Anzac Day – 31/42 RQR – Participation

The Battalion was heavily involved in Anzac Day commitments. Members supported commemorations in over 12 locations across the AO and we cannot be prouder of the Soldiers who represented the Battalion.
This level of support to the local community and ANZAC Day Commemorations is a great achievement.
Well done to all involved.

On a wider scale, members of 11 Brigade members proudly supported 150 Anzac Day events across Queensland and Northern New South Wales at schools, dawn services and memorials covering Muswellbrook in the South, north to Cairns, and west to Roma and many others in Brisbane and across regional Queensland.

Wreath Laying Ceremony

Catafalque Party Member

Catafalque Party – Mt Morgan

Catafalque Party – Rockhampton

Boyne Island Catafalque Party

Catafalque Party – Gladstone

Catafalque Party – Mackay

Catafalque Party Member

Dawn Service – Cairns

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anzac Day – 31st Bn – Brisbane March

At the head of the 31st Battalion Association Anzac Day 2023 march in Brisbane were the banners of the 31 Bn Association, the 2/31 st Battalion and the 31/51 st Battalion. Banner bearers  had to battle a stiff breeze as they marched along Adelaide Street.

As usual, prior to the main Brisbane March, a small ceremony was held at the Memorial in South Bank to commemorate the 2/31st Battalion AIF.

Service at South Bank Memorial prior to the main Brisbane March

Anzac Day – 31st Bn Association – Brisbane – 2023

Members, & Friends – Please Refer to the Attached – VERSION 12 -April 2023 – ANZAC DAY ORDER OF MARCH  Pages 1 & 2 (This is the Latest Version) 
 
Page 1 Shows the Total ORDER OF MARCH – We will be Marching in GROUP 4 Section D & Position No 43. Step of 1015 Hrs
 
Page 8 shows GROUP 4 Section D – We are now Position 43. We form up NO LATER than 10.00AM – in GEORGE ST down near Mary St.(Look for our Banners)
 
We will have the 3 Banners – 31st Bn Banner, (Carriers Rory Wadeson & Peter Lewis) – It will be up by 10.00AM 
The 2/31st Bn Banner, (Carriers Noah Swan &  Sarah Crisp}  It will join us maybe a bit after 10 (after the 2/31st Bn Southbank Service)
The 31/51 Bn Banner   (Teresa Mayhew & her Sister. Daughters of Noel Pilcher) – It will be up by 10.00 AM
I’m appealing to all Members to make an effort to join us in the March. 
TONY .

Unveiling of Plaques at Lutwyche Cemetery – Brisbane

On 15th April 2023 a service was held in Brisbane to mark the Unveiling Ceremony for the 247 Plaques of WW1 Diggers who died in Brisbane in the 1940s. The service was conducted at Lutwyche Cemetery by the Australian Remembrance Army in conjunction with the Toowong RSL sub branch. Among the Attendees were RSL members, members of Army Associations and relatives of those with new plaques on their graves. There was an Aussie Flag placed beside each new Plaque. The 31st Battalion was represented and Association member Mick James also  placed a Tribute specially created by our Honorary member in France, Pierre Seillier, for RSM Francis Law DCM. This was placed beside his Plaque in the Cemetery.
Mick James goes on to say, 

“I congratulated Cate Walker & Katrina Trevethan on the Australian Remembrance Army Facebook page. They have done an outstanding job in forming the Group, applying for the Grant, researching all the Personnel files, tracing relatives where possible, organising the production of the Plaques, composing the script on the Plaques in conjunction with relatives, where possible, and affixing the plaques to the concrete beams. They started in late 2020, laid the first plaque in August 2022 and probably won’t finish until some time in 2024. They deserve our sincere Congratulations, and encouragement & support to complete the Project. Thanks again Cate & Katrina .

