sep Newsletter

NUMBER 145 August-September 2009

Military courts ‘invalid’: High Court T

he High Court of Australia has found unanimously that the provisions of the Defence Force Discipline Act establishing the Australian Military Court are invalid because the AMC has been exercising the judicial power of the Commonwealth but does not meet the requirements of Chapter III of the Constitution.

The Minister for Defence, Senator John Faulkner, said the Government respected the Court’s decision and would move military justice to a judicial system that met the requirements of Chapter III of the Constitution.

As an interim measure, he has introduced legislation to put in place an interim military justice system — the pre-2007 machinery to give Defence a level of certainty in military justice matters.

The case that has caused this upset to the military justice system involves a sailor, Brian George Lane, charged with a sexual offence. When the case was to be heard by the military judge, Colonel Peter John Morrison, Lane challenged the constitutional validity of the Australian Military Court under the Constitution.

The Australian Military Court was established in October 2007 by the former Government after a series of Senate Committee reports had recommending extensive changes in the system of military justice.

Under the AMC, military judges presided over cases and operated outside the chain of command. However, the AMC stopped short of meeting Chapter III requirements such as those governing judges’ appointment and tenure.

Senator Faulkner said: “The Senate Committee had recommended a Chapter III court with oversight by the Attorney-General and greater independence from the military. The legislation establishing the AMC fell short of these recommendations.

Pilotless eye high in the sky

The Minister for Defence, Senator John Faulkner, has announced that the RAAF has acquired Heron Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in close collaboration with Canadian Defence forces. This high-resolution intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance machine will enhance the capability of Australian forces in Afghanistan. The Heron is a one-tonne aircraft capable of medium-altitude, long-endurance flights.

“The Government will review the High Court’s decision carefully and consider alternative models for establishing the jurisdiction in a Chapter III court. I will work closely with the Attorney-General given his responsibilities in this area.”

Reinstating the military justice machinery that existed before the establishment of the AMC would allow time for options that met the requirements of Chapter III to be developed and legislation introduced. The system, which involved trials by court martial and Defence Force magistrates, would be reinstated on only a temporary basis.

“The Government is committed to resolving the future of the military justice system and will be making further announcements once the full implications of the High Court’s decision have been considered,” Senator Faulkner said.

The Government would also examine the implications of the decision for past and current cases and take any necessary action to ensure the validity of past sentences and to minimise disruption of continuing cases.

For a transcipt of the complicated case, access http://www.austlii.edu.au/ and search for Lane v Morrison.

Defence treaties hearings Federal Parliament’s Treaties Committee held a public hearing on two defence treaties in Canberra on September 7 at which representatives of the Department of Defence gave evidence on amendments to the Chapeau Defence Agreement, which will strengthen bilateral defence relations with the US. The second defence treaty will allow the Singapore Armed Forces to continue to use the Shoalwater Bay Training Area, NSW.

$1.2m available to ex-service groups plus another $4m

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ore than $1.2 million in funding to support 78 health and wellbeing initiatives for veterans and their families across Australia have been announced by the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Alan Griffin .

This round of the Veteran & Community Grants program will benefit about 26,000 veterans, war widows and widowers and their families by supporting a range of initiatives including

health, nutrition and exercise sessions.

Veteran & Community Grants are available to ex-service and community organisations, veterans’ representative groups and private organisations that contribute to the health and welfare of the veteran community.

Local and community organisations applying for funding should visit www. dva.gov.au/grants or contact their nearest DVA offices. In August Mr

Griffin announced $4 million to help members of the veteran community access entitlements and connect with various services. Almost 200 ex-service organisations (ESOs) will receive a share of $4 million through the Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) grant program, which helps them deliver services to about 400,000 veterans and their partners, war widows and widowers.

He says, “Concerns have been raised about the current program.” He intended to review the BEST program and would be consulting ESOs and other stakeholders to ensure that the needs of the veteran community were being met effectively through this funding.

He was writing to all organisations that had applied for BEST grants.

Recognition for PNG’s ‘Angels’ — Page 2

Ted Kenna VC laid to rest — Page 3

Pilot Blown and the brink of war — pp 6–7

Sub-branches’ chances for revenue — Page 11

See also “$4m to ex-service groups for veterans” — page 5

Stand To, August–September 2009

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Honour for PNG’s ‘Angels’ at last T

he first commemorative medallion honouring Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels’ care for Australian soldiers during the World War II was presented by the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin, on July 23, Papua New Guinea’s Remembrance Day. Speaking at Bomana War Cemetery, near Port Moresby, he said, “Australians have long revered the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels for their role in carrying supplies to troops fighting in nearly inaccessible terrain and for their care in evacuating the wounded.”

The medallion features the image of a blinded and barefoot Private George Whittington being helped along by Raphael Oimbari, which came from a photograph taken on Christmas Day 1942 near Buna.

The medallions are available to surviving Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels and their widows or widowers. More information is available from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs or the Australian High Commission in PNG. The independent Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal will inquire into recognition of Australian Defence Force service in Somalia between 1992 and 1995.

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The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin, presents the first Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel Commemorative Medallion to Wesley Akove. INSET: The medallion. Editor’s note: Images of the medallion and the ceremony may be downloaded from http:// www.dva.gov.au/news_archive/pages/photo%20gallery.aspx.

Lest we forget... Sandakan, Korea, Gallipoli, Guadalcanal and Afghanistan

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he Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support, Dr Mike Kelly AM, paid tribute on August 2 to prisoners of war who died under atrocious conditions in the jungles of Borneo in World War II in the infamous “death marches”.

He delivered the Remembrance Address at the Sandakan Memorial, Burwood Park, Burwood, from whence had come 23 of the soldiers who died at Sandakan.

Only six Australian soldiers who were at Sandakan survived the war.

Korean War anniversary plans On July 27 the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin, welcomed the Korean Minister of Patriots and Veterans’ Affairs, Mr Yang Kim, to Canberra to discuss plans to commemorate next year’s 60th anniversary of the Korean War. They attended a service at the Australian National Korean War Memorial in ANZAC Parade to mark Korean Veterans’ Day. Mr Griffin said, “Korea is often referred to as the ‘forgotten war’ — overshadowed in history by the scale of the Second World War, which preceded it — but the contribution of the Australian men and women who served in Korea was important and this anniversary will be a chance for us to appropriately honour their service and sacrifice and commemorate all those lost.”

PP299436-00118

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Now it’s ‘mission accomplished’ in Iraq

More than 17,000 Australians served in the Korean War.

Wartime heritage grants Projects honouring Australia’s wartime heritage received a financial boost on July 29 with the announcement of $379,487 in funding approved by the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin.

Funding for 152 projects is part of the Australian Government’s Saluting Their Service commemorative grants program to help communities across the nation honour and commemorate Australia’s wartime history.

The range of projects include restoring and displaying wartime memorabilia, upgrading community war memorials, purchasing association banners and holding commemorative events.

Local community and ex-service organisations interested in applying for funding should visit www.dva.gov.au or contact their nearest DVA office on 133 254 (metropolitan callers) or 1800 555 254 (other callers).

Gallipoli film award The ABC’s Gallipoli: The First Day (abc.net.au/gallipoli) has won the inaugural Australian Film Institute Award for Screen Content Innovation, Veterans’ Affairs Minister Griffin says.

RSL Registered offices Australian Capital Territory Canberra Services Club Cnr Canberra Ave & Manuka Circle CANBERRA ACT 2603 Postal address: PO Box 708 CANBERRA ACT 2601 Phone: (02) 6260 6344 Fax: (02) 6295 1928 Email: manager@actrsl.org.au Web site: http://www.actrsl.org.au NSW ANZAC House 245 Castlereagh Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 Phone: (02) 9264 8188 Fax: (02) 9264 8466 E-mail: statsec@rslnsw.com.au

Killed in Afghanistan Mourners farewelled Private Benjamin Ranaudo at Melbourne’s Boyd Chapel, Springvale Botanical Cemetery, on July 31. He was killed in Afghanistan on July18.

‘Echoes’ of Guadacanal The Chief of Joint Operations, Lieutenant General Mark Evans, joined US State and Military officials on August 7 to remember the landing of US Marines on Guadalcanal in August 1942.

And 67 years later the US Militaryled Pacific Partnership program for 2009, which focuses on increasing Pacific Islanders’ access to engineering and medical services, has commenced work in the region. Lieutenant General Evans met with Australian troops serving in the Combined Task Force of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI).

World War II The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin, while In Europe for commemorations of the 70th anniversary of the beginning of World War II, marked September 2 as Battle for Australia Day. He laid a wreath at the Australian War Memorial in London to mark the day.

Queensland PO Box 629 Spring Hill, Qld 4004 Telephone: (07) 3634 9444 Facsimile: (07) 3634 9400 Email: enquiries@rslqld.org Victoria ANZAC House 4 Collins Street MELBOURNE VIC 3000 Telephone: (03) 9655 5555 Facsimile: (03) 9655 5500 E-mail: rslvic@rslvic.com.au SA/NT ANZAC House, Torrens Training Depot, Victoria Drive ADELAIDE SA 5000 Telephone: (08) 8232 0322

ith the news that Australia ended its military operations in Iraq on July 31, more troops arrived in Afghanistan to support conduct of Afghan elections held on August 20.

Defence Minister Senator John Faulkner said the conclusion of Operation Catalyst in Iraq “marks a significant milestone in the history of the Australia Defence Force” as it ended a six-year mission.

Since 2003, about 20,000 ADF personnel have served in Iraq as part of Operation Catalyst. Its completion was set on a date agreed with the Government of Iraq in December 2008 and reflects Iraq’s improved levels of security and stability and the steady normalisation of our bilateral relationship.

The ADF maintains a small presence in Iraq, comprising a detachment providing security to the Australian Embassy in Baghdad (Operation Kruger) and two members directly supporting the United Nations mission in Iraq (Operation RRiverbank).

“Welcome home” activities, including parades in local communities, are planned as part of the recognition of service at the close of a tour of duty.

