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No. 209 OFFICIAL JOURNAL 2/30 Bn. A. I. F. ASSOCIATION Subscription Rate: $1.50 per Year Registered for Posting as Periodical: Category A
B.J. MEMORIAL You will recall mention being made some time ago of a small Committee of B.J.'s former close friends and associates which had been set up to explore ways and means of publishing a Biography of B.J. as a memorial to him; on which we had representation through Des Duffy and Phil Schofield. Thorough investigation of the project by the Committee has led to the conclusion that it is not possible to produce such a publication in the immediate future, and a further scheme is at present under consideration which should be able to be implemented this year and will provide a perpetual trophy and an individual award for the Cadet Corps - a field in which B.J. was particularly interested during his lifetime. However it is now desired to collect all available material referring to B.J. and arrangements have now been made for the aggregation, storing and safe-keeping of all such material with The Mitchell Library in Sydney; where it will be available both as a permanent record and also for use by a biographer. It is desired that the material should cover the widest fields, including his private, commercial and military activities and apart from the formal and documented items, pictorial, anecdotal, humorous, or other material deemed of interest in B.J.'s life should be included. All such contributions may be sent direct to The Mitchell Librarian, Library of New South Wales, Sydney. However, as it is appreciated that many of you may not have a typewriter on tap, if you would like to send your contributions to Phil Schofield, Chief Correspondent, he will have it typed and sent on to the Mitchell Library. As it is desired to obtain as much material as possible, and we all spent so much time with him, we should surely be able to supply a wealth of information concerning the years 1940/1945. You don't have to be a Rhodes Scholar or a famous literary artist to make a contribution, nor does the article have to be of any great length. It is only by studying a vast number of contributions from a wide cross-section of people who knew him that a biographer can portray an accurate picture of the subject of his biography; and you can all help with your contributions. Please forward them promptly. Apart from the foregoing, your Executive have been endeavouring to find ways and means of erecting a memorial plaque in the Changi Gaol Memorial Chapel to commemorate the 394 members of the Battalion who died overseas, as well as B.J.; and a further project is to have B.J.'s portrait hung in the National War Memorial at Canberra. Our efforts at correspondence with the Gaol Chapel didn't make first base, but when Steve Allardice was visiting Singapore a short while ago, he was commissioned to do something about it; and his sterling efforts on our behalf appear to indicate that we may ultimately achieve our objective. On the matter of the portrait in the National War Memorial, we have our very good friend, Mr. Jim Greenwood O.B.E., Deputy Chairman of the Repatriation Commission in Canberra, and our Blair Taylor exploring avenues to enable achievement of this objective; and our sights are already fixed on a most suitable portrait. B.J.'s BOWLS Applications for the allocation of a set of B.J.'s Bowls closed on 30th June (MAKAN No. 208, May/Jun 1973). The subsequent ballot resulted in Set No. 1 (2/30 Bn. Colour Patch) going to Kevin Ward and Set No. 2 (8 Div Insignia) going to Andy Hyslop. Congratulations to both of them, and commiserations to the unsuccessful applicants. SUPPLEMENT WITH MAKAN Enclosed with this issue (to members only, as it is felt others would not be interested in it) is a supplement consisting of a reprint of a letter by Dr. David Hinder which appeared originally in issue No. 202 of MAKAN - July/Aug, 1972. It is hoped that this reminder of the valuable information contained in Dr. Hinder's letter will ensure that all members follow his advice. LEGACY This year, Legacy in Australia celebrates its Golden Jubilee and with a large number of our members, both in the City and the Country, also members of Legacy, it is appropriate to record a brief history of the organisation. It is also an opportunity to remind our Readers of the excellent selfless service rendered by their members in caring for the widows and children of comrades killed in action or who have subsequently died. A Club known as the Remembrance Club was established in Hobart in 1923 by Major General Sir John Gellibrand. Gellibrand had always practised and preached the principle of service to others. It was a mutual self-help organisation by men of the first A.I.F. and its purpose was limited to helping the comrade who was down on his luck. A short time later the movement was extended by one of those under Gellibrand's command, to the mainland. Captain Stanley Savige (later Lieut. Gen. Sir Stanley) organised a preliminary meeting in Melbourne that same year. In October, 1923, a Club, to be known as the Legacy Club of Melbourne, was formed. Undoubtedly, the birth of Legacy was two years later, in October 1925, when it was clearly established that the true Legacy was the care of those who were bereft of husband and father, the widows and the children. At this time the badge of Legacy was adopted. It consisted of a torch surrounded by a laurel wreath with the points of its leaves inverted. The torch being the emblem of service and sacrifice; the laurel wreath the symbol of Remembrance. Sydney Legacy was established in 1926. In the years immediately following, Legacy extended to all other States of Australia. Today in Australia there are 44 autonomous Clubs, plus their Divisions and Groups. The inaugural meeting of the Sydney Club was held on 27th July, 1926, when nominations for membership numbered 79. There are now l,024 members of Sydney Legacy and its Groups. The keynote of Legacy's work was always, and still is, personal service by the members to the dependants of "departed comrades" This service has taken many forms. It includes advice and moral support at all times, as well as continuous efforts to obtain for the widows and children all the material aid to which they are entitled. Until the Second World War, the Club had managed with members' subscriptions and donations. But in 1942, it was necessary to appeal to the public for funds. This appeal has continued annually ever since. The Second World War brought an increase in the demands on Legacy and in order to cater for the increasing enrolments a special appeal was conducted to raise $150,000 to erect Legacy House in Sydney. The appeal closed in July,1947, oversubscribed, and Legacy House was opened by the then Governor of New South Wales, himself a Legatee, Lieut. Gen. Sir John Northcott, KCMG, CB, MVO, on 8th July, 1950. Apart from the dependents of those who served in the First and Second World Wars, Legacy has accepted the responsibility for the families of all those who served in Korea, Malaysia and in Vietnam, and at present is caring for more people than in any period in its 50 year history. More than 118,000 widows and children are being cared for by Legacy in Australia. Quite naturally, the demands on Legacy's finances continue to increase, and Legacy needs our help throughout the year. Our help is particularly needed, both in the City and the Country; during Legacy's annual fund raising appeal which culminates this year with Legacy Day on Friday, 7th September next. Apart from the personal donation, when