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Makan No. 238
11th January, 1978
OFFICIAL JOURNAL 2/30 Bn. A. I. F. ASSOCIATION
Subscription Rate: $1.50 per Year
Registered for Posting as Periodical: Category A
GEMAS DAY COMMEMORATION
The Commemoration will take place at 3.00 p.m. on Sunday, 15th January, 1978 at the Memorial at H.Q. 17 R.N.S.W.R., 2 Suakin St., Pymble. Entry to the Depot is from Ryde Road, about 200 yards West of the crossing of the Pacific Highway and via West Street (on the right hand or North side, going towards Ryde) which leads into Suakin Street. Cars travelling along Pacific Highway turn into Bridge St, alongside Gordon Fire Station; at the T intersection at the bottom of the hill, turn right into Suakin St, thence into the Regimental Depot.
We have again received the utmost co-operation from Lieut. Col. Kirkby (C.O. 17 R.N.S.W.R.) who has arranged to have the Depot opened at 2.30 p.m., and has also arranged the provision of tables, crockery etc, and hot water for tea making, to enable us to gather for Afternoon Tea and a yarn after the Ceremony.
The Officers' and Sergeants' Messes will also be opened, with serving points in the Drill Hall.
A Catafalque Party of 5 from A Coy, as arranged by Major R.S. Cuddy, O.C., that Coy, two Pipers and a Drummer, together with other Details, will also be provided by the Regiment.
As the Regiment treat the day as a formal Parade, it is requested that all wear medals and decorations.
It is most gratifying that such a helpful response has been made for our needs to be met during a rather difficult holiday period.
This event is our Family Gathering of the Year, of all who at any time wore the 2/30 colour patch and the Next-of-Kin of those who are no longer with us, together with their families and their friends.
The procedure to be followed during the afternoon is set out on the centrefold. It will be seen that provision has been made for the laying of floral tributes by any of those present who desire to do so, a small posy may be considered to be most desirable. A Member of the Battalion will escort each tribute bearer to the Memorial.
It will also be observed that ample time is allowed for the Afternoon Tea and Get Together; and in order to provide for it, Family Groups are asked to bring something by way of eats, sufficient for their own requirements, plus a little extra to provide for unaccompanied men; for those who find it awkward to bring something along; for our Hosts, who have made this Gathering possible. All the contributions will be aggregated and placed on tables for all to partake of after the Ceremony, as a Family. Tea and coffee, milk, sugar, cups etc will be provided for our "Cuppa".
The Executive especially appreciates the C.O.'s arrangements for the opening of the Regimental Messes, and would ask all Members to please remember that this is a Family affair, and it is essential that all move freely amongst the gathering, and refrain from our normal tendency to congregate almost exclusively at the bar.
Because of the difficulty in effecting personal introductions of each one to the other, we will have on hand a supply of name plates; and it is hoped that all will wear them as a ready means of identification, and a source of introduction to each other.
The Ceremony will be held, irrespective of conditions, as there is ample shelter in the Drill Hall.
THE MEMORIAL
The concrete cylinder, which forms the focal point of the Memorial was one of those used as a Tank Stop at the Battle of Gemas. It remained, by the side of the road, until found in 1970 by Major K. G. Mallinson E.D. (a former member of 30th Infantry Battalion C.M.F.) who at that time was serving with 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment. 1 R.A.R. undertook the recovery of the cylinder, and subsequently forwarded it to 17 R.N.S.W.R., as a War Relic. They included with the cylinder a bronze plaque, briefly recording its significance.
The 17 R.N.S.W.R. was formerly the 17th Battalion CMF, and had absorbed the 30th Battalion The N.S.W. Scottish Regiment C.M.F. An Infantry Company in Black Watch Kilts, A Company, is maintained still by the 17 R.N.S.W.R. in honour of the 30th Battalion.
The 17 R.N.S.W.R. have always revered the traditions of all past Regiments which carried the colours of the 30th, and decided that the concrete cylinder should be mounted beside the Flagstaff on its Parade Ground, in a suitable setting. The 17 R.N.S.W.R. organised the whole of the work of construction and setting up the Memorial.
The five palms, set in a semi-circle around the Memorial, were provided by our Association, and represent the five Companies of the 2/30th Battalion. Ku-ring-gai Municipal Council provided the second Brass Plaque for the Memorial Stone, and provided advice and assistance to 17 R.N.S.W.R. in the construction and setting up of the Memorial.
The official Consecration and Unveiling of the Memorial was held on 17th January, 1971, when our then Patron, Brigadier Sir Frederick Galleghan, DSO, OBE, ISO, ED, who later died on 20th April, 1971, performed the unveiling Ceremony.
14/1/42 GEMENCHEH BRIDGE, 15/1/42 GEMAS
At 1620 hours on 14th January, 1942, forward troops of the Battalion (B Company under command Capt. D. J. Duffy - later Colonel D. J. Duffy, MC, ED) opened the A.I.F.'s Malayan campaign by engaging the Japanese in the Gemencheh Ambush and suffered our first causalities in action. The Battalion as a whole became committed in the Battle of Gemas the next day, 15th January, 1942; assisted by Divisional Units, 30th Battery 2/15th Field Regt, a section of 13th Battery, 4th Anti-Tank Regt., a Party of 8 Div. Engineers and 8 Div. Sigs.
Under the circumstances, with no slit trenches even, the Battalion casualties for the two days were very light: 1 Officer and 16 other ranks killed, 9 O.R.'s missing and 55 wounded.
Total causalities for the campaign amounted to 83 killed, died of wounds or missing.
We lost a further 310 during P.O.W. days, and since our return to Australia, many of our comrades have answered the Last Call.
