Battle of Fromelles Commemoration – 2024 – Ipswich

IMPORTANT MESSAGE:

Members, – OUR MAJOR EVENT OF THE YEAR – Your support is required.
“THE BATTLE of FROMELLES” – Commemoration Service
WHEN:- FRIDAY – 19th July 2024 at 1100 Hrs
WHERE:- The Honour Stone – Soldiers Memorial Hall – Ipswich RSL Sub Branch – 63 Nicholas St, Ipswich
DRESS:- Jacket & Tie – Beret, – Medals, – Name Tag

Special Guest:- Mr. Keith Payne VC AM – (Ex Member of 31st Bn & 42nd Bn)
Other Guests:- BRIG Arran Hassell CSC Commander – 8th Brigade – (31st Bn was part of the 8th Brigade at the Battle of Fromelles – WW1)
Members, – THIS IS NOW OUR MAIN EVENT FOR THE YEAR – PLEASE MAKE A SPECIAL EFFORT TO ATTEND.

Wives/Partners are most welcome.
It is our intention to have a Lunch at the CSI Club after the event. (Your expense)
If you have a Transport Issue, – please contact me.

RSVP – By WED – 10th July – Email:- wadesonriver@aapt.net.au

Please advise (1) Attending the Service (2) Attending the Lunch at CSI Club.

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Lt James Danaher – One of the many Heroes of the Battle of Fromelles

Plaque produced by our Honorary Member in France Pierre Seillier

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Map showing Parking in Central Ipswich, Qld and

available parking for Battle of Fromelles Commemoration

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Vale – Ray Fogg ED – President – 31st Bn Assoc (Brisbane Branch)

The Brisbane Branch Assoc Secretary, Tony Wadeson has passed on the very sad news that our 31st Battalion Brisbane Branch Founding President (in 2002), Ray Fogg, has passed away on Saturday 22 June after an extended illness.

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Ray has led the Brisbane Branch of the Association for 22 years since its inception. One of the highlights of Ray’s time as President was arranging the construction of the Billy Sing Memorial Plinth at Lutwyche Cemetery in 2015 with financial assistance from the Federal Govt. Photo below.
Rest in Peace Ray.

President Ray Fogg at the Inauguration of the Billy Sing DCM Croix de Guerre (Belgium) Memorial

Association executive member Mick James gives further information regarding Ray’s efforts to bring the Billy Sing Memorial to fruition.

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I mention that the 31st Battalion Association Brisbane Branch conducted Memorial Services at Billy’s grave side in 2012 & 2013 which influenced the Federal Govt to approve us to manage the construction of the Memorial. We also had another Commemoration in 2018 with Billy’s nephew in attendance

Lists of 31st Battalion Diggers from WW1

A list of Diggers from 31st Battalion from World War 1 is in the process of being compiled by Association Member Peter Nelson. This monumental work is an ongoing work in progress over a period of years.

The alphabetical lists have appeared on the “31st Battalion AIF Memorial Association” Facebook pages over a long period. The work thus far has been consolidated on this website page. A big thanks to Peter for this huge effort.

We will add further lists as they become available.

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Anzac Day – Brisbane – 2024

Anzac Day for members of the 31bn association in Brisbane started with the Dawn Service at “Dasher” Deed’s place followed by the 2/31st Bn commemoration service at the Cenotaph at SouthBank. Our Secretary Tony Wadeson represented the Association there before taking the Banner to the main march through the City. Some of the pictures of the SouthBank Service and Main March below.

Preparing for the SouthBank Service

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Student Playing the Last Post and Reveille on the Trombone

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Welcoming and Service at SouthBank

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Association Members Participating in the Main March Through Brisbane

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Dawn Service 2024 – At Dasher’s

Please find the attached Photo taken Yesterday at Ray Dasher Deeds own Dawn Service at his Residence. There were over 60 in attendance.

Dasher turned 97 Years yesterday on Anzac Day. Ray turned 24Y, at the ending of the Battle of Kapyong in Korea, & reckons he’s still awaiting an apology from China for stuffing up his 24th birthday.

With Dasher in this Photo are 2 of his Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) Mates, – Miles Farmer, & our own Member Warren Gunder, who served with the 31st Bn in the late 50’s & early 60’s before transferring to the Regular Army & the AATTV & then to one of the Regular Battalions after the Vietnam War. Warren was our Vice President for many years on establishment of the 31st Bn Assoc. Brisbane Branch in 2000.

Happy 97 Dasher.

