News

Australian Army soldiers from the 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment with members from the Long Tan Veteran's Association attend the 57th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan service held at the at St John's Cathedral, Brisbane. Photos: Corporal Nicole Dorrett
Feature

Soldiers connect with veterans

Marking 57 years since the battle, the camaraderie and unspoken exchanges among veterans were unmistakable as they met at St John’s Cathedral in Brisbane to honour the service and sacrifice of all members involved in the Battle of Long Tan.

From Australian Government Defence

Aboriginal man John Wade served in the Vietnam war. (ABC News: Wiriya Sati)
Community News

Australian War Memorial honours 251st Aboriginal digger from Vietnam war

First Nations men who served during the Vietnam War are being added to the Australian War Memorial's (AWM) official history. There was no conscription for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, but many still volunteered to serve. Fifty years on, their service is finally being recognised by the memorial.

From ABC News

Flight Lieutenant Garry Cooper (retd) in a RAAF Mirage aircraft.
Community News

A historic bird: flying with a Vietnam War pilot

The South Vietnamese sky was a smoky orange as dusk approached in July of 1968. The buzz of a United States Air Force (USAF) O-1 Bird Dog grew louder as it flew metres from the tree tops, looking for enemy targets, at the height of the Vietnam War.

From Australian Government Defence

Mark Ferguson OAM, at Vietnam Veteran (Northern) Day Commemorative Service at Palm Beach RSL Cenotaph. Photo: AJG
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Vietnam Veterans Day (Northern) 50th End Of The War March At Palm Beach - All Welcome, All Belong Anniversary

A very special Vietnam Veterans (Northern) Commemorative Service takes place on Sunday August 20th, with a March to the Cenotaph of the Palm Beach RSL (commencing at 10:45 am from Iluka corner near General Store) led by Knox Old Boys Pipe and Drums Band. Organisers are asking all in the community to support local Veterans by attending this year’s March and Service as 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.

From Pittwater Online News

Respected: Mary Elizabeth Cuthbertson’s niece Beth Charles, Ms Charles' granddaughter Bess Merkel, and Ms Cuthbertson’s nephew Melville Charles were on hand to help unveil a plaque honouring the fallen nurse. Photo: MICHAEL CHAMBERS
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Memorial bench honours nurse

A PLAQUE in memory of a Ballarat nurse who was killed while serving in Indonesia during World War Two was unveiled along Wendouree Parade on Sunday morning.

From Ballarat Times

Vivian Bullwinkel
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Bullwinkel’s story set in stone at the Australian War Memorial

The Australian War Memorial has unveiled a sculpture of Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel AO, MBE, ARRC, ED, in the grounds of the Australian War Memorial, the first of an individual nurse or woman. This sculpture will stand as a constant reminder of her exceptional military service and importance to the story of Australian nursing.

From Australian War Memorial

Australian veterans of the 1950-53 Korean War and Australian Minister of Veterans' Affairs and Defense Personnel Matt Keogh, fourth from left, mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the war last Thursday by paying tribute to the veterans interred at the UN Memorial Cemetery in Korea in Busan. [EMBASSY OF AUSTRALIA IN KOREA]
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[UNFORGOTTEN HEROES] For Aussie vets, return to Korea proves painful but rewarding

Ernest R. Holden, an Australian veteran of the 1950-53 Korean War, holds at least six heroes close to his heart.
“No, I am not a hero,” he said, recalling the days of fierce fighting in the trenches of the Korean Peninsula. “The heroes are the mates that didn’t come back.” Holden was joined by a group of Australian veterans last week who came to Korea to mark the 70th anniversary of the armistice of the war.

From Korea JoongAng Daily

Deniliquin RSL Sub-branch member Tom 'Sarge' Cheeseman and local historian Marg Jefferies at the No. 7 Service Flying Training School Memorial at the Deniliquin Airport.
Community News

Let’s make it official

Efforts are underway to officially register two new war memorials in Deniliquin.

From Shepparton News

Heavily damaged trenches on the Hook, 13 July 1953.
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The Battle of the Samichon River - the Hook 24 - 26 July 1953

This month marks the 70th anniversary of the armistice that ended the Korean War. In the three days leading up to the cease-fire, a savage battle was fought in the hills of the Jamestown Line at a position known as the Hook.

From Australian National Korean War Memorial

Pic
Community News

Diggers, Pacific counterparts share historical bond

Twenty Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel deployed on Operation Mazurka in the Sinai, Egypt, were accompanied by five Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) personnel deployed to the same area on a tour to Israel.

From CONTACT

AWM welcomes Vietnam Vets
Feature

Australia to mark 50 years since end of involvement in Vietnam War

In recognition of the 50th anniversary of the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War, the Australian War Memorial will open the Commemorative Area and galleries for veterans and their families outside of normal open hours.

From Australian War Memorial

The Military and Service Working Dog National Monument at the RSPCA Brisbane Animal Care Campus.
Article

Honouring our four-legged heroes

Army and Air Force personnel have participated in a service to honour the loyalty and commitment of military working dogs (MWD) over decades of service, including on operations overseas.

From Australian Government Defence

Commander Australian Fleet Rear Admiral Chris Smith and Consul-General of Japan Tokuda Shuichi lay wreaths during the service
Community News

Memorial service marks Sydney sub attack

On the evening of May 31, 1942, a distant war was delivered to Sydney’s doorstep. Three Imperial Japanese Navy midget submarines entered Sydney Harbour to target allied warships. One torpedo aimed at the American heavy cruiser USS Chicago missed its intended target and sank the converted Sydney ferry HMAS Kuttabul.

From Australian Government Defence

At the honour board unveiling were (from left) Deniliquin RSL Sub-branch members Mick Morrissey and Don Ward, Joy Mann from the Uniting Church, Mayor Peta Betts (front), Deni RSL Sub-branch president John Harriss and Bruce Driver from the Uniting Church.
Feature

Honour roll restored, replaced

The sacrifices 51 local men made during World War I have been officially re-recognised with the completion of a long awaited memorial project.

From Shepparton News

Australian Army Nurses on board one of the ships evacuated from Singapore in February 1942.
Feature

On the toss of a coin, Army nurses traded life for death

Radji Beach on Indonesia’s Bangka Island is peaceful and beautiful. But it is also the scene of the largest-ever loss of Australian servicewomen in a single event. We went there to honour them.

From The Sydney Morning Herald

Diary from Surgeon's eyes
Feature

Sydney-Emden through a Surgeon’s Eyes

Doctor Leonard Darby, Senior Surgeon of HMAS Sydney, was below deck when the German cruiser SMS Emden opened fire.

From Australian War Memorial

Fundraiser Ross Smith with Tallangatta’s new Sandy the War Horse statue.CREDIT:JASON ROBINS
Feature

Homecoming for a hero: Sandy the War Horse statue unveiled

It’s a story that already holds near mythic status in the town of Tallangatta, near Wodonga in Victoria’s far north. More than a century ago, a horse called Sandy gained national fame by being the only Australian horse out of over 130,000 horses who left our shores to make it home from serving in World War I.

From WA today