Volume 24 Number 2

May 2012

What's in this Issue

(Click on link to read article - Press `Home` key to return to here)

Presidents Report	CO's Report
2012 ANZAC Day	Correspondence from Members
Macarthur Museum Celebration	War Quotes
Things to Think About	Quotes
Functions in 2012	Membership Dues
Back to the Regiment Function	QURA Office Bearers

 

 

President's Report

 

It has been a relatively quiet start to the new year. We presented prizes to graduates from the Christmas RMC courses at the start of the year.

Several Association members attended the QUR Anzac Day ceremony at Toowong, but as the Regiment still had not been able to use the depot the usual breakfast was not available.

As the return to the depot was soon to occur the Association decided to wait till that time to conduct the annual “Back to the Regiment” function, but as usual in life the return was delayed making it impossible to conduct the function at a suitable time. It is understood that QUR will conduct an all ranks dinner to celebrate the return to the depot.

I would remind members that the AGM for the Association will be conducted on 7 September 2012 at the United Service Club. Please enter it in your diary. We are awaiting confirmation of our guest speaker but he promises to be very experienced and interesting. You won’t want to miss this one.

A very important part of the AGM and dinner is the appointment of the executive management committee who will oversee the operations of the Association. The current committee has been in place for quite some time. As usual it is always beneficial to renew the committee to bring new enthusiasm and ideas to the Association. Even though the AGM is a few months off I appeal to members to consider nominating for the positions within the executive management committee. Should you consider that you could serve on the committee please contact me so I can arrange for the appropriate nomination procedure to be completed. On a personal note I would be very happy to hand over the office of President of the Association.

The work on the preservation of the history of QUR continues. Currently I am waiting on recent Commanding Officers to contribute to the updated version of the published history of QUR so an updated version can be published.

We are slowly contacting lost members to ensure that we have their current contact addresses. It is a slow job but an important one.

Each newsletter I appeal for members to consider writing a few lines about their experiences in QUR. It does not have to be a long document. A few lines will be great. For example – “I remember wearing battle dress and like most, the jacket and the pants were made from different batches of material. You were lucky to get a set of battle dress which matched.”

I wish you all good health.
 

 

*****************************

 

Toowong Memorial Park

ANZAC Day 2012

Speech by Lieutenant Colonel Mark Armstrong

Honoured veterans, distinguished guests, fellow Australians and all those who share this solemn remembrance with us…

 

On this morning, on the 97th anniversary of ANZAC day, Australians remember with pride and sadness the bravery and sacrifice of our soldiers who landed at Anzac Cove on that first ANZAC day.

Throughout Australia and across the world, groups of Australians are doing the same. In this early morning light we gather to commemorate our darkest hours, our bravest moments, our most tragic losses.

This morning’s ceremony is not about the glory of war. Nor is it about military triumphs. It cannot be. Gallipoli, the wellspring of this day, was no military triumph, even if it endures as a triumph of the human spirit.

ANZAC Day, this ceremony, is first of all about remembering.

The first dawn services sprung up spontaneously and informally, in the trenches on the western front in 1916, in London and in Australia, as comrades remembered their mates who had fallen the year before. As we gather here today, we are connected to our past, as we remember the sacrifice and achievements of our servicemen.

We remember the ANZACs for demonstrating incredible fortitude, mateship and bravery, which inspires us still.

We remember the debt we owe to the generations that came before us, people who did things so extraordinary that they test our powers to imagine.

We remember that the sacrifice required in war is not merely borne by those who serve in uniform but is shared by families and communities.

We remember that the price of freedom is eternal vigilance and we thank those that have served and are serving in the Australian Defence Force.

On this day, we can pause to recognise the sacrifices that this current generation of Australians is making. Today, our servicemen and women in Afghanistan, Timor Leste, Solomon Islands and many other places around the world will take a pause from the busy operations, gathering in small intimate dawn services, and feel a strong connection with their mates, their Australian history and with us here in Australia.

I assure you that they deeply appreciate your support, and take great heart knowing that they are in the thoughts of so many Australians here.

Sadly, they will unveil 10 new names, on the monuments in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan and Dili, Timor Leste, that have been added to the honour roll in the last year.

May all these brave service personnel rest proudly in the knowledge of their achievements, and may our successors and we prove worthy of their sacrifice.

It is the duty of all of us to ensure that those who lost their lives in service to our countries did not do so in vain.