you can buy a badge and wear it with pride, volunteers are required to help with the sale of badges both in the Country and the City, and anything you can do to assist will be appreciated by the organisers in your area. . THIRTY YEARS AFTER Per favour Andy Hyslop, we received a cutting from the "Bangkok World" - an article written by an American, Jack Foisie, under the title "Memories Run Deep at Kanchanaburi", and reporting on last Anzac Day Service held there. The cutting was sent by Andy's brother, Robert, who is Deputy Secretary-General of S.E.A.T.O., and who resides in Bangkok; where he advises they take Anzac Day seriously, with the King attending the Service upon occasions. With rather typical American sentimentality and emotion, Mr. Foisie painted a poignant picture of the Cemetery at Kanchanaburi and the pilgrims who "gather to walk the neatly kept rows of dated graves of the white men collected into cemeteries at Kanchanaburi and nearby Chunkai, to sense again the rhythm of the daily dying so long ago .." After mentioning a comment in the cemetery register: "What can be said?", Mr. Foisie continued his article: "The Rev. Patrick Kingston, however, bowing to the second emotion of intent bitterness, did have something to say at the annual Ceremony on April 25. The Vicar of the Anglican Church in Bangkok, he prefaced his prayer for the dead with scathing words for a Japanese Memorial just down the road." "That Memorial, a post war revision of one built by the Japanese Army when it still controlled Thailand, now reads:" "...in memory of the nationals of many countries who helped in the construction of the Thai-Burma railway and died through illness in the course of its construction." "Who helped?” the clergyman demanded of the assembled. “Who died through illness?" "The white-haired clergyman, who fought in Burma and whose brother survived captivity here, concluded bitterly:" "'I think the hypocrisy is shameful, a mockery of true penitence, not everything is all that it seems, even here. The English speaking Thai Guide points out the bridge as “the one they showed in the movie." "But alas, even superior movies about history, such as 'Bridge on the River Kwai' depend greatly on artistic licence." "The bridge here is a blackened steel span, not the timbered triumph depicted in the film as Col. Nicholson's (Alec Guinness) masterpiece. This ugly span, footed in yellow concrete pillars does date from World War 11 and served the Japanese then for more than a year, but it never was destroyed by commandos, as in the film. The trestle finally was damaged only by Allied bombing near the end of the war." "And even the river beneath is more correctly known as the River Kwai Yai." "But the essential facts of history remain!" "For one single military project, probably more prisoners died slaving for an enemy here than anywhere else in Asia or the Pacific when the Japanese held their temporary sway in Indonesia." "And one must add to that the unknown toll of thousands of Asians - some paid a pittance, some enslaved - who were the natives of the conquered countries: Indonesia, Malaya, Singapore, Thailand and Burma. They laboured on the railroad also, and those among them who perished are buried in mass, unmarked graves along the right-of-way.'' "The pilgrims put their wreaths here for all, as well as their own. Then they move into the shade of the mango trees, and marvel at the brilliant beauty of the flame trees before starting home again - partly over a section of the 'Death Railway' that remains operative today." It is most interesting to learn of the respect accorded to our Anzac Day by other Nationals, but, on a personal note, your Editor is somewhat saddened by the knowledge that so much bitterness still apparently exists so many years after the cessation of hostilities. We of course did not have our Country raped by a Japanese occupation force, nor did our civilians suffer at their hands, but although there must still be at least a tinge of bitterness in the thoughts of those who lost their loved ones at the hands of the Japanese, it would appear that time has healed the wounds to some degree; and if we have not been able completely to forget and forgive, we have at least been able to condition ourselves to refrain from public outbursts of bitterness. It would appear to be rather a matter of standards, and there must be many amongst us who would admit that the Japanese, as we knew them, bashed and treated their own nationals in the same fashion as they treated us. Do you remember, the Japanese guard over in the English lines in the early days in Selarang, who moved a few feet from his post and stepped over the edge of the padang to relieve himself. He was shot on the spot by a Japanese officer on visiting rounds. Or the soldier obviously suffering from malaria, who was one of a group marching up the track near Shimo Sonkurai, who was too sick to march. So they tied a rope around his middle and attached it to the small field piece they were hauling, and dragged him along, and when he fell over they continued to drag him, and when he died, they untied him and left him lying at the side off the track. Or the time we listened with a certain amount of satisfaction to the screams and yells coming from the guard house as the almighty Toyama was soundly done over by his fellow guards. Toyama's only offence (or so he told your Editor) - was his inability to deliver to the Engineers the number demanded by them for the 'work party', and we were to blame, because we had so many sick and dying. On the other side of the picture are the very many incidents involving acts of genuine kindness, tolerance and understanding worthy of the highest commendation in any national - such as we saw exhibited by the Aria's and the Hank-the-Yanks amongst our guards. Your Editor was present at the trial conducted by the Japanese Commandant of four of our boys guilty of stealing essential war supplies and of killing one of the guards with a pick handle in the donnybrook which followed when they were surprised by the Sikh Guards in the act of thieving, Our boys' sentence was imprisonment during the Colonel Commandant's pleasure, in a wire-netting enclosure which we had to build and guard, while he fed them on reduced rations of rice and water. But his own cooks used to slip in extra rations, and it was not long before our boys were released "having expatiated their serious crime". There are always two sides to any picture, and the Japanese Nation of today is far different from that of thirty years ago. Apart from being Australia's best customer in overseas trade, they are firmly entrenched in the Western Bloc, and in the event of any future war, it would appear preferable to have our front line in Japan, rather than on our own door-step. Let us forget and forgive, and if we can't quite do that, let us at least practise some tolerance, keeping our thoughts in private and refraining from public outbursts of bitterness. WHITE CROSSES Tiny white crosses mutely
stand, They died that we might
live the Christian way. Now through seasons long
