THE ROLE of the Reserve Forces within the Australian Military will be commemorated on Saturday, July 1, 2017.

In Brisbane on Friday night (June 30) the traditional Cocktail Party will be held in the Combined Officers’ and Sergeants’ Mess at Victoria Barracks, Petrie Terrace, Brisbane.

Previous events have been held at the Brisbane Maritime Museum and RAAF Amberley.

This years Cocktail Party will feature traditional Military style entertainment, commencing at 1800 hours through till 2000 hours.

Generous finger food will be served during the evening, and each ticket holder will receive three free bar drinks. A cash bar will also be operating for when the ticket limit expires.

Dress for Military personnel is Service Dress with medals; for civilians it is Lounge Suit/After Five wear with medals.

Tickets are still available for this All Ranks event: contact Tony Wadeson (Secretary, Brisbane branch, 31^st Infantry Battalion Association) by emailing wadesonriver@aapt.net.au.

A bus will be travelling to Victoria Barracks from Kedron-Wavell RSL. Details can be obtained from Tony Wadeson.

The following morning (Saturday) a Memorial Ceremony will begin in Anzac Square, Brisbane, at 1000 hours. We require a good turn-out of members to maintain the Association’s reputation for having the highest numbers on parade. Afterwards we plan to adjourn over the road to our usual haunt to discuss the event.

Following are letters from Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

Photo courtesy Felix Reitano, Ingham.

A MOVING Commemorative Service on the 75^th Anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea was held in Cardwell on Sunday, April 30, 2017, with a large crowd in attendance at Coral Sea Park.

Hinchinbrook MP, Andrew Cripps, said he was delighted to see a large crowd of locals and visitors gather in Cardwell to show their respect and mark the important 75^th Anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea.

“It has an honour to have senior US diplomats James Carouso and Valerie Fowler in attendance, along with 93-year-old USS Lexington and Coral Sea battle veteran, Cecil Wiswell (pictured)” he said.

“A special mention must be made of Anne Mealing and Noeline Byrne, who have both made such a significant and long term commitment to this annual memorial service in Cardwell”.

Mr Cripps expressed his gratitude to all those who turned out to march in the parade, and those volunteers who helped to set-up shelter and provide catering for the community to enjoy the day in Coral Sea Park.

A special event was held at the Cardwell Community Hall on Saturday night before the 2017 Battle of the Coral Sea service in recognition of the historic 75^thanniversary.

THE FOUNDATIONS of Anzac Day were revealed on the Anzac Centenary Queensland Facebook site, especially to members of the 31^st Battalion and its predecessors.

Apparently, Canon David John Garland is referred to as the ‘architect’ of the Anzac Day activities, originally being tasked in this role by a committee formed in Brisbane in January 1916 to look at commemorating war casualties.

What is not generally known is that Canon Garland was a member of the Kennedy Regiment (the forerunner of the 31st Battalion) in 1905. In a previous edition of “Crossed Boomerangs,” produced by Bob Burla, a photo appeared of the Officers in 1905 that includes Canon Garland (middle row, on right), who was stationed in Townsville for a few years after transferring from Perth.

Two other former officers of the 31^st Battalion on the committee were Lt Eustace Murphy (back row, second from left) and Captain and Brevet Major Frederick William Toll (middle row, left).

This information adds to the extensive and proud history of the 31^st Battalion that has been accumulated over more than a century.

Anzac Day — Brisbane Branch

A ceremony was held at the Memorial of the 2/31st at South Bank before Brisbane’s Anzac March.

A fine body of men assembled for the Brisbane march.

Anzac Day — Ingham Branch

Ingham branch president, Felix Reitano, has noted that the local Dawn Service was the biggest he has ever seen.”

Ingham branch member, 98-year-old Vic Huddy, is assisted from his transport by the Commander of 8 Platoon, C Company, 1 RAR.

WHEN the French Foreign Legion flagged its place in military history at the Battle of Cameron on April 30, 1863, it created a permanent narrative that is read annually before the troops of the elite French unit on the date that marks the battle’s anniversary — and Legion Day.

The ‘Story Of Cameron’ is an epic version of a battle between the Foreign Legion and the liberal troops of the Mexican Government, during the French expedition into Mexico. It has become legend in French military history.

Secretary of the Brisbane Branch of the 31st Infantry Battalion Association, Tony Wadeson, and his wife Ronda, lay a wreath at the cenotaph. Ronda’s uncle and Tony’s relation were both killed in the first Battle of Bullecort on April 11, 1917.

