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Makan No. 244
Dec, 1978

Supplement with "MAKAN" No. 244, Dec. 1978

GEMAS DAY COMMEMORATION

The Commemoration will take place at 3.00 p.m. on Sunday, 14th January, 1979 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, coming from 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. D.R. Leece (C.O. 17 R.N.S.W.R.) and his adjutant, Capt. Pasey, who have arranged to have the Depot opened at 2.30 p.m., and have 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, both now and in the past, 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", but please bring along a tea towel.

The Executive especially appreciates the C.O.'s gesture with the opening of the Regimental Messes, so 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 a tendency to congregate near to the bar almost exclusively.

Because of the difficulty in effecting personal introductions of each one to the other, we will have on hand a supply of name plates, which we would beg of you to use and thus make for ease of identification and introduction.

The Ceremony will be held, regardless of the state of the weather, 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.), 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 arrangements and the construction in 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 died later in that year on 20th April.

14/1/42 GEMENCHEH BRIDGE, 15/1/42 GEMAS

At 1620 hours on 14th January, 1942, forward troops of the 2/30 Battalion A.I.F. (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 it's 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 15/1/1978 these fourteen comrades have passed on also:

NX27140 Pte Len Barnes

NX46076 Pte 'Vic' Jones.

NX47200 Pte Clive Bates

NX46619 Cpl John Korsch

NX54271 Pte Oliver Behan

NX26343 Pte Lennie Lansdown

NX36603 Pte Lindsay Boys

NX47342 Pte Bill Newton

NX37593 Pte Jack Commans

NX47632 Pte Carl Odgers

NX4413 Pte John Folkard

NX37705 Pte Terry O'Rourke

NX26539 Pte Jack. Goodwin

NX46503 Cpl Dave Tate

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

Our Shining Star

People watched from afar
The ascendancy of a star;
They realized 'twas of special blend,
As it continued to shine and ascend.

Though 'twas born in purple shades,
It was purest gold, that never fades;
Soon to be a blazing fire,
With a heart of fierce desire.

A desire to help our fellow man
In troubled times and troubled lands.
Now that star, that did not fade,
Has returned to purple shades.

The Purple and Gold,
our Brotherhood,
Binds us together,
as HE would.

Ted Rickard NX4427.

GEMAS DAY COMMEMORATION, 13th January, 1979 - HQ 17 Royal N.S.W. Regiment, PYMBLE

PLEASE WEAR MEDALS AND DECORATIONS

PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED:-

This is essentially a Family Gathering, with a minimum of ceremony. There will be no Parade as such, accordingly, 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, turn right, when immediately past the entrance gate. Upon entrance to Drill Hall, please place Afternoon Tea contributions (unopened) on the tables provided in the Drill Hall. Name plates will be provided by Members of the Battalion, who will move amongst the guests.

3.00 p.m. Pipes and Drums, Flag Attendant and Trumpeter, Mr. Charlie Bennett, will take up their 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) Lt. Col. Johnston 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 Lt. Col. Johnston 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, Lt. Col. Johnston 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 request observance of a few moments' silence in memory of all those, who are no longer with us, with a special thought for those who have answered the LAST CALL since last Commutation Day. He will recite the names of this latter group (see bottom of page 6).

The President will then 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, all together say)
LEST WE FORGET.

(5) The Trumpeter will sound the LAST POST. (A period of silence)
(6) The Trumpeter will sound the ROUSE (REVEILLE).
(7) The Pipes will render AMAZING GRACE
(8) The Trumpeter 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)        Trumpeter.

(5)        Pipes and Drum.

(6)        Battalion Members, in single file, facing inwards.

(7)       

(8)        Alan Pryde (who will signal the various events).

(9)        Lieut. Col. N. McG. Johnston ED. with President, Arch Thorburn

(10)      Lieut. Col. D.R. Leece and Maj. R.S. Cuddy

(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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