Comments on: Lest We Forget

By: Mountain, Moon and Sea

Mountain, Moon and Sea — Sat, 05 May 2012 03:25:59 +0000

No problems.

By: Catherine

Catherine — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 10:50:15 +0000

My grandparents:

Antonio Massaro – served in the Italian Army in Greece, and was a prisoner of war there for much of WW2. Was part of the King’s Army, not Mussolini’s army. I’m not sure exactly how that worked, but it was important to him, so it should be remembered.

Reginald Spear – served in the RAF in WW2, as a navigator, I believe, and ended up at Stalag Luft Three (he was involved in the Great Escape, but, fortunately for me, was not one of the people who actually did escape, or I probably wouldn’t have been born)

Elisabeth Gartenberg – served as a VAD in WW2

Also, my great-great uncle, Lix Brukner, who died in WW1 (fighting for Austria), and my great-great grandmother, Bella Brukner, his mother, and several other members of her family who died in a concentration camp in WW2… because they had lost sons fighting for Austraia in WW1, and couldn’t believe that they would be considered Jews first, Austrians second.

I’m sure there were more – my grandparents and great-grandparents were all of just the right age to hit both world wars, but these are the stories I know.

Lest we forget.

By: theconsciencevote

theconsciencevote — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 22:51:08 +0000

Alex, I believe Carmello served on the Ajax at Jutland.

By: theconsciencevote

theconsciencevote — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 22:49:09 +0000

Thank you for listing your relatives here, particularly those who came home, so profoundly affected by what they’d experienced.

By: Alex H.

Alex H. — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 22:34:16 +0000

Yeah, Hood, 3 men survived of 1500, Sydney, none of 600, at Jutland 5th Batttlecruiser squadron lost several ships with nearly or actually all hands lost of 1500 a ship, Ajax took a pasting from 11 inch shells, 330kg shells, arriving at just slower than the speed of sound, yet only took 12 casualties and of them, only 7 deaths…. weird.

Which Ajax did your Great Grandfather serve on? Reason I ask is the RN has been naming ships Ajax since the old ships of the line, the first fought under Rodney at St Vincent, but I was under the impression it was a lucky name, no HMS Ajax ever being sunk by enemy fire.

By: Christina

Christina — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 17:46:21 +0000

Brigadier Stuart Wier, my great uncle, served in PNG, lived to over 80 but with psychological scars never spoken of

William Meredith, my grandfather who worked in intelligence in WWII, a gentle soul who hated war

Ben Meredith, my great uncle who lost an arm in WWII and died young (but at home I think)

Owen Dallimore, friend’s husband who served in Vietnam and never really recovered, died at home fairly young

Thank you for the opportunity to be part of this beautiful tribute

By: theconsciencevote

theconsciencevote — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:33:44 +0000

Merinnan, Brett’s uncle had the same experience – was about to be shipped out when the war ended, which was a great relief to the family.

You had a relative in the Boer War? How great that you have that information available to you.

By: theconsciencevote

theconsciencevote — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:30:37 +0000

I wonder if your Pop and my Grandpa Laurie knew each other – both were Corporals in the 2/22nd, serving in Borneo. Laurie, at least, seemed to be able to leave the war behind. He came back to his dairyman’s job, and later moved to the Riverina in South Australia to take up life as an orange farmer.

What does ‘L of C’ stand for? I saw it on Laurie’s records. And how marvellous your grandmother is still kicking at 92!

By: theconsciencevote

theconsciencevote — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:28:19 +0000

It's amazing how many people have relatives in the Navy who survived their ships being sunk. Brett's great-grandfather Carmello survived three sinkings, the last being the Ajax. Thanks for posting this here, especially about your relatives who served in Vietnam.

By: Loki Carbis

Loki Carbis — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 08:40:32 +0000

Sydney Carbis, my grandfather. Served in World War Two, first with the Navy (sunk twice, and almost a third time – he and two mates were quarantined and so missed their berths on the HMAS Sydney). Later transferred to the Army, fighting in Europe and then serving in the occupation force in Japan.

Allan Carbis, my father. Served in Vietnam after being conscripted into the Engineers, which thankfully was not a frontline combat unit.

Darryl Day, my uncle and a close friend of my father (they were the archetypal mates who married sisters). Served in Vietnam as a conscript, and from what I have pieced together, saw things. Died unexpectedly not long after his return to Australia while in his late twenties.

Thomas Bourke, my uncle. Served in Vietnam and lost almost all of both legs below the knee. Never lost his sense of humour, though.