Military history

The RSL committee’s hard work in the weeks leading up to ANZAC Day has resulted in a meaningful and impressive event in Tennant Creek. The RSL served as a focal point for the community, starting with the Kapyong Korean War remembrance on Wednesday.

Marching in Maldon’s 2024 Anzac Day parade, wearing his great-grandfather’s medals, was William Govier. William’s step great-grandfather was Richard (Dick) Cox, who served with great bravery in the army in New Guinea in World War II.

Towong Shire libraries in Corryong and Tallangatta are showcasing a collection of local war heroes assembled by Year 6 students in the region, as part of an Anzac Day research project. Using digitised service records from the National Archives of Australia, students created informative posters ...

Liz Lawrence. His Excellency the Governor of New South Wales, Lieutenant-General John Northcott, visited Narrandera in April 1949 for its ANZAC Day observances as part of his tour of the south-west and portion of the western districts of the State ... His Excellency said he was very pleased to come to this part of the State through the 'Door of the Great South West' ...

Today millions of Australians will attend Anzac Day services locally in places such as Greenmount and Westbrook, across the country and overseas at important sites including Villers-Bretonneux and Gallipoli ... A resident of Tranter Street in Top Camp has crafted this touching tribute to Australia’s military past at their property.

John Williams. Lowan Councillor Alfred Dahlenburg said at the dedication of the NHILL War Memorial on the 13th of September 1921, that the project had been beautifully thought out and that it was "a sight worth seeing".

Last Sunday, between 100 and 150 people gathered at the Nhill Cemetery for the official opening of its Flag Project, followed by a Remembrance service and a march through the cemetery by the Light Horse reenactment committee. The project aims to honour veterans by placing flags on their graves.

Sarah Herrmann. A moving new mural commemorating those lost in battle has been unveiled in Kadina just in time for Anzac Day. The piece, by local artist Glen Gearing, features realistic poppy motifs and the silhouette of soldiers on a battlefield.

As an Australian military history nut, I like to think I know at least something about most of our major military actions since the late 1800s ... So what better opportunity to fill in that missing piece of my history puzzle for myself than to try and explain to you what it was all about? So here we go, the Malayan Emergency.

Coming back from Newcastle a couple of weeks ago we passed him somewhere between Nyngan and Cobar. Just poking along, and we thought, another person with time on their hands to cycle, not drive ... Mic Whitty’s story is not the usual push bike rider's adventure story ... he hatched a plan to cycle and follow his grandfather's footsteps around the Western Front in France.

So in the last two articles we’ve covered the role the Royal Australian Navy had played around the periphery of the war, the action in Rabaul right at the start of things, escorting the first convoy, involvement in the Gallipoli campaign and the patrolling undertaken by the HMAS Psyche. But, just as it was on the land, the only real chance of bringing the war to a successful conclusion was to directly target the German forces in Europe.

The collection of animals will feature a dog representing the mascot dogs, donkeys symbolising the tale of Simpson and his donkey, and a mule commonly utilised in the Pacific during both wars. Additionally, there will be two ponies typical of those utilised in Timor, alongside riding horses and a heavy horse sourced from an S Kidman & Co. cattle farm.

Here’s a great story that ends in Maldon: Newstead resident Chris Simmins rescued a grotty-looking object from a skip in Campbells Creek, took it home, cleaned it up and discovered that he’d found a treasure. It was a wooden christening bowl with a hallmarked sterling silver rim and shield, dated 28 July 1908 and engraved with the name John Boys Ponder. Who, Chris wondered, was John Boys Ponder?

Three men who have experienced conflict first hand have banded together to kayak the length of the Murray River to raise awareness of Soldier On and MatesHeroHelp, two charities supporting current and former defence personnel.

During the WW2 years, the Nhill Aerodrome was the setting for the Nhill RAAF Astro Navigation and later the Aircraft Armament and Gas Schools, where over 10,000 people received training under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

... with the AIF safely delivered across the Indian Ocean, the RAN was free to undertake other duties. Some stayed to support the AIF during the Gallipoli Campaign while others went to join the wider war ... Eventually though, both HMAS Sydney and Melbourne were ordered back to European waters by the end of 1916 ...

Just over six months after it was destroyed by a car, the Cambooya War Memorial has been reconstructed and again stands prominently at the end of Eton Street.

Visiting a room in honour of Tim Hughes MBE at the Lucindale Museum was a highlight for senior government minister Kyam Maher during the recent SA Country Cabinet visit.

Maldon RSL Sub-Branch hosted the annual Remembrance Day ceremony last Saturday at the Cenotaph, favoured by fine weather with a pleasant breeze. Sub-branch President Kevin Moschetti led proceedings with his customary dignity and eloquence. 

At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, 105 years ago, armistice was declared that ended World War I. The tradition of Remembrance Day grew out of this armistice and is commemorated mostly in Commonwealth countries...

Remembrance Day 2023 was commemorated in Coolamon last Saturday when Cowabbie Street fell silent as the 11am observance was held. Veterans and the community stood in silence as people emerged from shops and even vehicles travelling along the street were seen to stop as the community reflected on those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month marks the anniversary of the Armistice Agreement which ended the First World War. At the Allora Memorial Park on Saturday 11 November service personnel and members of the public paused in silence to remember those men and women who have died or suffered in all wars, conflicts and peace operations.