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Back to Makan 263, 1981 index or Main Index
Makan No. 263 Supplement with "MAKAN" No. 263, Dec. 1981 Gemas Day Commemoration The Commemoration will take place at 3.00 p.m. on Sunday, 17th January, 1982 at the Memorial at the H.Q. 17th Royal New South Wales Regiment, 2 Suakin St., Pymble. Entry to the Depot is from Ryde Road, about 200 yards west of the crossing of the Pacific Highway, via West Street (on the left hand or North side, coming from Ryde), or if from Bridge Street (alongside Gordon Fire Station), then, at the T intersection at the bottom of the hill, make turn right into Suakin St, thence into the Depot. We have received again the utmost co-operation from Lieut. Col. V.A. Trimble (C.O. 17 R.N.S.W.R.) and his adjutant, Capt. Perkins; they have arranged to have the Depot opened at 2.30 p.m., for the Ceremony at 3pm. A Catafalque Party of 5 from A Company will be arranged for the Ceremony by Capt. J. Hodgson, 2 i/c of that Company, in absence of Maj. T. Permewan - two Pipers, a Drummer, and such other Details as required. As the Regiment treat the day as a Formal Parade, all Members of 2/30 Bn. are requested to 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 for those, who at any time wore the 2/30 colour patch, with Next-of-Kin of those who are no longer with us, their families and their friends. 14/1/1942 -- GEMENCHEH BRIDGE 2/30 Battalion A.I.F. was formed at Tamworth on 22 Nov. 1940, and in Feb. 1941 became part of 27 Infantry Brigade, 8th Div. The officers and men of the Battalion were drawn mostly from the Metropolitan, North Coast and Riverina Areas. It left Sydney on 29th July, 1941 and arrived in Singapore early in the morning of 15th August 1941. On 9th Jan., 1942 General Gordon Bennett ordered 2/30 Bn. to take up a defensive position astride the main road from the north to Malaya in the vicinity of Gemas. Training had been made in ambush procedures and tactics, whilst the Bn. was at Jemaluang and, though a recce of the area showed that the whole Battalion might not be used in an ambush of the approaching Japanese, Lt. Col. Galleghan sought and obtained permission of General Bennett to use a Company in the ambush some three miles forward of the main Bn. defensive position, which was about three miles north of Gemas. B Company commanded by, Capt. D.J. Duffy (later Lt. Col. D.J. Duffy M.C., E.D.) took up the forward ambush position, occupying the rims of a cutting along a stretch of road, behind the Gemencheh River with the forward platoon covering the bridge and about 150 yards of straight road on the other side. At 16.20 hours on 14/1/42, B Company opened the A.I.F. Malayan Campaign by engaging the Japanese in this Gemencheh ambush at the instant of Capt. Duffy giving the order to the Div. Engineers to blow the bridge. The Company was able to break contact and move back. The following day, 15th Jan., saw the Japanese in contact with the Battalion as a whole. Despite the fact that the Japanese had moved tanks across the Gemencheh River, along with their main body, they made no impression on the 2/30 Bn defence, assisted as it was by 30 Battery, 2/15th Field Regt. Artillery; 2 Guns of 16 Battery 4th Anti-Tank. Regt., a party of 8 Div. Engineers; and a party of 8 Div. Sigs. Despite the circumstance, with not even a slit trench, so as to retain the advantage of the ambush, the Battalion casualties for the two days were very light: One Officer and sixteen other ranks killed, 9 O.R.s missing and 55 wounded. The total of CASUALTIES throughout the Campaign was 83 killed, Died of Wounds or Missing Presumed Dead. The Battalion lost a further 310 during POW days and since its return to Australia, many of our comrades are known to have answered the "Last Call". Since the printing of "Makan" 258 with the 1980 Call for the "Gemas Day" Commemoration of that year, we have learnt of the passing of these 22 comrades as well:
In this "Gemas Day" Commemoration we join with their families and remember all our Comrades, who are no longer with us.