they cannot know; Ted Rickards. LAST POST THOMAS LIONEL DARE (C Coy). He died suddenly, as the result of an accident, at Gloucester on 25th May last, at the age of almost 61 years. Tom was returning home from the Club in the late afternoon, when he was struck by a car, virtually in front of his own home, fatally injuring him. He survived the accident for only three hours. An original and popular member of C Coy, Tom was forthright and determined; and he possessed those qualities of leadership which earned him promotion to Corporal during action. Like most of us, he had his ups and downs during P.O.W. days, but he did his stint on "F" Force and a subsequent Tunnelling Party towards the end of the War. Born and bred in Gloucester, Tom returned there after the War and married Joyce, who helped him rear their three sons, Thomas Robert (now 24), married with one boy and engaged in dairying; Bryan Lionel (22) in the advertising field in Sydney and Michael Aubrey (18) in the Lands Department in the Country. For some time, Tom was engaged in building activities, but for a considerable time past and until his retirement about 6 months ago, he was a steward at the local R.S.L. Club. His funeral on 28th May was attended by approximately 300 mourners, with about 100 members of the local R.S.L. marching in funeral procession from the Catholic Church through the Town. At the Services, we were represented by Vice-President, Bob Jack, who made the trip from Sydney to be present and who hoped to join Tom Kennedy from Newcastle, but Tom unfortunately became ill and could not attend. The R.S.L. Service was accompanied by a bugler who rendered the calls in moving and excellent fashion. To his widow, Joyce, his sons and grandson and his family we extend our deepest sympathy. ALFRED WEEBER (A Coy). He died suddenly and unexpectedly at his residence at Waterloo, from a heart attack, on 21st June last, at the age of 60 years. Alfie joined A Coy during action and went off on "A" Force, leaving Singapore by the "Celebes Maru" on 15th. May, 1942. He was fortunate enough to miss out on the drafts from "A” Force to Japan, but as he did not return to Singapore until well after the end of hostilities, other than those on "A" Force and in A Coy, very few members had had the chance to meet up with Alf. Following his return to Australia, Alf became a Wharf Labourer and he followed that occupation until his retirement a short time ago when, as he put it, he qualified for the "burnt out pension"; though he had not suffered any serious illness since his return. Alf didn't marry and lived with his widowed mother at Waterloo. Many of his mates from the Redfern and Coogee R.S.L.’s joined the large gathering at the Church Service and his Funeral on 22nd June; at which we were represented by Harry Abrahams who was a friend of Alf's of long standing. To his widowed mother and his surviving two brothers and a sister we extend our deepest sympathy. JOHN WILLIAM BREMNER (HQ Coy). He died at the R.G.H., Concord on 17th July last, at the age of 62 years. Jack had suffered very indifferent health for some considerable time past, necessitating fairly regular and frequent visits to Hospital, and he was made a T.P.I.; but his sudden and unexpected death came as a shock to us all. An original member of the Transport Platoon, Jack was assigned as driver of the R.A.P. Truck. Like most of us, he had his ups and downs during P.O.W. days, but managed to stay well enough to do his stint on "F"' Force, and on a Tunnelling Party in Johore towards the end of hostilities; and the privations he suffered undoubtedly affected his health in after life. Following his return to Australia after the cessation of hostilities, Jack worked for a time as a bread carter, and eventually found employment with the local Council, where he subsequently became a storeman, and worked in that position until ill-health caused his early retirement some time ago. At his cremation at the Northern Suburbs Crematorium on 19th July we were represented by Les Hall, Gordon McKnight and Phil Schofield, while the T.P.I. Association was represented by Ramsay Lobb. To his widow, May, daughters Vivian and Valerie and husbands Harold and Ron, daughter Gail, son Richard and wife Beverley, and his eight grandchildren we extend our deepest sympathy. We were saddened to learn of the death on 18th June last of Arch Dickenson's (C Coy) mother, Mrs. Hilda Bell, at the age of 81 years. To Arch and Pat and their family we extend. our deepest sympathy. WE WILL REMEMBER THEM SICK PARADE Kevin Ward reports the State as at 23rd July: In R.G.H., Concord: In Other Institutions: Discharged from R.G.H.,
Concord since last MAKAN: BATTALION BOWLS AFTERNOON The organisers advise that they will have another Bowls Afternoon late in October, and on this occasion at Kevin Ward’s Club at Greenacre. At the time of going to Press it appeared as though either Sunday 21st or Sunday 28th October would be the date, but precise details will appear in the Sep/Oct issue of MAKAN. Meanwhile, interested parties might care to give Kevin a ring to ascertain details. LIST OF MEMBERS Provided the office boy/printers devil etc agrees to. help, the Editor may be persuaded to produce an up-to-date List in the near future. Another proviso is that all those whose present particulars are incomplete (wife's name, 'phone No. etc) advise the Editor of any amendments pronto - and he means. PRONTO. NEWS, VIEWS AND WHOS WHOS June Reveille carried the report that the R.S.L. State Council meeting held in May recommended 34 new Life Members in N.S.W. Amongst them was "Davis, Thomas (Cobar)". That must be our Tom (D Coy) - there surely wouldn't be two of the same name in Cobar - and we extend our congratulations. Incidentally, when returning from her recent trip to Adelaide, Lady Galleghan passed through Cobar, where she managed to see the local Museum with a 2/30 Bn. colour patch on display - the gift of a T. Davis. Lady Galleghan eventually tracked down the donor as our Tom, Superintendent of the District Ambulance. She also discovered in Cobar the grave of one of the survivors of The Charge of the Light Brigade - a rather unique relic of those earlier days. Mention of the R.S.L. brings to mind our advice to the State Branch of the resolution at our Annual General Meeting concerning support for the R.S.L. campaign regarding retention of our Flag and "Advance Australia Fair". We received a most appreciative letter from Mr. W.G. Osmond, the State Secretary, which included the State President's appreciation and concluded with: "It would be appreciated if you could pass the compliments of the State President and myself to your members, and we wish you well in the future". Mrs. Helen Bell of Tamworth (mother of Wally, Mark 1 - A Coy) has also joined the "naughty but nice", group by sending in a donation to help MAKAN along. She sent her kind regards to all Wally's mates, and mentioned that she had proudly affixed the R.S.L. Flag sticker to her car. If any reliance can be placed on answers to questions in Parliament, it appears as though we may be winning the argument about the Flag. A short while ago Mr. Whitlam informed the House that our present Flag was an established entity, and could not be changed willy-nilly. Following the recent announcement of the six finalists in the competition for the words of a National Anthem, (none of which rated of sufficient standard to merit publication in MAKAN) and in discussing the competition now being conducted for a tune, Mr. Whitlam was reported as saying that the composers had the preference of setting any of the six chosen sets of words to music, or of submitting a new set of words with their composition. He concluded with the statement that in any event the public would be given the opportunity to make the final choice, be it "Waltzing Matilda" or "Advance Australia Fair" or whatever was desired. This is at least encouraging if we are in fact given the choice and one way of ensuring that we do, and that we don't end up with a jingle for a National Anthem, is to continue actively to support the R.S.L. campaign. Last report from