Under Operation Catalyst, Australian personnel were responsible for training about 36,000 members of the Iraqi army, navy and marines, including specialist training in logistic support, counterinsurgency operations and maritime interception and interdiction operations in protecting Iraq’s vital offshore resources, so crucial to its economic future. Australian forces had the honour also of being involved in the first transfer of an Iraqi province, Al-Muthanna, to the provincial security control of Iraqi forces.

Meanwhile, in Afghanistan...

A company-sized group of Australian infantry and cavalry supported the conduct of Afghanistan’s elections on August 20.

In the course of routine air-operation tasks on August 3, an Australian Army CH-47D Chinook helicopter and a US helicopter came under small-arms fire.

On August 4 it was reported that Australian and Afghan troops had been targets for several days of a number of improvised explosive device (IED) attacks in southern Afghanistan.

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Stand To, August–September 2009

Ted Kenna VC dies at 90 A

ustralia’s last remaining Victoria Cross recipient from World War II, Private Edward “Ted” Kenna, died on July 9, aged 90, in Geelong, Victoria.

A state funeral was held at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne for Mr Kenna on July 16.

His story is extraordinary.

On the morning of May 15, 1945, Private Kenna’s company in New Guinea was given the task of clearing the Japanese from the Wirui Mission area. As the Australians approached, they were met by heavy machine-gun fire. Private Kenna fired his Bren gun at the enemy machine gunners but was unable to get a clear shot over the rough ground.

To get a better shot he stood up in full view of the enemy and fired until out of ammunition. He then called for a rifle and engaged the enemy again.

The machine-gunners were only metres away and Private Kenna stood in a hail of fire. This brave and prompt action resulted in the position being taken with few casualties.

Three weeks later Private Kenna was struck in the mouth by an explosive bullet and hospitalised. The wound marked the end of his combat duty and he was discharged in December 1946.

He was awarded the Victoria Cross for “his magnificent courage and complete disregard for his own safety”.

Private Kenna made an outstanding contribution to the nation and will be remembered for his courage.

Private Kenna, with wife Marjorie, returned to Hamilton, Victoria and went on to have four children: Alan, Robert, Annette and Marlene.

Private Kenna was an active member of the Hamilton community and a lifetime member of the Hamilton RSL until his death.

Enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in August 1940, Private

‘... It is awarded to persons who, in the presence of the enemy, display the most conspicuous gallantry; a daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice; or extreme devotion to duty.’

Private Edward Kenna with one of his 11 granfchildren.

Kenna served in the 23/21st Battalion in Victoria and later in Darwin.

The Victoria Cross is awarded to persons who, in the presence of the enemy, display the most conspicuous gallantry; a daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice; or extreme devotion to duty.

Vice-Chief of the Defence Force Lieutenant General David Hurley paid tribute to Private Kenna VC. “We continue to be humbled by Private Kenna’s extraordinary courage and his legacy and dedication will never be forgotten by the Australian Defence Force. On behalf of the Australian Defence Force I extend our deepest sympathies to Ted’s family during this difficult time,” he said.

The Army Newspaper reported that

the nation’s leaders, family, friends, military colleagues and senior ADF officers united in Melbourne on July 16 to farewell Ted Kenna at a state funeral in St Patrick’s Cathedral.

Mr Kenna’s wife, Marjorie, whom he met while she was nursing him during his recovery from being shot in the mouth three weeks after the VC action in 1945, was at the service. So were his sons Robert and Allan and daughter Marlene — plus his 11 grandchildren.

Mr Kenna was also the great-grandfather of 15.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull and Victorian Premier John Brumby attended the funeral with a number of ADF representatives.

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Aged care ‘stressed and underfunded’

Health and community workers are the most stressed in the workforce, according to Lifeline Australia. This will come as no surprise to RSL members who often find themselves in the role of carer.

The Aged Care Association of Australia says its claims that the industry is underfunded by government have been confirmed by the publication of the Stewart Brown Aged Care Performance Survey. CEO Rod Young says failure to build new facilities now will affect the aged in years to come.

The association has welcomed the government’s legislation to expand coverage of rebates paid for nurse practitioners, many of whom work in caring for the aged. The Government has allocated $43.8 million to educate and train aged-care and community-care staff.

ADF pays $210,100 over cadet’s death

The Australian Defence Force has been ordered to pay $210,100 plus costs for breaching occupational health and safety regulations, resulting in the death from peanut allergy of a member of the Scotch College Army Cadet Unit, in a bivouac in 2007. The action in the Federal Court was brought by Comcare.

The ADF has agreed to an enforceable undertaking for improvements to its system to ensure cadet safety.

In another agreement, the ADF will produce a field activities handbook for activities cadet units undertake in the field.

This follows a group of six cadets’ being lost in the bush overnight.

ACT Branch Sub Branch Offices BARTON-CAPITAL PO Box 5131 Lyneham, ACT, 2602 President: Mrs June Healy OAM Secretary: Mr Dave Mills 1st Tues each second month (from Feb) at 5.30pm Canberra Services Club. Jun & Aug meetings at 12:30pm BELCONNEN PO Box 147 Jamison Centre, ACT 2614 President: AVM Mac Weller AM (Retd) Secretary: Mr Dennis Wilkes 2nd Tue each month at West’s Rugby Union Club 7.30pm Oct–Apr, 11am May–Sep BRITISH 11 Hopetoun Cct Deakin, ACT, 2600 President: Mr James Cullens MBE (02)6282 1407(H) Treasurer: LtCol B.P. (Paddy) Mahony (Retd) (02)6254 3934(H) 3rd Wed each month, 2pm Canberra Services Club CAMPBELL-RUSSELL PO Box 461 Civic Square, ACT, 2608 President: Mr Robin Vickery Secretary: Mr Tom Roberts

Last Thu each month, 12:30pm Yowani Country Club, Northbourne Avenue

Periodically at the Canberra Services Club, Manuka

CITY OF CANBERRA 27 Bragg Street, Hackett, ACT 2602 President: Mr Jan Paulga Secretary: Mr Paul Bohun Third Wed each month 11am at The Cottage,The Braddon Club, Cnr Donaldson & Torrens Street, Braddon, ACT

TUGGERANONG PO Box 351, Erindale, ACT, 2903 President: Mr John Giersch Secretary: Mr Graeme Slattery First Wed each month, 7pm Erindale Rugby Union Club

GUNGAHLIN 11 Mawalan St, Ngunnawal, ACT, 2913 President: Mrs Christine Coulthard OAM Secretary: Mr Rod Bennett First Wed each month 7:30pm Lakes Community Club HELLENIC 136 Lambrigg St, Farrer, ACT, 2607 President: Mr Peter Tsikleas Secretary: Ms Katie Toulkidis Third Tue each month at 7:30pm Hellenic Club, Woden PEACEKEEPERS C/- Branch HQ President: Mr Gary Brodie OAM Secretary: Position vacant

VIETNAMESE PO Box 7107, Canbera Mail Exchange ACT, 2910 President: Mr Thi Van Truong Periodically at the Migrant Resource Centre WODEN VALLEY PO Box 1637 Woden, ACT, 2606 ph.(02) 62851931 http://www.rslwoden.org.au/ President: Mr Peter Collas Secretary: Mr Ross Thomas Last Tue each month 7pm Yamba Sports Club, Phillip.

OVERSEAS SUB-BRANCHES ANGELES CITY 40-20A Don Eleuterio Ave Don Bonafacio Subdvn Angeles City 2009, Philippines http://www.rslangelescity.com President: Mr James Curtis-Smith Secretary: Dallas Drake SUBIC BAY Block2, Lot 9/10, Casa Del Mar Baloy Beach, Bo.Baretto Olapango City Philippines, 2200 President: Mr Robin Hood Secretary: Mr Wayne E. Gordon Treasurer: Mr George Macdonald PORT MORESBY PO Box 22, Konedobu, NCD Papua New Guinea President: Mr Joe Filippi DMS Secretary: Mr Mick Pye WASHINGTON Washington Locked Bag 40 Kingston, ACT, 2604 or 1601 Massachusetts Ave N.W. Washington DC 200036 USA President: Mr Charles Lord Secretary: Mr Dave Ward

Help the RSL help veterans. To sponsor a Stand To page, contact M. Michaelis, 0488 998 381 or michaelis@netspeed.com.au

Stand To, August–September 2009

4

1300 offer their DNA for Fromelles project A

mid some controversy and disputed media reports about the Fromelles project to identify and rebury the remains of about 300 World War 1 Australian and British soldiers, the Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, Greg Combet, announced on August 10 that full analysis and matching of DNA would proceed.

This follows the successful conclusion of a pilot study to evaluate whether the DNA present in the remains found at the Fromelles site, in northern France, could be used to identify the remains of fallen soldiers.

More than 1300 descendants of Australian soldiers who died in the Battle of Fromelles with no known grave have registered with the Australian Army to offer their DNA to compare with the remains.

Mr Combet said, “The pilot study tested a cross-section of the Fromelles remains, samples being taken from the teeth and bones of these remains.

Samples were also taken from different parts of the burial sites.

“On the basis of the information provided by the study, the Australian and United Kingdom Governments have agreed that a full DNA testing program will be conducted.

“The delicate condition of the remains, the soil surrounding them and high water table has made the extraction of DNA difficult. Therefore it is also important to note that the chance of identification of each solider still remains low.

“Both the Australian and United Kingdom Governments remain committed to identifying as many of the fallen as is possible. DNA provides another piece of the complex identification puzzle but, as important as this is, it is just one of the many techniques that will be used to try [to] identify these soldiers. To increase the chance of success, identification of individuals will also rely on a combined picture of anthropological, archaeological, historical and scientific data.”

Descendants who are identified as having the best chance of a DNA match with a soldier who died at Fromelles will be contacted directly in the coming months. Given the public interest in this historic project, the Government is considering the release of further information relating to the DNA testing and pilot report.

Mr Combet announced in July that the project to recover and reinter Australian and British remains had collected more that 100 sets of remains and the original estimate that the site held up to 400 soldiers had been revised to about 300.