And to remind ourselves of the inscription seen on war memorials around the world:

“When you go home, tell them of us and say,
For your tomorrow, we gave our today.”

We honour them.

 

 

The following photos were taken at the Sylvan Rd Ceremony

	Jacka Coy Honour Guard
Honorary Colonel QUR, MAJGEN John Pearn,  and CO QUR, LTCOL Mark Armstrong,  laying wreaths at the ANZAC Day Ceremony

	Pte Benjamin Campbel lowering the flag during the ANZAC Day service
MAJ Tony Smith commanding the QUR contingent at the ANZAC Day March at Sylvan Rd, Toowong
	Cataflaque party resting on Arms Reversed during the ceremony
Fred Whitchurch (RSL Toowong) leading the marchers at the 2012 ANZAC Day Ceremony at Toowong
	Cpl Dallas Cameron (QUR) formed part of the guard at the 2012 ANZAC Day ceremony at Toowong
QUR Padre Chaplain Gary Stone addressing the ceremony at Sylvan Rd, Toowong
	MAJGEN John Pearn,  and LTCOL Mark Armstrong,  saluting during the playing of the National Anthem at the ANZAC Day Ceremony

 

A poem to read on ANZAC Day!

(Supplied by Rod Hardaker)


   He was getting old and paunchy
   And his hair was falling fast,
   And he sat around the RSL,
   Telling stories of the past

   Of a war that he once fought in
   And the deeds that he had done,
   In his exploits with his buddies;
   They were heroes, every one.

    And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors
    His tales became a joke,
    All his mates listened quietly
    For they knew whereof he spoke.

     But we'll hear his tales no longer,
     For ol' Bob has passed away,
     And the world's a little poorer
     For a Soldier died today.               

                  He won't be mourned by many,
                  Just his children and his wife,
                  For he lived a very ordinary,
                  quiet sort of life.

                  He held a job and raised a family,
                  Going quietly on his way;
                  And the world won't note his passing,
                  'Tho a Soldier died today.

                  When politicians leave this earth,
                  Their bodies lie in state,
                  While thousands note their passing
                  And proclaim that they were great.

                  Papers tell of their life stories
                  From the time that they were young
                  But the passing of a Soldier
                  Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

                  Is the greatest contribution
                  To the welfare of our land,
                  Some jerk who breaks his promise
                  And cons his fellow man?

                  Or the ordinary fellow
                  Who in times of war and strife,
                  Goes off to serve his country
                  And offers up his life?

                  The politician's stipend,
                  And the style in which he lives,
                  Are often disproportionate                 

                  To the service that he gives;

                  While the ordinary Soldier,
                  Who offered up his all,
                  Is paid off with a medal
                  And perhaps a pension - small.

                  It's so easy to forget them,
                  For it is so many times
                  That our Bobs and Jims and Johnnys
                  Went to battle, but we know

                  It is not the politicians
                  With their compromise and ploys,
                  Who won for us the freedom
                  That our country now enjoys.

                  Should you find yourself in danger,
                  With your enemies at hand,
                  Would you really want some cop-out
                  With his ever-waffling stand?

                  Or would you want a Soldier -
                  His home, his country, his kin,
                  Just a common Soldier,
                  Who would fight until the end?

                  He was just a common Soldier,
                  And his ranks are growing thin,
                  But his presence should remind us
                  We may need his like again.

                  For when countries are in conflict,
                  We find the Soldier's part
                  Is to clean up all the troubles
                  That the politicians start.

                  If we cannot do him honor
                  While he's here to hear the praise,
                  Then at least let's give him homage
                  At the ending of his days.

                  Perhaps a simple headline
                  In the paper that might say:
                  "OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING;
                  A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."


A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote
a blank cheque made payable to ' Australia ', ' New Zealand ', or any other
God-fearing country for an amount "up to and including my life".

That is Honour, and there are way too many people in this WORLD who no longer understand it.


 

 

 

*****************************

 

 

Correspondence from Members

Listed below is some of the correspondence received since the last Newsletter.  These emails are reproduced here for entertainment and also to keep members informed of other members movements, etc.

 

Please note:  QURA receives emails/letters from time to time requesting contact details of members.  The current policy is if a fellow member requests contact with another member, the contact details are given without contacting the relevant member. 

Where contact is requested by a non-member, the contact is referred to the individual member to follow up the contact if they so desire.

