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Contents.
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John Robert Donohue.
Sadly we have to report the passing of John Donohue, known affectionately to many as “Porky,” on the 9th June 2023. We, as did a lot of people, lost an old mate on that day. “Porks”, who was born in East Malvern in Vic in 1943, was an instrument fitter and served with 35Sqn in Vietnam from Sept 1971 to Feb 1972.
Porky served with the RAAF for 22 years, retiring with the rank of Warrant Officer. We served with “Porks” at 38Sqn, Richmond, from 1967 to 1969 where he was a Cpl and the NCO I/C the accommodation block and had his own little private room. (Click the pic at right to see it).
John’s very well attended funeral was held at St Peter’s Catholic Church at Rochedale (Brisbane) on Friday the 16th June 2023, after which his body was cremated and interned in the wall at the Church.
He was involved with St Peters Church filling many rolls with the parish. He was also coach and president of the Springwood Aussie Rules Junior football Club and was a staunch supporter of the Geelong Cats.
Lieutenant Colonel Harry Smith
Recently Australia lost a great man. The man whose company held back a reinforced North Vietnamese regiment at Long Tan, before fighting for his soldiers to be recognised, has sadly died.
Lieutenant Colonel Harry Smith, the national serviceman turned career soldier, died on the 20th August at the Sunshine Coast, aged 90, two days after the battle’s 57th anniversary.
After serving during the Malayan Emergency, Lieutenant Colonel (then Major) Smith rose to prominence in Vietnam as Officer Commanding of Delta Company, 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, during the Battle of Long Tan. Harry’s company was patrolling a rubber plantation when it ran into a much larger enemy force advancing towards the Australian base at Nui Dat on the 18th August, 1966.
In an article published in the Australian War Memorial’s Wartime magazine in 2006, Lieutenant Colonel Smith said: “Almost continuous VC tracer rounds lit up the gloom as they raced past us like supersonic fireflies. The heavy rain turned the earth into the mud in which we lay. White latex oozed from bullet holes in rubber trees. VC snipers went up trees, to be shot or blown down.”
During the battle, Delta Company held off numerous enemy attack waves thanks to tenacious fighting and artillery support. “The volume and noise of all the artillery and small arms fire was horrendous – deafening – but, in hindsight, wonderful music” Harry said.
The enemy got so close to Delta Company’s position, Harry ordered his famous fire-support request: “Drop 50. Danger Close. Fire for effect”. Headquarters refused until Harry grabbed the radio handset from his signalman and shouted, “give us the f------ guns where we want them or you will lose the bloody lot of us”.
Despite being resupplied with ammo dropped from Royal Australian Air Force helicopters, Delta Company was on the verge of being overrun until armoured personnel carriers arrived with reinforcements and broke up the enemy massing for a final attack. “All firing ceased as though the tap was turned off,” Harry later said. He later recalled his men were too busy doing what they needed to repel the onslaughts that fear of what could have been only sank in when the battle ended. “Outnumbered, we just got on with what we had trained for – killing the enemy – to survive,” he said.
“The dedication of my men to helping and giving covering fire to their mates and assisting the wounded was outstanding.”
Delta Company lost 18 soldiers killed and 24 wounded.
Writing later, Lieutenant Colonel Smith said Australians buried 245 enemy and found other graves along bloodied withdrawal routes. “Documents indicated their losses were some 800 killed or died from wounds, with around another 1000 wounded,” he said.
After returning from Vietnam, Lieutenant Colonel Smith served overseas and then as the chief instructor at the Parachute Training School. He left the Army in 1976 following a parachuting injury.
Lieutenant Colonel Smith received a Military Cross for his actions at Long Tan, but was angered when few of the decorations he recommended for his men were awarded. This began a two-decade fight to have the correct medals presented.
Major Harry Smith receiving the ribbon to the Military Cross for Gallantry, January 1967.
In 2008, Lieutenant Colonel Smith’s award was upgraded to a Star of Gallantry and several of his soldiers also received upgrades.
After a 2016 review, the last of his men received the medals Lieutenant Colonel Smith had recommended 50 years earlier.
Ken McNeil
Arthur Rennick advises the passing of Ken McNeil. Ken was an electrician and passed away on 06 December 2021.
He joined the RAAF in 1956 and was discharged in 1980 with the rank of Warrant Officer. Ken served in 2 Squadron at Butterworth. Other postings were at RAAF Support Command, U.S.A, Army Kiowa helicopters and at RAAF Wagga as an Instructor.
Sorry no further details.
Peter Dalgleish.
John McDougall advises the passing of ex-sumpie Peter Dalgleish on Sunday the 28th May. Pete lived in the West and was an Appy on No 14 course that Waggered back in 1962. He had been suffering from severe bronchitis and had been admitted to the Brussleton hospital but the bronchitis turned into pneumonia which he couldn’t defeat.
He served in Vietnam from April 1965 to December 1965.
Barbara Findlay.
Peter Bourke advises the passing of Barbara Findlay who passed away on Sunday the 28th May. Peter says: “I was fortunate to serve as an EDO with Barbara at ECSQN Frognall during 1983 and our friendship continued for the next 40 years. .I know that there will be many, many engineering officers, past and present, who have fond memories of her during their time as engineering cadets attending RMIT. I do not know any other details about her service, although I think she was posted to Radschool or Laverton at some stage. After retiring from the service Barbara settled in Labrador Queensland.”
