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Back to 1970 index or Main Index Makan – No. 189 Official Organ of the 2/30th Bn. A.I.F. Association ANZAC DAY - SYDNEY Sydney's Anzac Day march was staged amid Cook Bi-Centenary decorations in perfect Autumn weather with a bright warm sun and alleviating cool breeze. Every 8th Div. bloke around our area in Macquarie Street, which included a total of around 120 2/30 Bn. fellows, seemed to be in good spirits. If you weren't there you missed a faultless day for both the march and afterwards. The Old Man, looking particularly well, with piercing bright eyes as of yore, (some said the old B's rejuvenated) stayed with us for some time before leaving to lead the 8th Div. from his Landrover. It was refreshing to pass the time of day with fellows so well known to one another, some of them marching in Sydney for the first time. Abuse, compliments, jokes and anecdotes were freely exchanged before the march began. One heard: "How are you Tommy you old b?" "Where's Stan Arneil?" What! Gallivanting overseas again - where to this time?" "Well if it isn't Tom Nixon? You look uncommonly well, and strong enough to carry the banner mate” to which Tom replies: "A man who drinks two gallons of beer a day ought to be". "Have you seen Harry Riches?" "He's over there somewhere. Shouldn't be hard to pick out big Harry in this mob". And so it went on until we eventually got into our stride and, led by "Gentleman George" Ramsay, and Tom Nixon carrying the banner we swung down Martin Place to the melancholy sound of the pipes and the martial music of the bands. Quite a number of country fellows were there including John Haskins from Oberon, Ray Body from Raymond Terrace, Harry Riches from Brunswick Heads and Wal Eather from Tamworth. The gathering at the "Occidental" after the march was well attended and under the influence of mateship the weight of years seemed to drop from the shoulders of those present and talk and laughter reigned supreme. Drinks flowed and Betty Collins' sandwiches were munched contentedly, but remembrances took first place in the minds of fellows as words gushed from the lips of chaps recalling past experiences. All seemed relaxed and it was noticeable that individual tables were taken up by HQ. , A. B. C. & D. Company groups. Many were still swapping experiences when I left in the mid afternoon. ANZAC DAY - BATHURST Don Garner and Phil Schofield journeyed to Bathurst to represent the Association at the Service held on Anzac afternoon at our Cairn on the Limekilns Road, opposite the entrance to the old Camp site. Phil reports: We arrived in Bathurst on Friday afternoon (24th April) and called at the R.S.L. Club, where we were welcomed by the Secretary/Manager, Col. Watson, who made us Honorary Members of the Club during our stay. His wife, incidentally, spent considerable time searching for suitable Purple and Gold ribbon, and then appropriately decorated the three wreaths which we were to place on Memorials next day. We were most impressed by the Dawn Service which we attended on Anzac Morning, particularly by the presence of a large number of children amongst the 300 odd people who attended. At this ceremony we joined with many other representative bodies, and laid a wreath on behalf of the Association. The assembled company, including the children, were invited to return to the R.S.L. Club after the Service, where an early morning breakfast (buffet style, but fairly substantial) was served, along with a wee drop of the doings for the old Campaigners. It is rather difficult to assess the total number of participants in the March to the main Commemoration Service, held at 10.45 a.m. at the Carillon, but we were given pride of place in the front row of the Ex-Servicemen, who must have numbered close on 200, and who were followed by Militia and School Cadets. C. Coy, 17 Bn. R. N. S. W. R. provided a Funeral Guard, and did the job very well; and the Service was opened by the Mayor of Bathurst, with addresses also by Clive Osborne (President of the R.S.L.) and the Rev. T. Wesley Bird. The service as a whole was particularly well conducted and was attended by some 3000 people, with a very good roll-up of children. The main purpose of our visit was of course to represent the Association at the Service at our Cairn, and it proved a most rewarding duty and honour. In the company of over 100 people we gathered at the Cairn at 3 p. m. Cadets from Scots School, Bathurst, provided Funeral Guards for both our Cairn and