Harry Rhodes (B Coy) was in the Nov/Dec issue, when he recorded the doings at the Grafton Reunion and advised that he and Ethel were setting off on a three weeks spell at the P.O.W. cottage at Yamba. Promptly after their return, he sent his Subs in from Grafton and advised that he not only caught plenty of fish at Yamba but also collected a 7½ lb turkey as a member of a winning team at bowls. On the way home, he and Ethel called on Neil Sellers (B Coy) who was looking very fit and feeling very pleased with things in general. Neil had just had a new dairy and bails installed and had just had his first report back on the milk test, which showed a remarkable 100% - Neil even drinks the stuff. A further note from Harry, sending in some information on Anzac Day activities in Grafton and District, advised his induction on 6th May last as an Elder of St. Stephens Presbyterian Church at South Grafton, for which we offer our congratulations. After an absence of news for a very long time, Derek Smith (A Coy) came good when sending his Subs from Bargo last Christmas. It appears that eldest daughter, Janet, is nursing at Southport General Hospital, Queensland, and apart from receiving a visit from her two sisters, Janet was going to search out Vince O'Reilly at Broadbeach, to see whether his caravan park was as good as it was reported. Derek, who has to be over 50 years of age, played C Grade cricket in the same team last season as his son, Bernard, batting at No. 4. Last year, he completed a full season of soccer, and played in the same team as No. 1 son on two occasions. He didn't say how Ethel was keeping, so she must be O.K., and there appears little doubt as to Derek's state of health. When sending his Subs in from Woy Woy, Jack Grossmith (HQ Coy) advised that he and Hilda retired to Blackwall Point over three years ago, and they have no regrets. Far from vegetating, Jack wonders how he ever had the time to go to work, and he gave his recipe for: "How to retire and start living". Jack helps out at a relative's boat shed two or three half days a week, with the repairing, painting etc; and manages a couple of afternoons social bowls. He has an "anytime, all the time" hobby of decorative wood turning, and whenever the mood and the weather are favourable, he does a spot of fishing. With plenty of jobs around the house and garden, he barely ever finds time to just sit. Our oldest member, Richard (but we call him Bob) Skinner (HQ Coy) who was 76 last October, has not been exactly 100%. He finds it extremely difficult to get around these days and appreciates a Special Travelling Allowance by Repat, which enables him to use taxis. He fortunately avoided being shipped off to a nursing home, and has a nursing sister and several others who look after him at his Belmore Flat. Bob sent his regards to all his old mates, particularly mentioning Alan Charlton, Darkie Despoges and Jimmy Hill. Dannie Foran (C Coy) sent enough Subs earlier in the year to keep him from worrying for a while, and recently took time off to send greetings from Cairns, Q. where he reckons quite a bit of building activity is going on in the Town. He also said the rain has been tumbling down by the bucketful of late - enough to interrupt the crushing. Apart from his hands and happy feet, which necessitate needles several times a week, Dannie says he is a ball of muscle; and he sent his regards to all. Marj. had to do the right thing by Bill Humphrey (HQ Coy) and send his Subs in from Armidale, where she says Bill has been flat to the boards with a super abundance of building jobs, but insufficient tradesmen available. Marj. also brought us up to date with the family news. The Humphreys have recently had two weddings in the family, a mere three weeks apart. The first was Ann, their eldest, who is now living at Greenwich and teaching at Woolwich. Then followed David, who is now a Junior Engineer at Lysaghts, Westernport, Vic. Jane is nearing her finals at Royal North Shore Hospital, but took time off last year to be bridesmaid to Ross Madden's Helen, now learning to be part-time farmer's wife in conjunction with her Bank job at Walcha. It must be years since we heard from Cecil Palmer (HQ Coy), but he used up the back of his Circular when sending in his Subs from Scone; and brought us up to date with the vital statistics, which we lacked. After the war, Cecil returned to his job on a Station property and stayed there for nine years; when he left, and got a job as a truck driver with the Scone Shire. He transferred to the Council Store as a Storeman in 1966, and reckons that job will see him out until he retires. Cecil and Jean were married in 1946, and they have three sons. The eldest (25) is a carpenter, and has been married a bit over a year, while son No. 2 is a welder and No. 3 is a carpenter apprentice; which makes all three set up in good solid trades. The Storeman job suits Cecil, as he suffers from hypertension, and heavy work knocks him up very quickly. Jean has her ups and downs, as she is a diabetic and also suffers from arthritis. Ray Duncombe (HQ Coy) sent his Subs in promptly after receipt of the Circular, and reckons that he and Leila can't do much about quantity, but they have a couple of quality entries in the Grandpa Stakes, in the person of Peter (18) who was then awaiting results of exams which he sat for at Balgowlah High and Deborah (11) who is now at Mackellar High. Ray professed to be well, and certainly looked it (at 66 years of age) when last seen on Anzac Day. Ron and Leslye Ollis (HQ Coy) haven't managed to lose any of their daughters in marriage so far. Sally, the eldest, returned from her second overseas trip towards the end of last year, and was not very favourably impressed by the Communist countries which she visited, where she reckoned "All those guards and all that wire is just to keep them in". No. 2 daughter, Belinda, is a speech therapist and Rowena, No. 3, is in a secretarial job. Bill Rooke (B Coy) sent in his Subs plus from Brisbane early in the New Year and sent his regards to all. Bill has his ups and downs, but while a heart attack had him in Greenslopes over the Christmas and New Year holidays, he was on the mend and back at the salt mines towards the end of January. Arnie Trusler (HQ Coy) also has his ups and downs, but he and Elsie enjoy their retirement at Gwandalan, with plenty of crabs, prawns and fish. Arnie unashamedly admits that Elsie does most of the catching for the Trusler household. Quite naturally, Jean had to send Fred Winters' (D Coy) Subs in from Copmanhurst, so she sent in enough to keep him out of the Chief Correspondent's hair for the next few years. In her accompanying note, Jean advised that 1972 had been quite eventful for them. The most important events were their entry in the Grandpa Stakes with Andrew, born to son Greg and his wife Narelle, and, Daniel, born to son Neville and his wife Nellie - Jean reckons that Fred is a very proud and useful grandfather. On 20th January last, No. 3 son, David, was married in Copmanhurst, but took his wife back to Adelaide, where he is in third year Teacher College. No. 4 son, Neil, was home from Sarina, Q and No. 5 son, Robert, went into 5th class this year. Janeen, their only daughter, commenced, High School this year. All in all, the Winters seem to be plugging along satisfactorily. It took a while to get Hoot Gibson (C Coy) to put pen to paper, but he finally sent in enough Subs from North Rocks to keep him out of trouble for a few years. Hoot is a roofing contractor and contracts to Monier, so he is kept pretty busy. Although he admits that there is