Since our last gathering here on 16/1/1977 these twelve comrades have passed on also:
NX73786 Pte Bob Robinson
NX37530 Pte Ted Barnes
NX29704 L/Cpl Allan K. Smith
NX1656 Pte B.H. Lester
NX37498 Sgt. Bob Jack
NX30114 Pte Bill Skene
NX70486 Capt. E.H. Booth
NX55186 Pte Frank Craven
NX68236 Cpl. Stan Lugton
NX57019 Pte Joe McManus
NX71886 Pte Keith Richardson
NX47538 Pte Gordon Saifallie
In this Gemas Day Commemoration we join with their families and remember all of our comrades who are no longer with us.
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
AT PYMBLE ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON
ALL IS QUIET, ORDERED, AND SERENE
But always near us other
worlds
And other times flow onward
As we live our lives. We dip
A draught from here and now, while
Close beside us streams eternal
Roll their mighty tides.
ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT PYMBLE
Insights glimpsed,
windows out of time,
And faintly flashing gleams, bring visions
When our troubled minds are stretched
To breaking point, and then an ecstasy
Of blinding light cascades o'er all
The footling toil of measured years.
SUNDAY'S QUIET AFTERNOON AT PYMBLE
Long-gone GEMAS - still I
see revealed
Man's glory. Deeds are all and recompense
Becomes an empty word. There behold;
Incredibly the bayonets gleam. Again
The cream of youth goes up - High-Port,
Where withering blasts, oblivion's seed,
Are scattered all around. Now suddenly
The purple flowers of death contaminate
The ground. With crash and flame the fire
Of life is trampled underfoot. From Heav'n
The dark spreads, down, and quick extinction
In the dust, the snatch of death
Spares neither hero, churl, nor saint.
Approach their bier and kneel, bow low,
For greater love no man doth know.
DISPLAY OF MEMENTOS
Please do not forget to bring along any. mementos, which might have been brought back. Photos, sketches or nick nacks. Please identify with your name taped underneath the article and a small card to place alongside on the table to say whose they are.
GEMAS DAY COMMEMORATION, 15th January, 1978.
PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED: - PLEASE WEAR MEDALS AND DECORATIONS
This is essentially a Family Gathering, with a minimum of ceremony. There will accordingly be no Parade (as such) or the undue issuing of orders and instructions, but some form of procedure is essential to avoid chaos, and to enable us to observe a reverence and dignity befitting the occasion.
The following will be observed:
2.30 p.m. Drill Hall will be opened, and Family Groups commence to arrive. Car-parking facilities will be available within the grounds, adjacent to the Parade Ground, as directed. Upon arrival, Afternoon Tea contributions will please be placed (unopened) on the tables provided in the Drill Hall. Name plates will be provided by Members of the Bn., who will move freely amongst Guests.
3.00 p.m. Pipes and Drums, Flag Attendant and Bugler will take up positions, and Flags will be raised. Catafalque Party will Take Post - to be marched on by Pipes.
3.05 p.m. Members of the Battalion will march on in single file, as directed by Noel Johnston, and upon reaching their position will individually turn left and right, to face inwards. The balance of the Assembly will move to their position, forming the third side of the open square, and facing the Memorial. The following order will please be observed:
(1) The Patron and the
President (bearing the official wreath) will stand in front of the
Assembly, facing the Memorial.
(2) C.O. 17 R.N.S.W.R. and Aide will stand at the rear of the Patron and
the President, facing the Memorial.
(3) All others wishing to place tributes will take up their position
centrally, in the front line of the Assembly (which may require to be
several deep) with children also in the front.
3.10 p.m. THE CEREMONY:
During the Ceremony, the Pipes will render a Lament.
(1) On a signal from Alan Pryde, the Patron and the President will move forward and place the official wreath; and return to their original places.
(2) C.O. 17 R.N.S.W.R. and Aide will move forward and place their wreath; and return to their original places.
(3) Other tribute bearers, each escorted by a Member of the Battalion, will move forward in turn, place their tribute and return to their places before the next party moves off.
(4) On completion, and on a signal from Alan Pryde, the President will recite:
THE ODE :
THEY SHALL GROW NOT OLD,
AS WE THAT ARE LEFT GROW OLD.
AGE SHALL NOT WEARY THEM,
NOR THE YEARS CONDEMN.
AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN,
AND IN THE MORNING,
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.
(All together shall then say)
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.
(And after a short pause)
LEST WE FORGET.
(5) The Bugler will sound the LAST POST. (A period of silence)
(6) The Bugler will sound the ROUSE (REVEILLE).
(7) The Battalion Piper will render AMAZING GRACE
(7) The Bugler will sound the MESS CALL.
The Assembly will move in their own time to the Drill Hall, for Afternoon Tea and Refreshments, to be joined by Members of the Regiment and all other 17 R.N.S.W.R. Details present. Soft drinks will be provided for children.
4.30 p.m. General clean-up of Drill Hall and outside Area. All cars to be clear of the area by 5.00 p.m.
FORMATION FOR THE CEREMONY.
NOTES:
(1) The Memorial and rear rank of Catafalque Party.
(2) Front rank Catafalque Party and Commander.
(3) Flagpole and Attendant.
(4) Bugler.
(5) Pipes and Drum.
(6) Battalion Members, in single file, facing inwards.
(7) Lieut. Col. N. McG. Johnston ED. (who will be required to assist our Patron during the laying of the Official Wreath).
(8) Alan Pryde (who will signal the various events).
(9) The Patron and the President.
(10) Lieut. Col. K. Kirkby MC and Aide.
(11) The balance of the Assembly. Floral Tribute bearers situated centrally, and in the front line. Children also in the front line, where possible.
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