the 9th Div. Memorial, and their drill and bearing, particularly during the Service when they rested on Arms Reversed, was of such high standard that, apart from general acknowledgements by Clive Osborne at the conclusion of the Service, Don made a special point of congratulating the Guard Commander and expressing our appreciation of their attendance. A notable absentee was Herb Pratley, who was not well enough to attend; and suitable reference was made to his outstanding dedication and service by both Clive Osborne and Don; who drew the lucky marble, and responded most aptly and suitably to the introduction and welcome accorded us by Clive Osborne. After the laying of wreaths during the course of which we laid one on the 9th Div. Memorial, Councillor Locke (President of the Turon Shire) addressed the gathering briefly and most adequately, and Archdeacon Ellis (Rector of Kelso) conducted the Service and Prayers. The R.S.L. Band led the singing of the Hymn "O God our Help in Ages Past". At Clive Osborne's request I recited the "Ode to The Fallen"; and "Last Post" and "Reveille", followed by Benediction by Archdeacon Ellis, brought to a close a brief but most dignified and impressive Service at our Cairn. It may be of interest to record that apart from our own wreath, official wreaths were laid by representatives of the Bathurst Sub-Branch R.S.L., The Ladies Auxiliary of the Sub-Branch, The Turon Shire and 9th Div. Council; while private wreaths were laid for Ted Campbell and John A. Sandry. And so to our car. homeward bound and, for two of the most garrulous members of the Association, strangely quiet for quite a long while - not suffering from alcoholic remorse (old age, experience and Don's ulcers guarded us against that) but wrapped in thought and contemplation. One could not fail to be impressed by the feeling of sincerity which permeated the whole of the events of the day, which was evidenced not only at the Services but also at the R.S.L. Club during the waiting period between events; and which was climaxed by our own Special Service at the Cairn. Our thanks must undoubtedly go to the R.S.L. Sub-Branch and Club, through its Committee and most energetic President and Secretary/ Manager who organise and conduct the Day of Commemoration, and to their Band, the School Cadets, the President of the Turon Shire and Archdeacon Ellis, all of whom seem to be able to find the time and take pleasure in attending all our special Cairn Services. And to our old and valued friend and Honorary Custodian, Mr. Herb Pratley, we can only express our oft repeated thanks and appreciation for his continued dedication and service in the care of our Cairn, which, as usual was in excellent condition; together with the hope that good health may quickly return to him. *** A unanimous decision was made at the Annual General Meeting of the Battalion Association on 9th April to award our long standing and efficient President, Arch Thorburn, with honorary life membership. Some 20 members sat down to eat, drink and swap yarns in the dining room of the Combined Services Club prior to the meeting held in a comfortable air-conditioned room at the club. The Old Man was there to add lustre and apt comment to the proceedings and to formally present Arch with his life membership badge. On placing the badge in the lapel of Arch's coat Sir Frederick remarked, "We all know the sterling job Arch has done as President of the Association. If ever an Honorary Life Membership was earned it was earned by Arch". Arch in acknowledging the award stated, "This is a proud moment for me. I am profoundly touched by the honour that has been conferred on me". At the election of officers of the Association, last year's team was re-elected with the addition of the name of D. R. "Doc" Wilson, A Coy, to the Executive Committee. Gratifying remarks and eulogistic references were made about Bessie Ellis, Cecilie Boss and Dorothy Ward Collins for their wonderful help and devoted service to the Association. A vote of thanks to them was passed with acclamation. Our Auditors, Hospital Visitation Convenor and Makan Editor were also given commendation for jobs well done. Alan Penfold brought to notice the discovery of a lot of old battalion records in the form of manuscripts, diaries and photographs and it was decided that extracts from the material be published from time to time in Makan. Of course a meeting these days would not be complete without some measure of protest and Don Garner, B Coy Sgt, added this ingredient