The Charters Towers Cenotaph was the venue for Remembrance Day Commemoration. Members of the Charters Towers Branch of the 31st Battalion Association including Norm Snell who paid his respects to his comrades. Norm will celebrate his 100^th birthday on the 19^th January.

Towers Branch Association Secretary Victor Nicol reports that the Commemoration Service was attended by approximately one hundred people and refreshments were available at the RSL afterwards.

Norm Snell Paying His Respects to Comrades at the Cenotaph

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31st Battalion Association Members at the 2023 Commemoration

This year as we commemorate Remembrance Day we highlight the work of the Australian Remembrance Army.  Following the 107th Anniversary of the Battle of Fromelles Commemoration on 19th July 2023, the Official Party with relatives of those who fought in the Battle were invited to a light lunch at the Soldiers Hall. At the Lunch 31st Battalion Association’s Mick James made a special Presentation that tied in with the Battle of Fromelles Commemoration. Part of Mick’s presentation is recorded as follows:

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“My name is Mick James and I’m on the 31st Battalion organizing Committee for this Battle of Fromelles Commemoration. I’d like to take a few moments to inform you of a similarity between this Commemoration and another occurrence in Brisbane.”

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“Later today French time at Fromelles CWG Cemetery Pheasant Wood there will be another 7 graves that will now have named Headstones, bringing the total to 173 with named headstones. These men have lain in unmarked graves for at least 90 years.”

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“Similarly in Brisbane and other Cemeteries throughout Australia, there are many WW1 Diggers who returned from the War and subsequently died and were buried in Military Sections of Cemeteries, almost all without a name plate on their grave. Such was the case in Lutwyche Cemetery in Brisbane until recently.”

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“In 2019 the Australian Remembrance Army, led by Cate Walker & Katrina Trevethan applied for a Federal Govt Grant of $317,000, to research, produce & place metal Plaques on 709 graves of WW1 diggers who died in the 1940s,50s & 60s. The grant was approved and in April this year the 1st 247 name plaques were unveiled, including one for RSM Francis Law of 31st Bn. He is one of twenty 31st Battalion WW1 diggers who will have a named Plaque when the project is completed.”

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“Francis Law was a Sgt during the Battle of Fromelles, where, for his gallant actions in enemy trenches he was awarded a Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM), and shortly after was promoted RSM.” For further information on RSM Francis Law DCM see the article – WO1 Francis Law – on this website.

Cate and Katrina were called forward to receive the presentation.

“On behalf of the 31st Battalion Association, I would like to present this Tribute to RSM Francis Law DCM to each of you in appreciation of the great work you are doing.”

For Further information on the Remembrance Army’s Project see Archives – April 2023 – on this website (Unveilling of Plaques at Lutwyche Cemetery). 

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Presentation of Plaques to Remembrance Army’s Cate Walker and Katrina Trevethan

by Mick James on the Anniversary of the Battle of Fromelles 2023.

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The Plaque of WO1 Francis Law DCM presented to Remembrance Army Representitives

Cate Walker and Katrina Trevethan

(Plaque was Created by Association Honorary Member Pierre Seillier)

Gathering at the Sherwood Services Club, Brisbane on 19th October 2023 were a group of members of the 31st Battalion Association for the special occasion to present a Life Membership Award to retired WO1 Raymond “Dasher” Deed BEM. Committee Member Mick James reports on the occasion:   

Today at Sherwood Services Club the 31st Battalion Association presented retired WO1 Raymond ”Dasher” Deed BEM with Life Membership of the Association for his many years of devoted service to the Association. Present at the lunch function were Brisbane branch, President Ray Fogg (who made the presentation) , Vice President Col Jackson, Secretary Tony Wadeson, & Committee member Mick James.

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‘Ray’s Army service began in the last days of WW2 and he joined 67th Bn which was part of the British Expeditionary Force to Japan . He was there for over 4 years as it became 3rd Battalion RAR on the 20th October 1945. When the Korean War broke out in 1950, 3rd Bn RAR ,after a period of intensive training in Japan was the first Australian Unit committed to the United Nations Force and landed in Korea in late September 1950 as part of the 27th Commonwealth Brigade.

While initially the Brigade, along with other United Nations forces, pushed north of the 38th Parallel, they were forced to withdraw against the numerous Chinese troops who had joined the conflict. The 27th C’wealth Brigade (3000 troops) defended their position at Kapyong against Chinese troops estimated between 10,000-20000. The 3 Battalions of the 27th Brigade were awarded the US Presidential Unit Citation for their efforts in stopping the Chinese from taking Seoul , approx. 50 Klms to the south west.

The Battle was fought from 22nd to 27th April 1951 and Dasher blames the Chinese for not allowing him to celebrate his 24th birthday on 25thApril that year. He has mixed feelings every Anzac Day, while celebrating his Birthday, he mourns the loss of 18 fellow 3 RAR members who died during that Battle.