not such a lot wrong with him, he has the temerity to state that old age is catching up with him and causing him to slow down a bit. As Hoot has just turned 51, he has rather a poor idea of 'old age'. Hoot and Marjorie married about 20 years ago and have two teenage daughter’s, both working and neither with her sights on marriage at this stage. His recent appointment to the additional post of a Director on the London Board of Overseas Containers Ltd., merely added to Ron Eaton's (BHQ) duties and worries, and it necessitates a few extra trips to London each year. Possibly to keep an eye on him, and certainly as some recompense for all the times she is deprived of his company when he is tripping around, Betty decided to accompany him on his last trip. For good measure she took along her mother, a mere stripling of 84, whom Betty avers stood up to the travelling better than she did herself. They flew via Los Angeles and San Francisco to London, where the Company did the right thing and quartered them in the Company serviced flat overlooking the Belgravia Mews. This gave them an excellent opportunity to entertain some of their Australian friends - mostly the children of them who were currently overseas. Amongst them was the daughter of Des and Thelma Kearney (B Coy), Carol, who with her husband, Iain Moray appear to have settled down to live there, as they were then in the process of buying a house. A bit of 'most favoured' treatment got them to the Changing of the Guard, where they rubbed shoulders with Royalty and all sorts of V.I.P.'s, including Lord Casey. They also had several trips around England and Scotland. With a stop-over at Singapore on the way home, where they saw some of the old familiar places, Betty reckons that they had eight weeks of most delightful travelling. Congratulations (even though a little belated) are in order for Nugent and Olga Geikie (B Coy) whose daughter, Rosemary, presented them with a qualifying entry in the Grandpa Stakes last September. Geik reckons that Catriona McDonald is the greatest granddaughter that ever was. Congratulations are also in order for Jimmy Cooper (HQ Coy) who was honoured in the Birthday Honours List with an O.B.E. After all the years Jim has devoted to Chairmanship of the Sydney Stock Exchange it is scant recognition for his services, but it is at least something. Although he was financial for this year, Jack Korn (A Coy) suddenly got the urge, so he sent down a couple of years Subs in Advance from Lismore. His accompanying note was very brief and merely informed us that he, Winifred and the family consisting of two daughters and one son were all well; and he sent his regards to all. George Smith (A Coy) answered the Circular with enough Subs to keep him from worrying for a few years, but didn't include a single word of news. He and Beryl must be well, or he would surely have mentioned otherwise. Joyce couldn't get Les Parfrey (D Coy) to do anything about it, so she sent his Subs in from Deniliquin and added the news that their two daughters are still flatting in Sydney - Linda with the P.M.G.'s Dept and Helen a Secretary with a private Firm. Joyce and Les were keeping well, and they sent their regards to all. The number of wives who have to do the Sub-sending chores appears to be growing. Without their help it is doubtful whether we would ever get some of our members to send their Subs in on time, so our acknowledgement and appreciation of their efforts, particularly where they have fined their man and added a bit extra to the cheque etc - go to:- Norma Veivers (A Coy), Verna Ross, Ruth Mulholland and Phyllis Stuart (all D Coy), Marcia Mackie and Heather McClelland (both HQ Coy). The only regret your Editor has is that they were obviously too busy to add any news to their remittances. On the other hand, Elsie Willis sent Ernie's (HQ Coy) Subs plus in from Parkes and advised change of address, and their entry in the Grandpa Stakes with a granddaughter. Now that they are living in Parkes, Elsie is working full time, and is naturally proud of their youngest son, Maurice, who is only 16 and is in Fifth Form at Parkes High School. Ellen Webb sent in a couple of years Subs for Frank (HQ Coy), and heeded the Editor's plea for some vital statistics. Frank and Ellen have five children - three girls and two boys, Elizabeth (26) is principal of the local (Griffith) School for the Mentally Handicapped, is engaged and will be married on 1st September next. Lynette (23) is a Primary School Teacher at Elizabeth East, South Australia, and was married on 6th Jan. last. Peter (20) is with the N.S.W. Fire Brigade in Sydney and is now stationed at Drummoyne. Michael (19) works for the P.M.G.’s Dept - is a clerk in the Stores Branch in the City. Maria (19) is working at the Woodville Spastic Centre in South Australia. Ellen repeated her request for anyone going down Griffith way to call in and see them. Dot Paget naturally sent Phil's (B Coy) Subs in, and mentioned something of their travelling around, which they seem to indulge in each year. Last year they visited Fiji for a couple of weeks and thought it a beautiful place, and since they haven't been back to Singapore since 1971, they contemplated revisiting the place for a couple of weeks in June last. Like most others who have visited there, they will doubtless find that great changes have taken place in the two years since their last visit. Dot and Phil are keeping reasonably good health. Another couple who seem to spend quite a lot of time tripping around are Althea and Les Southwell (A Coy). When sending Les' Subs in, Althea advised that they had sold up at Canberra and they are now settled permanently in Bateman's Bay; where Les seems to spend quite a lot of time playing bowls. All being well, the Southwell's expect to fly off this year for a return visit to the U.S.A., and then on to England and Europe. Both Les and Althea are keeping well. Betty Dews also had to send Cec's (C Coy) Subs in from Richmond and she added a bit to help MAKAN along. Betty advised that Cec has his ups and downs, but more or less keeps O.K.; but there was nothing wrong with their beautiful 11 year old daughter, who is tall like Cec but fortunately takes after her mother in other respects. . Betty works at the Hawkesbury Race Club, Clarendon ('phone Windsor 2264) and mentioned that if any of our members liked going to the Races or Trotting, a 'phone call or a note to her would produce the necessary tickets - both ladies or gents. It is probably expecting too much of Jim Hart (BHQ), who turned 70 on 2/1/73, to get him to put pen to paper, but there is no need to worry about the Hart family as Nancy, as usual, sent his Subs in from Essendon, Vic. promptly after receipt of the Circular. Nancy regretted that though their only son has been married for a couple of years, they are still not entrants in the Grandpa Stakes. Nancy also advised that Jim had a series of heart attacks about five years ago and has to carry tablets with him always, but he gets by O.K., and it doesn't appear to affect his bowling. Jim plays pennants for the Keilor Club and spends so much time at the joint that Nancy fully expects him to take his blankets with him any time now. She does admit, however, that she is almost as keen on bowls. The Harts celebrated their Silver Wedding Anniversary on 10th April last. Gwen O'Reilly sent Vince's (A Coy) Subs in from Broadbeach, Q. and advised that they were both well. Gwen confirmed their
entry in the Grandpa Stakes with two delightful granddaughters, aged 5 and
2, and produced by their married daughter, Helen, who lives at Mt. Isa.
