Commando News Edition 17 Dec2019

VALE
NX114020 Alex Rex Stubbings
25 September 1922 – 23 August 2019
2nd/6th Commando Squadron (The Purple Devils)
Eulogy by Alex’s Grandson
Pa,You were truly a hero and an
inspiration to myself and
everyone around you. You
were a man full of knowledge and
always had the right words to say to
make any situation better.
I have never met a man as tough
and strong as you. The things you’ve
been through were truly amazing. The
stories you shared from your up -
bringing, your experiences in WWII
and the life after the war with nanna
which really assures me that hard
work and dedication pays off.
Pa, we are all here because we
love you so much. My heart breaks to
be laying you to rest today but it
makes it easier knowing you’re now
reunited with nanna and hanging out having a cup of
tea with dad too. You will be truly missed but we all
know if we are ever feeling down and want to have a
chat with you all we need to do is pick up a bottle of
red wine.
I still can’t believe that’s all you were asking for in
hospital. You’ve asked that much that even one of the
nurses was going to bring you one.
Over the past six months or so mum would go down
to Pa’s house every morning to make sure he was up
and eating and getting ready for the day. She would
ask whether he had dinner the night before or lunch or
what he did yesterday, and he could never really
remember exactly but one thing’s for sure, he definitely
remembers having his glass of wine. Bloody alcos
these days, aye.
I would just like to share a few stories that really
stick out to me from my childhood and teen years that
really show what kind of man Pa was.
When I was 14 I had an accident at the local skate
park and broke my ankle and need surgery. Problem
was I wasn’t meant to be at the skate park and my
parents didnt know. When they found out both mum
and dad lost their minds. A few days later when I got
out of hospital Pa came around to see me. I wasn’t
looking forward to this at all because I was waiting to
cop a spray off him too. The first thing he said to me
was... “too bad your parents found out, isn’t it?”
I was gobsmaked. I asked him what he meant? He
said: “I’m gathering you’ve been there a few times
Alex Rex Stubbings
2/6 Cdo Sqn WW2
before and you only got caught
because you hurt yourself.” I was still
so confused. He then started to tell
me the story about how he rode horse
rodeo when he was about the same
age and had a mini arena set up at the
back of the farm that his parents
didn’t know about and they never
knew nor found out because he never
got hurt. As he said: “Mate, you do
know sometimes what they don’t
know won’t kill them.”
I couldn’t believe the words that
just came out of his mouth.
There was also the time that I used
to take Pa once a month to Auburn
Tennis Club for his Auburn RSL Sub
Branch meetings. He loved going and
catching up with some old mates
having a wine, that goes without saying, and having
dinner. I would always offer to buy dinner and buy him
his wine but every time he would say the same thing:
“Mate you’re going out of your way to bring me. It’s my
shout.” So I just went along with it. After a few months
Pa then got me a 2-year mem bership to the Club also
which I found a nice offer as well.
It wasn’t until a few months later when I was
speaking to one of the old diggers there and was
saying how Pa shouted me dinner and a drink every
time and paid for my Club membership and he started
laughing his heart off and shouted “Rex, you funny
bastard”. I was looking around all confused and the
gentleman said to me: “Mate the Sub Branch pays for
the food and drinks for everyone.” I looked at Pa and
he just nodded his and kept drinking his wine. When
the gentleman says, “as for the membership, it’s $2.50
for 2 years.” Here I am thinking Pa is spending all this
money and the membership was in fact a birthday
present for me.
Pa really never had a bad word to say about any -
body and anyone who had the pleasure of meeting him
would said it was the definition of a gentleman.
These are only a few stories of many and I look
forward to talking to you all later and hear some from
you guys too.
Let’s all tonight raise a glass for Pa and remember
him as the kind hearted father, grandfather, great
grandfather and proud soldier that he is.
Thank you.
70 COMMANDO NEWS ~ Edition 17 I 2019