 

==================================================================

Peter,
This is a very interesting website.
you may care to list it in the next newsletter for QURA.
Trevor
 

 

From:- John Hammond

 

To:- Trevor Luttrell

Subject:-  World War 2 - places of interest

 

 

Trevor,

You may be interested in this site – World War 2 military history in Queensland www.ww2places.qld.gov.au
 

John

 

==================================================================

 

 

From:- Trevor Luttrell

 

To:- Peter Morton

Subject:-  Walcott St Depot

Peter,

I have confirmed today (24 May) that QUR are still not back in the depot. They now expect sometime in June.

They still intend conducting an all ranks function sometime after they take up residence.

 

Trevor

==================================================================

 

From:- John Hammond

 

To:- Trevor Luttrell

Subject:-  Engineers

 

It's not possible to understand Engineers. They are strange!!   Understanding Engineers #1 Two engineering students were biking across a university campus when one said, "Where did you get such a great bike?" The second engineer replied, "Well, I was walking along yesterday, minding my own business, when a beautiful woman rode up on this bike, threw it to the ground, took off all her clothes and said, "Take what you want." The first engineer nodded approvingly and said, "Good choice: The clothes probably wouldn't have fit you anyway." Understanding Engineers #2 To the optimist, the glass is half-full. To the pessimist, the glass is half-empty. To the engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be. Understanding Engineers #3 A priest, a doctor, and an engineer were waiting one morning for a particularly slow group of golfers. The engineer fumed, "What's with those guys? We must have been waiting for fifteen minutes!" The doctor chimed in, "I don't know, but I've never seen such inept golf!" The priest said, "Here comes the greens-keeper. Let's have a word with him." He said, "Hello George, What's wrong with that group ahead of us? They're rather slow, aren't they?" The greens-keeper replied, "Oh, yes. That's a group of blind firemen. They lost their sight saving our clubhouse from a fire last year, so we always let them play for free anytime!." The group fell silent for a moment. The priest said, "That's so sad. I think I will say a special prayer for them tonight." The doctor said, "Good idea. I'm going to contact my ophthalmologist colleague and see if there's anything she can do for them." The engineer said, "Why can't they play at night?" Understanding Engineers #4 What is the difference between mechanical engineers and civil engineers? Mechanical engineers build weapons. Civil engineers build targets. Understanding Engineers #5 The graduate with a science degree asks, "Why does it work?" The graduate with an engineering degree asks, "How does it work?" The graduate with an accounting degree asks, "How much will it cost?" The graduate with an arts degree asks, "Do you want fries with that?" Understanding Engineers #6 Three engineering students were gathered together discussing who must have designed the human body. One said, "It was a mechanical engineer. Just look at all the joints." Another said, "No, it was an electrical engineer. The nervous system has many thousands of electrical connections." The last one said, "No, actually it had to have been a civil engineer. Who else would run a toxic waste pipeline through a recreational area?" Understanding Engineers #7 Normal people believe that if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Engineers believe that if it ain't broke, it doesn't have enough features yet. Understanding Engineers #8 An engineer was crossing a road one day, when a frog called out to him and said, "If you kiss me, I'll turn into a beautiful princess." He bent over, picked up the frog, and put it in his pocket. The frog spoke up again and said, "If you kiss me, I'll turn back into a beautiful princess and stay with you for one week." The engineer took the frog out of his pocket, smiled at it and returned it to the pocket. The frog then cried out, "If you kiss me and turn me back into a princess, I'll stay with you for one week and do anything you want." Again, the engineer took the frog out, smiled at it and put it back into his pocket. Finally, the frog asked, "What is the matter? I've told you I'm a beautiful princess and that I'll stay with you for one week and do anything you want. Why won't you kiss me?" The engineer said, "Look, I'm an engineer. I don't have time for a girlfriend, but a talking frog - now that's cool."

==================================================================

 

From:- Brad Shillig

 

To:- Trevor Luttrell

Subject:-  Re  Battle of Milne Bay 70th Anniversary Commemoration Service - 25 August 2012 @ Brisbane

 

Hello members,

Ninth Battalions Association members are invited to attend the Battle of Milne Bay 70th Anniversary Commemoration Service.

The Service details are:
(1) time - 10 am on Saturday 25th of August 2012; and
(2) location - Milne Bay Memorial Library and Research Centre, 61 Kittyhawk Drive, Chermside, Brisbane. The Library and Research Centre building is the old Sandgate Drill Hall. It is in the Chermside Historical Precinct, near the Kedron-Wavell Services Club.