Dasher was awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the King’s Birthday Honours on 5/6/1952. It reads-

“BEM: LG 5/6/1952, p3058; CAG 19/6/1952, p2832, to 1921 Sergeant Raymond Deed, 1RHU (1st Reinforcement Holding Unit).

Citation: Integrity & devotion in training reinforcements.

Recommendation: Sergeant Deed returned to Japan from Korea on 25 June 1951 after serving during the bitter winter campaigns. Quite frequently whilst in Korea this NCO commanded a platoon with distinction. On his return he elected to stay in Japan to train reinforcements for the battalion, although he was given the option of returning to his home in Australia. Sergeant Deed was aware of the urgent need for trained reinforcements.

This Unit has always been short of officers and Sergeant Deed has been entrusted with platoons on field firing exercises, bivouacs and such exercises. His integrity, devotion to duty and ability always of the highest, has on these occasions been proved by the fact that not one man of his platoon has ever suffered injury during training.

During the period of the October campaign, when Third Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment was in desperate need of reinforcements, Sergeant Deed worked continuously without rest for five weeks and to his credit must be attributed much of the credit that it was possible to send enough well trained reinforcements forward to bring the battalion to full strength within a few weeks.””

Dasher served as a WO2 Instructor with 31stBn RQR in the mid1960s before a posting to AATTV as a WO1. On his return from Vietnam , Dasher was attached to a Cadet Unit based at Lavarack Baracks before relieving the Adjutant at 51stBn RQR and a subsequent posting as RSM of the Battalion.

Members (L to R) Ray “Dasher” Deed BEM, Tony Wadeson, (Secretary Brisbane Branch)

Mick James, Ray Fogg (President Brisbane Branch), Col Jackson (Vice-President Brisbane Branch)

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Plaque for Ray “Dasher” Deed

Produced by Honorary Member Pierre Seillier

31st Battalion Association Member Mick James shares his memories of the late LTCOL Jim Bourke:

Many members of 31stBattalion Association recall fondly the Late Jim Bourke who grew up in Ayr and later was the ARA Adjutant of 31st Battalion RQR in1969-71 . I understand he was Dux of Senior (Grade 12) at Ayr High School. He received a Commission through Portsea OTC and was a Platoon Commander with 1RAR during their tour of Sth Vietnam in1965-6. He was seriously wounded during that Tour, but returned to Vietnam in1968 with the AATTV in I Corp (Northern Sth Vietnam) as a Captain with a MIC Force Unit commanded by an American Colonel with many of the Company Commanders Australian Officers or Warrant Officers.

The story below by a former fellow Army Officer, describes Jim’s efforts after he had left the Army to recover the 6 bodies of Australian Servicemen left behind in Sth Vietnam including 2 from his own 1RAR Platoon. He led a multiple year Operation named Operation Aussies Home with private financing to recover the bodies and return them to their families in Australia for burial and closure for the families.

I can confirm part of the story about Jim opening a steel beer can on returning to their secure compound after an operaton. The shot put the Camp on “Stand To” and when he was found to be the culprit, he was referred to the senior Australian Officer in Vietnam, Maj Gen A. L. McDonald for discipline. Jim says he was admonished by the General.

In 1970 I was the IO of 31stBattalion & Jim was ARA Adjutant on our annual camp at High Range, when Jim received word that Gen McDonald (then GOC of Northern Command) was to visit us later that morning. Jim did not wish to meet up with him again, so organised for both of us to do a Recce for our Exercise the following week. We were away from Camp for over 2 hours which covered the General’s entire visit, much to the relief of Jim.

Jim was awarded an AM for his efforts in leading a team to recover the 6 servicemens bodies & returning them to their families. He became friends with Lambis Englezos (who found 250 bodies from the Battle of Fromelles), and Ted Graham (who led the team who discovered HMAS Sydney, sunk in WW2). All 3 were awarded AMs in the Australian Honours- see attached photo.

Jim was one of 19 awarded a Medal for Gallantry in the end of War list in1998.

Jim was encouraged to write a PHD Thesis titled “Living with Unresolved Grief and Uncompleted Tasks: Achieving Closure around Ambiguous Loss and Traumatic Events during Wartime”.You can access it here – Living with Unresolved Grief and Uncompleted Tasks : Achieving Closure around Ambiguous Loss and Traumatic Events during Wartime | VU Research Repository | Victoria University | Melbourne Australia

Jim’s Post Nominals are MG AM PHD, a very rare combination.

LEST WE FORGET THIS OUTSTANDING 31ST Battalion Soldier

Mick James

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The following is a brief description of Jim’s life by fellow Officer – Ross Eastgate OAM.

Jim Bourke – Remembering a one-off, larger than life character as I recall him.

6 Oct 2015

JIM BOURKE marched off at 1400 precisely last Friday 1 October 2015
To give him his full title, Lt Col (Retired) Dr James Raymond Bourke, Member of the Order of Australia, Medal of Gallantry, Doctor of Philosophy (Victoria University) departed this life after a long illness, lung cancer actually, the legacy of an early life not always wisely spent.

