The 31st/42nd Battalion Newsletter was issued in December 2021.
Cliick on the Link Below for the latest edition.
The 31st/42nd Battalion Newsletter was issued in December 2021.
Cliick on the Link Below for the latest edition.
The Secretary of the Brisbane Branch of our 31st Bn Association, Tony Wadeson passes on the following sad news: Members – We have been advised of the passing of MajGen Mick Fairweather AM RFD who was previously a Commander of 11Bde. I met him when he used to attend the yearly 31st Bn Church Service’s held in the “Rocks Area” Sydney
This is a Bio on the late MAJGEN Mick Fairweather. Mick James & Chris Hamilton have supplied the Info. Mick was one of the old school who rose up through the Ranks & had experience of Command at all Levels from L/Cpl up. He Commanded 25th Bn RQR. Chris Hamilton has supplied the undermentioned Bio.
Notification was received from our 49 Bn Mate Garry Saunderson. REGARDS TONY
For those who aren’t on Facebook (or who don’t see posts from Duncan Schulz), the above is a post from Duncan Schulz
Tony continues: I did however receive the Poem reproduced below. It was passed onto me by our good mate Peter Grogan of 49 Bn & 25 Bn Associations.
You’ll note the Poem was written in Sept 1990 by one – C. Hamilton, (Now Brigadier Chris Hamilton (Rtrd) & past CO of 31st Bn), who has given me the OK to resurrect his early Jottings.
The CO’s History (MAJGEN Ian Fairweather)
T’was Mick the Tick
From Gatton town
Who caught the Ares craze.
He gave up sport & drinking grog
And re-arranged his days
To put on greens & GP boots
A pack & webbing too
He headed off to QAC
To see what he could do.
They trained for wars that never came
It didn’t worry Mick
He soldiered on & earned his pay
His mates they thought him thick
He should be here & drinking beer
Was heard about the town
But Mick the tick, he acted deaf
He was headed for a crown.
From course to course
He moved along the postings in between
From CPL Mick to SGT Mick
The wildest they had seen
He earned his pips he took the bit
No one could slow him down
The die was cast he headed fast
T’wards a pip beside that crown.
Was CAPT Mick – then MAJ Mick
He arrived up on the Downs
To join ye ken with the Mountain men
A Battalion of renown
So Company B soon came to be
The wariest of the mob
To awake poor old Roma at daylight on their jogs.
He went of then with Gentlemen
Of the other arms n corps
To do Tac 5 after he had survived
The trials of the Senior course
Said COL Lane “He’s back again”
Promoted same as me
He’ll have to do as Chief Moutain man 11
Lord knows who we’ll get as 111.
So it came to pass when the high level brass
Write down 25th with their pen
As they dry their ink they pause to think
Of Mick & his Mountain Men.
Written on 27th September 1990 by a – C. Hamilton –(a Lost Poet)
who ended up as CO of 31st Bn on his way to be – BRIG Chris Hamilton.
(I believe it was about the time Mick took Command of 25 Bn)
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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Brig Mark Armstrong has served in the Army Reserve for over 29 years and has operational experience on Operation Catalyst (Iraq 2007), Operation QLD Flood Assist (Brisbane 2011) and as Commander Joint Task Group 629.3 on Operation COVID-19 Assist (Brisbane 2020). He is a full-time Command and Staff Course graduate and was the Commanding Officer/Chief Instructor of the Queensland University Regiment. He is currently posted as the Deputy Commander of 11 Brigade.
His academic qualifications include a Master of Arts (Strategy and Management), Master of Business Administration (Strategic Management), Master of Human Resource Management and a Master of International Security Studies. In his civilian career as a supply chain professional COL Armstrong has worked for multi-national corporations including Coca-Cola Amatil and Mayne Group. Most recently he was the National Manager Supply Chain Optimisation for Symbion (Australia’s largest pharmacy wholesaler).
COL Armstrong is undertaking a PhD as part of a Defence endorsed ‘PhD by Portfolio’ program through Deakin University. His topic is “One or two Armies? Ready or not? Relevant or not? – An analytical history of institutional reviews into the Australian Army Reserve since 1999”.
