MEMBERS of the 31^st Infantry Battalion Association and Ingham community members paid their annual tribute to the 12 United States airmen who died on December 18, 1942, when their B24D Liberator bomber crashed on Hinchinbrook Island. The aircraft, code-named the “Texas Terror,” was heading to Iron Range on Cape York when it crashed.

Also in attendance were visitors from Townsville, and Charters Towers.

The Ingham community erected a memorial plaque in 1999, and a local committee has worked earnestly over the years to ensure this part of Ingham’s military history will not be forgotten.

3st Battalion Assn Ingham Branch President, Felix Reitano has arranged a video of this year’s Commemoration Ceremony Sunday 15th December 2024 here:-

Also, photo taken with Peter Maltby’s camera also attached.

Regards,

Felix Reitano

Gathering of Assn Members with Ingham Community members at the

“Texas Terror” Commemoration Sun 15th December 

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Part of the Wreckage on Hinchinbrook Island showing the “Texas Terror” Code Name

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Identification Marks on the Wreckage on Hinchinbrook Island.

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Cross with the Crewmens names

31st Battalion Association members gathered at the Ayr RSL ANZAC Club on Saturday 9th November for a lunch time get together. President of the Association’s Townsville Branch Paul Ellems together with other Townsville members joined with members from the Ayr/Home Hill area to share stories of good times at the Ayr Depot. Photos Below:

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Members of the Charters Towers Branch of the 31st Battalion Association hosted a luncheon to commemorate the placement of Plaques on the graves of Wartime Tunnelers who are now buried in the Charters Towers Cemetery.  The project was an initiative of the Charters Towers Branch of the Association. The luncheon was attended by  members of the Association with wives and partners. Also present were Association President Col (Retd) Greg Stokie, Towvsville Branch President LtCol (Retd) Paul Ellems, Ingham Branch President Capt  (Retd) Felix Reitano. 

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The project which has been ongoing, has been steered by branch executive members President Raymond Barrett and facilitated by a grant arranged by Secretary/Treasurer and Honorary Association Life Member Vic Nichol.

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Felix Reitano, Vic Nichol, Greg Stokie, Paul Ellems, Raymond Barrett

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Tunnelers Grave

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Memberl 21 is Our oldest Member – Korean War (“Battle of Kapyong”) and Australian Army Training Team Vietnam, (AATTV) Veteran –

Ray “Dasher” Deed, – turns 97 Years old this ANZAC Day – 25th April. I’ve attached 2 Photos of RAY (One of them with Doug Angus RIP) at the age of 90Y. Photos were taken at ALSTONVILLE in 2017, when a few of us went down to attend the Commemoration Service of the Death of Paddy Bugden VC – 100 years previously in 1917. The Third photo is of a younger Dasher Deed taken in Vietnam (2nd on Left) where these five ex 3RAR “Battle of Kapyong” Veterans, had just received their “Second” US PRESIDENTIAL Unit Citation Award (AATTV). Ray hasn’t been very well of late, but he told me yesterday he is definitely going to make it until after ANZAC DAY.

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Ray will be holding his own Dawn Service at his residence again this year. There will be Tents erected in his Front yard, in case it rains. There will be about 60 people attending & he has a Guest Speaker from the RSL arranged. I will be attending, representing 31st Bn Assoc. – unfortunately President Ray Fogg is not well enough to attend this year.
Dasher spent some years as a Regular Army WO2 Cadre attached to 31st Bn in the late 1950’s & was WO1 – RSM of 51 Bn prior to Joining the AATTV in Vietnam.

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Above is a new Tribute to Ray “Dasher” Deed, produced by our French “Life Member Pierre Seillier OAM”. I will have this printed & framed & present it to Dasher on Anzac Day – his 97th Birthday. I forgot to mention in my previous email That on retirement Dasher was immediately contacted by Brisbane GPS College, – Church of England Grammar School, – referred to as “CHURCHIE” to join their staff as The Discipline Master? (or a term Similar) he remained there for 15 years. He redeveloped the School Army Cadet Corps, had them doing drills, no one thought possible & as well as the Royal Military College Duntroon Cadets, . On retirement the College used to arrange to have him back at the College for their Anzac Day Ceremony each year, prior to the Brisbane Parade.

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Our thanks to Pierre who produced this Tribute immediately after receiving my email below & emailed it back to me within a couple of hours. Pierre is a legend.
Regards Tony

Our Ingham Branch President, Felix Reitano, sent us some pictures from the “The Texas Terror” commemoration on 18th Dec 2021. The Commemoration Ceremony – Anniversary of “The Texas Terror” Crash – WW2 of a USAAF – B24 Liberator Bomber known as the “Texas Terror” which crashed onto the summit of Mt Straloch on Hinchinbrook Island 18th Dec 1942, during a fierce tropical Storm. It was on its way to Iron Range. It had just departed Garbutt Airbase Townsville after picking up passengers, & probably still climbing through the Storm when it hit the Mountain.

This Ceremony is organised each year by Felix & the Ingham Branch of the 31st Bn Assoc. often attracting relatives & friends from the USA of those who perished in the crash.  –

Refer photos attached.

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Commemoration – Ingham – 2021

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Commemoration – Ingham – 2021

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Part of Fuselage – At Crash Site – Hinchinbrook Is.

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Tail of Liberator At Crash Site

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Memorial at Crash Site

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Crash Victims Names on Memorial Cross

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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, – 44^th Battalion, First Australian Imperial Force”.

On the 25^th 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 44^th 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 26^th Sept. 1954) he died, to be buried so modestly and anonymously as:-

“A Priest”.

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

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  

From Felix Reitano and the Ingham Branch of the Association comes the news of the Commemoration of “The Texas Terror”  aircraft accident.

 The Ceremony commemorates “The Texas Terror” Crash during WW2. of a USAAF – B24 Liberator Bomber known as the “Texas Terror” which crashed onto the summit of Mt Straloch on Hinchinbrook Island 18th Dec 1942, during a fierce tropical Storm. It was on its way to Iron Range. It had just departed Garbutt Airbase Townsville after picking up passengers, & probably still climbing through the Storm when it hit the Mountain.

This Ceremony is organised each year by Felix & the Ingham Branch of the 31st Bn Assoc. often attracting relatives & friends from the USA of those who perished in the crash. Unfortunately with current restrictions on travel it was not possible to have visitors from the USA.   – Refer photos below.

  Thanks for your attendance yesterday at our “Texas Terror’ ceremony.

hope you all had a safe trip back home.

Stay safe,

Regards, Felix

“The Texas Terror” Commemoration