Her Excellency Ms Penelope Wensley, AC, Governor of Qld, will unveil a commemorative plaque and present medallions to surviving veterans of the Battle of Milne Bay.

Your family and the public are also invited to attend the service. Car parking is available in the Kedron-Wavell Services Club car park.

If you know any Battle of Milne Bay veterans, who are not members of our association, please reply to me with their details. A Milne Force Reunion is also planned.

Please share this email's contents with other interested people.

Thanks,

Brad Shillig
Membership Officer
Ninth Battalions Association
 

==================================================================

 

From:- Col Ahern

 

To:- Peter Morton

Subject:-  ANZAC Day 2012 Fort Benning style

 

Some photos from The National Infantry Centre Anzac Day service that Lt Col Michael Ahern conducted at Fort Benning Georgia USA.  Michael is writing a short comment on Anzac Day Dawn service ceremony that he conducted at the memorial at the Infantry museum at Fort Benning, Columbus, Georgia.  They had a showing of the movie gallipolli and small reception the evening before.

Attended by 120 pers, including retired 3 star, 2 star and 1 star generals who served with aussies.

The Americans found the dawn service moving – they don’t have a dawn service associated with any of their remembrance Day activities.

They were served coffee, tea, milk and Bundy rum, etc (more than what we had).
 

Regards Col

(Michael is a QUR Graduate; The then Capt Col Ahern, as recruiting officer, enlisted Michael into QUR on his 17th Birthday.  Michael served as an officer in QUR while finishing his university degree , before transferring to the ready reserve and then the Regular Army.)

 

 

 

 

==================================================================

 

From:- Bruce Davis

To:-  Peter Morton

Subject:-  Re: Funeral Arrangements Chief Judge Pat Shanahan AO RFD

 

Dear Peter,

What a wonderful man and example for us all.

I regret I will be unable to attend the funeral.

Could there be anybody who didn't like and respect this man?

Regards,

Bruce
 

 

 

==================================================================

 

 

From:- Trevor Luttrell

To:-  Peter Morton

Subject:-  Re News Article

 

Peter,
This is a news article about Campbell Newman and Denis L published in Sunday Mail 25 March 2012.
 

Trevor
 

==================================================================

 

From:- Judy Costello

 

To:- Peter Morton

Subject:-  QURA Date Claimer

 

Thank you Peter but I have a very good excuse -

will be in London and watching the cricket at that time ( England vs West Indies)

but I do hope to make it up for the dinner this year

cheers

Judy

 

==================================================================

 

 

From:- Rob Cumming

To:-  Peter Morton

Subject:-  RE: Defence Reserves Association Invitation [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

 

Dear Peter

Thanks for keeping me in the loop on happenings back in Brisbane.

At present I am at the Multi-National Base in Tarin Kot, Uruzgan, Afghanistan where I am the Interpreter Manager for Combined Team Uruzgan (CTU) which is the formation headquarters for operations in Uruzgan Province.

I've been here just on six weeks and am due to redeploy with our rotation in Oct. The job is an interesting one looking after some 210 interpreters stretched across the AO. It has its ups and downs, but on the whole it makes for long days but short weeks. The rest of the team here are good so it has been a good place to work.

Best regards

ROB CUMMING
MAJ
Interpreter Manager
CTU-3

Multi-National Base - Tarin Kot
 

==================================================================

 

 

From:- Trevor Luttrell

To:-  Peter Morton

Subject:-  Graduates RMC/QUR - at Cocktail Party 3 March 2012

 

Peter,

Attached find list of names etc of graduates QUR/RMC for March 2102.

Presented letters and prizes Cocktail Party , Enoggera, 3 March 2012.

Hopefully photos will be taken.
Trevor
 

Graduates QUR – Graduating from RMC January 2012

Name Corps Unit posted
LT Luke Murphy RA Inf 9 RQR
LT Aaron Bell RA Inf 9 RQR
LT Christopher Hackett RA Inf 25/49 RQR
LT San-Joe Tan RA Inf 25/29 RQR
LT Adam Atkins RA Sigs 7 CSR
LT Paul Patty RA Sigs 7 CSR

Prize Winners
LT Aaron Bell Excellence in Military Studies
LT San-Joe-Tan Achievement (Most Improved)
 

==================================================================

 

 

From:- John Hammond   

To:-  Trevor Luttrell

Subject:-  Re: World War II Movie Stars

 

WWll MOVIE STARS 

How times do change! 
You probably have to have a few years under your belt to really appreciate this message. 

