Makan - No. 14
Christmas

2/30th Battalion A.I.F. Association
P.O. Box 56,
BROADWAY.

Dear Dig,

The reunion was even better than we had bargained for. Sargent's did us very well and there was plenty of room, which was appreciated after last year when the lack of space turned the first re-union into something like a riot in Lavender Street.

The supper was good, plenty of pies, hot cocktail frankfurts, sausage rolls, and so on, and there was more than enough beer. There was so much grog that the urge to swamp it down before it ran out was completely missing. The result was that the whole crowd of 140 gradually sank into that delightful stage when all the world becomes a rosy place and everybody is one's friend. Little differences which may have rankled in the past faded out and not one unkind word was spoken during the night. To make it a better showing, everybody remained on their feet until the death, which was about 11.55.

Speeches were short and sweet - Jimmy gave the toast of the King and Fallen Comrades and followed it by a short talk on the reason why we want all the lads in the Association, and made a few complimentary remarks about the Old Man.

Gentleman George Ramsay, that loveable follow who could not alter if he tried, followed up with the toast of the Regiment and also made same complimentary remarks about the lads generally and about the Old Man.

The Brigadier then gave his little reply and did the right thing by throwing a few bouquets back at Cooper and Ramsay.

We all enjoyed these little speeches - they only lasted a few minutes and they steadied down the first rush of drinking.

It would have done your heart good to see the crowd - all the old faces were there, Bill Liddel looking like a million dollars in a great awash-buckling grey hat - ­Harry Riches thinner than he has ever been - Bob Skinner, and Ned Kelaher as fat as mud - Harry Abrahams, Curly Blomfield, John Meillon, Dinney Lane, Stan Lugton, Squire O'Donnell, Des Kearney, Stuart Robertson, Bluey Joyce, George Croft, Joe Clarke, Curley Wright, Carl Odgers, and dozens and dozens of others.

There were a few of the A Force boys there and this was a very good thing - these lads who stood by our side in the campaign were away from the main body of the unit for such a long time that many of them feel strangers in their own unit, I saw Alan Hamilton and Con Hedwards (he and Bob Newman came 400 miles for the re-union) of A Force there, and we hope we do not lose touch with any of boys of this force.

We have one section of lads whom we will try and rope in and these are the boys who were repatriated home, badly wounded, before the capitulation. These lads, by their conduct and example, helped to clear our reputation, which, for a period in 1942, was not of the highest. These were the boys, most of whom later fought in New Guinea, who pushed the truth of Malaya into the people back here. We want to get them all in. Steve Swain, Vince Brennan, Doug. McKinnon and the rest. Bill Melville was their only representative at the re-union.

Big Bill (Billy the Pig as you used to call him) is still as bluff and hearty as he always was and he had a lot, of fun, pint after pint went into him and he grew happier and heartier as the hour grew later.

Bill Melville pushed himself from a junior Captain to a Lt. Col, in twelve months and smacked back in New Guinea pretty hard, while we were in Thailand. Twelve new members joined the Association - Big Max McClelland, Curley Wright, little Saffaille, Bob McLaren, Carl Odgers, Stan Larkin, Jackie Goodwin, Porkey Moore, Tom Helmrich, Bluey Joyce and Con Hedwards. I have plenty of news of them but will have to defer it until a later Makan.

We must have Porky Moore's address immediately. He gave me his entrance fee and I do not know where he lives.

I haven't space to tell you any more of the re­union. It was such a really happy night that I am sorry you could not all be there.

Our enquiries re "Bomb Happy" Maston were successful and we have received a long letter from him. Ron remained in the Army until June 1946 and spent a lot of that time at Bathurst. He travelled all over our old stamping grounds in a gasp and brought back a few memories to me when he mentioned "Kidney Ridge," " Wattle Flat", "Sunny Corner," "Wambool" and a few others. He said that Terry's beer is now past the splitting headache stage and causes one's hair to fall out instead of just making it stand up. Ron is now selling insurance in West Maitland and meets quite a few of the lads.

News keeps bobbing up, but keep writing me of any little incidents that you think might be of interest to others.

Ray Body is living in East Maitland with his wife and son. He is working at the Burlington Mills up there and likes it very much,

Harry Brennan and Sid Stephens also live up there. Harry is a building contractor and Sid Stephen has a P.M.G. contract. Sid has not been in good health over the last couple of years.

Clive Bates and Tommy Kennedy are also up that way. Clive is a wool spinner and Tommy works for the B.H.P.

Watty Gates of A Coy, is in very poor health - he is living at Wangi on the shores of Lake Macquarie. His main trouble comes from his bad eyes,

Arthur Purdon is one of the leading lights in the Maitland R.S.L. He runs his little poultry farm up that way and is making a nice little income.

Ron Maston is to be congratulated on his wedding, which took place some time ago. Andy Hyslop wan his best man.

Frank Hayes of A Coy, was living in the Maitland district but suffered a bad relapse of beri beri, He spent some time in hospital and is now living in Tasmania.

Tommy Dare is a very successful cafe proprietor at Gloucester.

Sack Newton was sighted looking fit and prosperous at Taree races.

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