Members, I regret to advise that Our fellow Member & Mate, Merv Hazell passed
away this afternoon 30th Nov 2021.
May he Rest in Peace.
In a further message Branch Secretary Tony Wadeson added:
Merv had been fighting a battle with Cancer for a few years. He has still been attending
meetings and services despite being quite ill. His wife Kay has been by his side fighting
the battle with him all the way. She has been truly marvelous.
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Member Mick James called on him at the nursing home on the Friday prior to his
passing. Merv recognised Mick & showed he was pleased to see him although he
had difficulty communicating.
Merv in the centre of the Reserve Forces Day 2015 group
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Merv (fourth from Left) Reserve Forces Commemoration 2018
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Anzac Day Brisbane – Prior to the March – 2013
Merv and Mick James Scouting out a meeting Venue in better times.
RIP – Merv
31st/42nd Battalion The Royal Queensland Regiment
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On Saturday night 20th November 2021 the Kennedy Company of the 31st/42nd Battalion, held a Regimental Dinner at Balgal Beach, some 50 klms north of Townsville. - They invited members of the 31st Battalion Association from each of the branches, including 7 members from Brisbane. Members of the Brisbane Branch also gave a short talk on the Bllly Sing memorial that we arranged in 2015 with a C'wealth Grant of $50,000 and with assistance of Kedron Wavell RSL, Chermside Historical Assoc, Chinese Assoc of Qld & Marchant Ward Councillor, Fiona Hammond. We also gave a handout on Billy's life and service, (see below). On Sunday some of the Brisbane members visited the Museum at Kissing Point 10 years on from from when the plinth was laid on the 125th Anniversary of the birth of the Battalion.![]()
Regimental Dinner –
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Brisbane Branch Members behind the Plinth dedicated on 125th Anniversary of the Foundation of the Kennedy -Regiment in 2011 –
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Members also visited the Museum. It was good to see the Cornet from the original 31st Battalion
donated by A J Cotton of Grandchester before the Battalion left Brisbane for Melbourne & then
to Egypt. Located,repaired & donated to the Battalion Assoc by Peter Nelson at the 125th
Anniversary Dinner in 2011 after being played at Fromelles for the burials in 2010.
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The Brief on Billy Sing DCM MID Croix de Guerre-
– 31st Bn AIF – No 355 Trooper/Private W. E. (Billy) Sing DCM, MID, Croix de Guerre
The Gallipoli Sniper
Originally 5thLight Horse Regiment – Gallipoli – Transferred to 31st Bn – Western Front
Full Story Below:
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Billy Sing Memorial DCM Croix de Guerre Lutwyche Cemetery Brisbane Qld
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EARLY YEARS William Edward “Billy SING” was born in Clermont Q’ld on 2nd March 1886. His father, John SING Drover, was born in Shanghai China. His mother Mary Ann (formally “Pugh”) aged 30y, was born in Kingsford Staffordshire, England. Billy had an elder sister, “Mary Ann Elizabeth”, who was born in 1863 just 2 months before Billy’s parents were married. She died in childbirth in 1915. Billy also had a younger sister Beatrice SING born 1893. Beatrice later married a local Stockman, George Smith in 1917 & went onto have 4 Sons. – Billy’s Mother, Mary Ann, was well educated & a trained Nurse. She ensured her children learned their lessons. The District Inspector of Schools, reported to Brisbane:- “The Children of Mrs. Sing a Chinaman’s wife, invariably win school prizes for academic proficiency.” The Inspector also stated: “The Sing children are bright, intelligent & well behaved, & thoroughly deserving of the honours achieved.” Despite their good conduct, racism against the Sing family in Clermont was rife. – Billy left school around 1898 taking on many jobs in his early years on local Stations, droving both cattle & sheep & other odd jobs. He killed game for food from an early age with a .22 Rifle. He later joined the Clermont Rifle Club to improve his shooting. In 1910 he moved to Proserpine & played cricket for the district, & won prizes for shooting at the Proserpine Rifle Club. – The WAR 1914 – 1918