to our proceedings. He accented the tendency of members to shelve responsibilities upon those who have carried the burden year in and year out and suggested that some of the officers should be given the chance of standing down. The question of course is - "Are there others willing and able to replace members of the present team". Should each member of the team select and nominate his own successor? There was a suggestion that "Makan" be published only four times annually on the score of expense but it was decided to keep it up to six issues annually to ensure that news items would not become stale, and that coming events would obtain adequate publicity before the event. The annual General Meeting is in many ways a happy event and it is a pity it is not better attended. EIGHTH DIVISION MEMORIAL FOR BATHURST A meeting of Presidents of all 8th Division A.I.F. Associations confirmed the plan for erecting a permanent memorial at Bathurst. The memorial is to be placed on the grass verge fronting the Bathurst City Hall complex and ex-members of the Division living in the Bathurst area have done a great job in lining up everything to date. A memorial committee was recently elected to organise the function of unveiling and dedication which is to take place at 3 p.m. on Saturday, 15th August, this year. Please put that date in your diaries and if you are going to be with us it is recommended you make your accommodation bookings as early as possible. Remembering the problem we had with accommodation bookings at our reunion last year it would be wise to book for this function now, or at latest before the end of June. The Sydney committee elected includes Col. Ron Merrett, 2/20Bn. Capt. Roly Richards, 2/15 Field Regiment and Major Alan Shering 2/20 Bn. , who is the Hon. Secretary of the Committee. The memorial is to be a large boulder of granite with an inscribed bronze plaque on one side. At the function the Oration will be delivered and the unveiling will be performed by the most senior officer of the 8th Div., Brigadier Sir Frederick Galleghan, and it will thereafter be dedicated by Padres Usher, 2/26 Bn. , Cunningham, Barrett, 8th Div. Sigs, and Father Sexton 2/20 Bn. A wreath will be laid on the memorial by an O.R. member of the 8th Divan. and Last Post, the Ode repeated by Sir Frederick, and Reveille will conclude the ceremony of unveiling. At night it is proposed to have a dinner, probably buffet style, at the R.S.L. Club, to which wives, adult members of 8th Div. families and sweethearts may accompany 8th Divan. members. So far nothing has been planned for the Sunday following but it is thought members of the 2/30th will want to travel out to the Bn. Cairn on Limekilns Road before proceeding home. Further details of this important event will be given in next issue of Makan. LAST POST "In the midst of life we are in death". We mourn the passing of two more comrades and extend sympathy to their bereaved families. SID T. KNIGHT, BHQ, aged 69, was the R.A.P. Orderly Sergeant and was well known to many of us right through from Tamworth training days. He was appreciated by the many footballers in the Bn. to whom he gave attention to injuries and massage. A rugged type of man with concern for his fellow men - he will be missed by his friends. ERNIE F. TODD, A Coy and F Force, aged 48. We remember him as a young red headed lad of 19 when he left Australia for Singapore. We lost track of him back here in recent years and his passing comes as a shock to many who knew him. Vale, two good soldiers. With proud thanksgiving we will remember them. *** At this time George Osmond, C Coy, is the only one we know of in hospital at Concord. George has been very sick and worried of late and has had to give up work. We wish him well and hope he shows improvement in his health before next Makan issues. *** WAL EATHER, C Coy, as promised, marched with us in Sydney this year. He has retired from the headmastership of Westdale Public School, Tamworth and is living at 33 Gardiner St., South Tamworth. As President of the local R.S.L. Sub-branch, the Tamworth R.S.L. club and Vice-President of the local Australian Forces Overseas Fund, which has raised $14,000 in Tamworth in the past four years, he seems to have his hands full. His four children, Peter, Pam, Barbara and Yvonne are all grown up and Wal boasts about his 11 grandchildren, one of whom is already attending High School. Wal had planned to stay a week in Sydney but as he had been induced to represent the R.S.L. at a function to meet