Oxford team The archaeological excavation operation at Pheasant Wood, Fromelles, began in May and is due to be completed in September. Four of the eight burial pits have been fully excavated and the team from Oxford Archaeology have begun work on two of the remaining four.

“These soldiers are being treated with the utmost care so that we ensure that their sacrifice is being honoured in the process,” said Mr Combet.

Home at last from Vietnam

An RAAF bearer party carries Pilot Officer Robert Carver’s coffin from St Luke’s Anglican Church after the funeral in Toowoomba, Qjeensland. His remains and those of his colleague, Flying Officer Michael Herbert, were repatriated after the report below was compiled. he remains of the final two Officer Herbert and Pilot Officer missing Australian Defence Carver, both aged 24 at the time of Force personnel from the Vietnam their deaths.

War have been located, the MinisMr Combet said. “This is an excelter for Defence Personnel, Materiel lent result for the investigation team and Science, Greg Combet, has and the cooperation of the Vietnamannounced. ese authorities has been exceptional An RAAF investigation team and highly valued by the team and deployed recently to Vietnam had the Government of Australia. found human remains at the site “Invaluable assistance has been where the wreckage of a Royal Aus- given by a number of former North tralian Air Force Canberra bomber Vietnamese and Viet Cong soldiers had been located in April this year. and their commanders as well as “The aircraft, which went missmany local villagers. Their compasing on 3 November 1970, was flown sion and commitment to assisting

by Flying Officer Michael Herbert this vital mission is greatly appreciand Pilot Officer Robert Carver,” ated.” he said.

Mr Combet praised the work of “The wreckage was located in the Defence Science and Technology thick jungle in an extremely rugOrganisation in using innovative ged, remote and sparsely populated modelling techniques to refine the area of Quang Nam Province, Vietarea of interest. nam, near the Laotian border.”

He also lauded the exhaustive and The recovery team had discovskilled research and expertise of the ered human remains in the vicinity Army History Unit in supporting of the crash site. the investigation and acknowledged The remains had been transported the efforts and commitment to the to Hanoi, where Vietnamese and recovery of Australian war dead Australian forensic specialists had shown by Jim Bourke and Operaidentified them as those of Flying tion Aussies Home.

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“In addition to the recovery of remains, methodical and thorough analysis of artefacts buried with them will assist in the possibility of identification of the soldiers who died 93 years ago. Many items are being found with the soldiers that indicate the force in which they served but identification of individuals will rely on a combination of anthropological, archaeological, historical and other scientific data.”

Adverse media reports Commenting on adverse media reports about the operation in France,

both Mr Combet and Alan Griffin, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, issued a joint media statement “correcting the public record in response to media reporting regarding the Fromelles Project archaeological excavation”.

“The Government wants to ensure that the recovery of these remains is conducted in a professional and sensitive manner and that the appropriate respect and reverence is paid to these men in all steps of the exhumation and reinterment process,” the ministers said.

They went on, “The choice to engage Oxford Archaeology to undertake the excavation was an international decision, reached using an open and trans-

parent tender process that was aligned with Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines.

“Oxford Archaeology’s services represented the best value for money to the Australian and United Kingdom Governments.

“The Government is advised that the recovery operation is being conducted with the utmost professionalism and reverence for the soldiers buried at Pheasant Wood.”

The Ministers said that as one of the largest independent archaeology and heritage practices in Europe, Oxford Archaeology had nearly 400 specialist staff.

It also had up to 30 highly experienced specialists, including anthropologists and archaeologists, on site at all times, and had the capacity to add more specialists from within its extensive team to assist the recovery operation at Pheasant Wood as necessary.

“Oxford Archaeology is also very experienced with postwar and postwarlike archaeology, having conducting recovery operations from a World War II site in France, as well as from other sites in Iraq, Kosovo, Bosnia and Guatemala,” they said.

“A minor delay with the project was caused by very heavy rain in late May this year. However, the project remains on the agreed schedule.”

The Fromelles Management Board had advised the Government that no remains or artefacts had been compromised by the weather and that Oxford Archaeology had strategies and options to mitigate groundwater and toxic waste.

The ministers said, “Also, contrary to media reports, Oxford Archaeology has recovered [more than] 60 individual remains from Pheasant Wood. These remains are ... in the on-site temporary mortuary and only three have not had artefacts found on them that directly associated them with the Army they fought for, either the Australian or British.

“Further, contrary to the media reporting, there was no ‘crisis meeting’ held at the site.

“The meeting referred to in the reports was held on June 29 and [was] a regular monthly meeting of the Fromelles Management Board to discuss project matters and provide guidance to the project managers, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.”

Minister Griffin said that the Commonwealth War Graves Commission was also overseeing construction of the cemetery that would be the final resting place of soldiers recovered from Pheasant Wood.

“Construction of the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery commenced in May and I am advised that it is on schedule to receive the soldiers’ remains in early 2010,” he said.

If people believed that they were relatives of soldiers who died in the Battle of Fromelles they were encouraged to contact the Australian Army on (free call) 1800 019 090 or visit the official Fromelles Project web site, www. army.gov.au/fromelles to register their interest.

The web site contained regular updates.

Help the RSL help veterans. To sponsor a Stand To page, contact M. Michaelis, 0488 998 381 or michaelis@netspeed.com.au

Stand To, August–September 2009

$4m to ex-service groups for veterans A

lmost 200 ex-service organisations (ESOs) will receive a share of $4 million through the Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) grant program.

Announcing the allocation, the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin, said the money would help members of the veteran community access their entitlements and connect with community and government services.

Mr Griffin has written to all organisations who applied for BEST grants.

“Concerns have been raised about the current program and there is a requirement to adjust to changing needs into the future,” he said.

“The Government therefore intends to review the BEST program.

“I will be consulting ESOs and other stakeholders in the coming months to ensure [that] the needs of the veteran community are being effectively met through this funding.

“The Australian Government supports the vital work of ESOs and funding from the BEST program helps them deliver services to [about] 400,000 veterans and their partners, war widows and widowers around Australia.”

Mr Griffin said the veteran community was rapidly changing, an ageing population and an increasing number of younger veterans with different service experiences needing support.

“ESOs provide key pension and welfare assistance to individuals and families and it is important that we help them adjust to the shifting needs of the ex-service community,” he said.

Information about grants administered by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs is available on its web site: www.dva.gov.au See also “$1.2m available to ex-service groups plus another $4m” — page 1

Australia party to disability protocol Australia will become a party to the Optional Protocol to the international Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (the Disability Convention).

If an effective remedy is not available at home for rights which countries have recognised under the Disability Convention, the Optional Protocol provides for disability rights issues to be taken to the International Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Disability Discrimination Commissioner Graeme Innes said this announcement on July 30 was an important addition to a series of recent commitments by Australian Governments to change the daily realities of exclusion and disadvantage for Australians with disabilities.

The international committee is made up of independent experts elected by parties to the Convention, and includes Australia’s Professor Ron McCallum.

Blue is for boys

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Compensation review looks at ‘disparities and inequities’

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Private Bradley Carr of the School of Artillery, Puckapunyal, Victoria (left) has his colleagues’ Blue September cancer awareness campaign blue facial artwork inspected by Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie, the Chief of Army. General Gillespie, who has been personally affected by cancer, launched Army’s participation in the campaign at RMC Duntroon on August 28 to raise awareness of cancer in men.

Age discrimination in workplace

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he Commissioner for Age Discrimination, Elizabeth Broderick, has expressed deep concern in response to the National Seniors Australia Experience Works report, which makes it clear that mature-age workers face a multitude of barriers to employment, including age discrimination.

“This report reinforces the position of the Australian Human Rights Commission — that unlawful age discrimination is a critical problem faced by mature-age workers in Australia today,” she said.

“Not only do we need to raise awareness of the types of age discrimination that are unlawful but we need to strengthen the laws that protect against it.

“As we know, the trend is now to extend our working lives past 65. It is therefore vital that the Australian Government and employers take the problem of age discrimination very seriously.

“Everybody should be able to retire when they want to but equally they should be able to continue working for as long as they need or want to and we must seriously address the barriers that prevent people from doing so.”

The Experience Works report states that the labour-force participation rate for people aged between 55 and 64 in Australia is lower than in Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Japan, Switzerland, Iceland and New Zealand.

“This is an issue that needs urgent attention, not only because age discrimination and misconceptions about mature-age workers are occurring in our workplaces right now but because this

is an issue that is very likely to confront anyone who stays in the workforce past 45 years of age — and let’s face it, that is a significant number of us,” Commissioner Broderick said.

The report showed that the level of underemployment and unemployment of mature-age workers could be hidden in statistics about part-time and casual workers but the reality could be that many of these workers were not receiving the hours that they needed.

“We need to further investigate issues like this so we can start to address the problems that lead to low workforce participation of mature age workers,” Commissioner Broderick said.

The Experience Works report highlighted the need for the Australian Government to recognise age discrimination as a significant barrier to mature-age employment in this country, to commit to an extensive awareness-raising campaign and to review existing laws with a view to strengthening their effectiveness.

Veterans’ health week Veterans’ Health Week has been reinstated and was held from August 24 to 30 for the first time in eight years, emphasising the importance of promoting a healthy lifestyle for veterans and their families.

For more information contact the Department of Veterans’ Affairs on 133 254 (for metropolitan callers) or 1800 555 254 (for non-metropolitan callers). Northern Territory callers please call 1300 551 918.

he Review of Military Compensation Arrangements’ steering committee met on July 14 to begin its consideration of almost 50 submissions from the service and ex-service communities.

The Review is examining the adequacy and suitability of military rehabilitation and compensation arrangements including perceived disparities and inequities between legislative schemes.

The Review is expected to report to Government in the first half of 2010, subject to the complexity of the matters raised.

The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin, said, “We need to ensure that the experiences of those who have been through the military rehabilitation and compensation system are considered as part of the Review, and I am grateful to those organisations and individuals who have made submissions”.

