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Lee Evans MPMember for Heathcote APRIL

2017

ANZAC DAY – TUESDAY 25 APRIL 2017

Electorate Office:Shops 1 & 2, 17-23 Station Street, Engadine NSW 2233Phone: 9548 0144 Fax: 9548 5639Email: heathcote@parliament.nsw.gov.auWeb: www.leeevansheathcote.com.au

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ANZACs forged our national identityAustralia’s national day of remembrance is a time to stop andreflect on the sacrifices people have made so today ourcountry is free and safe.ANZAC Day is important to all Australians. It is a day we canall stand proud in honour and respect of those men andwomen who have served, and those who have died, indefence of this great country.

ANZAC represents many things to many people, but mostly it is the Australianqualities of mateship, endurance, courage and sacrifice which are the backbone ofthis country.The Spirit of ANZAC is strong and still very relevant today as we see these qualitiesshine through in our work and play every day of the year.Australia was resilient 75 years ago when the country was under direct attack in1942. The bombings of Darwin and, closer to home, the submarine attacks in SydneyHarbour had people anxious about the future.The fabric of society stayed strong in these tough times and success eventuallyfollowed. Many people made the ultimate sacrifice so this could happen.It is always terrific to see community groups and young children get involved on thisvery special day. Their enthusiasm means the Spirit of ANZAC will live and thememories of those now long gone will be forever honoured.

Lee Evans MPMember for Heathcote

COVER PICTURE: The ANZACMemorial at Lone Pine, Gallipoli.

Sutherland Digger died in POW campThe Fall of Singapore in 1942 was a military disaster and even worsefor the Australian and British soldiers caught in the surrender.Sutherland’s Ernest Bray, 2/15th Field Regiment, Royal AustralianArtillery, was one of more than 2000 Allied Prisoners of War held in theSandakan POW camp in north Borneo. They were transferred therefrom Singapore as a part of B Force.

The 1494 POWs who made up B Force were transported from Changi on 7 July 1942on board the tramp ship Ubi Maru, arriving in Sandakan Harbour on 18 July 1942.Gunner Bray, aged 27, died as a prisoner of the Japanese on 2 June 1945. He was theson of Robert and Vera Bray, of Sutherland. He is buried in the Labuan Cemetery.

Local sailor went downfighting with Yarra crewThere was no doubt Australian warship HMAS Yarrawent down fighting. Survivors who witnessed the lastof Yarra later praised the crew who defied orders toabandon ship and kept up the fight when all was lost.The ship was sunk after a fierce one-and-a-half-hourbattle with three heavily armed Japanese warshipswhich poured fire into Yarra until the sinking.Witnesses saw gunfire flashes still coming from Yarra –the final efforts of Leading Seaman Ron Taylor whomanned the last gun and kept firing until he was killedand the gun silenced.Helensburgh sailor James Lye was also a victim on thedoomed Yarrawhich sunk on 4 March 1942 – just threedays after the sinking of the prized HMAS Perth.Able Seaman Lye, the 20-year-old son of John and JayneLye, was one of 138 killed in action or who died later ona raft. There were only 13 survivors.The action was witnessed from the deck of the Japanesecruiser Maia by approximately 50 survivors from thedestroyer HMS Stronghold, which had been sunk twodays earlier by the same force. One of those witnesses,Able Seaman John Murphy of the RNZN, said later: “Silently we stood and watched the little sloop, WhiteEnsign flying and guns blazing against the hopelessodds ... Hers was a gallant death and one of whichAustralians should be proud.”

ABOVE: Three sailors holding pith helmets(from left) Able Seaman James Lye, of

Helensburgh, ABWilliam Gillies ofVictoria and oneunidentified. Lyeand Gillies werebest mates, anddied in the sinkingof HMAS Yarra.

LEFT: Ron Taylorkept firing theYarra’s last gununtil he was killedand the gunsilenced.

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‘Madmen’ chargebecame a legend

The famed Aust 4th Brigade char Australian legen on the strategic Beersheba 100 y October 1917.It has been recog successful charg the war, others s all time.A captured Germ

Helensburgh Digger’s wor Somewhere in FranceThese last few days have been strenuous ones for us; on the19th we made an attack on the German trenches withdisastrous results. I can tell you it was pretty rough seeingmy mates knocked out.I cannot describe it as I would like, sufficient to say we ha

djust on seven hours bombardment before we went over theparapet.As soon as we showed our heads they were at us withmachine guns.Eventually we occupied a position between their second andthird lines.We were no sooner there than flood gates were opened on us;we were up to the waist in water all night; we had to fightour way back to our own trenches again for they hadsurrounded us by occupying their first line again.

We had to drive them out of it again, with heavy losses onboth sides.I shall never forget the sight of the boys going over theparapet, it was a sight that will live in my mind for ever.

