Circular No. 112
1st May, 1956

Official Organ of 2/30th Bn. A.I.F. Assn

COMMITTEE

Dear Dig,

The Anzac March was one of the best the Unit has ever made. The weather was perfect, the attendance of one hundred and forty was the biggest ever, and the band was superb. The band was from the King's School and due to the shorter distance between Units was only twenty yards in front of us. Their timing was excellent and made for comfortable marching. If you were not at the March or if you have never attended one then you have missed a real thrill. To march shoulder to shoulder to war time comrades is a privilege which belongs to the Returned Soldier alone and in the case of our Division the comradeship was sealed tighter than any other Division of the A.I.F.  Black Jack, as tough as he ever was, marched before us as the Unit marched in the best traditions of earlier years.

Although the spirit of the lads is as young as ever the "lads" themselves are not as fresh as they used to be. Thickening girths and greying hair have changed appearances and it is rather a shock to see a "middle-aged" veteran well on the wrong side of forty - and to recall that in 1940 he was a strong muscled soldier brimming with vitality. Most of the lads looked well and apparently only a few have fallen on hard times.

There is a sprinkling of members however who have developed a cadaverous appearance and who could appear as walking advertisements for T.B. We hope that these members are healthier than they appear to be.

LAST POST:

John Gaden died at dawn on Anzac Day. It is difficult to write an obituary of such a well loved comrade. He was quartermaster to A. Coy, from the inception of the Unit to its finish. In appearance he carried out his duties in a complete dither and in training in the field, A. Coy always looked forward to meals in the field with intense speculation. The lads made bets on the side as to what John would deliver for lunch because he never failed to forget something, the tea, bread or meat or "something." On one famous occasion he delivered a hot box in the field which when opened contained his own private supply of bottled beer. Before the campaign opened in Malaya every person in A. Coy, would have defended John Gaden by tooth and nail because his dithering methods were found to be alright in the finish, A. Company being as well equipped as any in the Unit with these little 'tit-bits' which came along, bottled beer for instance.

During the campaign however John Gaden forgot to "dither". He slaved like ten men for us and when Black Jack would allow it John was there with his hot food. He was a welcome sight to us during the campaign as he delivered munitions and food, mail and rum and a cheery word for all. His personal bravery and tremendous reserves of energy during the campaign were a by word amongst A. Coy.

John, as a P.O.W, was magnificent. There is no other word to use for his unselfish efforts on behalf of his troops. The writer walked through Thailand with John, and he, older than the rest of us, always took his turn on the stretchers and gear which were carried. On the way to Sonkurai we staggered, all of us you will recall, into that filthy camp where the 2/29th were camped. It was there that we were first ordered to boil our drinking water to ease the danger of cholera.

The six hundred men in the party were exhausted after the night's march. In the heat of that awful day that followed the march, John Gaden and a few others spent the day over the fires, boiling water for drinking. Whilst most of the six hundred were completely immobile from exhaustion and lack of sleep John did not spare himself for us and after working all day he staggered out with us that night. Those were hard days but they were brave days and the goodness and courage came out of the comrades who were with you. Most of them would laugh with embarrassment if you tried to write of their deeds but John has gone to his reward and we can say what we like about him now.

To his wife we extend our sympathy in her great loss and to his family we do the same. John Gaden was a part of our Unit and it will not be the same again. Remember him in your fashion, pray for his soul if that be your creed or just remember him tenderly. John was a part of the Unit, so were you.

LAST POST:

It is with great regret that we record the accidental death of Les Thorne, ex H.Q. Coy. Les was killed whilst working at a timber yard during April and was buried from Wahroonga. Les was a rather quiet unassuming chap but with a great capacity for giving a helping hand to his fellows. You will recall that he worked with Darby Young and Ross Madden in the barber shop at Changi.

We have not seen him at our functions for some years although he was a Life Member of the Association and followed your affairs with interest. The Association extends its sympathy to his wife and family.

AFTER THE MARCH:

On Anzac Day of 1946 and 1947 the lads made a united rush to the hotels and fought for a beer with the best of them. Ten years later the pattern has changed and the Unit seemed loathe to disperse after the March. Small groups yarned for half an hour or more and gradually drifted off to continue the conversation in the bar of some friendly pub. The opinion of many who were there was that a gathering should be held after the March each year. Not a reunion in the sense that we have had for years past but a room or hall where we could sit down with a bottle of bitterly cold beer and a couple of ham sandwiches and really relax for an hour or two. Many pointed out that members go to great pains to attend the March and would welcome an opportunity to enjoy a couple of hours in the company of all those present. If you have any ideas on the subject the committee will be pleased to receive them.

N.S.W. SCOTTISH - 30th Bn. Ball

The notice is short but the above Unit will be holding its Annual  Ball at the Trocadero on the 17th May. Tickets will be £1.5.0 each, dancing commences at 8.30 p.m. Dress will be formal. Any members wishing to attend are most welcome and may book a table by ringing Mr. Featherstone XXX52 - ext. 486 or XL 3040. Liquor, other than spirits may be purchased at the Trocadero on the night.

A report will be made next month of our reunion which was held on April 6th.

Please forward cheques, money orders and postal notes to Reg Ellis at Boronia Park. All money orders and postal notes to be made payable at the G.P.O. Sydney.

Cheerio,

STAN ARNEIL 

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