Vale – Mrs Gwenyth Lewis

I regret to advise the passing of Mrs. Gwenyth Lewis.  Gwenyth was the wife of Major Aub Lewis (Decd) former Platoon Commander of 10PL – B Coy 2/31st Bn at Balikpapan WW2. After discharge from the AIF he served in the CMF with 9Bn & the 2/14th QMI. Gwenyth was the mother of our Member Tim Lewis – Coordinator of the 2/31st Bn – Veterans, Family, & Friends.

Gwenyth Lewis was the niece of LTGEN Sir Reginald Pollard KCVO, KBE, CB, DSO a former Brigade Major of the 25th Brigade on its departure to the Middle East and CO of the 2/31st Bn during the Syrian campaign. Sir Reginald continued on a brilliant career in the Military after the war, attaining the rank of LTGEN and appointed Chief of the General Staff, prior to his retirement.

Gwenyth attended our last Special Association meeting in October 2019 with Guest of Honour – 102Yr old WO2 Alf Cumberland and Descendants of members of the 2/31st Bn, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic disrupting our lives.

Our thoughts and condolences go to Tim Lewis and his Family on this sad occasion.

Gwenyth Lewis – Rest In Peace.

Ray Fogg (President, Brisbane)

 

 

 

Visit to Alstonville – Home of Paddy Bugden VC

Regular contributor of articles to our website, Mick James, tells us of his visit over Christmas to the hometown of Patrick Bugden VC:
I spent Christmas in Ballina with family and had a relaxing time. We visited Alstonville (about 10 klms west on the road to Lismore) and had lunch at the Federal Hotel there. This was owned by Paddy Bugden VC’s family and he worked there before joining up in 1916.
The Hotel has a Tribute to Paddy in the Hotel (see photos). We also visited his Memorial around the corner in Bugden Ave.
I also include my photo of Paddy’s grave with Pierre’s tribute that I placed on it when I recited the Ode during my visit together with Pierre in Sept 2017.
LEST WE FORGET
I should also mention that local Rotarian, John Barnes OAM wrote a slim book about Paddy, titled “So i fear nothing”, which is part of a quote taken from a letter Paddy wrote to his mother. It is detailed on the memorial stone that forms part of his Memorial in Bugden Ave, see photo. The Rotary Club of Alstonville may have copies of the book.

Anzac Dawn Service – Origins

Members please find the attached article prepared by our own:- WO1 Ray “Dasher” Deed BEM LS MSM MID, (Retrd). – (Korean & Vietnam Veteran) in relation to the “Dawn Service on Anzac Day.”

Wikipedia refers to the “first Dawn Service” being held on the Western Front on 25th April 1916. It also refers to a Service held in Rockhampton at 6.30AM  on 26th April 1916, where 600 people attended, as well as the Albany Dawn Parade Service in 1923. But claims no definite proof has been found to corroborate any of them.

However they claim the Dawn Service held at the Sydney Cenotaph in 1928 can lay claim to be the first of a continuous tradition. Well, we all know from experience that anything that happens in a major City, especially Sydney (where apparently the world first started) goes down in history! – whereas anything from the Bush is always hearsay. I tend to believe that both episodes at Rocky & Albany took place.

This story of the Padre sounds to me to be very true. We can thank Dasher for bringing it to our attention.  Dasher, who is now 94Yrs, is planning to conduct a “Dawn Service” at the front of his house at Corinda on Anzac Day this year. A few of us 31st Bn members are planning to join Dasher at 6.00AM prior to our attendance at the 2/31st Bn Service at their Memorial at Southbank at 9.00AM then hightailing it down to the Exhibition Grounds for the Brisbane Anzac Day Commemoration Service in lieu of the March thru the Streets. Our 31st Bn Assoc. will have 3 Banners in the March around the Main Arena:- The 31st Bn Main Banner,  plus the 2/31st Bn & the 31/51Bn -WW2 Banners.

