OFFICIAL Commando News Magazine Edition 15 2023

ASSOCIATION AWARD FOR IAN HALLIBURTON
At the February 2023 Rip
service at Queens cliff, ACA
Vic toria president Doug
Knight made a presentation, in absentia,
to former 2 Commando Company
soldier Ian Halliburton.
With previous CMF service, Ian
enlisted in 2 Com mando Company at
Ripponlea in mid-1958, and completed
many courses, including Signals, Small
Scale Amphibious Raids and Cliff Leader
Class 3. A locomotive driver in Victoria,
Ian reluctantly discharged from the Unit
in 1965 to commence a new position in
Port Hedland, driving the first iron ore
train in Western Australia.
Ian recently moved down south to
Bunbury, near his extended family, and in
his early 90s is still in excellent health. He
arranges his visits to Victoria and Tas -
mania to catch up with family and to
attend Association functions, including
the annual February Rip service.
The presentation plaque, accepted in
Ian’s absence by his former Commando
colleague Geoff Woodman, formally
recognized Ian’s actions on the night of
the Rip incident, 63 years earlier. It is
believed Ian’s alertness and physical
strength, in ferocious conditions, saved
the life of one of his fellow Zodiac crew
members.
The inscription on the shield read,
Presented to
Ian Halliburton
by the Australian Commando
Association Victoria
in recognition of his composure
and strength
on the night of the Rip incident
Wednesday 17 th February 1960
President Doug related that, in the
Rip incident, Ian’s 10Z Zodiac capsized.
With coolness and presence of mind Ian
realised one of his crew had not surfaced
and reached under the craft and pulled
him to safety. All were washed out into
Bass Strait before being rescued by the
pilot vessel Akuna.
Ian later recalled that the person he
rescued had most likely been stunned by
the boom or the timber decking as their
craft capsized. The Zodiac was washed
out through the Heads, and when the
rough seas settled down to a giant swell
ACA Victoria president Doug
Knight makes the presentation to
Geoff Woodman, standing in for
Ian Halliburton, at the February
2023 Rip service.
Over in the West. Anthony Trainor,
son of Maureen Trainor and the
late 2 Cdo Coy veteran Jim Trainor,
makes the presentation to Ian at
Bunbury, WA, on behalf of the
ACA Victoria.
A young Ian Halliburton in his
serving days with 2 Commando
Company.
Right: Reflection. During an
Association hiking weekend in
2013 Ian examines the names of
some of his lost comrades on a
plaque at the Tidal River
Commando memorial.
the men climbed on top of their up -
turned craft.
A couple of hours later out in Bass
Strait they were spotted by the pilot ship
Akuna and taken aboard, after earlier
seeing the Princess of Tasmania pass by
them, unsighted. Early next morning the
men who had been picked up by the
Akuna were returned to the Queens cliff
jetty and back to camp.
Ian’s award was to be a surprise. The
Association knew he planned to come
from Western Australia to attend the Rip
service, as well as catch up with his
Victorian family. Unfortunately he was
unable travel after his son became ill.
Ian’s brother Graeme Halliburton
began his 230 km trip from Yarck to
Queenscliff to accept the award on Ian’s
behalf, but his vehicle, recently serviced,
broke down on the way. So ‘Woody’,
who was also in the Rip incident in 1960,
stood in for Graeme.
Maureen Trainor, wife of the late 2
Cdo Coy veteran Jim Trainor, was
present at the Rip service. Maureen
arranged for their son Anthony, who was
going to West Australia, to make the
presentation at Ian’s residence in
Bunbury.
As all agreed, after 63 years, “Better
late than never!”
Octavian 'Danny' Daniliuc told of a
Company amphi bious raid against the
Air Force base at Laverton at about 4 am
in mid-1961. Danny said, “Around 7 am
we withdrew to near the railway line. We
heard a train approaching and Ian
stepped onto the line to stop the train –
he had pre-arranged with his railway
workmates for the train to stop and pick
him up so he could get to work. He
hadn't wanted to miss out on the raid
and this was the only way he could get
to work on time. His rifle was signed off
at the armoury by a mate”.
“That is what you call dedication”,
Danny said.
16 COMMANDO ~ The Magazine of the Australian Commando Association ~ Edition 15 I 2023