On Sunday, April 30, 2017, amidst a mix of uniforms, headwear and accoutrements from fields of warfare past relative to the nations of Australia and France, a Commemoration was held at the Geebung Zillmere Bald Hills Aspley sub-branch to honour not only the 154^th anniversary of Cameron Day, but the first and second Battles of Bullecort on the Western Front in World War I.

Guests of Honour were State President of the RSL Queensland, Stewart Cameron, and President of the French Foreign Legion Association, Jose Calvo; host was the President of the GZBHA RSL Branch, Gary Lancaster.

Camerone Day is the most important event of the Legion Etranger, as it best represents the fighting spirit of these men. The wooden prosthetic hand of Captain Danjou is brought-out for display and veneration in special ceremonies at the Legion headquarters at Aubagne, France. On that day, Officers prepare the coffee for their men to celebrate the one they didn’t have time to drink before the battle.

Captain Jean Danjou is a renowned leader in the annals of French military history. He was born in Chalabre, enrolled in the Ecole Speciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr — the foremost French military academy — and graduated from the Academy at the age of 20.

The story began when the French Army beseiged Puebla. The mission of the Legion was to ensure the circulation and safety of the convoys for 120kms.

The Commander, Colonel Jeanningros, learned on April 29, 1863, that a large convoy carrying three million in cash, siege equipment and ammunition was on its way to Puebla.

Captain Danjou, his adjutant-majorm decided to send a company to meet the convoy. The third company of the Foreign Regiment was designated — but there were no officers available. Captain Danjou himself took command; sub-lieutenants Maudet (standard bearer) and Vilian (payor) joined him voluntarily.

On April 30, at 0100hrs, the company with a strength of three officers and 62 men, set out. They had travelled about 20kms when, at 7am, they stopped at Palo Verde to make coffee. At that moment, the Mexican force of 2,000 (800 cavalry and 1,200 infantry) appeared, and fighting began immediately. Captain Danjou ordered that a square be formed and, while withdrawing, successfully repulsed several cavalry charges — and inflicting severe losses on the enemy.

A 94-year-old Rat of Tobruk addressed the Commemoration lunch.

They retreated to the nearby Hacienda Cameron, an inn protected by a three metre high wall.

Captain Danjou’s plan was to create a diversion for the enemy forces to prevent attacks on the approaching convoy.

While the men were hastily organised the defence of the inn, a Mexican officer — asserting his great superiority — summoned Captain Danjou to surrender.

He replied: “We have cartridges, and we will not surrender.”

Then, raising his hand, Captain Danjou swore to defend to the death — and caused his men to take the same oath. It was then 10am.

Until 6pm, the 60 men who had not eaten or drank since the day before, and despite the extreme heat, hunger and thirst, resisted the 2,000 Mexicans.

At noon, Captain Danjou was killed with a bullet to the chest. At 2pm, Second-Lieutenant Vilain was felled by a bullet to the front. At the same time, the Mexican colonel succeeded in setting fire to the inn.

Despite the heat and smoke that increased their suffering, the Legionnaires stood their ground, though many were wounded. By 5pm, with Second-Lieutenant Maudet in command of only 12 men still able to fight, the Mexican colonel assembled his men and told them of the shame they would bear if they could not bring-down that handful of brave men.

(The words were recorded by a Legionnaire who understood the Spanish language).

The Mexican strategy was to make a general assault on the breaches that they had succeeded in opening — but not before Colonel Milan send another call for Lieutenant Maudet to surrender. This offer was repulsed with due contempt.

The final assault began. Soon, there were only five men with Maudet — Corporal Maine, Legionnaires Catteau, Wensel, Constantine and Leonhard — and each had one cartridge left.

They stand with fixed bayonets, in a corner of the courtyard, they back against a wall, and they face their enemy.

On command, they each discharged their last round at point-blank range and bayonet-charged the enemy. Lieutenant Maudet and two Legionnaires were beaten to death. Maine and his two comrades were about to be massacred — when a Mexican officer intervened and saved them.

“Rendez-vous!” he shouted. “We will surrender if you promise to raise and care for our wounded — and if you leave us weapons.” They stood alone — their bayonets trained on the enemy.

The Mexican officer replied: “Nothing is denied to men like you!”

Declaring his admiration for their courage, the Mexican officer spared the surviving men and allowed them to form an honour guard for the body of Captain Danjou. They were later released and repatriated to France. Captain Jean Danjou was buried in Cameron on May 3, 1863.

