It is with deep sadness I advise that Terry (Bluey) Howard passed away peacefully on Wednesday evening 31 August 2022 while in palliative care at the Atherton Hospital surrounded by wife, Rae, and his daughters, Kathy and Kelly.  He was just 66 years of age.  He had been undergoing a long battle with a brain tumour which was initially diagnosed with a low grade temporal lobe glioma on 23 March 2018. This cancer deteriorated into an aggressive grade four tumour earlier this year.

Bluey was a great mate to so many people and he has been taken from us far too soon. This world is a much poorer place for Bluey’s loss. He has left behind his wife Rae and two daughters, Kathy and Kelly as well as extended family.

46823 WO2 Terry Howard served as a RAEME Aircraft Maintenance Engineer for 21 years. He enlisted in the ARA on 23 Feb 73 and discharged on 27 Feb 94.

There will be a private service for family to farewell him. This will be followed by a commemorative gathering at Rae and Blue’s large property at Millaa Millaa (Atherton Tablelands) in late October to align with his birthday. All friends will be welcome to attend this gathering and details will follow.

Bluey was Corps enlisted into RAEME when he joined the Army in February 1973 as a trainee aircraft Airframe Fitter. He then completed further training in engines and avionics systems to become a very skilled All Trades Fitter.

He served in PNG with the Air Transport Squadron in 1986-1987 as a SGT instructing the locally enlisted personnel on aircraft maintenance on DC3, Nomad and Arava aircraft.

He was posted to 162 Reconnaissance Squadron in January 1992 as the ASM.

He retired as a Warrant Officer Class Two in February 1994 to pursue a career in his passion of vehicle maintenance and repair.  He purchased an Ultra Tune business in Townsville on his retirement and built it into a very successful business. Bluey then went on to purchase a second Ultra Tune business in Townsville a number of years later.

Bluey was a dedicated soldier and a great bloke.

May He Rest In Peace – Lest We Forget.

Regards, Terry

Terry Johnson

We have received advice of the death on 2 September 2022 of Robert (Bob) Nelson. Bob had retired some 20 years ago and during his service with the RAA was employed as a Gun Sergeant with 8/12, 1 and 4 Regiments. No other information is available.

RIP Robert Nelson

Peter Bruce, OAM

Obituary Resource Officer

We have received advice of the death on Friday 2 September 2022 of WO1 Kevin Brian Jones. Kevin joined the RAA after 22 years’ service in the Royal Artillery with deployments to Northern Ireland, Cyprus and Iraq. His service with the RAA included deployments in Afghanistan on OP Slipper. Kevin served at the School of Artillery, 7^th Signals Regiment and 20^th Regiment where he was the Master Gunner. Kevin had battled with Motor Neuron disease for some five months. He leaves behind his wife Lynette and sons Kieran and Luke.

RIP Kevin Brian Jones

Peter Bruce, OAM

Obituary Resource Officer

It is with great sadness that I advise of the passing of Michael Osborne Aloysius OHara.

Michael passed away today (2 Sep) in Sydney after suffering poorly for some time. Michael has requested a private cremation.

Mick was a 23^rd Intake Electrical Mechanic and following Graduation in 1970 was posted to the Royal Australian Engineers. Around 1973 Mick transferred to RAEME as an Electrical Fitter and served his 20 + years discharging as a WO1 Artificer Electrical.

Rest In Peace my friend

Kind Regards

Gary Sargent

We have received advice of the death recently of Thomas Henry Pietzner.  He was 74. Tom was a National Serviceman who served in Vietnam with 1^st Field Regiment from June 1969 until February 1970. He was a Forward Observer Signaller with an FO party from 105^th Field Battery and worked with Charlie Company of 5 RAR. No other information is available at this stage.

RIP Thomas Pietzner

Peter Bruce, OAM

Obituary Resource Officer

Sadly, Geoff Jones has informed us of that Bill Winterford has passed away after a long illness:

The end of a gallant little fighter.

Bill Winterford who was awarded the Military Medal for his actions on Operation Hobart on 25 July 1966, passed away from illness at Clare Hospital at 9.20 am today (24 August 2022). He was comfortable and at peace in his final days and hours.

John ‘Strez’ Wilson visited Bill in hospital yesterday and he will remain in Clare to deliver a eulogy for Bill at his funeral.

I am particularly saddened as my mind returns to the fateful day of Bill’s wounding.  He fought the VC with courage, and he fought to stay alive, then, and now.  He was a fighter to the end.