The next stage of investigations and consultations will include visits to Defence Force facilities and consultations with current and former members of the Australian Defence Force, ex-service organisations, key agencies and other stakeholders. The Prime Ministerial Advisory Council on Ex-service matters and the Ex-Service Roundtable will also be consulted for their views during the Review process.

The review’s steering committee is chaired by Ian Campbell, Chairman of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission. Its members are: Major General Craig Orme, Department of Defence; Ms Peta Furnell, The Treasury; Ms Joan Ross, Department of Finance and Deregulation; Ms Michelle Baxter, Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations; and Peter Sutherland, an independent expert in military rehabilitation and compensation law and a Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University College of Law.

Entente cordiale Australia is continuing its military links with France, forged in 1914, with an Agreement for Defence Cooperation and Status of Forces.

The agreement will enhance cooperation in military exchanges, exercises and training, defence materiel, logistics support and capability planning, activities to expand interaction of the two military cultures, science and technology and the exchange of spacebased information, including military geospatial information.

The Australian-French defence relationship is working in Afghanistan; Australia and France actively contribute to maritime surveillance, humanitarian disaster relief assistance, and support to regional defence and police forces in the Pacific and Southern Oceans.

Help the RSL help veterans. To sponsor a Stand To page, contact M. Michaelis, 0488 998 381 or michaelis@netspeed.com.au

6

Stand To, August–September 2009

Pilot’s death recalls attack on aircraft that brought the world to the brink

The aircraft

O “They shot us down with the intention of killing us” — Captain Phillip Blown, skipper of Cathay Pacific’s DC-4 VR-HEU From Chic Eather’s Syd’s Last Pirate

The release from a Scottish gaol of the terminally ill man found guilty of being involved in the Lockerbie bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 in which 259 were killed on 21 December 1988, as well as 11 people in Lockerbie reminds us of other tragedies that brought the world to the brink.

The downing of an Iranian passenger Airbus A300 by US missiles from USS Vincennes in July 1988 with the loss all 290 on board was claimed to be deliberate by the Iranian Government, but a mistake by the US Administration.

But the deliberate strafing by Communist Chinese fighters on July 23, 1954, of a Cathy Pacific DC-4 could have precipitated terrible conflict. The passenger plane was piloted by Phillip Blown, whose funeral was held on August 14 at Rouse Hill, NSW. He was a RAF pilot during World War II and later became chief pilot of Cathay Pacific Airways.

By JIM HARPER and VALERIE PARISH Valerie Parish was the youngest survivor of the incident in which she lost her father, Leonard, and her two younger brothers. She has compiled her report from her indelible memories which had such an impact on her and her family, and from other sources .

n July 23, 1954 friend and colleague Phil Blown was Captain of VR-HEU on a Cathay Pacific flight from Bangkok bound for Hong Kong. On board were 18 souls including the flight deck crew — Captain Blown, copilot Cedric Carlton and radio officer Steven Wong.

Cathay Pacific flight engineer George Cattanach was aboard as a passenger.

He was going to Hong Kong to represent Cathay at a professional discussion with the Director of Civil Aviation. Also among the passengers that day was the Parish family, of Texas.

Leonard, Fran and their three children — Valerie, Larry and Phillip —- were headed home from Bandung after Len’s tour with China National Aviation Corporation and after a completed business partnership in the Far East.

As it is the tradition for pilots to name their planes, so it is with the daughters of pilots. Young Valerie Parish decided to name Cathay Pacific VR-HEU “Silver Wings.”

As the flight progressed along the standard and prescribed route the Chinese launched what were thought to be two Soviet built Lavochkin LA-7 propdriven fighters and shot the commercial passenger plane down into the South China Sea near Hainan Island. Their position was 18 06’N, 110 06’E. “Chic” Eather called the act “murder on the wing.”

Of the 18 crew and passengers, nine were able to survive thanks to the intense efforts of the flight-deck crew, the sturdy construction of the DC-4 and the rapid response by US rescue teams.

The plane was repeatedly riddled with “.50 calibre (12.7 c 99mm machine gun cartridge) machine-gun bullets and cannon fire, setting Silver Wings afire as the plane corkscrewed downward.

Somehow Blown and his crew were able keep the nose of the airliner up enough after the 9000ft descent so that, on impact, the plane first skipped the surface of the ocean rather than immediately nosediving in.

This gave enough time for those who were capable of it to escape the fuselage before VR-HEU slipped beneath the waves.

Somehow the “maydays” from Steven Wong (who died that day) were heard and US rescue and support aircraft from Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines were able to recover the survivors under conditions of heavy seas with no interference by the Chinese and take them safely to Kai Tak airport, Hong Kong.

This day became known as the Hainan Incident, and, as would be expected, a serious international situation.

This day’s events were widely condemned by the free world and would lead to air combat between the US and China. Passenger Valerie Parish takes up her eyewitness account: There was no radio challenge; no warning shots.

Cream-coloured, propeller-driven Chinese fighter planes, each with a full red star on the side of the fuselage and a red nose, having come from the military air base located on Hainan Island, moved in on

Type: Douglas DC-4 Aircraft: Avro Anson 1 “Silver Wings” Registry: VR-HEU S/N: 10310 Operator: Cathay Pacific Airlines Where: Eighty to ninety miles south of Hainan Island, South China Sea, in the international air corridor used regularly by all civilian aircraft on that route.

Crew: 6. Passengers: 12 Flight origination: Singapore 16 aboard.

Seven disembarked at Bangkok, Thailand.

Nine more came aboard. Final destination Hong Kong Survivors: 10 survived the shoot-down. One died 10 minutes before arriving at Kai Tak airport, Hong Kong. Her name was Rita Cheong.

“Silver Wings” at 9,000 feet and began firing from both sides with cannon and machine guns at about 150 yards.

The copilot, Cedric Carlton, was the first to see the fighter plane on the starboard side. Captain Philip Blown, a RAF fighter pilot during World War II, glimpsed the second fighter immediately afterwards, just before the No. 1 engine burst into flames.

After that Silver Wings was full of flying .50 calibre bullets, and the Radio Officer, Stephen Wong, began to yell into his mike,”Mayday! Mayday! Losing altitude, engine on fire!”

Then the No. 4 engine and the No. 4 main fuel tanks were ablaze.

A flight stewardess open the lavatory door, a gaping hole was all that remained of the lavatory. She slammed the door saying, “This is not good!”

Captain Blown’s immediate concern was how to ditch the DC-4 from 9,000 feet with two engines and a wing in flames while all around him the explosive heads of .50 calibre shells blew holes a foot and a half wide the length and breadth of the aircraft with a deafening noise, shaking the plane violently with each blast.

Captain Blown took evasive action, swinging the plane from side to side.

The fighter planes had us in a crossfire.

Each time he did so the fighter on the side opposite to the way he was heading fired burst of heavy machine gun fire into the plane, which was going down at about 350mph.

Hand luggage was toppling from the shelves above the seats.

The cabin was filled with smoke from the burning cordite, it was hard to breath.

The noise, the people, the smoke, the fear, at any minute the plane was expected to blow apart. She held together.

A tribute to the aircraft company who designed and built her.

Engineer George Cattanach struggled up the steep incline of the plane, pulling himself up the aisle using the back of the seats.

He bravely tried to put life vests on the passengers.

At 5,000 feet the rudder control was shot off; at 2,000 feet the right aileron was gone; at 1,000 feet the fighter planes quit shooting.

The corkscrew from 9,000 feet took about two minutes.

The angle was pretty steep.

Continued next page

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7

Stand To, August–September 2009

of war with China over the South China Sea Continued from previous page

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ome passengers were already dead. There was no panic among the living, some of whom were injured by shrapnel. Some were injured by flying debris. Steve Wong was still shouting his message to the world — he did not know the radio aerial had been shot away within a few seconds of the first shots’ being fired. Silver Wings came to the water at about 260 knots and it was hard for Captain Blown to reduce that speed. He had no flaps, the plane barely under control. Skilfully, he turned all the engines off — what was left of them — except the No. 3 engine.

He gunned the No. 3 engine, which lifted the nose enough to allow the plane to bounce and lift three times, skimming across the rough water. He ditched his burning, shot-up plane.

The starboard wing caught the water and ripped off, then a huge wave formed and the nose hit somewhere near the top of it at about 160 mph. The tail section broke off and the plane ripped apart, water pouring in.

Captain Blown and Cedric Carlton were thrown violently forward, hitting the rubber crash guards above the instrument panel; the safety harness snapped, water poured in from the broken cockpit windows and they scrambled out the front window as the nose of Silver Wings vanished below the water. When the tail section came off, life jackets and the dinghy, still encased in its dark blue canvas bag, floated free.

Some of the passengers were able to escape the sinking plane, grabbing the floating wreckage as they came up from it. White-capped waves washed the survivors away from the plane. It took about a minute for the plane to sink out of sight. In the meantime, Captain Blown and co-pilot Carlton located the survivors, the dinghy and life vests. These two heroes gathered us together and, when it was safe, inflated the bright yellow dinghy and got us all aboard.

The two pilots of the Russian-built planes did their best to sink us without a trace. When they did their flyover at about 750 feet, their engines emitting a shrill waspish sound, they had every reason to believe their mission had been accomplished.

A French privateer in his fully armed plane, who had heard the distress call, took off from Tourane (Da Nang) and arrived at the scene. He protected us from further harm. We were 10 dazed, injured people, our clothes in shreds, huddled under canvas on a raft tossed about by 10 foot waves. He guided the rescue plane to our position by dropping a flare. Captain Blown shouted, “The Yanks are coming! The Yanks are coming!” I thought “Oh! No!” I didn’t know if I had the strength for another go around. I didn’t know what a Yank was.

Captain Jack T. Woodyard and his crew were dispatched from Clark Air Force Base, in the Philippines. In one of the most outstanding sea rescues in US Air Force history, he piloted his SA16 Albatross, an amphibian aircraft, towards the survivors. The Chinese had warned any aircraft to stay away from the scene or they would be shot down.