Terry “Bunny” Collier.
Ian Oldfield advises the passing of Terry Collier on Saturday the 6th May. Terry was a sparkie and served in Vietnam with 35 Sqn from Nov 1967 to Nov 1968. His funeral was held at the Rookwood Crematorium in Sydney on Thursday the 18th May.
Peter Sutcliffe
We have been advised that Peter Sutcliffe passed away on Thursday the 23rd March 2023 after an extended illness. Peter joined the Air Force on the 10th September 1968 as a member of 89 Telegs and remustered to Sigs Op at 3 TU. Peter served at various postings including two tours of Hong Kong and attained the rank of Warrant Officer. He discharged on 16 September 1988. Subsequent to discharge he worked as a communications operator for the Australian Antarctic Program then enjoyed over 20 years living in Exmouth and working at the Harold E Hold Naval Communication Station prior to retiring and returned to Perth in 2021.
John Albert Suthers.
Dick Horder advises the passing of John Suthers on Saturday the 13th May. He was 95 years old. John was a Radtech and served with 2 Sqn in Vietnam from April 1967 to Apr 1968, after Vietnam he was posted to 3AD at Amberley and on retirement worked at Ipswich Grammar School with the grounds and maintenance staff. His funeral was held at the Heritage Park Crematorium in Wacol, Brisbane, on Thursday the 25th May.
Peter William Taylor.
Ken Thackery advises the passing of Peter Taylor on the 17th May 2023. Peter was an ADG and served with 2 Sqn from Feb 1968 to Feb 1969.
Sorry no further details.
Andrew Boyden.
Arthur Rennick advises the passing of Andrew Boyden on Monday the 17th April 2023. Andrew was an Instrument Fitter and served with 2 Sqn in Vietnam from April 1967 to March 1968. He retired with the rank of Warrant Officer. Andrew had been living in Woolgoolga NSW.
Tony Wilkinson.
Arthur Rennick advises the passing of Tony Wilkinson on the 23rd June. Tony was a navigator with 2 sqn in Butterworth from 1964 to 1967. Tony’s funeral was held in Mitchell in the ACT on the 10th July.
Thomas Maloney.
We have been advised that WO Tom Maloney (known as Reg) passed away on the 6th July 2023, he was 94 years old. Tom was a Radtech G and joined the RAAF in 1947 and discharged in 1979. He joined the Reserve in 1981 and retired in 1985 and lived in Townsville. He served in Vietnam with 1 OSU from April 1971 to Jan 1972.
Sorry, no further details.
James Patrick Williams.
Arthur Rennick advised that Jim dies on the 25 June 2023. He was born in Quirindi in NSW in 1937 but joined the RAAF from Tasmania. He served in Vietnam with 2 Sqn as a driver from Mar 1968 to Mar 1969. Jim’s funeral was held in Albany Creek, Qld, on the 27th June 2023.
Graham Thomas Jenkins.
We have been advised that Graham Thomas died on the 10th July 2023. He was 80 years old. His funeral was held in Holland Park, Qld, on the 17th July 2023.
Graham was a Radtech and served with 2 Sqn in Phan Rang from Nov 1969 to Nov 1970.
Philip Godwin.
Jan Godwin advises the passing of her husband, Phil, on the 24th June. Phil was at Radschool in 1973/74. Jan says, I’ve included a photo of Phil from a couple of years ago. Sadly he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in November 2020, a great shock to us all. Although the illness gradually stopped him doing all the things he loved, it didn’t crush his spirit and he never complained, remaining the lovely man he always was.
His funeral was on 11th July and people attended from far and wide.
Colin Patrick O’Brien.
We have been advised that Colin O’Brien, known as Paddy, dies on the 20th June 2023, he was 95 years old. His funeral was held in Townsville on the 4th July 2023.
Colin was a WO Radtech.
Terrence George Grigson
Ted McEvoy advises us of the passing of Terry Grigson on the 28th May, 2023, he was 75 years old. Terry was buried at the Pinnaroo Cemetery in Perth on the 10th June. Terry’s funeral was very well attended, with about 250 mourners attending, 50 of whom were forced to stand which underlined the number of friends he had. Terry was a Framie and served with 9 Sqn in Vung Tau from Jan 1971 to Dec 1971.
Bill Sharp.
Ken Morris advised the recent passing of Bill Sharp. Bill served 12 years in the British Army prior to joining the RAAF. He served in Sqns 481, 478, 77 and OCU. Ken says we both graduated from Radschool on 14RMT and were posted to the same bases (often different units) for 15 years. Our families were very close for all that time. I wasn’t able to get to the funeral but I did see Bill when I attended the Mirage reunion in Stockton last year. The main object of the trip was to take Bill to the reunion but he was unable, perhaps embarrassed at his condition, to go. He was blind and had become very ill and frail by then.
Bill’s funeral was held on the 15th June 2023.
Stephen Sounness.
George Cora advises: I served as a FLTLT Engrad/Electr in 80s and 90s and served with WOFF Stephen Sounness at Glenbrook. Stephen and I remained great friends. Sadly Stephen passed away on the 24th October. His funeral was held on the 14th November at the Vision Church in Fyswick, ACT.
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