Commando News Edition 17 Dec2019

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The ACA Victoria Dinnerthis year was indeed agood opportunity topresent VX123028 TPR Les (Bluey)Wright, 2/4th Commando Squad -ron, with the certificate of appre -ciation from the Commando Asso -ciation for his WW2 service and hissupport to the Australian Com -mando Association. It was wonder -ful that Les’ son Leon, managed tomake the arduous journey fromYarrawonga to Box hill RSL accom -panied by Les’ wife Mavis, Leon’swife Debra, and Leon’s sister JulieWright.On Behalf ofLes ‘Bluey’ WrightACA VICTORIA 2019 ANNUAL DINNERTPR Les “Bluey” Wright, 2nd/4th Commando Squadron, WW2Better known as ‘Bluey’, Dadjoined the militia at 17 years of age and when the 2/4thIndependent Company came off Timor and the callwent out for volunteers, Dad joined up with the 2/4thIndependent Company, later to be known as the 2/4thCommando Squadron.Dad saw active service in New Guinea and Borneo.He was in one of the 6 landing ship tanks that cameunder Japanese attack while waiting to go ashore inthe second wave onto Lae. The 2/4th lost 33 membersduring that attack.Later during Operation OBOE 1, Dad, along withother members of the 2/4th, went ashore on SadauIsland prior to the attack on Tarakan. Dad was carryingthe newly released sniper’s rifle 28442. Findingthe island unoccupied by enemy forces a coupleof days later the Commandos were sent ontoTarakan Island where they were given the task oftaking Tarakan Hill. The 2/4th lost 15 men withanother 47 wounded during the Tarakancampaign. Dad lost his to good mates, GeorgeMerchant and Tony Kayes during that campaign.Dad often spoke of the flag that the 2/4thraised on Sadau Island, and again on Tarakan andhe was most excited when he saw it pictured inKarl James’ excellent book ‘Double Diamonds’.My son, Jason, who is a Senior Chaplain in theRoyal Australian Navy, arranged with theAustralian War Memorial (AWM) in Canberra for aprivate viewing of the flag for Dad and family.Dad’s initials appear on the Federation Star, whichwas quite moving for all concerned.We also had an appointment with one of theAWM curators. Dad was concerned about theauthenticity of one of the photos that appeared inTPR Les “Bluey” Wright 2/4 Cdo Sqnwith his sniper rifle.their Tarakan exhibition, a photowhich also appears on page 197 ofKarl James’ book, ‘DoubleDiamonds’. Dad was adamant thathe was Section 9 – C Troop sniperon Tarakan, (not that he has everbeen comfortable with the word‘sniper’), not Chicka Donnelly. Hisjob on the sniper’s rifle was to helpget the advance moving again ifhis unit’s forward scouts werepinned down. Dad had a lot ofrespect for the forward scouts; hereckons they were ‘just targets’. Hevolunteered for the job once, but abullet through his hair and anotherthrough his shirt sleeve told him itwas a bad idea and he nevervolunteered again.Presented with the evidence thecurator believed Dad’s story butsaid the photo couldn’t be changed as it was apropaganda photo but assured him that what he hadsaid would be written on the back of the photo. Oftenasked by the grandchildren if he had any medals fromthe war Dad’s standard reply was “I got the best medalof all, I got to come home alive.”Many years after the war when discussing the agedifference shown on a couple of documents withMilitary officialdom, Dad said “It’s too bad you didn’tlook a bit closer when I joined up, you were prettypleased to have me then.” It just goes to show that youdon’t argue with a commando no matter how oldhe is.Les “Bluey” Wright, with the ANF with his signatureon the Federation Star that the 2/4 Cdo Sqn raisedon Sadau Island & TarakanCOMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 17 I 2019 21
Page 1: AUSTRALIAN COMMANDO ASSN INC.Regist
Page 5 and 6: A WORD FROM THE EDITORG’day all a
Page 7 and 8: SIGNIFICANT COMMANDO EVENTSDECEMBER
Page 9 and 10: PRESIDENT - MAJGEN Greg Melik AO. R
Page 11 and 12: REMEMBRANCE DAY SERVICE - MV KRAITB
Page 13 and 14: PRESIDENT’S WORDHello all, I hope
Page 15 and 16: ACA Vic has been pretty busy with m
Page 17 and 18: the recruit school on HMAS Cerberus
Page 19 and 20: ACA VIC PILGRIMAGETO THE SHRINE OF
Page 21: COMMANDOS OUTSHOOT THE SASPresident
Page 25 and 26: VX133609 LIEUTENANT TOMAS HENRY - Z
Page 27 and 28: COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 17 I 2019 2
Page 29 and 30: Your dream...www.yachtcharters.com.
Page 31 and 32: COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 17 I 2019 2
Page 33 and 34: COMMANDO WELFARE TRUSTThe Corporal
Page 35 and 36: AMBUSH & OPERATION PERTHBy Sam Bush
Page 37: FROM THE PEN OF HARRY BELL2nd/9th C
Page 40 and 41: "Rules of Ranging", are still provi
Page 42 and 43: Division, on the beach at Omaha. Th
Page 44 and 45: A squadron of 1st Special Operation
Page 46 and 47: the 11th MEU, whose purpose was to
Page 48 and 49: BROADWALKBusiness BrokersSPECIALIST
Page 50 and 51: AFRICA’S COMMANDOS1st Battalion,
Page 52 and 53: was equipped with a MG 151/20 20mm
Page 54 and 55: Where the enemy fled at the sound o
Page 56 and 57: RLI was formed, and a major influx
Page 58 and 59: and the advantage this gave them ad
Page 60 and 61: found very illuminating and we spok
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Page 64 and 65: captured Chief Warrant Officer 4 (C
Page 66 and 67: On Cyprus, they know Australia well
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Page 70 and 71: VALEWX28219 Graham L (“Dolly”)
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VALENX114020 Alex Rex Stubbings25 S
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He served breakfasts for homeless p
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WO2 KEITH HUGHES FINAL PARADEThe Fa
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ADDITIONAL COMMANDO NEWSNew Command
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78 COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 17 I 201
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Franchising AgreementsBuying a fran
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