Wall of Remembrance

My Great Uncle Colin was a schoolteacher in country NSW. He was taken as a POW in Mayala and died in Burma 10 days after the completion of the railway. I often reflect on what he endured. I remember.

Corporal John William Freeman is not just a name on a wall to me; he was my uncle. Born in England and brought to Australia as a baby, he grew up in Mullumbimby and Sydney, living an ordinary life of work, study, writing, and photography.

Like many of his generation, he served with the 1st Australian Taskforce in South Vietnam. He died at 21, in circumstances that remain unclear.

I recently had the privilege of honouring him at the Last Post Ceremony at the Australian War Memorial. I remember him for his service and the life he never got to live.

This is the day I met my Father, the youngest of his 5 girls. I was born while he was serving in Vietnam as part of AATTV. This photo always captures the poignancy of service life, fathers away when children are born, serving in foreign lands & sacrificing the moments that some people take for granted they will be part of. I am so proud to be his daughter.

We honour all Australian National Serviceman and those women who served their country during the turbulent years of the Vietnam War.
We pay tribute to the sacrifice they made, their courage and commitment to service.
We remember deeply all those servicemen who lost their lives and those who continue to hold the scars of war.
They will always remain in our thoughts.

We remember Trooper Barry Munari - who served with 1 Troop, C Squadron, Armoured Regiment in South Vietnam -February/August 1968. A true gentleman and close friend. R.I.P.

My father, Peter Roy Guthrie, was called up for National Service in 1955 and served in the Navy Reserve until 1962.

Whilst undergoing training onboard HMAS Fremantle, the ship was deployed to the British atomic bomb tests conducted at the Monte Bello Islands, as part of Operation MOSAIC 1.

Dad also served at HMAS Cerberus and sailed on the HMAS Quiberon, obtaining the rank of Petty Officer.

Now 89 years of age and born into the “Silent Generation,” my father spent most of his life in silence about his service, only beginning to share his experiences very recently.

Our hero, always!

I was called up in April 67 at age 22, never been away from home before, always lived in the city. I met so many men who had totally different lives than what I had lead. I learned to respect the differences between people, understand the need for tolerance and compassion. We were all in it together some smarter, stronger but in the end we would survive by depending on each other. My service experience has carried me throughout my life, in the end it made me a better person and at age 80 I am grateful for that.

Kerry James Phelan (born 14 May 1946) grew up on a wheat and sheep farm at Miling, Western Australia. Called up for National Service in 1966, he trained at Puckapunyal the School of Military Engineering Cunungra before serving in Vietnam with 17 Construction Squadron, 1 ALSG, from 1967–68. As a transport driver, he supported operations around Vung Tau and Nui Dat during a demanding and formative period of the war. Returning home with little ceremony, he resumed civilian life, in agriculture, tourism. His Vietnam service shaped his life profoundly, Kerry reflects on his life with gratitude and no regrets.

Photo National Service open day 1957

1969 Holsworthy Recruit camp as a Private from 8 Sig Rgt.

I was only 19 called up on the third intake October 1957 13 battalion the army reduced training 77 days CMF 34 battalion 63 days.