COMMANDO News Magazine - Edition 16, 2019

VALE
3/165640 SGT BARRY ERNEST CREIGHTON
1936 - 04 July 2019
2 Commando Company
After completing his sixmonths
national service
in the RAAF in 1955, Barry
enlisted in the still fledgling 2 Cdo
Coy in February 1956 and three
months later he qualified on his
Basic Parachute Course – at a time
when they did not wear a reserve
parachute. He was awarded his
green beret in August, alongside
Taffy Drakopoulos, Stan Polan, Ted
Malone, Don Bergman, Roman
Stuczynski and other early notables
– among the first Australians to
gain them. He soon qualified Frogman, among other
courses, and was promoted Corporal in 1958, then
Sergeant in 1960, alongside his good friend Jim Trainor.
One army parachute weekend Barry saw Vic Kaye’s
stick do a fast exit from only 600 feet - too low. Vic had
twists, and was badly injured. “Barry Creighton was
already on the ground - I think Barry saw it”, Vic said
later. Barry discharged at his own request in mid-1963
with many friendships and after more than seven years
of dedicated service to the Company. In civilian life
Barry was a motor mechanic, and conducted his own
repair business. Barry, with Mary and the family, was a
strong supporter of the Commando Association, and
an active participant in Association activities, including
Wilsons Prom long weekend walks, skydiving weekends
and the Rip services at Queenscliff.
He joined with his other Commando Association
mates on weekends at Corowa and Bridgewater-on-
Loddon, to jump with David Waterston’s Airports
Skydivers, under the steely gaze of chief instructor
Mary and Barry at the 2 Cdo Coy 50th
Anniversary Dinner in 2005.
Keith Hughes, until they all became
too old to hang off the wing strut of
the Cessna at 5000 feet!
Barry was also an active member
of the Essendon Bushwalkers club,
where among other bushwalks he
did ten or more “marathons” – hiking
further than 42 kilometers in a day.
Barry did many Wilsons Prom hikes
with the Association, sometimes
from Tidal River to the lighthouse
and return, until, again, the distances
shrunk and the numbers diminished.
Barry was in the group at Oberon Bay
camp on the Prom when 150 millimeters (6 inches) of rain
bucketed on to the Prom overnight, driven by almost
gale force winds. Everyone was sodden wet in their
tents. Barry, Mary and the family also enjoyed indoor
rock climbing days, Open Days at Fort Gellibrand, and
many other Association activities. Mary was a great
supporter of the Association through Barry, and was
well known to many of our members.
The celebrant at the service spoke of Barry’s love for
Mary and their children, and of the holidays and family
events they shared over the years. A strong cohort
of Barry’s Commando friends attended his service,
including Victorian vice-president John Woodruff and
his wife Joan. Keilor East RSL President John Johnson,
OAM. spoke of Barry’s Commando experiences and
conducted the traditional RSL ceremonies. Mary
pre-deceased Barry in July 2010. All members of the
Association offer their thoughts and sympathy to their
children Brad, Mark and Michelle and family Catherine,
Megan and Julie.
VALE
REGINALD T.R. DAVIS
2nd/9th Commando Squadron WW2
KEVIN THOMAS, MM
3 RAR (Korea) & 1 Commando Company
(Original Member Of 1 Company)
Reginald T.R. Davis
R.J. LEE
1 Commando Company
52 COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 16 | 2019