- Billy joined up in October 1914 as a “Horse Driver” aged 28 years & his mother as NOK. This would have been difficult for Billy, being, “of part Chinese descent”, as he did not fit the criteria to be acceptable into the AIF. It was said that Billy actually was examined by the Doctor in Proserpine, who he would have known through Cricket, who passed him medically fit (Racial grounds included). However he immediately rode to Bowen to enlist as he was not known there to be of Chinese heritage. Billy made his way to Brisbane where he joined the 5th Light Horse Regiment. They arrived in Egypt on 1st Feb 1915. After further training was sent to Gallipoli as reinforcements in May 1915. Billy was known to be a crack shot & was given the freedom to concentrate as a Sniper. Billy soon became notorious at Gallipoli, and was feted by the Generals Bridges & Birdwood. When he was officially credited 201 kills, General Birdwood, awarded him a DCM. It should be noted that Billy’s OC, Major Stephen Midgley, said it was really over 300 kills. However It was General Sir Ian Hamilton who first recognised Billy by Mentioning him in Despatches. This was awarded just prior to being awarded the DCM. - Billy was evacuated wounded from Gallipoli in November 1915 and after recuperation in Egypt, posted to the 31st Inf. Bn in Egypt in June 1916. But again due to illness, did not sail with them to France. He was extremely lucky, as he missed their first major Battle/Slaughter at Fromelles, where the 31st Bn suffered 572 casualties in less than 24 hours. Billy later sailed for England in August, where he spent a further three months in a training Battalion. He sailed for France in late December, joining up with the 31st Bn at Dernancourt near Albert. He started up to the front line in Jan 1917 in the Delville Wood area. He was wounded again in March, between Albert & Bapaume and shipped to Hospital in England. Billy rejoined the 31st Bn in September 1917, just in time for 3rd Battle of Ypres at Polygon Wood in which the 31st Bn took a major role. It was at Polygon Wood that COL Fred Toll, CO of 31st Bn recommended Billy for an MM on 2nd Oct 1917.(this didn’t eventuate) It was also at Polygon Wood that Billy Sing was on a receiving end of a gas shell which provided him with a cough for the rest of his life. Billy was again Mentioned in Despatches by 1 Anzac Corp. Commander General Birdwood. After being in and out of hospital on several occasions, he again returned to the Front with the 31st Bn at Messines in mid Feb. 1918, where he was wounded for the third time. Whilst in Belgium Billy was awarded the Belgian “Croix de Guerre” for conspicuous bravery leading an Anti Sniping Party, during the Battle of Polygon Wood. - Billy Sing, a WW1 hero, died alone, & forgotten, on 19th May 1943, in a small Boarding house at 304 Montague Rd, South Brisbane. He had less than Five Shillings (50 cents) in cash & an old Miners Hut worth $20 to his name. He was buried in a unmarked grave in the Military section at Lutwyche Cemetery. Billy Sing, Australia’s greatest Sniper, lay forgotten in this unmarked grave, in a corner of Lutwyche Cemetery for 51 years until 1994, when four people, organised a Bronze Plaque, to mark his final resting place. Without one of them, the late “Alby Smith,” Billy Sing, might well have been completely forgotten by Australia. - On the eve of Anzac Day 1993 an Article appeared in the Brisbane Courier Mail, written by Brian Tate, an amateur Historian and part time journalist from Ballina. For several years Brian had been corresponding with Alby Smith, an Arms expert, who had been collecting data on Billy Sing for 35 years. Alby Smith worked as a Senior Technical Officer with 4 Armaments Engineering Unit in Melbourne. He had developed a new Sniper rifle for the Army & unsuccessfully proposed it to be called the “Billy Sing” Rifle. - A month after Brian Tate’s article appeared in the Courier Mail, Don Cameron, a long serving Federal member of Parliament, anonymously donated a Bronze Plaque, which was erected on the side of a Carpet Warehouse, at 304 Montague Rd South Brisbane, where Billy Sing had died. Shortly after Don Cameron & Alby Smith, travelled to Clermont, where they met Billy Sing’s – Great Nephew, - Don Smith. Together they organised Funds to be raised for a memorial to be erected in Clermont. A few months later Don Cameron, Don Smith, Alby Smith & Brian Tate each contributed towards a fund to have a