Members Plaques attached to Concrete Beams in Lutwyche Cemetery

 

Members of 31st Battalion including RSM Francis Law DCM with the Tribute

Created by our Honorary Member in France Pierre Seillier

The Citation for Francis Law states

“For conspicuous gallantry in action. He showed great determination on the right flank, and,

with about 10 men, attacked an enemy’s machine gun position, captured the gun,

and brought it back to the main position, where he held on all night. “          

Award to Our Honorary Member – Pierre Seillier OAM

Members will be pleased to hear that honorary Member of the 31st Battalion Association, Pierre Seillier, has been awarded an Honorary OAM for his services to Australian Service and ex-Service personnel and ex-Service Associations. The award was reported in the the Locyer and Somerset Independent newspaper 8 Mar 2023.

Our Association has had a close connection with Pierre over many years particularly in connection with the recovery, identification and re-interment of the missing soldiers from the 1916 battle of Fromelles. Pierre has produced high quality plaques of many members of the 31st Battalion from that battle and many other battalion members who have passed away subsequently.

The Somerset Independent News report is reproduced below under the headline:

“RSL’s Efforts Get Recognition for French Comrade with OAM ”

Thanks to he work and perserverence of members of the Laidley RSL Sub Branch, a French Citizen has been awarded an honorary Order of Australia Medal. Laidley RSL Sub Branch President Tom Barton said Pierre Seillier of Fromelles in Northern France was well known to many Australian ex-service organisations and individuals.

“His mission in life is to honour the Australian troops who traveled to places far from home, just to fight for his countrymen during the First World War” Mr Barton said.

He now devotes his time to researching the details of soldiers who lie in graves in that foreign land. For many years Mr Seillier has contributed to RSL Branches throughout Australia by providing excellent artwork for their Anzac and Remembrance Days orders of service.

“He has been granted honorary membershipp of many Australian ex-service organisations, including honorary membership of the Rats of Tobruk Association” Mr Barton said.

At the Laidley Sub Branch, he is regarded almost as a personal friend, one who can be relied upon when they are seeking his services for a design or artwork to advertise a particular occasion.

“Laidley Sub Branch pays tribute to our member Jim Nicholls for his initiative in taking on this project and for sticking with it over the three year period it took to bring it to fruition” Mr Barton said.

Boer War Memorial Service – 9th Feb 2023

Gentlemen, Please find the attached Invitation from the “Sherwood – Indooroopilly RSL Sub-Branch” to attend the “Boer War Memorial Service” to be held Thursday 9th Feb at 1000 Hrs at the Corinda Sub Branch. They usually provide Morning Tea after the Service. We usually have a few attendees and if anyone is available we could adjourn over the Road for a Light Lunch. (Unfortunately I won’t be able to stay for lunch) 
Assemble:-  No Later than 0945Hrs on Thursday 9th Feb
Dress:- Good casual – Jacket, Beret & Name Tag ( I will advise re Medals Later)
LUNCH:- Please Indicate whether you wish to stay on for a light lunch at the Westside HQ Club afterwards. 
 
Those who wish to attend please advise Me (NOT THE SUB-BRANCH) no later than Thursday 26th Jan. 
I will then advise the Sub Branch The total from 31st Bn Assoc. 
 
REGARDS, TONY
Click Below for Details

Vale – Keith Hearne

Message from Association Brisbane Branch Secretary, Tony Wadeson:
Members I regret to advise that our 2/31st Bn Life Member, – WW2 Veteran & Victorian Past President of the 2/31st & 2/25 Battalions Association – Keith Hearne passed away on Christmas Day. Attached is a Photo taken of Keith receiving his 31st Bn Assoc. Honorary Life Membership Tribute at the Frankston RSL Club on 7th Sept last. We had been trying to present it to him since 2020 but were unable due to Covid State Border lock downs. The event was covered on this website (See “Keith Hearne – Honorary Life Membership” in Archives for October 2022 for his wonderful history of service to the RSL and the Community )
I’ve attached Keiths RSL Bio & you will note amongst other things that he was a Life Member of the RSL.
 
Funeral Arrangements have yet to be announced. – I will update you when they become available.
If its possible I would ask if our Melbourne Based Members, Peter Nelson & Brian Mullarvey & any 2/31st Bn Veteran, Descendants, could attend the Funeral. The Frankston RSL Sub Branch will be involved as The Victorian RSL State President apparently will be involved. Berets, Medals, & Name Tags Should be worn.
 