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM 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 at the side of the road, until found in 1970 by Major Ken C. Mallinson, E.D., a former member of 30 Inf. Bn. C.M.F. at that time serving with the 1 Bn. Royal Australian Regiment. 1 R. A. R. undertook the recovery of the cylinder and subsequently forwarded it to 17 Royal Australian Regiment as a War Relic. They included with the cylinder a bronze plaque briefly recording its significance. The 17 Royal New South Wales Regiment was formerly the 17 Battalion C.M.F., the North Sydney Regiment, which had been amalgamated with the 30th Bn., The New South Wales Scottish Regiment C.M.F. An Infantry Company in Black Watch Kilt, "A" Company, is maintained still by 17 R.N.S.W.R. in honour of 30th Bn. The 17 Royal New South Wales Regiment has revered the traditions of all past Regiments, which carried the Colours of the 30 Bn., and decided that the cylinder should be mounted by the flagpole on its Parade Ground, in a suitable setting. The 17 Royal New South Wales Regiment organised all of our arrangements and construction in setting up the Memorial. The five Palms, set in a semi-circle around the Memorial, were provided by our Association, with help from NX27140 Cpl. Barnes H.L. (Died 16/5/1978), and represent the five Companies of 2/30 Bn. Ku-ring-gai Municipal Council provided the second Brass Plate for the Memorial Stone and helped with advice and assistance to the 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 17 Jan. 1971, when our then Patron, Brig. Sir Frederick G. Galleghan D.S.O., O.B.E., I.S.O., E.D., who died later in that year on 20th April, performed the unveiling. Notes on Procedure for the Afternoon The procedure, which is to be followed during the afternoon is set out on pages 7 and 8. . It will be seen that provision has been made for laying of any kind of floral tribute by any, who may desire to do so, from amongst those present. A small posy may be considered to be the most suitable. A member of the Battalion will escort each tribute bearer to the Memorial. Ample time is allowed for the Afternoon Tea and Get-Together. In order to provide for this, Family Groups are asked to please bring something by way of eats, sufficient for their own requirements, plus a little extra to provide for unaccompanied menfolk, and for any others, who find it awkward to bring something, also for our hosts, who have made the gathering possible. Lt. Col. Trimble has arranged to have the Depot opened at 2.30 pm. in the afternoon and has arranged also the provision of tables, crockery etc., and hot water for tea and coffee making and then for washing up of utensils afterwards, in order that we may have comfort of the afternoon tea and a yarn after the Ceremony. All donations for the afternoon tea will be aggregated and for this purpose may be placed on the tables on arrival for all to partake later, after the Ceremony, as a family. Tea and coffee, milk, sugar etc., will be provided by the Executive for our "Cuppa." However will you please bring along a tea towel for the drying up of the crockery etc., before we depart. The Executive especially appreciates the CO's gesture in opening the Regimental Messes, in order to assist with the refreshment, but would all Members please remember that this to a family affair, so it is essential that all move freely among the gathering and refrain from a tendency to congregate near to the Bar almost exclusively. Children's drinks WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE REGIMENTAL MESSES. The children may pick up their drinks at the serving points, and the Messes will keep a tally, so that the Association Treasurer will attend to payment at the end of the afternoon. Because of the difficulty of making personal introductions of each one to the other, we confess to age and eyesight trouble, which affects most of us, we will have on hand a supply of name cards, thus making for ease of identification. However we would ask that those of you, who have such cards at home, as may have been used at former Battalion gatherings, please bring them with you for use. Just a case of saving a few "bawbees", if we can. The Ceremony will be held, REGARDLESS OF THE STATE OF THE WEATHER, as there is ample shelter in the Drill Hall. Formation for the Ceremony Catafalque Party will be positioned with rear rank behind the Memorial, front rank in front and behind the kerbing, with NCO of the Party beside the front rank. Flag Attendant will take post beside the flagpole. Pipes and Drums will stand on opposite side of flagpole to