Captain Blown is at the far right inthis group.

Captain Woodyard and his crew set the pot-bellied plane down near a small island about two and a half miles from the raft at about 1:05pm. Then it taxied through the churning seas. When they got away from the protection of the island, there were 10-foot swells.

The wing tips were dipping into the water. When the final approach was made, life lines were thrown and caught by people in the raft.

The heavy seas made it difficult to bring the raft alongside. Captain Blown helped lift his passengers into the rescue plane. He was the last to leave the raft.

We were all dazed; we couldn’t comprehend what was happening. We were in a state of shock. Our wounds throbbed, aggravated by the shark repellent that had got into them. The Grumman Goose taxied to the leeward side of Tai Chou Island, where the ocean was calmer; the pilot had to take off into the wind.

Our rescue plane was overloaded by about 2,000 pounds.

We were spaced out to even the load. Captain Arnold was being assisted by Airman Rodriguez in an effort to hang the jato-jet assisted take-off-units.

After a great deal of effort, they managed to hang the port side fuel bottle in position but couldn’t mange the bulky starboard one. About this time the cover aircraft reported a formation of unidentified aeroplanes approaching. This seemed to stimulate Captain Arnold, the co-pilot, and with an oath he swung that fuel bottle into place unassisted. Then the plane turned towards the open sea.

The Grumman Goose hit three large swells, the water let go of the plane with reluctance, but now we were airborne. We made a wide turn towards Hong

Kong, the French privateer on our wing. When he was satisfied we were safe and he could do no more, he tipped his wings three times and flew away. The cover aircraft flew along side the rest of the way. We landed at Kai Tak airport at about 5:30pm. We were taken to a hospital in Kowloon and treated for our injuries.

News of the vicious attack spread to Westminster and Washington. The United States denounced the “brutal” attack and almost at once, on July 26, 1954, two American Skyraiders and a Corsair from the aircraft carriers Philippine Sea and Hornet — part of task force 70 — shot down two Chinese fighters off the China coast.

Admiral Stump, the Commander-in Chief of the US Pacific Fleet, warned everybody that the crews of his ships and aircraft had orders to be “quick on the trigger” if rescue efforts were hampered in anyway.

In London, Mr Anthony Eden told the House of Commons, of the “brutal” and “savage” attack. Opposition Leader Mr. Clement Attlee, who embarrassingly was to visit China the following month, repeated that it was “absolutely inexcusable”.

However, the heat was taken off the situation somewhat by prompt expressions of regret by Peking’s (Beijing’s) Chang Han-Fun, Vice Mminister of Foreign Affairs, to the British Charge d’Affaires, Humphery Trevelyan, after Trevelyan had sent a strong letter of protest.

Further sources: http://www.helianthus-productions.com/VRHEU.html http://dnausers.d-n-a.net/dnetGOjg/230754.htm

Superannuation prompts letters to another editor

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everal recent letters to the editor of The Canberra Times have questioned the fairness of the Government’s superannuation schemes.

Neil James, of Wanniassa, writes, in part: “Various correspondents have rightly criticised the inequity and hypocrisy of the Government’s retaining the CPI as the only index for Public Service and ADF superannuants, despite MPs’ and even welfare recipients’ long having much fairer indexation arrangements.

“Both sides of politics continue to discriminate against Commonwealth superannuants because they do not fear an electoral backlash nationally and can always whip up populist “anti-bureaucrat” feelings if they feel threatened ...

“Retired and serving public servants and ADF personnel, and their families are much stronger proportionally in the ACT than elsewhere. Moreover, the

ACT’s two Senate seats always split 50/50 between the two machine parties and both seats are contested at every half-Senate election. Both ACT Senators claim they acknowledge the inequity but are either incapable of fixing it or are liars.

“The Superannuated Commonwealth Officers’ Association (SCOA) and the Defence Force Welfare Association (DFWA) should endorse two candidates in the ACT at the next Senate election with the sole platform of getting the discrimination removed and with every voter advised to award their second preference to whom they normally support. Candidates should also be run in the two Lower House seats to increase the Senate vote.

“Even it the SCOA/DFWA candidates do not win even second place in the Senate primary vote, the over-all protest vote would be a good basis to repeat the process every three years until reform occurs ...”

On the same subject, Les Bienkiewicz, National Secretary, Defence Force Welfare Association, writes, in part: “We have not previously expressed an opinion about how superannuants should vote in upcoming elections, even though it has been our sad experience that promises [by] candidates usually fizz out once an election passes.That said, voters in the Eden-Monaro electorate may wish to keep this in mind in the coming federal election. ...The Defence Force Welfare Association (as well as the Superannuated Commonwealth Officers’ Association on behalf of civilian superannuants) will continue to lobby hard for this injustice to be righted.

“Readers should examine both associations’ web sites (www.dfwa.org.au and www.scoa.asn.au) for more information and make personal representations to their representatives and candidates.”

Help the RSL help veterans. To sponsor a Stand To page, contact M. Michaelis, 0488 998 381 or michaelis@netspeed.com.au

8

Stand To, August–September 2009

Danger — from our own ammunition A

fter my initial army training in Bathurst I was posted to an ammunition depot at “Myambat”, between Mussellbrook and Merriwa, NSW. The ammunition was stored in prefabricated sheds and mainly prepared for shipment to wherever needed in Australia or overseas.

Early in 1942, 104 personnel from “Myambat”, including me, were shipped out of Sydney to set up an advanced ammunition depot in PNG, just south of Rona Falls.

By now two big problems had become evident: one was transporting ammunition from the advanced depot to the field ammunition dump and the second was keeping the ammunition dry. While we did have some prefabricated sheds, a large amount of ammunition was out in the open on dunneget and covered with tarpaulins.

Rain, heat and humidity rotted the wooden crates and metal containers rusted exposing the ammunition to moisture, rendering it, in many cases, dangerous or useless. Ammunition, including 25-pound artillery shells, 40mm Bofors AA and other AA ammunition, was exploding prematurely or not at all because of faulty mechanisms caused by dampness.

Someone had to repair this faulty ammunition and so mobile ammunition repair shops were formed. Each unit consisted of 13 troops completely independent and all with specialist expertise from the CO down to the cook.

It was not practical to have just anyone handling suspect ammunition so a special training school was set up at Segeri to train “ammunition examiners”.

I was sent to this school for six weeks’ intensive training and eventually the Australian Army had about 80 ammunition examiners, not all trained at Segeri because at least one examiner had to be attached to each ammunition depot back in Australia. Each ammunition repair workshop had two examiners and other examiners were based at the advanced ammunition depot with a “roving commission” to be sent anywhere there was a problem, including the front line, as observers.

For example, if in the course of an artillery barrage a particular batch of ammunition was exploding prematurely, the examiner would authorise another batch to be used and he, with seconded left, would change the fuses in the damaged shells.

Each batch of shells has a lot number and each batch of fuses has a serial number, all of which is recorded — so

Harry Kaufmann writes about his unusual job during World War II. He had to stop Australian ammo from killing our own troops before it could be used on the enemy. He was an Ammunition Examiner with a special role in Papua New Guinea.

Picture courtesy of the Australian War Memorial

Repairing live ammunition that has deteriorated is a tricky and dangerous job. Here, in Port Moresby in 1944, personnel repair high-explosive 25-pounder shells.

You never know who’ll turn up

When in Cairns on my way to PNG I met a young guy from Hanover, Germany, and told him if he happened to get to Canberra give me a call. He intended to buy a vehicle and travel around Australia. So I thought, “Well, that’s the last I will see of him.”

At 9am on a recent Monday there was a knock on my door and to my surprise it was Willie, from Hanover. The next few days we spent showing him around Canberra, visiting Parliament House, Civic, the Australian War Memorial, St John’s Church, Reid, the National Library and many more places of interest.

As I had to have a medical check-up I arranged for Willie to spend a few days with friends at Nimmitabel, so he coulf experience a bit of Australian bush hospitality. I arranged also for him to spend a few days with friends of mine in Parramatta so they could show him around Sydney before he retured home.

— Harry Kaufmann it is not a matter of putting any fuse with any shell. At first I had a “roving commission” but was mainly based at the advanced ammunition depot out from Port Moresby.

Getting ammunition from Port Moresby to the northern side of the island was mainly by barge — slow and dangerous. When air-dropping began, ammunition would be wrapped in blankets and pushed out of a DC 3 aircraft at low altitude. Unfortunately, because mortar bombs were primed on impact, they later exploded when

dropped into the mortar tube, killing the mortar crew.

To prevent this, the examiners at the advanced ammunition dump, such as myself, removed the mortar bomb fuse, took it apart and inserted a fine sliver of dowel under the primer and then put the whole thing back together. This meant other examiners had to be at the air-drop point to remove the piece of dowel.

This all proved to be slow and tedious work so some other means of air-drop had to be devised and that was

when parachutes came into use.

Late in 1943, the 6th Mobile Ammunition Repair Workshop was on its way back to Australia but needed a second examiner to bring it up to full strength — and it was at that point that I was transferred to a specific army unit.

Back in Australia, I was sent once again to the ammunition dump at “Myambat”, where I stayed until the end of World War II. The day the war ended, word came through that I was to report to Victoria Barracks, Sydney, only to be told that I was on movement back to Madang, PNG, where I and other ammunition examners were expected to blow up all the remaining ammunition dumps in PNG. By the time this operation, including our transport, could be properly planned, everything and everyone was coming back to Australia.

The ammunition was sent to Bogan Gate, between Parkes and Condobolin, western NSW. During my first appointment to Myambat I did some “labouring “ work — I lifted the boxes of ammunition on to a bench for the ammunition examiner, WOII Clarrie Morton. In PNG our paths had crossed on several occasions but he returned to Australia for officer training.

Instead of going to Madang I was sent to Bogan Gate, where to my surprise I was to report to now Captain Clarrie Morton who, I strongly suspected, had requested that I be his assistant in the job ahead.