Keith Hearne – 2nd/31st Bn – WW2 Veteran – Life Member RSL – Life Member 31st Bn Assoc. 
 Rest in Peace. 
 
Regards Tony
 
Keith was also mentioned on this website in the article “2/31st Battalion Memorabilia” (Archive March 2019).
He was also featured in the article “Keith Hearne” (Archive September 2020) that tells a brief story of his experience in Balikpapan and of his subsequent service to the community. Also of his determination to go to PapuaNewguinea for the reinterment of some of his 2/31 Battalion mates who perished when their aircraft repatriating wounded from Balikpapan and Moritai crashed in West Papua in the latter stages of the war. 
Keith receiving his Honorary Life Membership of the 31st Battalion Association
Frankston RSL Notice of Keith’s Passing
 

Texas Terror Commemoration – Ingham – 2022

The “Texas Terror” commemoration was held in Ingham on Sunday 18th December 2022. This commemoration is held yearly in remembrance of the lives lost when a WW2 B24 Liberator aircraft of the US Air Force designated the “Texas Terror”  crashed into the summit of Mt Straloch on Hinchinbrook Island on 18th December 1942 during a fierce tropical storm. It was on its way to Iron Range on Cape York , having just departed Garbutt Airbase Townsville after picking up passengers.

The ceremony is organized by President of the Ingham branch of the Association by Felix Reitano and fellow members of  the Association..

“Texas Terror” Commemoration – 2022

A gathering of members after the Commemoration Ceremony

31/42 RQR Regimental Dinner – Mackay – 10th December 2022

Saturday night (10th Dec 2022) was an excellent occasion with the 31st/42nd Battalion The Royal Queensland Regiment, Regimental Dinner.

Association Member Mick James describes the evening:

It was attended by approx. 150 members of the Battalion, members of both Battalion Associations and invited Guests. The Mayor of Mackay Regional Council, Mr Greg Williamson & Mrs Annette Williamson headed the Guest list, with Guest Speaker Brig (Retd) Steve Graw & Mrs Dale Graw, Commander 11 Brigade, Brig Mark Armstrong and his RSM, WO1 Andrew Crook, and Mr Keith Payne VC AM. I had the honour of hosting Keith at the Dinner including picking him up from his home in Mackay and returning him there afterwards (with a driver). Keith also had a good friend with him, Darren Stendt who has 30 years service in the Army including 15 years in 1 Commando Coy.


After some excellent fellowship, we sat down to a 3 course delicious meal (after Grace) with good red and white wines accompanying it. Then the port was passed around and various toasts were made- The King, The Australian Army, & The Battalion, all to suitable music accompaniment with the latter Toast made by LtCol Cameron McKay, the incoming CO of 31st/42nd Battalion.

Brig (Retd) Steve Graw then spoke on the subject of Moral Courage. It was a most instructive speech and attempts are being made to publish it. However the night was far from over with the RSM WO1 Dave Harding calling a number of Promotions, Awards and Farewells.

The Farewells included the CO, Lt Col David Gandy, Kennedy Company OC Maj Barbara Keller, The Adjutant, Capt Nick Crosbie, Training WO Paul Lergessner (Retd), 2IC Cap Coy, Capt Stephen Wooler.  One of the notable promotion was Capt Misty Evans, who received her 3rd pips from the CO and her husband (see photo below).


An excellent night and Keith Payne enjoyed himself immensely. The Battalion members, Assoc members and guests enjoyed his presence, with many speaking to him and a number having their photo taken with him. When I introduced Keith to the assembled group prior to the Dinner, I also made 2 presentations to him. The first was a Tribute of his service in various Units and his Medal Awards & Honors done by our French friend and honorary 31st Bn Assn Member, Pierre Seillier. Pierre is also a friend of .Keith’s. The Tribute shows Keith’s 1st and last Units, 31st Bn . in top left corner and 42nd Bn in the top right corner. The 2nd presentation is an enlarged photo from 1951 showing 31st Bn troops training at Sellheim Army Camp (located outside Charters Towers). A number of men are named, including Pte Keith Payne (3rd from left) and Pte Kev Fraser (who became CO of 31st Bn in the mid 1970s). Keith was very pleased with both and his son, Colin was amazed at the 1951 photo when he saw it on Keith’s return home.