Regards to all Tony

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Brisbane March – 2024

Carrying Banners of the 31st Bn Association, 2/31st Bn and 31/51 Bn

Birthday Wishes to Ray “Dasher” Deed BEM

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

Battalion Recruiting Effort

Great to see a report on the 31/42 Battalion Facebook page outlining a coordinated recruiting effort across the various depots over the past couple of months.

Go Minotaur’s! —

Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton & Gladstone members were supported by Defence Force Recruiting to conduct four consecutive ‘Night in the Army Reserves’ at the relevant depot locations over the month of March and April.
Approx 40 potential candidates attended the presentations across the depot locations where Soldiers and NCO’s from the unit spoke about their experiences. The presentations were followed by a display across several stands including:
· Weapons (EF88, SL40, F89, Tripod Mounted MAG58 and 84mm)
· Living in the Field (Hootchie Setup, Sleeping Setup, and Ration Board)
· Equipment (Body Armour, Helmet, and Field Pack)
Available unit members participated in supporting this event including 31/42 RQR, 11ER, QUR & 11CSSB.
Concurrently over this period 25 members from these units, in conjunction with the 11th BDE Future Workforce Cell & Defence Force Recruiting attended the Unit Recruiting Liaison Officer training with WO2 Peter Johnson, in these various locations.
The nights were a huge success and this is a strong start for Recruiting, for the unit in 2024. Well done all involved

Pictures below were taken during the recent campaign:

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Vale – Wally Thomasson

Members, I refer you to the undermentioned Notice from Victor Nicol Charters Towers- re the Passing of Stalwart Member Wally Thomasson Friday evening 24rd Feb.

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Tony

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Vic subsequently informed us of the funeral arrangements for Wally:

The funeral for our past member Wally Thomasson will be held on Friday 1^st March 2024 at 10.00 am at the Church of Christ, 25 Anne Street, Charters Towers, followed by internment at the Charters Towers cemetery.

Could you please advise your members.

A sad loss, R I P Wally. Regards,

Vic Nicol

The only information I have at this time is taken from his statement of service.

Walter James Thomasson, service no. 1701805,

National Service, 05 January 1952 to 11 April 1952.

Citizen Military Forces 12 April 1952 to 04 January 1957.

Rank Private.

I have been told he was in the Assault Pioneer Platoon, Support Coy.

RIP -Wally

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Re-opening of the Battle of Fromelles Museum – France

Word has reached us that the Museum of the Battle of Fromelles has been recognised as the 86th

Museum of France. Congratulations to our friends at the Museum, on their recognition as a Museum

of France. The work that the staff undertake is an ongoing tribute to those who fell at Fromelles in July 1916.

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Reopening of the Museum of the Battle of Fromelles:

Museum curators are delighted to announce that the museum will re-open on Monday 4th March 2024.
The annual closure was to allow for important work to upgrade the museum’s entire ventilation system after meticulous storage and protection of everything that could be protected.

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It was also an opportunity to carry out the annual dusting of the permanent exhibition to take care of the items in our collection and check their conservation status.

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We also had maintenance on the exhibition alarm system as well as brand new audio visual equipment for staging of presentations. The Museum is currently being cleaned to be ready to welcome visitors back from next Monday, March 4.

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Find all the news and our upcoming events for the reopening of the museum on our social networks as well as on the “Agenda” page of the museum website.

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Recognition of the Battle of Fromelles Museum as the 86th Museum of France

Refurbishment Operations

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A glimpse of Trench Warfare

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Delicate Preservation Work

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New Comd 11 Brigade – Brig Richard Pearce

The following report on the appointment of the new Comd 11 Bde written by Capt Cath Batch appeared in the Australian Government Defence website (defence.gov.au). …11 Brigade held a ceremony on December 8 2023 to mark the official handover of command from the outgoing Brigade Commander, Brigadier Mark Armstrong, to Brigadier Richard Peace.

Military personnel, family and guests, including Commander 2nd (Australian) Division, Major General David Thomae, and past brigade commanders, attended the ceremony.

Outgoing Brigade Commander Brigadier Mark Armstrong presents

incoming Brigade Commander Brigadier Richard Peace with an 11th Brigade patch.

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Outgoing Brigade Commander Brigadier Mark Armstrong salutes Commander

2nd (Australian) Division Major General Thomae, while incoming

Brigade Commander Brigadier Richard Peace looks on, at the

11th Brigade change of command ceremony.

Photos: Lance Corporal Tom Scott