For the next year Captain Morton and I stacked and blew up 25 tons of ammunition a day. Because we were in a grazing and farming area we had to make sure that the ammunition was blown into dust and not just lumps of metal.

On one occasion we came across a large quantity of armour-piecing shells — solid lumps of metal. If we had been in Sydney I would have suggested that we sell them off to antiques or secondhand shops as doorstops! To dispose of these we decided to scout the district for a disused mine shaft, which we eventually found.

With the war well and truly over I was anxious to get back to civilian life as soon as the Army was ready to let me go. Captain Morton had decided to make the Army his career and tried his hardest to get me, with a promise of a commission, to do likewise. The last I heard of Charlie Morton was he was now a major and Chief Ammunition Officer for the Australian Army.

Praise for — and criticism of — report on loss of HMAS Sydney II

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he Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, Greg Combet, has commended the Defence Science and Technology Organisation for its work with the Commission of Inquiry into HMAS Sydney II’s loss.

He praised the efforts of the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) and the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) whose reconstructive work was crucial in uncovering the circumstances surrounding the loss of the ship and all 645 crew members — Australia’s greatest naval tragedy.

A key piece of evidence placed before the Commission was a computer-generated simulation produced by DSTO to depict the final hours of the ship, based on extensive scientific computer models, an exhaustive analysis of video imagery and photographs of the wreck site, as well as historical documents and photographs, illustrating the extent of the torpedo and shell damage suffered by the vessel.

However, not everybody was pleased with the finding of Commissioner Terrence Cole QC that the Sydney’s captain had made errors of judgment

in approaching the disguised German raider, Kormoran.

R.S.Gilbert, of Braddon, in a letter to the editor of The Canberra Times, wrote that as a returned ex-serviceman from World War II, he found it “... quite disgusting that someone thought it necessary, 68 years after the event, to hold an inquiry into why HMAS Sydney sank and to publicise its findings that it had been caused by an ‘almost inexplicable error of judgment by the captain’.” He went on to ask what had been gained by “pointing a finger” at a serviceman who had died in battle, to

offset the hurt it must have caused his family and successors.

Mr Gilbert’s sentiments were echoed in an editorial in The Canberra Times, questioning the value of the inquiry’s findings from a military or naval standpoint. The editorial concluded that although the report might bring closure to the families of the crew, “... it is hard to see how the survivng relatives of Captain Burnett will draw any comfort from the findings ...” A copy of the report is on the Defence internet site at: www.defence.gov.au/ sydneyii/finalreport

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9

Stand To, August–September 2009

ACT veteran visits PNG battlefields A

mong the hundreds of people who attended the traditional ANZAC Day dawn service at Bomana War Cemetery, outside Port Moresby, this year was a sprightly 85-year-old from Canberra.

His chest bedecked with medals, Harry Kaufmann admired the beautiful wreaths laid at the Cross of Sacrifice, and then walked around the white marble headstones to pay respect to his fallen mates.

Mr Kaufmann was in PNG in 1942 and 1943, a fresh-faced 19-year-old and, after the war, has never been back until now.

He never took part in actual fighting during World War II, being a member of the 6th Australian Mobile Ammunition repair workshop, based at Koitaki and Sogeri, outside Port Moresby.

[See his article — Page 8] He had three elder brothers, all of whom were engaged in the war, one killed in Singapore.

“I was the youngest of four boys,” he told PNG’s The National newspaper.

One of them was killed in Singapore and another was taken prisoner of war in Singapore.

“My other brother was in the air force [in New Guinea].”

Mr Kauffman’s unit was responsible for supplying and repairing Australian ammunition used during World War II, including Kokoda, and he got to know many of the soldiers who now rest at Bomana.

Emotional experience Mr Kauffman’s tour guide, Andrew Kagil. said taking him around was one of the most emotional experiences of his 20 years in the tourism industry.

Mr Kaufmann paid tribute to the Papuans and New Guineans who had selflessly helped the Australians during war.

“Your people were on the ground to help us,” he said. “We never knew what we were doing from day to day.”

More than 1,000 people attended the dawn ceremony at Bomana. Afterwards, many laid flowers against the cemetery’s white marble headstones as students from Ela Murray International School sang the haunting strains of Pete Seeger’s Where Have All the Flowers Gone?

New Zealand High Commissioner to PNG Neils Holm gave the address.

Christine Coulthard, of the Gungahlin RSL sub-branch, and Joe Filippi, of the Port Moresby RSL, recited The Ode. A group of about 50 students, teachers and relatives from the St Ignatius Boys College, Sydney, trekked along the Kokoda Track to Port Moresby to arrive in time for the ANZAC Day dawn memorial service.

It was also a special moment for teacher Dean Hangreaves, whose grandfather Tom Tregent, of the 3rd battalion (milita), fought at Emita ridge and Buna in WWII. Student Tom Weston enjoyed the trekking but was even more proud to be the first in his family to see the graveyard of his great-uncle, Leo Schalk.

More than 3,800 servicemen are buried at Bomana, 702 of them unidentified.

Death marches cannot be forgotten

New Secretary of Defence Department The outgoing Secretary of the Department of Defence, Mr Nick Warner, is being replaced by Dr Ian Watt.

The Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, paying tribute to Mr Warner on August 13, said he left a very important legacy, including the 2009 White Paper and the Strategic Reform Program.

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The Kundasang Memorial Gardens, Sabah, Malaysia.

he new Australian Memorial Hall at the Kundasang Memorial Gardens in Sabah, Malaysia, was opened to the public on August 13 by the Australian High Commissioner in Malaysia, Penny Williams, Visitors can learn more there about one of the worst atrocities experienced

by Australian servicemen during World War II, in which more than 2400 Australian and British soldiers died at the Sandakan prisoner-of-war camp and on the “death marches” from Sandakan to Ranau in 1945.

The Australian Government contrib-

uted about $155,000 for the construction of the Australian Memorial Hall to house an audiovisual display as well as memorabilia and historical material.

Additional funding was provided to assist with security at the site.

The funding is provided by the Australian Government’s Overseas Privately Constructed Memorial Restoration Program, administered by the Office of Australian War Graves.

For more information on the program contact the Office of Australian War Graves or visit www.dva.gov.au/commems_oawg/ OAWG/grants/Pages/index.aspx

Grim memories of Sandakan SANDAKAN 1942–1945 Stories of the local people who heroically helped the Australian PoWs.

By Doreen Hurst and contributors Published by Price $33 including GST + postage (1–5 books $9.90 in Australia — total $42.90).

Please pay by cheque/money order only and send to: PO Box 3091, WESTON CREEK ACT 2611.

M

ost of the book is first-hand experience as many of the contributors’ chapter headings give a stark picture of life under Japanese military rule.

The last member of the underground,

Mr Chin Chee Kong, died in Kota Kinabalu on 2 June 2009.

In his dedication, Owen C. Campbell OAM BEM, writes, “This book will give a clearer picture of the sufferings of the people of Sandakan under Japanese occupation during World War II.” He adds, “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people of Sandakan for their help, for the food and medicine which they smuggled to us even though they could have lost their lives.

“Even after my escape, and the escape of my comrades, I could not have survived without the support of the local people. Their generosity and courage will not be forgotten.”

Author and editor Doreen Hurst contributes five chapters to the book.

Among the chapter titles are:

New ADF aviation pay structure The independent Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal has approved a new remuneration structure for Australian Defence Force officer aircrew and air traffic control officers.

The new Officer Aviation Remuneration Structure introduces a flexible remuneration system that ensures that this specialist military workforce of more than 2,000 members receives comparable pay for comparable work against the aviation industry benchmark — and to slow “poaching” by private industry.

Escape From Berhala Island by Haji Mohamed Tahir; Why did my father sacrifice his life?

by Alban Lagan; She held their lives in her hands by Madame Theresa Regis; The Story of Dr Valentine Stookes and Mrs Dora Stookes by Richard Stookes ; Death Marches by Bdr. J. R. Braithwaite; Owen Colin Campbell William H. Sticpewich; Private K. Botterill; The Sex Slaves by Robert Goh. The book contains maps and references.

All moneys from sales will be given to the grandchildren of the members of the underground and the indigenous people who saved the lives of the escapees from the death marches.

Queanbeyan Red Cross links with World War I

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he establishment of the Red Cross in Australia was inextricably linked with the country’s efforts in World War I. Queanbeyan Red Cross has just celebrated 95 years of service, having first met on August 20, 1914 — six days after World War I began. NSW Red Cross, formed a few years before the August 13, 1914 formation of Australian Red Cross, when the legal documentation was completed.

The story of Queanbeyan Red Cross, which first formed a committee to assist Red Cross at its initial 1914 meeting and then worked informally until officially forming a Red Cross group on September 14, 1915, was similar to the formation of many Australian Red

Compiled by Sandra Young, with reference to the Queanbeyan Age Cross groups in World War I. Some examples of the work undertaken by Queanbeyan Red Cross during World War I included: Farewelling and welcoming home regional veterans, often with a gift such as a sheepskin vest; Sending comforts to the overseas veterans, such as knitted socks, pyjamas, balaclavas, Christmas billies containing cakes, tobacco etc; Helping regional widows of veterans, by supplying them with fruit, vegetables and an amount of money at Christmas;

Helping raise money that supported the Australian Red Cross hospitals for injured, blind or those veterans with TB; Helping feed the WWI “Snowy River” volunteers as they completed their recruitment march (most of the regional Red Cross groups also helped with this as the marches passed through their areas); Raising money for the Belgian Relief Fund; Collecting jam and old linen and sending them to Red Cross headquarters (the old linen, after treatment, was used for bandages).

Bags were made to be used as sandbags for the trenches and also as soldiers’ hospital bags.

Help the RSL help veterans. To sponsor a Stand To page, contact M. Michaelis, 0488 998 381 or michaelis@netspeed.com.au

10

Stand To, August–September 2009

Captain Saunders honoured by club A leader R

eginald Saunders was the first Aboriginal Australian to be commissioned as an officer in the Australian army.