the Queen at Armidale his stay in Sydney this time was brief. HARRY COLLINS, A Coy, looking remarkably fit, recently returned from a 7 weeks' holiday on Lord Howe Island with his wife Betty. Betty has again earned our gratitude by supplying us with an abundance of delectable sandwiches for the "Occidental" gathering on Anzac Day. *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** THE REGIMENTAL MARCH - "ONWARD THE GREYHOUNDS" When, towards the end of February, 1941, the various units of the 27th Australian Infantry Brigade were brought together at Bathurst for the first time, it was only natural that there should be a certain amount of inter-unit rivalry. In fact, from a Brigade point of view, a state of healthy rivalry was highly desirable and as the three Battalions were drawn from N.S.W., Victoria and Queensland this was never very much in doubt. The inter unit rivalry was responsible for numerous happenings at Bathurst, one of the minor ones being the writing of the following verses, which was brought about in the following manner: The 2/30th had a band, and a very good one too. The 2/29th also had a good band and in addition they had a Regimental March to which had been set their own words. Everywhere one would hear the words: "Like the rising sun, we are "Second to None" The second twenty-ninth". This was set to the beautiful melody of "Sussex by the Sea" - the regimental march of the 2/29th Battalion. This, of course, would never do. Admittedly, we had our own regimental march "Waltzing Matilda", which the C.O. had chosen at Tamworth, and our band was always working on it and trying out new arrangements, but it lacked words. Not A.B. Paterson's original words, which are immortal to Australians, but topical words for the 2/30th Battalion. Words that the men could easily learn and sing. We remember the C.O. continually asking "Couldn't anyone in the Battalion do something about it?" It was rather felt that this "rising sun" and "second to none" business was getting on his nerves. And so it happened, while coming down by train to Sydney for our May leave, the Captain Booth conceived the idea of "Onward the Greyhounds - in fact the chorus was written during that trip, our old friend Captain John L. Taylor showing his approval in his usual manner. The word "Greyhounds" was first applied to the 2/30th Bn. at Tamworth in December, 1940, when we were the first unit to wear the new A.I.F. colour patch. This colour patch displayed the original A.I.F. units' colours in replica on the 2nd A. I. F. grey background. Our small purple and gold rectangle on the large grey oval of the 8th Division left an unusual amount of grey margin, with the result that "Galleghan's Greyhounds" was a very natural nickname, and "our dearly beloved friends" of the 6th Infantry Training Battalion at Manilla Road wasted little time in spreading it abroad. They had other names for us too. "Galleghan's Canaries" was probably inspired by the brilliant gold of the 30th rectangle and was later made popular by the quip "He whistles and they hop". But the "Greyhounds" won the day, and when the Battalion moved to Bathurst it took on an entirely new meaning, one that was to cement it finally and for ever. Who will ever forget
those marches and those timings ? 120 miles in six days - "Faster, faster'" he cried - surely we were real "Greyhounds" now - the name had come to stay. And so it was that the words "On with the Greyhounds" took shape and later the several verses were written, except of course that of the "Johann" which was written at sea. They endeavour to tell of the main events in the life of the Battalion up to the time of its departure for overseas. The song in its complete form was submitted to and approved by the C. O. as the Regimental March, in May 1941, and it was sung for the first time that evening in the Officers' Mess at Bathurst. Perhaps its star
performance was when it was rendered by a choir of 2/30 Bn officers at a
concert on board H.M.T. "FF" at sea. "ONWARD THE GREYHOUNDS" By Capt. E. H. Booth, 2/30 Bn. A. I. F. Once a jolly Colonel
commanded a regiment, Chorus: Onward the Greyhounds,
Onward the Greyhounds, Now this jolly Colonel
was not just an ordinary one, Up to Tamworth went this
jolly Colonel, Down to Bathurst came
this jolly Colonel, Off to Orange went this
noble Regiment, Then, like a flash there
came the news of final leave, Into action went this
noble Regiment; Final Chorus: Onward the Greyhounds,
Onward the Greyhounds, Back to 1970 index or Main Index |