Attached Photo of Dasher Deed (2nd from left) with other Veterans of the Battle of Kapyong  3RAR – Korea, receiving their 2nd US Presidential Citation as part of the Aust. Army Training Team Vietnam. (Note the two Bars Left Sleeve) (Photo taken in Vietnam)

TONY        

Wo1 Ray “Dasher” Deed with other Veterans of Kapyong – Korean War and AATV – Vietnam

The Dawn Service – Anzac Day

The Dawn Service on Anzac Day has become a solemn Australian and New Zealand tradition. It is taken for granted as part of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) ethos and few wonder how it started.

This story as it were, is buried in a small Cemetery carved out of the bush some kilometres outside the north Queensland town of Herberton. Almost paradoxically, one grave stands out by its simplicity. It is covered by a protected white washed concrete slab with a plain cement Cross at its top end. No epitaph recalls even the name of the deceased. The inscription on the Cross is a mere two words – “A Priest”. No person would identify the Grave as that of a dedicated Clergyman who created the Dawn Service, without the simple Marker, placed next to the Grave, only in recent times.

It reads:-

Adjacent to, and on the right of this marker, lies the grave of the late Reverend Arthur Ernest White, a Church of England Clergyman and Padre, – 44th Battalion, First Australian Imperial Force”.

On the 25th April 1923 at Albany in Western Australia, the Reverend White led a party of friends in what was the first ever observance of a Dawn Parade on Anzac Day, in Australia, thus establishing a tradition which has endured Australia wide ever since.

The Reverend White was serving as one of the Padres of the earliest Anzacs to leave Australia with the First AIF in November 1914. The Convoy was assembled in the Princess Royal Harbour and King George Sound at Albany West Australia.

Before embarkation at 4 in the morning, he conducted a Service for all the men of the 44th Battalion.

When Reverend White returned to Australia in 1919, he was appointed relieving Rector of St. Johns Church in Albany. It was a strange coincidence that the starting point of the AIF Convoys should now become his Parish.

Albany, he is quoted to have said, was the last sight of land these Anzac troops saw after leaving Australian shores, and some of them never returned. We should hold a Service (here) at the first light of dawn each Anzac Day to commemorate them.

That is why on Anzac Day 1923, he came to hold the first “Commemorative Dawn Service”.

In later life Reverend White moved to Herberton, North Queensland where he became the Chaplain of the Anglican Convent. However, shortly after his arrival, (on 26th Sept. 1954) he died, to be buried so modestly and anonymously as:-

A Priest”.

Ray Deed – 31st Bn Assoc Brisbane. (Jan. 2021)

Farewell Message – LtCol Damien Green

The following message of farewell was received from CO 31/42RQR LtCol Damien Green prior to moving on to his new posting. Many of us have had the pleasure of meeting Damien during his tenure as CO of the Battalion. Membersof the Associaion have been particularly grateful for Damien’s efforts to keep we old diggers across the activities of the Battalion via the “31st/42nd Battalion Newsletter”. Over to LtCol Green:

 

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

I hope this email finds you well and not too impacted by COVID and/or the High Risk Weather Season.

 

The purpose of this email is to pass on my thanks to everyone for your support to the 31st/42nd Battalion, The Royal Queensland Regiment during my tenure in command of the Battalion. We very much appreciate the time you have given to us when we have visited or participated in events throughout Central and North Queensland. Without the support of the community, the Army Reserve ceases to function as it should and I am pleased to say we have been well supported.

 

I will be handing over command of the Battalion to Lieutenant Colonel Dave Gandy as of 18 Jan 2020 when I depart on posting to the Combat Training Centre in Townsville. I have had a great time meeting all of you and I know Dave is very keen to get around and introduce himself to all of you during his tenure as Commanding Officer. I am extremely proud of the support 31/42 RQR has provided to the community and state over the last two years which has included deployments on OP TOWNSVILLE FLOOD ASSIST, OP BUSHFIRE ASSIST, OP COVID-19 ASSIST and now the Emergency Support Force for Central and North Queensland. We certainly hope that the requirement to deploy on domestic operations reduce and we can all start enjoying a relatively normal life free of pandemics and weather events.

