Commando News Edition 17 Dec2019

VX133609 LIEUTENANT TOMAS HENRY - Z SPECIAL UNIT
100 YEARS YOUNG
WW2 AIF and Z Special Unit member Thomas (Tom) Henry celebrates
his 100th Birthday.
Sunday 22nd September 2019 was a mile stone
for Tom Henry as he achieved the magic
Century, and among his many well-wishers he
received congra tulations from the Queen, the Prime
Minister Scott Morrison, the Governor General David
Hurley AC DSC (Ret), and the Premier of Victoria Daniel
Andrews MP.
Tom’s sons, Denis, Wayne and Gary and the silent
family workers in the background put together a
magnificent luncheon for over 100 guests at the
Dingley International Hotel.
Tom who has been a ‘Free mason’ for an incredible
75 years, is a man in remarkably good health, was
gracious in thanking all for attending his special
birthday celebration. He spoke with wit, humility and
modesty about his association with industry, and of the
love and affection he has received from his family,
including his 22 great-grandchildren.
Tom’s military service consisted of volunteering
twice, the first for AIF, and then volunteering for Z
Special unit as a cipher operator.
VX 133609 Lieutenant Thomas Henry AKS15 was
stationed at the Lugger Maintenance Section Darwin,
so called so Japanese spies would not get suspicious.
Z Special members would dress up as sailors and lug
small ships through the base. It was 17 kilometres by
road or 4 km as the crow flies from Darwin, and was a
major WW2 Z Special Unit operational base. Selection
of Darwin to host a major LMS base reflected the
proximity of Darwin to the frontline of the war and to
the strategically significant islands just to its north. The
base operated from 1942 to 1945 and at its peak
accommodated 500 personnel.
In 2016 Tom and his sons Denis, Gary and Wayne
were invited guests at the Z Plaque unveiling ceremony
in Canberra to hear a wonderful address, paying tribute
to the WW2 members of Z Special Unit by the head of
the Australian War Memorial Canberra, Dr Brendan
Nelson AO.
Post WW2 Tom’s professional life was as a
successful mechanic, gradually building his workshop
until in 1968 he established a one-man business, the
Melbourne Trailer and Caravan Supplies (MTCS) with a
single shop in East Bentleigh. He then established a
small factory in Cheltenham to do warehousing,
welding, and repair work, followed by a move to larger
premises in Cheltenham and Moorabbin. In 1976
MTCS was appointed the exclusive Australian
distributors for the Dexter Axle Company. MTCS
progressed and grew, employing a staff of 32. CNC
machinery was implemented, and in 2000 MTCS again
outgrew premises and moved to a 4500 sq m facility in
Tom Henry (c) being presented his Life Membership Certificate to
ACA Vic by ACA Vic Secretary Glenn MacDonald (l) and ACA Vic
member Dick Pelling (r).
Chelsea Heights consisting of offices, machine shop,
repair and service centre, showroom and warehouse,
and in 2016 Dexko Global Inc acquired MTCS.
Tom was recently inducted into the Caravan
Industries’ Hall of Fame, after an amazing 52 successful
years in the industry.
By Dick Pelling
ACA VIC
COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 17 I 2019 23