Their second daughter, Janelle, set off for London on a working holiday
towards the end of 1971, and they hope to have her back for the coming
Christmas. Gwen repeated the hope that any of the boys passing through
Broadbeach would call at "Cascades" to say How! Hank Massey (HQ Coy) usually does the chores himself, but Thelma, had to send his Subs in this time, possibly because Hank was all of a twit awaiting further confirmation of his entry in the Grandpa Stakes. Anyone who was at the Anzac Day March could hardly fail to know that Matthew John (son of Glenda) arrived and was just the greatest - and that photo which Hank drooled over surely proved it. Hank has not been exactly 100% for some time past and his various disabilities caught up with him to the extent that he retired early from his job in the Stores Dept at Goodyear, just a week before his 63rd birthday, which fell on 21st July last. Jeanne Gordon sent Vic's (B Coy) Subs plus in from Brisbane, but was in a bit of a hurry as she only included the information that Vic was well, and still a ball of energy and muscle. They hoped to pay a further visit this year to their favourite holiday spot, Hayman Island. Dorothy Hemming was likewise in a bit of a hurry when she sent Les' (HQ Coy) Subs in, but she mentioned that although Les is still continuing with his job in the Electric Car Shops at Chullora he, like most of us, has his definite ups and downs. Dorothy was rather tickled recently when enquiring at a bookshop for a copy of "Galleghan's Greyhounds" and the young shop assistant asked her if it was a book about dogs! Incidentally, Dorothy, the book was published as a limited edition of 500 copies for private circulation, so was not at any time available for sale through an ordinary bookshop. Our beloved Padre, Paddy Walsh (BHQ) must have had the Bishop breathing down his neck when he sent his Subs in from Rockhampton, Q. in sufficient quantity to keep him from worrying for quite a while, as he merely scribbled that he was in good health and played an occasional game of golf, off 16, but seldom to it. Our records could be wrong, but they show our Paddy as turning 71 on 29th August next. With his youthful appearance, who ever realised he was that age? It is about time he was shown a lot more respect, which is certainly due to his standing in the Church, if not his age; but it is hard to think of him in any other form than "our Paddy", no matter what your religion. Ted Rickards (B Coy) obviously got tired of sending in his Subs each year from Mungindi, so he sent down enough to keep him financial for a. few years to come. He was obviously in a hurry, as his accompanying note merely mentioned that he and his family were well and, quite casually in passing, that he and Cetress qualify for the Grandpa Stakes with three grandchildren. (I wonder if Ted will ever tell them how adept he was at knocking off and dressing a yak when we were short of food on that Railway job? - Ed.) Keith McFarlane (A Coy) sent his Subs in from Murwillumbah and advised that his L.M.O. had finally classed him as unfit for work, and he was in receipt of a Service Pension. Beryl was at that time (mid-January) recovering nicely from a hernia operation, and the rest of the family were well, so Keith had no particular worries at that time. Alan McPherson (HQ Coy) was late (for him, though it was early March) sending his Subs in from Yamba, so he fined himself and added a donation to the cheque. His generosity is certainly appreciated, but we would have liked a little news with his remittance - even if only to brag about his golf. ADVERTISEMENTS, NOTICES Etc Ex-P.O.W. ASSOCIATION REUNION DINNER, BALLINA Date: Saturday, 11th
August, 1973. Remembering the success of last Dinner, the powers that be had no hesitation in placing the organisation of this event in the same capable hands of Len Clavan, Noel Hampton, Sid Jameson and Norm Watkins, who are planning bigger and brighter things. Of a total attendance of 75 last year, we were represented by 20 members and wives, and the organisers would like to see an improvement on both figures this year. How about making the special effort by joining the throng on 11th August next. ANNUAL REUNION DINNER, SYDNEY Date: Saturday, 17th
November, 1973. Bob Jack has matters well in hand, and hopes to have increased numbers in attendance this year. A further reminder, with nomination form, will be given in the Sep/Oct issue, but reserve the date meanwhile. NORTHERN RIVERS BRANCH Ex-P.O.W. ASSOCIATION REUNION DINNER Date: Saturday, Late
November, 1973. Of the 105 who attended last year, we had a total representation of 26 members and wives, who journeyed from Sydney, Newcastle and Cessnock in the South, as well as other Towns on the Coast; and Harry Rhodes is hoping for bigger and brighter things this year. Information as to the exact date had not been received up to the time of going to Press, but precise details and a nomination form will be included in the Sep/Oct issue of MAKAN. Meanwhile, reserve the last couple of week-ends in November so as to be sure of attending the Grafton Reunion. Supplement with MAKAN
No. 209 July/Aug 1973. A reprint of a letter by Dr. David Hinder which appeared originally in the March, 1972 issue of "THE NINETEENTH" (Official Journal of 2/19 Bn. A. I. F. Association) and by kind permission of the Editor of "THE NINETEENTH" and the Author, reproduced in MAKAN No. 202, July/Aug 1972. Further copies of this reprint may be made available on application to the Editor of MAKAN. REPATRIATION CLAIMS March, 1972 issue of "The Nineteenth", the official journal of 2/19 Bn. A.I.F. Association, carried a letter written by Dr. David Hinder, which contained information of the greatest importance to all Ps O.W. Although Dr. Hinder emphasises in his letter that the various matters raised by him are based on his own experiences and while some of his colleagues agree with his opinions in some respects, others do not, it is felt that the letter contains a lot of helpful information to all of us; and permission has accordingly been obtained to reprint the letter in full. All Members are urged to read the letter carefully and retain it for future reference. It is also suggested that you should request your local Repatriation Doctor (L.M.O.) to read it, as the information contained in it could prove helpful to him in assessing your own disabilities. Mr. Editor: From your comments, and those of others in the magazine "The Nineteenth", it is obvious that some ex-Ps O.W. think that they have been badly treated by the Repatriation Department. I sympathise with them, but do not know what can be done about it. This personal account of mine might be of assistance to some, or to their own Doctors in preparing their appeal but I must point out that I could not get my own disabilities accepted by myself, so I am not of much help. As you know, but the general public does not, P.O.W.