Bronze Plaque placed on Billy’s Grave. - Although Billy Sing made his name as the famous, “Gallipoli Sniper” whilst serving with the 5th Light Horse Regiment in Gallipoli, he actually served most of his WW1 service with the 31st Battalion AIF on the Western Front. Billy Sing’s Medals are on display at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. - On the 19th May 2012 members of the 31st Bn Assoc. Together with members of, - The Chinese Australian Historical Assoc., - Kedron Wavell Sub Branch RSL, - Chermside & District Historical Society, & Councillor Fiona King held a Memorial Service at Billy Sing’s Grave Site at Lutwyche Cemetery. Don Cameron & Brian Tate, were both present. Guest Speaker was Major General Darryl Low Choy. (Past Digger of 51 Bn Innisfail) Over sixty people were in attendance. - A year later, Ex Senator Bill O’Chee arranged for a submission for a Grant of $50,000 from the Federal Governments Centenary of WW1, - Fund, which was subsequently approved. Ray Fogg, President of the 31st Bn Assoc. (Brisbane Branch), led a Committee, to organise, design, & construction of a fitting Memorial. Ray worked almost full time for months on the project. All credit is due to his contribution. On the 19th May 2015 a magnificent Monument was dedicated near Billy Sing’s grave at a Parade of past members of the 31st Bn, - a Guard of 2/14th QMI - Historical Troop, - members from the Chinese Australian Historical Assoc. Including interstate members, - Kedron Wavell RSL Sub Branch Members, - Chermside & District Historical Society - and a large gathering of VIP’s, - special guests, politicians, and the general public. Don Cameron & Billy Sing’s Great Nephew Don Smith from Clermont were present. - A fitting closure to a WW1 hero, who has been recognised as Australia’s greatest Sniper, a man who defied racial prejudice to serve his Country, and would have lain forgotten, had it not been for:- Don Cameron, Alby Smith, Brian Tate, & great Nephew, Don Smith. And of course later by members of Billy’s old Unit, – The 31st Battalion, - Bill O’Chee, & the Chinese Aust. Historical Assoc, - Kedron Wavell RSL Sub Branch, - Chermside & District Historical Society, & Brisbane City Councillor, Fiona King. - Tony Wadeson (Secretary 31st Bn Assoc. Brisbane) - Info:- Book “Gallipoli Sniper” by John Hamilton - Our Member Doug Hastie passed through Clermont on his way back to Brisbane from the Regimental dinnerand stopped to take several pictures of the memorial to Billy Sing in the local park: -Billy Sing DCM Croix de Guerre (Belgium) Memorial in Clermont Qld -
Memorial at Clermont Qld -
Memorial Clermont Qld -
Memorial Clermont Qld -
Memorial Park Clermont Qld -
Thanks to Our Honorary Member in France, Pterre Seillier, for the Tribute Image at the Head
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ODE FOR THE FALLEN
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With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.
Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres.
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.
They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.
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.
They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England’s foam.
But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;
As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain,
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.
Ode by Laurence Biniyon (1869 – 1943)
Reserve Forces Day Function, – held on Wed. 13th Oct. 2021 at the The Lord Mayor’s Function Room Brisbane City Hall. – Approx. 60 people invited by the Lord Mayor attended. The Lord Mayor has a Mayoral Function each year in recognition of the Reserve Forces contribution to the City of Brisbane. The Function is usually held close to 1st July (Reserve Forces Day). Unfortunately due to Covid -19 disruptions at the time the Function had to be postponed to 13th October.
Members of the RESERVE FORCES DAY COMMITTEE – S.E. Q’ld. – From Left to Right –
Pipe Major Rolly McCartney, (National Service Pipes & Drums Memorial Band) – RAY FOGG (Pres. 31st Bn Assoc. – Brisbane) – TONY WADESON (Sec. 31st Bn Assoc. – Brisbane) – Drum Major – SQNLDR Dennis Deering – (National Service Pipes & Drums Memorial Band)
TONY adds the following:
The Drum Major & Pipe Major were a great help to us at Our Battle of Fromelles Commemoration Service held in Ipswich – 19th July this year. Regards Tony