Captain Danjou’s men maintained their oath to the end. For 11 hours they resisted 2,000 enemy — killing 300 and wounding just as many. Through their sacrifice, they fulfilled the mission entrusted upon them — saving the convoy.

The Emperor Napoleon III decided that the name ‘Cameron’ should be inscribed on the flag of the Foreign Regiment, and that the names of Danjou, Vilain and Maudet be engraved in gold letters on the walls of ‘The Invalides’ in Paris

Additionally, a monument was erected in 1892 on the site of the battle. It carried the inscription (written in Latin):

They were here less than sixty
Opposed to an entiry army,
His mass crushed them.

Life rather than courage
Abandoned these French soldiers — April 30, 1863.
To their memory, the country raised this monument.”

Since then, when Mexican troops passed in front of the monument, they presented arms.

The original monument has since been abandoned, and another built. It was officially inaugurated in 1963 on the centenary of the Battle of Cameron, and carries the inscription written in French:

They were here less than sixty
Opposed to an entire army.
His mass crushed them.
Life rather than courage
Abandoned these French soldiers.

Lunch en Francaise

Following the ceremony, a lunch was held within the GZBHA RSL Club, where the food and entertainment was decidedly French.

During the speeches, mention was made of the 42^nd Battalion and its feats on the Western Front, where is earned the nomenclature of “the Australian Black Watch.”

In recently times, the 31^st Battalion has been combined to form the 31/42 Battalion of the Royal Queensland Regiment.

Seven members plus three wives of the 31^st Infantry Battalion Association attended the commemoration service and lunch.

Pictured below are some interesting aspects of French life that confronted our members.

Reserve Forces Day:

GOLD COAST: Currumbin RSL Cenotaph: Sunday, June 25 — 1000 hours

BRISBANE: Anzac Square: Saturday, July 1 — 1000 hours

IPSWICH: The Railway Workshops Museum, North Street, North Ipswich: Sunday, July 2 — 1000 hours

Brisbane Branch AGM:

GRAND CENTRAL HOTEL (under Central Station on Ann Street): March 14 — 1130 hours

Anzac Day — Tuesday, April 25:

BRISBANE:

TOWNSVILLE:

INGHAM:

CHARTERS TOWERS:

AS VISITORS to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra are bid farewell at the end of each day, they are welcomed to take part in the Last Post Ceremony.

The ceremony begins with the singing of the Australian National Anthem, followed by the poignant strains of a Lament, played by a piper. Visitors are invited to lay wreaths and floral tributes beside the Pool of Reflection.

The Roll of Honour in the Cloisters lists the names of more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations over more than a century. At each ceremony the story behind one of these names will be told. The Ode is then recited, and the ceremony ends with the sounding of the Last Post.

Pierre Seillier with Major Stephen Ward (former RSM Army) at the 99th commemoration of they Battle of Fromelles on July 19, 2015. With them is Pierre’s daughter, Charlotte.

On Friday, December 2, 2015, the Last Post Ceremony honoured the memory of Lieutenant Ernest William Spreadborough (location 119 in the Commemorative Area of the War Memorial), a member of the 31^st Battalion AIF that sailed on board A62 HMAT Wandilla enroute to Egypt.

A photo of the Battalion officers was taken at sea circa November 1915 (https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/A03377/).

Lt Spreadborough lived in Warwick, Queensland, and was killed in action at Fromelles, France, on July 19, 1916.

The Last Post Ceremony is broadcast live daily via webcam on the Memorial’s website from 4.55 pm AEDT.

The Ceremony is proudly supported by the RSL & Services Clubs Association, RSL Victoria and RSL Queensland.

The attached artwork was created by Pierre Seillier, a resident of Fromelles and an Honorary Member of the 31^st Infantry Battalion Association.

He was nominated to receive the Award by the Brisbane Branch for his efforts in fostering a link of friendship between Australian and France, and is instrumental in the organisation of the annual Anzac Day ceremony that is attracts many visitors from Australia.

Pierre is a former Staff Sergeant (Quartermaster) in the French Army, is involved in recording and maintaining the history of World War I on the Western Front and disseminating it to tour groups, and is extremely proud of his links to the 31^st Battalion.

Pictured below: The professionalism of the Perth Hills and Wheatbelt Band (WA) was on display in Fromelles in July 2015 where members entertained a large group of dignitaries, local community members and visitors from Britain and Australia.

ON THE 130^th anniversary of the proclamation of the Kennedy Regiment, a Commemorative Service was held at St James Cathedral, Townsville, yesterday (October 16).

