AUSTRALIAN COMMANDO ASSN (NSW) INC.

INTERNMENT OF BRIG. W.H. “MAC” GRANT’S ASHES
On Sunday the 17th November I accompanied
Mac’s brother Hugh and other family members and
friends to Kevington, some 4 hours north of
Melbourne Airport.
In this beautiful countryside, beside a trout
stream and under a tree, Mac’s ashes were laid to
rest with those of his wife Joan and son Peter.
“Mac” once owned this tranquil property and
bought it many years ago to improve his fly fishing
skills.
I was among representatives from the Australian
Commando Association (Victoria), returned
soldiers from the 1st Commando Regiment, family
and long time local friends of Mac.
The service was conducted by a local minister
who led us in prayer and hymns.
Each participant was honoured to be allowed to
scatter some ashes in the site with a poppy; of
course we also interred a Regimental beret badge,
a badge that Mac had helped design all those
years ago.
Following the service we toasted Mac as he
would have expected.
This ends the final chapter of our Patron and
one of the founders of post WW2 Commandos; he
has sometimes been called the “Father of
Australian Commandos” a title that sits well with all
of those who knew him.
Two serving soldiers from the 1st Commando Regiment, Barry
Grant President of the Australian Commando Association
(NSW) and representing our Victorian branch, Richard Godden.
The plaques of the Mac’s family interred under the tree
that his son planted in 1975.
Arthur "Joe" Jones centre, with his daughter and President Barry Grant at Horrie Young's funeral.
Arthur Joe Jones, one of the last two remaining members of Operation Jaywick, passed away recently in Perth. He
was LT Bob Page's fellow paddler on the canoe raid on the 26th September 1943. Joe made the trip to Sydney a
few years ago to attend Horrie Young's funeral at Gosford. "Moss" Berryman from South Australia is the only
remaining member of "Operation Jaywick" raid.
COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 1 I December 2013 9