Some just reached the top where they fell and there was twohundred yards to be covered before we reached the Germanlines.Those of us who got safely back were a bit shakey after seeingsome of the sights. I am still in good health.

A letter from Private William Atkinson to his parents back home in Australia.

Letter sourced from trove.nla.gov.au

ralian Light Horse rged their way into

nd with an attack town of

years ago on 31

gnised as the most ge in the history of

say the greatest of man officer at

Beersheba later said he had heardmuch about the Australians’fighting qualities, but wasoverwhelmed to see such fury onthe day of the charge: “They arenot soldiers at all; they aremadmen,” he said.The 800 Light Horsemen and theirmounts had secured Beershebaand with it crucial water supplies.It was a turning point in the war

and came against all the odds.The famous charge at Beersheba isnow legendary, and one soldierlater said: “It was the horses thatdid it; those marvellous bloodyhorses. Where would we have beenbut for them?”Australian casualties included 31men killed, 46 wounded as well as70 horses killed and more than 60wounded.

ds tell of horrors at the FrontThe horrors of war were taking ahuge toll on the soldiersfighting overseas but youngDigger William Atkinson bravelypushed on in a dire situation.In a letter to his parents, Willindicated several times howterrible it was to see his mates cutdown by machine gun fire, but herespectfully held back details ofthe daily tragedies he had toendure.He signed off by saying the ladswere “a bit shakey” but he wasstill in good health. This was lifeon the Western Front in France.William Atkinson was born inLithgow in 1891. His familymoved to Helensburgh whereWill attended school. He latermoved away for work. William, a well borer by trade,enlisted on 16 July 1915 inBrisbane, attached to the 31stBattalion AIF (and later the 18th),and embarked from Melbourneon 9 November 1915. On 1 September 1916 he waspromoted to Corporal and twomonths later earned another

stripe to replace his woundedSergeant.William himself was wounded on24 January 1917 and marchedhimself to hospital; he wasadmitted on 13 February 1917.On 6 March 1917 William wasawarded the DistinguishedConduct Medal for conspicuousgallantry in action. He displayedgreat courage and initiative whenin charge of a small post andsucceeded in repelling a verysuperior party of the enemy.Later while carrying outreconnaissance he captured aprisoner single handed.As an old boy of the HelensburghSchool, Will was honoured at theunveiling of an Honour Rollcontaining his name and othernames on Empire Day 31 May1917.It was on 20 September 1917William was wounded in actionfor the second time. He died on20 October 1917 in 26th GeneralHospital Etaples France at the ageof 26.

Compiled with the assistance ofHelensburgh & District Historical Society.

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The 39th Militia Battalion were puttingup a gallant fight to try and keep theJapanese from taking the air strip atKokoda. The superior weapons theJapanese were carrying and themountain gun which they coulddismantle and move as needed toadvantage against the Australians,created frustration for our troops.The 2/14th and 2/16th Battalions of 21Brigade eventually joined the 39thbattalion at Kokoda. The 39th had beenpushed out of Kokoda and when the twonew battalions arrived, an attempt wasmade to take the air strip. The superiorweapons and manpower of the Japanesewas to make this attempt impossible.There are many native villages on thetrack. I must make a comment here ofhow the village people helped we theAustralians in these battles. They were tobring our troops rations and ammunitionand then carry or help our woundedback. Eventually these brave indigenouspeople became known to all us troops asThe Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels. Bless them all.At Ioribaiwa Ridge because of thedifficult terrain the Brigade were soonlosing men killed and wounded; bymostly Japanese snipers. The Brigadecommander was given permission fromMoresby to withdraw to a position onImita Ridge. Orders were once at ImitaRidge not to withdraw one inch. One

company from 2/33rd Battalion wasinstructed to set an ambush. The enemycame at 6.45 next morning, led by asword carrying officer marching downthe track. All hell broke loose. All theenemy were killed in that action, theAustralians didn’t lose a man.Fighting on the Kokoda Track and atBuna and Gona area, were as fierce asany in the Second World War. Thecondition the men fought under weredebilitating to say the least.

Compiled with the assistance of Mary Steenson,Helensburgh & District Historical Society.

Australia’s 2/33rd Infantry Battalion, with its “Mud and Blood” brown and red colourpatch and “Strike Hard” motto, became part of the Kokoda story in 1942 amid some of

the fiercest fighting along the Trail. In 1943, while the battalion waited for a flight near PortMoresby, a loaded US B-24 Liberator bomber crashed into trucks carrying the battalion, killing60 and injuring 92; this represented a third of the battalion’s casualties for the entire war. RayGibson was a 2/33rd veteran who died in 2016. He was President of the Battalion Association.Excerpts of an article in the words of Ray Gibson is reproduced here in a tribute to the 2/33rd.

ABOVE: Private George Whittington is aided byPapuan orderly Raphael Oimbari, at the Battle ofBuna-Gona, on Christmas Day, 1942. BELOW: Stretcherbearers stop at a river to give a drink to their patient,Private A. Baldwin, of the 2/33rd Battalion.

