It is with regret that I inform you that John Sherington OAM passed away on Friday 10 Jun 22.
Details of John’s funeral are yet to be finalised and details will be provided once known.
We offer our deepest condolences to John’s family and friends
Regards
Gary Shipley
Secretary
RAAOC ASSN (QLD DIV) INC
Sadly we have been informed from several sources, that Daryl Hockley, passed away last Friday 3 June 2022, after a long battle with illness.
From Daryl’s Wife Kathy, funeral details are as follows.
Great Southern Memorial Park, 1774-1794 Mount Cotton Rd, Carbrook QLD 4130,
on Wednesday 15 June at 12:30pm (please arrive by 12-12.15pm)
Please join 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
John Pollitt has advised that a funeral for Greg Hockam who died on 29 May will be held on Monday 6 June at 10.00am at the Tweed Heads Memorial Gardens, 176 Kirkwood Road, Tweed Heads South.
If attending, please advise John on 0408 437 732.
Kind regards
Peter Bruce
Obituary Resource Officer
We have been advised of the death on 29 May 2021 of Gregory James Hockam. He was 75. Greg was a National Serviceman who served with Headquarters Battery, 12th Field Regiment in South Vietnam from October 1968 until March 1969.
RIP Gregory James Hockam
Peter Bruce
Obituary Resource Officer
The details of the Funeral of 3788985 PTE Robert Cowan Catering Corp ex Vietnam 1ALSG 1967/68 are as follows:
His Funeral is in the hands of Quinn funerals of Colac and will be held at Wesley place, Skene Street Colac at 11am Friday the 3rd of June, following the service the burial will take place at the Colac lawn cemetery.
For live streaming details go to Quinn funerals and click on Roberts photo, you can also leave a personal tribute message for Roberts family on the same page.
Browny
I have just been notified that Ron McLean passed away on Thursday night at Greenslopes Hospital in Brisbane after a long battle with Cancer, Ron lived in Stanthorpe Qld.
Ron was seriously WIA in action on the 14th Oct 1965 during our first trip to the “Iron Triangle”, Ron was shot 4 times in the stomach and shoulder, we were sure Ron would not make it, but after spending up to a year in hospital Ron recovered to lead a long and happy life.
Another Warrior has passed out through the wire for the last time.
Lest we Forget
Funeral details to follow
Bill Williams
We have been advised of the death recently of Bombardier Garry Samuel Smith. Garry served with the Army Reserve in the RAA from July 1985 to November 1988. He previously served with 17 Const Sqn as a sapper in Vietnam in 1970/71.
Garry’s funeral is scheduled for 27 May 2022 at 1100 hours at the Manning Great Lakes Memorial Gardens, 183 Pampoolah Road, Taree, NSW. Garry was 76.
RIP Garry Smith
Peter Bruce
Obituary Resource Officer
Trader passed away 30 March 2022.
To a leader I completed a Small-Scale Raids Course with 1 Cdo Coy in 1962 and the ADJT was Trader who was attending the course along with the likes of WO2’s Ken Stoker DCM and Ernest (OZZIE) Ostara DCM all ARA Cadre members. I must say it was hard all cam up in the LUP and Ian wearing his white diving jumper.
My next time serving with Ian was when he was CO Recruit Training Wing RTW (1978) at Kapooka, he did an outstanding job and I had many hours each day talking about Commando’s, Special Operations Courses and of courses Civilian Sport Skydiving which he had some 200 jumps and was proud of his Skydiving log book.
I kept in touch over the time e.g. email and talks at the ANZAC Day March.
What a great life, God Bless.
David Waterston
‘A’ Battery Association have advised of the death on 6 May 2022 of LTCOL Phil Calvert, MID. Phil was the first BK of ‘A’ Field Battery during their Malaysian tour in 1965 – 67. He was later posted to a staff job with the British Army in Sabah. Phil visited 1st Field Regiment in Vietnam in March/April 1967 and completed a tour of duty with 161 (Independent) Reconnaissance Flight from June 1970 until February 1971. He was the last surviving OC of 161 Recce Flt in Vietnam and passed away after a very long battle with illness.
A graduate of RMC in 1958, Phil was allocated to the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery and was one of the last pilots to achieve AOP wings. He was a foundation member of 16 Army Light Aircraft Squadron later and returned to serve with the RAA on deployment to Malaya and Borneo. He joined the Aviation Corps when it was formed in 1968 serving in the Directorate of Army Aviation before being posted as the Senior Instructor, Corps Training Wing of the 1st Aviation Regiment at Amberley, a forerunner of the School of Army Aviation. From there he took command of 161 (Independent) Recce Flight in Vietnam in 1970. For his service in command, Phil Calvert was mentioned in dispatches.
He retired from the Army after twenty years but later joined the New Zealand Army where he rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and commanded 16 Field Regiment.
A long time member of Fourays (the Australian Army Aviation Association) and a genuine pioneer of Australian Army Aviation. Phil Calvert served two nations with distinction and will be much missed by all who knew him.
Phil was 86. His memorial service will be held at War Veterans Chapel Narrabeen on 26 May at 1400 hours.
RIP Philip John Calvert.
Peter Bruce
Obituary Resource Officer
Advice has been received regarding the death recently of Barry Fountain. Barry served with the Detachment, 131 Divisional Battery in South Vietnam from March to August 1971. He then completed his tour of duty with 12th Field Regiment, returning to Australia in October 1971. Barry was 72.
RIP Barry Edward FOUNTAIN
Peter Bruce
Obituary Resource Officer