(J) may mean anything from P.O.W. Singapore to P.O.W. Thailand, Burma, Borneo or Japan and all stops in between, for at the end of the war we were spread out over 3,000 miles of Asia from Singapore to Manchuria, but in the public mind we are all P.O.W. Changi because, I suppose, Changi was the biggest camp and more came back from there than anywhere else. The conditions of life, work and health, I presume, differed in all camps and areas. Each one of us only knows of the conditions in his own camp, and I have no knowledge of what happened in Singapore for the last two years of the war or in Thailand for the last 12 months after we left for Japan. I only know of the conditions encountered by the fit, so called, working parties to which I was attached, and my experiences as a P.O.W. were confined to these groups. It is my belief that our life on P.O.W. working parties could have prepared the way for the onset of degenerative diseases that appear with age. Some of my colleagues agree with me, others do not, for there is no proof or evidence one way or the other. I am, of course, biased, but if I were not I would not be human, and in this, any scientific detachment I may have is overshadowed by my own experiences and the trial and tribulation of others. At different times I have been asked to help ex-working party Ps O.W. in their claims to the Repatriation Department, and I have always expressed the opinion, knowing the conditions of the various camps, that the privations, diseases and hardships we experienced could have contributed to any organic disability occurring in later life. The arguments that I have put forward were that, under P.O.W. working party conditions, starvation did not only mean starvation in quantity, but also and more important, it meant starvation in quality and, except possibly C., gross deficiency in all vitamins, proteins and fat, leading to chronic untreated malnutrition, complicated by chronic beri-beri, complicated by chronic untreated pellagra. In this chronic debilitated anaemic state with a pathologically induced low blood pressure, complicated by chronic untreated malaria, complicated by chronic untreated diarrhoea and dysentery, amoebic and bacillary, and in many cases harbouring hook worm, intestinal parasites and worms and suffering also from tropical ulcers, Ps O.W. were not at rest in bed at hospital, as they would have been in any civilised country, but were doing hard manual work seven days a week, month after month for 3½ years, under the supervision of guards who themselves were the victims of a medieval feudal system. All these complaints and diseases mixed up in varying degrees in every individual for two years in the tropics, then culminating in the last grim hungry starving year in Japan, in the coldest winter they had had for sixty years. To me it has always been surprising not that so many died, but that so many survived. Very few in our camp would have lived through another winter in Japan, and we were undoubtedly saved by the Atomic Bomb. Medical Text Books give a good prognosis for the complaints we suffered from, if they are all treated early, and they stress early. If neglected or untreated they all exact their own mortality. There is no prognosis given for any of these conditions, complicated by each other untreated, or all untreated together, if they continue without treatment for any length of time, and in an individual doing hard manual work for seven days a week for some three years. There is no prognosis, because such a sorry state of affairs is not know to the writers of medical texts, and such a possibility of it happening has never entered their heads. It has never happened before until it happened to us, or if it had, there are no medical records. Granted that these conditions and diseases are endemic in Asian Countries, the sufferers are at least free and can have some rest, receive perhaps some treatment, and are not driven out to work by armed guards, many of whom were sadistic, racial fanatics. If this period of our lives did us no harm, it seems to me that we are wasting a lot of time and money on our Health Services. Why do we emphasise a proper quality diet, why bother about beri-beri, pellagra, malaria, dysentery. Treatment does not matter, and those who have survived have not done themselves any lasting harm. If this is right, surely we could do away with drugs, close the hospitals and treat the sick and starving with work, and perhaps the survivors will suffer no ill effects. In 1963 I had a coronary occlusion and it was found then that I had had an undiagnosed one two or three years previously. Contributing factors to coronary occlusion, recognised the world over, are:- 1. high blood pressure 2. overweight 3. smoking 4. high blood cholesterol 5. sedentary occupation. There also appears to be a family incidence. Coronary occlusions are a popular and fashionable complaint and some of us will be lucky enough to die from one. I did not report these episodes to Repatriation Department or put in any claim, but continued working under medical supervision. I thought of putting in a claim to the Department, but decided against it because I felt well, and was able to work, and I considered Repatriation benefits should be reserved for those who were really in need of them. Six years later, in 1969, I had a left central retinal vein thrombosis, and have since become totally blind in this eye. This rather alarmed me and, supported by the advice of my colleagues I put in a claim to the Repat. Dept. that P.O.W. experiences had caused or contributed to my heart and eye disabilities. The appeal was rejected. I put in another appeal and pointed out the transition from a period of starvation to one of overeating and excessive cigarette smoking, which began at the end of the war, when we were supplied with Western food, and cartons of cigarettes by parachutes dropped by the Americans. I pointed out the rapid gain in weight of everyone, and that this overweight and excess smoking persisted with me until my second coronary occlusion, when I got my weight under control and stopped smoking. This appeal was rejected. This made me annoyed because I had heard that some had had their coronaries accepted as due to their P.O.W. experiences, and that some had not. I also felt that the Repat. Dept. thought that I was trying to put something over them. I decided then to try and get the most authoritative opinions I could, and so wrote to three professors of medicine, one professor of ophthalmology and one Director of Eye Care, gave them the facts of P.O.W. life such as our Group found them, and asked for their opinion. This, of course, was not really a fair question, but I was curious to see what answers I would get. From one, I have not heard a word to this day. Three were sympathetic - one said it was outside his field, as it was, and would rather not comment. One said he would help if he could, but it was a difficult question, and he doubted if his opinion would carry much weight. The fourth said "it was difficult to make general statements on groups of people, which can carry any weight at all" and "I have given the written opinion that there was little or no evidence that Changi etc was liable to induce vascular disease." This was disappointing, but was an honest opinion given on the evidence available, which was virtually nil, since there do not appear to be any previous records. The fifth professor, to whom I am eternally grateful, restored some of my self confidence, rang me immediately, arranged an appointment and gave me a complete cardiac examination. He afterwards wrote me a letter in which he stressed the following points: 1. I had high blood pressure on joining the Army. I should not have been accepted in the first place. 