Saunders was born GundiGmara on the Frarnlingham Aboriginal Reserve in western Victoria on August 7, 1920.

His father, Chris, and his uncle, William Reginald (after whom he was named) both served in World War I. Saunders enlisted on April 24, 1940 and, after his initial training, was sent to the Middle East to join the 2/7th Battalion. The 2/7th fought in Bardia and Libya, North Africa, then embarked on the ill-fated Greek campaign. After Greece his unit fought on Crete, where Saunders experienced his first close combat and was forced to remain hidden on the island for 12 months after the German victory.

After escaping from Crete in May 1942, Saunders returned to Australia before rejoining his battalion in New Guinea — now as a sergeant.

He remained in action with the 2/7th until mid-1944, when his commanding officer nominated him for officer training.

After a 16-week course in Seymour, Victoria, Saunders was commissioned in November 1944 and returned to New Guinea.

For the remaining months of the war, Saunders fought as a platoon commander in New Guinea.

He recalled that he “... being a bush boy, I was at home in the jungle, because every time you ducked down you were under cover. In the desert, if you ducked down, they’d just bounce bullets off you.”

He was in the Wewak area when the war ended and was repatriated to Australia to a welcome tinged with sadness for his younger brother, Harry, who had been killed in action.

When the Korean War began, Reg Saunders returned to the Army, leaving his wife and three daughters at home.

In Korea, Saunders served as a captain in the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment and fought at Kapyong.

In Pilgrimage, author Gawie Hutchinson quotes Saunders as saying after the battle of Kapyong, “At last 1 felt like an ANZAC and I imagine there

The Canberra Services Club has dedicated a room on its premises to the first Aboriginal officer in the Australian Army — the Captain Saunders Room.

“Let us not forget, he led men he could not drink with in any pub. He fought for a country that did not recognise him as a citizen. He was not allowed to vote for the government that deployed him. His brother, his uncle and other indigenous soldiers lost their lives fighting for freedom and a way of life that excluded them.”

— Canberra Services Club president Vince Pannell APM

About November 1950, Korea: Three members of the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment confer with a North Korean interpreter (left) who is serving with the battalion. Warrant Officer W.J. (“Bill”) Harrison, the Regimental Sergeant Major; Lieutenant Reginald Saunders, second-in-command of A Company; Private W.H. (“Alby”) Alberts of the Sniper Section are gathered around a camp fire on which a billy is boiling.

Photographer: Robert Henry Parker

were 600 others like me”.

Saunders left the army in 1954. In 1967 he joined the Office of Aboriginal Affairs as a liaison and public relations officer. He was appointed to the Council of the Australian War Memorial in 1985.

While in Canberra he became involved with the Canberra Services Club, where he was a member from 1969 to 1990. He was a club director from 1980 to 1984 and club secretary in 1986.

A well respected soldier and leader, Saunders died on March 2, 1990.

In 1971 he was awarded the MBE (Civil) for his work in the Office of Aboriginal Affairs.

In 2001 a road around Defence Headquarters at Russell, ACT was named in his honour, as is the RSL Captain Reg Saunders Scholarship for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women who plan to undertake a tertiary course of study in the substanceabuse area.

His biographer and friend Harry Gordon, an Australian journalist in Korea, wrote of him, “He was accepted unreservedly by the men who served with him because false values do not flourish among front-line soldiers.”

Sources include The embarrassing Australian; the story of an Aboriginal warrior. Lansdowne Press, 1962.

Cakes, a pony and Meccano set — foundation stones

I

n October 1939, after the outbreak of World War 11, the Canberra Volunteers’ (later Services) Welfare Association was formed. In July 1940 the Association proposed that a rest hut be constructed in Canberra for the use of people in the forces at a cost of approximately £1000 — an estimation generous fund-raising quickly exceeded, Lady Gowrie, wife of Governor-General Lord Gowrie, supported the project and played a major role in raising funds. On April 20, 1940 a garden fair in the grounds of Government House saw more than £3500 raised from entry fees, the sale of 2000 cakes made by Canberrans, raffles of a No. 4 Meccano set, a pony and even some of Lady Gowrie’s personal belongings.

Funds were also raised by the Association through raffles, direct gifts and stalls.

Furnishings were, in many instances, donated by members of the public.

The appeal eventually raised more than £7000.

Construction proceeded and the building, known as the Lady Gowrie Services Club (colloquially as “The Hut”), opened on March 13, 1941.

The club provided hospitality to service personnel, providing a place where they could relax, have meals, enjoy billiards, dances (twice weekly), concerts and other social functions, and have reading facilities. This was the club’s role for the rest of the war. It has been estimated that during the war more than a million meals were served at the club staffed by 500-plus women volunteers from the Canberra community.

These critical services were overseen by a Board of Commandants. Initially the local service units included personnel of the 3rd Battalion, the 7th Light Horse and Canberra men in the 6th Division but, as hostilities continued, hospitality was extended to anyone in

uniform. This included armed forces personnel from the United States of America and the Netherlands as well as Commonwealth countries. Personnel from local stations — RAAF Fairbairn, HMAS Harman and Goulburn Army Hospital in particular — were also frequent visitors.

Lady Gowrie was president of the club until 1944, when she was succeeded by the Duchess of Gloucester, wife of the incoming Governor-General, the Duke of Gloucester.

After the war the need for a permanent club was recognised, as social opportunities for ex-service personnel were limited in Canberra at the time.

Consequently, in 1946 the Lady Gowrie Services Club Council was formed as lessee of the building and in 1947 it commenced subleasing most of the structure to the Canberra Services Club, which was formed on 9 October 1947.

of his men W

elcoming guests to the dedication of the Captain Saunders Room, Canberra Services Club president Vince Pannell APM said he was honoured to welcome four generations of the Saunders family to the club “who have literally travelled far and wide to be here, to recognise their brother, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.”

He recalled that, in July, club members and guests had come together to recognise Lady Zara Gowrie, the club’s founder, “There are numerous similarities between this fine lady and Captain Saunders. Both remain largely and sadly unrecognised and their significant contributions, particularly in wartime, remain the knowledge of few Australians,” he said.

“We aim to change that and, in the coming days and weeks, we look forward to announcing the establishment of a number of programs and initiatives that will allow us to achieve this objective.

“Captain Reginald Saunders MBE was in many ways a pathfinder. He achieved much, he led well and courageously and he provided a positive example. He was and remains well loved by family, friends and comrades in arms alike. He achieved all this in the face of adversity, prejudice and inequality. Let us not forget, he led men he could not drink with in any pub.

He fought for a country that did not recognise him as a citizen. He was not allowed to vote for the government that deployed him. His brother, his uncle and other indigenous soldiers lost their lives fighting for freedom and a way of life that excluded them. It is only fitting that the Canberra Services Club recognises this man, this Australian (and by default all those that went before him) on the 42nd anniversary of when the Australian people decided that such discrimination was neither right, fair nor acceptable.

“As with Lady Gowrie, Captain Saunders remains an inspiration for this club. More importantly, he provides inspiration for all Australians, regardless of colour, creed or belief. His leadership, professionalism, dedication and commitment are values that remain as important today as they were to him.

“The opportunity to recognise Captain Saunders is one we firmly believe is an obligation the club needed to honour, and that will provide a lasting legacy.”

***

Opening remarks were made by Master of Ceremonies Mark Parton; a representative of the Ngunnawal People made guests welcome to country; President, Canberra Services Club, Vince Pannell APM, gave the welcome address (report above); remarks by family were made by Glenda Humes, daughter of Captain Reginald Saunders; and Professor Lieutenant General Peter Leahy AC, Patron of the Canberra Services Club, spoke on “Captain Reginald Saunders MBE — his life and service”; the dedication of the Captain Saunders Room was made by the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin.

Help the RSL help veterans. To sponsor a Stand To page, contact M. Michaelis, 0488 998 381 or michaelis@netspeed.com.au

11

Stand To, August–September 2009

Bulletin Board & Letters Bulletin Board & Letters ACT schools win ANZAC prizes Two ACT schools received awards in the ANZAC Day Schools’ Awards which is funded under the Australian Government’s Saluting Their Service commemorations program and administered by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. They were St Clare’s College (secondary) and Trinity Christian School (junior). Each schools received $1000.

School pupils are encouraged to learn about Australia’s wartime heritage and to develop innovative ways to commemorate the service and sacrifice of servicemen and women each ANZAC Day. This year 21 schools shared in $22,500 prize money.

For more information visit the Commemoration section of the DVA web site at www.dva.gov.au

T

Nursing services for veterans

I

n a Letter to the Editor, Doris Miller writes: I am employed by Kincare Community Services as a Registered Nurse/Program Manager. We currently have a contract with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to deliver Nursing Services to Veterans.

I am not sure if you are aware of our services and what we deliver to the Veteran Community. We provide all forms of nursing care, including personal, wound and palliative care.

We also manage those veterans with chronic diseases to ensure their health and wellbeing is kept at an optimal level to maintain their independence and to be able to remain in their own homes as long as is possible. Registered nurses visit veterans on a 28-day cycle or when needed. All that is required to access our service is a referral (D904) from a GP or from the DVA Liaison Nurse at the hospitals.

Figurine special offer

he RSL Shop is travelling very well.

Many sub-branches are now trading with the RSL Shop and are enjoying the opportunity of using the products for sub-branch fund-raising.

The promotion for September (see illustration below) is a special offer on our figurines. Sub-branches will make a $39 profit for each figurine they sell

and if they buy three figurines we will donate one figurine to the sub-branch free. The idea is that they could make an additional $179 if they sell the donated figurine or they could use it for display purposes. This offer will assist your subbranches in their efforts to raise funds, as well as create a profit in the RSL Shop that will be distributed to all participating state branches.

These services do not include domestic assistance or respite care.

However, we are able to refer the client to Veterans’ Home Care for these services.

There are no charges involved in delivering the care as all is paid for

by DVA and if equipment is needed our registered nurses or occupational therapists are able to attend this.