Born in Ayr, Far North Queenslander Bourke, aka Bindi was a 1964 Portsea graduate.

His mates agree the mould was broken when he arrived. There was none other like him and there will unlikely be again. He had what was described in the army of that time as a “bit of a suntan”, not that it mattered.

He served two Vietnam tours, with 1RAR in 1965 and 1968-1969 with the training team and after the logistics support group at Vung Tau.
During his first tour he had to leave two of his diggers on the battlefield, even knowing they were dead it was a burden he was determined not to carry to his grave.

Later in that tour he suffered a grievous head wound, the bullet passing through his mouth and exiting near his ear. He spent months in hospital as his face was reconstructed, needing dentures to replace his lost teeth. That was an easy loss to bear compared with his lost soldiers.

There are many no doubt apocryphal stories about Jim Bourke, but none unbelievable to those who knew him.
He allegedly once opened a steel beer can by firing a .45 pistol round through its top, which is possibly why his AATTV tour was cut short.

At his army farewell at Sydney’s Victoria Barracks in 1980, the dentists who had conducted his discharge examination had made, at the suggestion of one of his fellow officers who may now possibly be governor-general, new dentures of bright metal, fashioned after the teeth of a german shepherd, including prominent canine incisors.
Jim Bourke demonstrated their efficacy by tearing the flesh of a roast chicken from its bones. Those teeth were not unsuited to the personality of this larger than life character. They also typified a tenacity to pursue and devour things which bothered him. The loss of Lcpl “Tiny” Parker and Pte Peter Gillson was one.

After Vietnam there were six Australian soldiers whose remains had not been recovered. Jim Bourke’s persistence to discover and repatriate them drove his latter decades. He pleaded, bullied cajoled officials and bureaucrats here and in Vietnam until with reluctant Australian government support he located all their remains, bringing them home as he promised he would do to give their families closure.

It also gave closure to Jim Bourke’s anguish at having left two of his diggers behind.

He wrote a thesis on that wider anguish which resulted last week in the presentation of his PhD, sadly on his deathbed.

He had unfinished work he believed, to do the same for Australians missing in action in Korea.

Rest easy mate, for others will pursue that cause in your memory.

Ross Eastgate

https://www.adso.org.au/jim-bourke-remembering-a-one-off-larger-than-life-character-as-i-recall-him/

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On the 30th of August our oldest living VC winner Keith Payne VC AM reached an important milestone. On that day we were honoured to wish him a happy 90th Birthday. To mark the special occasion Keith laid a wreath at the Last Post Ceremony and later was the Guest of Honour at his birthday celebration at the Australian War Memorial (AWM).

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Keith was an Honoured Guest at the Regimental Dinner of the 31st/42nd Battalion The Royal Queensland Regiment last December in Mackay. It was most appropriate as his first Unit was 31st Bn in 1951 & last 42nd Bn in 1974. Our Honorary Member, Pierre Seillier OAM, produced this Tribute to Keith especially for that Dinner (shown under the birthday function pictures below).

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Some Ipswich RSL Sub Branch members were personally invited to attend Keith Payne VC AM 90th birthday at the Canberra War Memorial.
There were four VC recipients present, Keith Payne, Daniel Keighran, Mark Donaldson and Willie Apiate From New Zealand. The Governor General David Hurley , Sir Peter Cosgrove, Senator Jackie Lambie, Leader of the Opposition, Peter Dutton, Matt Keogh Minister for DVA and many other dignitaries were in attendance.

Other guests included the son of Kevin “Dasher” Wheatley VC, George Wheatley & the Great Grand daughter of WW1 Sgt Percy Statton VC MM, Kerri Statton.

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Laying Wreath at Last Post Ceremony – Australian War Memorial (AWM)

L to R Willie Apiate VC, Keith Payne VC AM, Governor General David Hurley AC DSC FTSE 

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Last Post Ceremony at the AWM

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Celebratory Dinner at AWM to Mark Keith’s 90th.

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Ipswich Representatives Deb Wadley and Mayor of Ipswich Teresa Harding

with Senator Jackie Lambie (centre)

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Keith’s Birthday Cake

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Ipswich Representatives with Ray Martin (centre)

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Plaque presented to Keith on the Occasion of the 31/42 RQR Dinner – December 2022

See Archives – December 2022 – for the story of the 31/42 RQR Dinner

Created by our Honorary Member in France Pierre Seillier OAM

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A number of our 31st Battalion Association members saw service in Vietnam during the conflict period in the 1960s and early 1970s. Ingham Branch President – Felix Reitano, sends this photo of ex C Company 31st Battalion members taken on Vietnam Remembrance Day today (18th Aug 2023).

Lest We Forget

Photo L to R Felix Reitano, Rick Butler, Rodney Jones, Joe Cervellin