2. Suddenly and dramatically in Japan, at the end of the War, our food intake was increased, gain in weight was rapid and I remained overweight until my occlusion. 3. I began smoking cigarettes in Malaya and resumed this habit at the end of the War, and continued smoking until my occlusion. On sending this letter into the Repatriation Department, I was notified within a week that my appeal had been accepted, and I have been granted a 60% pension for my two occlusions and loss of sight in my left eye. I felt vindicated in finally getting my appeal accepted, but it was not what I wanted, which was recognition that our period as Ps O.W. working parties had contributed to the degenerative diseases of age. My appeal had been accepted on proven medical grounds, which could have happened had I stayed at Victoria Barracks for the duration of the war. P.O.W. conditions and diseases did not even get a mention. Apparently my 3½ years of hell as a P.O.W. did me no harm, but the period of heaven after the war paved the way for two coronaries one of which nearly killed me and lost me the sight of one eyes. The whole exercise still seems most extraordinary to me. There is evidence that a low food intake is beneficial to the heart. We dig out graves with our teeth, and the best exercise you can take is to push your chair back from the dinner table are two medical aphorisms that are old and well known. This low food intake is emphasised by those commenting on heart disease and P.O.W. life, but they overlook the fact that starvation was in quality as well as in quantity; that starving men were working while suffering from beri-beri, pellagra, malaria and dysentery; that they were anaemic and were not receiving any treatment, nor were they allowed any rest; and that they were in this state not for a few days, but for months and years. When I was in hospital with my coronary, I was put on a 1100 calorie diet. This is a starvation diet, but the hospital dietician saw to it that it was a well balanced diet with protein, fat, carbohydrates and vitamins. There was no lack of modern drugs. There were no complicating diseases, and if there had been, they would have received immediate attention. There was constant supervision by Doctors, Sisters and Nurses. I was not hounded out of bed to work, but was compelled to stay there longer than I wished. In other words, I was treated in a civilised manner, not in a barbaric one. It is said that there is no greater incidence of coronary disease amongst Ps O.W. than there is in the general population. This may or may not be so, but it is a fallacious argument, since Ps O.W. were a selected fit group in the beginning and would be expected to show a lower incidence of all diseases than an equivalent group of the general population, who had not passed a medical examination. Again, many Ps 0.W. died – had they returned they might now be showing a greater incidence of degenerative diseases. P.O.W. existence undoubtedly lowered our blood pressure, but this was the result of malnutrition and disease, and is only further evidence of a sick body. Such a method of lowering the blood pressure with disease is not at all desirable. I think Ps O.W. working parties are fully justified in putting in a claim for any degenerative disease that may develop. In my own case it was coronary and loss of sight in one eye. In others it could be arthritis, stomach ulcers, colitis, diabetes or any organic disease. While still the responsibility of the Army, we had a long period of hardship followed by a dramatic and immediate return to overeating and overindulgence. This latter period of affluent heavenly complaints is better known, documented, and appreciated by our own medical science than our 3½ years of hardship. Ps O.W. and their Doctors should not overlook this period of heaven, as it is a time when the foundations of later disabilities could have been laid. All Ps O.W. with any organic disability should put in a claim to the Repat. Dept., for that is the only way their complaints will be put on the record, even if their claims are not accepted. Some affluent Ps O.W. may not be inclined to do this, but it is important for the record that they should do so, for without these claims being made, nobody will ever know what finally did happen to the P.O.W.(J), and if we did show any increased incidence of any particular disease. I do not know what records the Repat Dept keeps, but in my own case,. the Repat Dept never new of my coronaries until six years after my second one, and if I had not lost the sight in one eye, they might never have heard of it at all. There must be other Ps O.W. with similar stories, and there are probably some already dead, whose cause of death is unrecorded at Repat. Ps O.W. owe it to themselves, their fellows and to medical science to make their claims known, because we are in a sense a group of human guinea pigs, and our experiences have never happened before, and they may never happen again. There is no previous scientific evidence of the late results of P.O.W. existence such as we knew them, and only we can supply it, by putting in our claims for any proven organic disease. We are all the evidence, and if we do not make our complaints known, the answers will never be known, be they favourable or unfavourable to our appeals. I could not do much when a P.O.W., and I cannot do much now, When we were Ps O.W. the Japanese were callous and indifferent to our sicknesses. Now our scientific colleagues demand evidence that our illnesses did us any harm, and only we can supply the evidence. I feel we are once again up against a brick wall and it is up to the Ps O.W. to help each other by putting in their appeals. They helped each other in the past, and they can do it again. I have had my bleat, but one thing I would like to say is this: I am a fourth generation Australian, and I have never been so proud of being one, before or since, as I was when a P.O.W. of the Japanese, for as you know, our boys were on their own. David C.C. Hinder, 497 Pacific Highway, Killara. Footnote: Having read through this once, will you return to it when you have plenty of time and read it again, slowly and carefully? If you do, I am sure you will agree that Dr. Hinder's plea is not that we should become a group of moaners, graspers for everything we can get or hypochondriacs, but rather that we should help both ourselves and medical science by ensuring that all our illnesses are as fully documented as possible. We are certainly a unique group as, though subsequent Ps O.W. (Korean and Vietnam) may have suffered starvation and beatings, they do not appear to have been forced to do heavy manual work while suffering from the various diseases which accompany malnutrition; and a study of our reactions and conditions since 1945 may possibly contribute something helpful to medical science. Apart from that, the Repatriation Act was designed for the protection of all Ex-Servicemen, and receipt of any benefits under it is not a charitable hand-out, but rather a just entitlement. Many of us, possibly with the mistaken idea that we did not need it, or did not want to be considered bludgers, or that some stigma was attached to receipt of a pension, have failed to advise Repat. of our various illnesses; and we have merely done a disservice to all those who might otherwise have benefited from the information, as well as to ourselves – Ed. Back to 1973 index or Main Index |