 

The Battalion is very keen to visit the communities in our area of operations to raise awareness of the unit that is North and Central Queensland’s own and provide people an opportunity to join our ranks. Many of you already know of the qualities an Army Reserve soldier or officer brings to your community and workforce, so we are keen to ensure people know about the opportunities available in or around Gladstone, Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns. We believe the more involvement we have with the community, the better our chances are of growing our numbers to ensure the Army Reserve remains a viable part of defence capability and a positive contributor to our region.

 

To keep you informed of what we have been up to in the last part of the year I have attached a copy of our newsletter for 2020 for your reading pleasure. Thank you once again for your support.

 

Finally, I would like to wish you all the best for 2021 and I look forward to seeing you at some stage in the future.

 

Best wishes,

 

Damien

 

Damien Green 
Lieutenant Colonel Commanding Officer 31/42 RQR

Welcome to 2021 – from Pierre at Fromelles

Members, The attached Tribute from our member in Fromelles, – Pierre Seillier, – His final for 2020, sums up the situation beautifully.

With reference below Pierre wishes us all a Happy New Year, in the Best Way he knows.  “Just Brilliant”   Tony  

 

 

Hello my friends, I wish you a happy New Year, and I hope that 2021 will be better than 2020.
All the best to you and all members of the 31st Infantry Battalion Association.
Cheers.
Pierre.

Dear Pierre,

On behalf of  all of us 31st Bn blokes in Australia, I thank you most sincerely for all the Tributes you have prepared, & help provided to our Members. You are indeed  – True Blue.

Unfortunately this past year has been a disaster for travelling and I can’t see any Australian Tourists departing Australia any time soon. They are talking late 2021, but that will depend on the Success of the “Covid-19 Vaccines”.  We do hope that things are going to improve for you all in France.

Pierre we all wish you & your family A very Merry Christmas & all the Best Wishes & Good Health for next year.  STAY SAFE PIERRE
Kindest Regards, from all of us – 31st Bn Assoc. (Brisbane)

-o-

Vale – Kyle Macleod

31st Bn Members We have received the sad news from President Greg Stokie that past member “Kyle Macleod” passed away Kyle was on the 31st BAttalion Association Committee for some years. 

Kyle has lived at Villa Vincent for some time. I will pass on best wishes from the Association at the Funeral

As an old Past Service member of 31st Bn – Kyle Macleod – Rest In Peace.

The following notice appeared in the Townsville Daily Bulletin:
https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/tributes/notice/funeral-notices/kyle-macleod/5609840/

Kyle MACLEOD

AGED 84 YEARS

Late of Villa Vincent Nursing Home, Townsville and formerly of 119 Queens Road, Hermit Park. Loving Husband of Thelma. Beloved Father, Father-in-Law and Grandfather of Heather, Wendy, Geoffrey, Jennifer, Ross (deceased) and their respective Families.

All Relatives and Friends are respectfully invited to attend a CELEBRATION of KYLE’S LIFE which will commence at 10.00 a.m TUESDAY MORNING 22nd DECEMBER, 2020 at the Lakes Chapel, Morleys Funeral Home, Cnr. Hugh Street and Martinez Avenue, Townsville.

NO CORTEGE

For those unable to attend due to COVID 19 restrictions, Kyle’s Service will be live streamed at morleys.net.au/upcoming-services

National Servicemen’s Association of Australia (Qld) Inc. Townsville

Branch Members of the above are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral Service of their late Comrade-in-Arms 1713902 / 119934 KYLE MACLEOD which will commence as above. Nasho uniform and medals to be worn.

Ian Kuhl Secretary.

Returned and Services League of Australia (Qld Branch) Townsville Sub Branch Inc.

Members of the above are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral Service of their late Comrade-In-Arms 1713902 / 119934 KYLE MACLEOD which will commence as above.

Val Clark Secretary.

31st Infantry Battalion Assoc. Inc. Townsville Branch

Members of the above are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral Service of their late Comrade-in-Arms 1713902 / 119934 KYLE MACLEOD which will commence as above. Medals may be worn. Dariel Walker Secretary.