I am able to be contacted on (02) 6229 2606 Monday to Friday from 8am until 4pm, if you have any queries.

Yours sincerely, Doris Miller Program Manager KinCare ACT PO Box 218 Deakin West ACT 2600 mobile: 0404 064 581 ph: 1300 733 510 fax: 1300 733 520

2CARU (RAAF) Reunion

A 50th Anniversary reunion to celebrate the formation of 2 Control and Reporting Unit, RAAF Lee Point will be held in Darwin from 18 to 26 September.

Access www.angelfire.com.au or email 2caruaware@gmail.com or phone 08 89451547

A date for next year HMAS ANZAC/TOBRUK Association will hold a reunion at Tweed Heads RSL Gold Coast on July 15–18, 2010.

All members and old shipmates are invited.

Details, costs and itinerary will be confirmed later.

New membership inquiries to: Secretary, Graham Bermingham.

Phone: [03] 9877 6715 bermingham1@bigpond.com.au

50th reunion 101 Field Battery, RAAF Malaya 1959 to 1961 Tour 50th Reunion 18 to 20 September 2009, at Coffs Harbour Contact David Troedel 36 Murphy’s Creek Road Toowoomba, Qld, 4350 Email: davidpat@bigpond.net.au

Radio Ron calling Ron Metcalfe’s radio show, focusing on veterans, is on in the ACT region on the first Thursday of every month at 9.15am and then again at 8pm on Radio One (1120 AM Band)

VC’s relatives sought ny New Zealand

P

aul Stein, New Zealand Defence Communications Advisor (Central) Defence Communications Group, writes, “We are trying to locate any family members of Pte Thomas Cooke VC, who, while a New Zealander by birth, earned his VC in the service of the Australian Army.”

The search for any of Pte Cooke’s relatives has been prompted by the decision of the New Zealand Defence Force to continue naming its barrack accommodation at Linton Military Camp after VC winners. A new block, about to be commissioned, is being named the Pte Cooke VC Barracks.

Thomas Cooke was born in 1881 in Kaikoura, Marlborough, New Zealand and migrated to Australia in 1912.

He enlisted on February 16, 1915 and was allotted as “a reinforcement” to the 24th Battalion. He embarked for Egypt in November 1915 and was promoted to acting corporal on November 25, 1915.

He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for action at Pozieres, France, whilst serving with 8 Battalion, 2 Brigade, 1 Division as a Private on July 24 and 25, 1916.

The Australian War Memorial records that in the course of an attack Cooke was ordered, with his Lewis gun team, to a dangerous part of the line. Heavy enemy fire killed all his companions but Cooke remained at his post, firing his Lewis gun. When assistance finally reached this post Cooke was found dead beside his gun. He was one of 81 members of the battalion killed during this action.

His last resting place is the Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France.

His Victoria Cross is held by the Queen Elizabeth II Army Memorial Museum, Waiouru, New Zealand.

His records show that at the time of his death his next of kin was his wife, Maud Elizabeth Cooke.

If you are a relative or have information about the Cooke family, please contact: Paul Stein, l Defence Communications Advisor (Central) Defence Communications Group DDI: + 06 351 9077 l Mobile: + 021 409 033 l Email: PAUL.STEIN@nzdf.mil.nz NZDF web: http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/

$27.2m housing project Federal Parliament’s Public Works Committee is inquiring into the proposed $27.2 million construction of Defence Housing at Gordon Olive Estate at McDowall, Brisbane.The Committee is involved in neither the tendering nor awarding of contracts.

Inquiries on those matters should be addressed to the Department ofFinance and Deregulation.

Help the RSL help veterans. To sponsor a Stand To page, contact M. Michaelis, 0488 998 381 or michaelis@netspeed.com.au

Stand To, August–September 2009

12

military bookshelf

Impact of the Men of Mont St Quentin: between victory and death

By Peter Stanley Published by Scribe [ISBN 0781921215339 pbk] photographs, notes, index, maps. RRP $35

military bookshelf military bookshelf raiders, Beersheba and Dordinary Sydney, Day — a readable collection

The Search for the Sydney by David L. Mearns.

This book has added relevance now that the Royal Commission’s report on how HMAS Sydney II was lost with all hands of the WA coast in World War II.

Reviewed by Ian Mathews

Publisher: Harper Collins

S

ome books hit you between the eyes, not because of their violence, disturbing images or terrible revelations but because of the very ordinariness of the drama they tell.

Garry Roberts learned of his son’s death in the closing months of World War I, not through the usual dreaded telegram delivered to the family home.

Garry went to work at Melbourne’s Municipal Tramways Trust and found a telegram on his desk. It was to inform him that a cablegram he’d sent to his son a few weeks earlier had not been delivered “owing to the addressee being killed in action”.

Military historian Peter Stanley has been helped in this “ordinariness” by the way Garry documented every possible thing about his son, Frank, in scrapbooks now preserved in the State Library of Victoria.

Peter Stanley is an inveterate researcher of military history, having been principal historian at the Australian War Memorial for 20 years and now as director of the Centre of Historical Research at the National Museum of Australia.

Nine Platoon of the 21st Australian Infantry Battlion was under strength, weary and, with others, subject to Sir John Monash’s intention to prove the British commanders were perhaps too timid. Instead of “marking time” as suggested by one British general, Monash decided to take Mont St Quentin, key high ground held by the Germans. In the process Victoria Crosses were won and men, including Garry’s son Frank, were killed.

Stanley weaves his story from the legacy of the survivors as well as from those notes and possessions of those who didn’t survive. Most telling of all in this story of “an incident” in the fabric of the war to end all wars is the effect the battle for Mont St Quentin had on the families of Nine Platoon.

Needless to say, politics of the day, myth, exaggeration as well as forgetfulness have all played their part in the way in which history is recorded but, thanks to Peter Stanley — and to Frank’s dad — the story of Mont St Quentin is now visible through the fog of war.

Australians in Japan Travels in Atomic Sunshine: Australia and the occupation of Japan by Robin Gerster will interest veterans of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force. About 20,000 Australian service personnel and their families spent part of the six years there while the occupation forces sought to shape the Japan of today. Robin Gester’s book deals with the times in which the two sides became wary friends. Published last year by Scribe, it costs $49.95 in hardback.

Warrior Training by Keith Fennell tells the story of how ordinary people can be trained to achieve extraordinary things. It takes us into the elite world of the SAS. Publisher: Random House

Beersheba by Paul Daley tells the often forgotten story of the Battle of Beersheba, an ANZAC victory to balance the lost campaign at Gallipoli.

Security: people, climate, energy

T

he Australian Strategic Policy Institute has produced commentaries on three areas of significant concern to Australia but which tend to be glossed over because of their familiarity.

Demographics and security; climate change and its relevance to coping with disasters; and the never-ending concern about the Middle East and its influence on energy security in the Asia-Pacific region.

In ASPI’s Issue 23 of July, Dr Leanne Piggott discusses Middle East Outlook and energy security in the Asia-Pacific region in which she notes that the Asia-Pacific region is responsible for 87% of the growth in global energy consumption. Security and availability of supplies of fossil fuel and oil are expected to become critical within a few decades, leading to possible political instability. The primary players being China, India, Japan and South Korea, their various relationships with Middle East oil producers is will be of specific concern to Australia and its defence.

Hardening Australia: Climate change and national disaster resilience by Athol Yates and Dr Anthony Bergin is ASPI’s Special Report No. 24, published in August.

It accepts that the impact of climate change is being realised in Australia more rapidly than previously estimated, prompting counterdisaster organisations to link climate change with disaster management.

Among the authors’ recommendatons are that: • climate change should be acknowledged by Australian security planners as a significant security threat; • both Commonwealth and states should empower the Federal Minister and agency responsible for disaster management to use climate change to embed disaster risk reduction into the work of relevant government agencies, owers of critical infrastructure and their operators; and • police and emergency management

Publisher: Macmillan

D-Day by Antony Beevor is an event revisited by military writers simply because of its scale, its success and its lasting place in military history.

Publisher: Penguin

Bloody Victory by William Philpott maintains the recurrent interest in World War I, drawing on letters, diaries and archives to describe the Battle of the Somme.

Publisher: Hachette Little Brown

should produce a list of research initiatives covering climate change, emergency services and disaster management for relevant groups.

The human tide: An Australian perspective on demographics and security

by Dr Mark Thomson is an examination of the way human populations behave as they become either more affluent or more deprived.

Just as Britain became an economic and military superpower in the 19th century and the United States became and remains one since the mid-20th century, the economic and military superpowers of the future — India and China — will have their impacts on the part of the world in which we live.

Dr Thomson notes that the progress in those countries matches the ageing populations in the West.

He writes, “The result will be a steady shift of power from the West to the East and from the rich to the poor. This will have profound impacts for a country like Australia. In the past, times have been good because our allies and rich friends have been in charge. In the future, however, the rich world of which we’re a part will increasingly have to negotiate with powerful states representing the interests and aspirations of vast numbers of relatively poorer people.”

He outlines two recommendations: • Give family planning priority for Australia; and • Redouble our efforts to assist the immediate region.

For more information access: www.aspi.org.au

Journey to Tobruk by Louise Austin tells the story of John Murray from a jigsaw of letters, interviews and official military diaries.

Publisher: Murdoch

The Wolf by Richard Guilliatt and Peter Hohnen is particularly topical in the discussion of the role of German raiders — disguised as merchant ships — which attacked allied shipping in both world wars.

This book tells the story of how the issue prompted Billy Hughes to seek, during World War I, traitors in Australia.

Publisher: Random House Great Rescues of World War II by Thomas Craughwell examines both military and civilian rescues, including the widespread practice of hiding Jews from the enemy.

Publisher: Murdoch

World War II: the definitive guide contains archival material, photographs and analysis.

The above books are available from Dymocks

Got a story to tell or a gripe to air? Write a letter to the editor of Stand To

Help the RSL help veterans. To sponsor a Stand To page, contact M. Michaelis, 0488 998 381 or michaelis@netspeed.com.au