 

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WW II MOVIE STARS? 

Hope you find this as informative as I did. 


"Real Hollywood Heroes" 

Alec Guinness (Star Wars) operated 
A British Royal Navy landing craft on D-Day. 


James Doohan ("Scotty" on Star Trek) 
Landed in Normandy with the U S.Army on D-Day.


Donald Pleasance (The Great Escape) really was an R. A. F. Pilot who was shot down, held prisoner and tortured by the Germans. 


David Niven was a Sandhurst graduate and 
Lt. Colonel of the British Commandos in Normandy ..


James Stewart Entered the Army Air Force 
As a private and worked his way to the rank of Colonel. 
During World War II, Stewart served as a bomber 
Pilot, his service record crediting him with leading 
More than 20 missions over Germany , and 
Taking part in hundreds of air strikes during his tour of duty. 
Stewart earned the Air Medal, the Distinguished Flying 
Cross, France's Croix de Guerre,and 7 BattleStars during World War II. 
In peace time, Stewart continued to be an active 
Member of the Air Force as a reservist, reaching 
The rank of Brigadier General before retiring in the late 1950s


Clark Gable (Mega-Movie Star when war broke out) 
Although he was beyond the draft age at the time the 
U.S. Entered WW II, Clark Gable enlisted as 
A private in the AAF on Aug. 12, 1942 at Los Angeles. 
He attended the Officers' Candidate School at 
Miami Beach , Fla.and graduated as a second lieutenant on Oct. 28, 1942 . 
He then attended aerial gunnery school and in Feb. 1943 
He was assigned to the 351st Bomb Group at Polebrook 
Where he flew operational missions over Europe in B-17s. 
Capt. Gable returned to the U.S. In Oct. 1943 and was relieved 
From active duty as a major on Jun. 12, 1944 at his 
Own request, since he was over-age for combat. 


Charlton Heston was an Army 
Air Corps Sergeant in Kodiak.


Ernest Borgnine was a U. S. 
Navy Gunners Mate 1935-1945. 


Charles Durning was a U. S. 
Army Ranger at Normandy
Earning a Silver Star and awarded the Purple Heart.


Charles Bronson was a tail gunner 
In the Army Air Corps, more specifically on B-29's in the 20th Air Force out of Guam, Tinian, and Saipan


George C. Scott was 
A decorated U. S.Marine. 


Eddie Albert (Green Acres TV) 
Was awarded a Bronze Star for his heroic action as a U. S.Naval officer aiding Marines at the horrific battle on the 
Island of Tarawain the Pacific Nov. 1943. 


Brian Keith served as a U.S. Marine rear gunner in several actions against the 
Japanese on Rabal in the Pacific.


Lee Marvin was a U.S. Marine on Saipan during the Marianas campaign when he was 
Wounded earning the Purple Heart.


John Russell: In 1942, he 
Enlisted in the Marine Corps where he received a battlefield commission and was wounded and highly decorated for valor at Guadalcanal ..


Robert Ryan was a U. S. Marine 
Who served with the O. S. S. In Yugoslavia . 


Tyrone Power (an established 
Movie star when Pearl Harbor was bombed) joined the U.S. Marines, was a pilot flying supplies into, and wounded Marines out of, Iwo Jima and Okinawa.



Audie Murphy, little 5'5" tall 110 pound 
Guy from Texas who played cowboy parts : 
Most Decorated serviceman of WWII and earned: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, 2 Silver Star Medals, Legion of Merit, 2 Bronze Star Medals with "V", 2 Purple Hearts, U.S. Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, 2 Distinguished Unit Emblems, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with One Silver Star, Four Bronze Service Stars (representing nine campaigns) and one Bronze Arrowhead (representing assault landing at Sicily and Southern France) World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar, Expert Badge with Bayonet Bar, French Fourragere in Colors of the Croix de Guerre, French Legion of Honor, Grade of Chevalier, French Croix de Guerre With Silver Star, French Croix de Guerre with Palm, Medal of Liberated France, Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 Palm. 

WOW !

 

 

 

 

 

  *****************************

 

 

Back to the Regiment - To Be Advised

 

The Back to the Regiment function for QURA is usually held in March.  Due to the uncertainty of when QUR will be returning to the Walcott St depot , the QURA Executive has decided to postpone the Back To the Regiment function to a date to be advised.   Details of the function will be emailed when available.

 

  *****************************