Catafalque Party, and Trumpeter by the kerbing nearby. Battalion Members will march from Drill Hall in two files, one file to each side of the flagpole; Leaders will halt about ten feet from kerbing and turn inwards, each successive Member halting and turning inwards as he reaches his position. Noel Johnston, Patron, and Arch Thorburn, President, take position with Wreath, midway between lines of Members. Lt. Col. Trimble and Capt. Hodges, also with Wreath will take position behind other pair and also midway between lines. Floral Tribute Bearers amongst the rest of the Gathering place themselves to close the square in line with the last Members in the line on either side. The last Battalion Members in those lines to please act as escorts to those, who wish to place their personal tributes on the Memorial, Balance of the Assembly help to close the square, behind Tribute Bearers, but with children to the front of the group, please, where possible. There will be no parade, as such, but President will ask one of Battalion Members present on the day to act as Marshall. Death Railway Pages 19/20, "Makan" 254, carried a few extracts from Sydney Morning Herald article of its issue of 3/5/80. Now of interest to us are the words. "The Australians exploring sections of the old (death railway) line are collecting sleeper spikes and bolts. Alan Gilbert (B Company) mentioned at the Tamworth 40th Anniversary, that a friend had sent him some of those spikes and said that he wanted them placed, if possible, in a museum, where they could be retained as historical relics, because it has been said that, the Japanese managed to complete the Burma-Thailand Railway, but only at the expense of a life of the Ps.O.W., and of the impressed civilians for every sleeper on the Railway, and for every sleeper there were two spikes. These were mounted and presented to 17 R.N.S.W.R. on 18/1/1980. Alan's friend is VX61588 G.P. McLennan, M.I.E. Aust., a River Improvement Engineering Consultant with the Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation. Mr. McLennan says, "These dog spikes and bolts were dug out of the ground by me June 1980 from the Burma-Thailand Railway. In "Makan" 262 Harry Holden (B Company) writes and tells us, "Doug Price, the boss of the Snowy Mountains Authority and Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation, brought back two railway spikes (dog) which be had mounted. He presented hem to the Cooma Ex-Servicemen's Club on Anzac Day. The spikes were retrieved from a section of 'our railway' which passed through an area in which the S.M.E.C. boys are working. A personal contribution by Doug which was greatly appreciated by the local rice-eaters (now only three - two 2/19 and myself)." Procedure to be Followed This is essentially a Family Gathering, with a minimum of ceremony. There will 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. Keep to the right, when immediately past the entrance gate. Upon entrance to Drill Hall, please place Afternoon Tea contributions (unopened) on the tables set up there. Name cards will be provided by Members of the Battalion, who will move amongst the guests, in order to see that they are distributed, but please bring one from home, if you have one still from previous Battalion activities. 3.00 p.m. Trumpeter (Mr. Charlie Bennett) will sound "Fall In" call. Pipes and Drums, Flag Attendant and Trumpeter, 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 place themselves on either side of the Doorway from Drill Hall on to the Parade Ground and move out in two single files. Leader of each file to halt, 10ft. from the kerbing, and turn left or right individually, balance of file to do likewise, when their position is reached, again individually. The following order will please be observed: (1) Bn. Association Representatives,
bearing the official wreath, will
stand in front of the Assembly. 3.10 p.m. THE CEREMONY: During the Ceremony, the Pipes will render a Lament. (1) The
Association Representatives will move forward and place the
official wreath; and return to their original places. THEY SHALL GROW NOT OLD, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM. (6) The Trumpeter will sound
the LAST POST. (A period of silence) The Assembly will move, in their own time, to the Drill Hall for Afternoon Tea and Refreshments, to be joined by Members of the 17 R.N.S.W.R. and their friends. Soft drinks will be provided for the children. 4.30 p.m. General clean-up of Drill Hall and outside, if necessary. 5.00 p.m. All cars to be clear of the Depot area by this time, please Back to Makan 263, 1981 index or Main Index |