A very enjoyable night and thanks go to the Bn XO, Maj Mark Smith for organising and hosting it as Dining President.

The following is the address by Guest Speaker for the evening Brigadier (Rtd) Steven Graw RFD:

Mr Greg Williamson – Mayor of the Mackay Regional Council, Mrs Annette Williamson, Mr Keith Payne VC, Brigadier Mark Armstrong, Lt Col David Gandy, other distinguished guests, members of the Battalion, ladies and gentlemen.

The topic on which I have been asked to speak to-night is Moral Courage.

At its most basic, moral courage is not just knowing what is right, or doing what is right, or acting ethically or justly – it is being willing to stand up and confront the things that we know are wrong. It is not remaining silent or indifferent when something needs to be called out and corrected.

As members of the defence force we are sworn to protect Australia, its people and its way of life. That takes physical courage. But we also have a duty to defend its soul – and that takes moral courage – a calculated willingness to step up and be counted, even if it involves some personal cost or personal risk – to our relationships, reputation or physical or financial well-being.

The hardest things you will ever have to do in life will be those when you have to face the disapproval, and even the censure, of others – even those you considered your friends – for doing it.

Moral courage is acting resolutely on your convictions and ethical beliefs. That is what towering figures like Ghandi, Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King did – despite the consequences.

Ukraine’s Volodimir Zelenskyy displays both physical and moral courage. When the Russians invaded and the Americans offered to extract him how did he reply? ‘I need ammunition, not a ride’. He got his ammunition.

Contrast that to the response of the then President of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani, as the Taliban entered Kabul. Having said on multiple occasions that he would ‘fight to the death’, when the Taliban closed in it was reported that he loaded up a chopper with his family and as many bags of US banknotes as he could (something he subsequently denied) and fled to the UAE. His excuse, that he did it to save Kabul from destruction was a blatant cop-out. There was no courage there – physical or moral.

Whistle-blowers in public and private enterprises who act to counter corrupt or unethical behaviour also display moral courage. Those who see bad behavior in their workplaces or communities have a choice. They can do something about it – or they can take the easy option and do nothing. Rocking the boat when it needs to be rocked takes moral courage.

Moral courage means adhering to your values – like honesty, respect, responsibility and fairness – even when that is uncomfortable.

It is not a group activity – if you wait for the consensus and follow the pack that is not moral courage. That is being ‘part of the herd’ – it’s bovine and it’s easy.

Unfortunately, true moral courage is sadly lacking in our society.

Our national politicians, in the main, do not have it. They prefer, instead, to do what is popular or ‘politically expedient’ rather than doing what is ‘right’. They even boast about it. Many of you may remember the title of Graeme Richardson’s autobiography – ‘Whatever it Takes’.

Promises, even firm undertakings, rarely have any binding effect, either ethically or morally. You may remember John Howard’s fatuous attempt to distinguish between what he called ‘core and non-core’ promises’ – a sort of ‘get-out of jail free’ card allowing him to ignore promises he did not want to keep.

Julia Gillard famously promised before the 2010 Federal election that ‘there will be no carbon tax under a government I lead’ – but then caved in to political expediency to introduce one under a deal she made to remain in government. That went well. It did her little good in the long run. It made her intensely unpopular, and resulted in her being ousted in an internal party coup to reinstate her predecessor, Kevin Rudd, as Prime Minister in an attempt to limit the fallout from the 2014 election. Who knows what the result may have been if she had had the moral courage to stick with her promise and refuse the Green’s demands for a carbon tax.

The media is arguably no better. Once it was there to ‘keep the bastards honest’, to be a watchdog holding government and other powerful institutions accountable. It did that by reporting honestly, fairly and impartially – and by sticking to the facts.

No longer. Sensationalist headlines and reports grab attention and that drives advertising revenue – apparently the major concern of even mainstream commercial media – not just what we used to refer to as the ‘gutter press’.

Worse though are those who abuse their positions of trust to drive their own, often ‘woke’, agendas.