The Queen’s and Regimental Colours of both the 31^st and 42^nd Battalions were marched into the Church in front of a packed congregation.

The Reflections Address was delivered by Major John Lavery OAM, manager of the Army Museum North Queensland.

MORE TO COME.

Kennedy Regiment Commemorative Service
St James Cathedral, North Ward
Sunday, October 16, 2016, beginning at 9.30 a.m.

FOR AN Infantry Regiment, there has to be a significant occasion for the Queen’s and Regimental Colours to be paraded in public — not only are they revered by all Australian Infantry Regiments, including battalions of the Army Reserve — they are closely guarded and secured.

Two sets of Colours — the Queen’s and Regimental — are carried by all Australian Infantry Regiments, including battalions of the Reserve, and by certain training establishments such as the Corps of Staff Cadets and University Regiments.

Originally the Colour was the rally point when, during the noise and confusion of battle, it was the focal point of the Regiment; even if the commander was killed, hope was always present whilst the Colours remained intact. On the verge of impending defeat, the troops would concentrate around the Colours, which would become the scene of its last defence. From such times, records of epic gallantry and acts of heroic self-sacrifice have been associated with the Colours, whose safety engendered these acts.

The full history of a regiment is contained within written records, but as these are not portable in a convenient form, the Colours, emblazoned with distinctions for long and honourable service, are presented as a silken history, the sight of which creates a feeling of pride in soldiers and ex-soldiers alike.

Infantry Colours are made of silk, with Royal Blue being reserved for units who have been granted the title ‘Royal’, whilst dark green is for non-Royal Regiments. Prior to 1960, only one battalion had the prefix ‘Royal’, that being the 6th Infantry Battalion, The Royal Melbourne Regiment. Now that all Reserve battalions are part of Royal Regiments, they are entitled to carry blue Regimental Colours. University Regiments continue to carry Colours of dark green silk.

Also prior to 1960, the Royal Australian Regiment was the only multi-battalion Regiment in the Army. In that year, a complete re-organisation of the Citizen Military Force’s saw 31 infantry battalions combined into six regiments comprising 20 battalions. Each new regiment was granted the title ‘Royal’ and was based entirely upon the State in which it was located.

Since that time, the Reserve battalions of the various states have undergone many reductions in size in line with government policy. Many of these reductions have resulted in the battalions being linked to preserve traditional links with the original units of the 1st Australian Imperial Force.

As one of the longest continuously serving Units in the Australian Army, and to mark the 130^th anniversary of the proclamation of the Kennedy Regiment, Townsville’s own 31^st Battalion has been granted permission to Parade its Queen’s and Regimental Colours at a Kennedy Regiment Commemorative Service at St James Cathedral, North Ward, on Sunday, October 16, 2016, beginning at 9.30 a.m.

President of the 31^st Infantry Battalion Association, Colonel Greg Stokie (Retired), said he has been advised by the RSM of the 31^st/42^nd Battalion Royal Queensland Regiment, WO1 Robert Maitland, that soldiers of the Battalion will Parade their Queen’s and Regimental Colours — some of whom were involved in the official Australian Defence Forces Colour Parties that recently performed in ceremonies in Paris, Pozieres and other venues on the Western Front to mark this year’s Centenary of the First World War in France.

Colonel Stokie said 2016 has been a significant one for the 31^st Infantry Battalion Association.

“Apart from being the only Australian Infantry Unit of the 5th Division of the Western Front which is still serving, in July this year a group of Association members travelled to France to pay their respects to the soldiers of the 31^st Infantry Battalion, AIF, who suffered heavily during the Battle of Fromelles.

Colonel Stokie also noted that the 31^st Battalion was the first Militia Unit to be mobilised in World War I and sent to Thursday Island as a precaution because New Guinea was then a German colony.

The Commemorative Service will feature a Reflections Address delivered by Major John Lavery, OAM, Manager of the Army Museum North Queensland situated at at Kissing Point.

Major Lavery is expected to highlight the link between early research completed by the late Captain Bob Burla, in his role as unofficial museum historian, and the work of the modern Museum in its role of collecting and showcasing military memorabilia and stories relative to the history of the Army in North Queensland.

This will be the first year that the two Units have joined together in the Commemoration Service. Its President, WO1 Darryl Prizeman (Ret’d), will travel from Keppel Sands to read the First Lesson.

The Service will be conducted by the Dean of St James Cathedral, the Very Reverend Canon Rod Macdonald, a former long-serving Army Padre, with the Bishop of North Queensland, the Right Reverend W.J. Ray delivering the Sermon.