Veteran tells offierce fightingon Kokoda Track

One of the mostrespectedAustralians on thebattlefields ofWorld War Two hadclose links to

Sutherland after hostilities ended and hereturned home to the area.Salvation Army minister and unofficial padre,Major Arthur William “Mac” McIlveen,dedicated his life to helping others.And Australian Diggers were always one of hispriorities.Major McIlveen trained as a Salvation Armyofficer in Melbourne and tried to enlist as apadre during the First World War but theSalvation Army refused to send him.Instead he enlisted as a soldier in the 1st AIFon 9 July 1918 but he was still aboard thetransport vessel when the Armistice wassigned and the troops were sent home.During WWII, aged 54, he served as a SalvationArmy representative and an unofficial padreattached to the 2/9th Battalion.

At Tobruk, he was known for his fearlessdetermination, taking news and any comfortshe could find out to soldiers in the field oftenunder fire.He later served as a Salvation Army PrisonOfficer and he was made a Brigadier in 1938.In 1961 he was awarded the Member of theBritish Empire (MBE) and in 1967 was admittedto the Order of the Founder, the SalvationArmy’s highest award.One of his greatest honours was beingknighted by Queen Elizabeth II on 1 January1970 for his services to ex-servicemen.Sir Arthur William McIlveen died on 1 May1979. He was buried in Woronora Cemeterywith full military honours.

‘Mac’ a mateto all Diggers

RIGHT: Major Arthur McIlveen sits on the side of a dugoutwriting letters with an unidentified soldier of the 2/9thBattalion. BELOW: He was buried with full military honours.

BUNDEENAANZAC SUNDAY – 23 April9.30am: March along The Avenue from Beach St to

Bundeena Reserve.9.45am: Service at Bundeena Reserve.

ANZAC DAY – 25 April5.45am: Dawn Service at Bundeena Reserve. Breakfast

from 7am at the reserve.

ENGADINECOMMEMORATION SUNDAY – 23 April2.15pm: Marchers step off at John Keenan Park, Old

Princes Highway. Form up at 1.55pm.2.30pm: ANZAC Service at the Engadine Community

War Memorial in Engadine Town Square.ANZAC Day – 25 April5.30am: Dawn Service at the Engadine Community War

Memorial in Engadine Town Square. Assemble at5.15am.

HEATHCOTE5.30am: ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Club Heathcote.

HELENSBURGH5.45am: ANZAC Day Dawn Service at the War Memorial

in Charles Harper Park.

MENAI5.30am: ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Parc Menai.

STANWELL TOPS10.00am: ANZAC Day Service at Lions Memorial Park.

SUTHERLAND5.15am: March steps off and proceeds to Peace Park.

Assemble outside the club at 5am.5.30am: ANZAC Day Dawn Service in Peace Park.

WORONORA RIVERANZAC SATURDAY – 22 April1.30pm: Service at Woronora RSL Sub-Branch War

Memorial, 118 Prince Edward Park Rd, Woronora.ANZAC DAY – 25 April5.45am: Dawn Service at Woronora RSL Sub-Branch

War Memorial.

SYDNEYANZAC Day – 25 April4.15am: Dawn Service at the Cenotaph, Martin Place.8.30am: ANZAC Consular Wreath Laying at the

Cenotaph, Martin Place.9.00am: ANZAC Parade commences.

12.30pm: ANZAC Commemoration Service, at the ANZACMemorial, Hyde Park.

5.00pm: Sunset Service at the Cenotaph, Martin Place.PLEASE NOTE: All times and venues have been supplied byvarious RSL Sub-branch officials. Care has been taken toensure as many services as possible have been includedand were correct at the time of publication. For verificationof other services please contact your local RSL Sub-branch.

Authorised by Lee Evans MP. Printed by MSS Media 161 Lake Albert Rd Kooringal NSW 2650, using Parliamentary entitlements.

2017 ANZAC Day activities in the region

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Engadine’s Douglas Bucklewas young, fit and keen,and desperately wanted tojoin the Air Force the yearafter the outbreak of WorldWar Two.Douglas was just 18 andneeded the permission of aparent. His father agreed towrite that letter, butspecified his son was only toserve in his trade as a fitterand turner.So Douglas enlisted on 29 April 1940, completed some training in Australia andembarked in June 1941.His enlistment papers said: “Good appearance. Boyish. Keen. Average type.” He was given the all-clear and was then off to Canada for more training.Douglas was then in Iceland at the RAF Rest Camp before heading to England, andsuddenly fell dangerously ill with stomach pains. The illness got worse and despiteattempts to save him, Douglas died of septicaemia on 27 August 1941.He was buried in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery Reykjavik inIceland. The cemetery and Douglas Buckle’s grave is among those pictured.

Engadine teen was keen to do his bit