Even our national broadcaster, the ABC, has been caught out, having to pay out huge amounts of public money to settle defamation and other similar disputes – simply because it did not have the moral courage to enforce its own editorial standards or, worse, to require its journalists to adhere to them and to ‘fess up’ and apologise when they are caught out.

And that brings me to the second aspect of moral courage.

Moral courage is not just standing up for what it right – it is also accepting responsibility, and acknowledging when you are wrong.

I will give you just one example.

Many of you will know, or at least have heard of Brigadier ‘Warry George’ Mansford – a larger than life figure who was responsible for re-raising 11 Brigade in 1987.

Warry George’ joined the Army on his 17th birthday, fought through Korea and Malaya took a ‘knife and fork’ commission in 1964 and then fought in Vietnam. He was subsequently responsible for setting up the Battle School at Tully and also set up the Young Officer Courses (now the ROBC) for newly commissioned officers to learn their specific to corps skills.

You will no doubt all remember that, as junior soldiers, we all had drummed into us that when doing TEWTs the DS will try to talk you off your plan. We also had it impressed on us never to let them do it – because that meant that you weren’t committed to it in the first place.

And so it was for a newly commissioned 2LT from one of the then ARES Commando Companies doing his Young Officer course with George.

The story is that, tasked with coming up with a plan to site an ambush near a known enemy position, he sited it just forward of the enemy wire – on the basis that he would achieve surprise because no-one would expect it there.

George listened patiently and, when the 2LT had finished presenting, said ‘It won’t work son’. Applying the accepted wisdom among students, the young officer argued that it was a terrific plan and would most certainly work. George put up with this for a while until, finally, he stood up, grasped his own shirt by its epaulets and said, ‘See this son. Three wars, no holes, It won’t f…en work’.

That was perhaps a very good example of an occasion where the young officer should have had the moral courage (and the good sense) to admit that maybe he was wrong.

I would l like to finish up with one final comment. A former Chief of Army, Lieutenant General David Morrison and I were CO’s and, then, Brigade Commanders in Townsville at around the same time. We did not meet often and it is probably fair to say that I did not always agree with him on everything he said. However, I cannot quibble with the comment for which he is perhaps most famous The standard you walk past is the standard you accept’.

As soldiers we have a duty – to ourselves, to the Army and to Australia – to have the moral courage not to walk past something we know to be wrong. We need to keep, foremost and always in our minds, that: The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.’ Moral courage, ladies and gentlemen, is not ‘doing nothing’.

Thank you.

 

 

The Presentation by the 31st Battalion Association to Keith Payne VC, AM

Newspaper Clipping from 1951 Showing Pte Keith Payne (Third from Left) and

Pte Kev Fraser (later to become CO of 31RQR in 1976)

Presentation being made to Keith Payne VC AM by 31st Battalion Association’s Mick James

At the start of the Regimental Dining Night

Keith Showing the Presentation

Newly Promoted LT Misty Evans Receiving her Captains Pips from

The CO LtCol David Gandy and her Husband 

Comd 11 Bde Brigadier Armstrong making presentation to outgoing CO LTCOL David Gandy

Meeting the Incoming CO of the Battalion LtCol Cam McKay was

Association Website Editor Maj (Rtd) Martin O’Sullivan

CO Presenting Outgoing Adjt Capt Nick Crosbie with a Unit Plaque for a job well done

Presentation to Maj Barbara Keller with Thanks for a job well done in Kennedy Company

The Dining Night – Mackay – Mister Vice (Lt Mark Hazlett) studying the Menu

It was good to see Keith relaxed recounting a story or two and

enjoying the night

Many people had the chance to speak to and be photographed with our guest of Honour

Former Members of the Battalion (now Rtd), (L to R) Paul Ellems, Martin O’Sullivan,

Mark Allen, Chris Cummings, Steve Graw, (Guest Speaker) and Alan Bruce.

Chris and Steve were previously CO’s of the Battalion and Steve  was previously Comd 11Bde.

Missing from the Group was Mick James who was Hosting our Guest of Honour Keith Payne VC, AM

Our Piper signalling the start of the Dining Night