Billy Winterford’s funeral is confirmed as a cremation service at Mid North Funeral Chapel, 54 Main North Road, Clare, South Australia, on Thursday 1st September 2022 commencing at 1.30 pm.   Billy’s ashes will be placed in the Wall of Remembrance at Clare Cemetery.

The Funeral Director is seeking contact details of Billy’s former wives and four children.  If you can assist, please advise the Funeral Director on telephone number (08) 8842 3368.

On behalf of myself and Billy’s C Company brothers we thank his friends, Trevor Wandel, and Bev, for keeping us informed during Billy’s illness and of his subsequent passing.  Trevor and Bev were Billy’s rock, right to the end.

LEST WE FORGET

Fred Fairhead will attend the funeral and present the 6 RAR Association Sash on behalf of the Association.

Condolences to those who served with Bill and to his friends, especially those who’ve helped to look after him in recent times.

Please join with us in offering our deepest sympathy to those who will mourn the passing of a loved one.  Another 6 RAR family member, taken too soon.

LEST WE FORGET

Allan Whelan, Secretary

22 October 1946 – 26 August 2022

PTE Donald ‘Donny’ Gibson, of Wardell near Ballina NSW, died peacefully on Friday 26 August, after suffering a cerebral haemorrhage .

Donny was deployed to 1 ARU in South Vietnam on 14 May 1969, staying with the unit until 18 June. He was posted to 12 Platoon, Delta Company, 5 RAR on 19 June and served with that sub-unit for the balance of the Battalion’s 1969-70 tour of South Vietnam.

A Funeral Service will be held for Donald by Parkview Funeral Home, 21 Kalinga St, Ballina, NSW on Thursday 1 September commencing at 10:00hrs. The service will be live-streamed on: https://vimeo.com/event/2379566

Regards,

Gary Townsend

5 RARA Membership Officer/Tiger Tales Editor

6/11/1944 – 23/08/2022

Family and friends of Graham Campbell are invited to attend his funeral service in the Simplicity Funeral Chapel on the corner of Salisbury Highway and Waterloo Corner Road, Salisbury on Tuesday, August 30^th, commencing at 10:00am.

Now at Peace.

Private John Basil Miller passed away in Mildura on 24 August 2022. He was born on the 13 June 1923 at Pinnaroo, SA, the second son of a farming family. In December 1941, the 18-year-old intake was called, so John commenced his military service in infantry, as a military conscript. He had been courting Edie Barraclough in Mildura for twelve months so wasn’t that keen on army life.

He spent most of 1942 in 8^th Brigade in the defence of mainland Australia at the Dongara and Geraldton areas in Western Australia. He returned to Mangalore in Victoria in February 1943 and was given leave for a short period of time which he spent fruit picking in Mildura and saved enough for an engagement ring for Edie.

Within weeks he was on a troop train to Queensland where his unit, 22 Australian Infantry Battalion, was given intensive jungle training at Mt Tamborine. In April 1943 he was in the Atherton Tablelands, Qld, with strong rumours they would go to Papua New Guinea. But as 75% of the 38th Battalion were only 19, they were sent to Darwin.  His camp in NT was near Pel Air Strip where the American Liberators were stationed.  In June 1944 he was transferred on the US Troopship the USS Evangeline from Darwin to Jaquinet Bay in the Wide Bay area of the east coast of New Britain.  He remained at Wide Bay till 15 August 1945, when his unit was transported by troopship to Rabaul. John returned home arriving in Sydney on the 24 March 1946.

Edie managed to organise their marriage for the 30 March 1946.  John said it had been mainly a long-distance courtship of 600 letters, 3 per week written for four years and four months during the time in the army. He was advised to learn a trade, and as building was expected to boom, he decided on carpentry.  John was discharged from the Australian Army on 17 May 1946.

John lived the remainder of his life in Mildura as a builder and (fruit) blockie. He is survived by his four children, Kevin, Pam, Janine, and Graeme. Edie died eight years ago. John was active in the Redcliff RSL and for many years spoke at local primary schools for their pre-Anzac Day services.

We have received advice of the death on 23 August 2022 of Nicholas (Nick) Marshall. He was 84. Nick was the Battery Commander of 101^st Field Battery in Vietnam during 1966/67 and later was Commanding Officer of 4^th Field Regiment from October 1973 until December 1975. Nick was a life subscriber of the 101 Battery Association. Nick deteriorated quickly in the week before his death and died painlessly and peacefully. A private service will be held for him in Sydney in the coming week.

RIP Nicholas Hugh Marshall.

Peter Bruce, OAM

Obituary Resource Officer